04/08/09

How could service be so bad?

by JoeCitizen

We went to Z-tejas for my birthday, but there was no celebration, just a couple & a baby, out for a meal.

The hostess sat us, apparently ignoring the toddler in my arms. She left, and I assumed she was headed off to get a high-chair. A few minutes later, I see her walk by, and I ask for a high-chair...another few minutes, and I have to ask her again. This time, she shows up with it, and rather than pull out a chair to accomodate the HC, she drops it off behind one of the chairs. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over.

We're off to a stellar start. I ask the hostess, with forced courtesy and masked irritation, if she could find the server (who was about as absent & absentminded to our presence/needs as the hostess) so that we could order drinks. He stopped by the table as an afterthought, and things just went downhill from there.

I'm no expert on customer no-service, but I did spend 13 years in the restaurant business, managing and training for some of the largest names in town. I know a skid-boot when I see one, and on this special evening, I was at the mercy of two of the finest.

I refuse to go back.

When my friends report that they've had bad service there, I just laugh, and muse at how someone perpetuating crappy service can continue to keep the lights on.

This town must be full of suckers.

• Pros: We had a table
• Cons: The server that came with the table

01/19/09

Sides Still Count: side dishes and out-sides

by tacotx

On a Fri. night, restaurant was busy and bar was packed. Why do they own outdoor heat lamps, place them precisely on the patio, and then choose to not use them?? I felt more sorry for the waitstaff and the hostess though than I did for myself for having to wait for the quoted 2 hours. Waitstaff and host staff should not have to belly-up or trample customers just to walk through the restaurant.

About the food... main dishes are mainstays for good reason; however, the sides were so bland that I no longer have true love for the 2 main dishes that brought us there in the first place.

WERE those boxed mashed potatoes?? (tasted like 'em) Why serve bland rice and beans?? People can go to Magnolia Cafe to get those. Plus, if that shredded zucchini and carrot medley was the 'vegetable of the day', then that was a bad day.

10/19/08

Nice place for large groups

by tww49

I've been to the restaurant twice with large groups. Both times we made reservations for lunches, and was seated promptly. The food was good and no mess-ups on taking orders or splitting bills. I particularly liked their Chile Relleno, which was not fried (healthy), and full of flavor and surprises, very much like the kind of chile relleno you get from inner mexican cuisine rather than tex-mex. There are also a hand-full of other dishes my friends enjoyed (while I ordered Chile Relleno over and over). Everybody I know likes this place. Only downside is parking. We've always car-pooled and parked on the side of the streets.

• Pros: Great downtown feel, great mexican and tex-mex food, great for large groups
• Cons: Parking, kinda crowded, a little pricy but hey it's downtown

10/02/08

One of my Favorite places

by 81Amber81

I don't think I have ever had a bad experience at Z'Tejas ever. In fact I love to eat there! These are some of my faves that you really just can't go wrong with...

Go to either location and order this: Drink- Fruzion (sp?) Margarita: their yummy frozen rita with a floater of fruit infused Patron *yummy* Appetizer- Guacamole and Shrimp tostada bites (well seasoned, guac always good, delicious slaw to accompany tostadas) Dinner- Chorizo Stuffed Pork Medallions: always tender, yummy sauce, very well cooked and just DELICIOUS dammit! Dessert- Ancho Chili Chocolate Pie: nuff said! I don't know what your dinner companion will get, but it will probably be delish too.

• Pros: Free valet, Margaritas, food, multiple outdoor seating areas
• Cons: Queso is just ok, smoking not allowed on any one of the outdoor areas

04/13/08

Great Patio dining, mediocre food

by jenkinshill

Can't complain about the patio dining atmosphere, which is wonderful. However our food was just a little above average (maybe even just average) considering it was barely warm and not much to distiguish it from lesser priced restaurants in town. The sides were uninspired although it is a growing chain so consistency must be maintained. I would unltimately say go to this place for the atmosphere don't expect to be blown away by the food.

• Pros: Ambience on the patio
• Cons: average food

03/17/08

Worse Brunch Ever!!

by austinwood

If I could rate it a half star I would. When I first moved to Austin my roommate at the time worked at Z'Tejas and talked about their brunch. I had been in for lunch and it wasn't bad, so this Sunday when my girlfriend and I were wanting to try a new place for brunch we decided on Z'Tejas. She likes their margaritas.

First of all, they discontinued the one thing I actually wanted that is still advertised online, Banana Fosters French Toast. Second, one small pancake cost four dollars. I was expecting for $4 to get one big fluffy pancake like everyone else does in town. And I couldn't put enough butter on it to make it not dry. It had obviously been sitting in a premade pile for the past hour. Yuck! And when I asked for fruit to go with the pancake our server offered us grapefruit or melon. No, I mean pancake fruit, strawberries, blueberries, bananas. Jeez. From that point on everything tasted like a microwave dinner.

My advice, splurge and go someplace nice for brunch. An awful brunch can ruin your entire Sunday.

• Pros: nice outdoor seating
• Cons: terrible food

11/02/07

Austin Favorite

by longhorngirl82

Z Tejas is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. The food is a combination of Tex-Mex, Southwestern, something or another but what it comes down to is that it's consistently good. They have the best salads (I love the ruby trout salad and the pecan crusted chicken salad) but they also have a variety of delcious fish dishes. If you are looking for something on the lighter side, sometimes I'll order the Ahi Tuna appetizer and a side salad. The wait can get long sometime so be prepared. There are two bars you can sit at in the meantime and enjoy a margarita.

08/23/07

Unique restaurant

by dtopcik

I was staying downtown and someone suggested Z'Tejas. I can be a picky eater, but I found a few things I would have liked. I chose the Red Chile and Mango Steak Salad and it was delicious. It had some kick to it, but I LOVED it.

• Pros: food and service
• Cons: parking, but there is valet

08/20/07

Delicious food!

by dustine

I would recommend anyone to stop in and eat at Z?Tejas. I love, love the Chile relleno! It is absolutely amazing!! It is so flavorful and unique. Their food is so fresh and delicious I can?t think of anything bad I have ever had there. I recently tried the pecan crusted chicken salad and I was impressed. I have found that all of their salads are extremely delicious. Of course, you must try their famous margaritas too! They are the best tasting margaritas I have ever had! I have never had a bad experience at Z?Tejas, the food and service is always excellent.

• Pros: Unique Food
• Cons: Parking

08/01/07

Terrible service!

by lexyjane01

I ate at Z Tejas last Saturday. It was a friends birthday. We were having a bite to eat before going out for drinks. The waitress, Jess, was very rude. She even "shh" and pointed her finger at the birthday girl. She ignored requests and was overall a terrible waitress. Our appetizers arrived with our food. That was the 2nd problem. Not only that, but I never got my food. Everyone else got theirs and I was so embarrassed. I reminded Jess again and it appeared to me that she forgot. She blamed the kitchen and walked away. After realizing that my party was finishing up and I still had not received my food, I walked to the waitress station to ask Jess to cancel my order because I didn't want to hold up my group. She knew that she would still get her 18% and did not care to treat us with any respect. After that, she asked me if I wanted to take the food with me? I had cancelled the order. I was so emabarrassed in front of my group. I have never been treated with such disrespect. She can have her 18% because I will never return or recommend that place to anyone again. Management should do something about her.

• Pros: Couldn't tell you, never got my food!
• Cons: Jess the rude waitress.