"Ortega" some may take it, but I'll leave it.

Ortega's, a Mexican Bistro

I had been working a little later on Monday, so once again our dining options, outside of chain restaurants, were quite limited.  Steve decided he wanted Mexican.  I can always go for some carnitas, so I was up for the suggestion.

I was telling one of the managers at work that we were going to grab some Mexican food.  As he shoveled a tiramisu into his gaping hole, I figured, Ben likes food, he has a large gut, he may know a good place to eat and Steve and I could have a dining adventure.

He suggested Ortega, yes, like the boxed taco shell brand, and at this point, we should have gone to the grocery store for a pound of ground beef and a taco kit.

They were open til midnight.  Thought if this was a good experience, we'd have one more late night dining joint to add to our list.  You can never have too many.

We were one of two or three tables eating.  The rest of the customers were sitting at the bar drinking.  I tell you this detail, because this information helps to support my utter dissatisfaction.

I ordered a cup of soup and the carnitas platter.  Steve decided to give chicken mole a shot.

The soup came after a very long wait and unfortunately there was a miscommunication and I received the wrong soup.  When the waitress finally reappeared, I explained that I may have asked for the wrong soup.  She offered to bring a cup of the other.  This is when the waiting began.  I repeat, A CUP OF SOUP!!

Remember only four other people ordering food in the entire restaurant!!!!

What...you take a ladle and dip it in a vat, pour that substance into a cup, and send it out to the customer...I'll even give the cook time to scratch his ass and type a text....and give the server time to flirt before she runs it to the table....7 minutes tops! 

Instead, as I assumed would happen, our food arrived and then shortly after the soup.

So I graciously and semi-annoyed, but trying to mask it, refused the soup.  Commented that I really didn't want if after the fact, since my food had already arrived.

We ate in silence; displeased with our entrees.  Had a feeling they were trying to have a "nouveau" or should I say, "nuevo" Mexican cuisine from various exotic regions of Mexico, when their cook is probably some disgruntled guy from Tijuana that would prefer to make street tacos.

We declined dessert; let's not add salt to the wound.  No comment was made about the soup, but luckily it was not on the bill.  What went wrong here?  Lots of things!

The food, the expediting of the food, and the servers lack of communication with the customer to create a more positive situation.

So, no, it was not worth eating here....it actually sucked....and now I think Ben sucks too!!!