| If there's one thing to be learned when reviewing | | | | our order taken. Our dinners were loudly plunked |
| restaurants, it's that not all units have the same vibe. | | | | down in front of us, some weren't even close to |
| This is what was learned when my husband and I | | | | warm. To correct this-my teenage nephew went to |
| went to Javier's Mexican Restaurant in the Irvine | | | | the host desk and asked if someone could help us. |
| Spectrum in Irvine, CA. | | | | They were actually rude about having to warm the |
| There is another, very fine Javier's in Laguna Beach. | | | | food. |
| No one seems to mind the hard time they have | | | | No one came by to apologize, ask us if we needed |
| finding a parking place when they enjoy an evening | | | | anything or how it was once the cold plates came |
| there. But the sibling at the Irvine Spectrum doesn't | | | | back. |
| seem to be cut "of the same cloth". | | | | The food was mediocre and greasy. We at no point |
| My parents suggested that we all go to the | | | | were given refills on our waters or coffee. Not one |
| Spectrum to celebrate our anniversary. They based | | | | of the myriad of waiters who threw the food at us |
| this on their enjoyment of the food, service and | | | | asked if we'd like dessert. Then suddenly we got |
| atmosphere in Laguna Beach. Having been there on | | | | some attention! The staff whisked our plates |
| many occasions they figured this newer location | | | | (finished or not), chip baskets and silverware off the |
| would be a good place to go. All of us love Mexican | | | | table and one of the staff handed us the bill. She had |
| food and the location was central. | | | | the first smile of the evening. I guess she thought it |
| Evidently being busy isn't the same as knowing how | | | | would help her tip. |
| to treat your guests. Being a large party (10), we | | | | The tip was "bring the manager over". We explained |
| knew we'd have a wait. The hostess wasn't pleasant | | | | how we had been treated and why we weren't |
| when we asked for a "guesstimate". She groused | | | | leaving a tip. He curtly said "fine" and walked off. |
| that it should be about 30 minutes. When 45 had | | | | Maybe it was that we didn't order any alcohol. We |
| passed, my husband went up to ask if we could | | | | thought maybe this was just a really off night. |
| expect to be seated shortly. A different hostess | | | | However, it wasn't. Our son and his girlfriend gave it |
| nearly bit his head off. Finally after an hour we were | | | | another try a month later. Same treatment. Our |
| seated. | | | | daughter and her husband tried it a few nights |
| It didn't improve. The host literally threw the menus | | | | ago-they said they had never had such awful service |
| at all of us. 10 minutes passed before someone | | | | or less appetizing food. |
| acknowledged our existence. My parents couldn't | | | | Why is it still able to pack in the crowds? Maybe |
| believe how horrible the service was-they said if they | | | | drinking at the bar for an hour before you're seated |
| had known that it was "a 180" from the older | | | | makes the bad service and unpalatable food less |
| restaurant, they would have never suggested it. | | | | noticeable. |
| We had to almost physically grab someone to get | | | | |