El Mezcal Mexican - Bethalto

Absolutely disappointing. Before COVID, this place was fantastic, but now it feels like I might as well go to Taco Bell. Every time we order, we're told it'll take 20-25 minutes, but it ends up taking an hour to an hour and a half. They consistently mess up orders and forget items. It feels like there's a real “us versus them” mentality; they tell you what you want to hear but ultimately only care about their own benefit. The two younger staff members seem to have no grasp of timing, which is crucial for dinner service. They offer no compensation or apology, just excuses and nonsense. Dining in might be better, but I have my doubts. This review comes from someone with 12 years of experience in the restaurant industry, and I find it embarrassing for our field.

I have eaten here a couple of times with my pal Steven. Tonight I had the el Mezcal enchiladas. They were pretty good but I wouldn't get them again just because it's not my thing. However I've had quite a few other dishes from here and I'm always happy and satisfied with the taste of my meal. I also ordered some cheese fries and for me and Steven to split and we both thought they were quite delicious. The sweet tea was alright. Steven had 3 margaritas and they were pretty strong which he likes. I tasted a few. The strawberry was my favorite. I would say the ambiance was cute just like any other Mexican restaurant and the service was great. I left a nice tip even though we had to wait a little while for our food. Steven used the bathroom for about 20 minutes and said it was very clean. Sorry I didn't take any pictures especially because my plate was aesthetically pleasing. I would definitely recommend this!

Overall, I was pleased with my mango margarita and the fried beef taco. However, I ordered the 2 Special and was disappointed to find that the beef burrito contained only tortilla and beef—no lettuce, tomatoes, or any veggies. Fortunately, I had also ordered the overpriced $1.99 cheese sauce for the burrito and added some green chili sauce, which helped. Next time, I’ll pay closer attention to the burrito’s contents as I prefer it to be loaded with more veggies and fillings. Given that it was a $10.99 build-your-own special, I expected a bit more. Despite this, I had a good experience overall and will definitely be back!

This is a great place to eat! The staff is alway friendly. The food is awesome. Come hungry and will not disappoint! It is worth the drive!!!

I ordered 12 fried tacos last night, and they were delicious. However, I do have an issue with the billing. The tacos are priced at $3 each, which should total $36, plus $2.82 in tax and a $1 service charge, bringing the total to $39.83. Instead, I was charged $44. When I asked the young girl about it, she said that someone instructed her to charge $39.90. It's concerning that the menu prices seem not to be honored. I believe whoever is responsible should be retrained. While the extra amount won't have a significant impact on me, it's still a matter of poor ethics.