03/16/09

Terrible Service and management

by Softie

El Encanto has a beautiful setting with a pond full of ducks. We had the worst service I have ever experienced. After about an hour, 2 bowls of chips and a few margaritas we were brought food we never ordered. Our waitress returned shortly after to confirm what we did order and appeared to be putting our order in for the first time. I was fine with everything heck I was drinking margaritas, but the thing that finally got to me (besides seeing all the people come and go that we sat well after us) was watching the manager ask every table around us how they were doing and never once would come to our table. I assume he must have known that there was a mess up on our table. He was all around us on 4 occasions and never once asked. We paid our bill and left.

The food wasn't half bad when we finally got it but our server was awful and the manager was worse. Problems happen it's how you handle them that counts. We won’t be back.

• Pros: Pond
• Cons: Awful service!!!

12/23/08

Been eating here for years

by pnealcvcr

And have always liked the food and atmosphere very much up until the last two meals here. They have gotten terrible and will not return, even though I have lived nearby since 1984.

04/25/08

Worst Mexican we ever had

by Mryjdvmrci

HUGE disappointment. Was recommended by an acquaintance, we had company from out of town. We were ashamed after we took them there. The food, service, and ambiance was AWFUL. The server never checked and even after we asked for the check he still hung out at the front joking around with the rest of the staff. The food was terrible. We each ordered something different and all hated our food and didn't finish it. When we were ordering my husband told the server I wasn't sure what I wanted, he got an attitude right off the bat. Then there was a duck right outside the window crapping and begging for our food. That was the high point of our evening. Don't waste your time or money.

• Pros: We left quickly.
• Cons: EVERYTHING

04/01/08

The worst Mexican in Arizona

by azthunder

We live about two miles from El Encanto. It used to be our favorite mexican restaurant. apparently, ownership recently changed and it is now easily the worst mexican food in the Valley. We ordered the Pollo Fundido which was supposed to be chicken cooked in spices with onions and peppers covered with cream cheese sauce and cheddar. What I got was plain chunks of chicken with no onions or peppers wrapped in a second rate tortilla covered with a gummy cream cheese sauce and no cheddar. When I asked the waitress why there were no onions or peppers inside she went and got the 18 year old manager (haha) who tried to convince me that the stewpot it was cooked in had onions and peppers in it but they "dissolve" and can't be seen! What a hoot!

I insisted their menu either mislead the customer by saying it included onions and peppers, or they must think I was about as stupid as a rock. She more or less assured me I was stupid as a rock and did not offer to actually make one the right way, allow me to order something described correctly, or not charge me for the lump of tasteless chicken sitting on my plate.

My wife had fish and claims it tasted as bad as the pond outside now smells. It's too bad, this was once an excellent restaurant that used to be packed with customers. Now it is a place to be avoided. And by looking at all the empty booths during what is snowbird season, word has obviously gotten out.

Please...Someone open a decent mexican restaurant in Cave Creek or Carefree...you'll make a KILLING!

• Pros: None
• Cons: New owners, Horrible all around

03/08/08

Not what it used to be. . .

by greatfoodman

This place is not what is used to be. Any review from last year is out of date. You would do better defrost some frozen food than eat here. We arrived early, and were seated quickly, but discovered that the rules had changed and the dreaded "no substitutions" rules were now in effect. When we did order, the appetizers came out with the entrees. We sent them back to the kitchen where the food apparently sat under a warming lamp until we had eaten the appetizers. When the entrees where brought to the table, they were cold, dry and inedible. Over priced, now over rated, and not worth the effort of the drive.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Food has gone way downhill

02/10/08

Good but not great. If you are afraid of birds, sit inside!

by Ventoux1

The outdoor dining can be great, but the song birds can be out of control. I give the food a solid B, compared to Dallas restaurants, and the ambience is great. However, one time the birds were flocking onto the tables around us when other diners left and it felt a little unsanitary to have them flying all around us!

Service is slow. Been here a few times and every time was the same in this regard.

Nontheless, I do strongly recommend el Encanto (which means the spell, charm or incantation). The inside tables facing the lake but behind glass look like the way to go. Probably should call ahead to reserve those if you can.

This building is amazing. Tired of chain food and cookie cutter restaurants? Then you really must try this place. If you have to wait, they have a beautiful courtyard and the cozy dark lobby is full of atmosphere. el Encanto will cast its spell on you!

• Pros: Ambience, food
• Cons: Service

10/30/07

Best in the valley

by shoedog7

This place is so good it was even in a novel written by a local author. I have been going to this place for years and can say that it is the best. The other reviews explain how great the atmosphere is, and it is, so I will not get into that. Best chips and salsa, best beans and rice, and strong drinks. My favorite artery clogger is the Pollo Con Queso. It is sooo good and sooo bad at the same time. Deep fried shredded chicken burrito with jalapeno cream cheese on top and cheddar cheese melted on top of that. You will not be disappointed by this place and it is worth the visit, I just hope it doesn't get too out of control popular. The next best Mexican food that I've had: Ajo Al's (70th st and Shea location), Julio G's on Indian School, and Valle Luna (35th Ave and Bell). The atmosphere and the fact that El Encanto is inside what looks like an old ranch home makes it special. The dining area is cozy and there are many unexpected nooks and crannies in this place.

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: You will have to wait on the weekends, parking

07/07/06

Great Ambience!

by crediblyedible

OK! I am a pretty picky person here in the Valley of the Sun. My honest opinion was it was pretty good. Carefree/Cavecreek area is far outside of Central Phoenix but its definitely an experience. They are located in a authentic looking Mexican style building in a very old part of Cavecreek/Carefree. They have a beautiful pond with live ducks and swans. The service could have been a tad faster but being that the restaurant seats over 400 and it was a Friday night rush, I can over look that part a little. Flan was phenomenal. We shared the fajitas which were tasty but if I were you I would ask for them straight from the kitchen and not wrapped. When you wrap up a tortilla too tightly you run the risk of them cracking, and if you ever had a hole in your fajita you can forget about that new shirt :).

Check out my Blog for other restaurant critiques at crediblyedible on blogspot.

• Pros: Awesome Ambience, Beautiful Views, Very Good Mexican Food
• Cons: Service on Weekends, Too Far from Greater Phoenix

06/14/06

High-desert charm in the midst of cowboy town.

by Nancy Hunter

In Short
This cantina's draw is its relaxing outdoor patio with a duck pond, tucked away behind high adobe walls. Pond-view dining spots are available inside, too, which features private partitioned tables perfect for quiet romance. Start with the appetizer sampler platter, containing flautas, tostadas, beans and a creamy pollo fundido. Or, try the chili relleno Mexicano, stuffed with chicken and ladled with ancho chili sauce.

02/08/06

User review by heidime5

by heidime5

My boyfriend and I went there a few years back for Valentine's day. It was raining so we could not eat out in the patio as originally planned, however they sat us in a very nice spot where we could see outside. The mood was perfect with their little private booths, mariachi band and candle lit dinner. We looked out into the small lake while it rained and it looked like we were in Mexico. It was beautiful, wonderul service and the food was good. Don't recommend the seafood...it needed more flavor. But otherwise it was fantastic!

• Pros: patio, private booths, mariachi band