Comments on: Dinner at El Banditos in Iowa City

By: Norah

Norah — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:05:52 +0000

I am a repeat customer at El Bandito’s. Just recently I hear that my favorite restaurant was getting bad reviews here. I’m not sure if in reality your negative reactions are even valid. All of my friends that have tried the place are also hooked.
The food is always fresh and I can tell that it’s made with care. For a 3 month old “baby” establishment they are doing a great job. The staff may have allot on their hands, but that’s the way it work with a new place.
The thing I like best is that the food is always a little different each time. It’s so nice to go to a local owner operated establishment.
Actually the Head Chef is the owner. He tastes all of the food himself and he feeds it to his own kids. How many other establishments can say that?
I have had almost everything on the menu now and can say that they are all great.
One thing I am gong to say about all you Negative Nellie’s is that you don’t know good food, plain and simple you’ve eaten at too many chain restaurants. If you only ever eat a McDonalds then you will never like a great steak. I am proud to call myself a “food snob”. I want fresh, homemade, healthy, and great tasting food. Stuff that I can’t do at home, and Derek Perez it doing it. For anyone who doesn’t like El Bandito’s I say stay away you losers, El Bandito’s has enough customers. Leave the good food to the rest of us you can go to Carlos-O-Kelly’s and eat there it might be more up you alley. For all of you who love good food and don’t want a belly ache go to El Bandito’s and while your there try a Margarita it’s amazing!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:00:15 +0000

Jeez, this guy Derek Perez makes himself sound like major tool, what a D-Bag. I have not personally been to Banditos yet, and will probably not have a chance before it goes out of business by the way these reviews sound. I was hoping for a good Mexican restaurant in the area and this place sounded promising.

By: Berny

Berny — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:05:11 +0000

I thought I would try Banditos and had similar experience to those mentioned here. Food was bland and uninspired and not worth the $$$. If you want good mexican try El Cactus in Coralville, good and inexpensive.

By: Derek Perez

Derek Perez — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:54:45 +0000

That was only for Mark, but thanks

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:14:47 +0000

Thanks for that clear, fully reasoned statement Derek Perez, Owner of El Banditos in Iowa City.

By: Derek Perez

Derek Perez — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:39:31 +0000

Sometimes I blog because I dont like to be bothered with reality. I like puppies and little strings made into funny shapes. I have no real clue about what goes on in the real world or how to formulate a clear, fully reasoned statement. I don’t like anything that is different and dont want to be seen pleasuring myself by flaggelation. I really don’t like to be here. In the end all I can do is snicker from behind a curtain and never face the person I delight in hurting, but I am some one…

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:44:06 +0000

I won’t be back. It didn’t feel like a gigantic waste of money, but just not worth going back. There are enough places like El Paso, Los Portales, El Ranchero, and La Reyna to satisfy a Mexican/Mexican-inspired craving at better locations with better salsa. Perfect for drunk or carless students in the downtown area.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Yeah that thought crossed my mind too Derek. I’ve been to Los Portales a few times and I have come close to vomiting both times (no joke, I felt sick for a few days). I see that Bandito’s is officially open now so I will stop by sometime and give it another try.

By: derek

derek — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:08:11 +0000

wow, I wish you would have told me, I wonder why i had so many people tell me they loved it. Maybe you work at los portales? could be…

By: fabchristy

fabchristy — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:28:49 +0000

i had the mole. i wanted to vomit. this restaurant is a joke. inauthentic, different than most restaurants in the area, yes, but terrible imitations of real Mexican food. I’ll take a well-grilled chicken breast at Los Portales.