Dinner at El Banditos in Iowa City
So I’ll just cut to the chase. After reading this article about El Banditos, I decided I had to go and try it out as soon as possible.
Upon finding the place, the first thing I thought was, “wow, this is small.” There are literally six tables in the whole place, two of which only seat two people. I’m not saying that small places aren’t good, but I was a bit surprised to see the kitchen from the front door.
So after a few awkward moments of standing around the door, someone behind the bar acknowledged us and told us to take a seat. After a few minutes, we were brought out some chips and salsa. The chips were good, but the salsa was questionable. My brother, in town for the weekend, likened the salsa to “tomato soup.” I’m not sure exactly what it was, but it was the consistency of a creamy soup with a few bits of cilantro thrown in. We had read about their homemade sangria in the article and were really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, on a Friday night, they were out of sangria.
Since the place is so small, only one person takes the orders for the whole place. You think this would work great, but service was pretty spotty and the waiter seemed kind of flustered trying to take care of everyone.
We finally decided on something and waited patiently for our food. I ordered one beef and one chicken enchilada.
Waiting…
Waiting…
Seriously there are like 15 people in here what is taking so long.
Then finally, some food arrived. And by some, I mean one meal. This is where things got a bit frustrating. It took about 10 minutes after that first meal for the second one to come to the table. Mine was second to come. When I got my plate, I had to take a moment to laugh. I just couldn’t believe that what I ordered had taken that long. These things reminded me of the frozen Taquitos you can get at the store. They did taste pretty good and the sauce they came with was good, but I didn’t think they were anything special.
So by now, I was the only one eating and we were still waiting for our order of two steak tacos. A few minutes later, I finished my minchaladas (mini-enchiladas) and we were still waiting for the steak tacos.
With two of us already done with our meals, and still waiting for the third to come, I almost thought about canceling the last order so we could just get the hell outta there. Finally, his tacos came. This is when I decided I will probably never go back to El Banditos. His plate was 4 small flour tortillas, with a little bit of steak and onions on them. All that time for such a small and unexciting meal. When he got it, he looked at me and laughed, but I could tell he was upset.
I think it was a combination of things that led to such a bad experience at El Banditos. First, the Corridor Buzz article really made it seem as if it was something special. There is no good place in Iowa City for Mexican food, so I thought this would be a place I could go to every few weeks for some good meals. I appreciate that everything is homemade and made-from-scratch, but the way the meals came out in waves, the slow service, the ridiculously long wait, no ice in my water (it’s the little things) and only decent food made my first trip to El Banditos likely my last, at least for a while. Their one saving grace is that they deliver. So if I am ever able think ahead a few hours before I am actually hungry, I might give their delivery a try.
[UPDATE: Comments for this post are now closed. I would like to remind readers to stay away from personal attacks on this site. Everyone has an opinion and those opinions should not lead to personal attacks. It was not my intention to have people get so utterly passionate about this post. I merely wanted to convey my experience at El Banditos. I will not be moderating any comments prior to closing the forum on this post, and people can take away whatever they would like from them. 01/10/2010]
Norah, 
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Berny and 11 others are discussing.
Jen 7:34 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
I’m sorry you had such a crappy experience, but your review made me laugh. Thanks for the heads up though, now I know where NOT to go for Mexican food!
Samuel 7:44 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
I had a completely different experience, the service was a little slow but the food was entirely worth the wait. I had the steak tacos, and you simply can’t get real taqueria tacos like that anywhere around here. I think it’s worth mentioning that the place has only been open for a couple weeks and still isn’t really settled into their space/kitchen habit. I say you should try back in a few months to see how it settles.
Matt 8:01 am on November 1, 2009 Permalink
That’s a good point Samuel. Maybe I just had to many pictures in my head before we went there. I also think it is a valid point that it has only been open a few weeks and that they are prob. still just getting settled in. Maybe I should have ordered something else as well. I do think that the service and wait time played a big part in what I took out of my experience there though.
Joe 10:58 pm on November 3, 2009 Permalink
I’m sorry but chopped steak bits and chopped onions (that weren’t even fresh btw) on 2 (why two?) incredibly mouth-drying tortillas was laughable.
Not to mention the Campbell’s Tomato Soup salsa and the “hot salsa” that had no flavor but just an afterburn.
Very poor quality imo.
derek 10:25 pm on November 12, 2009 Permalink
First of all, thanks for coming, most of the issues you relate to on your rant are true. I, as the owner, am to expect criticism. I have to relate that the menu is changing and has changed since the first Friday we were open(when you came in). Usually i would deny criticism but everything you said was one hundred percent correct. I do hate to see someone tell everyone how horrible something is when we have yet to officially open. Why not reserve your comments for after the grand opening and then I wont lose customers like Jen. Everthing is made from scratch and my repeat customer list grows daily. I’m sure you have attempted to open something once or twice in the past. 126 was laughable the first month we were open, ticket times were nearly two hours, but there is no review of the restaurant that first month so we had a better chance to make a first impression. Thanks for the awful review though.
Matt 10:52 pm on November 12, 2009 Permalink
Derek-
When do you expect the grand opening to be? I’ll gladly come back after then and give your place another shot. I guess I didn’t realize the difference between opening and a grand opening.
Ben 7:15 pm on November 13, 2009 Permalink
I had dinner at El Banditos tonight and really enjoyed both the food and service. I thought the staff was quite friendly and the food came out very fast. The tacos were very good, I especially enjoyed the tortillas. Fresh made margaritas were an added bonus. With great food and reasonable prices I would definitely reccomend El Banditos to anyone looking for authentic mexican food in Iowa City.
Jen 10:26 am on November 14, 2009 Permalink
My boyfriend and I ate at El Banditos on the “opening” (not “grand opening”) night. Our experience mirrored yours, we probably won’t go back. As far as all of the food being “made from scratch” (as per Derek), twice we saw someone walk through the dining room with large bags of vacuum sealed guacamole, which I assume were the source of the tasteless guac we were served with chips as an appetizer. The mole sauce on my chicken did not even resemble mole – it was thin, light red, and greasy. That said, I did appreciate that the margaritas were not prepared with generic sweet and sour sauce, they had a nice flavor.
derek 8:51 pm on November 16, 2009 Permalink
you are an idiot, and wrong, the bag was lettuce, and since I am not a god, i chose not make it…this time
jesus 2:35 pm on November 17, 2009 Permalink
I’ll try El Banditos tonight. However, to say there is no good Mexican food in iowa city discredits this critique instantly. El Paso just off Hwy 6 is where it’s at! Or if you would prefer to sit La Reyna at 1937 Keokuk St. is excellent. Be sure to take home some tamales. They freeze great and heat up easy for lunch.
Matt 3:21 pm on November 17, 2009 Permalink
I wouldn’t exactly call it a critique. It is just my experience when I went. I’ll have to try those other places you suggested. I have been to a few others in town and left them both feelin queasy. Maybe I’m just spoiled because when I go home to Des Moines I always eat at Monterrey, which is a great place to get some Mex food. Let me know how el banditos is as I don’t think they have had their grand opening yet.
jesus 4:03 pm on November 17, 2009 Permalink
You are correct. This was not a critique and I do value your experience and willingness to share. Let us know what you think of El Paso and I look forward to your blog.
flutterbyblue 8:51 pm on November 27, 2009 Permalink
I read your review after trying out El Bandito for myself. I was also unimpressed by the food (and having read the Corridor article had such high expectations going in!) Ah well, it’s possible the place may improve with time. I think it is quite good of you to volunteer to go back once they have their “Grand Opening.” I am not sure I will be back myself, but I would be interested to hear how it goes.
fabchristy 9:28 pm on December 12, 2009 Permalink
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.
derek 1:08 am on December 14, 2009 Permalink
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…
Matt 9:01 am on December 14, 2009 Permalink
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.
Mark 6:44 pm on December 16, 2009 Permalink
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.
Derek Perez 12:39 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink
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…
Matt 2:14 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink
Thanks for that clear, fully reasoned statement Derek Perez, Owner of El Banditos in Iowa City.
Derek Perez 6:54 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink
That was only for Mark, but thanks
Berny 8:05 am on December 24, 2009 Permalink
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.
Matt 11:00 pm on January 7, 2010 Permalink
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.
Norah 11:05 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink
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!