Caliente Mexican Craving | Baton Rouge, LA

1072 W Lee Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA

Address:	1072 W Lee Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
Phone:	+1 225-388-5961
Site:	calientemexicancraving.com
Rating:	3.7
Working:	11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–9:30PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 15

Nick Moore

Wow. I have never had a worse experience at a restaurant in my entire life. Ive worked in restaurants for years, and if either a manager or a server would have ever acted like this towards a customer, they would have been fired on the spot. We came in as a party of 4 and was sat relatively quickly even though it was National Margarita Day. The restaurant was empty as far as seating goes. The bar was overrun with people taking their margaritas to go. Our waitress introduced herself and started off on the right foot taking our drink orders, sharing the specials (2-for-1 margaritas), and took an app order of queso. We received our drinks pretty quickly, as well as the queso. After the queso was delivered, the waitress started over with writing our ticket by taking our first names to easily decipher who ordered what when it came time for checks since we were paying separately. We thought this was odd, but we went with it. 20 minutes goes by, a table of college aged guys sat behind us and were pretty rowdy. Our waitress came by twice to ask if we were okay. By this time, we had finished our queso and requested our second round. Another 15 minutes goes by, we still have yet to receive our second round and the rowdy table behind us is served their food. I approach the manager and ask her to check on the status of our tables food and second order of drinks. She in turn goes to the waitress and tells her to take care of our table. Our waitress comes back and brings us our second round in TO-GO cups... We realize there is an issue here. She did not even realize we had not gotten our food. Of course, she throws blame at the kitchen, and runs back to the waiter station to frantically search for our ticket. She comes back and tells us the kitchen lost our ticket and didnt push out our food. Weve been at this restaurant for over an hour now and have only gotten chips, queso, and salsa to eat. We still wanted our food, and she offered an appetizer comped to tide us over. I ask for another order of queso since not one of us can even think to order something else when all we want is the food we originally ordered. The to-go drinks were somewhat watered down (my friend ordered a frozen top shelf which was no longer frozen), so I took my friends drink back to the bar and asked if they could fix the issue since his first drink was frozen. Several hostesses, waiters/waitresses, AND the manager all told me that the top shelf was more liquified because it had more alcohol in it. My family owned a Daiquiri shop at one time, so Im aware what needs to be done in order to make frozen drinks frozen. They could have told me that they were running the machine like crazy and it may have not had an opportunity to freeze just yet, which is an honest answer I would have taken. Then they should have offered to change it in a few minutes once the machine had a chance to freeze the mix., but no. The manager ended up dumping the drink and refilled it with not top shelf frozen. While at the bar, I noticed three drinks that looks EXACTLY like the drinks we ordered the first time, and servers had come and gone and not bat an eye at those drinks. I told my friend and we went back to the bar to ask for them since they were most likely ours. The server who was standing there was making sure we werent just drunk patrons trying to work one over on the restaurant called our server over to make sure they were our drinks. The server was completely thrown off and ended up letting us take the drinks. After this, our food was brought to us and it was all done right after an hour and a half of aggravation. We were apologized to a couple of times by the waitress, but that was not enough to make up for this complete and utter disgust of an experience. Honestly, I dont know what would make me want to go back even though I live right next door to this place.

Fergie Ferg

Cool atmosphere, nice waitstaff, terrible food. I wish Google reviews would allow pics to be uploaded. I ordered enchiladas with cheese sauce and received what could best be described as a "struggle plate". It was just a mess of cheap store bought chicken cubes, cheese from a can, and tortilla. Shame because with better food itd be a great place to catch a game.

Sarah Hunt

Several of my friends and I visit Caliente once a week. We love the food, the atmosphere, and the people! The owner has become a personal friend of ours, and always takes a minute to chat with us and make sure we are enjoying everything. They have recently remodeled, and everything is new and bright and clean! I highly recommend Caliente to anyone and everyone!

César Fernández

The food could be wayyy better; the drinks are ok. They have 2x1 Monday through wednesday tho. Just get drunk and you wont taste the food :) UPDATE: YOU SHOULD TOTALLY TRY THE NEW ONION FAJITAS. THEYRE JUST GREASY AND DELICIOUS. DONT WORRY, THEY STILL HAVE THE TWO FOR ONE. JUST GET REEEEEAAAAALLLLLYYYYT DRUNK, AND YOURE GONNA ENJOY THEM.

chris larsen

Store bought beans horrible service chips an salsa was only thing i enjoyed save your money. Windows, floor and tables havent been wiped or swept in months. Needs a front and back of house manager to save it. Servers just hung out an talked in a circle there was only 6 tables with guests. Hope they can turn it around.

Bradley King

I always really enjoy eating here. Its a huge asset to the corridor. The waitstaff is always friendly and the food is good. Not mind blowing, but its good tex Mex and not over priced, so what more can ya really ask for?

Katie Kuder

Drinks are very strong! Great margaritas and food. Love the green sauce/salsa verde they have. Patio is beautiful and they have live music sometimes, which is nice. Nice big bar to watch sports on TV.

Jenifer Kidd

Absolutely atrocious, it felt like a pediatric Ward due to the children there and the sterility of the walls. Also, the salsa made me lose my will to live, it was so thin and flavorless.

Ramin Rostampour

Went here for my friends birthday. We sat outside and there was live music and it was WAY too loud! We couldnt hear eachother at all!! Food was average, service was good.

ryan king

Margaritas are good and food is solid for the price. Our waitress had too many tables but I have no complaints about the way she handled everything, she did a great job.

Mark Abshire

Food is really good. OUTSIDE is nice, and music was just right. Have to have the right musician playing. One that cares if you are enjoying your time there.

Jonathon McCauley

The food was not bad but also didnt stand out in the mexican restaurant offerings in town. Nice atmosphere but on the dirty, unclean side. Very nice staff.

eric bush

I love their lunch specials, they are only 5 bucks and pretty tasty for how cheap it is. Also comes out very fast. Have awesome salsa. Margaritas or so so

Eric Varga

It was alright. Overpriced college hangout. Rice had mixed veggies in it! No good! you dont have green beans and lima beans with your Spanish rice.

Eric Hensley

The wait staff did a great job. Food caters to the to the Taco Bell crowd. The beef burrito tasted exactly like what Id expect at the Bell.