Olé has it all: Hard-to-eat food, curt staff, bland decor
By CRYSTAL PETROCELLI
Get Out

Wait: We walk in at 1 p.m. on a Friday and are seated moments later.

Service: The hostess welcomes us with an I’m-not-a-fan-of-my-job “Two?” and not a word more. Our server is speedy, but almost to the point of being short with us. Refills on waters and chips come without asking and well before we are in need of either, which is nice, especially after we set our mouths on fire with a tiny taste of the fiery-and-foul habañero salsa (stick with the tomatillo). The biggest disappointment comes when no one realizes we are finished eating, even though we stack our plates and toss our napkins on top. Several staffers pass by before our server finally notices and clears the dishes.

Meal: Our fajita wrap is stuffed with grilled chicken strips and large pieces of grilled bell peppers, white onions and mushrooms with a touch of sour cream and guacamole. Most of the veggies could use more time in the frying pan — they are still a tad raw — but it is enjoyable nonetheless. I wish it had been more tightly wrapped; it is impossible to eat with your hands and even a challenge with a fork and knife.

The three-combo plate is huge, but nothing on it is very appetizing. The chicken enchilada and spicy beef tamale are smothered in a forgettable green sauce. The steak taco is built on an uncooked corn tortilla — strike one — and placed in an aluminum-foil pocket, which creates condensation — strike two. The result? The entire thing crumbles on my first bite.

Scene: It’s a new restaurant in an old building, and it ain’t pretty. Walls are a legal-pad-yellow color with sections of fake wood, and the carpet is a thin, blue-speckled cheapy. The small, uncomfortable booths in the section of the dining room where we sit has no leg room, and my half of the booth rocks and squeaks. I’ve never been more annoyed by a chair. The colorful blown-glass light fixtures hanging over each table are the only interesting design element.

Bathroom break: There is a black hairnet draped over an open plastic trash can. A first and hopefully a last.

Tab for two: $27 with tip and tax for medium guacamole ($2.95), fajita wrap ($6.95) and three-item combo ($10.95).

If work weren’t buying: I wouldn’t have been crushed if I were spending my own cash, but I won’t be back either.

SCORECARD
Food C-
Service C
Scene D
Bathrooms C
Overal lC-

Olé Restaurant & Cantina
459 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert

Major cross streets: Gilbert and Guadalupe roads
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday though Saturday Reservations accepted: Yes Health report: One major violation on Jan. 28 Kid friendly: Yes Web site: No