Santa Fe on Esplanade gets a D+ grade today..

[BTG]

I stopped by today to check the place out and grab a few appetizers and such and I was blown away by how much this place sucked.
I will start about with the only positive, which is why the place did not get an F. The margerita was pretty good. It didn't taste like the normal sweet mixure was used.

We were seated inside this evening and were only one of two tables to choose this option. After about ten minutes of sitting there, someone came to take our drink order. I tried to order a drink and a appetizer, but was told that she could only take our drink order and that the waitress would be around shortly. Shortly was a little longer than I would like.

Three flys buzzed my food and table constantly. This did not really bother me, but kept my daughter whining the whole time. I guess I would let this slide if it were not for the fact that they door was kept open the whole time, which kept me from seeing the sign that said no credit cards allowed. When the bill came, I had to walk next door and use my ATM card for the $3 plus $1.50 fee to get cash, so I could pay for my meal.

The food was pretty lame. I admit to ordering pretty ordinary stuff, but it was all very bland and tasted like what I would get at Chevy's and Cucos.

Also of particular interest was the ongoing circus of listening to the wait staff go back and forth about which outside table was which number and such, and then watching them try to deliver it to the wrong table over and over again.

I know they are new, but it still was a suprise to see it so crazy. I will be in the area twice next weekend and am debating if I am going to give them another chance or not.

[Blue Cross Sux]

Sounds like you're being too hard on them too soon out of the blocks.

[BTG]

Sounds like you're being too hard on them too soon out of the blocks.

Maybe so. I think a place should have its operations in order before they open the doors though. I am guessing the person in charge was in the kitchen yesterday as it appeared to be total confusion in the front of the house. My waitress was very flustered and it showed.
No working credit card machine.
No decorations at all up.

I know they threw this together so they could be open for Jazzfest and make the $$$$, but they are going to be a mess trying to handle the crowds next weekend.

[edible complex]

from what I'm hearing, this new incarnation is part of the group that bought Santa Fe from Chef Marc and Wendy and reopened in the old location. same group that had La Vita (?), the Italian place in the old Gabrielle location. I went to the "new" Santa Fe in 2006 and found everything to be just as you described. food, service and even the margaritas well horrible. the new owners even had an agreement w/Marc for him to consult w/the kitchen on recipes, etc., but they never consulted w/him. now this new, new incarnation of the group that bought the original has a chef/partner that worked in the kitchen w/Marc so is supposed to be well versed in the original creations.

I'll give them a try, but after the dust settles and after Jazz Fest. I think there is pent-up demand for those original margaritas (the ones w/the heroin in them, J/K) and the chicken max, seafood rellenos, pork quesadillas, crawfish tamales, nachos Santa Fe (and pls bring back the nuts and raisins), and the stacked navajo. I hope they get their act and recipes together, as they failed miserably their first time w/ the "new" and would hate to see the same w/the "new, new" Santa Fe.

[PNG]

The one and only time that we dined there, the food and drinks that they served to us were absolute garbage. You could not pay us to eat there again.

[edible complex]

The one and only time that we dined there, the food and drinks that they served to us were absolute garbage. You could not pay us to eat there again.

was it the original SF, the new Sf or the new, new SF?

[PNG]

The "new."

[edible complex]

The "new."

that would be the "new" at the "old" original location. once the "new" owners took over, they bastardized the place.

[PNG]

Regardless of the who, we ain't goin' back..........................

[bam bam]

I ate there last night. The margaritas were great. The food left a little to be desired. But I had none of the service issues. Although, I had a client pay me in cash earlier in the day. So even though I was informed after my apps were brought that it was cash only, it didn't matter to me.