San Angel Inn - Food's Bad

[BachataMan]

San Angel Inn is a restaurant I really wanted to enjoy but have a hard time doing so. I have disagreements about how bad certain restaurants are with the DIS Unplugged staff, especially Boatwrights and Hollywood & Vine, but San Angel Inn is one I will agree with them on about how bad it is.

The atmosphere is amazing, and I remember when I was on a 7th grade field trip wanting to eat there instead of quick service over at American Adventure (which we all had vouchers for) even though at the time I didn't like Mexican food. I don't know, maybe it was just the feeling of being important I wanted, eating in a classy-looking restaurant that turned out, years later, to be not so classy.

Service is about average to downright negligent. I guess it depends on the server you get. In the context of Mexican restaurants, some servers are definitely better than others.

Food is bad. How bad? Let's take the chips and salsa for example. The chips you can tell were store-bought in a bag from Publix or Walmart. The salsa tasted like bbq sauce. The entrees are mediocre at best. Maybe there's one menu item that beats the rest out in my opinion, but I haven't had it yet. I'll admit I am a little more picky about Mexican food than I am about any other type of food, but I'm not like someone who's from California or any of the border states where good Mexican food is a big deal.

Nevertheless, I'd still like to check out the other Mexican restaurant that's on the lagoon side. I heard that one is better.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Try La Hacienda. It is closer to California than San Angel...............

 

[Disneylover99]

Love San Angel Inn!

It's one of my favourite places to dine in DW cause the food and service has always been consistently top notch.
We always go as soon as it opens for lunch. Maybe that's the difference?

 

[heidijanesmith]

Totally agree! I had booked the restaurant for our big family trip, all 13 of us, as we all love Mexican food and the atmosphere is so beautiful.

We all had a very bad experience; terrible food and very bad service.

The atmosphere is great, but there are so many good choices at EPCOT, we dine elsewhere.

 

[ChanduTail]

I don't want to say that I had a "bad" meal here, because I really had a good time and the restaurant was beautiful.

I was disappointed in the food, though. I love Mexican food, but I didn't like San Angel Inn's version of it. Everything we ordered was lukewarm, a bit "off" in terms of flavor (such as the guacamole that somehow managed to taste like nothing, or the mole sauce that made me feel like I had just licked a bottle of cinnamon), and/or mushy when it shouldn't have been.

I did like La Hacienda!

 

[Shanti]

San Angel Inn is a restaurant I really wanted to enjoy but have a hard time doing so. I have disagreements about how bad certain restaurants are with the DIS Unplugged staff, especially Boatwrights and Hollywood & Vine, but San Angel Inn is one I will agree with them on about how bad it is.

The atmosphere is amazing, and I remember when I was on a 7th grade field trip wanting to eat there instead of quick service over at American Adventure (which we all had vouchers for) even though at the time I didn't like Mexican food. I don't know, maybe it was just the feeling of being important I wanted, eating in a classy-looking restaurant that turned out, years later, to be not so classy.

Service is about average to downright negligent. I guess it depends on the server you get. In the context of Mexican restaurants, some servers are definitely better than others.

Food is bad. How bad? Let's take the chips and salsa for example. The chips you can tell were store-bought in a bag from Publix or Walmart. The salsa tasted like bbq sauce. The entrees are mediocre at best. Maybe there's one menu item that beats the rest out in my opinion, but I haven't had it yet. I'll admit I am a little more picky about Mexican food than I am about any other type of food, but I'm not like someone who's from California or any of the border states where good Mexican food is a big deal.

Nevertheless, I'd still like to check out the other Mexican restaurant that's on the lagoon side. I heard that one is better.

We've eaten there a few times and found it to be just fine. Nothing awesome about the food, but no problems, either. Everything was properly made and served at the right temperature, for example. The atmosphere is very nice, with the erupting volcano, waterside view & nighttime village simulation.

This thread's title is misleading. Calling it "mediocre", as it is described within the actual post, would be more correct. "Food's bad" suggests that it tastes gross, isn't cooked right or could make someone ill.

Foodies usually aren't satisfied with regular table service restaurants at WDW. They love to pick apart the ingredients, preparation, etc. But for someone who just wants to eat a solid meal in a themed setting as part of the Disney experience, San Angel Inn is a good bet.

 

[JerseyJanice]

We had two very good dishes when we ate there in 2009.

One was the shrimp kebabs my son ordered. The spices coating the shrimp were really delicious.

The other was a white chocolate mousse served in a fried tortilla shell with cajeta sauce and fresh berries. If you’ve ever had cajeta, then you know how good this stuff tastes. You could probably serve it on top of a dirty sock, and it would be yum.

The atmosphere and the drinks there are wonderful. I think if you go and stick to the simpler offerings, it’s worth trying.

 

[Thing 1]

We have eaten there many times and never had a bad meal. I would not rate it the very best Mexican I have ever eaten, but always good and I love the restauran setting.

 

[NYCgrrl]

On a different thread I stated that I liked all the restaurants in the World Showcase w/ the exception of the American Pavilion because what they serve I could get at many of the parks' quick service counters. When I wrote that I forgot that I was also avoiding the Mexico Pavilion offerings. Great theming but my stomach cant taste that and isn't that the point?

 

[OneinThree]

Bad enough to incur food safety violations.

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=6264277&licid=3315777

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I first visited EP in the 1980's and one of my absolute, fondest memories was eating at San Angel - the immersive atmosphere, the service and the food! Fast forward to trying it 3 or 4 times on subsequent trips and, well, yuck!! On one trip, the server noticed we barely ate anything (I remember my fish was greasy - something I'd never experienced with fish before!). I didn't say anything because I didn't feel it was worth it. When he gave us the bill, he had discounted the meals - he, too, understood just how bad the food was!

 

[Huff]

I love San Angel Inn. Great experience every time. I do often see people expecting what I call the typical GringoMex food they would find in typical Mexican restaurants around the country. Your usual tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas etc. San Angel disappoints those looking for such. I find their food far closer to what I find in Mexico further south than Sonora.

That said, I have had lousy experiences at many of the better restaurants at one time or another. It happens, bad food or bad service.

 

[dachsie]

I love San Angel Inn. Great experience every time. I do often see people expecting what I call the typical GringoMex food they would find in typical Mexican restaurants around the country. Your usual tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas etc. San Angel disappoints those looking for such. I find their food far closer to what I find in Mexico further south than Sonora.

That said, I have had lousy experiences at many of the better restaurants at one time or another. It happens, bad food or bad service.

Yes, most people hear Mexican and they think Tex Mex

 

[Shanti]

Bad enough to incur food safety violations.

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=6264277&licid=3315777

The result of the visit was "Met Inspection Standards", actually.

 

[brertoad]

What did you order? You said "entrees were mediocre" but didn't mention what you ate other than the free chips and salsa?

 

[OneinThree]

The result of the visit was "Met Inspection Standards", actually.

As opposed to what? There were a number of violations:

Routine - Food 08/22/2017 Met Inspection Standards
During This Visit
More information about inspections.
1 4 4
Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below. The department cites violations of Florida's sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Code. High Priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing. Intermediate violations are those which, if not addressed, could lead to risk factors that contribute to foodborne illness or injury. These violations include personnel training, documentation or record keeping and labeling. Basic violations are those which are considered best practices to implement. While most establishments correct all violations in a timely manner (often during the inspection), the division's procedures are designed to compel compliance with all violations through follow-up visits, administration action or closure when necessary.
Violation Observation
51-11-4 Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Observed next to the beverage cooler.
36-22-4 Basic - Floor area(s) covered with heavy standing water. Observed in cook line area.
08B-13-4 Basic - Stored food not covered in walk-in freezer. Observed uncovered containers of cooked stuffed peppers stored in walk in freezer. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4 Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Observed in bar area and in expo area. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-01-4 High Priority - Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed in walk in cooler. Cooked pineapples preparation dated is 8/20/17 and discard date is 08/27/17. Cut tomatoes salse preparation date is 08/21/17 and discard date is 08/28/17.
31A-02-4 Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use due to being blocked by equipment. Observed in dish machine area. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4 Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. For washing basil, observed in bar area. **Corrected On-Site**
22-16-4 Intermediate - Reach-in cooler soiled with heavy food debris/ heavy mold like substance. Observed inside reach in cooler located in cook line area. **Corrected On-Site**
53B-09-4 Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. **Corrected On-Site*

Typically, they are given the opportunity to address these but it doesn't make me feel any better about eating there. Shouldn't happen at any restaurant, let alone one on Disney property for the exorbitant prices paid for aspiring Taco-Bell.

 

[gillep]

As opposed to what? There were a number of violations:

Routine - Food 08/22/2017 Met Inspection Standards
During This Visit
More information about inspections.
1 4 4
Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below. The department cites violations of Florida's sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Code. High Priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing. Intermediate violations are those which, if not addressed, could lead to risk factors that contribute to foodborne illness or injury. These violations include personnel training, documentation or record keeping and labeling. Basic violations are those which are considered best practices to implement. While most establishments correct all violations in a timely manner (often during the inspection), the division's procedures are designed to compel compliance with all violations through follow-up visits, administration action or closure when necessary.
Violation Observation
51-11-4 Basic - Carbon dioxide tanks not adequately secured. Observed next to the beverage cooler.
36-22-4 Basic - Floor area(s) covered with heavy standing water. Observed in cook line area.
08B-13-4 Basic - Stored food not covered in walk-in freezer. Observed uncovered containers of cooked stuffed peppers stored in walk in freezer. **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4 Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Observed in bar area and in expo area. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-01-4 High Priority - Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Observed in walk in cooler. Cooked pineapples preparation dated is 8/20/17 and discard date is 08/27/17. Cut tomatoes salse preparation date is 08/21/17 and discard date is 08/28/17.
31A-02-4 Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use due to being blocked by equipment. Observed in dish machine area. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4 Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. For washing basil, observed in bar area. **Corrected On-Site**
22-16-4 Intermediate - Reach-in cooler soiled with heavy food debris/ heavy mold like substance. Observed inside reach in cooler located in cook line area. **Corrected On-Site**
53B-09-4 Intermediate - Required employee training provided by a third-party employee training program and operator unable to provide original certificate for employees trained. **Corrected On-Site*

Typically, they are given the opportunity to address these but it doesn't make me feel any better about eating there. Shouldn't happen at any restaurant, let alone one on Disney property for the exorbitant prices paid for aspiring Taco-Bell.

Well for instance on 4/13/18 this is the result for Bongos: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=6462417&id=2213740


Routine - Food 04/13/2018

Follow-up Inspection Required
Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

So yes it can certainly be worse

I checked about 10 restaurants that I could think of off the top of my head before I got bored and the majority came up with Met Inspection Standards with some violations listed

 

[gharter]

Agree that the atmosphere is beautiful. We have good authentic Mexican food at home, and this is just not good.
Its lacking in the flavor that good Mexican food has. It could be so much better.
We've tried it twice and will not go back to the restaurant unless the food quality improves.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I went on my honeymoon and had great service and excellent food. Clearly they have their ups and downs but I wouldn't rate this as Bad

 

[North of Mouse]

Well for instance on 4/13/18 this is the result for Bongos: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=6462417&id=2213740


Routine - Food 04/13/2018

Follow-up Inspection Required
Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.

So yes it can certainly be worse

I checked about 10 restaurants that I could think of off the top of my head before I got bored and the majority came up with Met Inspection Standards with some violations listed

LOL, yes, it's the same where we live - not sure why they do inspections!! You have to be falling down filthy to get a failing grade! Bugs everywhere?? No problem! We'll lower your grade to 90 - still an A!! Say what?? If my kitchen had some of those violations, I would shut it down myself!!

Amazing what they can get by with and still have an A or B. I watched at a local Mexican diner (was facing toward back near drink station) while a waiter picked up a towel by drinks, put it on the floor, used his shoe to clean up spilled tea, then put the towel back on the table!!!! We were ready to leave, so left and will never return.