La Cocina Bar and Grill

"Good Chips & Salsa. Decent food. Biggest complaint echoes all of the other complaints: a 20% service fee added on to your bill. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a gratuity because it's not. It's basically a 20% Surcharge on the entire menu. Notice also that this service charge is taxed. You are still expected to leave your ordinary gratuity on top of everything else. So rather than be upfront & just increase their menu prices to include the 20%, they would rather play these underhanded hidden fee games. I hope that a recent state bill kills this business practice of hidden fees. And if it doesn't, I wish management would just go through these reviews and see that this is the number one issue customers have! So instead of my review (and others) being about the food and service of this restaurant, it is instead a rant about it's business practices..."

"20% service charge, and unlike what others say - it is not considered the only tip, and not crossed off. When the check was brought I asked about it and they said in case I want to tip. Couldn’t tell you anything about the servers, names, what their smile looks like, anything. Not impressed. Food is probably either you love it or hate it, we didn’t like it but the whole experience was tainted by all the negativity. Note to the owners: You are in a service hospitality business. First noticeable thing through the door is a sign asking us not to stay long - if I had to guess this issue is only with a small percentage of your patrons but instead of addressing it individually you are being negative to 100%. Next to that, multiple paragraphs of small print trying to explain about a 20% service charge I’m sure most miss. Service charge also buried on the menu. If someone happens to see it, that’s a negative first experience. If they don’t see it. You are ending with a negative surprise. Understanding if the service charge is a tip or not is confusing, based on reviews. We spent most of lunch discussing the ins and outs of the charge, not talking about the food or salsa. If you really want to set a flat tip, do it, own it, don’t bury it and cause confusion and negative impressions. Raise the prices 20% and advertise that you are a tip free restaurant. Change the conversation from we have fees, to we pay our people enough. As it stands we won’t be back and can’t recommend it."

"Food was delicious, I had the fish ceviche and my mom had the fried fish tacos. The tortilla chips and salsa are also delicious. My mom and I had the jalapeno cucumber margarita. It was good too. The place smells like leather which didn't bother me. Very nicely decorated and clean. Pretty decent size. Restroom available. Good customer service. Food prices are average to other restaurants with the exception of the Xtra 20% service charge. Each margarita was $15! Large menu good options."