I'll Never Go Back
- April 19, 2025
- Rated 1 of 5 by
utterlycool from Tucson, Arizona
Rosa's has been a favorite restaurant of mine for many years, but I will never go back. My sister was visiting me last week, and I took her there as a special treat for her to experience authentic Mexican food. There were five in our party and they tried to seat us at a table barely large enough to accommodate four people, so we asked to be moved. We were treated as if we were asking for the moon!
We waited 20 minutes for somebody to take our order, and then another 40 minutes for our food to arrive. One in our party had to get back to work and cancelled his order and they let us know that they were not pleased about that. Funny thing was that the party of three who were seated in the table they originally tried to stick us in had already received their food and were gone before we were served.
We were told that our order took so long because the steak fajitas take a long time to cook. However, when the food finally arrived, the steak fajitas were stone cold. Rather than wait another 40 minutes for a replacement, we sent the dish back.
The server acknowledged that the food was cold, but nevertheless told us that we would never be served there again and not to come back. I was so embarrassed for my sister to see such rudeness. It colored her whole opinion of Tucson, and not in a good way. No problem Rosa's, I won't be back ever!!
Resting on its Laurels
- December 2, 2025
- Rated 1 of 5 by
lonk from Meeples, Maine
I've been going to Rosa's for over 10 years. It's my neighborhood restaurant.
Five years ago, Rosa's was probably the best Mexican food restaurant in Tucson (aside from in South Tucson). Since their expansion into the adjoining retail space, though, service has gone downhill, food has become mediocre, and the friendly family attitude that used to be such a part of its charm has been replaced with downright indifference bordering on hostility.
The last time I went there really was my last. We went with a group of 8 folks. The atmosphere was chaotic, our server simply barked out "What do you want?!?" as he rushed us through ordering. Our food arrived in a staggered manner (hint to restaurants: people like to eat together... at the same time).
Our bill arrived including at least $30 worth of food we never ordered. When we tried to have it corrected, we were treated with hostility and told (and I quote) "If you don't like it, you don't have to come back." It took almost 20 minutes of arguing with them just to get the superfluous charges removed at which time they insisted on adding a 25% gratuity (we refused... more arguing). We left feeling angry and upset.
Every restaurant has bad nights, but this was not an isolated incident. The last three times we went there were terrible. Service was rushed and chaotic. Food came out at different times and at different temperatures. Items we ordered and did not receive showed up on our bill. Items we didn't order and didn't receive showed up on our bill. The atmosphere was unpleasant. We were seated at dirty tables twice. The waiters and cashiers were rude.
Credit where credit is due. They have some of the best salsa in town, and if that floats your boat, Rosa's is the place to go.
I'll go up the street to Guadalajara Grill or Las Cazuelitas, which are my new neighborhood Mexican restaurants.