Disappointed and Underwhelmed - Not the "Sabor" I Expected
First and foremost, based on the hype and social media presence, I had high expectations walking into Sabor Mexican Restaurant in Van Nuys. Sadly, expectations quickly turned into disappointment.
Let's start with the positives: the decor is beautiful. The murals, the black floors and tables, the lighting, the layout of the bar, and the TVs throughout the space all give off a trendy, polished vibe. The physical space had promise -- unfortunately, that's where the positives ended.
Now to the real experience -- the service and food:
As soon as we walked in, the hostess was more engaged with her phone than with us. No greeting, no warmth, no direction. We ended up seating ourselves. I asked for a high chair for my toddler -- rather than helping, she casually pointed in the direction, expecting us to grab it ourselves. That already set the tone.
We weren't offered water. My menu was sticky and greasy. I asked for a "Sabrosita" (the flight of margaritas shown on their own menu and Instagram). The server seemed confused and had no idea what I was talking about. When she brought one tiny margarita, I asked about the rest of the flight, and she claimed that was the whole thing -- for $20! I questioned her because the pricing and presentation clearly didn't add up. A full-sized flavored margarita is $8-$11, so why would one mini cup cost nearly double? The back-and-forth was frustrating. I finally gave up and just asked for a regular-sized drink. Apparently, at Sabor, the customer isn't always right.
We ordered guacamole that could have been excellent -- but someone in the kitchen decided to drown it in salt. It was almost inedible. Our entrees? Chicken fajitas and steak & eggs with rice, beans, plantains. Let's break it down:
* Rice was undercooked.
* Beans were bland and tasted like they were straight from a can.
* Meat was dry and lacked flavor or care in preparation.
The restaurant was basically empty (just one other table), yet we weren't checked on once during our entire meal. No offer of more napkins, water, or "how's everything going?" - especially important when you have a child dining with you. To make things worse, it took effort just to flag someone down for the bill, and even then, no thank you, no goodbye, no basic decency.
Overall Thoughts & Recommendations:
Sabor needs to seriously invest in customer service training, better quality control in the kitchen, and more attentive management. Hospitality is just as important as ambiance -- and right now, the soul is missing.
Here's what I suggest if this restaurant wants to live up to its name and reputation:
* Train staff to greet guests warmly and proactively assist with seating, high chairs, and water -- the bare minimum.
* Educate servers on the menu. Don't advertise items you're not prepared to serve or explain.
* Re-evaluate pricing and presentation of specialty drinks like the Sabrosita -- and honor what's on your menu.
* Taste your food before sending it out. Balance your seasoning and ensure basics like rice and beans are properly prepared.
* Improve guest check-ins and table attention, even when the place is slow. Especially when families with young kids are dining.
* Clean your menus and create an overall more professional, thoughtful experience.
Unfortunately, this visit left a bad taste -- and not from the seasoning. With better leadership and a stronger commitment to hospitality, Sabor could become something special. But until then, I can't recommend it. read more