El Big Bad in Houston

Hello. No. I don't recommend anything about this business. We went for national margarita day. Sat at the bar, and were promptly ignored for 17 minutes. I know this because I made sure to set my timer so my review would be accurate. There were 3 bartenders. A woman and 2 men. One gentleman made eye contact but didn't offer service, the other two actively ignore my party of three THAT WAS SEATED DIRECTLY AT THE BAR and never engaged. ALL of my friends and I are in the industry, and we are all also BLACK. At bare minimum a simple 'Hey ya'll gimmie a minute I'll be right with you!' would have sufficed. The white man to my right was served food, a shot, and a drink before we were spoken to. The white man to the left and his partner were spoken to as soon as they got to the bar, given shots, and drinks, and we still hadn't been spoken to. In my time there a manager said several items were 86'd, and some items were low. After 17 minutes we were finally acknowledged by the bartender to my right less than enthusiastically. We ordered one beverage and left. Please understand despite it being a 'holiday' there were only 5 people seated at the bar, not counting the three of us. No one was in the weeds, no one was running crazy, there was just an exuberant amount of effort given to NOT acknowledging or helping US. Lastly grat was auto added to our checks. If that's standard... ok. But,...

El Big Bad consistently has poor service, rude staff and is filthy. I had hoped they might have a deep clean during the pandemic but no. Still gross. The patio could use some work and you will be charged an AUTOMATIC 20% gratuity even if you order at the bar. Yeah - really. I only went because a friend suggested going for National Margarita day. Never again. Don't waste your money. Nobody cleaned our table either. What exactly was that 20% for?!!! It sure is not spent on cleaning products! Nobody ever collected our glasses or plates and there are lots of birds out there!

The food here is so freaking good it makes you angry.m that you're full. The enchiladas are made by the Lord himself. The margaritas are hand squeezed from the alcoholic limes from the tree of life. This place is so underrated it is mind blowing. If you want delicious, affordable Mexican food in the downtown area don't go anywhere but El Big Bad. Can't wait to return