When did mainetoday.com turn into a forum for personal gripes? I cannot believe that this personal vendetta against the servers at Mesa Verde is first and foremost on this website. Amy Martin's experience at Mesa Verde may not have met her standards, but I'm not sure that she has the authority, or should have the privilage, of potentially damaging a business--any business--in this libelous manner. The way a margarita tastes to an individual (and her FRIEND) is pretty subjective. I don't think describing one as "crappy" is even remotely acceptable in this context. Furthermore, while the servers at Mesa Verde may have mishandled a disgruntled customer (NEVER, EVER "get into it" with a customer people), what if I were to observe Ms. Martin for an hour and post my thoughts on her personal behavior on a "news" website? As for "Happy Hour," I'm pretty sure it's common practice for people to mention happy hour, as in "I'm here for the happy hour Nachos," or "what's the happy hour special?" And who EATS at happy hour anyway? p.s. I've never even been to Mesa Verde, I only visited mainetoday.com to look at the apartments for rent section...

yeah, Amy. whatever happened to painting the roses red? when faced with shoddy service and bad drinks you need to pick up that salt shaker and take a grain for the road. there really is no point to even writing an article if you can't sugar coat 'crap'. (being facetious...for those without salt-shakers from which to gather grains)

Second time I visited Mesa Verde it was for happy hour. My friend and I had no problem figuring out the happy our menu, we also choose to ask our server questions. You were very rude to the server with your, "and lime isn't a fruit" comment.

Liz would have you believe that it's normal and customary to utter a restaurant (special) secret code word or handshake--in a special order--to get what anyone on this planet expects--happy hour prices during happy hour. It's the same practice that servers (foisted by the restaurants they work for) to speed dial through the night's specials without telling you the prices, only to find out that that "special" scrod you ordered was $38. Liz: Stick with looking for apartments. Amy was performing a public service. Bad policy and bad service means: Stay away from this dump.

mike, last time I checked 5:30 is dinner time for some. Usually a special at a restaurant means it is not normally offered.

I'm with you Mike. How is customer service to improve if people are not called out on crappy service? Isn't it the establishment's job to ask "happy hour or regular version?" As customers, we are supposed to be responsible for that? Please! Thank you for the enlightenment Amy!

Catsome: 5:30 is dinner time for geriatrics. My point on specials--which you totally missed--is that servers and restaurants DON"T TELL YOU THE PRICE OF THE SPECIALS WHEN THEY RECITE THEM, BEFORE YOU ORDER THEM AND THEN YOU GET A SURPRISE WHEN THE CHECK COMES BECAUSE YOU DIDN"T KNOW THE PRICE...Comprende?

Happy hour should be happy hour. As if you have to ask for the happy hour prices. Who wouldn't want the lesser priced item? Would anyone go in to a restaurant for happy hour and ask to pay full price. What's the point? Besides, the customer always right? Especially customers with blogs.

Liz, please please please spend an hour observing me and write about it! PS - this isn't a news site.

a server with any experience would have informed the patron at ordering that the drink was not on special... that what they were ordering was at the regular price and not the Happy hour price. A server with experience would NEVER argue when called out... the server should have politly let the customer know what the error was (really the swerver error) and to give the discounted price as a few dollers to the owner is not worth bad press or word of mouth... Now if the drink was "crappy" send it back get it right or get it free.

This is a ridiculous article... get your own little personal blog if you want to gripe. I hope you have a day job, because you're no writer.

I went to Mesa Verde a while back, hankerin' for some Mexican food & hoping to avoid the chains by the mall. My friend & I waited 15 minutes for our drinks, another 15 to place our order, and another 15 to just FIND the waitress so that we could simply tell her to forget the order- we then left. During the 45 minute ordeal, we watched 2 other tables leave in disgust before their meals arrived. I understand that servers get 'backed up' occasionally, but Jesus Christ, at least let me know what's going on, and bring me some chips in the meantime. I'll never go back.

The server has an obligation to ask if the diner is ordering happy hour tacos or menu tacos.

Is there a difference in them other than price? If not, the servers contention that one must stipulate the words 'happy hour' before 'taco' is ludicrous.

If there is a difference, other than price, obviously the server would describe the difference.

Anyone know the facts on this?

Amy,

I'd really like it if you lied to me and told me you had a perfect experience next time... But since you chose to tell it like it was- I hardly view it as you trying to "potentially damaging a business--any business--in this libelous manner." Perhaps this will simply help Mesa Verde take a look at their staff and make improvements- who wouldn't want that? You had a bad experience and you do have the "AUTHORITY" to express your opinion. (Maybe you need a disclaimer- the views of A.Martin and Chef Boyfriend are solely based on experience and opinion, please don't take it as word to the Baby Jesus...)

I've always wondered why the place was dead on a Friday night. Now I know.

I personally would like to thank Miss Martin for saving me the aggravation of bad service and worse margs.

PS - That pic is the hottest.Bro.Guy.Dude.

The place is a huge rip-off. Their food is crap. Their drinks are overpriced. Our server was nice but we'd never go back.

In Deutschland liederhosen die Bedienerabnutzung und argumentieren nur mit Ihnen, weil sie Sie mehr Bier trinken und stoppen wünschen, ein Verlierer zu sein. Dieser Stab würde sehr gut nicht im Bayern tun. Ich würde mein daschund nicht zu diesem Platz holen.

"I'm not a connoisseur of frozen drinks, but every now and again you need one to whet the ole' pallette." I think cub reporter Amy should not relay on spell check. The palate is on the roof of the mouth, a pallette is a type of armour. "Facinating" journalism however.

Why thank you, fed! I asked Chef Boyfriend how to spell palate. What was I thinking?

Hey feditor - I happen to enjoying whetting my armor (or, armour, if you prefer) with a margarita now and then, and I appreciate Amy bringing this tradition to light.

But nice job missing the point of the blog. Maybe she can "relay" on you as her future editor?

I'm a Tejanican and consequently a deeply experienced consumer of Tex-Mex and interior Mexico cuisine.

What is served in Mesa Verde is NOT Tex-Mex nor anything else I've ever experienced. Oh, it's okay as far as food goes but NOT if you seek some good ole home cooked Tex-Mex enchiladas, rice, beans and tamales. So far, the best I've experienced in Portland area is Mexico Lindo, even the ambiance is near right. It's not exactly Texican but it's as close as you can expect up here so FAR AWAY from the influence of the jah lap ah know. I'll be reporting on the other experiences with the search for gen YOU wine tex-mex.

I have had dinner at this restaurant. I was pleased with both the food and the service. It was not happy hour when I went. Mebbe that is the difference. What was wrong wrong with the peach margarita? Why/how was it crappy...sour grapes? Amy is right about the Happy Pricing...not the customer's responsability to discern the difference. We pay. That is our only onus.

I agree, NOT the diner's responsibility to specify "happy hour" tacos. That's absurd, and a sleazy way for the restaurant to gouge its customers. Thanks, Amy. I won't be going.

Goodlord...whatever you all might feel about when dinner hour is, waitstaff attitudes etc etc etc. . . it is rather astounding that this establishment remains in business. . . both the margaritas and food are poor as is the service. I should have heeded the vibe when walking through the door - - never again!