El Pescador - Santa Paula

We have been coming to this restaurant for years to enjoy delicious seafood, but recently we have noticed that it has become dirty and smelly inside. During our last visit, we counted about 6 dead flies in the window near our table. This decline in cleanliness has greatly decreased the quality of the dining experience. It seems like there may be a lack of management oversight or that the owner does not prioritize upkeep. Unfortunately, we will not be returning to this establishment. We can only give it one star for being an open business. Thank you, but no thank you.

I usually only write reviews for exceptional or terrible experiences. We decided to try El Pescador in Santa Paula, based on its 4.1 rating and photos of the food. We figured we would at least get decent beans, rice, and chips. Although the restaurant specializes in Mexican seafood, we felt confident that we couldn't go wrong with Mexican food staples like beans, rice, and chips. The server was helpful and patient. The chips were average and the salsa was decent. Our food arrived quickly. However, my shredded beef enchilada had very little beef in it. I asked for some extra meat and the server brought me a whole new enchilada, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the red sauce tasted like it came straight from a can. My shredded beef taco had more cheese and vegetables than meat, making it one of the worst tacos I've ever had. The beans were average, the rice was dry and had peas in it, and the guacamole tasted store-bought. My friend had the Chile verde plate and she had similar opinions about her food, noting that the pork was dry and overcooked.

I only enjoyed one of the three dishes I tried at this restaurant. The service was good, rated at 5 out of 5. I dined in for dinner and found the overall atmosphere to be a 3 out of 5.

After an exhausting 11-hour drive and a stay at the hotel next door, I was simply looking for something to eat and didn't really care what. This restaurant turned out to be the best surprise of my 2600-mile trip. Despite my late arrival, the service was impeccable and the food was fantastic. The presentation of the dishes was beautiful and the flavors were outstanding. If I ever find myself in the area again, I would definitely make a point to return.

After a terrible experience at a restaurant in Chapala, where we waited 40 minutes without being served and eventually had to leave, we decided to try this restaurant. The difference in experience was like night and day. We were seated immediately and served chips and salsa soon after. Our server took our order within thirty seconds and our drinks arrived quickly. Our food came out just 10 minutes later and everyone at our table was happy with their meals. We were so impressed with the great service that we spoke to our server, Deanna, to express our gratitude. She apologized and explained that they were actually running a little behind schedule. We were amazed that our food came out so quickly despite this delay. Truly incredible service, deserving of 10 stars.