Las Palmeras Family Restaurant

When we stood at the counter to pay, and the waitress asked how everything was, we thought we told her everything. But we came to the conclusion that it would take too long. So we just left. With a lot of our food uneaten. What was one of our favorite stops in Red Deer has become our worst Mexican food experience. I hate to write super negative reviews. But Tripadvisor is a public service. That's how evil comes with good. This place was so new and groundbreaking. A sweet little place on the main strip in Red Deer with a menu of authentic Mexican and Salvadoran treats. We were thrilled by our pit stop between Edmonton and Calgary. The decor is the same. Sweet, colorful and clean. Basic like a Latin diner. We sat immediately and we placed an order for a tiny, and cheap, dish of chips and salsa . The chips were fine, business bought obvious, but that's okay. Salsa on the other side was Ketchupy and terrible. We were in the presence of fresh cilantro in what was otherwise obvious Old El Paso or some other sweet, processed, nasty, store bought American faux salsa. We do either pico de gallo or salsa ourselves almost every week. We know what we're talking about. It's super cheap and easy to do. For a Mexican restaurant serving this stuff is inevitable. I asked for hot sauce. They had their homemade stuff on the front counter. Nice! We waited and waited for hot sauce. We finally asked another waiter. With pride he brought out two pretty dirty bottles of yellow things and described the ingredients in both. During sampling, the first was described as pond water, either cadenne or Habanera being shaken therein. When my wife tried to try, I told her. It was so upset. Really. The second was a mango something, passable when super runny and still bland and... off. Funny, the two bottles of yellow things looked nothing like the bright orange hot sauce that was actually shown on the counter. Like eating was a way earlier, but it changed... The lunch menu was spicy and that's good. My wife ordered them. Beef tacos. I ordered a burrito. Neither tacos nor a burrito were delivered to the table. Instead, my wife plastered over three pieces round, Arta, Sorta, corn base flat bread, with pieces of unseasoned (if well cooked) beef. What the hell are they? Dunno, they were certainly not tortillas. The taste was okay, but they weren't even close to Tortillas. For me it seems like someone took mascara (corn flour), but then prepared it like a pita, or naan. Dick, chew, terrible. Mexicans say the tortilla makes the taco. These were not tortillas and therefore no tacos. And no onions, no Zilantro. Served on the side was more the Old El Paso ish ketchup sauce. She ate a bite and left him. My Burrito was an absolute secret. Burritos can be produced either Mexican ashes (beans, meat, rice) or Tex Mex (cheese and salad). I will try to describe this absolutely not Burrito court. Take one of the above naan/pita/flatbread things, stuff it with (I'm not doing this) a yellowish sauce and ingredients from a strange meat pot cake, wrap, THEN DEEP FRY, and serve. Deep??? I mean, I ate it. I just had to convince myself that I had ordered a strange pancake that was cooked in deep fried flat bread. But as Burrito? Really terrible. We chose this mysterious food when the waitress disappeared (I would also hide) and the waiter sat on a long chat with older regulars. When we ate, we stared at the window on the Greek square above the street and wondered what could have been... Here's my theory. Just a theory. This place was successfully started by Mexicans or Salvadorians who thought that the novelty of an authentic Latin place in Red Deer would be a good idea. That's it. That's why we've often come. But now it seems to have been taken over by someone who once saw Mexican food on a plate or on a TV, then I thought I know what it forms, and ignored the original recipes of the founders. That's the only way I can explain it. Sorry for the long review, but I think really bad reviews require detail. In short, it's not a Mexican restaurant anymore. Avoid as such.

So many good dishes, Mx beer tequilas. Family owned as long as I enter.... About 27 years ago, my ex and I went to this little place around the corner from the hospital and immediately loved the kitchen....Best Mexican cuisine in Alberta maybe western Canada? IMO.

We love Mexican food! So we decided to try this place in the city and are so glad that we did it! The flavors were amazing. the staff was so friendly and helpful! We really enjoyed our experience! And can't wait to come back!! Very recommended!

This place doesn't impress me. I come back every couple of years to give them another chance, but their prices and food taste still don't impress me. Try The Old Fashion Mexican Resturant or Jose in Red Deer if you are looking for good Mexican or Latin food.

Our favorite cuisine is Mexican food. The atmosphere is nice. The nachos and salsa are very good. The piped in music is even better. The waitress was very good and very helpful. Everything here is prepackaged and nuked to their perfection. Neither my wife nor...I finished our plates. Authentic is better. Name brand frozen store bought mexican food is better.