El Chaparral - Merrillville

I felt compelled to write a review before we even left the restaurant because it was that good! My fiancé and I are from Los Angeles, and one thing we've really missed since moving here is quality Mexican food, which we haven't been able to find... until now! Dining here completely changed that! The service was outstanding, and the atmosphere was just right, thanks to the beautiful decor and music. I've already told my fiancé that, despite being a few hundred miles from home, I will be encouraging her to take another road trip just to come back here! P.S. Our server, Bryan, was friendly and professional.

After we placed our order, we hardly saw her. My wife had to approach her to discuss a food allergy item, to which Laurentina responded casually but still managed to remove it from both our plates when the food arrived. Rather than making a fuss, we simply asked for drink refills, which my wife never received. I requested salsa for my tacos, but that never arrived either. Eventually, Tina came to our table as we were stacking our plates and promised to bring the refills. However, she once again passed by us without the drinks and instead handed us the bill, totaling over $36. I inquired about a military discount, and although I honestly admitted we weren't both in the military, I mentioned that my wife was my spouse. Tina informed us that only active military personnel qualify for a discount. No problem, we accepted that. However, when the bill was adjusted, it increased to over $37. It turned out Tina had forgotten to include my wife's sweet tea and added that charge after applying the discount. When I brought this discrepancy to her attention, Tina simply stated she had made an error and provided no apology for the various issues we faced during our visit. Tina's lack of professionalism and failure to address her mistakes beforehand was frustrating. If you decide to visit the location on 1604, I highly recommend requesting a different server and not having Laurentina attend to your table!

Dining Experience: Dinner Price Range per Person: $50–100 Food Rating: 5/5 Service Rating: 5/5 Atmosphere Rating: 5/5 Recommended Dish: Chicken Fajitas If you’re a vegetarian, this place comes highly recommended!

**Dining Experience:** Dinner **Cost per Person:** $20–30 **Recommended Dish:** Molcajete **Parking Availability:** Ample parking space **Parking Options:** Free parking lot

Authentic Mexican food. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Affordable compare to similar places. Their drinks are excellent. Meal type: Brunch Price per person: $10–20 Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4