Chevys Fresh Mex

my friend and i ordered the guacamole and chips — simple appetizer. the chips were quite warm, which is always a plus. i chose the chicken enchilada dinner, and i was not disappointed. the sauce was not too spicy, but with just enough kick. well worth the price i paid.
wait staff were just wonderful. they had a great sense of humour, very courteous, and gracious. they were constantly on the ball. they’d check on our status — bringing drink refills before we’d even ask.
the little kid in the other booth was annoying, but that did not distract from us enjoying a great meal. for me, this place has become a favourite place to eat.

Food is simply OK but terribly overpriced. Over the years the portions have been shrinking and the delicious fresh flour tortillas from the machine are gone, replaced with ones that taste no better than packaged ones from Safeway.
The worst part of eating here is it’s location in a crappy mall (see my review of Fresh Choice located in the same mall).

I usually go to the Union Landing location, but decided to meet a friend here who I haven’t seen a long time. Wow. Next time, I’ll pick her up and take her to the UC. The service here, rotten!
Mind you, Chevy’s has changed quite a bit since my last visit to any of their locations. The tortilla machine is now gone and replaced by R2-D2’s cousin Needs-​2GO. The quality of the food is what I remembered it, but the menu items changed. The «Mixed Grill» is now the «Plato Grande», which is actually smaller. Nice try. I ordered a cheese enchilada that came covered in red sauce topped with ground beef. «It’s hot be careful», the server says, as he holds it over my head before placing it on the table. It was overcooked, basically fried. I ended up eating more off of my husband’s plate.
My friend’s salad actually looked good, but when the server dropped off our food he just placed the dressing next to the salsa and since both looked the same it was a bit confusing. We asked for refills several times and napkins only arrived seconds before our meal was served. It’s a bit frustrating when you are eating chips and salsa and have nothing to wipe the crumbs off of you. My friend asked for lemon and the server went over my husband’s head to place the lemon rather than walking around and doing it in a more appropriate manner. This asshole was lazy as fuck. We saw him about three times and we were there for about 2 hours.
I enjoyed the time I spent conversing with my friends, the meal and the service at this location not so much.

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I’m not a Chevys fan (I ate here on the 7^th with my wife and 3 others– I wanted to try a burger at Mimi’s Café, but the couple we were with suddenly wanted to eat here instead), but that’s not going to keep me from writing a fair review. I understand why some reviewers have given this place 1 or 2 stars, but our experience was pretty good.
I was wondering why there are 2 listings.
This is the real business info:
15 555 E.14^th St. Ste 106
San Leandro, CA 94 578
510−276−0962
510−276−7494
Great hours: Mon-​Thur; Sun 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
I thought they were different (I tried to memorize the hours while sitting in the waiting area– I had to read them backwards), but this is what an employee just told me over the phone (she was friendly, and I could understand her well despite her accent). Anyway, as I thought, the business hours under the other listing are way off.
I wasn’t happy at first.
We had to wait 15 minutes to be seated, and the waiting area only comfortably holds about 8 people (I was able to sit down, but it was a tight fit initially).
Despite not being happy, I wasn’t surprised that we had to wait. It was a Friday night, and even someone from my workplace was at the restaurant (the bright blue outfit he wore made him look like a big clown).
The bar is on the right, and you’ll see a TV right when you enter (I only noticed 1, but I really didn’t have a chance to look around).
A few minutes after we arrived, the Cardinals eliminated the Phillies from the playoffs (pitcher Chris Carpenter only allowed 3 hits).
Our server was friendly, but the guy across from me initially thought that the service was «horrible.» I didn’t think so, and our server was clearly busy. Anyway, after waiting a few minutes, we received some refills and 2 more baskets of chips and salsa (I think the server seemed slower than he was because we were all hungry).
The server was around more once the manager was asked if a bottle could be heated (the couple have a cute baby boy). He was quick to bring us some hot tortillas (the flour tortillas here are good– every Chevys features a «fresh tortilla maker called El Machino»). He also checked on us more than he needed to and made us laugh. He and his wife have a baby boy, and he was told that my wife and I are expecting. People typically ask if you’re going to have a boy or girl, but he asked my wife if she’s going to give birth vaginally or have a C-​section. This was odd, but I shrugged it off because his wife had a C-​section (I totally understand why it’s still fresh on his mind, and I think he actually used the word «naturally,» not vaginally).
We were basically here until closing.
Around 10, I saw some servers talking and sorting silverware.
How close everyone was stood out to me.
I also smiled when 2 servers briefly danced to a song (the songs playing inside were good and upbeat, but I didn’t recognize any of them).
In terms of the service, my only suggestion is for there to be more servers around from Friday-​Sunday (the restaurant is large and the seating capacity is over 100).
I felt like ordering ribs, but they’re not on the menu (they were just okay anyway, but I had some at the Union City location 5 years ago). Although there are a lot of options (ex: if you order a tamale, you can have 2 with chicken, 2 with pork, or 1 of each), the menu is only somewhat varied and big (there are over 50 selections, but some items are repeated).
I only gave Bay Fair Center 3 stars, but the stores that you can view from the restaurant look great at night. It was also good to not see a ton of people walking around.
Because of some colored lights, a small room on the left always looks like it’s ready for Christmas. Except for the bar, the rest of the restaurant was a little dark.
Carnitas ($ 15.49): ⁸⁄₁₀.
«Tender, marinated pork slow-​roasted with fresh oranges, lemons, garlic and cilantro.»
My carnitas were meaty, but too sweet. The ones here remind me too much of Juanita’s Mexican Gourmet Carnitas (I like another brand of carnitas more).
My sweet corn tomalito (aka corn pudding) was very good (my wife had some too, but briefly wondered if she could also have mine).
I also enjoyed my refried beans and Spanish rice (I wish that I had been given more). The beans are nicely topped with some cheese.
The onions and green peppers underneath my carnitas added some flavor.
By the way, the fajitas here may or may not come out «sizzling.» Don’t expect too much.
I’m not sure how much of a tip was left. The total was $ 70.02, and my wife and I were only asked to contribute $ 20 (we gave $ 27, and I mentioned that the $ 7 in singles could go towards the tip).
We were all full when we left, and this is a solid restaurant. I mildly recommend going here.

The last time I came here, a really cute Latino guy, dressed in a suit, was locking the door and putting up a «Use Other Door» sign as we walked up. When I got close enough to read it, I realized he wasn’t even looking out the window to see if he was closing the door on customers, which he was!
We walked around to the mall entrance and went in. When we entered, he and the female greeter walked away. A few minutes later she came back, so we asked for a table for 2. Without a response or even a smile, she walked away to talk to the cute Latino guy (who still didn’t even look at us). I realized he was the manager. Abruptly and annoyed, he said to her, «OK, but this is the last one!» It wasn’t even 9 o’clock, and they were acting like this??? Terrible! He became instantly less-​attractive.
We left before getting seated.
I have been here a few times, and each time I am reminded that this is a cheap restaurant. The food and drinks can be decent or disappointing, depeding on your cook and bartender. I have found this to be especially true during El Happy Hour.
Also, since when did El Machino become a hand operated toritlla press? BOO!
The only good things: hoodrat location and the skinny male server with glasses. But since he is not on the menu, I’ll avoid this establishment as much as possible.

We always come here hoping that the service will be better than the last, but … we are always disappointed. Overall, service is lacking. We have to flag them down all the time for things OR they’re hardly around that we only see them when they take our order and bring the bill. Service stinks here! I almost tipped the hostess today because I think she did more for us!
Food is typical Chevys. SUPER Americanized «Mexican» food. It’s good, but it’s not the place to go if you want good Authentic Mexican food. Flautas are pretty bomb, I always get them.
Not the best Chevys I’ve been to but … we’ll most likely be back in hopes of better service. The only reason I come back to this one is because I’d rather not deal with the Emeryville traffic at the other Chevys near us. =/​
Meh Chevys … meh.

Slow service. My friend got something she never ordered. When we finally got our food the waiter never came back again to ask if we needed anything. Then we wanted to take some leftovers home and after asking the waiter to bring us a plastic bag for our box, he completely forgot each time, and I had to ask someone else on the way out. The steak fajitas were good. I love their salsa and chips.

The only thing I liked at Chevys was the water. Super unauthentic Mexican food = blegh. I don’t think I’ll be back anytime soon :(

I came here with a friend after work and sat at the bar. Customer service was great from the Patrick, the bartender. Wesley, the manager checked up on us to see if the service was up to par. MUST TRY the sizzling plate of fajitas! Almost mouth watering.

I agree with John. The service really does bite and they have a tendency to botch your order up. I feel ignored when I go there.

Should have turned around when we first walked in but didn’t…/
The wife and I decided to grab a bite to eat since we were at the Mall already what the hey! In a flash we were there.
From the time we were seated at our table which seemed more like kiddie furniture everything seemed to be a bit off. The chairs and table seemed on the small side, not very comfortable. Which may be a growing trend among many restaurants these days. Make the customer uncomfortable during their visit so they will finish their meal quicker… and get the heck outta Dodge! No Camping! But they will gladly take you’re money faster than a frog hoppin from a hungry alligator!
After being seated we received our menus, Tip#1 if you’re not alone be aware of the edge of the menu at all times… with the tables being little in size you can «hoirt» someone with the edges of the menu. We ordered 2 soft drinks the wife had such n such. Next came a small basket of chips with a finger bowl of salsa. I’m thinkin are you supposed to chew each chip 50 times to make the 3 table spoons of salsa in the finger bowl last longer?
Mean time back at the ranch there is no table setting no napkins nuthin and I already spilled 0.2 oz of salsa… now half the finger bowl gone! Damn! A few double dips later salsa Gone! So we waited and waited some more… I figured it must be real busy back in the storage room since there was only us and another couple with their baby in the dining area. But all is not lost our drink technician arrived with what looked like 4 ounces of soda in a 6 ounce glass. Ice Factor? Finally we got more salsa and more chips… speeding up this review X2 cause it getting too long… food came even though I had a combo plate everything had the same taste? The beef crunchy taco tasted like the chicken tamale, the chicken enchilada tasted like the rice… the beans tasted like blankity blank! So we basically begged for drink refills, chips and salsa and napkins for 43 minutes and 17 seconds. Small dining room chairs starting to hurt my behind… the end.