Community Update

La Tolteca in Bel Air, MD was a favorite of ours from the time they opened until last night. We live right in the neighborhood and have patronized this establishment on average 2-3 times per month since it's inception. My wife is a strict vegetarian, and has always ordered dishes from their VEGETARIAN MENU. Twice in the last 2 months, there have been noticeable pieces of meat in her food. Last night, there was a piece of chicken in her Spinach Quesadilla, from the VEGETARIAN menu. When this happened the other month, she simply pointed it out to the waiter, got a new meal, and chalked it up to a one-time thing. When this happened last night, she pointed it out to the waiter, got a new dish, and it came back with onion (she ordered it without, but no big deal, at least there was no meat this time). We ate, figuring we will speak with the manager or owner and they will resolve the issue. We went to the counter, let the owner know what had happened - twice now in 2 months. We did not get an apology, we got an explanation that the "...meat must have slid over from the other side of the grill..." he offered, that if we asked, her food could be cooked separately from now on. The owner went on to explain that there is not enough room or time for "restaurants" (speaking for all establishments) to cook vegetarian meals separate from meat! Really? Are you joking? He was not joking - no money off, no coupon, no apology, just an offer to do something "special" and make her food in a separate pan, if we ask, the next time, as if this would be troublesome, but we could accommodate your special need. He admitted that their vegetarian food was cooked on the same surface as meat dishes. Guess what? There will be NO "next time" as you have betrayed loyal customers, a family that has been there from the beginning, we have brought in out-of-towners and even defended you when the news reported unsanitary conditions. I don't know what you think "VEGETARIAN" means, but I am going to let everyone we know about your lack of concern for it. Mistakes happen, especially in the restaurant business, I understand that, but I am of the school of thought that says that you must fix them, and fix them right away - La Tolteca in Bel Air, MD did not, they have betrayed a trust.