Uncle Julio’s was originally founded under the name Rusty Taco by Russell “Rusty” Fenton in Dallas, Texas, in 1986. Rusty Taco, now going under the name of just R Taco, was later sold to open a chain of restaurants known today as Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurants or simply, Uncle Julio’s.
The chain expanded over the years to 17 locations, most of them in Texas. It was owned by Julio & Son’s until 2011 when it was bought by a private equity firm J. H. Whitney Capital Partners.
The company is known for its exotic drinks and desserts, including the “Chocolate Pinata” and the -321 Margarita, which uses liquid nitrogen and is made in front of clients at their table. 
In October 2017, the chain was sold to another private equity firm, L. Catterton, who says they have plans to expand the chain on a large scale.
The company currently has 29 locations, with headquarters located in Irving, Texas. It is unknown at this time if the new owners have plans to move the corporate office.
Uncle Julio’s was originally founded under the name Rusty Taco by Russell “Rusty” Fenton in Dallas, Texas, in 1986. Rusty Taco, now going under the name of just R Taco, was later sold to open a chain of restaurants known today as Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurants or simply, Uncle Julio’s.
The chain expanded over the years to 17 locations, most of them in Texas. It was owned by Julio & Son’s until 2011 when it was bought by a private equity firm J. H. Whitney Capital Partners.
History
The company is known for its exotic drinks and desserts, including the “Chocolate Pinata” and the -321 Margarita, which uses liquid nitrogen and is made in front of clients at their table.
In October 2017, the chain was sold to another private equity firm, L. Catterton, who says they have plans to expand the chain on a large scale.
The company currently has 29 locations, with headquarters located in Irving, Texas. It is unknown at this time if the new owners have plans to move the corporate office.
I want to know if there was a recall on the beef in the Maryland location? As you are aware there is a recall on certain beef. I ate at the Annapolis location $200, on Sunday the 26th around 4pm and by 1 am I was violently throwing up and had diarrhea. The beef is from Elkhorn Valley Packing.
I just got out the Arlington Tx location after waiting for my food for almost 2 hours I had to get up and ask to get my ticket because they forgot about my food. I figure they wouldn’t charge us the drinks that we got while waiting but they did $26. It was the most horrible experience my kids were super hungry and they kept seen other that came after us eat there food. My son even said is it because we were Hispanics ? It was a horrible day experience. And the manager after we shared that didn’t even took the initiate and urgency to get our food and apologize. She just gave me a black stare and kept typing on the iPad.
I would not recommend this place. The Manager Sandra it’s a bad leader how can we expect better from employees if she can’t even own up to a simple mistake.
Event Name: “Michael Smith’s 60th Birthday”; Date Saturday, August 28, 2021; Time 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm ; Location Columbia, MD. Corporate Contact for my party was
Brittany Gilbert
Group Dining Manager
Uncle Julio’s Restaurant Group
Hacienda Colorado
[Fax] (214) 366-7999
[Email] Brittany.Gilbert@ unclejulios.com
No one has responded to my email since Saturday night. I have sent at least 2 emails form me and one of my prominent guest. Below is what I sent.
I am extremely disappointed in the overall service I received at the celebration of my Fiancé’s 60th Birthday at Uncle Julios in Columbia MD. From the time I got there until the time so finally left— it was utterly a disaster — combination of a series of events. Overall the server was overwhelmed, our food came out cold, one guest didn’t get his food until our pending departure and had to get to go meal, the server did not know the menu—drinks— he told us they didn’t have signature of the month drinks, Management was overwhelmed and couldn’t remedy issues, room was initially over 24 person capacity. Straight disaster even after politely engaging with 3 managers. Everyone was apologetic with minimal resolution.
First and foremost, as I stated in my original email, we arrived to 20 people (see photos) already in that Cabina space— 3 other parties before my 15 guest arrived: I quickly talked to a manager who advised that they had expected for those parties to be gone when in fact one of them was seated the exact same time that we were seated. On top of that we were sandwiched in a corner with barely enough space to go between us and two adjacent parties already in the room. I expressed to the manager that I was advised that that room was only meant to seat 24 people so why were they trying to fit 35 people in that space when I had paid for $600 dollar contract for food to be semi private; The manager advised that once those parties cleared out that they would to the proper limit of seating of additional customer not to surpass the limit of that room. That did not happen until an hour into my gathering.
Next, the server was overwhelmed, didn’t get any of our drinks or appetizers in. At an hour we still didn’t have water and the first person to order the Birthday Guy my Fiancé still didn’t have his drink until 1.5 hours of us being there— an added server brought him a drink.
In that time the three drinks he did bring to 3 of my guest ended up spilled atop of one of my male guest’s shoulder and the drinks crashing to the table and floor with broken glass and alcoholic drinks across the feet and legs of me and two other female guest. No one showed up to assist the server cleaning up, one guest had to go to the bathroom to clean up and the three folks left standing couldn’t sit down cause there was alcoholic drink across the table and the chairs. I went to the hostess desk to get the manager to let the manager know what was going on and still no help to the server and we didn’t get food til after nearly 2 hours at the restaurant— and people still didn’t have their alcoholic drinks or water. A crew did finally come and clean up so we could sit-down.
Even when it came time for the bill the staff was empathetic because by that time we had spent ~approx $360 but that was because we NEVER was getting our drinks or food ordered and frankly my guest were fatigued and so disappointed— even offering to pay and I told them as I had stated by invitation I was taking care of the food and drinks.
I am truly beyond myself, embarrassed, hurt, my guest were upset and my Fiancé was furious and wanted to walk out. This was absolutely the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. The two managers said they could do nothing to compensate me and my guest because this was a contract and I had to take up with corporate. I frankly stated to the two managers that I understood my obligation but that the restaurant did not hold up their end of the bargain AT ALL.
I want my money back because the contract was severely broken on the restaurant side of the house. I have paid the whole $785 dollars, I am definitely seeking to recover a portion of my money if not all. I was very professional throughout this ordeal, calmly engaged with the staff several times. I could truly write more about what happened but it will not change the fact that my fiancé’s 60th Birthday was totally ruined and he is past upset to the point of wanting to take other actions regarding Uncle Julio’s. I am just an Army Veteran who set out to give her fiancé a positive memorable evening that turned out disastrous.
This is what I sent when I was at the restaurant when I showed up and they weren’t ready for us:
Dorothea Escalera
Sat, Aug 28, 7:27 PM (3 days ago)
to notifications+octed6ge
Hi Brittany,
I have an issue and I am going to bring it up with the manager as well as with you. My issue is that I am held to a standard with my 15 guest for a room that you advised was for 24 people. I had no issue with the understanding that maybe 9 more people other than my party would be sat in the room. I showed up and I am more than disappointed that there were already 20 people other than my party already crowded into a room that is supposed to hold only 24 people total. I had to secure to spend a minimum of 600 dollars and now my family and friends are put in a situation with more than capacity I was told for the room. Please see attached pictures and video of the scene— not good.
I took my mother in law to celebrate for her birthday and pulled the waiter over and told him that I will want the chocolate lovers piñata as a surprise. As our meal went on as we were finishing the waiter came back over and said to the table that was the chocolate lover piñata right..? I looked at him like I told you it was a surprise and just nodded yes. The waiter had already taken my gold card and said yeah do you want to use your free desert? again why do you keep talking about this in front of the table just talk to me privately or tap me on the shoulder as I did you. So the food was good and the desert was good but just wish that in general staff meetings that they would make it clear that if someone says this is a birthday surprise or someone goes out of there way to be discreet that it’s ok and professional if you need clarity to tap the person on the shoulder or to speak to them privately to avoid ruining the surprise.
We visited on June 30th arrived at 10pm and left very disappointed when both Managers on duty ( Camille and the other I can’t remember his name told me I could not sit outside. The reason I ask for Camille was because the staff said she was the senior leader on duty at the moment . Well Camille was not very helpful, Accommodating nor she was friendly to me. I asked her nicely that we really wanted to sit outside and she “no unfortunately patio is close there is no servers outside at the moment” I said well can you have someone from inside take care of me outside ? she again said “no we cannot do that ma’am “ I said why is that such a problem. She said due too rain I said there is a cover patio and she said no again. Camille said in fact we are close . I said responded the reason am here is because the website said you close at 11:30pm .Then she said well the kitchen is close. I said ok we’ll take our business somewhere else and we left. She responded “ok have a good night”
I personally don’t like to complain or write negative reviews but she was just not very welcoming nor did she tried to find a solution to avoiding me from walking out. I was very shocked and disappointed that both managers rejected my request for sitting out in the patio when the patio still had at least 5 tables on the cover side . I work for my current for 14 years and my niche is Costumer service. I am the Restaurant Manager to a full service Restaurant here in Orlando and I strive every day to making sure that myself and my team make the guests feel welcome and have an amazing experience.
Big fan of the restaurants from when I lived in VA. Very happy to see the 1st NJ location will be in Bridgewater, NJ. How can I find out what the planned opening date will be — I am very excited!
We just had lunch for two at Uncle Julio’s on Camp Bowie in Ft Worth, TX… we spent 115.00 on meal for two and left a 20% tip. We had a coupon – given out by Uncle Julio’s, for 10.00 off meal … which had no expiration date. The assistant manager, Maria Garcia, came to our table and said the coupon was “no good” and no longer honored. When I explained it was given out by UJ at one of Liberty Mutual Insurance Co, corporate parties there at UJ restaurant, she just rolled her eyes … no good, so sorry, I asked for corporate office address and her name. She said she be right back. She never returned. I went to check in station and was told she was off duty and had left for the day. This is just for the record so you know who she treated us. And when you give a UJ coupon with No Expiration Date, please honor your coupon! You can call me at 214-906-XXXX.