Wow what a great secret on the Northshore. This is a very good mexican restaurant. I had the brisket tacos amazing and brisket quesadillas ever better. Northshore margarita was phenomenal and I took churros dessert to enjoy at home. Love it every moment of the dinning. Excellent service, very attentive, beautiful decor inside and very nice atmosphere. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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Good Mexican food for Lake Forest IL. I live in So Cal so it tasted nothing like withering Mexican food. Steak fajitas under seasoned, salsa bla, chips OK. It was a business dinner so most people like it. Because good restaurants are limited in the area this will do for Mexican food. read more

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This is such a fun restaurant. Groups are having fun, but the environment doesn't seem overly likely. This is perfect for a family dinner, quiet date night, or a night out with the friends. We arrived around 7pm and the others in our group took a solid 20min before being prepared to order. Everyone in our party had their food well before 8pm. We were able to eat, pay, leave, and be back at Great Lakes before 9pm. This is a wonderful restaurant that isn't so close to base that it seems mundane, but it isn't even half as far as driving into Chicago. I believe our total was around $100 for an appetizer, a few drinks, and four entrees. --the server and hostess asked if we had any allergies or special concerns in our party. We did. Our server checked in with the kitchen and again with our party to make sure the allergies were avoided read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Tacos de Championes, Rajas, y Elotes I ate one before I snapped the picture. It smelled too amazing to wait. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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We had a very enjoyable meal at Authentico restaurant. We didn't have reservations, we stopped by and were able to secure an outside table. I don't understand the negative reviews. They brought us chips and two salsas right away and took our drink orders. The guacamole was thick and fresh, could have used a little heat. I ordered a chicken con mole poblano, cazuela, cooked in a thick casserole dish. I thought it was fantastic--loved the slightly sweet mole along with the salty cotija cheese sprinkled on top. The side salad which had mango, beets, and jicama, was excellent. My companions enjoyed Chile rellenos and tacos de barbacoa de res, also enjoyed their dishes. The food was delivered quickly. My margarita, however, took a long time and our server explained that the bartender was backed up due to a party inside and they were short on staff. The service lagged at this point and it took a while to get our check and pay. However, this was a nice patio (other than the Metra trains), peaceful setting and tasty food. If we had not been in a hurry, I would add back a 1/2 star. read more

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Very good fresh Mexican food. The usual menu choices were offered along with a few specials. My drink was strong, friends margaritas were pricey for the size but ok. Their chips and salsa were nothing special. We enjoyed the fried calamari but the sauce was a bit odd and we would've enjoyed a cocktail sauce more. The empanadas were tasty but I wasn't sure there was actually any beef inside. My chicken fajitas were very good but could've used a bit more flavor. The chicken, peppers and onions were grilled just right. The beef tacos were a hit as well as the taco special. Beef fajitas were so so. Service was excellent but the room was very loud and made it hard to converse. Eating outside might be nicer! I'd return. read more

Great spot near the rail tracks. The atmosphere was quaint but dark which made it hard to read the menu. The food was very good, but the salsa were lacking and the pitcher of margarita at $72 was way too expensive for what you got. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed this Mexican restaurant in Lake Forest, Illinois. Love the decor and the food. It felt like we were back in the southwest. We started with chips and salsa, and they were kind enough to bring me gluten-free chips. My husband really liked the two sauces we were served. For our meal, we shared a cheese, quesadilla, and mahi fish tacos. They were both very tasty. Since we had a later dinner, we talked it off with dessert. The taste and presentation is something you would expect from a finer dining establishment. It was a mix of white gelato, chocolate gelato, and there was a cherry in the middle. It was then dipped in a chocolate shell. it also came with whip cream and fresh strawberries. Amazing! The service was great and as I mentioned, they were sensitive to my celiac and need for gluten-free options. read more

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The food here is amazing. Cannot believe you can find such good Mexican food in Lake Forest! However they really need to open for lunch. It's so annoying to not be able to eat there before 5pm daily. read more

We've dined here multiple times and always enjoyed it. But for whatever reason last evening's meal and drinks were the best we've ever experienced. Consistently tender ribeye steak dishes, particularly flavorful rice and tasty chips, salsa and the freshest guacamole. For the first time we saved room for dessert. Thoroughly enjoyed churros and coconut flan. Try a drink called Authentico BLU -- you won't be disappointed. It was New Year's Eve and the restaurant was festively decorated for the occasion. Wonderful service, friendly staff and really good food. Highly suggest reservations regardless of the day or time you dine. read more

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Never saw a "market price" for guacamole anywhere. The very small chicken Enchiladas for $22 was overpriced. Was going to have the halibut but at $52 in a local Mexican restaurant it does not cut it. Even WILDFIRE does not charge that much for fish.... Service was good as was the taste of the food. But portioning and pricing needs attention . read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Three very small Enchiladas de Authentico for $22. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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I have visited Authentico a few times as I grew up in the area. Me and my family visited last Saturday night before Christmas. We had a reservation for 3 around 6:30pm. It was busy as usual so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. We had the chicken quesadillas as an app and they were good. Tortillas were a tad try, but the dipping sauce was a nice texture with good flavor. Shrimp fajitas were very good, but I wish it had more shrimp. I would go back to the chicken or steak next time. Chips were good and plentiful for 3-4 people. I love the flavor of the salsas and they were not overly spicy (some spice). But I thought the salsa was too watery and hard to dip. I prefer my salsa, chunkier, which makes it easier for dipping. Service was very average and we felt rushed. They did check in often, which was nice and I would prefer that than not checking in at all. Food came out extraordinarily fast, but drinks took a while. Prices are expensive with it being Lake Forest, but it is what it is. Good portion sizes overall. Overall, food is decent and the margaritas are good! Lake Forest needs more casual, down to earth, restaurants for families and Authentico is a decent choice for something different than Francesca's, The Lantern, Chief's, and Duffer's. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Chicken Quesadillas app. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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The food was terrific. More than enough for two meals. The service was fantastic, as the servers continue to come back with additions and help. The ambience is wonderful. Can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

Autentico has become our local favorite go-to restaurant. And we are SO happy that it has continued to do well. I have to say that's in part because of it's take-out options (support local!) and the great outdoor space right in front. They have stacked their outdoor eating with heaters so even on a cooler night you can enjoy eating outdoors. First things first - they have some of the best margaritas around. Don't even think about it - just get the Lake Forest Margarita with salt! You'll thank me later. They are only open for dinner - but bring your appetite. My husband absolutely loves their fajitas. I'm addicted to their Authentico salad with blackened shrimp. SO ridiculously good. And I can't help myself - but we often share Empanadas de Barbacoa. We went this week and ordered an extra order just for lunch the next day! The kids always find something that they like - Authentico is family friendly but also a great place to catch up with friends. read more

Nothing earth shattering here, but good solid Tex-mex. I had the enchiladas mole. Nice sauce stuffed with chicken. A decent kids menu, and lots of burritos and tacos. The chips and salsa were good although the chips were not house made. Everyone seemed happy with their meal, the queso dip was a big hit! Prices were more reasonable than area alternatives. Like I said, good but not amazing. Our service was very good. With two appetizers to share it was $190 prior to tip for 7 of us... read more

An awesome Mexican restuarant with top-notch service and well-prepared food that I feel is a step up from other places. Guacamole is nicely prepared with good amount of jalapenos. Tortilla chips are fresh tasting and addicting. My favorite things to get here are the tacos, specifically the carnitas and ribeye steak tacos. The carnitas are super tender and juicy and the tortillas hold together nicely. The steak tacos come as a nice big, but thin piece of steak that is super flavorful and tender and keeps me coming back; seriously one of the best steak tacos I've had. The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce is also delicious; for enchiladas, they're presented very nicely. The tres leches cake is a nice option to end the meal. The texture of the cake is super soft and tender, the frosting is delicious and well proportioned. Took me a while to come try this place, but just want to keep coming back. read more

I visited when my parents were in town. They had requested a good sit-down Mexican restaurant and I took a chance and recommended this place. The service was pretty good, the food was solid, as were the drinks and dessert. It was too warm to sit outside when we went, so we opted for an inside booth. I thoroughly enjoyed my enchiladas and margarita, and they really liked their food and margaritas as well. The one turn-off was the hostess was consistently on her phone - at the hostess stand, around the restaurant, and apparently occupying the single room restroom. When I finally got up to go to the restroom she was occupying it to again, sit on her phone, as evidenced by the screen on it when she finally emerged. I hope management can find some better FOH help, but I would still return. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Given the wealth of Mexican food options we have in Lake County, it's impossible to justify the prices here. You're paying for fancy plating and of course for the Lake Forest address. Food was OK but not as good as 5 other Mexican restaurants closer to my house that charge 1/3-1/2 of the price. I'd say this is a Mexican food restaurant for people who don't regularly eat Mexican food, and are looking for a fancy night out with cocktails and techno music in the background. I can see how it would be popular in Lake Forest. If you are well-versed in the local family owned joints and you're in it for the food itself, this will be a letdown. I wish them the best of luck, the staff we met was friendly. The premise of the restaurant just doesn't stand up to the huge number of superior Mexican food options in the general area. Place was packed on a weeknight so I'm sure they're doing OK. read more

Two weeks ago (05/31/25) I had a 7:30 dinner reservation for 2. I arrived at 7:20 and was told that there would not be a table for at least 30 minutes due to current customers staying longer. I said ok. 20 minutes later when I again inquired the situation hadn't changed. Not only that there were other customers ahead of me. I walked out. I get that it was a Saturday night, but don't over book. I have a novel concept. Why not limit seating times to 90 minutes. Tables turn quicker, wait staff can earn more tip money, and the restaurant would receive more revenue due to more people being served. Other restaurants do this why can't you? I'm sorry I have been coming here for years., but never again- or unless the situation changes. Oh and the two hostesses are so unknowable of their patrons it made me more furious and unwilling to visit again. They represent your restaurant. If they could care less whether I stay, or not I will go where I am appreciated. read more

We had reservations and was seated right away. Our server was very nice. While waiting for more quests to arrive, I ordered an original margarita. It was a very watered down mix and no tequila where my guest had a strawberry margarita which was waaaayyy too strong. Really horrible $$ drinks. I sent the original back for a new one and it was the same? I asked for a shot to be brought to add the cocktail, which the server was nice to do so and I was charged for it. Still watered down margarita mix. Our other guests arrived with the same cocktail issues? We noticed there was no bartender and that several people were behind the bar at different times mixing drinks?? Food was fine. I expected to pay $$ and would gladly do so for great food, service & cocktails if we were to receive it. Used to be a great place. You really need to make sure you have stations properly staffed before charging such prices and servers drop off food and never seen again. read more

This is the type of 3-star rating that is on the "good" side of the fence, insofar as I'd return and check out more menu items. The service was an issue the entire time. Upon arriving a few minutes early, the host seated the people in front of me, which I of course understand. But he didn't even acknowledge us or tell us "just a minute," etc. Once we sat down outside with our group, we saw a heater in the middle of the table, which was very cool. It needed to be lit, and we were told someone would light it. We asked again after some time, and we were then told the same thing. All in all, we waited about 45 minutes just for the fire to be lit. The service pace was also incredibly slow. We were not in a rush and were having a fun time catching up, but each round of drinks took about 20 minutes to prepare. I promise that this isn't just me being snippy, since I try to avoid such a tone, but everyone else I was sitting with noticed this too. To even flag down our server, as nice as she was, was quite difficult too. The drinks themselves tasted good. It's nice that they have a happy hour special that stretches into the evening! I think they recoup potential losses from these discounts by making such drinks weak, but I am unique in liking drinks that have a light pour, so I was A-OK! Others might not be happy with the drinks. The spicy guacamole had nice heat and definitely didn't skimp on the jalapeños, which we all appreciated! I was slightly less enthusiastic about my steak tacos, which were unappetizing and disappointing thinly pounded sheets of beef. The tortillas were not really toasted and gummy as a result. Wouldn't a Mexican restaurant have more of a griddle/char on tortillas? I feel like that would be an important foundational cooking practice. Despite my concerns, others seemed to appreciate their own orders, which included fish tacos and enchiladas. read more

Ended up here by happenstance. Unfamiliar with the area, we originally went to the Tavern a couple doors down, but after being essentially ignored for 20 min, gave up and came here as it was getting late. So glad we did! Wonderful, friendly service (I think our server's name was Sofia), the chips & salsa never ran out, and everyone in our group loved their meals. Definitely would recommend. read more

How does one call a resturant " Authentico"? Folks, its not authentic! We had a group of people (15) that had reservations on Saturday, and we were squeezed in an area that should have been no more than 10....( it was so packed that there were lots of spills and accidents by us as well as wait staff). Let me make one thing clear ... the wait staff did a great job cleaning up and serving us. But, the food should be the highlight( it's authentico!) , and it was NOT. There are so many amazing Mexican restaurants in North shore that will serve you "authentic" and tasty dishes! I hope the focus on food becomes a priority and not just the location/ ambience! read more

Great Location with a beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy some solid good Mexican Food. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Food is always consistently good, the atmosphere and drinks are top notch. My personal suggestion would be to add another thicker salsa option. Not a fan of the warm brothy salsa. read more

There's a lot of taco competition on the North Shore. On a whim, my hubby and I decided to meet up there with a group of friends. Though I could kick myself for not trying a margarita (I hear it's good), my overall experience was just A-OK. Service was 5 stars and very informative. The decor was lovely and airy with a killer outside patio. OMG, the bathrooms were the cleanest...ever (and became part of the table conversation)! As far as the food and the value, that's where this review earns a solid three stars for me. Hubby and I ordered the taco de pechuga de pollo (in other words grilled chicken with picanta and cheese) platter and a side of guacamole. Since it was basically three designer tacos for $16 (that fell apart when I ate them), we ended up sharing a platter and left hungry. In truth, the presentation was pretty. But, we have some favorite low key taco stops on the North Shore we hit up on a weekly basis, and these tacos just didn't do it for me. Guacamole was A-OK. For $10 a side (probably due to the avocado shortage), I wanted to leave talking about it. All in all this is a fun place to meet up with friends, but for a date night we prefer our regular stops. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Grilled chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

If you are looking for casual outdoor patio dining in Lake Forest this is a good choice, they have a nice large patio. You do get an occasional train, but otherwise ambiance is great. Is not too upscale. Drink specials at happy hour are worth the trip. Red Sangria was excellent, that was the Sunday special. Oddly it didn't include any fruit, but was still tasty. The food is OK. To start with the chips were hard and very crunchy. The red salsa was smooth with not much flavor. The green salsa was also very smooth but had more of a bite, but was not overly hot. Empanadas were very large, 2 made a meal. My (pork) carnitas tacos were good but not exploding with flavor. Rice was unusual, was a white rice with cilantro mixed in - different than usual Spanish/Mexican rice. Most entrees are nearly $20 or more. Service was OK. After drinks it was hard getting his attention to order, and was hard getting his attention for the check. He did forget the happy hour Sangria special so had to re-ring the bill. Would consider again if in the neighborhood for happy hour, there aren't a lot of other choices for casual dining close. Would not be a destination restaurant for me though. read more

As we emerge from Covid we still Like a safe dining experience. We have been comfortable with this restaurant in the past but no more. As the weather has chilled they have added tables to a point that you are less than inches away from the next person. The entrance is configured in a way that packs people waiting for takeout and to be seated like sardines. We are taking this place off our list for public safety reason. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - lol How close the chair are - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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What is it about restaurants up here? Authentico? Get it, authentic? Inovasi? Get it, innovative? I mean, I know we're in the suburbs where imagination doesn't exactly run wild, but come on. Try harder. Anyway, it's not great, and overpriced. I've been twice -- years ago (pretty good) and a couple of weeks ago (terrible). We were seated between the kitchen door and restrooms, which ensured a constant parade of people running by our table. And despite that constant stream of workers, we were ignored by our waitress for most of the evening. And the food was subpar. For all this -- bill came to nearly $400 for a party of 6, and we all had maybe one margarita. Welcome to the north shore. There's far better (and authentic) Mexican food in Waukegan, North Chicago and Highwood, people. Try it sometime. read more

First time at Authentico was amazing! The service was great, and the atmosphere was fun. Happy to be able to sit outside during a time like this! I most enjoyed the enchiladas Authentico - a unique seafood take on enchiladas! The queso was also delicious and margaritas are a must! I was sad to find out they ran out of their churros but the chocolate cake and key lime pie was plenty and we really didn't need them! Will definitely be coming back! read more

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We got chips and guac, fajitas, and I got a margarita. It was about $70 all said and done, which is expected for the inflation and convenience of the walkable location but ridiculous if you can drive anywhere else. The food was bland, I've never had fajitas that smelled so good and tasted so unseasoned. However, if the goal is a few apps and drinks, this is a very cute place to go with the girls and drink margs for a night out! read more

Saturday night June 13, had reservations and when we arrived they had limited Seating however we got a table and We did not start out with cocktails so My guess that's were the server lost Interest because the service went from Bad to worst. We were seated in an area Where they had a heater that did not work I mentioned this to the server who said She would tell someone and that never Happened. We were were served and Our server never returned until we requested the Check. It was so uncomfortable that we got our check And took our meal with us home and Left. It appears that the restaurant really doesn't care about the quality of service. I would Not recommended this restaurant and Have no plans to return. The meal we had was good, however the service Ruined the dinner. My Guess the don't Read yelp or the open table reviews. read more

Service is slow and rude. Coming from a regular. I am about to disown this place. Food is good but I think they like locals only. Which their not. read more

Great food. We had guac. Steak quesadillas and the first salad. It's was all delicious. The salsa and the chips that came with the food were also great. The vibe is great and the seating in and out is nice read more

Authentico is an upscale Mexican restaurant with healthy and gluten free options. The salmon cauliflower rice bowl and low carb chicken mole casserole are delicious. Both are large enough to feed 2 typical adults. Avoid the empanadas, the local Argentine restaurant does them better. Also stick to beer or the house Margarita if you don't want a huge bar bill. Good, friendly service. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Salmon Cauliflower Rice Bowl. - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

This is not really a review of the restaurant itself, but their policies. Before Covid I purchased a few gift cards which included a holiday gift card which had to be used within a few months. Shortly thereafter, Covid hit - obviously unable to use holiday gift card in a timely fashion because of Covid. Post Covid was denied use of holiday issued cards - really? The food and atmosphere are fine, but I'm in no hurry to return. read more

I have no idea why the reviews are what they are. Sitting here at the table getting ready to leave. Yes, some of the prices are a little high, but not out of the ordinary. We ordered the guacamole, bacon wrapped shrimp, shrimp and crab enchiladas, and skirt steak. Ended with coconut flan. We will be back. read more

Gluten-Free Review -- We arrived at this Lake Forest Mexican restaurant on a beautiful early August Saturday evening around 5:50 PM, without reservation. We were able to get a parking spot nearby on the street even though the place was already very busy, inside and out. I took a few moments for the hostess at the front desk to return to us, but we were able to be seated inside right away, though we could have had a table outside as well. We were seated in the middle about two-thirds of the way back near the waitress station -- not a bad place to be. As we were being seated, someone came by with the tortilla chips and salsa so I mentioned that we would like to have the GF ones. There was no problem as she was able to go back to retrieve a basket of them shortly. We received our menus -- the main one, plus one for appetizers, specials, and drinks. They have no GF menu, but items on the main menu and drinks (a gluten-removed beer and a pear cider) menu only were marked with "GFs." Our waitress shortly took our cocktail order. I wasn't able to get my usual first choice (Hendrick's) of gin (I'm no longer the tequila drinker I once was.), but my second was available. We didn't have to wait long to receive the drinks and they were made as expected. We also asked for a small bowl of guacamole to go with the chips. The red and green salsas were runny (We prefer chunky to put on chips.) and a bit spicier than other places we've been, though not overpowering. The creamy guacamole helped with that. It's nice that they have small and large servings of the guacamole available, if you're in a party with other non-GFers, you can get your own individual portion to avoid contamination. The chips tasted like they used kosher salt on them, though maybe used a tad more than my liking. After perusing the menus, my wife ordered the Ensalada Picada de Authentico (salad). I ordered the Salmon ala Antonio. One thing we noticed here right away, is that they are on top of the service aspect and time efficiencies. When waitresses aren't attending to tables, they stand by their station and survey the room. They also have a service manager that came by to check on us a few times during the our meal. When the bus person brought the entrées out (see images), my wife immediately realized she forgot to ask for the chicken on top of her salad. At that point our waitress wasn't nearby. It took just one look over to the waitress station to get one of their attention and ask her to have our waitress come by. Our waitress must have been busy at that moment, so the floor manager came by to take the request for the chicken. It didn't take long for that plate to come out either. Then the floor manager checked once more if we had everything we needed. At this point we wanted to have some Chardonnay with our entrées but we weren't familiar with the two we were considering on the menu. She brought samples of each. Sidenote: we actually preferred the lesser expensive of the two. My salmon was beautifully presented, though I have a peeve about fish being completely sauced, because it could cover a multitude of sins. However it was all delicious. With the salmon came to green beans with pico de gallo and instead of a Spanish rice like you might get elsewhere, they serve what they call golden rice, a more healthful alternative. Golden rice has corn, olives, mild peppers and fresh cilantro. If you don't like cilantro, you might have an issue, however for me, traditional Spanish rice I usually don't touch but this rice I had to finish. My wife also enjoyed her meal. We didn't stick around for dessert. We wanted to get out and enjoy the beautiful evening. All in all, it was a very pleasant dining experience. read more

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I went to Authentico in Lake Forest on Saturday evening. Overall a great experience. The calamari was superb as an app. The chips & salsas on the table were really tasty as were the rice & black beans. But the star of the show was the Lobster Tacos. Big crunchy tacos fully loaded with fresh lobster, pico and guac. So good. Kudos Authentico on an awesome dining experience! read more

I came here on a Saturday night with my girlfriend for a little catch up time and overall we had a great time. It's super loud here so I had to really shout in order to hear her the entire night so just keep that in mind if you're coming during a busy time. And busy it sure was. I made reservations but still had to wait another 10 minutes to get our table. Anyways, once we sat down we quickly ordered drinks which I got their house blend and my friend got a strawberry margarita. They were tasty but a little on the weak side, so a little more alcohol would have been appreciated. The salsa I give them a star for as it was very good, not too thick, so I was totally gobbling it right up with the chips. Then we ordered the corn elotes for an appetizer which I wouldn't get next time as it was okay but lacking flavor. My friend who was here before recommended the short rib tacos so I wanted to get those for my entree but they didn't have any on the menu. The server recommended the steak tacos and you get 3 for $18 which I'm sorry, is super pricey for tacos. I've been to a bunch of restaurants, city included and they're normally $4, $5 per taco, not the end of the world but over priced I thought. If they were amazing I would have been okay with it, but it was the thinest cut of meat I have ever seen, they had good flavor but again they skimped on the meat. So overall, authentico wasn't a very authentic Mexican experience as it is more of a fusion mexican restaurant in a trendy environment. I can't say I loved it. It was okay. My friend got the enchilada which she also thought was okay. We were too full for dessert. So overall okay time, our server was nice so they get another star for that. I don't know if I'd be excited to come back maybe when they have $5 margaritas since that's about how much alcohol they put in them anyway. read more

Authentico Mexican Restaurant and Bar - Pretty decent drinks here! - Mexican Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Not your typical Mexican restaurant. Gourmet food and impressive Margaritas. Ambient noise is high, and it's crowded. Outdoor seating in season. read more

The service is horrible had to wait a half an hour for our drinks we received chips with no salsa horrible never will I go here again I want to leave now before our meal comes because this is horrible read more