When I arrived here for a work assignment, the first thing I always do is find the place with the highest regarded Mexican food and especially margaritas. I was so pumped to go here tor dinner. I went to the one in Cincinnati at OTR. The first margarita was a house one and it was practically all lime juice. I really almost said something to the bartender, thinking maybe they accidentally didn't use simple syrup or just used straight lime juice. I then tried on of there other margaritas. It was better but really just OK. The tacos were tiny but very good. I also had their queso dip. It was not a sauce. It seemed to be melted cheese which seizes up quickly when it cools down. Taste was good but it needs to be a sauce. Went to the Columbus location with my wife later and same thing. Tacos were amazing and the margaritas were nothing special and they are too expensive not be really good. Go for the tacos in my opinion. Their customer service in Columbus was excellent read more

I've been here several times and it is always a good time. the food is good (try the cochinita), a boot of PBR is cheap, and the location is perfect for people watching in the short north. this restaurant has been highly reviewed, and rightfully so. let me just point out some of the small things that keep me from rating it five stars. first of all, and most importantly to me, is the value for the dollar is pretty depressing. the tacos are $4 each and really quite small... two or three bites a peace. the salads are a decent portion, and they even took the liberty of splitting one for me and my buddy. so that was nice. the teleras also are a decent size. the house margaritas are nice and fresh but again your dollar won't get you far here. I always just stick with my PBR (literally served in a boot). we ordered the grilled short rib taco (their version of the asada) and it was more fat that meat, but they were more than happy to swap it out quickly for another taco. the manager stepped right in and talked to us as well, and the whole situation was dealt with very nicely. this may have been a fluke but I'll stay away from that particular item in the future. also chips and salsa isn't complimentary which I find somewhat annoying.... all that aside though, this really is a great addition to the neighborhood and highly recommended to visitors and townies alike. four stars. read more

Bakersfield Short North - boot of PBR and people watching - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Carnitas taco was chronic. Huge $40 pitcher of margarita for 2 was a bit much might want to split with 3 or 4! Overall it was a good tasting pitcher. Atmosphere gave off a hometown bar fly vibe. Lighting is super dark. Once I was drunk and tuned out all the people it wasn't bad. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Pineapple margarita pitcher - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great take on more traditional tacos with excellent margaritas and prices. Wish there were more locations.

Came here for dinner for the first time in a while & was very disappointed. First, it was over 90 degrees and there was NO AC. We asked the server, who was great by the way, and she said she had no idea what was going on & that she had 4 tables walk out because the heat was so unbearable. I wish we would've walked out as well. A different server blatantly lied to us & said a pitcher of margaritas is 4 margaritas and pushed 2 pitchers on us. A pitcher fills about 10-12 of their glasses, by the way. The margaritas melted within a few minutes because of the heat. The short rib taco is good but $4 is ridiculous for a very small taco. Overall, it was an underwhelming experience & we couldn't wait to escape to a bar with AC. We'll go to Condado next time. read more

This place was great! A little expensive, but the food tasted phenomenal and the service was great. The watermelon margarita was also super good and fresh! I would definitely go again! read more

Holy cow. Tacos were amazing. Qualm. I ordered a second round of tacos. Never came. Returned from the bathroom to find check printed and in my face. On a slow Monday night things like this twist me the wrong way. Taking care of 5-8 customers I. The entire restaurant isn't hard. read more

Bakersfield is truly a Short North staple. If you're in the mood for good tacos, guac, and queso - this is your spot! The ambiance gives a nice, rustic vibe which is perfect for dinner, however, expect it to be busy (especially during dinner). Some of my favorites from the menu include: queso & guac to start, huitlacoche (great veggie option) & pollo rojo for tacos, and the chicken chorizo tostada is also very good. Bakersfield also has a great selection of beers & cocktails. However, I am not the biggest fan of their wine selection. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Chips & guac - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This was my second visit. Again a heavenly treatment. Sorry I didn't get the hostess name, but she took care of us very well. The first drink was on the house(since I wrote a good review last time) but the review is not clouded but it. We ordered the same papas and rajas for food. Again no comments on the food. Very delicious!!! This time we had a craft cocktail which in my opinion was very good. I like my cocktail which has more of a liquor taste than sugary flavor. The bartender made sure of it I guess. Thank you again for this wonderful experience!!! read more

I am not a food expert but I really enjoyed their Rojo taco. It had a great combination of onion( Caramelized, I guess) , spices and meat in it. If I had to describe the ambiance; its one of the best bar/restaurant among generic bars/restaurants. If you get the gist. Decent space with kinda unique furniture like barrel tables, comfy seats etc. Although, employees seemed to be in a haste as if preparing themselves in anticipation for shit ton of customers. They were eager to take my order, giving the itemized bill, get the payment done etc. Someone even came to pick up my plate just after I stopped eating(I was not finished as I was looking for a spoon.) when I told them I was not finished, they gave me a 'what a weirdo' look and went to talk to another employee and they both started looking at me. I could be exaggerating but basically that's what happened. Overall it's a good place. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Really good guacamole!! All of their tacos are delicious. We went on a Thursday night and it wasn't too crowded. The traditional marg was also pretty good read more

They have the best guac at any restaurant I've been to, hands down. I love Bakersfield in Cincinnati and this location is way bigger which is nice - Cincy is always so crowded and dark and hard to hear anything. The pineapple margs are also amazing - add jalapeño for a spicy kick! read more

Awesome is an understatement! From the food, to the drinks, to the service, everything was top notch. Our server, Jade was THE BEST! She gave great food recommendations and we were all pleased. The tacos are amazing and the margarita pitcher was perfect to split between the 4 of us. Highly, highly recommend this place, if we're ever back in town we will certainly stop again! read more

Bakersfield Short North - Margarita pitcher - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amazing guacamole (especially if you like cilantro), very creamy, but no spice. House margs are amazing and the pineapple Margarita was delicious as well. read more

Great atmosphere, drinks, and food. Payton, our sever, went above and beyond. Great customer service.

Food was very good and the margarita pitcher was HUGE! I loved the queso and chips because they baked the cheese too! It was so goof

Mar-gar-it-as. Listen to me: mar-gar-it-as. They aren't cheap, but they are perfect. Oh, and the food is good too. But don't forget the margaritas! read more

Don't bother-Go to Local Cantina instead My family & I went to Bakersfield this past Saturday, and boy what a DISAPPOINTMENT! It was gross. We used to love this place, but it's changed drastically. It is honestly not worth trying. The service was awful, the chips were stale, and the guacamole was not good at all. Fast forward to our food: None of us liked it, and it's not that hard to please us with Mexican food. Between the four of us, we ordered the Cochinita Pibil, the short rib tostadas, a short rib taco, and the worst taco I've ever tasted in my life, the Al Pastor taco. The food was so gross all around, but we were too polite to say anything to our waitress. Will never go back to Bakersfield again. Just TERRIBLE. You're better off going to any of the Local Cantina restaurants around Columbus if you're in the mood for Mexican. read more

Alyssa is awesome and attentive! We will definitely be back for happy hour with her! I had a Paloma and a $5 skinny margarita both of which were perfect. Thanks y'all and good job! read more

If you are looking for a fresh, fun and trendy spot for street tacos, look no further. We've been here several times and have consistently had great food and service. The pineapple margaritas are so good you should just go ahead and get that pitcher. The glasses come rimmed with salt and a tiny bit of cayenne for a kick. Chips come with three different salsas and all of them are good. The sweet tomatillo and smoky chipotle. We've had the queso, which is delicious with chorizo for meat-eaters and even better plain for vegetarians. The guacamole is freshly made and very chunky. So it's gonna be hard not to fill up on all of those appetizers, but save room for the tacos. Our favorites: shrimp and fish but the short rib has me salivating even thinking about it. We also really like the carnitas. We've had the spare rib as a tostado, too. You really can't go wrong here. read more

Mason was such a great waiter and the food was delicious! The margaritas on happy hour were phenomenal.

Our server, Jesse, was remarkable. Very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty much the same you would get at any taco place. Good, but not life changing. I thought tacos were a bit small. But I enjoyed the shrimp tacos . Just needed to be more than 2 bites big. Margarita was good, a little light on the tequila I thought. So food and drink, a 3. Gave them a 4 because our server was so good. read more

I ate here last year when I was at Firehouse Expo and gave a good review. This year I wasn't impressed. The street tacos have really shrunk with very little toppings and they cost $4.50 EACH. Last year I had 3 tacos and felt stuffed, this year I ordered 2 and probably could have eaten 2 more. The salsa trio (was 3 salsas) is now 2 really watery salsas. The guacamole was a much smaller bowl then last time. I hate to leave a bad review but I was really disappointed, this was one of my favorite spots to eat. The waitress wasn't very attentive, maybe too many tables to take care of. read more

When I did my postgraduate work at Ohio State (excuse me, "The Ohio State University"), the area now known as Short North wasn't one that I wanted to spend very much time in. Roll the clock ahead and the area is now hyper-gentrified, hipster and a legitimate destination. Unfortunately, the near-campus N. High Street dives which were a highlight of my time at OSU have also been gentrified, but that is a topic for another review. Bakersfield is one of seven locations in a regional chain of Mexican (rather than Tex-Mex) drinking and dining establishments. While their food is good, the emphasis is upon alcohol; scotch and tequila, in particular. A group of ten coworkers met at Bakersfield after work on Tuesday, and had a great time. In the mood for a cold beer on a hot day, the Saugatuck Neapolitan Milk Stout hit the spot. Most of our group drank margaritas, sampling the various menu and blackboard versions, and tasting each other's freely. There was a consensus that one was far too sour, and another too salty, but the names of the offending margaritas weren't remembered. The Milk Stout was a decent craft beer, with an interesting berry palate, but understated hops character. As for dinner, we all went for the house dinner assortment. Bowls of tortilla chips, fresh but commercial in taste, were complimented by very good versions of guac and pico, and very pedestrian chipolte sauce and cilantro chimmichurri. Quite a while later, after the chips had been picked through, plates of queso, black beans, pickled jalapeños and other accompaniments were brought. They were as good as the now-depleted guac. Next to arrive were heaping platters of salad, in a vinaigrette dressing. Amidst much mixed greens were detected small cubes of avocado, diced bacon, red onion, cotija cheese and a few sliced hearts of palm. This was a tasty salad, but there was easily enough of it served to make a hearty meal for the ten of us. Mini tacos, an assortment of six per platter, with five platters brought to the table, concluded the dinner. Of those sampled, the mahi led the pack; fresh, made flavorful by a citrus salad addition and nicely accented by tabasco and cilantro. The braised short rib taco was decent, although its flavors were a bit muted by an abundance of onion, cilantro, queso fresco and shaved radish. The ratio of meat to vegetation fell short of the mark. Finally, the pork al pastor missed the mark completely; neither flavors nor balance paid homage to this classic Mexican dish. These quibbles aside, the tacos were good and the night out great. Bakersfield draws crowds heavily from the Gen-X and Millennial sets, and offers live music-- although not on the Tuesday evening we were there. The wait staff was hip, friendly and conversational-- in addition to fulfilling the rudimentary tasks of their job quite well. Try the Russell Street Parking Garage, about two blocks away. This seems to be where the luxury cars congregate, while their owners enjoy the evening out. read more

This is one of those joints you take your visitors from out of town to. When you want to impress with what Columbus has to offer in the culinary realm you go to Bakersfield. This is a fun, packed place that rocks an awesome margarita and spicy margarita. I have never left unhappy with my food. The thing is it's a great balance between bar and restaurant that satisfies the foodies and the Alchies in your party. Tacos are great. I literally can't choose a favorite. And if you're ever in the mood for dessert, jenis ice cream is across the street. Parking there sucks but that's life. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food is fantastic, drinks are fun, this is a great place to have friends and it's consistent. Stacey the GM is awesome, all the servers are great, bartenders are great. Visit this place. For the love of god try the torts sandwich!! read more

From Colorado- in for a conference for a couple days. Ducked in for a drink and a street taco... fantastic! Cauliflower to die for. Ended up being the best part of our trip. Mainly because of our server, Dylan. Dylan explained the menu, took time to go thru different beers- there was no rush- very comfortable and laid back. Take your time and try all the types of tacos- its worth your time! Dylan is a great server, but also a true gem of person who met us as customers where we were- and made us feel welcomed. Thank you, Dylan. read more

This is where I met my boyfriend of 4 years, so this place will always hold a special place in my heart. They have awesome margaritas (only available on the rocks, which is great here). The patio is always packed when it's warm, it's a fun atmosphere for a happy hour. They often have a long wait, but put your name in and watch your cell phone while you enjoy a Dos Equis or a marg. Get some chips and salsa, guac and queso, too. Their queso comes out in a skillet and the top is all crisp and bubbly, super good. Get yourself at least 2 tacos, 3 if you're hungry - they're tiny but amazing. I'd definitely recommend this place, especially during the light hours (it gets packed and loud when the sun goes down). read more

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The tacos are more bland than food truck tacos, but the chicken is the lone standout. We arrived just before it got busy on a Friday and received service fast and the food timely served. This is a trendy hot spot that is packed early and often and has a lot of 20-somethings. We had the chips and guacamole and the guac was pureed and had slightly less taste but I liked it far better than what you find at other restaurants. The variety of tacos are on the more bland on the taste side, but the recommended chicken taco (don't remember the menu name) was the best by far! Way better than the shrimp, beef, or pork, which at other taco food places are generally the best. But what is really fun is the gigantic drink menu of Margaritas, tequila, burbon, and whisky. I happen to catch the manager (the girl) and she is a tequila connoisseur! I am not a liquor drinker and she talked us into get a tequila flight and we had a fun and great time tasting top shelf liquor. This is a high energy atmosphere and a fun place for a date night or meet up with friends. I recommend this spot. read more

This is a place that is so much fun and often kindda crowded so get there early! They have an amazing assortment of tacos and for someone that prefers not to eat meat, the vegetarian options are great too! Now with that said, remember I only PREFER not to eat meat. But when I'm here, I gotta have Al Pastor and fish tacos! And the guacamole?!? The best I've ever had!!! The margaritas are strong but not overpowering and the service had always been really awesome! read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I have been to Bakersfield a few times for chips + dip and drinks. I LOVE their queso and guac. Their margaritas are great too. Their seasonal cranberry ginger marg was delicious. 10/10 for a cute date night at the bar w/ drinks and chips! read more

Decided to try this place for lunch and was absolutely impressed with the ambiance, food and most of all, the service. Desiree was so helpful in explaining the menu and was so friendly. Highly recommend this place. Next time, we will try some of their whiskey and bourbon. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Where I first took my girlfriend out for drinks. Been here ever since. Allows dogs on patio and has fresh tacos. Chips. Queso is hot! Good place for a good time! read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Love the tacos here. The guac is top notch and beer selection is pretty decent for a rotating tap. Awesome marg pitchers and food you cant go wrong. I highly recommend this spot. read more

I currently compare all tacos and margaritas in Columbus to Bakersfield. While they may not have the wildly customizable menu and dumb fruity margaritas, they do nail their menu. The $8 house margarita is heavy-handed and fresh, easily my favorite classic margarita in Columbus because it tastes the way a real margarita should taste and I actually feel it after a meal. I would rather pay $8 for a real margarita than $6 for a watered down sugary concoction. We tried the chips and queso this visit and loved it - the queso comes in a cast iron dish and is definitely more of a cream cheese mix than the traditional white cheese with jalapenos you find at other Mexican joints. They also have fun sauces at your table to spice up your meal - my husband was pouring them over his extra chips. The appetizer was easy to share with five people. Everyone ordered a taco and the short rib taco is our favorite - the moist and flavorful meat paired with onion and cheese is so simple yet so delicious. Our friends really enjoyed the mole and al pastor tacos. For everyone that complains about the size and price of these tacos, maybe Bakersfield isn't the place for you. The tacos are served on ~4-5" diameter corn tortillas and the ingredients are stacked to the point you can barely hold it in your hand and take a bite. For me, a drink and two tacos or a drink, shared appetizer, and a taco is plenty of food for a meal. If you prefer larger portions or lower quality food, this may not be the best place for you. Bakersfield can get busy fast but I learned they take reservations! We were able to snag 5 seats at the bar at 5 pm on a Saturday but they also serve food at the standing tables and bar seating outside. For best results, come in the afternoon, order a drink, and try a taco or two. read more

Bakersfield Short North - A scoop of queso with chips and the house margarita. Not your traditional queso but totally worth it. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Very expensive lunch. Over $30 for 4 tacos and 2 beers. The tacos were visually very pleasing and as described. The Short Rib taco had a nice sweet spicy glaze and was my favorite. The one criticism I have was the fish taco. Flavors were great but the wet salsa did not mingle well with the fried fish nugget. They advertise $2 Taco Tuesdays which I would highly recommend as the tacos are literally 2 bites. Service was acceptable as it was a busy Saturday afternoon. Good, fresh, and you can tell they put effort into each taco. read more

Bakersfield Short North - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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What more do you need from a delicious restaurant when you want tacos? Delicious margarita pitchers, daily tequila shot specials, queso and guacamole that will instantly satiate you? Or the yummy sangrias, tortas and tacos ( a la short rip, al pastor, fish, shrimp, etc.) while catching some old westerns? Nothing. You don't need anything more - except to use the Yelp app to get on the typically long waitline. read more

I was here on a date so I forgot to take photos of my food, but I'm here to say, that the atmosphere is great for a date! The restaurant itself is beautiful, they had a good playlist going, and the tables felt private even though there were lots of them. The music was maybe a tad too loud, but it wasn't too big of a deal. The food was also really delicious. I got a house marg, which was perfectly mixed. We also ordered chips and queso--their queso is uniquely textured and heated so I would suggest trying it! I had two tacos--one with chicken, one with steak. They're small, but tasty with delicious garnish. Where Bakersfield lost a star was the service. Our waitress snatched our menus from us, and practically threw the check across the table at my date. She was very unengaged and it felt like she was annoyed to be serving us. Something like this can definitely put a damper on a dining experience. I will be back, but hopefully the service is better next time. read more

Brian was an amazing bartender! Very friendly! Great recommendations for food and drinks! Thanks Brian you rock!

Great guacamole & queso!!!!! Didn't love the salsas though. Neat place! Friendly staff!