Love this spot. Classic feeling Mexican. Open kitchen. A few tables. Quality food. All the classics. Very fair prices. Highly recommend for a quick classic taco night. read more

Excellent food one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Amazing tostadas and tacos are fantastic. Service was great and the ambiance is good. read more

The food was soooooo good. Everything was made fresh. They even gave us a huge complimentary chips and salsa on a platter. We had all of the combos, and it was a great price for what they serve! All of the food was fantastic and fresh with good portions. Service was a bit slow, but nothing crazy like people are saying about this place. I'm coming back for sure read more

I got SO sick from ground beef enchiladas. I would never trust this place again. I'm calling county health department. I have leftovers I will share with them. Eat there at your own risk. read more

Absolutely Horrendous Service - Avoid This Place When She Is Working If you are reading this, please take it seriously. Like many, I check reviews before spending my money at a restaurant, and I am here to confirm that the negative reviews about the staff at Carlos River Café are absolutely true. My family and I have been loyal customers of this restaurant for years. We live just five minutes away, and their food has always been amazing. Carlos, his wife, and their other server - a kind, short-statured Hispanic woman who also works at Carlos Pancake House - have always been wonderful. They recognize us when we walk in and have treated us well every time. But this review is not about them. This is about their daughter, who also works at the restaurant, and who has made every single one of our experiences with her absolutely horrendous. First of all, her appearance is unprofessional. She regularly wears shorts in the summer so short that her butt cheeks are hanging out, which is completely inappropriate for a family restaurant. But that is just the beginning. Her behavior and lack of respect are what truly make her unsuitable for any job in customer service. Let me explain. The first time we dealt with her, I brought my dad and stepsister to dinner. When we walked in, there was only one other couple eating. She did not greet us, did not say "Hello," or "Take a seat, I will be right with you." She looked at us with a dirty smirk and ignored us for nearly 20 minutes. She left trash on the other table the entire time and did not bother to acknowledge us until my dad finally stood up and politely asked the cook, "Are we going to get any service over here?" The cook apologized and said she was busy with online orders. When she eventually came over, she was visibly annoyed, rushed, and rude. My stepsister's side of sour cream was missing, and when we pointed it out, she did not apologize. Instead, she rolled her eyes, huffed, and blamed the cook, saying, "Well, he did not give it to me!" First of all, why are you blaming your coworker? Second, if you knew it was missing, why did you not communicate that to the cook? And third, why does that have anything to do with us? Just bring the sour cream. She finally brought it over and literally tossed it on the table without a word. She did not get a tip that day, but she did get a note from us advising her to learn how to be nicer. Despite this, we decided to give her - and the restaurant - a second chance because we truly love their food and have a great relationship with Carlos and the other staff. On our next visit, the same thing happened. The restaurant was almost empty, but she ignored us for 20 minutes again. My dad politely asked her why we were not being served, and her response was, "Well, I was busy. DO YOU WANT TO ORDER OR NOT!!??" Her tone was beyond disrespectful. My dad calmly replied, "Not," and we left. By now, we were heartbroken, but we decided to try one last time because we did not want to give up on a place we had loved for years. This final visit was the worst. When we walked in, the restaurant was completely empty - no customers, no phone calls, no online orders. She saw us, watched us sit down, and then went to the back with the cook. They stayed there, completely ignoring us for over 10 minutes. My dad raised his voice and said, "Hello?" to get their attention, but no one came out. We had no choice but to leave as she had literally vanished. I cannot understand how the owners allow this woman to work there. I understand she is their daughter, but that does not excuse her behavior. A woman like this should never be employed in a customer service role. It is sometimes hard to stand up to a family member, but as business owners, you need to put your customers and your reputation first. To Carlos and his wife: Please do better. Your food is incredible, and you have the potential to attract loyal customers, but this woman is driving them away. Consider hiring respectful, qualified, and experienced servers who know how to treat people kindly. This would not only improve the atmosphere but also help your business flourish, especially since you have two locations to maintain. While the service at Carlos Pancake House is wonderful, both businesses could benefit from hiring employees who truly value customer service. I am writing this not just for myself, but for my dad and my family, who have always stood up for me. We were patient and gave this woman multiple chances, but her behavior is unacceptable and embarrassing. She is a disgrace to your business, and if she were working anywhere else, she would have been fired a long time ago. To potential customers: Until this woman is no longer working at Carlos River Café, I cannot recommend this place. Their food is amazing, but no meal is worth being treated like this. read more

I've been going here for 15 years. Love Carlo's River Cafe and Rosie! Best chips in town. Everything is very tasty!

Been going to carlos's for many years ordered a birthday dinner at 4:45 p.m. said it was to arrive between 5:25 and 5:40 p.m. I check on it at 5:10 to see where it's at and it says my order was canceled,and nobody's answering the phone. Sorry carlos's it's time to move on. You should be required by law to give a reason why you canceled my order. Or had to read more

I live five minutes away from this restaurant, and I am a weekly customer there. Unfortunately, because of they way I was treated by Carlos daughter today, who was our waitress, I will never return there again to eat. She was exceptionally rude, made discriminatory remarks about me being gay and negative comments about my ex husband, and she told me I was not allowed to come back to the restaurant if I had a problem. I can see other negative comments about his daughter, which I am not surprised to read. She is a nightmare if you get her as your waitress. She takes the order five feet away from the table and if you ask her for something, she conveniently says she didn't hear you. If you say anything about her service or her bad attitude, you can expect to hear a earful. She is lazy, rude, uneducated and lacks any customer service skills that someone would expect from a waitress. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT. There is another great Mexican restaurant just down the road in Island Lake. read more

The food was great, speedy service, friendly staff. I believe it was the two owners working. The husband cooking and the wife was our server. My only complaint is it was really cold in there. We will definitely be back!!!! read more

Food and waitstaff was excellent. Ordered the quesadilla dinner and loved it. Lots of Cheese with rice and beans as sides

I recently ordered take out from Carlos's and I enjoyed it. While it wasn't the best taco salad I've ever had, it was still pretty good. My boyfriend, on the other hand, really enjoyed his food. I will say that the customer service here is really good! I would order food again for here and I would recommend this restaurant to others! read more

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The food is great! Always fresh! Service is great, staff is very friendly! I have never had a bad experience at Carols River Cafe!

I would give 5 stars to owner Carlos alone.But his wife who treats people like shit .She needs to leave.She doesn't like what's she's doing at all it show immediately when confronted.The food is good not the best but will have you going back.If you don't have to deal with mrs carlos.Carry out is your best bet hereThis way you won't have to deal with her eyes So I went here tonight and man What another disappointment the taco were way small and the steak was old and rubbery no toppings and Carlos has now turned into his wife.Yes people like him and his food but I can tell you the only thing that has gone up in his place is the decor.His wife went on a spending spree or got a hold of a restaurant closing selling furniture. Lots of better Mexican restaurants in the area that ya don't have to get attitude when ya walk in and walk out with subpar food . So since the place is so close to me figure what the heck.Give it one more shot.Why this place has people coming to it is amazing.Carlos has not only lost the food amounts served.The place was totally unorganized.I waited 15 mins for a burrito then when I got home it was all Wong and very very small in size.I watched these 2 kids trying to service in coming patrons .What a joke Carlos your standards are falling fast as you opened all these Carlos 1.2.3.4.Quit trying to grow so big you can't handle it.. The food the service is horrible.Wrong orders skimpy on everything.At this point I will drive a little further to get a decent meal.To bad so sad your head got to big Carlos .And again your wife should not ever be working the floor .Put her at home where she belongs period.Nobody likes her she is rude.Never again read more

I was super excited to try this place for breakfast because the reviews are so good! We showed up at 10 am and they were closed, not a soul in sight. I'm disappointed, but we will try again another time. Just wondering why there was no one there, business hours state they open at 10 am every day and there was no sign on the door saying otherwise. read more

Always a great meal. Carlos brings Mexican food with great flavors. My favorite are the enchiladas with a delicious red sauce. Not your typical red sauce. The chili rellenos are the best I've ever had! We have enjoyed his restaurant for years. read more

Unfortunate experience. Stopped by to place a to-go order and visited the restroom before ordering. Stepped up to counter after, and was bullied by a woman behind the counter with a baby on her hip. She pointed at me and yelled, "You ask ME before using MY bathroom!" I stated that I was there to order food and smiled at the baby. She yelled again, "That bathroom is not for YOU-YOU ask ME if you want to use the bathroom!" Shocked I softly said, "Excuse me?" She followed with, "The bathroom is not for YOU," and then putting her hand up toward me shouted, "BYE!" Nice way to run a business. Won't be returning - kindness matters when it comes to my pocketbook. Hope she finds some happiness in life-completely unacceptable. There are plenty of friendly alternatives in the surrounding area - head there! (which I did~:) read more

Little place but VERY yummy. The service was extremely quick and our server was nice. Complementary chips and salsa. We will be coming back! read more

Carlos River Cafe - Steak Taco Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Me and my wife love the food and service here! When arrive to dine here they bring our beverages promptly and ask if want our regular and it's prepared perfectly! Will return soon and highly recommend! read more

Very disappointed. Been going there for 20 years and today my wife and I were very disappointed. The food was OK but not great like it used to be, but the waitress acted like she was doing us a favor by waiting on us. On the verge of being rude. Won't be going back. Sorry Carlos. read more

Stopped in to order some food. Ordered a #3 combo and told the boy at the register that I would like no lettuce or tomato's. Also no lettuce in the box since they put the hot oily flautes on it to not burn the styrofoam. Only Meat & Cheese. ( he did not mention that they have gucamole on them ) Then I ordered the Carlos Special Burrito & 2 steak quesadillas. I watched them make the food. They put lettuce in the box, but then scraped it out. Then they put down wax paper and the flautes. They put in the taco and added some cheese and closed the box. The boy was putting the box in the white plastic bag and I asked if I could make sure the order was correct since we live over a 1/2 hr away. He opened the box and I saw the Guac..... Oh NO... my wife would not eat that.... He handed the container to the cook to remove the guac. I watched him use his finger to slide the guac off the flautes and use a spoon as well to scrape it out of the box. He hands the box back to the boy and there is guac all over the inside of the plastic bag that he is using a napkin to clean out. I said that the flautes would be tainted from them having the guac on them and of course there would be traces in the box as well. The boy turns and says to me: I am doing my Best. Are you kidding me, they were going to give me partially removed guac on food that the cook slid his finger down. At this moment I asked if I needed to buy another order to ensure no guac remains would be present. The boy goes to the register and rings up another $ 10.00 meal for me. I tossed my credit card on the counter, it bounced a little bit, and the boy says: We can all be civil here..... I thought I was on candid camera. You are making me buy another meal in order to get my food the way I ordered it. Then the boy asks me if I would still like the other finger slid down meal or should he just throw it away......? Really, Yes i want it, you just let me or made me the customer buy another order to ensure I would receive nonfingered food made the way I asked for in the first place. Bottom Line - When I told him no lettuce or tomatoes - meat & cheese only, the boy with all the smart remarks could have made mention of would you like guac on them that is how they come. He did not. Only knows how to open his mouth after the situation arises. Carlos - where were you? Need to make sure there is proper management in place and not an entitled millennial with smart answers running your business. read more

I hate posting bad reviews, but I let them know I had a dairy allergy and they gave me sour cream and made me sick. I ordered through Uber eats and put it in the description twice. don't eat here if you have allergies. read more

I phoned in an order for 5 steak tacos for takeout. When I went in to pick up my order Carlos's wife was there. She told me that I ordered 5 beef tacos. I told her that I didn't I ordered steak. She continued to argue with me and would not give me what I ordered. I said so that's it? I guess you just lost a customer. She said " I am the owner" I said Then you should know better than to lose a customer over 5 tacos! She kept saying Bye Bye. Question: How do you fix stupid? Answer: Keep Carlos's wife at home! read more

We have enjoyed eating at Carlos River Cafe for well over 10 years but our last three visits have been very disappointing. One time they did not have any guacamole. Really?? How can a mexican restaurant not have guac? Another time my enchiladas had barely any filling and my rice was dried out and the tamale was so dried out I couldn't get most of it out of the husk. Now, last week, I ordered a combo with tamale, taco and chili rellano. I called the waitress over to show her the oil that I could squeeze out of the chili rellano with my fork. It was inedible. Small, flat and so much oil....just bad. Instead of apologizing she argued with me that to expect them to be like that because they are pan fried. Ummmm.....excuse me! I love chili rellano and order them at most Mexican restaurants I go to. I have never had one that could be called an "oil sponge". I think they have spread themselves to thin with opening the other restaurants and quality has suffered. I'm hoping they read this and try to get back to the delicious food we use to enjoy. read more

Best Mexican food around hands down or up or where ever you want to put them. I've had a variety of everything here from tacos, burritos, enchiladas, sopes, to chile rellenos. Combo #4 way to go a lot of food for decent price. And always get fresh chips and guacamole it's delicious. You do have to make sure you have everything if your carrying out as they are a busy restaurant and do forget just let them know and they are accommodating. And Carlos is a great guy funny friendly what you want in an owner. read more

First time here Wonderful service and great food! The corn tortillas are so mild and light too. Good portions and awesome music. read more

Carlos River Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I attempted to order food at 4:29 pm on a Sunday (they close at 5:00 pm) and immediately told me they were not accepting more orders. They were closing the kitchen. I've been going here for years and this has never happened. Pretty terrible I was turned away a full 30+minutes before closing. Keep that in mind if you decide to dine here. You need to come 1 hour+ before closing to have a chance... read more

This was our first time at Carlos Rover Cafe under the recommendation of a friend. I have noticed that both in IL and CA that the smaller the establishment the better the food when speaking about Mexican cuisine. Carlos' is no different and I had a sneaking suspicion based on the exterior appearance of the restaurant we were in for a treat. An excellent dining experience that rivals the majority of Mexican restaurants in the area with regards to quality and price. Granted, the dining area is simple with no flashy Hispanic ambiance or decor but the food, hospitality, and service was tremendous. Instead of the Mexican decor they opted for more useful items such as several flat screen TVs. The meal started with the complimentary chips and salsa common to most area Mexican restaurants. The chips were fresh flour tortilla based very recently cooked. The salsa was excellent with equal amounts of tomato, onion, cilantro, and a dash of lime. I had a simple burrito and my wife a taco combo platter. The food tasted of fresh ingredients with a homemade quality that is lacking in other area restaurants of this genre. The prices very reasonable considering the quality and freshness of the food. We could certainly tell that everything was prepared with tradition and experience. If you are looking for fancy this place will not resonate with you. If you are seeking a good Mexican meal then look no further. A homely atmosphere with kind staff and excellent food defines the Carlos River Cafe. They offer carryout as well in case the wobbly tables are not to your liking! read more

used to go here at least once per week. they no longer have a mask required sign on their door. lady inside was NOT wearing her mask when I walked into an EMPTY restaurant. Was told that health department rules state masks must be worn....wrong!!! This is the guidance from IDPH so do not lie and since you are disciminating againt people who cannot medically tolerate a mask you are violating my right. restaurant was empty and staff wasnt wearing a mask. hyprocrites!! Everyone over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering over their nose and mouth must wear one in a public place when unable to maintain a safe distance (6 feet) from others.  Examples include: Shopping at essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies. Picking up food from the drive thru or curbside. Visiting a health care provider, Traveling on public transportation. Interacting with customers, clients, or coworkers at essential businesses. Performing essential services for state and local government agencies, such as laboratory testing, where close interactions with other people are unavoidable. When feeling sick, coughing, or sneezing. read more

Carlos River Cafe is the best!!! Hands down the best Mexican food in the Crystal Lake area. I work just a mile down the road and come here often. The Enchiladas Verdes are spectacular. My husband always goes for the chicken tacos and they are perfect. I always order a Horchata on the way out and it's awesome! Dine in if you can - complimentary (hand made) chips and salsa are delivered to the table. The restaurant has made some noticeable improvements over the years. They use nice dinnerware and silverware - instead of the plastic baskets they used to serve in. CARLOS' IS AWESOME. read more

Carlos River Cafe - Enchiladas Verdes - Mexican Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Tried this place because of the good reviews on yelp. Loved it! Carlos greeted us with a smile and served us complimentary chips and salsa (tasty, love the cilantro) before taking our order. I had a grilled steak dinner (I forget what it's called; it's at the top of their House Specials page), which came with 2 enchiladas, rice, beans, salad and sour cream, and a container of flour tortillas. The steak was delicious, as were the enchiladas. You could tell their flour tortillas were fresh and made from scratch. I would've eaten more of the tortillas but wanted to save room for the main dish. My husband had their 3-taco dinner and mixed it up with al pastor, lengua, and chorizo. He enjoyed all three. The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars? King Taco in L.A. is still my favorite taco place. It's pretty hard to beat. But I will definitely be coming back to Carlos River Cafe on a regular basis. read more

Two of us had lunch here today (based on favorable YELP reviews). Food was good, flavorful, FRESH, fast and CHEAP. Service was attentive. Place was very clean even though the exterior looks a little worn. For what Carlos is trying to do he does it VERY well. As another reviewer said, there were also complimentary chips (homemade?) and salsa (fresh). If you are looking for good mexican, I would definitely give Carlos' a try. read more

My parents live down the road from Carlos, and I've been a patron almost literally since they opened their doors. You can do better, but you'll have to try in order to do so. All food is fresh, good meats, fresh vegetables. Almost everything is cooked-to-order, obvious exceptions for refried beans and rice. Good selections for gluten-free and vegetarians (corn tortillas available for many dishes, avocado or beans available in place of meat on almost anything. This restaurant is much better than the building would have you believe. I am happy enough with the restaurant to recommend trying anything you have a taste for. My personal favorite is the Steak Burrito Platter: three small burritos with Carne Asada, grilled onions, and cheese. Served with sour cream and lettuce, beans and rice. Really nicely seasoned, simple dish. Carlos is a very nice man, and though the premises have a very "local" feeling to them, really worth stopping if you're passing through on Rt 176. read more

Great authentic Mexican eatery. I'd recommend....this is the 1st place I've recommended Mexican food wise. read more

Carlos River Cafe - Small place but good! - Mexican Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

This is definitely our favorite place around for tacos. Staff is always so friendly and the service is great. The food is great quality and the experience is always a blast! read more

First time, WON'T be the last! Authentic Mexican!! A small place, only a handful of tables, and a diner-style "bar" (not sure they sell alcohol). Went in on a Friday evening around 6ish, the takeout line was a good indication that the food was going to be good, and it was! I had tostadas al pastor, my 4 year old neice (see pic) had a cheese and been burrito, my sister had the enchiladas suizas. We also ordered guacamole-it was fresh and bowl-licking good! Portions were plentiful-each of us has enough left for tomorrow's lunch. Service was good, too. I believe there is only one waitress, but the place is small enough that is really all that is needed. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

Carlos River Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

My favorite Mexican Food place. They only have one issue, no tamales. :( Great tortas and chips and salsa. The chips and salsa are hand made there. And fairly cheap... The good kind of cheap. read more

No avocado again! So no guacamole. The Vegetarian king burrito had hardly any cheese or beans. When I asked I was told vegetarians don't like much cheese.... vegans don't want any cheese. I have to pay the same price as a steak burrito for shredded lettuce and some green peppers! SO disappointed! read more

Quick service an fresh food. My family and I have eaten here many times over the years and it is always great. The food has homemade flavor-You can tell they use high quality ingredients. read more

The food here is Ok. The prices are good (they are about $2 a taco) but the service here is horrible, and it's not the cooks fault because they are actually nice people and fun to talk to. It's Mrs. Carlos! She is a very rude and unpleasant individual and she's got to go! This is the main reason why this place is going downhill! I ordered a king burrito meal and six tacos of various flavors including "carne asada", "al pator", and chicken (for the family...geez...I didn't eat all that myself). They gave me two red sauces and one green sauce. I asked if I could please have some extra sauces considering I placed a pretty large order. Ms. Carlos told me that each additional small container of red sauce will be .75ct each. Mind you that's almost half the price of the taco itself and nowhere is it listed on their menu how many sauces you get with a meal and that each additional sauce will cost .75ct. extra. I told Mrs. Carlos that that's not fair and I'm not paying .75ct for additional sauces. Well she proceeded to get into an argument with me. She tells me "this is a business" and "look at my prices". I really don't care. If you are going to bait and switch me into paying extra for food then why not raise the price of the tacos itself? Don't play stupid games like trying to charge me .75ct extra for each tiny container of red sauce. That's just ridiculous! Or if this is your dumb policy then at least clearly define that policy, print it in big bold letters somewhere where people can see it, and let people know up front. Just looking around, I saw people that were dining in the place with large containers of red and green sauce on their tables. Did they have to pay extra for those sauces Mrs. Carlos? The bottom line is that you that should be grateful that I am going into your establishment and supporting your business. Mrs. Carlos learn some manners, don't be rude, and don't argue with your customers or you are going to lose all your patrons just like you lost one today. read more

Ordered take out from Carlos River Cafe. It was ready when I arrived to pick it up. I had Chili Rellenos which were excellent. Sister had fajitas which she also enjoyed. They could add a few chips to the order.. would have been nice for scooping up beans etc. Next time I will remember to order some. read more