Campaneros is a legend in the town of Dorset. If you don't know anything about Dorset, it is considered the restaurant capital of MN (maybe the world) because they have more restaurants per capita than many other towns. In fact, calling it even a town is a stretch. It's basically a group of restaurants and shops (and a church) that line a single road in the heart of MN cabin country. But boy, is this place hopping during cabin season. And Campaneros is one of its anchors. Campaneros is the perfect example of a quintessential MN Mexican joint. And what I mean by that is Mexican food that has been catered to softer palates and Midwest perspective. Nothing wrong with that, its just like calling Taco Bell a Mexican restaurant, it kind of is and it kind of isn't. The food is pretty good, you will find all the Midwest Texmex staples here - fajitas, seafood chimis, smothered burritos, etc. All loaded with melted cheese and refried beans and rice. Portions are belly- busting huge. You will probably have a whole extra meal to take home if you partake in the free chips and salsa. Also, margs are large and pretty strong. It's exactly what you crave when on vacation, and cabin time is a time to kick back and indulge. When I said legend, I wasn't kidding. This place has been in Dorset for a long time, ever since I can remember. It recently burned down but they built it back newer and better with recipes and heart still intact. That means the place offers a much better seating arrangement and a large, beautiful patio area. Even with more seating, expect to wait for a table as this place is busy almost all the time. Good place that has stood the test of time (and a fire and long MN winters). Next time you are in town, do yourself a favor and sample some Dorset history. Ice cream can be found next door for dessert. read more

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We eat here every time we are in Park Rapids. It is just what you would expect for Minnesota Mexican. There is not a lot of spice or seasoning involved and their hottest sauce is not quite as hot as Whataburger ketchup. The people here love it and it is always busy. They have a great showing at Taste of Dorset even though most of the offerings are right off the Sysco truck and into the fryer. Give it a try if you're near Dorset but bring your own hot sauce. read more

This place is such a mixed bag. They're doing the absolute least on the inside. It's wide open with card tables (or something like that) scattered around, and honestly the vibe is more bingo hall than restaurant. The patio is a completely different story. It's gorgeous! It actually feels like a completely different restaurant. I loved that it's screened in, with a smaller unscreened section too. The fans kept it nice and cool even in the summer heat, which made sitting out there a great choice. Free chips and salsa is always a win, but the salsa itself was pretty bland. The menu is huge, with plenty of the classics you'd expect along with a few adventurous options I hadn't seen before, which was fun. I ordered the tamale and chile relleno dinner. Both were wonderfully seasoned and smothered in sauce and cheese, and both tasted pretty good. The texture was a little mushy, but not enough to ruin it. The sides of refried beans and Spanish rice were pretty basic, but they worked well as fillers alongside the main dishes. Service was friendly, but our server stayed pretty distant once we ordered, which made the whole experience feel a little impersonal. Overall, I might come back for the patio and a couple of the dishes, but it's not the kind of place that wows you beyond that. read more

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Decent food overall, but we ended up filling up on chips and salsa and queso as we waited for our food. (We did have a bigger party of 8, but it seemed to take even longer than you'd expect). Our server was pretty attentive at first, but then we had to look for her after a while... but I'm sure that's just because she was busy running out food to other tables when their orders came in. It's probably a different experience for smaller groups! When our table finally did get our food, many weren't hungry as much--- and these are big portions (which is nice) -- so we had a lot of boxes to return home with. Overall: seemed like a nice restaurant in a rural area and the queso was great. It's just the long wait that led to not as awesome of an experience, I think. read more

Companeros - Chicken chimichanga meal - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

They have an amazing enchilada plate never had it that good anywhere else. I can't wait to bring my daughter there. The people are polite. The atmosphere is fitting theme. read more

Nice decor, service is friendly and fast, food is best in town, also very reasonably priced. read more

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Delicious!! Great food and very nice employees!! Dorset is a cute little town! Been coming here for years! read more

We always enjoy our dining experience here. It's some of the best Mexican food in Minnesota. Our dinner tonight was no exception. The carne de vaca was amazing and the tamale and enchilada were delicious. Always great service and a Mexican beer on tap caps it off perfectly. read more

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Amazing place to come and grab some Mexican food! Coming in with a party of 9 and was super accommodating towards us. Wish I grabbed the waitresses name but she was amazing with taking care of us & patient while working around the little kids! The drink menu is offering multiple beers to different flavors of margaritas- which was amazing! To back off that, the menu was huge! Having two appetizers was plenty to share between us all & the entrées are enormous/more than enough to take home! The restaurant was huge itself with multiple sections inside and one outside. Instead of paying at the table, they hand you the check & you walk over to the front to pay. They also had some t-shirts or sweatshirts if wanting to buy some merchandise. Definitely coming back when visiting again! read more

Companeros - Strawberry blended margaritas! - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

We love the expansive choices on their menu. Free chips and salsa are tasty. Everything we have ordered over the years is delicious. The servers are friendly and helpful. Wish they stayed open year round. read more

This is a great place for good food and fun. The whole team is so friendly and accommodating. We have a great time every time we visit.

My 14 year old and I were in the area for a weekend getaway (staying at Wambolt's Cabins) and we ate dinner here and poked around town and played mini golf nearby one evening. The food was solid, the margarita decent enough, the service friendly, and the whole experience was worth what we paid. It was perfectly relaxing - and I would happily go back. I don't love the uniforms they make the servers wear...weird mix of inappropriate and appropriation, but other than that, a very solid experience. read more

Stopped at Companeros in Dorset, MN. The food was good -- nothing that blew me away, but definitely solid enough that I'd eat here again. I had the enchiladas, and we also ordered the cheese dip as a starter. This was my biggest gripe -- when we asked about the cheese dip, the only clarification the server gave was "white or yellow?" which didn't really explain anything. We chose white, but we were actually looking for the other kind and didn't realize it until it came out. It was still fine, just not what we were expecting. A better description would go a long way. Drinks were light on the alcohol, which was a little disappointing given the price -- if you're looking to actually taste your cocktail, you might be let down. The place was very busy. If you wanted to sit inside, you were looking at a 30-minute to 1-hour wait. We ended up sitting outside in the heat, which was manageable but not exactly comfortable. All in all -- decent food, weak drinks, a few communication issues, and a busy atmosphere. I'd go back, but I'd probably ask a few more questions before ordering next time. read more

The food is just not good. It's a shame because it used to be the best around. Now days, Taco Bell is better! The chips were stale. The salsa was tomato soup. The MICROWAVED burrito was disgusting. The MICROWAVED enchilada would make Mortons proud because it had so much salt. Just nasty! read more

It's a shame we didn't ride our bikes on the Heartland Trail to have lunch here, but I knew I was going to have a Strawberry Margarita (biking after 1 drink is a no-go for me). I found my lunch entree, The Santa Fe Bowl, under the "Gluten Free" menu. I'm not gluten sensitive, but when you offer everything I want-why not? My bowl with pork carnitas was perfect, adding a little hot salsa to improve the heat. My esposo chose the 2 enchilada special-which was more than enough good food to have the next day as lunch! Don't be ashamed of the next-day container! read more

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Group of 11, we ordered various meals, and all 11 thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Wait staff was excellent and the atmosphere was very good.

Honestly, I have NEVER had a bad meal here. We bring all of our out of town guests here. They rave about the food and, let's be real, the strawberry margaritas. Price for the amount of food you get is appropriate. I get the Companeros burrito. Usually takes me three days to finish. Even the biggest eaters have leftovers. The staff is always so pleasant! This is a must do when in the area! read more

We come up to Minnesota every year and this is always a must have stop. Tje food is delicious and the waiters are kind and friendly

Have been here many times, to the old and new structures. The new design is way better for many reasons: layout, patio side bar, credit cards ... and maybe everything else is the same. Food selection is really limited in this area of Park Rapids, so the visitors and denizens are fortunate to have it, even if still not year-round. So this time we sat on the patio while waiting for our table, and ordered big goblets of margaritas, and the tequila could actually be tasted. I got two because I was not driving. Even the kids got kiddie cocktails, which are smaller non-alcohol versions of the adult ones. My wife chewed me out for ordering two $5 chips and salsa to go, when it is included inside the restaurant for dinner. I did not know that, and the patio side bar order lady did not tell me. Perhaps she should have, because she knew we were eating inside ... the main reason I am docking a star. One inside, which was actually outside again, but on the fenced side of the patio, we ordered our actual meals, which, ah, included the free chips. D'oh. The chips are endless and both mild and spicy salsas very good. The platters themselves are very good Mexican. Good enough that I always want to go here. The addition of the patio and booze is an added bonus. High comeback value. Final thing is our friends have been going here an eternity and know the owners. They introduced us to the old owner, who works as a waitress. Or maybe that second margarita goblet got the better of me and I misheard that. read more

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If you are in the area, you must stop in and eat at Companeros!! Amazing food and drinks! The portions are huge and the prices are low. The chicken tamale was the best!! Also the famous chimichanga with chicken was delicious! Reminded me of the chimichangas at Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurants (remember that place?) Also note, you get a big bowl of chips and two salsas right when you sit down. The margaritas are phenom as well! The margs come in many different sizes from 7oz to 60oz -- I got the 7oz blended with salt on the rim. It was only $3.50! You gotta eat here! If you are indecisive get a combo! read more

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I absolutely don't want to yuck anyone's yum with this because I know people that like this...that said, this restaurant does not have good food and I feel that the overall rating and recommendations i have received to go here gave me a false impression (I've legit heard people say this is the best Mexican food in the area). What I experienced was stomachache levels of cheese and menu completely liberated from herbs, spices, and seasonings (I.e. flavor). I certainly haven't tried everything on the menu, but I have been twice and had an assortment. Salsa is mostly a thick tomato juice with just a hint of seasoning and maybe one floating jalapeño. If you want chunky salsa, they mix the regular with the pico. The "Yellow" Queso is the nacho cheese sauce you'd get at a stadium or the "white queso is a cheese-like gravy that could be good with pork sausage and served over biscuits. Meats are generally unseasoned (beef was akin to that in a basic pot roast; chicken is just shredded chicken). It would surprise me if the beans and rice weren't from a can or a box. dishes are garnished with a ton of bagged lettuce and a few diced tomatoes that I feel bad for leaving on the plate, but they don't seem very appetizing. The sauces are edible, but seem to me to be the base of a tame cup of chili. And trust me, I love cheese a ton, but here it is out. of. control. and largely the only thing you'll taste. A sincerely redeeming factor is that the service is very friendly, responsive to all requests, and quick with food. But again it is entirely edible Tex-Mex food for a palate that doesn't enjoy any seasoning or spice and instead would like to consume a block of melted cheese with every dish. Oh and don't get me started on the outfits some of the servers were wearing. Kitschy Mexican style dresses like youd find in a catalogue read more

Summer 2019 Update: They take plastic now. Credit cards welcome and Apple Pay from my phone worked!

Hard pass. Exceptionally bad. There was plastic/rubber tooth in my son's quesadilla. The enchiladas were a salt bomb. The service was slow. All of our plates sat under the heat lamps. The soda does not come with free refills unless you purchase a souvenir cup- which was just a plastic Pepsi cup. The decor and uniforms were bordering on racist. And the margaritas were basically a slushee- I am trusting that there was tequila, but I couldn't taste it. read more

If you're in the area, this place is a must stop. Very generous portions of nicely prepared and presented food the service is quick, friendly and efficient. The restaurant is always busy, but service is friendly and the food is delivered quickly. Whenever we are in the area we stop, because it's THAT good. read more

Companeros - Festive decor - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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I'm not a snobby food critic like some who come to northern Mn expecting five star NYC cuisine. I'm just an average joe up visiting north who found some pretty good food, large portions, reasonably priced, with great service. Great place to fill up after a day on the lake. read more

We've been coming to Companeros since it was called Compadres nearly 30 years ago. Little has changed since then (I guess if it's not broken, dont fix it). Hosts Rick and Laura are hardworking, friendly, and dedicated to providing good service. Decor is still a quirky mix of Mexican blankets, knick-knacks, and t-shirts for sale, booths with red-orange Formica tabletops. The inside hasn't changed in 20 years. Portions are big, so I'd recommend ordering from the a la carte menu if you aren't super-hungry. The food is good, but is "North Woods" Mexican, not extremely authentic. Some of our favorites aren't even the entrees. The margaritas, fried ice cream and Mexican mud ball desserts won't disappoint. read more

Companeros - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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Service was great the food was awful. So. So. Bad. We left in tears from actually laughing so hard. That's how bad it was. Waitress and hostess were great and friendly. read more

Nice place. Good service and food. Pitchers of margaritas. The waitress was helpful with our large group.

My family has been visiting here for years and must visit it every year. Companeros is a great place. They are very accommodating and are always able to handle our large group of over 40 people. Service is great, staff is friendly, the food is good, and Companeros/ Dorset has a very unique atmosphere. A must visit if you're in the area. FYI it's cash only but they have an ATM on-site. read more

Companeros - The grandparents enjoying a dessert at Companeros - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

I would agree with others that the food is not authentic Mexican. I don't really care because the service is prompt and friendly, and the food really does taste good. The green chili sauce is the best of the sauces. We can enjoy the flavors, be satisfied, and not spend a lot of money. That's what I call an enjoyable dinner out. read more

We seasonal camp on a lake in the area. Compenaros is a must for us at least 2-4 times a month. Fantastic food and service. If you build it, they will come. And come people do. Before they rebuilt the location, lines could get long but the new locations is big, with outdoor seating in both a covered and uncovered patio and the wait is short. The new owners were smart enough to keep everything that makes this place great and make the needed changes to meet demand. The Chimichanga anchors this restaurant along with the strawberry margaritas. Tacos and the Gleny is also a tasty choice. The comps quesadillas are great to share but also make for a great meal. I have yet to have anything like the comps quesadillas anyplace else. If that's not your thing they have added a more classic quesadilla. The new owners are doing a great job and it just keeps getting better. read more

I consider myself a Mexican food expert for sure... If you go here thinking you're getting cutting edge or traditional authentic Mexican cuisine you need to check your GPS and realize you're in Dorset. If you want some good old fashioned Americanized Mexican hot plate comfort food, then you're in the right spot. I've been coming here every summer since I was a little guy; it will always be Compadres to me. I always look forward to eating here and have over a decade worth of photos doing inappropriate things to the donkey out front. I even bought my lil sis the Companeros shirt because it's pretty hilarious that this place even exists in Dorset. Chips and Salsa - Let's just talk salsa. What's the difference between the hot salsa and a can of tomato sauce with some diced jalapenos in it? Nothing... Don't get me wrong it's good on chips but about the blandest salsa you will ever find. Burritos - Huge and delicious Enchiladas - very tasty, I had the #5 a couple nights ago and it was a good way to go! Tacos - ehhh.. Think the homemade taco night at your house, nothing too special about their tacos. But the soft tacos are rolled like burritos oddly enough.. Rice & Beans - Why is it you have to choose one or the other, why not rice an beans like any other mex restaurant ever??? I like both.. It is what it is... and it is good at being what it is... Enjoy it if you are in the area just don't expect a Rick Bayless 47 ingredient mole sauce to show up on your enchiladas! read more

Companeros is a family favorite for great Mexican food. If you are in the Park Rapids area this summer, this is a must do! The owners Rick and Laura are there to personally greet guests and make sure that the food and service are always fantastic. read more

Companeros - Great Food - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, you've found it with Companeros! My cabin is close by and I have been coming here since they opened some umpteen years ago. If you are planning on coming on a weekend night- plan for at least an hour wait. They do not take reservations and it is a first come first serve basis. While you are waiting for a table, you can have a seat in their new waiting lounge and have one of their famous margaritas! Their menu has a wide variety of options and you can't go wrong with any of their house specials. For the picky eaters, they even serve burgers. While you are waiting for your food, they will serve you plenty of homemade chips and salsa. It doesn't take long for your food to arrive once you've ordered it (maybe 15 to 20 minutes tops), and while you wait, have another famous margarita! They are only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and they are busy anytime of day. When you are waiting for over an hour in a table, when there are other options available, you know it's that good. This is a local favorite spot and their prices are very reasonable. A party of 8 can have plenty of those famous margaritas and order as much food as they can possibly eat, and it only costs around $60. The owners Rick (head bartender) and Laura (hostess) are there everyday. If you are in the Dorest area, you need to stop by and have some authentic Mexican food! You will not be disappointed. read more

The service was good and that's about the only positive thing I can say about this place. Salsa and guacamole...unimpressive, too much cheese on enchilada's, marg so sour that a shot of amaretto didn't help. Reviews had me excited to go to this place but it was a total bust for us :( read more

Nice atmosphere and great service makes you forget the cheap booths and mishmash of building additions. Food is never bad and never amazing. Summer only, no credit cards. There's something about the overall Dorset experience that gives this place 4 stars instead of 3. read more

Companeros - Mexican Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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If you're expecting mediocre American Midwest Mexican food, you'll be strikingly unsurprised. There's nothing inherently bad about the vast amounts of greasy cheese that is sure to be included with your meal, so long as you're not in the mood for something authentic. That said, I ate most of my meal and even enjoyed it a little bit. Besides, the service made it hard to be angry about the food quality. All in all, not terrible for a tiny Minnesotan town, but not all that much better than Taco Bell. read more

Been coming here for years every summer! Loved the enchiladas, chips and salsa mud balls and now the margaritas.

The people and service are so great, but the food and margaritas aren't the same since the rebuild. :( We love what Companeros represents and the tradition it has held for our family over so many summers ... but the food and drinks just don't taste like they used to. read more

The Mexican food here is better than the Mexican food in Germany! The cultural appropriation is pretty thick but all joking a salad, the service is great and where else are you going to eat Mexican in northern MN! read more