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El Cilantro

4.3 (56 reviews)

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Dining room
David C.

Just okay. Definitely not "south of the border" Mexican food. My chicken chimichanga was smothered in queso and inside was chicken, and white rice with a few kernels of corn. I was missing Spanish Rice and refried beans. The choriqueso was good but the chips were stale. Only a small container of salsa accompanied the chips. No alcoholic beverages. Restaurant is clean and employees are friendly but the food didn't make the grade.

Tijuana Quesadilla with ramekins of refried beans and consommé
Susan C.

Not particularly impressed with the Mexican food here. The restaurant itself was clean, the service was okay, and the decor, just a little South of the Border-ish. My Tijuana Quesadilla, however, needed help. The flour tortilla was filled with tender pot roast (yum) bits of purple onion, cilantro and queso sauce (not cojita or mozzarella or Jack cheese). Sauce on the inside made for soft and soggy tortillas on the outside - not crispy. A tasty consommé appeared on the plate, along with a small ramekin of warm (not hot) refried beans, but the quesadilla was already soggy so the consommé made it more soggy. Chips weren't homemade, although the salsa (served in a tiny ramekin) was quite good. The chips and salsa were extra $; Most Mexican restaurants serve those gratis as long as you order a meal. So the food was so-so. Maybe the farther away from the Mexican border one gets, the less authentic it becomes? At least this area offers restaurants with international cuisine. And that is good.

Quesabirria tacos with radishes and limes. Served with a side of consomé for dipping.
Sasha G.

I don't play when it comes to food- especially Tacos and pizza . (My favorites) When I tell you THESE are the BEST tacos (Quesabirria's) that I have EVER eaten in my LIFE!! Delicious isn't even close to describing how amazing they are. The flavor of the stewing spices makes these tacos with dipping sauce one of a kind! Inside the restaurant is cute and super clean. And the employees were super nice and helpful. I didn't have to wait long on my order and everything was made fresh and hot. My new favorite to go place If you haven't went yet, you better go ASAP or else there won't be none left from me eating them all.

Carnitas taco (left) chorizo taco (right)
Phil S.

Fresh and quick food served with waitstaff intent on excellent service. My wife and I ordered an appetizer first, a queso cheese dip with tortilla chips; it was delicious! A very generous amount! For dinner, I was very hungry, so I ordered two tacos, a carnitas and a chorizo taco, plus their egg and chorizo burrito. Ugh! Too much food! But I ate at all, and it was delicious! Hot, fresh, and very quick to the table. Five stars!

3 milk cake
Oanh K L.

As other reviews, I totally agree that their food are amazing and delicious. Just wish their location is a bit better to bring more customers in. We ordered papelon drink ( I believe it is lemonade with brown sugar); appetizer : shrimp queso fundido, 2 entrees: pabello criollo & pollo caribeno. The appetizer was served warm, the plantain chips paired perfectly with the warm melted cheese and shrimp. I was craving for sweet plantain for a long time and I finally got what I want. The pulled beef was so flavorful, just a great combination with rice & black bean. We finished everything and this place definitely is my favorite spot in Petoskey for Caribbean food.

Mofongo
Katie K.

I LOVED this place!! Super cute inside, a great menu, and great service. I will definitely be returning!

a plate of food on a table
Eileen R.

Today my mother and I decided to try Puerto Rican cuisine for the first time. It was sort of a rainy Sunday and an hour drive north to Petoskey for a new experience seemed like the right thing to do. The reviews all seemed to rave on the authenticity. The location is a bit random but located near to petoskey brewing in a strip mall with a parking lot. No street parking is a huge sun. The exterior is unassuming. As soon as you step inside you are greeted with bright colors, cultural artwork and the smells of delicious food. They also do have Mexican food so if you want to sample something new and also enjoy something you know and love they have you covered. I will say the menu does a good job of explaining the dishes which are all named I struggle to pronounce. My mom and I decided to get the appetizer sampler and share an entree. The goal was to get only things we couldn't pronounce and had never had. We started with two coquito beverages which were nonalcoholic but google told me they traditionally are mixed with rum. I got the Nutella coquito and my mom got strawberry. Very very creamy, like a melted milkshake poured over rice. Basically Puerto Rican "egg nog" but better. The sampler had 4 unique items and a cup of queso for dipping. Large portions and could have served 3-4 ppl easily. We didn't finish. I loved the fride pork way more than I expected. Crispy and light on the outside but juicy and packed with flavor. The pork melted in my mouth. The sorullos are basically sweet corn meal hush puppies. Perfectly fried and even moist inside. Tostones are fluffy plantain cakes. I think my first time have plantain... Starchy like a potato but textured and slightly sweet like a banana. We added a bit of salt and dipped these in the queso. Lastly the beef pastelillo were SO delicious. Light and flaky handmade dough pockets filled with perfectly seasoned ground beef and cheese. Reminded me a bit of a pasty but lighter. The entree was the chicken mofongo and it arrived in a very grand wooden goblet bowl. I'm a sucker for picturesque things! This is a heavy meal and I'm so glad we shared. The plantain in this dish was grated to the texture of rice but chunks stuck together like thanksgiving stuffing as my mom remarked. So much flavor and all spices were muted and blended perfectly. Strong tomato flavor. What a great experience trying this food for the first time and what an absolute gem in this area! The young girl inside was manning the floor, hosting, busing tables and running the register. Such a sweet and hardworking employee.

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Delicious, fresh and tasty steak burrito bowls, chips and salsa. Great quick service and nice sized portions! We will be back!

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

Wow so tasty. Nicest fella running the place, too. Seriously could not sing the praises high enough

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

Wonderful food! Four of us had meals we loved-chicken, pork, shrimp. The plantains are to die for.

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Page 2 of 2

Ask the Community - El Cilantro

Do they have outdoor seating?

I believe they do.

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Libe Lula

Libe Lula

4.9(8 reviews)
7.8 mi

They are in the Gypsy distillery and have amazing food- unique and delicious! We had the shrimp…read moreappetizer wrapped in bacon, the pickle fries and grouper taco. I would recommend all. The distillery had great flights and if you buy the $10 flights you can apply to a bottle! I had and excellent Gin tonic and husband loved his dirty martini. The service was fast and very efficient- very friendly. Highly recommend this place. Great to use for an event space, they had 2 events while we were there, or a fun night out.

What an absolute surprise! This little order-at-the-window restaurant is amazing and located inside…read morea well-known vodka-gin distillery on a country road between the Michigan Lake-lined cities of Petoskey and Charlevoix. Crazy that this Mexican food eatery with a small yet delicious menu sits within a 42,000-square-foot building that formerly served as an equestrian center. Now it's an eatery inside several rooms - a part of the largest distillery in Michigan. The BIG room, on a colored, swirling and polished cement floor is decorated with couches, picnic tables, a large screen for videos and corn-hole boards and other games. My spouse and I ordered a quesadilla filled with chicken, avocado, peppers. onions and cheese ($16). YUM. Prepared on a 10-inch tortilla, it was served with limey-tasting sauce of sour cream in a tiny ramekin. We picked it up at the window in the long hallway on the side of the distillery and ate at a picnic table with our bottles of Mexican Coke and Lime Jarrito in the big hall. Although the price is a bit more than we usually spend for a top-notch quesadilla, we probably will return for fish (cod) taco $6.00. The only major drawback is the distance between the parking area and the restaurant and distillery. It's up a myriad of steep steps, although there is a drop-off area near the building for those who are physically impaired.

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Libe Lula - Barrels of vodka/gin

Barrels of vodka/gin

Libe Lula
Libe Lula

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Happy's Taco Shop - Vegan smoked potato and chilaquiles taco

Happy's Taco Shop

4.6(158 reviews)
3.2 mi
•$$

10/10 experience. Great vibes; friendly, helpful staff; and delicious food. Very happy we stopped…read morefor lunch.

If you haven't tried this place...I recommend you RUN and not walk!!…read more I am vegan and I feel there are never enough reviews about vegan options, so here goes. I was traveling in the Petoskey area and of course I always seek out all vegan restaurants or restaurants with vegan options. Initially I wasn't hopeful that I'd find anything vegan in Petoskey and knew I'd starve for weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised (really surprised and happy) when I came across Happy's Taco Shop. And what was even more exciting is they have a separate vegan menu (say what)!!! Needless to say, this is where I ended up. From the moment I stepped up to the counter to first inquire if they did indeed have vegan options (the cashier very nicely said yes they do and hands me the vegan menu) and second to place my order, I was filled with excitement and anticipation to try these vegan tacos! So what did I order? I'm glad you asked . I ended up getting the Vegan Crunch Wrap Royale and the Smoked Potato Taco and OMGEEEE...both were fiyah...and for those who don't know that means they were DELICIOUS ON TOP OF DELICIOUS!!! The flavors were on point and the portion size is plentiful and I had to get a to go box! My husband knows when I like my food because I do a "happy dance" and I was indeed dancing!! Great food, great service, clean restaurant, and most of all GREAT VEGAN OPTIONS so it's 10/10 for me. I hope this is helpful for my fellow vegan peeps

Photos
Happy's Taco Shop - Inside, a taco truck is in the corner and a bar is in the middle. There is also a really cool balcony area.

Inside, a taco truck is in the corner and a bar is in the middle. There is also a really cool balcony area.

Happy's Taco Shop - Chilaquiles taco and street delux taco

Chilaquiles taco and street delux taco

Happy's Taco Shop - Menu

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Menu

Mitchell Street Pub - B & B Burger w/fries

Mitchell Street Pub

3.7(195 reviews)
3.3 mi
•$$

Went to this pub for our anniversary. Sometimes you just want nachos and not a fancy, expensive…read moresteak dinner. Romantic, I know! I got a few vodka sodas, a fountain coke, and my husband and I shared the giantest (yes it's a word) dish of nachos in the world. They were great. We brought the leftovers home to our in laws and although they were cold and soggy, they got demolished in minutes, ha! The service was efficient. Our server wasn't overly friendly but she wasn't rude either, just wanted to get the job done. Would definitely go back for nachos and a drink!

Easily the best bar in Petoskey and honestly one of the best ones I've been to anywhere. Yes, as a…read morehometown local I'm a little biased for sure but there is something very genuine and honest about the Pub and the people there. No pretension, no putting on airs or trying to impress anyone, everyone coming as they are. You'll rub elbows with local blue collar and service industry people, trust fund kids, wealthy summer residents, everyday folks of all kinds etc. I think a lot of reviews here are from visitors expecting The Pub to be like the Perry Hotel or one of the more tourist oriented places that bends over backwards and caters to summer vacationers. One even mentioned threatening to "Go ski somewhere else" for not being coddled I guess, which I found hilarious. They also seem to mention food a lot. For what it's worth the food is pretty darn good here, though my experience is usually over some appetizers later at night shared with friends over a few drinks. Solid burgers, can't go wrong with the fish & chips and their cheese curds are surprisingly good, easily rivaling anything you'd find in Wisconsin. That said I've always seen this place as a bar first and a place to drink with friends that just happens to have good late night food too. The service is good and the people working are top-notch and good at their job, but sometimes the Pub can get a bit too busy as there's just not a lot of competition that truly rivals it downtown. That's what happens when barely anything is open late in the post-covid world and businesses seem to be closing left and right. If you can keep your ego in check you'll find a pretty rare and valuable thing here which is a local pub welcoming to anybody and truly reflecting the full breadth of the local community.

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Mitchell Street Pub - Cheese curds

Cheese curds

Mitchell Street Pub - French onion soup

French onion soup

Mitchell Street Pub

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El Cilantro - mexican - Updated October 2026

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