I go here occasionally for lunch. They have a wide range of Central and South American food, along with influences from the Caribbean. I typically order off the lunch menu or get a Mexican burrito. The portion sizes are good and the food is full of flavor. read more

The first two times I ate here I was impressed, but things have really gone downhill over the past year. Really lazy service, food that wasn't quite right (could still see blue ink on the steak that I ordered medium rare...and it was really more like raw). I do like the garlic shrimp appetizer a lot, but that could be had at any number of tapas and latin places I'm sure. These folks need to get it together, as they are one of the only places in the neighborhood that isn't inaccessible to gringo customers. read more

Nice ambiance, but the food doesn't live up to it. The chicken tamales were good, and the carne asado was tender and well flavored (though VERY unevenly done). The chicken in the chicken enchilada was good (moist, well flavored), but there wasn't much enchilada sauce to speak of. The chile relleno was a disappointing mass of mostly batter. The beans were solid. The rice was meh. As was the margarita (and the dry lime that came with it). The tres leches--the worst I've had--was overly sweet and sticky. The meal was expensive for mediocre Tex-Mex. Was really hoping for something that lived up to the Yelp review touting fresh and authentic. :( read more

Food was okay but overall bad experience. Went here for a dinner with some friends. We had to listen to a group of kids who were jumping around and screaming for about an hour. None of their waiters, waitresses, or managers did anything to address this issue. Once we told a manger about this issue, he responded with " yeah that happens sometimes." read more

WELL, WELL. Do I have a review for you! First, my wife and I have had several nice meals at El Golfo in the last few years. Second, El Golfo does a lot of nice things for the local schools, such as special nights when a percentage of their sales is given to a local school. That being said, we have just returned from certainly the worst restaurant experience I have ever had, and I am well into my senior years. Since El Golfo started having a Sunday buffet brunch (10 to 2) a year or more ago, I have wanted to try it. I'll probably never go again. 1. We arrived at about 10 minutes before 10:00. The front door was unlocked, so we entered the waiting area and sat down on a bench to wait. And wait. And wait. About 5 minutes past 10:00, we stood up and tried to make ourselves visible to... ... well, anyone. Finally, someone appeared and asked whether we wanted a table. "Yes, please!" At this point we realized that what staff was available was engaged in preparing a long table for a large party of patrons, only the host for which had yet shown up. After we made it clear that we were not part of the expected large party, we were shown to a table and invited to partake of the buffet. 2. Now it's pushing 10 minutes past the official opening time, and we found the buffet table as follows: four (just four) metal trays to hold the entire buffet. All trays still had their large metal covers in place, and, in addition, under the covers the trays were also covered with a plastic-film covering that would have to be removed. Finally, someone showed up and asked if we would like to partake of the buffet. "Yes, please!" One tray held sausages and fried plantains. Another held two items--mashed potatoes and some kind of mushroom gravy to be ladled over the mashed potatoes. (There went my assumption that this would be a Latino buffet. I can get mashed potatoes at Boston Market!) A third tray held blueberry pancakes--very light on the blueberries, if that's what they were. A fourth tray held what looked a little like a casserole of heuvos rancheros. That was it. Coffee mugs and cream were available, but no coffee was yet apparent. 3. I took our plates to the table, while my wife waited for coffee to appear. Back at the table, a waitress helpfully mentioned that there was sugar on the table (there was). But there was no syrip for the pancakes. 4. Everything was cold. Well, only a little above room temperature. Even my wife, who usually does not need things to be as warm as I like them, was disappointed in this. A waitress, when we mentioned this, said, "that's because we just opened the buffet." Apparently, she thought that some small alcohol flame (which we did not see) bore the full responsibility to heat the food to an edible temperature. 5. Now that I have come to the waitress, let me expand on that subject. Every time (!) she approached our table, she uttered some variation on "Is everything good?" This, despite our telling her on previous visits that the food was "disappointing," or that "everything is cold," etc. We finally began to speculate that "Is everything good" was part of a limited English or server vocabulary, or that she did not fully understand our answers in English. She did understand our opinion on the serving temperature, and she offeed me an omlette. When the "seafood" omlette I chose arrived, the only seafood seemed to be chunks of catfish. Fortunately, I like catfish, though it was a surprise to have this described as "seafood." 6. When the check came, it was not only wrong, its wrongness was undecipherable. The tax was written into the blank for "Bar," which caused some uncertainty as to whether the coffee was or was not included in the buffet price (it was). When she brought an amended check, it was wrong again, although this time the error was slightly in our favor (and again, even the arithmetic did not check out). 7. We finally asked to see a manager, to convey all of the above, and the man who finally came to our table did not seem to be any more competent to explain or understand the check than the waitress had been, 8. We were then told that the actual "manager" was a woman, and "she" was in the kitchen and would come to see us. After several minutes more, when no one else appeared, we decided to just sign the payment slip and leave. I think that it has been around 50 years since I ever left a tip of exactly zero, but even my wife (who is much more diplomatic than I), by this time said that was the appropriate amount. 9. Summing up, it seems that a part of the problem was that the staff was much more occupied with somehow accommodating the larger party group than our table of two. Another problem, I'm guessing, is that the "manager" was also the (only?) chef, a combined responsibility that was more than she could handle on this particular morning. 10. My wife, who had finally agreed to try this buffet with me, says, "Just try to get me there again!" 11. Try dinner, or El Gavilan! read more

i think i tried the santa fe platter (or something) which was soooooo terriffic. it included chile releno, a tamale, and enchiladas. all were deliciously sauced and spicy. unfortunately, the dining room had no charm and was kinda cold. read more

Not bad!! Not really a lot of flavor to their food but not the worse I've ever tried. I will still go since they have vegan options but wasn't wowed by it! read more

dinner at 7:00ish on a sunday in april. wharf rats live were playing and the place was full with adoring, dancing deadheads and families. i had the salmon acapulco, which was good but very rich (salmon with onion-cream sauce) and husband enjoyed chicken al carbon. the side rice and beans are always very good. the service is super slow and it's hard to get anyone's attention. bathrooms are ok, but could use more frequent attention. a good neighborhood joint. read more

I have to agree with other posters that El Golfo is mediocre. I live two blocks away, so I really wish it were better! But I've found the Tex Mex dishes heavy and bland both times I've eaten here. Samantha's up the road has better food for about the same price. read more

On a recommendation from a friend, we decided to try this restaurant and were quite disappointed. the vegetable fajita consisted of lots of sliced boiled carrots, uncooked broccoli florets, a smattering of green peppers and a few onions. The black beans were cold and tasteless and the tortillas were also cold and thick. To top it off we had to wait 23 minutes for our food when only four other tables were occupied. My wife had the trout which was mushy, soaked with tasteless sauce. Service was OK read more

very good food, all the staples are great and you won't be disappointed. it's not knock-your-socks-off good but we'll come back often

Went there last Saturday with a group of 10 friends. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The service was great. However the air conditioning was not working too good but it was on one of the hottest nights of the year. read more

Food was just OK. The peruvian steak (Lomo Saltado) wasn't great and had French fries on top (why? - that's not even in the menu!). The salsa was bland, as were the Enchiladas. Not a repeat. read more

Food is excellent. Never had a bad meal and attend regularly. Need to work on ambiance and stay away on nights for kids. Bad parenting and uncontrollable kids which can be a turn off. read more

A friendly & welcoming place; you can save $ if you use one of their frequent coupons from the value pack mailers. I can't comment on the meat dishes, but I've enjoyed all the vegetarian selections, expecially the tamales de elote and the nachos. My favorite dessert is tres leches; the flan and chocolate mousse are also delicious. The margaritas are tangy, and a great deal at $3 during happy hour, along with tasty $3 appetizers. El Golfo supports community organizations & schools with dine out fundraiser nights - yay! read more

Delicious dinner last night. I selected a vegetarian, low-carb option so had vegetable quesadillas with a side salad plus (which I hadn't thought I'd ordered) a side plate of fresh vegetables. Delicious and great for families. Large, brightly lit rooms, very friendly and helpful server. read more

We went here to listen to a particular folk-blues-rock band. The food was good - not great. The margaritas were a tad sweet for my taste. The garden quesadillas were passable, not great. The ripe plantains were good... the table place settings were nice, and the hostess made efforts to move tables to accommodate our group. However, the waitress was really bad - polite but inattentive the entire time, so the service was subpar. The parking was pretty good. All in all, not a great place, just okay - but the atmosphere for the band was nice, so if you're looking to hear a band play, it is worth going. read more

This was our first time. The mussel appetizer, spinach enchiladas, and Pescado Criollo were all delicious. We got take out, so did not have the dine-in experience. It looks like they have live music on Saturday nights! read more

Pretty tasty food all around, if not a tad bland. The margaritas are fantastic! I'd probably come here more for the drinks and tasty pupusa appetizers than the entrees. read more

Love the food here. Tasty variety, including a vegetarian section of the menu. My favorite entree is the Caribbean enchilada -- chicken, cheese, and plaintains together, how creative! Quiet ambiance. Friendly, but unobtrusive waiters. Our employees often choose this spot for a working lunch or team celebration. The flan is good, if you like cinnamon. Good spot! read more

Great food, reasonable prices, nice atmosphere. I have lived about a quarter mile from El Golfo for more than 15 years and had walked by it at least 1000 times (literally) but never wanted to go in because the outside was so unwelcoming. I decided to give it a try because of all the positive reviews I read here, and I have eaten there three times now. This place that looked so scary and I wished would move away is now one of my favorites. Inside it is as spacious and airy as it is small and dark on the outside. The walls are pink stucco with cheery paintings. It has been pleasantly quiet each time I went, and the service was good. The food is very fresh, and as a vegetarian I appreciated not only that they have a vegetarian section of their menu but also a vegan section--very rare in a Latin American restaurant, at least in my experience. Someone here on Yelp complained that the salsa was thin, and that is true, but that is because it is fresh and all natural, and I find the spiciness just right. I can never finish all the food they give me, so have to take the rest home, and I include the leftover salsa and chips because they are so good. I was also drawn to it because of the brunch they serve on Sundays. I sometimes crave pancakes, and there aren't too many places nearby to get them that I know of. Therefore, I was disappointed when I went there last Sunday and did not see them on the menu and was told they had been taken off. However, the waitress asked the cook if she would make some for me anyway. Well, the pancakes were the best I can ever remember--very light and fluffy, and just delicious! I had wanted the pancakes so much I hadn't even bothered to ask how much they were. When I got the bill they were $5.00. I'm so happy to have found this gem of a restaurant--it really is kind of a diamond in the rough. I just hope it won't get so popular that I won't be able to keep enjoying their food in a peaceful atmosphere. Bravo El Golfo! read more

I have been eating at El Golfo for at least 8-9 years, and the food and service is always excellent. It is my family's favorite restaurant, and my kids have grown up and graduated from the Kid's menu. Last Saturday, we dined there around 8pm, tired from a busy day. I had the Shrimp Azteca (with red peppers, onions and tomato) which was delicious. My husband had his usual, Beef Fajitas, always a winner. My son likes the taco salad (he tries to eat healthy), which he graduated to after ordering taquitos for many years (they're an appetizer that he ordered as his dinner, it was enough for a child-size meal). My daughter had a salad with chicken, a large plate of attractive greens and grilled chicken. We decided NOT to stay for the wonderful, best-ever tres leche cake, because a neighbor's cat needed to be fed. But normally, we finish our meal with tres leches and 4 spoons. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant with reasonable prices and great food. I have never had a bad meal here. Among my favorites: pescado a la veracruzano (fish with a tomato, olive sauce, masitas de puerco (slow simmered pork) and carne asada (marinated steak). I have always loved their frijoles (beans), but lately they haven't been as tasty-- good, but not memorable. Overall, you can't go wrong at El Golfo. read more

Friend and I went on a Wednesday night. We got there around 6:40. When we first walked in, there was a bit of a funky, musty smell. The host seated us in the second, main dining room where I either acclimated to the smell or it wasn't strong in there. When we left, they were charging a $5 cover fee at the door for the jazz band that plays on Wednesdays. I ordered from the "Latin America" page -- Masitas de Puerco ($13.99). This was a Cuban-style marinated and baked pork, with fried sweet plantains, rice and black beans. The pork was falling-apart tender, served in a little bowl with the marinade and plantains. It had a delicious flavor and a lot of fat (maybe that's why it was so delicious?). I would get it again but I think I need to explore this big menu further. Even the rice and beans were good, unusual in my experience. The beans had melted cheese on top and the rice ws soft and not dry. My friend got the Pato en Olivas ($15.99), which is half a roasted duck with green olives and wine sauce, also served with rice and black beans. The duck was also good. The portions were pretty large and we each took some home. The band started playing before we left around 8:00, and the place had filled up with lots of music lovers. The music was good, loud enough that you couldn't talk. The band is on a stage, concert-style, not background music. read more

Went on a Thursday with my Wife, if we knew it was karaoke night probably would have picked else where but we have been wanting to try it, as we walk past it a few times a week. The inside had a very neglected feel, like over used Ikea furniture with stained walls. We waited for about 5 minutes for a server to come seat us, ok it was a little busy. Free chips and salsa upon seating, chips had a bit of a stale taste and salsa was mostly tomato water and onions but was seasoned well. Ordered drinks, took about 15 minutes to get those. Horchata was watered down, presumably from sitting on the bar with ice in it. The waitress was nice enough, took our order cool. Wait for our entrees was about 15 minutes, not bad considering the place was packed with the seeming Takoma Park trend of parents sitting at the dining table and letting their young children use the seating area as a playground. I ordered the Santa Fe Platter and the Lomo Saltado. The food was bland, the sauce on my platter was scorched and bitter. The Saltado wasn't honestly saltado, there were no frenchfries and no vegetables other than onions, the beef was chewy and unseasoned. The sauce tasted like sour cooking wine and too much salt, there was no alluring taste and for $18 the portion size was laughable considering the flavor was basically sour wine.. They seem to be doing fine with the local church group but if you're looking for an enjoyable meal maybe take the extra 5 minutes and go into silver spring. And this has been a clusterfuck of a review, gl reading it... read more