Came here on Friday after lunch hours, boy the restaurant is packed!! The restaurant has large bar seating area and they have plenty of group seats available too!! I was originally plan to get their puntas de filete but they are out. So I went for carne asada, queso asado, and mango house margarita. Margarita is refreshing and the mango taste is really pronounced. Queso asado is okay. The cheese is perfectly cooked but I wish they put more protein in there. I asked for extra salsa for my chips but unexpectedly Rachel gave me more chips with new salsa!!! Kudos to Rachel!! Carne asada took more than 30 mins to be served. The mexican rice, beans that came with carne asada is good, the enchilada that came with it is a bit salty, and the meat is well cooked but a bit lack of crust and seasonings. Food quality can be better but their service is definitely top notch. read more

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We ate a delivery from here for Valentines Day. I had a chicken combo platter and my husband had a shrimp combo. Both were excellent.We chose this place because it was close to our home. I can't wait to go again. read more

Oh how this place has fallen. I've been here probably 10 years ago and the food was good. So I decided to try it again after all this time. Food is terrible now. I ordered the enchiladas verdes and my friend ordered a burrito. When the food came out, her dish and my dish were exactly the same with the expection that I had 3 enchiladas and she had one tortilla stuffed with more of the exact same filling. We both had the same corn tortilla (same size too). We expected a larger flour tortilla for the burrito, but nope. Beef filling was edible but not good. Tasted like something I would make after 8 margaritas at 2am. Drinks were good and staff were friendly. But I would never go back after tasting their current food. read more

No diet soda. No guacamole. You read that right. Very disappointed and not acceptable. I'm not sure we'll be back if this is the direction this old favorite of ours is heading. read more

I spent the afternoon here because I was trying to buy a car online and I thought the sangria & pollo cilantro that is still amazing would help. Whomever worked durning the day was beyond great.. def not a bartender but tried and as a bartender in Boston myself I appreciated... HE went above and beyond. Whomever came in after .. ignored me.. then I go to cash out and say to her.. try my debit first.. it's been having issues all day but they swear after a phone call it's fine. Instead she comes back louder than anything yelling I have insufficient funds and do I have another way to pay. If I ever did this to ANY guest into my restaurant I would be fired on the spot. Learn some couth... first of all you are in the people business. I told u it could be an issue because BofA is a royal PITA... but def do what u did. It's not like I didn't have a back up. I won't be back... which is sad. I've been going there for 30 years. read more

Not sure that this sarape has held up over the years. I'm told that the sarape is well-made colorful garment -- a symbol of Mexican identity. Not sure how Mexico would feel about this place. Food was under seasoned and drowning in sauces. Service was excellent, but unfortunately she kept bringing us food from the menu. One bright note -- please bottle the tomato salsa! read more

Everything was really good I had carne asada on charcol and you can fill the extraordinary flavor on the steak it was really good also queso asado and flour tortillas. Excellent place read more

Service was fine. Chips where kinda stale and salsa was yummy. Got my order wrong (I wanted 2 chicken enchiladas and 1 beef but gave me the opposite). Food was overall good but the soup I could've gone without. I liked the enchiladas, the beans were some of the better beans I've had and the rice was fine. Very quick service though. Dimly lit and looked authentic. read more

El Sarape - My enchiladas and soup - A dining table with Mexican food, including rice and sauce, along with drinks and utensils, in a restaurant environment. - Mexican Near Me - Braintree, Massachusetts

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Very mixed. Drinks were fabulous (though a bit pricey). Higaditos Mexicanos were delicious! Chips were stale (probably made hours earlier) and the salsa was so so. Service was slow so we left to get entrees elsewhere. Would stop in for drinks and Higaditos again, but that's probably it. read more

Nostalgic and wonderful. This restaurant has been around a long time, so definitely has its ups and downs, but the food is always consistently solid. Service is always adequate, albeit not perfect. Good, cozy atmosphere too. Technically I'd rate 4.5, but rounding up. read more

I went to El Sarape when they first opened since my ex was friends with the owner, Guillermo. The food was great, drinks awesome and atmosphere true Mexican. Yesterday, after me raving about it, my family threw me a party for my 70th birthday at El Sarape. It has gone so far downhill it is sad. The food was adequate at best (my granddaughter could not eat hers), the sangria was gross, margaritas (plastic glasses ) watered down and the service totally lacking attention (we had to ask for plates for the cake) and it wasn't even busy. I was so disappointed to see one of my once favorite restaurants deteriorated so much. read more

Quick service, and they let me hang out at a table while I waited for my friends to show up which was super nice :) loved the Classica Margareta and chicken and rice soup. Very lowkey but lively vibe, perfect for hanging with the pals!! read more

I loved this place about 15 years ago and revisited it last month and was terribly disappointed. I remember the portions being amazing and the drinks being excellent but both were less than subpar along with the service that was taking forever-30 minutes to get the first round of drinks left us ordering the next round upon arrival. My brother's girlfriend insisted this was a place she had to go when in town from Georgia and she was equally dissatisfied with her regular dish. I wish she had listened and tried Ocho Cafe instead though I was excited to revisit the place prior to the lackluster experience. Ambiance is meh; I preferred the former location as it seemed more intimate and authentic compared to simply loud and crowded. read more

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For many years I have been recommending El Sarape as the best Mexican on the South Shore. Sadly, it has gone downhill. Food was OK but used to be very good. Now it's pretty much like everyplace else . Margaritas were watery, portions were smaller and the mole sauce, which was the reason I kept coming back, was just adequate. Service was a little slow and spotty, the place was mostly empty. Sad to see a once great restaurant go downhill. read more

We have been coming here for 15 years and it is consistently the best Mexican food. Try the green sauce on anything and you will not be disappointed. read more

actually the worst food I have ever had after waiting for them to fix my order because they initially gave me an entirely wrong order- they never closed the takeout container so it went everywhere- i was so hungry i actually tried it regardless and it is absolutely terrible. maybe if the bartenders weren't sipping drinks at the bar with the 3 customers in the entire establishment... first and last time read more

Folks, I have discovered a new kind of taco! My experience has put tacos into a false dichotomy of two categories: 1. Your Americanized taco. Protein, lettuce, tomato, cheese. I think Taco Bell, and you get what I'm talking about. 2. Your more traditional taco. Protein, onion, cilantro, and maybe a little sauce. These were something that doesn't fit neatly into either category. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining in the slightest! Are these the best tacos I ever had? No. But they were something different, unique, and tasty! What made them unique was that the vegetable elements! Except for the lettuce, these were fajita-style! The tacos were also topped with a little cheese. These tacos were incredibly well-balanced and did not lose their contents within a bite-and-a-half. The proteins and veggies were tasty, with the jalapenos adding a light, pleasant heat. Lettuce on top gave a nice touch of freshness too! I'll put it to you this way: if you want tacos that are more in your face, then these are not for you. If you're okay with flavors and textures that are a little bit milder and more subdued, then I would definitely give these a try. Also, to close out my review of the tacos: I really love that you're able to mix-and-match beef and pork! I wish there was a third option so I can have the trifecta! The Classica Margarita was alright. I personally like to know my alcohol contains alcohol, and this margarita tasted a little on the mild side. Then again, I fully admit I could be talking out of my behind here. The chips and salsa also left something to be desired. They were surprisingly bland. All it took was a little salt and pepper to breathe some much-needed life into them. It's a simple change that makes a huge difference. The service was good, though I will admit it could have been a little more attentive considering the restaurant was not very busy at the time. Then again, I realized this isn't some fancy restaurant with monogrammed napkins and servers in bowties, so I will cut them some slack. I'm not a monster, you know! Can't wait to return to try some more margarita options and some more of their food offerings. I'll just be sure to get salt and pepper ahead of time on my next visit. read more

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My friend and I most recently came here because she loves this place and it was her birthday, although I've been here a few (forgettable) times in the past. I am no expert in authentic mexican cuisine, however I am an expert in what tastes good to me and unfortunately this was just not it... We were served chips and salsa upon arrival. The salsa was great and tasted fresh. The chips had an "average" thickness to them and were sort of bland. I prefer them to be thin & salty. I ordered the "combinacion sarape" for my meal with beef tostadas and chicken enchiladas poblanos. The tostada was smothered in shredded lettuce. Like drowning in it. You couldn't pick up the tostada either because it was extremely soggy and needed to be eaten with a fork & knife. The mole sauce on the enchiladas and refried black beans were the best parts of my meal. The rest was just bland and lacking flavor. It left a lot to be desired. There are better mexican options in the area in my opinion. read more

El Sarape - Combinacion Sarape with Tostadas and Enchiladas Poblanos - A Mexican dish featuring rice, shredded lettuce, a slice of apple, and two enchiladas with dark sauce, served on a white plate. - Mexican Near Me - Braintree, Massachusetts

I've been coming here since high school and it's my favorite Mexican restaurant in the boston area. I always get the beef burrito with red sauce and it's just the most delicious thing. I've never had bad service here - the people who work here are the most warm and welcoming. The red sangria is also to die for. My dad used to get their seafood dishes which are also good. El serape is a no frills neighborhood joint. If you expect something super high end or luxurious this isn't the spot, but for awesome old school Mexican food, you won't find better. read more

El Sarape - a plate of mexican food - A plate features an enchilada covered in sauce and melted cheese, served with rice and black beans, with chips visible in the background. - Mexican Near Me - Braintree, Massachusetts

First time I went to this restaurant was when I lived nearby in Braintree 25 years ago. We loved it, and went often. Went again last night for the first time in, say...five years (we've moved out of the area). Service was not terrible, but also not good (appetizers came out after the meal was served for instance, repeated requests for water refills forgotten). It was busy. However, overall the meal was not good. Worst of the night was the carne asada that I and one of my buddies got (his first time here). The meat quality was OK, but it was absolutely flavorless. The steak was clearly not marinated or seasoned in any way (not what I remembered from ordering it often in years past). While mine was cooked perfectly, his was way over cooked and grey. They also serve shrimp or chicken verde, in this case the verde being a cilantro sauce. Other reviewers below have panned it, but we thought it was very good and was a mainstay in the past for us. Quite tasty to satisfy your want for the cilantro tang/flavor. The sangria and salsa are very good. Brightest spot for me was the carnitas/puerco adobo they serve - as I remembered. I'm not sure how authentic they are (in other places "carnitas" are very different), but great tangy flavor and delicious pork tenderloin pieces. I gave some to my buddy and he definitely wished he had ordered that. It's probably the only reason I'd go back. It can be tough to go back to a place that you hadn't been to in a long time, but have fond memories of great food and great times at. But I'd look elsewhere at this point. read more

We came here this past Saturday after not having been back in several years. I don't know if I just have never had amazing and authentic Mexican food or whether I am just luke-warm about Mexican food in general but the food and the experience were both underwhelming. We were seated for lunch right away. While there were several tables of people there were still many open tables available. The lone wait-person for the entire place sat us in a booth right in front of another full-booth of people and surrounded by other full tables. I know this was for his convenience so that all of us were easily in reach but I hate when restaurants pack people in like this when there are other tables that would afford more privacy and a better dining experience. I am not a huge person but I could barely fit in the booth with the table practically touching my chest. I felt jammed into the booth and claustrophobic. My 6'3" husband wasn't happy either. On top of that the booth behind us (5 people) was super noisy and the couple sitting directly behind me had their arms around each other's shoulders and kept hitting me in the head with their elbows. Bad start. I asked the waiter (he was very friendly by the way although super busy) if we could move. He brought us over to a high two-top which was much better. Normally, I like booth seating in a restaurant, but I would avoid the booths here if I were to return. The waiter brought us out some nachos and salsa. The nachos tasted fresh and were tasty as was the salsa although it could have been much spicier in my opinion. I ordered a margarita and my husband had a Corona beer. My margarita was in a glass that didn't look small but was actually of very thick glass and in fact held little; it was also filled to the brim with ice. The net result was very little actual margarita to drink . What I did drink tasted overly sweet and as if it came from a commercial mix. For ten bucks it wasn't worth it. For my meal, I ordered beef tostadas. It came with refried beans and rice. The beans were bland and lackluster. The rice a bit dry and under-flavored as well. The two tostadas were just okay. The crispiness of the tostadas wilted under the heat of the meat but the beef was flavorful. That said, I still asked for some hot sauce to be brought to the table. My husband got beef enchiladas which he said were tasty but covered in so much cheese and sauce that any subtlety of distinct flavors was missing. The flavors of my meal and my husband's meal were almost identical but were two different dishes. I am certain that authentic Mexican food has got to be more complex and refined in ways that this food was not. I am not a connoisseur of Mexican food. I wish Boston and environs had amazing Mexican restaurants. If we do have them, I don't know about them. This certainly isn't it. It seems like an Americanized version of what Mexican food should be. From reading Mexican cookbooks where it seems layering flavors and building sauces from scratch is an art as it is in any culture's food, I know I have been missing the real deal when it comes to Mexican cuisine. It was an okay lunch but I am not rushing to return here any time soon. read more

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Went to El Sarape for a date night, and it may have been the worst meal I ever paid for. Our appetizer took a half hour and was essentially a glob of luke warm cheese with no seasoning. The beef in my wife's meal tasted like school cafeteria food and my shrimp meal was just covered in cheese with a very oddly flavored "cream sauce" that was watery. If you just want to pound margaritas in an oddly smelling restaurant with no ambiance El Sarape is your place, but the food is atrocious. read more

My family and I went in for the first time to give a try.. Service was good but lord lord lord the Food was so blend.. none of the meals that we ordered had flavor. Each of us ordered something different. Veggies enchiladas were actually onions enchiladas. Fish stuffed shrimps looked amazing but again no taste. Appetizers were a kids meal size and only for one person. We asked to speak to a manager and the only think that she came up with WAS maybe your tastebuds are different than everyone else. How do you call your restaurant authentic Mexican food without taste flavor spices.. you should rethink that name Cause u are giving Mexicans a bad name. I know about food, I'm from the Caribbean where everything is tasteful even our water. read more

Yummy enchiladas verdes, refried black beans are so good and the margaritas are amazing.

Started going to El Sarape about 3 years ago. It was recommended by friends . Had dinner there several times. All very good. But haven't been there for perhaps 6 months until this week. Waitress, Jessie, was very nice. Chips were not warmed. It is my opinion that a good Mexican restaurant warms the chips. Burrito dinner was definitely not as good as the last time I was there. Prices also escalated substantially. Based on other comments, appranetly there is new ownership. I will be looking for a better Mexican Restaurant. read more

Gave this one more chance for just a quick app and some drinks. The app was congealed plate of cheese with two chorizo slices masquerading as queso. The chips are so thick you could crack a tooth. Fail again. Also, we paid cash as they say the prices are up charged now unless you do. We never did get a discount for cash pay. It had a good run for me over 25 years but now.. it doesn't even exist in my eyes. I'll take my serape elsewhere. read more

This place really misses the founders. Help on phones, not paying attention And just f-n up all the time. Food good. Needs a general to push the help. read more

El Sarape has been a staple in our family for years! Simply my favorite Mexican food on the south shore. I have never had a bad meal here. The kitchen is super fast and food is always accurate and on time. The staff is always welcoming and attentive. We love coming in on a hot summer night and sitting in the cool restaurant and having nice spicy margaritas and the house made sangria. Honorable mentions: Sangria pitcher is a 10/10 Nachos 10/10 Guacamole 10/10 Churros w/ rum carmel 10/10 read more

First time here, I'm a foodie love to tried new restaurants, we order a carne asada plate. The carne didn't had much flavor ,for the $20 I feel that I was being robbed, also we order the mole and the Adobado and they were ok, not authentic. Also we order some corn tortillas, but unfortunately they were uncooked. Very disappointed to be hones, the only great thing was the waiter he was amazing, we are definitely not coming back again. read more

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I think we are done going here, which is sad since we used to be regulars. Clearly it's NOT upscale so you would expect it wouldn't be a problem if you bring your kid. We have gone here twice since we have had a kid and it's been terrible. The waiter we had both times seemed totally annoyed that we had a child! It's not like we go here at 8, when it's busy, we go here at 5. When this happened the first time, I thought it was a fluke. 2 times is a pattern. I also don't expect a waiter to give our child extra attention, but when a 2 year old says "hello" how do you not say hello back?!? Plenty of other places to go in the Braintree/Weymouth area that have friendly service. read more

El Sarape - Mexican Near Me - Braintree, Massachusetts

Got to say pretty busy place and happy staff the food was wonderful. My boyfriend and I was looking for a date night spot and good drinks so I order a pollo with mango and arroz it came with beans we both skipped bean but the margarita classic was great! read more

Based on reviews we had really high hopes for this place. The service was was slow but understandable because every place is understaffed these days and we could see how hard our waitress was working. The drinks and food were horrible. We ordered queso and it was just melted shredded cheese on a plate that needed to be cut with a steak knife to be put on your chip. Chips were mediocre at best. The burrito had a red sauce that was just a can of bland tomato sauce, the rice was a bland uncle Ben's and the beans were fine just refried black beans. The only option for kids was a quesadilla. Our margaritas were pure jet fuel, which if I was 21 still I wouldn't mind. Luckily our kids kept us distracted from looking for the mouse in the review below. read more

Was so looking forward to a meal here. Had not been here since before Covid. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. Food was mediocre if even that. The menu looked different; I don't know if there was a change in ownership, but I won't be returning. read more

Unfortunately our to go for Mexican has hit a low that there is no return from. To be seated and watch 3 parties that were seated after you be served before we were was too much to endure. The server was asked why and she looked at me with no concern, and no response. At that point we got up and left. Clearly no concern. Asked the bartender if there was a manager on and she said no. That explains everything. It is unfortunate as I know the owner worked hard to make it a successful business. Best of luck to them as I will never return. read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the entire world. The spicy green sauce taste delicious and the margaritas are to die for.

Enchiladas Verde and Margaritas very good. Service was attentive and not intrusive. Has screens for viewing and can get noisy. Has gluten free menu. Good typical Tex-Mex food. read more

As a Hispanic person this was the most offensive "Mexican" food I've experienced. I had the camarones cilantro, the sauce was watery and had one monochrome taste. The shrimp was overcooked and still had that heavy sea flavor on it, on top of it not being seasoned with anything but the water cilantro sauce. My friends had combination plates, that certainly do not feed 2 people. No one in our party left that place wanting to ever go back for the food. As for the service, they randomly came to us after forgetting they sat us, and at one point I'm pretty sure the waitress poked me at a point where I didn't hear her. Overall, it's a cute place but the food and drinks are not worth it, specially with how overpriced. read more

Tried El Sarape last night and I have mixed drinks...erm feelings. The queso asado was delicious (how do you mess up baked cheese tho) as was the guac, but the margs could have been bigger and the enchiladas rojas had me wishing I had gone with my homemade chix tacos from last night because $15 for very meh enchiladas? No thanks. Also, we frequently found ourselves without enough chips or water. read more

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My fiancé and I are California transplants. From time to time, we get desperate for an authentic Mexican meal. Overall El Sarape had more hype from our New England friends than it could deliver. I am giving it a 2 because it was pricy for what it was. It was, however, one of the more authentic menus I have seen in the greater Boston area. The salsa was mediocre and was like what you get from a lower-end fast food salsa bar. The guacamole was creamy and missing the bite and texture that I expect for a small 6.95 side. The pollo a la naranja was pretty good. This was by far the best item we ordered, but it was way over priced at 16.50. It is served as a thin fillet of chicken in a spicier butter orange sauce and covered in cheese with a side of refried black beans and rice. The poblanos enchiladas were underwhelming. The mole was bland and thick, not what I expect from one of the most complex sauces in the Mexican cuisine. I would stay away from any of the more complex dishes on their menu. We will not be going back. I'd rather cook mexican at home. read more

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The food was good and always has been. I have been a long time customer but will not be back. As we finished our meal and got ready to leave we looked up to see mice running around behind us. Nope didn't even say anything we just ran out of there. It seems based on other reviews this has been an issue. I hope the owners do something about their little pests that like to make their appearance known. read more