Elephant and the Dove continues to be an absolute gem in the area, and my latest visit was just as stellar as the last. From the moment you step inside, you are immersed in a trendy, upscale-casual atmosphere beautifully inspired by Frida Kahlo. We kicked things off with the Triple Dipper for the table--a giant basket of warm, fresh tortilla chips served with salsa roja, guacamole, and queso, with the guacamole and queso being absolute standouts. For my main, I ordered the Ensalada Verde and a slightly citrusy kale salad tossed with seasoned tortilla strips and extra pepitas. It was remarkably well-balanced, perfectly dressed, very tasty, and visually lovely, too! Thr service and atmosphere truly made the entire evening. Our server was friendly and attentive, effortlessly accommodating our request to split the bill three ways without missing a beat. And, even with the bustling atmosphere and the incredible amount of vibrant, intricate decor packed into the space, the restaurant was remarkably clean and well-maintained. It is always impressive to see a spot that has been open for a while keep up such pristine standards. We wrapped up our meal by sharing an order of churros--six hot, chewy sticks served with a spicy chocolate dipping sauce and whipped cream. The chocolate had a serious, wonderful kick to it, and the whipped cream was a lifesaver for balancing out the spice for those of us who love more heat than we can actually handle. Whether you're dropping in for one of their many margaritas or a scorpion bowl or enjoying a full, three-course meal, I highly recommend eating here while visiting Skaneateles! read more

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Base my reviews off what you pay: *Place was busy on a Saturday evening. Price - ~$60-$80 (appetizer, entree, drink, tip) Food - 4/5 - tasty and massive portions. Service - 4/5 - great recs, friendly. Ambiance - 3/5 - nicer downstairs. Overall - 4/5 - the spot to go to for Mexican in Skaneateles. Have had better Mexican before but the food us tasty as hell and the portions will leave you stuffed. My girlfriend couldn't even order an entree after appetizers lol. A ton of tequila options. Definitely order the Birria Pizza, but beware of its size. Service was great, Devin was very sweet and gave great recommendations. We did not feel rushed at all. Inside is fine, nothing really crazy. Great place and one of the Skaneateles staples. Best Dish - Birria Pizza, Lalo Tequila Would Return - Absolutely read more

I am very impressed with this restaurant. My family was visiting from out of town, I brought them here. It was my first time as well. We were immediately seated for a late lunch on a Saturday. There was a large staircase to the second level so be aware of accessibility. Our service was off to a slow start but everything was too delicious. We shared the triple dipper (salsa, guac and queso) amongst 5 people, it was plenty to share and they offered to bring more chips. We all got tacos (steak, chicken and carnitas) the other 2 guests ordered chimichangas. Everyone thought their food was delicious. The chimichangas were humongous and could probably feed you for a week The restaurant itself was very clean. It had tons of natural lighting and very trendy decor. It photographs well and has a unique look for a Mexican restaurant read more

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I was very excited to try this restaurant because I love Mexican food. On a recent Friday I went there for lunch with my girlfriend. The interior is beautiful! We were seated upstairs and it's equally as pretty. We were greeted promptly by our server and given waters. It's a small menu but I went with the California burrito and my girlfriend the bang bang shrimp tacos. I asked to have my fries on the side not inside my burrito. When it was served it looked good but when I cut inside it was all lettuce and very little meat. To me it tasted like a Big Mac . It had thousand island dressing inside and sour cream drizzled on the outside. I really wasn't a fan of this combo. The fries were pretty good. My friend loved her tacos. I don't think this is authentic Mexican food it's more like texmex. I may try this again but get something different. read more

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Take out last night Food was excellent forgot to give tortillas with the vegetable fajitas . Fish tacos and cheese empanadas were great read more

The vibe is very modern and cool! The interior space is super well decorated, but it doesn't really fit in with the cutesy vibe of downtown Skaneateles. The food is a bit expensive and is good, but not great. The elote was okay and the fish tacos could've used a bit more seasoning. Overall, we will probably try a new spot the next time we're visiting. The drinks are great, though! read more

Elephant And The Dove - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

Want to visit an upscale, classy, Mexican restaurant well......Elephant and The Dove located in Skaneateles, New York is the place for you! The inside is such a classy clean, neutral colors that are inviting. The second floor was my favorite as it has a large amount of natural light coming in. They have a basement for large private parties. They have seating for family like intimate dining. This restaurant feels like home! From the lighting that's unique to the wall art to the pillows on the chairs! There are two entrances one in the front that has an inviting home like cozy feel and then the back entrance that you can enter from the parking lot. The back entrance was a tad bit confusing to get to the main dining area however go through the front and exit out the back. The service was amazing. My server was prompt. She allowed me enough time to review my menu. She offered recommendations, and when I asked, for her honest opinion, she was able to assist me, and it did not fail. The food was amazing. I got the triple dipper which was a sample of salsa, guacamole, and queso. When I tell you, the guac was amazing with the right amount of garlic, and the queso was superb. It's making my mouth water just thinking about this appetizer and even the tortilla chips were the exact amount of salt and crisp. I got the Mexican mule to drink, which was an average drink. Nothing to talk about. My dinner was the burrito bowl and I got a side of Mexican street corn that was off the cob. The food was quick to the table. After ordering I cannot brag enough about how great the food was, and the service was great too! I highly recommend visiting Elephant and The Dove! I will definitely be bringing my family and friends here when they come to visit! To the owners you're doing a great job with food and service! I cannot brag enough about Elephant and The Dove!! Cheers read more

Elephant And The Dove - Triple dipper - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

What a cute place! It's just not ADA friendly. The staff was very nice. The food was over all pretty tasty. Chips and 3 dips were good. Chicken and veggie taquerias were tasty. Carne asada burrito was massive and covered with cheese. I had the burrito bowl that was solid too. Enjoyed the churros as well. Parking was rough but it worked out. Glad I tried it once. read more

Elephant And The Dove - Carne Asada burrito - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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This is a really nice place to stop n eat in Skaneateles. If you find a spot in the back, you can come up the back stairs and check in with the hosts on her visit. We stopped to get a gift certificate and decided of course have some appetizers and some drinks while we waited floors. Two margaritas an appetizer of queso, guacamole, cheese, and chips so good.! The food is very good The menu is extensive and the service is quick! in the past. Tastefully n so colorfully decorated. So if you're out this way, check it out, you won't be sorry if you love Mexican.! read more

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We went in on Labor Day around 1 PM. They were on a 25 or so minute wait, but they gladly offered us bar seats when we asked for them instead. While it did take the bartender a bit to take our order, it was not because she was ignoring us. She was handling so much business all at once - it was impressive, speaking as a restaurant worker myself. I didn't catch her name, but please thank her! The food: tortilla soup, burrito bowl, and crispy fish tacos (GLUTEN FREE) were all fantastic. The fact they have anything gluten free at all other than basic rice and beans is wonderful. I'm the one with the dietary restriction in our group, and I picked this place because their website and menu indicate allergen-free options. We didn't drink, but the patrons nearby seemed to be enjoying their $5 Monday Margaritas. Wide variety of tequilas and mezcals, as well as other options. Solid choice. Price wasn't bad at all, maybe $50 or so for 3 adult meals, plus tip. read more

This place was great! While Syracuse University excommunicated Adam Weitsman from athletics, I welcome him into the restaurant scene! The service was excellent and the ambiance is beautiful. Smack dab main street of Skan! Great location. Prices were excellent and the margs were delicious! I ordered the chimichanga, which is my favorite dish (period) and I was thrilled to see it on the menu. It did not disappoint. Maybe the best chimichanga I have ever had. Full of flavor. Crispy outside, soft cheesy inside. My wife ordered a quesadilla which was also excellent. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Elephant And The Dove - Chimichanga! - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

Everything was amazing. In our party we had one person who was gluten free and one vegan. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and had great recommendations. The menu was clearly marked with plenty of options. The restaurant was clean and tastefully decorated as well. We enjoyed the feel of the place. Everything was perfect. read more

Elephant And The Dove - Verde Chicken dish - gluten free and amazing! - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Excellent Mexican for the area with huge portions. The kid's meals were practically adult sized. Well worth the price IMO. The interior is stunning as well. read more

All four of us really enjoyed this restaurant! We were seated in their very front of the building at the round table. Great seats! We started with an order of the nachos. Very impressive! Delicious and great service. We had a variety and shared amongst us. All were very pleased with the quality of the food and how quickly it came out. Would definitely recommend people to come here! read more

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Service was pretty bad, took forever to get us menus, food, and bill. Food was mediocre at best. read more

Stopped in at 1:00 on a Sunday-no wait. Staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered the triple dip and I had the blackened fish tacos with a side of Mexican street corn. The dips were all good. The salsa could've had at least a.little spice though. My fish tacos were filling and tasty, again could've used a little spice. The street corn was excellent though and would be something I made sure to get if I come back. Came to about 55 dollars with the appetizer, one entree, a nonalcoholic beverage, and a mocktail. Kinda expensive but that's the area for you. I'd go back. read more

We came for late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and there was no wait to get a table and our food came super fast! The workers were kind and quick and the food was delicious! I would come back in a heartbeat and try everything on the menu.. the restaurant is also beautiful inside and decorated nicely read more

Elephant And The Dove - chicken taquitos and beef quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

2nd visit here. Unique Mexican cuisine restaurant. Great service and great food. Had bang bang shrimp tacos, street corn. Really good. Best chips and salsa as well. We don't live here but whenever we are here we go to this fantastic gem. read more

Elephant And The Dove - Bang bang shrimp tacos and street corn - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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This restaurant is stunning! Every decor choice was carefully made, including the bathrooms. Stellar! Service was excellent and the food was fantastic. Wonderful experience. read more

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This was my second time coming here and the food was just as delicious as I remembered. We sat downstairs this time and everything came out quickly, which was a nice bonus. We ordered the shrimp tacos and the BBQ chicken quesadillas--both were excellent. The quesadillas had a perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavor, and the shrimp tacos were just as tasty. Definitely a spot we'll keep coming back to whenever we're in the area. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed Elephant and the Dove! The ambiance is lively and cool, and the staff was so nice and accommodating (especially with our arriving with two kids and a stroller). Our waitress was especially helpful in providing her opinion of menu items when we asked, including a beer that was not even on the draft list (yet). The food was good and came in large portions. This was especially the case for the Mexican pizza, which was gargantuan and had a bit of heat to it (and my wife was correct to order it as a meal). We ordered the triple dipper as an appetizer, and everything included in the dish was very clearly prepared fresh and on-site, from the chips (which came out steaming) to the guacamole (an onion-heavy but nonetheless deliciously unique recipe). The least impressive thing on the table was the taco from the kids menu. It tasted like a taco you would make at home from a seasoning mix with ground beef. But this was probably by design, so as to be appealing to kids (hence its placement in that section of the menu). However, our Californian toddler (weaned on quesabirria tacos obtained from Mexican food trucks) was not interested, and so gorged herself on the smoke serving of fries that accompanied the taco. read more

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We visited on margarita Monday and both got a $5 margarita, which was great. My verde chicken enchilada was delicious not too saucy and full of perfectly cooked chicken, I liked that it didn't come drowning in sauce but the flour tortilla had a lovely crema and verde sauce on top. As a thank you for coming, our server boxed up a complimentary churro for us to take home! I would come back if we lived here! Prices were absolutely reasonable if not almost too reasonable! Didn't get a feel for the ambience too much because the downstairs was full so we were seated in a room upstairs by ourselves. read more

I truly love coming to this restaurant. It is in the beautiful Skaneateles, New York. I love the area and then when you go inside, there's also beautiful ambience when you walk in there's big bright windows which offers a great deal of good vibes. I always arrive and try to test different tacos to see which ones that I like. I also always get the plain nachos and they are mile high loaded with all different kinds of toppings. This business really knows how to bring out great flavor and quality. Every time I visit here, the waiter/waitress is always helpful and great! read more

Elephant And The Dove - Birria tacos and nachos - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

Our first visit there got off to a rough start as there was only one server for everyone and the place was full so we ended up sitting at the bar for lunch. The bartender was not very helpful as we had several questions that he just gave a short yes or no answer to. We decided before our entrées arrived that we wouldn't be returning, but the experience was salvaged by a really good quesadilla and tacos. If we try it again, we will not go on a Friday at noon because it was very very busy and not enough staff to handle everyone efficiently. read more

I continue to visit in hopes that it will improve but am disappointed each time. I hate to write negative reviews because I understand how difficult it can be to run a restaurant but it's too many times of consistent bad experiences. The most I can hope comes from this is that they see it and make changes. Appetizers: triple dipper Queso and guacamole were good but the salsa was terrible. I've had it many times in the past and years ago it was decent but now there is never consistency in flavor and tastes like something went bad in it. Drinks: The margaritas used to be the best here, 3 simple FRESH ingredients but now they taste pre made with old lime juice or made with sour mix. Our first round of margs were terrible, not only the taste but had floating particles. I explained to the staff it's either that the lime juice went bad or they're pre batching them and they've sat for way too long. After telling them what was wrong they came back with new ones, while we did drink them it was clear the lime juice had gone bad and they weren't going to change anything. Food: bang bang shrimp tacos Again, used to be amazing. Shrimp used to be freshly fried, crispy under the sauce. This time they were soggy and tasted old like they'd been sitting there for far too long. The slaw under was also soggy, discolored and had no flavor. read more

Adam Weitsman, owner of the largest privately owned scrap processor on the Northeast, and owner of several Skaneateles restaurants along with his wife Kim, opened Mexican restaurant The Elephant and the Dove in 2019. The restaurant's name is derived from Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, who were married and nicknamed the elephant and the dove. Weitsman said his goal was to offer hearty portions at affordable prices in a more laid back environment in the 7,500-square-foot historic building at 9 Genesee St, which is spread out over 3 floors. My wife and I went to Elephant and the Dove for the first time for our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and unfortunately did not have an enjoyable experience. We were told a 45 minute wait, which we expected a wait, although I thought it was odd a restaurant of this size didn't take reservations. We went back to our car to wait, as it was after 6PM and the village of Skaneateles is pretty much shut down at that time. We were texted a table was ready about 20 minutes earlier than expected. We were brought up to the top floor to be seated. There were several open, cleaned and set tables on both floors, so we wondered why the wait, but no biggie. The place was nicely decorated and definitely very Frida Kahlo inspired. We didn't see a server for 20 minutes. By that point, we knew what we wanted for an appetizer and main meal, so we ordered both at the same time. My wife ordered a margarita with jalapenos. We received the drink about 10 minutes later, and my wife was not happy with it, as she said it was extremely watered down. Our appetizer of 2 empanadas took 25 minutes to come out. While they had decent flavor, they were lukewarm on the verge of being cold. 30 minutes after receiving our appetizer, we received our main dishes, which we were also disappointed with. My wife ordered the fish tacos with a side of Mexican street corn and I ordered a chorizo burrito with verde sauce. My wide enjoyed the street corn side, but said her tacos were dry and flavorless. My burrito had very little chorizo in it to the point where it was undetectable, but it was also overpowered by the flavor of the rice, which honestly tasted like a bagged rice side you can buy at the grocery store. We were going to get desert as well, but passed since everything else was subpar. Service was okay. As I said, it took a long time to be served even though there were plenty of open tables the entire time we were there, our server was nice but we only saw her twice while we we there, and the woman who filled our water seemed in a bad mood as she didn't speak at all and slammed our water glasses on the table after every time she poured. We definitely felt it was overpriced for what we were served. We would not return or recommend. *UPDATE* The manager, Sierra, reached out to me through Yelp and asked me to call her. I did, and we had a very good conversation. She was very nice, professional and apologetic and understanding, and offered us a refund and promised to make a return visit worth it for us. I'm very appreciative that she reached out and wanted to make it better. I did mention that I would not change my review, as this WAS our experience, and she agreed and said she wasn't expecting me to, she just wanted to make up for our night. So while I'm not changing the review, I did want to make an update to say that I appreciate them taking customers experiences seriously and attempting to fix issues, because those things matter and make a difference as well. read more

Elephant And The Dove - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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An absolutely gorgeous little restaurant on the main strip of Skanteatles. A great combination of cozy and tropical get away. We sat on the second floor and got to fully appreciate the skylight full of plants. Our server was fun and more than willing to answer our questions and provide suggestions. Food was great, thr mahi mahi tacos were refreshing and light, carnitas tacos were full of flavor, and the (vegan) Portobello fajitas were the surprise of the night - maybe thr tables favorite dish. Veggies were deeply savory and perfectly cooked. The group also loved our mock- and cocktails. The razor blade was beautifully cucumbery with a kick of tequila, the cocktail left nothing to be desired one of the best I've ever had. Loved the addition of coconut from the suggestion of our server! My only complaint is that they offer sparkling or still water which you have to pay for- perhaps my own naivety though, just something to be aware of. read more

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Okay this place is hella good!! The chimichanga was so good I ate it the next day for breakfast. Queso was phenomenal. Nachos A++ definitely get them Strawberry Empanadas A+++++++++++ like in Ralphies dream when his teacher reads his paper aloud to the class and the whole class cheers for him I would legit eat those every day for dinner like one of those people on strange addictions. Yeah order those. I'll definitely be coming back to Skan so I can eat here again read more

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You'll be so amazed at the gorgeous interior of this fancy Mexican restaurant I In Skaneateles. The ambiance is brilliantly executed with so much style and warmth. The food was excellent too! I ordered a Mexican pizza. My cocktail was out of this world (Paloma). We were seated towards the back, which is quite cozy. We felt like we were seated in a couch with a table. Quite comfy. Skaneateles itself is a delight with the shops and lake. Highly recommend this place! Highly!! Thank you for such a joyful experience! #givethanksThursday read more

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This place draws you in as you walk up, specially when lit up at night. Once inside it gets better, all the spaces are beautifully done, from the painted walls to the decorations and art. The ambiance is a 5 if ever there was one. They have a very nice drink menu but we arrived on margarita Monday when they are $5. I do love margaritas and we make them at home trying all sorts of recipes and types of liquor. These were amongst the best I have had. My wife had the steak tacos and I had the carnitas. Both have a large amount of meat filling and tasted great. The home made quac was very good. read more

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Finally got a chance to eat at this fine restaurant on a beautiful day out at Skaneateles. Since they don't take reservations, it was hard for our family of 6 to get seated without a long wait, so we adjusted our plans and showed up at 3pm for dinner. Hahaha. But it was definitely worth the wait. Their cocktails are amazing as is their food. We had the nacho appetizer, the chimichanga, burrito, fish & chicken tacos. And it was also delicious. Check out the pics! read more

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The ambiance of this place is vibrant with Latina music playing in the background and chic upscale Mexican decor. The overall service team was attentive and helpful. Not pictured is the house made horchata and triple dip appetizer. Everything was delicious and you won't leave hungry. read more

Elephant And The Dove - Blackened fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Came by on a recommendation from the instructor in our fitness class and it's an absolute hit! Excellent food, amazing service, and a decor to brighten moods -- let's dive in ... Ambiance: From the moment you walk in the unique light fixture choices catch your eye. The relaxed bench/seat cushion seating brings out the fun relaxed vibe you want in a meal with close family and friends! Chips Trio (4/5): The chips were a nice crispy bite to devour the perfect salsa and guac! The queso was nice after a little stir Chicken Enchiladas Verde (5/5): This verde-coated enchilada had wonderful flavor with juicy chicken. Chimichanga Rojas (5/5): This massive fried burrito was a delight with some carnitas added! The roja sauce was super robust and added the perfect moisture to this fried giant! Service (5/5): Our server was incredibly attentive and provided excellent local recommendations for while we were in town! They finished the keg of a beer that I requested and she gave me the last nearly-full beer of it at no cost. At the end of the meal we took our chips trio combo to go and she brought out a fresh bag of chips. Absolutely above and beyond!! TL;DR: Great food, ambience, and staff! An absolutely must-stop in Skaneateles! read more

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There is a great ambiance and I love the decoration on the bar with the Topo Chico bottles. Sadly you cannot order Topo chico. The staff were friendly but not very accommodating to a person in our group with mobility issues. They tried to seat us up a huge flight of stairs despite seeing the guest had a cane. Eventually we got them to seat us downstairs. The food is very delicious and reasonably priced for the portions you get. read more

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Finallyyyy gave this place a try after the last experience. Glad we did!! The food was delicious this time. The drinks were phenomenal. We recalled liking the chips and queso. They were a hit again. We went for an early dinner. They were going to sit us downstairs and I asked if we could sit upstairs, since we've already sat in the downstairs and it's a little more noisy and I wanted a more intimate date night. They were quick to accommodate. I'm thrilled to report I'd go again. read more

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Beautiful building and space, great decor, service was nice, drinks were decent, chips/salsa/guac acceptable, tacos were the worst tacos we've ever experienced. Entirely bland, shells were broken before we even picked them up from that odd taco waffle holder, birria tacos were fried tortillas on top of cheese, open faced & flavorless. I just kept wanting any part of them to taste like something. 3 bites and we left all our food on the plates. The hype and reviews were so far from reality it was hard not to be extremely disappointed. read more

Delicious upscale-Mexican food in beautiful downtown Skaneateles. We started with the chips and guacamole. The chips were hot and fresh and the guacamole was delicious. For my entree, I went with the bang bang shrimp tacos and a side of street corn. Everything was awesome and there was tons of food! I had plenty leftover for lunch the next day. Stop by next time you're in the area! read more

Elephant And The Dove - Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Skaneateles, New York

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Margarita was the worst I had ever had. way too sweet Tried to water it down with water

I had never been to this place but always heard good things so we decided to drive out there. *THERE IS A VERY LONG WAIT* so we waited at lake house pub for a drink. We got in there around 8pm and they got us our food, appetizer, and drinks in less than 15-20 minutes it was incredible. Our server was very friendly and the food was great. Highly suggest the 3 cheese empanadas and the Birria tacos. The tacos were a generous portion of meat and the sauce was amazing. The price of things was very fair too. We will be back here again, it lives up to its hype! read more

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Everything about this place was spot on! Needless to say, we're hours away from here but couldn't stop talking about our next trip in that area just for their food! Contacted the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon to ask if they can accommodate a party of 10. With no hesitation we were assured a table. Parking during the Dickens Christmas celebration was not easy as it was crowded. Yet, there is a parking lot located right behind this restaurant. At arrival, we checked in and without the full party present they quickly sat us. We were seated downstairs in a private intimate room. Loved it! Our server was quick, attentive and a multitasker. As each guest arrived the server continued to run our lunch experience smoothly. The chimichanga with carnitas was outstanding! Smothered in verde and queso, this dish was very filling. Portions were sufficient enough for us to take much of it home. The menu consists of typical Tex-Mex foods. Furthermore, it was all worth the pricing! read more

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