So fresh. So clean. Great service. Great drinks. I think I'm on Mexico. I l o ve this restaurant

Solidly average Mexican fare. The verde chicken enchiladas were fine. Nothing special. Drinks were small and pricey.

I continue to give this restaurant thumbs up on all aspects. Authentic, creative and very tasty food. Relaxing, colorful atmosphere quite reminiscent of Mexico. Friendly and prompt service. Just very welcoming overall! read more

Absolutely my favorite Mexican restaurant. Portions are good and food is excellent. Fresh, flavorful and filling. I usually get the number two or number 3 combos - both come with enchiladas and either a chimichanga or chili relleno. The refried beans come with perfect crispy cheese and the rice is light and fluffy. Chips are great and the salsa is perfectly mixed with lots of cilantro. Also something about this sour cream is to die for. The guacamole is creamy and delicious. And lastly, the margaritas are big and tasty. They even serve pitchers and when you order one, you are gifted a shot per person of Cuaranta y Tres at the end - a lovely sweet liquor to end the meal. Me and my friends started coming here when we went to Eastern over a decade ago and still make the trip from Manchester regularly for a great meal and great service. Go try it out! read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - Margaritas and complimentary after dinner shot of cuaranta y tres - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

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Went here for my birthday. Staff was super friendly and sang happy birthday to me. The food was great, just a little pricey. portions were good, I had some to take home. The drinks were very strong, which could be a good thing or a bad thing! The environment was super cute and friendly for all ages. The bar was also very nice! read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - white sangria - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

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My family and I have been going to this restaurant for years! It's our favorite Mexican food by far. The staff is always incredibly friendly and the atmosphere is reminiscent of rural Mexico. When restaurants closed due to COVID-19, I was missing my favorite food. I was so happy to hear they were doing takeout. They are being incredibly mindful of social distancing and sanitizing everything as often as possible. We've gotten takeout from them several times since restaurants became takeout only. It's consistently delicious! I always order the rice and beans with no cheese, and my boyfriend always gets the vegetarian plate. We also get a side of chips, salsa, and guacamole. The portions are huge! The chips come in a big paper bag that is nearly filled (it's probably the same amount of chips you'd get if you bought a bag from the store). We've never been able to finish off all of the chips in one sitting. The salsa and guacamole also come in large portions. The beans and rice are perfectly spiced. Through COVID-19 and when things (hopefully) return to normal, we'll continue to support this amazing restaurant! read more

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Absolutely the best authentic Mexican food I have been able to find around this part of Connecticut at least. I would recommend this place to anyone (and I actually do). It's often overseen as its hidden next to the awful buffet, but we laugh at the clueless people going in next door who should be coming here instead. Consistently been great for years. read more

Ordered nachos, it was greasy, soooo many jalapeños and the cheese was so bad. Nope nope read more

When first entering the restaurant, I really got a good atmosphere, like I was expecting the food to match. Unfortunately, the wait time and the food quality just does not match. My burrito and beans and rice tasted like something I could buy from Walmart which I waited 45 minutes for. There are much better options for Mexican food in other places such as Taquitos, so I suggest skipping on this place. read more

Here with the High school swim team. VERY disappointed! Food did not come out evenly. Half the table is still waiting 45 minutes into the meal. Ordered a beef burrito that was stringy and chewy. Rice tasted like detergent, and the beans were like mush. read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

I'm a fan of big flavors, seasoning, and spicy Mexican food. All of which you won't find here. Yet it's still good. I'll agree with another Yelper here. The food is bland, compared to other Mexican restaurants. But it's not completely bland. There is one, maybe two spices in the hamburger meat and the shredded beef. It's just the simple flavors of each ingredient combined together to make each item. It doesn't make it bad. It makes it different. I know the perfect patron for this place, one that would give it 5 stars. A person who doesn't like Mexican food because it's too spicy. This would be their place. We started with the chips and salsa which they delivered without our asking. Chips were crispy and salsa was fresh. Very liquidy. You're gonna have to be careful not to make a mess. Cilantro is the foremost flavor but not overpowering (I'm really starting to like cilantro more and more). Our appetizer of beef taquitos came next. There are 3 to an order. They are folded over like a taco, just with a smaller shell and contain shredded beef and topped with lettuce, sour cream, and chopped tomatoes. Very tasty (slightly smoky flavor on the meat). Would be more reasonable price if they added another taquito or dropped the price a dollar or more. Between my wife and I (combo #1 and #4) we had a taco, burrito, and cheese enchilada (posted pictures here on the site). The tacos must immediately be removed from your plate. Better yet, ask for them on a separate plate. Or ask for a side plate to put them on when they get there or you're going to be eating a taco sandwich since the bottom will be steamed to death by the rice. Tacos are made up of a simple hamburger meat (very very slightly seasoned), lettuce, and cheese. The meat is juicy, lettuce crisp/fresh, cheese moist and corn tortilla shell crunchy (although I don't think it's homemade). The tiny burrito was filled with shredded beef, wrapped in a CORN tortilla and topped with a red sauce (mildest I've ever had). Simple yet good. The cheese enchilada was also wrapped in a corn tortilla and stuffed with mostly if not only white cheese and topped with the same red sauce. Simple yet good. I'm always VERY happy when the beans are moist/creamy and not like some paste you'd use to make an Adobe mud hut. The rice was fluffy rather than clumpy like, so no making fun of it saying it would be good for Mexican Sushi. The food here tastes fresh, simple and clean. Not lost in spices but very close to bland for me. I'd give it 3 stars if it weren't for the homemade salsa which I pour over everything to make it more to my liking. But a person like my sister that can't even hardly stand black pepper would L O V E this place. read more

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The food is authentic and always very good and tasty. The portions are a good size especially the nachos and cheese. The menu is huge so you aren't limited to a few items. I've been there a number of times and highly recommend it. read more

Delicious Mexican food. Have been coming here for years. Beef taquitos are my personal favorite appetizer. Crispy, the tart raw onions and salsa verde perfectly accompanying the well seasoned beef. The vegetarian plate has the best chile relleno in CT and their guacamole is smooth and fresh. Okay my complaint with cinco de mayo. Whether you're a party of one or four you get a basket of about 15 chips and one small bowl of salsa. If you want more they charge you. I'm ok with an up charge if they'd serve portion size in relation to party size. I guess I wouldn't complain if I didn't enjoy the salsa, but darn it I do; cilantro and fresh onions. I would give this place five stars if they'd fix this problem. read more

Two woman went to the back bar and the male server did not want to take our order. He was extremely rude and didn't make eye contact It was clear that we were not wanted there So we paid for our two drinks and took our business elsewhere Terrible you should be ashamed read more

Went here with my husband for dinner and the food was delicious. The service was very quick and friendly. My margarita was delicious and they did not skimp on the tequila! read more

I love this place. The food is authentic Mexican cuisine. Being from Texas... I am always on the lookout for great Mexican food. I think I have had everything on their menu... from their salsa (I wish they would bottle this or tell me how they make it) to their mole ... Everything is tasty and fresh. The guacamole is truly the best I have ever had. I also give them credit... The place is very clean. The restrooms are spotless! The service is family... Lovely and very friendly. SO... Why not a five star? The only reason is because of their chip hoarding! They give you (a party of one or five) a tiny basket half full of chips. AND When you ask for more... They charge you! To make it worse... The second portion is even smaller! at least it feels like it's smaller. If the food, service, and atmosphere wasn't perfect... I would give them two stars for the chip hoarding alone. I get upset every time I go... because I have to have more chips for the wonderful food.. But I keep coming back. Just one day PLEASE give us some chips!!! read more

This place is my jam. I used to come here so much all the time, and then the past couple years i've just totally been distracted - finally went there recently and i'm psyched to know it's still the cute little restaurant i remember. I've fallen victim to ordering the same thing repeatedly here. They apparently have a lot of really good entree items.....i can't really comment on them because i fell in love with the combination plates (#2 of course) and the various types of enchilada plates. My typical order: Drink - Margarita on the rocks, no salt, upgraded teqilla Appetizers: 1.Fresh guacamole 2. Beef Taquitos - not your typical rolled up disaster: crispy corn tortilla folded in half filled with shredded beef, onions, lettuce, some sort of chili pepper, topped off with a salsa verde, sour cream/some kind of yummy mystery cheese, salsa (presented as mexican flag-creative!) Main Dish: Top 3 Fav's: Combination Plate #2 (which contains 1 chimichanga, 1 enchilada verde, 1 chicken enchilada), Beef Flautas, Enchiladas Mole. I love the owners and the wait staff and even enjoy the other patrons, which tend to be people who consider themselves 'regulars.' I like to think of this place as my secret from the rest of the world, but it's hard when you're someone who gets excited to tell all your close relatives and friends about things you know they'd love too. Extra special fun fact: If you or the majority of your dinner party order an alcoholic beverage you are more than likely to receive a complimentary dessert shot of Cuarenta y Tres aka 43 aka AWESOME! Only thing that wasn't for me was the beef tacos - kinda bland I've been known to drop in for take out orders of chips, salsa & guacamole and i encourage others to do the same. read more

Been here twice on a Sunday, never seen it crowded, not even close . Cool looking Mexican decor inside . Real Mexican people work here ( well at least they look authentic. not that it matters. Lol) The food is good. They have a sweet liquor called 43. read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

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Interesting mix of reviews here. After many visits, I still haven't decided whether I love this place, or merely tolerate it. To be sure, it is clean and the floor-to-ceiling wrap-around mural covering the dining room walls always has me staring in amazement. It is dark and cozy, but nice. My first issue with the other reviews are the references to Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is the last thing I'd call this food. While 5 de Mayo (as the sign out front reads) features the regular offerings like chimichangas and burritos, I often find myself wishing there was MORE in the way of basic Tex-Mex combo platters. These type of meals are actually rather limited here. Where 5 de Mayo shines is in full, traditional Mexican dinners. One small section of the menu is devoted to a handful of enchilada/taco/burrito-type combos; the rest is divided into Steak, Chicken, Shrimp and Veggie meals. These are full-on dinners, not taco plates. And the ones we've tried have been quite good. Their chicken with molé sauce is exceptional. I don't recall which steak dinner my wife ordered last time we went, but it, too, was very good. Now, getting back to the combo plates. Face it, this what many people -- if not most -- expect when they go into a Mexican joint. Especially one that looks like 5 de Mayo from the outside; a tiny storefront surrounded by a muffler shop, miscellaneous closed businesses, and a truly low-rent looking Royal Buffet restaurant right next door. There are a couple of menu items that I really enjoy, and tend to gravitate toward when we go for lunch; the enchiladas verdes, or the enchiladas molé. 5 de Mayo's verde and molé sauces are both excellent, and I much prefer either of them to their regular red sauce. They also make a mean Chile Relleno, and even offer it stuffed with your choice of meat, not typical (they're supposed to be just cheese). The rice and bean sides are tasty, but nothing outstanding. Finally, just to jump on the chip bandwagon...I simply don't understand the rationale for charging extra to refill the tiny basket of chips. The salsa is so fresh and awesome, you'll definitely wipe out the first basket before your meal arrives, then have nothing to dip in your refrieds. The chips are homemade and excellent, to be sure, but really? My guess is, they're a bit too good. Guests were probably asking for a fresh basket just before leaving, then having them bagged up to take home. Only a guess, but seriously...what they make in extra pesos must surely be lost in goodwill. Over all, Cinco de Mayo is pretty darned good. Just don't expect "Tex-Mex." read more

So many people in the area highly recommend this place that I had to finally check it out. My boyfriend and I stopped in for an early dinner, the interior is kind of tacky, but nothing that I didn't expect. There are a bunch of 4 top tables and you can sit wherever you want, a bar is in the back but it doesn't seem like they have people sit at it. We got a traditional margarita and a sangria, they were both "ok". The waiter brought out chips and salsa and I ordered a side of guacamole. The chips and salsa were great, the guacamole was not that great. I had a vegetarian combo plate and the boyfriend had the hard taco combo plate. These also were just "ok". I definitely went in with high expectations, and the experience certainly didn't meet it. We regularly go to Coyote Flaco in Coventry and in my opinion the food, drinks, service and interior are way above Cinco de Mayo. read more

Went here for dinner, found the food to be very good, but one thing holds it back from a higher rating. The chips and salsa they gave us while we were waiting for our food were a bit of a problem. The salsa itself is delicious. It tastes homemade, but it's the consistency of gazpacho. In other words, soupy. There is absolutely no civilized way to eat that without making a mess of yourself and/or the table. We also got the taquitos. Equally delicious and flavorful, but again, they were impossible to eat without making a mess. With that out of the way, the dinner itself was terrific. We got the camarones rellonos. Those were amazing, and impressively not greasy consider this is bacon wrapped shrimp. The salad that came with it was also well prepared and perfectly dressed. The ambiance inside is also quite nice, as was our server. Overall it was a good experience, but I think we might do take out next time because of the mess factor. I will totally go back, but I wouldn't go on a date with nice clothes here. read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - Camarones rellenos. Delicious and not greasy at all! - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

I wasn't expecting authentic Mexican when I went, but even by Tex-Mex standards this place was not so good. And expect to pay dearly for your mediocre Tex-Mex. First of all, this food is cooked with enough lard to kill a small horse. I'll be the first to admit that lard is what Tex-Mex is all about, but I've never had the taste of lard be so prominent in my food. It's because most of the food is so flavorless and tepidly spiced. As a Texan, I appreciate full-flavored food and can tolerate spiciness (don't get my started on the tongue-scorching curries at Wings Express in Storrs). And here I feel the kitchen is dumbing down the flavors to suit people who appreciate blander, milder food. And that's fine. But when you tone down the spiciness and seasoning in Tex-Mex, it's that unfortunate taste and texture of lard that comes out in full force. But from the sounds of the other reviewers here on Yelp, that's something that locals go for here. Just be warned, you'll be getting a a pretty dumbed down version of Tex-Mex, which is already a step in the blander, lardier direction from authentic Mexican. If you want real Mexican then head to the little hole-in-the-wall taqueria on the corner of Valley and Birch. They may not serve chips and salsa or even speak English, but they serve up some of the best Mexican food in town: tacos, tortas and all sorts of traditional meat dishes. Plus it costs only a fraction of what Cinco de Mayo is charging. I know it's a different animal altogether, but it's hard to imagine someone opting for such horrible Tex-Mex when we're lucky to have the real thing right here in Willimantic! read more

College drop off week and needed a place to grab some lunch, my son recommends this Mexican restaurant in a strip mall on main street...Hummm. Well I was pleasantly surprised at how good this place really is. The chips and salsa are fresh and homemade, the beef taco lunch special was great, the beef burrito was made with shredded beef...amazing! and the chumichunga was even better all served with a rice and beans. The staff is authentic and super friendly, looks like this is my new hang out when visiting my son at college read more

I travel extensively in the US and always have Mexican food when in TX, NM and AZ, for its authentic taste. The food at Fiesta CInco Demayo is very much on par with the restaurants in the southwest, and certainly the best I've had in New England. read more

The food was very good but unfortunately every time we try this local spot the service is absolutely terrible. Our waiter the last time we went was drunk, so drunk he forgot our order. So after waiting an hour with nothing we left. The time before that we were rushed out of the restaurant. We got there at 7:50pm. The kitchen closed at 9pm, plenty of time, but we were still rushed. Needless to say we will not be returning. read more

Love the service, and the food is awesome! But my favorite thing about the place is the ambiance - the walls are a beautiful mural of Mexico. You must try the fried ice cream! read more

I have lived in California, and in a Spanish-speaking Chicago neighborhood. Cinco De Mayo is without a doubt the best Mexican food I have had this side of the Mississippi. The chips are homemade and the salsa is incredibly fresh, with just the right amount of kick (in the salsa). Note that this is not "Tex-Mex". This is authentic Mexican food, with no hint of Texas, (and a mild taste of New England). It might depend on what you order. I see some weak ratings from folks who ordered cheese enchiladas (which I have never ordered). But if you order a meal with chicken, steak, shrimp or fish -- you will not be disappointed. read more

Very very good food, I'm from Los Angeles and this Mexican food is delicious recommend to anyone who like good service, great food, and cheep margaritas! read more

Fiesta Cinco Demayo Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Willimantic, Connecticut

Went to this restaurant many years ago so we thought we try it again having not liked it on our first visit. it is quite dark in there. Prices were high. Most dinners 19.99. Me, if everything is good, I'm happy to pay it. They brought us out salsa and chips and I have to say the salsa was spectacular and I couldn't stop eating it. Just enough heat and lots of flavor. I ordered the combo platter and my friend the mole chicken. l liked that you could order the salad instead of rice and beans with the platters. Platter was pretty good and salad had a couple of avocado slices with it. Mole can be a tough choice because it can be sweet or hot and you usually like one or the other. This was neither. Totally bland. No flavor. Nada. Asked if they could spice it up and she gave us a tobasco type sauce. No! you do not add that to mole sauce. Figured wed take it home and try to save it somehow. Beans were very good; rice bland like mole. Rice is like that at a lot of Mexican places but shouldn't be. Taste it before you serve it! Anyway, we tipped our waitress well because of course it's not her fault when some of the food isn't good but before we left, I wanted to again stress my opinion on the mole. Now many restaurant owners don't care but some never know there are complaints. When I told her that it was very bland, there was no "I'm so sorry you didn't like it; I'll let them know. Oh no, just a death stare is what I got. Give me some of that tip back. Nobody, including myself, likes to be criticized but everybody should listen to it and give it some thought. That mole needs some thought. read more

On a visit there with my granddaughter for lunch I ordered and pointed to a cheese enchilladas as I stated to the waitress I don't eat meat, well it was made with meat and the waitress tried to say the one i pointed to came with meat Really? I could not eat it so she removed the entree and did not replace it so my granddaughter ate alone.The waitress still charged me for the meal, the other issue is the chips and salsa they will bring a tiny bowl and no matter how many is in your group that's all you get,very skimpy! so If you request more you will pay.My third complaint is I have to ask them to write my bill so I can understand what i'm paying for,I can never make out their writing.Overall I used to enjoy going there but after my experience I opt to go elsewhere. read more

If I could give this zero stars I would. I recently moved here from Colorado and let me tell you something: this place is a disgrace to Mexico and the flavorful orgasm that it once provided my mouth. The food was absolutely flavorless and lazy. I have been craving Mexican food since I moved here and feel sorry for everyone in Connecticut that thinks this establishment is worthy of 3.5 stars. Pathetic...like every other restaurant in this town (besides Cafemantic). read more

The very best and real comida mexicana .. I have been going there for years and I always look foward to go there to eat ..or to take out I am vegeterian and they have options for me there and the best chile relleno!! They serve real mexican food after all there is no burritos in Mexico I never seen it neither my mexico friends =D and I want home style Mexican food not ..tex mex! Everything is very fresh the people there are lovely and fast at serving with a smile...its a cute little place :) The vegeterian plater is wonderful! =D So are the enchiladas verdes...quesadillas.. tacos .. the tortillas ..fresh real fresh salsa ' that person "Erika that gave one star was really off and its a total lie they serve el paso taco that is absurd ....I know the diference ..I know mexican food ! Im calling for take out just about now =D Que comida mas rica :) me encanta!!! I dont know anyone personaly there but I like to be fair and I like to praiseand to share when I find wonderful food! Is one of my favorite restaurants in the area! If you like Mexican food or if you like to try go there =D read more

Went here for my 21st birthday for appetizers and drinks. Perfect price for drinks, that were pretty strong. The food is pretty good too. The owner joked around with us and was very attentive. read more

If I could give this a lower rating I would. From the confusing menu to the badly prepared meal, this was an ordeal. My partner and I stopped in for food, and the atmosphere was drab to say the least. The lights were distracting and the music was playing far too loudly. We were sat near the door, and the waiter came over and asked us what we'd like to drink. He disappeared, and we waited nearly 10 minutes before another waitress came out and asked us what we'd like. We reordered our waters, and they still took an additional 20 minutes to show up with them. We placed our orders, and minutes later, a ROACH showed up on our table. The waitress came over and smushed it, and we were moved across the room. By this point we are ready to go, so we ask for to go containers. The waitress brings us our food, and the plates are boiling hot; so hot we couldn't even pack our plates. The food was lukewarm, and bland. We quickly paid our bill (we were not offered a discount for the roach, instead and explanation. The roach must've come from the Asian restaurant next door. This was the first time they've ever seen one) and left. The food was bland, mushy, and inedible. My partner ended up throwing his food away and ordering pizza instead. Don't go here! read more

Very bland tasting food, prices were also a little higher than they should be. Salsa was good though!

I never really had a bad experience coming here over the years, Until I went with my Cousin this summer. First off the lady never gave us our chips and Salsa!! Thats like the first thing u expect! It took forever to order our drinks and When we wanted refills the waitress never came to our table She passed by plenty times and saw our empty glasses! Then finally she asked what we wanted to eat. I ordered the tacos! Let me tell you i did not expect it to come straight out of an Old El Paso Taco Kit! read more

I was skeptical of this place the first time my girlfriend decided we were eating here. I had only seen it from the outside, and it appeared to be a cheap Mexican place. I fully apologize. This is the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. The portions are large, and I have been back several times since and each time I have loved it more than the last. Everytime my girlfriend comes to the Windham area, she has to come here. read more

I have been coming here now for five years and it has never let me down. Try the crowd favorite the enchiladas verdes. Smothered in a mild green sauce and sour cream. Or another favorite the deep fried chicken or beef chimichungas. Cinco starts off your meal with delicous yellow corn chips and homemade salsa. Anyone who loves authentic Mexican or tex mex must try this. I have been to a lot of Mexican restaurants all over the country and this is my favorite. read more

My wife and I have been dining at Fiesta Cinco de Mayo since shortly after they first opened over ten years ago. The food is always fresh and well-prepared, the service top-notch, and the atmosphere welcoming and kitschy. The owners are originally from Puebla, and their tastes and menu specialties reflect the cuisine of that region. Several reviewers have commented that they find the food under-seasoned or bland. I would answer that this is what authentic Mexican food tastes like. The typical American Mexican restaurant is as close to real Mexican food as American Chinese food is to what they eat in China. I've traveled (and dined) throughout Mexico, and can attest that true Mexican food is seasoned with subtlety and sophistication, not the Taco Bell assault on the senses to which we gringos have become accustomed. One reviewer mentioned Tex-Mex over and over again, and judged this restaurant's cuisine by those standards. True, the menu here has many of the usual tacos and burritos, but these are concessions to the American palate. If you come to dine at FC de M, skip the usual nonsense and order something real. Try their enchiladas mole, pollo en salsa verde, or camarones empanizados, and you'll get a sense of what real Mexican cooking is all about. read more

We will NEVER eat there again! We just left and I couldn't wait to write this review. The nachos were flat with just meat and cheese..THAT IS ALL! I make better at home. We also got the burritos and chimi changes. The chicken was so dry with no seasonings it was tough to swallow and the beef tasted like the worst pulled pork I have ever had in my life. People around us were disgusted too. I don't know how this place got the good reviews it did read more