Happy Cinco de Mayo!! Went here for a grand day. It's been a while since I last ventured into this restaurant. The ambiance was incredible for Cinco De Mayo, place was packed and clearly was ready to handle such a large crowd. Last few times I had been here the wait staff has dropped the ball and had a few slip ups with the orders. Today was no different as we got the wrong order. I'll forgive it this time since I can only imagine the chaos it is for a Mexican restaurant on this holiday. Food was just as good was it always was and the wrong order wasn't half bad itself. read more

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Service and food was great. The only problem was parking. But if you are willing to hunt for spot it's worth the hunt.

I love this new-to-me location of a Cville classic. Food is great, service is on point, and the margaritas are A+

The ambiance is great, it's a bit dark inside the restaurant but not in a terrible way. Service was not the best, slow and mostly saw my server sitting at the bar relaxing instead of being on top of his tables verifying everyone is good and assisted. The worst part was the sticker left on the peppers on the fajita plate. Pictures for reference are attached. When notified they removed but not apologetic. Just in shock that this even happened. Don't you wash your vegetables? Don't you verify your plates before sending them to the tables? The only good thing about this restaurant were the margaritas and nothing else. They need to step up their customer service and most importantly how they manage their food. read more

Guadalajara - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I love this place usually but tonight we went there first my daughter's 21st birthday and the waiter said they do not sing happy birthday for customers anymore. Since when?every restaurant sings happy birthday. Get it together Guad! read more

It took forever to get seated, and then they waited on the people that got sat after us before coming to us. They did not tell us about the drink special until they brought us the smaller margarita that visited more than the big one on special. The tequila sunrise taste like straight orange juice; the margarita is a cheap premade mix, and the chips are double-fried & stale. The fish tacos are fishy and skimpy (ounce or less of fish)~we sent them back. They never came back to check on us. The beans were the only decent thing. The rice was flavorless and undercooked. They never came back to check on us, dropped off the check, never returned or told us to pay at the register, and never said hello, thank you, or have a good day. I was a server for years and have NEVER left a place without tipping until now! Don't waste your time or money!! I got better food at the gas station (WAWA). read more

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We were looking for a nice restaurant that was reasonably priced while visiting from out of town. Food was good and service was great.

A typical Mexican restaurant. We were seated right away in a booth. The salsa was very good but the chips mediocre. I had the veggie fajitas which included broccoli, a nice addition. I also had a margarita on the rocks and it was good. The service was not that great hence the three stars. The waiter did not bring water, we had to ask, and also forgot lime for our drinks. A smile would have been nice as well. He seemed just a tad unhappy to be there. Overall an okay experience but we'd honestly probably try somewhere else if in town again. read more

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The service is awful, the restaurant is maybe 10% full , the staff is mostly all on their cell phones. We ask three time if the music could be turned down but the answer is no because the manager is not around , so you can't have a conversation at your table with out yelling . It is crazy I'm looking at 5 waiters hanging around laughing and having a great time, and not taking care of anyone here . The food was awful , We came here for a lunch meeting that we couldn't even have because the Mexican music was too load. read more

This review is for the location at Greenbrier Dr. My wife and I have visited this restaurant several times in the past and have had no issues. The service has been good and the food as well. Not so much this time. Took almost 5 minutes to get drinks and finally after being seated for between 10 and 15 minutes a server finally showed up to take our order. We asked for the check for the drinks and left after paying and went elsewhere. Felt completely disrespected. The restaurant was not busy. read more

I've been coming here for over 15 years. I'd like to think we are regulars now. I'm always surprised how fast the food comes out to the table - granted, we frequent this place tactically before the dinner rush. We always get the cheese dip with whatever we are ordering. I've tried so many times to make it at home but their recipe is so good and hard to match up. I highly recommend anyone coming to charlottesville to try this great institution. read more

It's worse than before. Nasty guacamole dip, cheese dip and quesadillas with cheese that hasn't been fully melted, and unmasked servers during the height of the pandemic. The rest of the food? Bland an uninspired. It's obvious that Chef Mike (the microwave) is working overtime in the kitchen. The service and decor are still fine, but everything related to food and the outrageous prices makes for a horrendous experience. read more

Guadalajara - What is Molly DOING??? - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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wow -thanks for that huge blob of fat in tonight's suaqueso (carnitas). lovely. I had to spit it out in the trash. I won't be ordering again

Cute place. I particularly enjoyed the chile relleno which was bigger and different from any other I've had, but very tasty. I will definitely be back. read more

Arrived 45 min before closing on Friday evening, open sign still on, party of 6. When entering saw two waitresses sitting at a table talking. Restaurant was empty. One waitress approached us and told us they were closing in 20 minutes therefore they couldn't serve us, time was only 9:15 pm. Lazy waitresses, place is dingy and has small eating area. I seriously doubt their food is even good with that kind of laziness they displayed. This type of restaurant you would only see in the hood it's so dingy. I highly do not recommend it. read more

Great service and the food was fresh tasting and really hit the spot! Loved the queso, CA burrito and hard shell tacos. Top notch service and so friendly. read more

This is a review for the Pantops (Town and Country Lane) location only! Wow. I mean... wow. I have left good reviews on all of the other Guad locations (except Greenbrier and there is only one server there who is problematic, the rest are fantastic). 95% of Guad food/service in Charlottesville is great! Ok, the food is fine. But the service, for the most part, is very good or even excellent! But HOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY COW this place is something else!!! I get seated. Chips and salsa appear within the first 3 minutes or so, which is good. They're served by someone who will not be my server, which is pretty typical and of course is just fine with me. Server doesn't show up for 7-10 minutes or so? Which is a REALLY long time in a Mexican restaurant. It was not exceptionally busy. The server was at least not unpleasant (see the GREENBRIER location's review and DO NOT VISIT EITHER LOCATION). I didn't say a word about waiting so long for her to show up. No attitude, no words, nothing. Just pleasantly ordered. The food showed up quickly like it always does (we all know they're just sticking pre-made food into the oven, and honestly, I feel like we have this social contract where everyone is cool with that). That was the last time I saw the server. I needed a refill for the last half of my dinner. That obviously didn't happen. I could see my server in the bar area.... TEXTING. Ok, fine. Maybe there's something going on in her life. Although you can tell from body language that she is not in distress at all. She's just screwing around in the bar area.... THE ENTIRE MEAL. I mean, she only left the bar area ONE time, and that was to go up to the front and yap with some of her coworkers for a couple of minutes. Then right back to texting in the bar area! And it's not like she was barTENDING. She was doing NOTHING. After I finished my meal (and never got a refill), I made eye contact with her. As if to say, "Hey, I'm ready for my check, please". She saw me and I then looked away so I wouldn't look too pushy. I figured, "She's on her way over here. She saw me making the 'Check please' look and she'll be at my table in a few seconds." After 30 seconds or so, I looked up again and she's BACK TO TEXTING. I gave up. I went to the front and told the man at the front that my waitress never came back and I guess they would have to take my payment without me giving them a bill. Surely, this guy will be at least SOMEWHAT responsive, right? RIGHT?? NOPE. I got NOTHING. Not a word. Not "Oh shoot, I'm sorry about that", not "oh really? No problem, I'll take your payment". NOTHING. After I paid, AGAIN, NO WORDS. He didn't say a SINGLE WORD TO ME. NOT ONE. I'd love to say this is the only time I've had an issue there. The last time I was there, I had the exact same issue with the server disappearing the entire meal. You may ask, "Why did you go back?" Honestly, I had forgotten about that last experience! This isn't the location I would typically visit so I had just forgotten. I WON'T FORGET AGAIN. GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN DO NOT GO HERE!!! I'M BEGGING YOU, IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND PURE IN THE WORLD, GO. SOMEWHERE. ELSE. Thank me later. read more

So we decided to give this place a try on take out, Just for the some facts they will let you order margaritas with pick up orders. So they were fast and pretty seamless with their execution. Got home and the margaritas were already mixed up and in soup containers. We just had to add ice. They did not disappoint. We tried the chicken fajitas and they were good. Could have done with making them a little Spicer. But overall not bad. Would definitely get take out for here again. read more

Guadalajara - Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Went there for lunch and ordered 5 meals. Those were fine. We also ordered two Patron jumbo margaritas. They brought two jumbo marga and two shots of Patron. Those cost is MORE than 5 meals! We ended up with essentially two $30 drinks. Disappointing. Not sure if we'll go back. That's a little ridiculous to be honest....... La Michocana from now on. read more

In town on business and decided to check this out as it's not too far from the hotel. When I arrived I was great fairly early and told I'd have to wait five minutes. No problem. Soon after I was lead to my table and given a menu. My server arrived and asked what I'd like to drink. I told her and also said I was ready to order. I gave it to her and that's the last I saw of her. She never checked to see if my order was correct. Nor did she make me feel welcome. My food arrived quickly and was done correctly as I had a change from the original menu. The food was good, the place was clean, and the price was certainly fair. My problem was with the service. The original server seemed to have an attitude and I didn't feel welcome. When I asked for my check, from a busboy?, it was given to me shortly after. I paid with cash. My change was given with a nondescript grunt. At no point was I told thank you, asked if the food was ok, or made to feel welcome. I have experience in the restaurant business and several things must be accomplished by a server. #1 make the customer feel welcome. #2 check to see if the food is prepared correctly. And #3 thank the customer and ask them to come back. None of these were accomplished. There are other restaurants in town. On the next business trip I'll try another place. read more

I don't think you go to a place like Guadalajara expecting some genuinely authentic Mexican food, so that's not what I come in and expect. The quality of the food was right around average of any normal sit-down Mexican place. But the quality of service was great during the lunch hour, as we had our chips, salsa and drinks refilled when needed. The waitress took our orders promptly, and the food was prepared exceptionally fast. I ordered one of the burritos, and it was okay. It wasn't anything that would blow you away. But maybe it was a bit pricier than what it was worth. read more

Never disappointed! I love this place! Clean, friendly staff, and DELISH food! I love the salsa, a bit spicy but ohhh so good! Everything I have ever eaten here has been tasty...but let me recommend the FRIED ICE CREAM! AWESOME! read more

I'm a big fan of Guadalajara and I've been to every one in town. This one is definitely the weakest of them. The service is fine but the food just isn't the same. For example the California Burrito which normally has cheese melting off of it, at this location it's just rubbery & doesn't mesh with the rice at all. Also, the chicken and cheese nachos are seasoned with something that none of the other locations use & to my girlfriend it just does not taste that good. If you want good Mexican food you're better off going the extra few miles to the downtown location. It's worth the trip. read more

This is one of my favorite places to relax and hang out on the patio in Charlottesville area. I am originally from a California town with half Hispanic population so I will not say it is authentic or the best Mexican food ever, but the food is always consistently good and the staff offers professional service. I've always liked what I've ordered and felt like I had a little holiday. It is definitely a more gringo style of Mexican but it is good quality of food and an enjoyable atmosphere, and clean and new. The patio faces the main road but there is a lot of greenery and view of the mountains and it is covered from the sun or rain. (On a side note I would not advise visiting the downtown Guadalajara, definitely try this one instead even if it means driving farther.) read more

While I don't think it's the most authentic Mexican, the food they serve is delicious, well portioned and pretty inexpensive. I've been here many times for lunch and dinner and I found everyone here to be friendly and the service quick. The only thing that can be problematic is that during the busier times parking can be a hassle. I also wanted to mention that it seems to me that this is the best location. The food and service seemed to be noticeably better over the other locations. read more

We have been supporting this restaurant and eating here for over 15 years until recently when we went into two locations on two different occasions and was set down and never acknowledged again until we walked out. We won't be back !! read more

Terrible. My husband and I went for a late lunch around 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon. The restaurant was dirty. All the waitstaff were seated, eating their lunch at the same time. A man got up to seat us, visibly annoyed with the presence of paying customers (and, perhaps, with whomever should have been manning the hostess station?). He led us to a table and tossed our menus on it then walked away. We should have left then. The service was slow and unfriendly. We never got any refills on drinks. It was the first and only time I've felt unwelcome in a restaurant. The food was mediocre. We've been to other locations and really enjoyed the food. The food here was bland. We won't be returning. read more

This is probably one of the best meals I've had in a very long time! Busy Saturday night but we still received excellent service, large portions, and the food was SO good! I will start driving to town to eat here than settle for the other options closer to me. read more

Guadalajara - Nachos Texanos - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The food was not that great and the service was horrible! My friends and I stopped as we were traveling back from hiking in the mountains. When we walked inside the restaurant the waitress was very polite until we asked to eat outside. She acted like we were inconveniencing her. She was absolutely rude and unfriendly the entire time. My friends plate had hair in her food and when I mentioned it she rolled her eyes. They brought a new plate, however, my friend did not have an appetite anymore. I asked for her plate to be taken off the bill because of the hair and the fact we didn't want it after that. She was upset and said "we brought you a new plate." She ended up getting the manager about the bill. In the end we did not pay for the plate. We go to Mexican all the time so it was very disappointing when we did not have the nice time we usually do. read more

Right before they started doing all of the redecorating, there was a change in staff and level of service. I asked if there was a change in management, and they said no. Here it is months (or longer) later, the redecorating seems to be complete, and the level of service is still down. I'm sure they're under new management. It used to be you could be in and out of Guadalajara almost as quickly as you could eat your food. Now it takes forever to be seated, forever to be served, and the servers are amateur, like they're following a 1, 2, 3 plan. Tell them your name. Tell them you'll be their server. Ask for their drink order. If we've been sitting there for 10 minutes and aren't looking at our menus, we're ready for our full blown order, not just drinks. The food, however, tastes exactly the same. Still decent Mexican. read more

My wife and I have both been to this location at least a few times and the last time was probably actually "the last time". In general the food is bland. My wife has had at least one entrée she liked at some point but overall we are not impressed. Pros- some of the food is decent, the salsa served with the chips is good and the guacamole is not bad. Chalupas are fairly good. Never a wait (gee I wonder why) and plenty of parking. Cons -most of the food we have had is bland and just not very tasty in general compared to other restaurants and what we cook at home. -Tacos are flavorless...like ground beef with nothing...I mean no seasoning whatsoever. -Chili Rellenos are flavorless. Burrito was the same according to my wife. -Last visit the food was not hot. -The Margaritas are an insult to Mexicans. -Wait staff is always either inept or completely lacking in personality...every time we have been there. -Some of the booths are very poorly positioned with a lack of adequate room between seat and table and they are not secured to the floor so when someone sits on the back side of you, you find yourself being knocked around rudely as they get in and out of the seat. Lastly...and this has nothing to do with the restaurant: People, your kids are not as cute to us as you think they are. If you take your kids to dinner, it is a great teachable moment for how to behave. Your kids squirming around, jumping and standing in the seat, making noise without you even bothering to discipline them and turning backwards and staring at other patrons is rude for you to unleash on your fellow restaurant patrons. Be a parent, and parent! The next time this happens to me I will be sure to discuss human anatomy in legal public language so as to make you as uncomfortable as possible as your child goes home with all kinds of great new (non cussword) vocabulary for you to deal with...I have had it with your parental failure. read more

Tasty little mexican spot. Cannot remember what we ordered but I know that we really enjoyed it. It was your standard mexican food at reasonable prices. Can't go wrong! read more

I don't know if I might have experienced a rare occasion or if the Earth and stars were perfectly aligned, but my food was delicious. The chips freshly made as well as the salsa. It wasn't Pico De Gallo but still tasty, just the right amount of spice. I ordered three chicken enchiladas suizas and was instantly 'wowed' by the suizas sauce, it was thicker in viscosity, more complex and each bite was a memorable experience. Sided with rice, refried beans and salad. I may very well have been most hungry that evening, the moon may have been full, the stars aligned, everything in it's right place. I enjoyed my meal. And, I consider myself a seasoned Mexican eater, endlessly searching for 'real' Mexican foods, dishes and recipes. This was real close. read more

Preface: I recently moved to C'ville from Chicago. Chicago is overflowing with fantastic Mexican restaurants. From small taco joints, to very good moderately priced local to upscale, fine dining ala Rick Bayless. I just want to find one quality Mexican restaurant in C'ville. Guadalajara was my first attempt to find that establishment. FAILURE When: Wednesday night dinner, 7:00 Restaurant setting: Nicer than a dive, not as cozy as you would like. The atmosphere is a bit cold. The lighting is not great. Actually, the dining room is reminiscent of a larger fast food restaurant. It was modestly busy. Menu: Large and lots of options. Which is always a bit concerning to me. It means they obviously don't follow the do one thing and do it well strategy. The Food: We asked for a margarita made with anejo tequila - Not possible. We were told the mix is pre-made. (With the tequila already in it?! Weird!) Ordered the queso con peppers appetizer - it was absolutely disgusting. Nearly inedible. A plate of gloppy, congealing cheese/sauce with a couple of saturated tortillas sitting in it. Gross. My wife ordered beef tacos. Not to challenging. Homemade tortillas - NO. The ground beef was not seasoned? At most joints the tacos drip a reddish liquid of grease and seasoning. These were not greasy, however also lacked seasoning = flavor. All in all, not terrible, but not much better than you can do at home. I ordered the chicken and beef fajita combo. Again, not a very challenging dish. It generally comes down to the quality of the meat. Guadalajara meat quality? POOR. The beef did not resemble any typical cut of meat. Must have been all scraps. Stringy, chewy, not enjoyable to eat. The chicken was edible. There was some sort of fajita sauce-like substance in the dish that was very thick and did not succeed in delivery flavor and moistness to dish. Again, another dish that any average cook could make much better at home. Again, tortillas were not homemade. Basically, you are paying to not have to do dishes. Enjoyed - Actually...the chips and salsa were OK. Nutshell: The only positive - the location. We live in Pantops and it was very convenient to get to. Bummer. I guess I need to wait for them to go out of business and hopefully a better option can fill that decent site. People, you do not have to patronize a restaurant just because it exists. We all deserve better! I will not go back anytime soon. read more

I loved this place. I've eaten at a lot of Mexican places, and most are ok, 3-4 stars. This is the first place I've eaten in awhile that I thought was delicious from start to finish. I was here early and the first of the dinner crowd so I experienced no wait. It seemed to be new or newly renovated and the decor was very pleasant. I thought the salsa was really tasty and the chips, beans, and enchiladas were super flavorful. When I'm in the area I will definitely be back. read more

Sad margarita - lime Kool-aid in a narrow, whiskey-tasting glass with a millimeter rim of tiny-grain table salt. Food matches expectations for the exterior decor. They gain points back for lively interior decor and very friendly, super-fast service. read more

Good safe bet for the standard Mexican food served in this area. Employees are always nice and service is always good. Most importantly the food is always consistent and served hot. read more

I read the other two reviews and was a bit surprised. Hailing from NoVA, I've eaten through El Salvadorean and Mexican cuisine and find some of the same issues with this establishment that you get in a lot of boldly spiced cuisines when they cook for Anglos; they go light. We heard about this place from a native Californian who said it was her favorite Mexican spot. We all liked it very much. This place iscertainly a step above most chain Mexican food and it's certainly convenient. Portions are generous, the food and ingredients are fresh, and prices are good. The sopes rocked. I'll be back. read more

Had meal this afternoon, 2 shrimp plates that we're good, w/chips and salsa. Restaurant didn't have to many customers, service was good, food came quick as usual. read more

Food was average but missing a good hot sauce & homemade flour Tortillas is a must! Chili con carne cheese enchiladas also no where to be found??? Had to settle on average menu read more