The food is pretty good. I couldn't decide between the tamales or the enchiladas. The waiter recommended the enchiladas. I asked if he preferred the chicken or the tinga. He suggested the chicken. I requested the green verde sauce. The flavor was really good, however they were the flattest enchiladas I've ever had and they were smothered in the verde sauce. The cheese that was melted on top was burnt. There was a helping of rice, but I had asked to have extra rice as I didn't want the beans that came with it.
We got chips and salsa as part of the service. The chips were flavorful and crispy. The salsa was weak with a little kick and watery. It actually looked like watered down tomato soup.
I had dined with three other people. One person got the steak fajitas. There was hardly any meat and a ton of peppers, onions and tomatoes. He was able to eat three tortillas with meat and could have made four-to-five more with just the vegetables.
The other couple shared the Steak a la Tampiquena (close to carne asada at other Mexican restaurants). They also got a small guacamole. They liked the guac and really liked the steak. Overall, our food was pretty good albeit the fajitas and enchiladas portions were on the small side.
The service, on the other had, was just okay. Our waiter was constantly running back and forth checking on drinks, and checking other tables, but in parts. He took one order, then left and came back as he forgot to take mine and my friend's order. Then after taking my friend's order he left to get me a refill. Then he took my order and left again, although, be fore leaving, my friends asked for more chips. He left without the basket and came back with drinks for the rest of the table - no chips. Then my other friends asked again for more chips. The waiter said yes and was about to scamper off when we asked another person (a "runner") if she could bring more chips. She said sure and the waiter ran over with the chips. It seems so trivial but it seemed like a competition to bring chips.
Initially we asked if we could get separate checks. The waiter asked who would get what. There was a couple (husband and wife) would get one check, my friend would get his own, and I would get my own. The waiter had trouble providing three separate checks and so he didn't. He gave one to the couple and one to my friend and I. It was not a big deal, but seemed weird that he couldn't separate the orders.
With so many Mexican restaurants, Javier's is an okay spot to visit: the food is decent enough, but the service was a bit off. Overall, it was an okay experience neither bad, not awesome. Just okay. read more