I went here again for dinner at it wasn't too far from my hotel. I came around 7:30 on a Saturday, and was seated immediately. I had the Jose Cuervo margarita, which was fine for 8 dollars. Not as strong as some other restaurants in Orlando, but not going to complain for 8 bucks. The scallop quesadilla was decently sized for one person. It had a fair amount of bay scallops, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The sauce was pretty good too, and adding hot sauce helped with the heat. The guacamole salad was enjoyable too, but the as sour cream tasted standard. For 15 dollars, the scallop quesadilla was worth it! For dessert, the chocolate cake flan was alright for 8 dollars. It was a bit rich and I couldn't finish it all, but it was a sweet enough to enjoy. The service was pretty fast. My food and drink came pretty quickly. My server was friendly and very good. She checked up on me a couple times. The atmosphere is the same as last time, but a lot less crowded. It was pretty quiet for a Saturday, but at least there was some music in the background. Of course, if you saw the photos from last time, you knew what I did before I left. For the price paid, I still think it's a good Mexican restaurant. I know there are better ones nearby, but the atmosphere is still enjoyable. I will try some other Mexican restaurants next time, but I can still recommend Las Margaritas for decent Mexican food in Gainesville. Overall: B read more

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I'll be honest I'm not sure why this place is still open. It's not really the most authentic Mexican place but good if you want quick food. Lunch prices can't be beat & are fast with it so I'll also give them that. I got a taco salad and it was pretty generic honestly I could make better ground beef. It lacked flavor and needed seasoning it was so bland. I added onions and cilantro which I'm glad I did because it truly was tasteless ground beef. The bowl itself tho was crunchy. I am not sure why they have a no drinks policy , I get the food but drinks? I had to down my iced coffee just to be sat down. I suggest going to La hacienda in Ocala if you can it's worth a drive trust me. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've been coming to Las Margaritas for about eight years, and one thing that has remained consistent is the food. The flavors and portions have stayed reliable over time, which is why I've continued to return. Some of my go-to dishes are the carne asada, enchiladas suizas, fajitas, flautas, and quesadilla they're consistently well-prepared and satisfying. That said, the service has noticeably declined over the years. While it used to be more attentive, recent visits have felt slower and less engaged, which takes away from the overall experience. One thing I do wish they would improve is the salsa. It would be great to see a more authentic option or at least a wider variety to choose from. Overall, it's still a solid spot for dependable Mexican food, but improved service and better salsa options would make a big difference. read more

Mexican restaurant away from the hustle and bustle of the University of Florida. They have been in business a while, as we dined here while my daughter was starting in college about 13 years ago. Great queso dip and fresh salsa. The chips were a little less than ideal as far as freshness/crisp. The meat inside my steak quesadilla could be a little more seasoned. The rice was also a little bland. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Steak Quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This place doesn't season their food. The meat has no seasoning. The veggies have no seasoning. The rice and beans are bland no seasoning. Large beers are good. Salsa and chips good. How can you run a restaurant that doesn't season their food? It blows me away people think this food is good. It used to be cheap so I get that but it isn't cheap anymore so what gives? read more

It has been a while since we ate here, ordered our usual food, great service. Wasn't too busy today, being a holiday, but it was still nice to change it up a bit. And we hadn't done a review since 2023, so I figured I'd do a refresher review with some new photos. Great music Great atmosphere wasn't too loud.. One thing that sets them apart from everyone else is the decor. Definitely, one of my top 3 in Gainesville. read more

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Love the decor in this restaurant! The service is quick and the staff is friendly. The food was decent and the prices were good. Wish the margaritas were a little stronger but they offer a good price. read more

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My wife and I ate here for lunch two weeks ago. I would have given them 4/5 stars for that meal Not today! We came back because our first visit went so well and brought my sister in law with us. The gentleman who waited on us was brief and off-putting. We all felt like he was having a bad day which happens to everyone. We promptly got our chips and salsa. The salsa had no flavor. We had to ask 3 times during our meal for all of us at the table to have a glass of water. I got the Chimichanga because I enjoyed it last time. My sister in law got the same. Again no flavor. Also last time I got it with shredded chicken but this time it was large and clumsy chunks. My wife got the Burrito Deluxe which was done well and she enjoyed hers. Towards the end of the meal we ordered additional chips and salsa and I requested salsa a little spicier. What I got was not edible. Also they charged me an additional $1 for it. Our waiter maintained his attitude till the end and we finally got our waters. Very Dissapointing $80+ meal. read more

A friend told me that this was his favorite Mexican place. Feeling like it was an April Fools joke. Horrible service and horrible food. Server was like a zombie. I wondered if they could actually hear me. Worst poblano chili I ever had. The enchilada was drenched in a not so good sauce. Zero for two on the service and food. I would post a redeeming factor if I could find one. read more

Idk why this place is called las margs when the margs are the smallest in this city, could probs drink 40 to feel anything. However, tacos (carne) pretty good, rice and beans eh, quesadilla eh! Pitcher top shelf the best idea for you to do here. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've now been to Las Margarita's three times since moving to Gainesville. Each time the food has been excellent (I dream about the shredded beef burrito), with the service being quick and pleasant. They often show sports events on the tv's, which makes it an easy pick for date night. Margaritas are strong and the specials are amazing! Hope to come back many times in the future. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Shredded Beef Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

What happened to this place. It was so good in the past but the last year or so, it's dingy, beans nasty, patio smells of stale smoke and we had the worst service yesterday. Tall dark headed girl and It was a painful experience dealing with her!!!!! I really mean it this time, I'm never going back. read more

Great food. Great margaritas. And AWESOME service. Ely was so friendly and made the perfect recommendations. We were in Gainesville for the NHRA race and this restaurant was recommended to us by a sponsor/friend. We were so excited that we had time before catching our flight on Monday to come by for lunch. Once we got our food and drinks, we wished we'd come every day that we were in town. Don't worry, we'll be back next year!!! read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We waited quite a long time to be seated, which was to be expected on a Saturday evening, but it was quite early- 6:00 PM. We ordered a pitcher of house margaritas which were great. I had the sopa de pollo, which was barely warm, and didn't have much rice in it. Otherwise it was fine. While waiting for our check, it took so long for the waitress to bring it that I fell asleep. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - House margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Good Mexican food with friendly staff served in colorful, indoor , plus there's an outdoor covered patio. My fave healthy meal is the white fish served in soft tortilla shells. read more

Worst Mexican food I've ever had in my life! Bland even the salsa was terrible overcooked stuffed peppers mushy. One plate of food was cold. One was barely warm they had to reheat. then lettuce and taco was soggy. Staff was unhappy and showed it. Waitress was eating while we were eating.went to table without washing her hand after they heated our food I was afraid to eat it. ask for a lemon with my tea and was charged 1.50 for 3 little slices. Won't be back! It wouldn't let me post without a star SORRY. read more

This is a go to place of mine. 2 for $9 marg special that consistently hits. Chips and salsa always go crazy. Relatively cheap food combo deals. Amazing tortillas they're always so fluffy. Service overall is pretty good but also sometimes it feels like they hate me but I also am just insecure like that so maybe it's just me. Overall def recommend. I don't go here for the food tho I go here for the vibes. read more

Haven't been here in a while but was excited to have lunch there today. The restaurant appeared to be run down and dirty since the last time I was there. The food was bad and had a funny taste. The salas was flavorless and bland. I had a chicken chimichanga and the chicken was grisly, the rice was dry and beans had a strange taste. The service was good and friendly. So disappointed overall and won't be going back. read more

Not sure why this place has a lower rating because it was in my top 3 favorite Mexican restaurants! Food was fresh quality and amazing! Prices were great as well highly recommend! read more

For the type of authentic Mexican it represents in photos and menu and pricing.... I wasn't impressed, margaritas were small, food portions were small, if burritos say queso most of places put it on top to make it wet. This place puts a drizzle inside. Just not impressed over all wouldn't go back as they are just a step above a Taco Bell. The server and staff were super nice and friendly. Nice atmosphere decor and set up wise. read more

The food was excellent. I had never had rellen before and it was very tasty. The service was friendly. I will definitely go back.

I think ima do a review everytime I come here . Because the food it honestly soooo good. WHEN ITS WHAT I ORDER . I get a language barrier but this restaurant called me back to double check with me how my food was ordered and STILL MADE IT WRONG. Still had to wait extra time with my other food already done. I've spoke with management on multiple occasions. Still no change . No effort . So no tip from me. Gots to go better read more

I was so shocked on what happened. I loved to stop there about 1 every other month for a late lunch. Great food, however will NEVER go back. Walked in, maybe 2-4 tables, empty, not a sole at the bar. I took a seat and began my wait. 5 mins, 10 mins, 15 and that was it for me. Two girls sitting at the cashier counter just looking at me like what does he want, someone from the kitchen took a peak around the corner, the I will be damn if one of the girls went and got her shift meal, or whatever, sat right by me and still not one person even attempted to say hello, never again. read more

A very pretty restaurant with colorful murals, painted and carved wooden tables with a cool fountain in the main dining room. Service was fast and friendly despite the place being nearly full at lunchtime on Sunday. Sadly, the food was decidedly mediocre with the exception of the fresh and hot chips and salsa. The tiny portion of eggs Mexicana weren't bad, but the accompanying rice was all clumped together and was tasteless, just like the refried beans. read more

I forgot to take a picture. Got the vegetarian combo to go. An enchilada, quesadilla and a chalupa all for a little over $10 is an awesome deal! Because I got it to go and ate it later in the day, the flavor wasn't as fresh but that's on me. Would definitely go back to try some other menu options. read more

The Mexican food is a bit bland here. The pulled chicken is dry, the ground beef lacks seasoning, and the salsa is ok. Service is fast when you sit down but leaving took a while. The happy hour sangria and margaritas are great. Definitely try the queso with the chorizo on the skillet. That was amazing! The decor and chairs are so cute. We would definitely come back for drinks and appetizers. read more

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Great place for Mexican food. We got engaged at this restaurant, before we had one of their great margaritas. Service was fast and courteous and this place has great decor. We go back most every time we are in Gainesville. read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Gainesville. To me, they have one of the best lunch menus in town. They first had me with the chips and salsa. The salsa is plentiful, and is always prepared with yummy ingredients including the tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. I usually get the taco salad, which comes with queso, yall!! It's also very filling. There is a lot of space both inside and outside the restaurant. The tables on the patio are spaced out and they have FANS!! Game changer in Gainesville--so you can actually sit outside without melting into your lunch. Some items are kind of bland though, so you just have to try them out. For me, you can't go wrong with the fajitas, chimichanga (although I've found this dish to be the least consistent), and the taco salad. Oh and try the horchata! It's so refreshing and you get a mega cup for the price. read more

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Had the typical Mexican meal with a small salad that had cilantro, avocado, cucumbers, lettuce and tomato. Also ordered the chalupa and it was very tasty. I liked how attentive the waitress took our order right away and brought the salsa and chips along with our drink orders. This restaurant is colorful and clean . You can eat inside or outside. My friends had tacos ,chicken soup and quesadillas.All the food was good. Glad we found this place. They also had two margaritas for six dollars and we enjoyed this as well . Parking is good. Hope to be back one day again at this restaurant. read more

I'll be honest when I say I'm a sucker for a good Mexican restaurant. From cantinas to taquerias, I always love to indulge in the flavor and atmosphere these restaurants provide- there's just something about the restaurant culture that makes me feel at ease, and no alcohol is ever required for a good time! So when a few of my friends began to call Las Margarita's their home and told me that they've been there at least seven different times this past month, I knew I had to see this for myself. Unfortunately, my friends definitely overhyped this and got my hopes up way too soon. We came in for dinner service, and upon entering we were welcomed to three hosts talking amongst each other. When they finally saw my party, the three of them began to exchange looks on who wanted to serve us, which confused me considering we were a small party of 4 and the restaurant was slow. Eventually, we were taken to a small booth that wasn't fully cleaned out yet. We tried asking the host to see if it was possible to get us a different table, but the man already walked away by the time we realized. One of my friends unraveled the cutlery napkins and wiped down the booth themself. So for a first impression, I was already feeling uncomfortable. A good deal I recommend if you and your small party are in the mood for drinks is to go for the margarita pitcher. We ordered a Passionfruit flavored one. The margarita cups are very cute! However, upon receiving the pitcher, the flavoring was at the very bottom and wasn't really stirred well. On top of that, the pitcher was full of ice. Upon asking our server if it was possible to get another pitcher with less ice and mixed flavoring, the server informed us it would cost us another pitcher to do so. So, as we had learned from earlier, we knew we had to work with what we got, constantly moving ice to our water cups and shaking it every now and then. I ordered the Hawaiian Fajitas, which has a mix of pineapple, veggies, chicken, beef, and Mexican sausage while you have your usual Fajitas sides: guacamole, sour cream, pico, beans, tortillas, etc. I had issues with presentation wise as my sides were messily clumped together, and my tortillas, while warm, tasted dry and lacked substance. The fajitas, on the other hand, were okay. The chicken could've been a little more moist and I could've gotten more sausage as they were only small pieces, but it definitely wasn't a "save for later to-go box situation." Ultimately, we all felt down by what we received for dinner. I asked my friends if this was the first time they experienced service like this, which they responded with yes, but the slow atmosphere was always like this for them in past visits. I don't know if the staff was just having a rough night, but based on how my service went I don't think I plan on visiting a second time. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Hawaiian Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I love this place. The food here is always delicious. I love the fajitas here and the taco salads even the nachos are very good. My kids are picky eaters and my younger son always asks to come here for the yummy chicken fingers and curly fries. My other son likes the cheeseburgers and curly fries. I love that I have a Mexican restaurant that I can go to and enjoy delicious food and my kids get something that they really enjoy eating also. Recently I have tried other Mexican restaurants in the area and this is my favorite. I won't be going to any others anymore only here from now on. They also have really good margaritas. :) read more

Tried this place for first time with friends and the atmosphere was vibrant decor and beautiful. Our waitress was quick to take our orders and chips and salsa were yummy. I had crunchy tacos a la carte and friends had the steak and chicken fajitas which were delicious. Highly recommend them! Service was excellent! read more

I've been obsessed with the fajitas for two lately. By far, the BEST steak fajitas in all of Gainesville. I just wish they would take my GCM coupon though ahahaha. I know it only applies for dine in but I used it once in pickup so now it's disappointing that I can't use it again. But the chips and salsa are also amazing. Definitely a must have! read more

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Listen, I wouldn't go back here unless it was free. First, the drinks were tiny. So small where my mom who barely drinks finished hers and needed a refill before our food orders were taken. My food was awful. I did the steak thing. Whatever it was it was gross. Steak tasted awful. My mom did the garlic chicken. Terrible. The service was okay, but not good enough for me to come back. read more

Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Today I met a client here for lunch and I have to day that I was completely blown away by the quality food and friendly, professional service. It was my client who had recommended here and I will say that I will return. I got in a few minutes after my client and there was chips with salsa and queso already on the table. I am not sure if my client ordered it or it came complimentary, but the salsa was good and the queso was with each bite a cheese infused bite of blissful indulgence. Scanning the menu, I went with the lunch special of carnitas. If this was the lunch portion. I would love to see the dinner size portion. Not only was it a filling lunch, but the carnitas were absolutely phenomenal. They were tender and full of flavor. This was an absolute joy of a fantastic lunch. We also lingered at the table dealing with some business matters and our server assured us that it was more than gone for us to be there as long as we would like. There was decent parking, but the place does get busy. All in all, everything about my experience was an absolute joy and a great meal. I would give this establishment my greatest recommendation, two thumbs up and ultimately I give this place five () stars. If I had to complain about anything, when I asked for a homemade hot sauce, they brought me bottles of hot sauce. Either the girl misheard me or this restaurant does not make their own inhouse hot sauce. Still, this was really no big deal when looking at the overall incredible experience of the restaurant as a whole. Again, I give this place five () stars. Go check it out. I am confident that you will be as blown away as I was about this place. read more

We tried another Mexican food place in the area and another A-ok. Chorizo and eggs were tasty, as was their pastor burrito. Why doesn't any Mexican place in this area make their own chips? Same yellow corn ones that we come across. On the the next one... read more

A very cute spot serving fairly mediocre Mexican food. Living in Los Angeles, we feel that we know Mexican food pretty well. The chips and salsa were super disappointing, with store-bought and very broken bright yellow chips and not much more than a store-bought pico de gallo. Similarly to other so-so Mexican spots, the menu is quite large, though I found the flexibility with items lacking. I didn't want my burrito wet but was told if I wanted the chorizo burrito, that's how it came. So, I tried the pastor burrito. Massive chunks of pineapple in the burrito were a bit off-putting. If the pastor isn't prepared properly on the spit with the piña on top, you can't make up for it like that. Super big beers and the company was great! read more

Came here with 3 friends on a Thursday night for some drinks and a bite of food. We sat outside. I ordered guacamole for the table which was forgotten. While my friends were eating their entrees, a few servers came outside and started dragging other surrounding tables and chairs to the corner. They were getting close to closing time, so I know why they were doing it but it was disruptive to the point that we couldn't talk over the loud screeching while it was happening. About halfway through, the server said the bar was doing last call and asked if we wanted another round. All four of us said yes ( 3 margaritas and a glass of wine). The server then came back and said the bar said no they couldn't make the drinks because it was too late but that they could do them to-go. We declined and said we'd pay. In the midst of us paying, the lights flickered on and off multiple times. It was obvious they wanted us to leave. The whole thing felt rushed and rude. While I recognize they were closing, it would have been ok for them to say that rather than passive aggressive signals like dragging chairs, suggesting Togo drinks and flickering the lights. read more

This spot is Gainesville's best kept secret. This has been a long time favorite of my family's and now that I'm back in Gainesville full time, I can't wait to become a regular again. Here are some of my favorite things about Las Margaritas that you can't get at any other Mexican restaurant in Gainesville. - The Atmosphere Every chair or booth is hand painted, and there are no duplicates in the restaurant. Some styles are similar, but each is unique in some way or another. The whole restaurant is vibrant, and the decor is actually imported from Mexico. - The Delicious Consistency Every time I have been to this restaurant in the last three years, I order the same exact thing: The Tropical Seafood Plate. Every single time, without fail, it tastes exactly the same. It's the same size portion. It's the same ratio of rice to mini-scallops and shrimp. Consistency is hard for restaurants that don't freeze their foods, yet Las Margaritas nails it every single time. It's beyond delicious to the point where I'll find myself craving it if I go too long without it. - It's Affordability For the amount of food you get, this place is incredibly cheap. Most of the menu is under $11 and even then, there are only a few outliers beyond that. The Efficiency I have never waited more than 15 minutes from the minute I sit down to the minute I get my food. This iconic scene from this restaurant is something you will never forget: your waiter holding your entire table's scalding hot plates on his arms with no tray. Every waiter in there is equipped to hold 6-10 plates with no hesitation -- it's absolutely insane. And the craziest part is how hot the plates are. The food ALWAYS comes out hot enough to burn you. This place amazes me every time. You might be able to scratch one or two of these things off your checklist, but Las Margaritas is the only place you can find all of them. If you go in the evening's average dinner window, expect a wait or 20-40 minutes. I still believe this is Gainesville's best kept secret because if people actually knew about it, the wait would be twice as long in this intimate restaurant. You don't want to miss this place! read more

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once upon a time you could count on good food from las margaritas but our last two visits the food was terrible. we could make better Mexican out of a box kit at home. I had crunchy tacos. They were soft and stale, the fillings were flavorless except for the tomatos which tasted unripe. My husband ordered stuffed poblano. it was the most unappetizing plate I ve ever seen. It looked like a s#1t smear. the rice and beans were inedible as well. Still, the service and ambiance were still great but wevwill never waste our money there again. read more