I'll just start by saying I could live off the brussel sprouts alone. The serving size would have…read moreto be much bigger, by OMG, they were amazing. My second favorite was the chicken with some amazing reduction of some sort, love! The olives were just becuase I was hungry and I knew they would come out fast. The seafood paella was very good, just not as good as the brussels and chicken in my humble opinion and don't do it if you are not ready to get your fingers messy taking all the shells and pieces and parts off the shrimp. The bathroom was cute. The service was fast, olives minutes after we ordered, my favorite two dishes 12 minutes after ordering and paella, 12 minutes after that. The owner Rene was the server and he was very efficient for 6 pm on the Friday before the 4th of July with him the only one waiting on tables in the smallish (10 tables?) restaurant. By the way, that number of plates (4) perfectly filled two of us. The owner is from Mexico and cooks a Mexican menu for lunch. Next thing to try...

My experience was with a group of adventurous world travelers with catholic tastes in food. We all…read morelooked forward to a great dinner at the Twin Cities' first tapas restaurant. It was not great. The problem? I think it was because owner/chef Rene Ruiz Olivar was acting as waiter, not chef. We gave Sr. Ruiz the freedom to choose our tapas, with one exception, the black ink pasta with scallops and shrimp (Tinta Negra) that reviewers have raved about. He said, no problema--he would serve it. Then he must have forgotten because we never got it. The first tapa served, almond-crusted manchego (Almendrado), was plated prettily and was delicious but oh-so-sweet. It was an odd choice for a starter, would have been better as the finale in case nobody ordered dessert. Soon came a lamb tapa (Cordero). The lamb chops' quality was uncertain as the meat was severely overcooked. El Bodegon's langoustines (Gambas al Ajillo) had given every bit of their sea flavor to the sauce, which was magnificent, we all agreed. But where were the dish's promised mussels, the rice? One shared plate, a beef tenderloin tapa (Carne Brava), had apparently lingered too long in the kitchen--the meat was nearly cold. I adore papas bravas (Patatas Bravas). I must have had the dish a dozen times or more during my last trip to Spain, in 2017, when I visited friends who live in Ronda. During my six-week stay, we toured Andalucia, staying at hotels in large cities and visiting small towns. I also spent time sola in Madrid and Barcelona. Unlike in Spain, El Bodegon's potatoes were diced to death. Never in Spain have I ever had patatas bravas that were not substantial in size. All in all, I found the vegetables accompanying the tapas unrecognizable except for the tiny Brussels sprouts. The rest seemed chopped up or stirred to pieces in the pan. Some of my friends had churros for their dessert. They deemed them appropriately hot and tasty. My dessert was cheesecake torte, decked out with a candle as it was my 90th birthday. The torte was a gold-star winner. It was absolutely delicious, its plating the most successful of the evening. It was so perfect it almost made up for the sub-par tapas that preceded it. One of us had a view of the kitchen from his seat at the table. He saw a man other than the chef/owner doing the cooking. Was he a trainee? Did Sr. Ruiz help with the plating? God knows he didn't have a lot patrons to contend with in his role as waiter. It was a slow weeknight, and there were never more than four tables occupied. I sincerely regret that our time at El Bodegon differs from so many reviewers. Like them, I want to see Sr. Ruiz's little restaurant succeed. He has a hard row to hoe, and I hope a disappointing dinner like ours does not befall anyone else going forward.

We discovered this spot on a whim for dinner, and I'm so glad we stopped in! The restaurant has a…read morenice, spacious free parking lot, and the service was quick, friendly, and efficient from start to finish. We started with the Texas Twinkie, and it was the standout of the meal. It's basically a jalapeño popper stuffed with brisket and topped with a sweet agave chili glaze that gives it a delicious sweet and spicy kick. I personally would have preferred a little less glaze, but it was still incredibly flavorful, and I'm honestly still thinking about it. Even though they're known as a tequila bar, don't sleep on the mocktails! I ordered the Hibiscus Cooler, and it was light, refreshing, and the perfect pairing for the meal. For our entrées, I ordered the mojo pork tacos. They were good, but I ended up adding some extra habanero hot sauce to give them more of a kick. I also appreciated that they have several hot sauce options available, including Cry Baby Craig's, Cholula, and habanero sauce. We couldn't decide between the brisket mac and cheese or the elote, so we ordered both to share. The elote had a strong lime flavor that overpowered it a bit for my taste. The brisket mac and cheese, however, was delicious. It could have used just a little more seasoning in our opinion, but it was loaded with generous portions of tender brisket and had the most satisfying cheese pull. My husband also really enjoyed his birria tacos. Overall, this was a great impromptu date night. Good food, refreshing drinks, excellent service, and plenty of parking. We'll definitely be back and next time, those Texas Twinkies are a must order!

Hello 4 of us dined there recently and the food so eh!…read more There's no spice, no umami, no heat, no favor. We ordered the Queso Fundido and it's wasn't cheese it was some sort of glue that no chip could dip into. You have to try to scoop it with your spoon to get it out and somehow get on a chip. It was gross! My brisket burger was well over cooked when I asked for pink and a Whooper has more favor. Our salad were covered in carrots and my had a bug on it. If you like carrots this place is for you. The tacos again no seasoning and dry. This is just a bad chain much better authentic choices in the metro.

Such a beautiful exterior with ample parking. I was pleased, yet not surprised to see the inside…read morewas just as beautiful. I was advised to try the basil wings. When I say, these we literally the best wings. The epitome of everything I can want in wings. Between the flavor and the flawless tempura crust I couldnt have been more satisfied. They were so good that they were devoured before even a second thought of a photo. I also got some Red Curry and that tasted amazing as well. I already look forward to trying other things from the menu.

This was our second time trying this restaurant, and it was definitely worth coming back. The first…read moretime we visited right after they opened, the wait was pretty long, but this visit was much smoother. Our server was welcoming and attentive, and parking was easy. The standout dish for us was the Tom Yum Ramen--it completely exceeded our expectations. We also really enjoyed the basil wings, though they were on the smaller side. The Jeow Bong Fried Rice was the spiciest dish we ordered, and I was happy to find that it wasn't "Minnesota spicy". It actually had a nice kick! The open kitchen adds to the experience, and the balcony dining room was bright and inviting with plenty of natural light. Overall, a great meal, and we'll definitely be back.

Okay...so...Mestiizo is amazing - like it IS something to call home about…read more I went in thinking it was going to be super expensive with small portions and that was not the case. Instead, I was blown away by the Birria Egg roll and Pork Belly Tacos. The flavors are to die for and I can see myself going back to order these over and over again. We also tried the Carne Asada which was melt in your mouth good. Mestiizo really is the cutest place with a cozy, elevated interior, good vibes, and great food. I wasn't a super fan of the desserts, but the coconut ice cream lives in my head rent free and I'm starting to think I made a huge mistake by not trying the cocktails. Service was amazing and fast. I can't think of anything I'd change. When you stop in (because you have to stop in) order a little of everything to share and make sure to get the short rib before it sells out

This is a review based on one visit with four people, all well traveled and with fairly broad fine…read moredining experience, for what that's worth. We went early and not on a weekend, so it was very quiet. We were given absolutely exceptional service. Was that as a result of being almost the only people there? Cannot say with any certainty, but I suspect actually their servers are just quite good. That's a scenario where it's very easy to be over-waited upon. That's not what happened. The staff were attentive but not intrusive. Also, they never once used that annoying inclusion into the party language such as, "And what would we like to have today?" or the pointless, "My favorites are..." that skip the more appropriate question of, "What sorts of flavors do you like?", before making recommendations. I think they did a nice job on decoration of the space. I do suspect when it's busy, it may be quite loud, given how open it is with high ceilings and not a lot to absorb noise. As to the food, portion sizes are good. Neither skimpy nor excessive. Everything was very well prepared, flavorful, fresh. and well presented. They provided a variety of condiments to the table to allow us to individually adjust heat level, when requested. Each dish did come with its own specific condiment, which were well chosen, which meant that the requested condiments were largely ignored. They were able to accommodate a couple of different dietary restrictions in our group without any trouble (one vegan, one food allergy.) They are definitely on the return list for dining. They are an excellent addition to the northeast dining scene.

I have been coming to el sombrero for years and I loved it but recently I was told they had a…read morehealth inspector come in and they were told they can no longer make Chile rellenos. I'm really not sure that's what they said, rather I'm sure it had to do with contamination of the eggs which isn't good, but I don't believe they said they couldn't make them anymore. Well they still have it on the menu and don't tell you it has changed when you order it. They literally put the Chile in the fryer by itself. They don't stuff it and only put a tiny bit of sauce and cheese on top. Chile relleno literally translates to stuffed Chile which it is not stuffed, so they should take it off their menu if they aren't going to serve it correctly anymore. When I asked the manager about it he seemed annoyed that I wasn't happy. To be honest the rest of their food isn't wonderful or worth coming as much as we did for the Chile rellenos. I won't be back unless I find out that they have started making them correctly again.

New location, great food…read more Have always had terrific service, too. Take-out beer being available is a plus.

Stunning restaurant with incredible lighting (no big lights here!) and greenery. The patio is huge…read moreand is covered. The volume in the restaurant is quite loud, so the patio may be better if you don't want to speak up at the table. Service is on the slower side but the food is worth the wait. -- The Sakoo small plate was an incredible dish! The texture contrast between the filling, chewy exterior, and lettuce shell was fantastic. It was so flavorful and has a bit of a spice kick to it. -- The Mango Fish entree was packed with flavor, and is a very umami-forward dish. The piece of crispy salmon skin on the side is perfectly crunchy and salty. It's a filet of salmon (not a whole fish) and the salmon is nice and buttery. -- The Duck Fried Rice entree had good flavor but the duck meat was dry. It did not come with the duck leg or crispy skin, and instead had chunks of duck meat throughout the dish. This dish has a bit of a spice kick to it. -- The Pistachio Orange Blossom Cake dessert was SO GOOD. I'm not a huge dessert person and I ate every bite of this. The cake is so moist and pairs well with the fluffy mousse covering the cake. The little bits of baklava and orange zest complemented this dish really well.

Absolutely delicious and highly recommend. We had the scallops crudo as a starter and the flavor…read morewas phenomenal. I will be thinking of how good that dish is for the rest of my life; the coconut milk and lime combined with the texture of fresh seafood really hit the spot! The Thai basil wings and Massaman curry were very yummy also. I enjoyed my meal so thoroughly that I forgot to take many pictures. The presentation on my cocktail (a tonic with vodka and buddha hand fruit) was very pretty. Service was thoughtful and quick. The restaurant itself was beautiful and open and airy -- I almost felt like I wasn't in Minneapolis anymore. We went on a Tuesday, and only drawback I'd say is that the noise level can be a little bit loud due to the acoustics and how the room is one giant space. Otherwise, very happy with the restaurant and would go again.

Stopped by La Estancia for steak and drinks and I have to say, the staff here are some of the…read morefriendliest people I've ever encountered at a restaurant. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, kind, and attentive. The food was excellent and the steak was absolutely delicious. Honestly, you can go to a high-end restaurant and spend a lot more money and still not get a steak that tastes any better. Great flavor, cooked well, and very satisfying overall. There's also ample parking. Definitely recommend checking this place out.

Overall great experience. Service was great, parking lot in the front, and they take reservations…read more We came on a Sunday and not too busy. Table for 4 and we ordered the beef empanadas and tomahawk steak with some wine and beer. Empanadas were delicious. Flaky and nice amount of stuffing. Just wish they were bigger! Only one comes in an order. We ordered the tomahawk and were told that it can take up to 45 minutes. It wasn't a problem for us since we were ok with taking our time with the empanadas and conversations. Steak was huge with a large bone. Fragrance of rosemary. Also came with a side of 4 sauces/chimichurri. The steak comes with a choice of two sides. We ordered the sautéed veggies, mashed potatoes, and added garlic mushrooms. Sides were standard, nothing special but serving size was small in comparison to the size of the steak. Overall everything was good! Not mind blowing and our overall tab for the steak, 2 empanadas, 3 glasses of wine and 3 beers was around $230.

We came to check out happy hour and had a good experience!…read more There was a nice selection of food on the happy hour menu - wings, tacos, taquitos, and more. I tried a house margarita and it was fine, not amazing. Maybe I'll try the strawberry one next time! Friendly staff! Fun vibe! Free parking lot out front.

Sharing my review after 2 visits at dinner time…read more Enhiladas - 5/5 Margaritas - 4/5 Burrito - 3.8/5 Appetizers - 4/5 Overall - 4/5 I'd say the ingredients are very good. Service was prompt. Very crowded, popular location. Slightly upscale Mexican spot in downtown Wayzata. On our last visit, my wife ordered the fish tacos and yuca fries and enjoyed them. Burrito could have used more sauce or queso blanco. I'll probably be returning here from time to time and go back to the enchiladas next time. :)