From the moment we arrived, it was no, no and no. It all began with hopeful anticipation and went downhill from there. 1. We requested a booth in the online reservation, got there and were told there were none available (we counted 6 around us which remained unused for the duration of our stay) 2. Were offered a margarita. Asked flavors (see pomegranate etc in photos online) told only available plain 3. Ordered 2 Bloody Marys. That's pretty straight forward and widely available. They took our order, came back with one. Said they only had one available. Charged at the end for two. 4. Asked for Coke, mexican coke. Were told they didn't have any. 5. Ordered a quesadilla. Were told they had run out. And it went on and on. So much so, it became near-comical, (like were we on Candid Camera or something, just to check our reaction to outrageousness?) Mind you, this was all occurring at 7:45 pm, the place closes at 10 pm. The part that struck us the most was not so much the running out of, or not having, but the complete lack of attempts at decent customer service. Wholly and complete, from beginning to end. When we finally found something on the menu that they did have, did not run out of, or was not available to us, it was not remarkable. In fact we both said "meh" at the same time. Notorious for being happy-go-lucky and genuine food lovers with adventuresome spirits, gregarious to a fault, we were stunned when we mentioned a glint of dissatisfaction to the front man and were met with stone-faced complete and utter lack of customer satisfaction efforts and/or skills, in fact they acted as though they wished to rush us out of there as soon as possible. And we did. read more

Marinitas - "unavailable" booths around our table (despite our specifically requesting a booth when making our reservation) - Latin American Near Me - San Anselmo, California

We often enjoy the bar at Marinitas for cocktails as a waiting room for dinner reservations, and for that they are stellar. The cocktails are varied, not "shy", and well made. However, as a rule, I am often disappointed by most Mexican restaurants. It seems their fare is usually interchangeable, Americanized, and run-of-the-mill. That is NOT so here at Marinitas! Now we've made Marinitas our go-to Mexican restaurant. We always start out with Margaritas (go ahead! get a pitcher and share)... and Guacamole. Guacamole is made fresh, to order. Yum! Right after that we automatically get an order of the Camerones con Chipotle, with Grilled Bread. The Shrimp (camarones) are cooked quickly to the point of perfection. Nobody likes overcooked shrimp. Some of their other choices are from a broader Latin palette. I love the Bistec Argentino, and the Yucatan Pork Stew they have on the weekly special rotation. OK, ... I'm getting hungry just writing this! The menu goes on and on, so you'll never get bored. They mix it up with cocktail choices, making every visit just a little bit different experience. We love that they open for lunch (11:30) and STAY open all through the day. That way we don't have to squeeze lunch in, or rush, like we need to do at so many other lunch spots. The ONLY consideration is that, especially if you're not attentive (e.g. you're having another cocktail), your Marinitas' tab can add up very fast. I said it was very good.... just not cheap. You, do, however, get what you pay for.... quality. Their wine "list" is efficiently curated (sparse), but very reasonably priced. Plus they have half-priced bottles on Wednesday! read more

Pre Covid Marinitas was one of our favorite restaurants. We returned last night and am sad to say it was regrettable. I ordered a quesadilla and ended up paying $11 for a flour tortilla. Not even a spring of parsley. There was literally no cheese. Perhaps the cook brushed some cheese flavoring on the tortilla but nothing you could taste. I should have sent it back but I guess I was hoping something more would emerge. To me the essence of a good quesadilla is the gooey cheese. Sad return to a favorite old haunt. read more

Maranitas is our go to spot for great Mexican food. The chicken tacos are a perfect combo of crispy and spicy. The carnitas are great but ask for extra tortillas and share it with someone unless you're really hungry. You can make about six tacos with one order. read more

Five of us had a great dinner! We ordered Queso Fundio Excellent!, Shrimp al pastor tacos. Yummy!, Green rice...a taste sensation!, Cilantro rice and black beans, crispy chicken tacos never disappoint, Cerviche, Carnitas Kinda Dry! read more

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Our favorite take out place - fish tacos and Mexicana salad are consistently good. Pre-covid - absolutely loved their margaritas, but haven't dined in just yet, so can't comment. read more

It blows my mind that people consider this restaurant overpriced in some of the other reviews. If you want CHEAP delicious Mexican food, go to Mi Pueblo next door. If you want flavors that are a little more creative with super fresh, clean ingredients and don't mind spending $10 (GASP) on a salad, then go to Marinitas. Guys, this isn't expensive. There's literally one thing that is over $20. If you think this is expensive, then I hate to break it to you, but you probably haven't been eating very good quality food. Marinitas isn't trying to compete with the delicious hole in the wall Mexican places. They were doing the slightly more elevated approach to Mexican food long before Nopalito made it cool and new places began to sprout up all over. As someone who goes here a lot (usually sitting at the bar or getting food to go), I've tried pretty much everything on the menu, and my top picks are the vegetarian plate (which is HUGE), any of the salads, the carne asada tacos, the shrimp tacos, the chile relleno, the chicken enchilada, and the veggie enchilada. They also make a couple really great hot sauces in house, but you don't get them unless you ask for them. One is the house tabasco (not really like tabasco at all--more of a creamy, smokey chipotle sauce) and the other is the habanero hot sauce (which will light your mouth on fire). The chips and salsas are delicious, and they are happy to keep refilling them until you're stuffed. The margaritas are also exactly what you need from a good margarita. I saw a review on here that called the margaritas "bastardized" because they use a sweet and sour mix "instead of limes." Newsflash: they make the mix fresh with limes--they just don't squeeze the limes for each individual drink the way they do at, say, Tommy's on Geary (but you'll be paying more for that). They just put a note on the menu about using homemade sweet and sour mix so that you don't think they're using one of those gross neon green, chemical concoctions you can buy at Safeway when you see them mixing it all up. And again, you can get the house margarita for $10 (THIS IS NOT EXPENSIVE FOR A COCKTAIL. IT ISN'T 2005 ANYMORE). If you like it less sweet, ask for it half-skinny like I do, and they'll put less sugar in. I'm a big fan of all of the servers and bartenders (especially Sawyer, who is a true gem), but if you go during happy hour, you can expect service to be a bit slow since they get so jammed. I don't mind it because that's just the trade off in my mind if I'm getting a margarita for $6. I'm also pretty sure they hire high school kids for the host stand, so don't be offended if they don't seem particularly experienced. This is Marin after all. read more

The best chicken enchiladas I've had. Cooked in its own dish in the oven with a very rich and flavorful red sauce with cheese, which I could've ordered on its own. Outstanding. read more

Steak is as tough as leather. Two of us ordered and both were too tough to eat. It is disgraceful to serve this to the public. The rest was fair, but please get some traditional flank steak. Last time we'll be coming back. read more

Ballsy woman alert! Years ago I heard the owner, Heidi Krahling, at some event opining about her desire to someday open a Mexican place. The only obstacle she could think of was how to sell Mexican food at a high enough price point to be profitable. Well, not only did she move forward with plans to open a high-end Mexican place, but she opened it right next door to a very popular down-scale sit-down taqueria. Chutzpah anyone? The lady apparently knew what she was doing as this place has been packed since day one. Oddly enough, the place next door remains packed as well. So, there you have it: Within yards of each other you can pick up a few tacos and get change for a ten or you can pick up a few tacos at Marinitas and need a trip to the ATM. Yelp friends can probably already predict my preference. I've not dined at Marinitas since shortly after they opened when I found it physically pretty and way overpriced. This time, all I came for was drinks and chips and here's how things went down: Total spent, before tip: $32 Total items consumed (by me and B): * 2 skinny Margaritas at happy hour prices (prior to 6 p.m.) * 2 skinny Margaritas at regular prices ($11 each. Are you kidding??) * Chips + salsa (complimentary, I believe) All I can say is, if I'm gonna spend $11 for a margarita, it'd better be in NYC or SF. I'm happy that Marinitas is stimulating the economy but I'll be doing my future drinking elsewhere, probably after eating at the place next door. read more

I hadn't realized that San Anselmo could be so hip and so cool until I dined at Marinitas. This huge restaurant was bustling on a Thursday night. The dim lights provided a relaxing atmosphere while the service was friendly and efficient. We started with the free chips and salsa and added the delicious guacamole on. We also chose the deluxe margaritas (a $38 pitcher) which were yummy and less likely to cause hang-overs than the $32 pitcher... I had the tomate salad with shrimp, Ibis chose the veggie quesadillas, and Kelly had the carne asada tacos. We all loved our food and finished just about every last bite! (The portions were reasonable but not over-sized). I'd love to come back here for a drink at the bar or another dinner. $32 each for food, margaritas, tax, and tip works for me! read more

Great food, drinks and ambiance, very mediocre service. We got what we needed...eventually. Last week, there with a party of 6. Enjoying the last of our drinks after enjoying a delicious meal, at 8:45, they turned off the music, turned the lights up to full power and started vacuuming the floors, even right next to our tabel! Crazy! I have to think that the faults here lie with the management. Poor management. Scarred our otherwise pleasant meal. Will have to think twice about returning. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Marin. The service is great, and the chicken tacos are to DIE for. Also a great place for happy hour. The ambience is always fun and overall just a great restaurant. read more

The ambiance is really comfortable -- wide open with natural breeze as well as some fan or AC which made it very pleasant on a warm day. I wanted to get a few side dishes and they wouldn't let me get things on the vegetarian platter without ordering the entire platter. No substitutions. So, a couple of the platter items were mediocre. In addition we got guacamole and pinto beans; they were not on the platter. The food was pretty good except for the "roasted sweet potatoes" were really like steak fries with a hot sauce on them. I prefer a "can do" attitude. The waiter asked the "chef" and apparently what I wanted was just too much for them to do even though there were very few people in the restaurant. read more

Marinitas is one of the best Marin restaurants. Let's help them stay afloat during theses hard times and order some takeout.

White folks' version of Mexican food...meaning an expensive version of Taco Bell and NOT authentic. We had the (un)fortunate experience of sitting next to a group of folks (three couples) that got louder and louder as they consumed their Margaritas. They were actually making ANIMAL NOISES DURING DINNER. Stay classy, guys. ARGH! We also had a super slow waitress; from the time we sat down to the time we were first acknowledged took a total of 11 minutes. We almost walked out, but since it was already close to 9:00 p.m., we stayed. The chips and salsa were good and we ordered guac and it was nothing to write home about. I ordered enchiladas (RICE AND BEANS ARE EXTRA). The green rice was not flavorful and it looked like something you might make in first grade for St. Patrick's Day. I bumped this review up because the decor is pretty awesome, but now that I think about it they might keep it so dark because they don't want you to see how they are ripping you off and faking you out with their fraudulent excuse for Mexican food. read more

Forget jetting off to Argentina, San Anselmo's Marinitas is the place for food that covers the entire continent. Every dish we had looked like food porn, straight from Gourmet! This is old-school style pan-Latin cuisine that's guaranteed to offer something everyone will like. Pluse, it's down the street from Sean Penn's house, so you may even get more spice and heat than you bargained for! Disclosure: I'm a huge Heidi Krahling fan and have been since she opened Insalata's in the 90s. She was one of the original visionaries to use simple, locally grown ingredients. I also loved her book Mediterranean Women Stay Slim Too--her no-nonsense approach to cooking and life makes interesting reading. Marinitas, her latest, is a cool respite from the Marin heat. Interiors are a funky mix of tropical hardwoo-paneled colonial with the assorted TV-top Santa for decoration. Food runs the gamut from classic tacos to Brazil's national dish, feijoada, on Monday nights. We kept it simple for our first visit and were not disappointed. Chips and salsa are gratis--we spent 1/2 the meal trying to figure out the delish secret spice in the red salsa. We're still wondering. Guacamole was divine--the best we've had since the prep-at-your-table version at our fave NYC Mexican restaurant, Rosa Mexicano. Next up was a gorgeous, Gourmet photo-worthy treat of crispy masa boats with adobo chicken, black beans, cotija cheese, and crema Mexicana. We finished up with Tres Leches cake with Dulce du Leche sauce. Wow...this was stunning and the best dulce du leche I've had outside of Buenos Aires. Can't wait to get back across the bridge!! Note: they're on Open Table read more

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Extremely disappointing return for birthday dinner. As an upscale Mexican restaurant with reputable chef, can't even do right a side of rice and beans- dried out from days ago. Putting tortillas in a paper bag is also a no no. marinitas rendition of their "Cochinita pibil" is rather a mole sauce, and Cochin it's very dry. chose to skip dessert. Did not want to be disappointed even though remember Ed their Pastel de Leches had been delicious. only thing that keeps Marinita's standing is their Margaritas and that's it. read more

Marinitas catered our wedding at Stafford Lake Park in Novato in June 2019 via the Carta Marinitas Taco Truck (which is really a van). They were experienced with the park, arrived exactly on time, and were able to serve our guests efficiently via a buffet that they set up in the picnic area. The food was delicious and we received so many compliments! Who could say no to a taco bar on a beautiful summer day? The price was just right, too. read more

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I grew up nearby in Fairfax and I really like this place. Laidback but nice atmosphere, very tasty and upscale mexican cuisine. Perhaps a bit pricey. I highly recommend the vegetarian enchiladas, even if you normally order meat dishes. Seriously amazing. read more

Well, I've been wanting to come here for quite some time, and it was a bit of a let down. The menu looks amazing but the execution not so. I had the Polenta and Mushroom appetizer, with pine nuts - and the verde sauce was totally soupy, like drowning in verde. It made the polenta soggy and overall meh... mushrooms were good, flavor okay but not worth the soupiness. It needs just a thick regular sauce/glaze sauce, and would be a hit. Next was the Chipotle Shrimp appetizer, and flavor was good, kind of spicy, but guess what - soupy (seems to be a theme), flavor good, it comes with bread and it was totally soggy due to the soup (not sauce). Chill on the soup, chefs!! Veggie tacos, were okay, the best part was the queso along the bottom, but very much lacking flavor, plain, and kind of a salad in a taco. The place was nice inside, but if you want to go here, try something other than anything drowning in soup. read more

Any of their appetizers are amazing. We ordered their dip and it was mouthwatering oh my goodness! For lunch I had the fish tacos. Yum! I will definitely be back for their specialties on Wednesdays and Thursday's! The servers were also skilled in everything. They knew how to bar tend, serve, and bus. I really like this place. read more

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Best crispy chicken tacos in Marin! We went on Saturday, then had to go back on Sunday as well after a hike at Phoenix lake. Sunday the bar has a bloody bar where you can make your own bloodies. Pretty awesome! The bar manager Mike was super passionate about his drinks and the restaurant provided great customer service and makes amazing margaritas! He mentioned that the seasonal mango margarita is the best one. We'll definitely be back to try them! read more

Marinitas - Latin American Near Me - San Anselmo, California

NO BUENO In San Alselmo :( Poor to inconsistent service and confusing menu and extremely disappointing enchiladas. read more

Marinitas is the best Mexican restaurant in Marin. We have been loyal customers for about 13 years now. The food is great and authentic. The service is usually great, once in a while I will get a rogue server or host. However, most of the time I get great service. read more

Who doesn't love Marinitas? Try the chicken tacos! And ask for the homemade Tabasco. It's incredible. read more

Not a fan of their guac; but their enchiladas are fantastic, as are their salads, margaritas and specials. Not the least expensive of places, but the decor and service make up for that. read more

Wow what a surprise! We literally were driving around wondering where to eat last night and stumbled upon this gem. The food is AMAZING and even our picky 10-yr old was amazed. So happy to find a new option in Marin!! Absolutely go eat at Marinitas! read more

Had an early dinner on a Saturday. We sat in the bar and our server/bartender, Mike, was amazing! He detailed the flavor profiles of the flight of tequilas, was super friendly and open to any and all questions, and shared that the park across the way had music later on. Not to mention the food-ceviche, salmon, tacos, Chile rellano! OMG. YOM. Just go support this place and it's staff! read more

Went there Saturday for lunch with my husband. We had the fish tacos, the steak tacos, and a side dish. Cooked just like we requested and just fabulous. Also we had the best service I think we have EVER had there and we've gone many times. The very nice waitress and the very hard at work busboy were an incredible team, fast service, all requests taken care of, both of these service folks were beyond great! The food has definitely gone up a couple of notches. They are AAAA++++. Can't wait to go back! read more

The decor of this restaurant is a bit odd and doesn't scream Mexican to me but don't let it fool you. I have had many enchiladas in my day and I have to say this is the BEST enchilada I have ever had - piping hot in a ceramic bowl with chicken, cheese, and an excellent red sauce. The chips are really great as well - thin and just the right amount of salt. The 2 salsas (red and green) are AMAZING. Seriously - I could just eat that and be satisfied... and the Margaritas are REAL.- I am talking fresh squeezed limes and oranges. non of that sweet and sour mixed crap. So grab a seat order a margarita, enjoy the complimentary chips and salsas and have the enchiladas... Welcome to a bit of awesomeness. read more

Wow! Amazing chips, guacamole, fish tacos and carnitas. And the sangria is the best we hav had. Thank you for a great dinner.

We came here on a Thursday and sat in the bar area after 6pm. It was already packed full of ppl. So im like ok this place must be good. And YES it is. Sitting in the bar area was ok but the service wasn't that good. Happy hour drinks were great and strong. We ordered the Tres Ceviche and all 3 were very refreshing and had so much flavor. Cheese enchiladas were so yummy! The Chicken Tacos with Potatoes inside was very good and filling. This place is great!!! read more

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When I'm craving delicious Mexican food and great drinks I head to Marinitas. The tacos, especially the carne asada tacos, are a must-try, and the daily specials add variety to this small yet tasty menu. For starters, the guacamole and Marinita's salad are scrumptious. If you're a fan of tequila, you're in luck. The Supremo Margarita is an excellent pick and uses high-quality 100% agave tequila. If you love mint in your drinks like me, the mojito or the addicting non-alcoholic citrus-mint cooler is for you. Aside from the menu, the restaurant is usually hopping and includes lots of cozy booths as well as a large bar. It's dimly lit and has a relaxed, casual vibe, great for a date night or girls' night out. It's open rather late for Marin (12am on weekends and 11pm during the week), giving it points in suburbia. The service is generally decent as well. read more

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We stopped by for drinks and small plates on Christmas Eve. Although we had reservations, the place was unusually empty. Our server was distracted, brought the wrong beer but didn't offer to make it right, failed to bring one appetizer, brought one we didn't order and told charged us for it even when we pointed out that we didn't want it. We asked for water, which came at the same time as the bill. We had to flag down our server as he was wandering around with a lost look in his face. The food was okay, but so pricey, especially when we had to pay for things we didn't order or want! read more

On business trip, colleague and I went for dinner. Surprised over low reviews, as our experience was great: service was top notch and delicious food and drinks. We split the guacamole and chips, veggie plate and salmon. Friend raved over the mojito and I enjoyed their margarita on the rocks. Veggie plate was flavorful, quinoa hearty full of spices, poblano chile was smokey and sweet potato was delicious. Salmon was topped with a citrusy salad which sat on a potato cake surrounded with a sweet mole sauce. Great blend of spice, tang, and flavors. Even their salsas were good. Great place to dine. read more

Marinitas - Veggie plate - Latin American Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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This is not a traditional Mexican restaurant, however, it is a great restaurant! The food is delicious! My favorites are the Salmon Tostaditas, Ceviche Trio, Marinitas little gem salad, and Bistec Argentino. The ingredients are quality and dishes are well rounded. The margaritas are delicious as well (I don't like mine very sweet). I like the dim lighting. It creates a relaxed ambiance, even with how noisy it can get because it's so popular. I'd suggest making a reservation, as it is often crowded. read more

Had a group dinner at Marinitas a few weeks ago and had a good time. Chips and salsa are free (rare in Marin!) and the food was decent. I had the chicken enchiladas and ordered a side of rice and beans. The enchiladas were hot right out of the oven and was very cheesy! Portions were just right, but I'd recommend ordering a few if you are planning on sharing. Service was fine and I liked the dimmed light atmosphere. Would return to again. read more

Marinitas - Chicken Enchiladas - Latin American Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Why does anyone bother to go the Cantina in Mill Valley? Marinitas has better food, better furnishing and atmosphere, and good service. The Marintas salad is excellent, but a tad too small to be a standalone meal. read more

Duck tacos are the must there. Nice place. I go there mostly because everything else decent is closed in the area when they are open:)