Food was good, the restaurant itself is nice. They have weird booths on the wall that are half moon, not the best for four people but we made it work. My rating would be a 3 on a few things and a 4 on others but the staff is so friendly and nice it bumps it to a 4 easy, Its hard to find genuinely nice people and they are either great actors or my guess is good nice staff!! Fajitas are very good if I would have only got shrimp, it was tender and delicious and all the veggies were perfect but the steak is not so good and would skip that next time. It's tough and not much flavor. The tacos were all good, the Beria taco dipping sauce was weird and not our jam. Overall a nice spot in downtown Newark that we will try again. read more

See all

Service was perfect. It was a Sunday afternoon so the crowd was small but it was an hour before closing when I arrived. Food was great. Taco Salad was full of flavor and fresh ingredients read more

Mariposa - Taco Salad with Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Newark, Ohio

An eclectic Mexican Restaurant in downtown Newark close to the Court House with a few parking spots on the street and a small patio with maybe 4 tables. We parked around the corner and walked to Mariposa. We Noticed that the man hole covers had maps of the Earthworks. The walk to Mariposa's restroom was interesting. It winds all the way to the back of the building past exposed brick walls showing the buildings history. There are maybe 10 booths or tables along the left or right walls Down the center is a HUGE community table. I came with a group of close to 30 seated at the community table. Which was perfect for us! We rolled in right at noon on Taco Tuesday. (They were expecting us) One waitress was assigned to our table. She was great! Chips +salsa was served with glasses of cold water for each diner at our community table when we walked in. The salsa was mild but also cooked and served warm. The chips had a hint of lime. Hubs had the smothered chicken burrito and said it was fantastic. One huge burrito stuffed with rice, beans, meat) with queso Blanco poured over the top. There may have been more inside the burrito. I ordered the "any 3 Tacos for $10" Special and enjoyed chicken, carnitas, baria with consume. I'm a big barra fan and never pass up the opportunity to find great baria. The barria was just ok but the consume tasted burned. And since the taco was grilled in the consume the entire taco was unpleasant. Also served on the side was a small verde salsa with a little kick. Loved it! I scraped the protein out of the tacos for a lower carb lunch with the zucchini and really enjoyed my meal. We agreed we would return next time we are in Newark. By the way, we were there to tour the newest UNISCO World Heritage Site- the Great Circle Ceremonial Earthworks. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 10-4. At 2:00 a Docent hosts a tour of the circle. Best $10 I've spent in a long time! Make a half day of it and visit the Earthworks and Mariposa while in Newark. read more

Everyone save your time and money and don't go. My wife was born in Mexico, and my family is from Spain. This place is exactly what happens when white people open a Mexican restaurant. Not authentic at all. Prices are crazy for cheap food. $16 for three sad tiny rolled enchiladas with no sides of rice or beans. Service is cold and rude. Seating is horrible. Can't wait till this place fails. It won't take long read more

Mariposa - a plate of enchiladas on a table - Mexican Near Me - Newark, Ohio

The ambiance of Mariposa is lovely. The decor, booths, chairs, utensils, water glasses...lovely. So much charm! Chips and salsa are okay. The large corn tortilla chips are a little cumbersome to share with the table. (Had to snap chips in half or quarters to dip in salsa -- not every guest at the table is cool with double-dipping and/or pawing chips to make them a more suitable size for dipping in salsa..) A glaring issue is perhaps the pacing of the meal. The wait from ordering to being served was ~40 minutes. Poor timing could explain why tacos (Carne Asada & Taco Al Pastor) were served lukewarm/room temp. The most disheartening experience -- we were served raw/undercooked shrimp tacos. Oo Mariposa is a new restaurant and hopefully timing and good food safety practices can be addressed for future patrons. I cannot recommend Mariposa at this time. read more

See all

Following upon a recommendation from a friend, the wife and I ate at Mariposa yesterday afternoon. Here's my review. The seating is not good. Either a 3 sided booth, center community seating or a long line of side by side what I call "hi friend" seating. Each table had a bottle of very cold ice water. The salsa and chips were very good. Now the meal. My enchiladas meal was a 2 at best! I didn't like it at all. The rice with it was tasteless. The wife had a beef quesadilla that she felt was the best she ever had. The waitress was great. The price was a little high for what we got. I rate my experience at Mariposa a 3. The atmosphere gets a 2, the service gets a 5, the food gets a 3, the value gets a 3. Will we go back to Mariposa? Yes we will, but I won't get the enchiladas or rice! I'll try something else, while the wife will try her best quesadilla ever again! read more

Delicious take on Mexican. The brunch was amazing and service was great! Parking was abundant - but granted it was a Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm read more

I don't like getting an estimate for seating at a table and going way over that. "More than 10 mins late is saying something." Service is good once seated but the place is disorganized in terms of efficiency since no food runners and no bussers. also appeared waitress tertiarily double as hostess. um, huh? Lady here wrote: "Chips and salsa are okay." Ma'am, those chips are assuredly not okay. Prices basically reasonable compared to some places that have skyrocketed for same tier of restaurant so there's that. read more

Been here three times now and loved it each time! The food was tasty and filling (I had leftovers every time), and the servers were friendly. Definitely a favorite for my husband and me. read more

Mariposa - Tres leches cake - Mexican Near Me - Newark, Ohio

First time experience at Mariposa. Awesome food & service! Jennifer was attentive & engaging. Enjoyed the music in the background. Recommend if you like Mexican cuisine read more

Stopped in for a quick dinner and was told their kitchen was closed at 9:00 when they closed at 10. I understand 9:30 - after to close down your kitchen. Or telling a party of 10 that the kitchen is closed. But I think an hour before you close when your restaurant is empty, is a little much. read more

Went for my birthday on ribbon cutting day we were a larger party of 12 the booth in the back was perfect . This could be one of our new family favs beautiful atmosphere, delicious hand crafted drinks and Mexican food with a bit of a fusion twist. The service was great friendly staff very attentive. read more

See all

This is a new restaurant that we stumbled upon while walking through downtown Newark. We were intrigued and decided to go inside for lunch, and it was such a good decision. The food is AMAZING, the atmosphere is modern and cozy, and the staff was quick, friendly, and attentive. It's also moderately priced, and you get good value for your money. My friend got the enchiladas-- you can pick flavors, he had a mix (I can't remember which ones), but every flavor was good. They also served refried beans with the meal, and they were delicious but they have a kick-- they're the first spicy refried beans I've ever had, and I definitely would recommend trying them. I got 3 different tacos (they sell them individually for approximately $4 each, depending on the flavor). I think I got carnitas, chorizo, and al pastor and they were each absolutely delicious. They balance the flavors really well, and the spice level is always perfect so that it has a kick but doesn't overwhelm you. I was full after having the 3 tacos. Also, I have to say something about the chips and salsa they give you when you sit down: I've never had chips like that before. They were giant and puffier and crispier than most chips I've had, and the salsa was spicy and savory. Unfortunately I was so excited that I ate all the food before I thought to take a picture but you should definitely check it out for yourself! read more

Mariposa - Street view of the restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Newark, Ohio

I was hesitant to try this restaurant after reading some of the negative reviews but am glad I tried it out for myself. Went there with a group of 10 of us and we were ALL pleased with the service, ambiance and quality of the food. First, the restaurant has tons of ambiance and the attention to detail with plates, glassware and even napkins was outstanding. Three of us got the tequila salmon which was delicious, someone got the fajitas which were great, margaritas were excellent too. I would definitely recommend this place as it is a winner in the downtown Newark area! Complimentary chips and excellent salsa great too read more

Mariposa - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Newark, Ohio

See all

Let me just start by saying I was so excited to see that this restaurant was opening. Especially from the owners of 1922 (which I enjoy). The decor is great, sadly, that is it. We arrived in the restaurant a little before 6, was seated by 6:10. Ordered drinks from the bar that took 35 minutes to receive. Ordered the chip trip and tried the queso, gritty and cold. We ordered our food and literally at 7:45 I had to stop a manager who I let know that we had been in the restaurant for almost 2 hours at this point. She went to the back to check and came out and said our food was coming up now. I told her we would need it to go because we had other obligations. When we got home to eat, we were once again disappointed. She decided taking half the bill down was the solution, but I was mad I even paid that much for the poor quality and taste. We then had friends coming from out of town this past weekend who heard of the restaurant opening and wanted to go. We decided we would give it a second chance. The salsa was completely different the second time and the chips were so salty they were almost inedible. We waited 45 minutes for our food. The pork belly tacos were honestly foul tasting and left my husband and I nauseous. The creamed corn was a reddish-brown paste with some corn added. While I understand this restaurant just opened, the wait times and astronomical prices of food for the poor quality and small portions were unacceptable. read more

My spouse & I ate at Mariposa for the first time recently. We enjoyed our meal. And many return another time. Their dishes were well prepared and your use of authentic Mexican spices was evident. However I would like to offer one respectful suggestion. Your corn tortillas have a stale, institutional character. They taste identical to the "shelf stabilized" institutional corn tortillas used in all Newark's other "Mexican" restaurants, and available in all the "big box" food stores. This is unfortunate because fresh corn tortillas are the heart and soul of authentic Mexican food. My favorite corn tortillas as those made blue corn masa; like the tortillas preferred in Santa Fe, NM. But unfortunately those aren't available anywhere I know of in Ohio. The best, fresh corn tortillas available in Central Ohio may be these from Koki's in Columbus: https://columbusunderground.com/ohios-own-kokis-tortillas-ma1/ If your dishes were made with freshly warmed Koki's tortillas you would absolutely be the best "Mexican" restaurant in Newark or anywhere else in Licking County. To be clear... I have no relationship with Koki's. I am a retired university professor who has traveled widely and has a passion for authentic Mexican cooking. I hope you will give serious consideration to my respectful recommendation. Sincerely yours, Robert Blomeyer, PhD (retired) Newark, Ohio read more

Food was different. And not in a good way different. But what got me was that they charged me $8 for a MOCKTAIL! Meaning a drink with NO ALCOHOL. I'm old enough to remember when restaurants would promote having a designated driver by offering free drinks .... Not at this place. $8! That was the price of my meal. And the price of one non alcoholic drink. I won't be going back any time soon. Absolutely ridiculous. read more

Our waitress knew the menu and explained every food item. She was relaxed and friendly. Checked on us frequently. The food was just perfect. All the different flavors of sauce made the food taste great. The place felt like a party was going on. The lighting was perfect, tables were big enough to accommodate everyone. The tacos are the best! read more

The pozole here was amazing! The street tacos are delicious. Their house chips are huge! The queso was very salty. We want to go back and try the desserts. read more

First time here. Got take out today. Very specifically requested for no spice and salsa on the avocado taco, the sweet potato taco and carne asada taco for a family member they could not tolerate any heat. In spite of the no spice labeled food order, it was made spicy. I like spice but I am very disappointed that the cooks cannot follow simple instructions. Based on the other reviews, I don't think this restaurant will be here next year. I was really hoping the reviews were wrong. Service and ambience was good. read more

Great place! We've never once had a single bad experience here. Great food and friendly service.

Went to Mariposa for the first time tonight with my family. To be honest, I've learned not to expect much from Mexican cuisine in Ohio compared to the southwest... I was delightfully wrong! This place is legit! I had the shrimp fajitas, and it was hands down the best mariscos I've had in this state. The tequila and mezcal selection also beckons sampling. Our waitress, Angie was great, our food arrived in short order and was beautifully plated. I highly recommend giving this place a try before giving up on this genre in the area. read more

Went to Mariposa on a Friday night. No wait. Staff was friendly from the moment we walked in. Very cute. Service was fast as well We enjoyed 2 tacos and a burrito.. I especially liked the special grilled chicken taco. The burrito was good but not amazing. Wish it had a little more smother. Overall, pleased and would go back to keep trying things. read more

First walked in the door and was not even greeted, waited several minutes for someone to seat me. Once I got to my seat we waited at least 10 minutes before our drink order was even taken. The bartender was also our waitress and was very rude and not understanding. On top of all the customer service the food was absolutely disgusting and I will never be coming back. read more

Enchillidas, mexican rice, and tacos were cold and little flavor. Tasted reheated in a microwave. Best thing was the server and the salsa. Hope they improve their culinary staff aoon or they won't last. read more

Wanted to try it for ourself and not b swayed by the reviews, it was terrible! The chip were very greasy the salsa tasteless. Worst margarita I've ever had. Ahi tuna, tasted like it come from a can, yuck! Service was good. read more

My boyfriend and I tried this place a few nights ago hesitantly based on mixed reviews on Yelp. What a wonderful surprise! The food was very good. He had shrimp tacos and I had a shrimp taco and a sweet potato taco. He made sure to point out to our bartender (we ate at the bar) that he is from Mexico and loved the food and margaritas we had. The margaritas were unique and very flavorful. I had the spicy Sophia and I believe the other was called the Golden. The spicy Sophia was one of the best margaritas I've had in a very long time. The staff were all friendly and the bartender, Jenn, was attentive and made excellent recommendations on food and cocktails and she did not disappoint. The ambiance was also nice and perfect for our date night. My only regret is that I let the mixed reviews I've read delay me from trying this little gem. I will definitely be back. read more

We had a great lunch here! We started with the chip and trio dip - the queso and guacamole are great! (I liked the green salsa but it was too mild for my family) I had the heirloom tomato salad in a bed of guacamole - yum! Family members had shrimp tacos, enchiladas, and the taco special - all were very good. read more

As a native of Mexico, I give this place a big "thumbs up". My girlfriend and I recently visited, and we loved it. The ambiance was nice, they have a great selection of tequilas and Margaritas, and the food was absolutely amazing. I recommend the shrimp tacos and the sweet potato tacos. The service was also great. Jenn, our server, was delightful and made our experience even better. Highly recommended. We will visit again. read more

Took over an hour for tacos. We were over charged for our drinks and never got our sides. Server was great and tried to make up for the mistakes but too much went wrong for us to come back to this place. read more

Came from out of town for lunch. Enjoyed everything we ordered. The chips were normal sized and very tasty. All our tacos were amazing and had several sides. The creamed corn and pinto beans were delicious. Great beer selection and margaritas are amazing. We will definitely go back. Our server was very good and we received everything quickly. Our kids also loved everything. I'd describe our family as "foodies." read more

Drinks are amazing! Great service and beautiful atmosphere. Love the chips and salsa. Great new restaurant for downtown Newark.

Overpriced for the portions. Queso had a funky taste and salsa was bland. Decor is a mish-mash of styles, doesn't really blend.