I came here after a work event because it was walking distance. It was quite busy for a Monday…read moreevening. I decided to sit at the bar since I was flying solo and just wanted a quick bite before going home. The decor on the inside is funky - almost like a club. The outside is absolutely gorgeous. I think they currently have it decorated to honor Dia de los Muertos and wow is it gorgeous. I grabbed a Diet Pepsi and just went with the first thing that caught my eye - the quesadilla bowl. Not sure what they're doing in the back but that Diet Pepsi was delightfully crisp. Like WOW. On its own it brought me back to life. And despite it feeling quite busy, they got my quesadilla bowl out to me quickly. Y'all - I am not sure what I was expecting. I mean, I read the description and it had me at shrimp, chicken, rice, beans, and guac, but this blew me away. I don't think I will ever stop thinking about how good this quesadilla bowl was. It had a ring of cheese quesadilla on the edge of the bowl! The flavors of the bowl were amazing, and it was plenty of food. I took some home and had them for lunch the next day. All in all, the meal was $25, which I feel is pretty reasonable for the amount of and quality of food you get. Definitely worth a stop in. I have heard people rave about Mezcalito for years and now you can add me to the list.

I visited Mezcalito in Durham with a friend on a Friday evening, primarily because I wanted to see…read moretheir Día de los Muertos installation, and it did not disappoint! As an Afro-Latina with Mexican roots through Texas, Día de los Muertos has a special cultural significance for me, so I was particularly excited to see the installation. The decorations were absolutely beautiful, with marigolds everywhere, colorful ribbons, and vibrant floral displays throughout the space. The installation was gorgeous, and I loved seeing such a colorful celebration of Día de los Muertos here in Durham. Now, onto food and drinks! I'm generally an enchilada girl, but I have a personal rule when trying a Mexican restaurant for the first time: I always order tacos. My philosophy is that if I don't like the tacos, chances are I'm probably not going to enjoy the enchiladas either. It's my little test of a Mexican restaurant, and I'm happy to report that Mezcalito passed! I ordered the spicy steak tacos, which came with three tacos, rice, and black beans. Everything was delicious! The steak was well-seasoned, the portions were satisfying, and I genuinely had no complaints about the food. Based on the tacos alone, I'd absolutely come back to try the enchiladas. For drinks, I started with the Hawiana Margarita, and it was fantastic! My friend ordered the piña jalapeño margarita and really enjoyed hers as well. The margaritas were HUGE, especially considering the fairly reasonable drink prices. We both followed those with a Corona and lime. Overall, the drinks were definitely a highlight of the evening. We arrived a little after 5:30 p.m. on a Friday without reservations and were seated immediately in the covered back patio area. At that point, the restaurant wasn't particularly crowded, and we could comfortably enjoy our conversation. By the time we left a little after 7:30 p.m., however, the place was packed! I love a lively restaurant, and Mezcalito certainly has a fun, energetic atmosphere. However, the noise level became pretty intense as the evening went on. Between the conversations, general restaurant noise, and traffic from the street directly behind the patio, it became increasingly difficult to hear each other. I don't typically struggle with noisy restaurants, but even I found myself having trouble following our conversation. To be fair, this was a Friday evening, so I imagine we were experiencing the beginning of the weekend rush. If you're hoping to catch up with friends over dinner without having to raise your voice, that's something I'd keep in mind. My other minor complaint was the bathroom situation. Unless I missed additional facilities, there appeared to be only two stalls in the women's restroom. With the restaurant as busy as it was later in the evening, that naturally meant a line. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely something that could be improved given how many people the restaurant accommodates. Overall, I'm giving Mezcalito a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The food was delicious, the margaritas were excellent, the prices were reasonable, and the Día de los Muertos decorations made the visit especially memorable. The noise level and limited restroom facilities were the only things keeping this from being a five-star experience. I'll absolutely return, especially to try the enchiladas and enjoy another margarita, but I'd probably aim for an earlier dinner or try a weekday to enjoy the atmosphere before the evening rush!

Loved my experience here! Note they have changed the name to La Santa this week…read more Came here for early dinner and were pleasantly surprised. The ambiance and decor is so nice and sophisticated. Seating option were comfortable. Service was great! Server gave great recommendations and explained menu options when needed. Service was prompt and food served warm. Food was amazing! Everything we had was delicious! I had the Quesabirrias (loved that the meat was not fatty and sauce was crazy good), guacamole and flautas de papa. The sauces for all were to die for! Will definitely be back to try more tacos!

Love the vibe! Food was great! Highly recommend the Camarones Chipotle! The Verde Vida drink was…read morealso great! For the skirt steak bowl, Ask for a side of sauce, I feel like it needed a sauce to go with it. But the service was great, quickly seated and served. Will be back!

As a native Texan, (at least feeling somewhat qualified) I have to say that they have some top…read morenotch stuff, super impressed :) it's a pretty cozy space to grab a quick bite or even a sit-down meal. They have a pretty wide variety of options, but you definitely can't go wrong with their tacos! Super affordable and will leave you feeling satisfied and full. Everyone is really friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly. Definitely recommend! Especially their asada, chorizo, and lengua tacos! Will be back to try other things on the menu too. Bonus: they have their own parking lot which is nice!

Overall good experience again! Tried some new things:…read more - Torta Cubana: Hefty sandwich with like 3 different meats (including sausage & chorizo), fried egg, avocado, onions, lettuce, tomato. A little salty, but balances out with the spicy salsa they provide. - Camarones Ala Mexicana Platter: Good if you want a lighter, healthier feeling option. - Quessabirrias: Honestly, felt a little too greasy for me & the consommé wasn't super deep in flavor. It was okay. - Pupusa con Pollo: I think the pupusas will be my favorite item to get here! - Horchata: Love their horchata; super cinnamon-y and refreshing. Fast service during weekday dinnertime; fine ambiance. 9/10 would recommend!

Really a great place with large portions. We sat outside where the music was…read more Perfect for summer time! The food was good, you get plenty for your money (most plates were $16-$23), and the service was great. Just before choosing the Torta Cubana Sandwich, make sure you're really really hungry. It is huge. The ACP is always a good choice! I highly recommend!

The 3 star that was a then 2 star but ended up a 3.5 star…read more Upon seating, we were given yummy chips that had some seasoning and a warm bean dip. Thank you. Very much. Very good. Shoulda' taken a picture. Then we had the "all dressed up" oysters on the half shell. And they were special! And good! They were basically topped with a generous amount of ceviche. Not easy to eat but zero regrets. My husband ordered "una pinche carne asada". There were 5 large, juicy perfectly seasoned and grilled shrimp. The grilled steak was ok. A bit over done and under seasoned but good. I ordered 3 street tacos. I wish I'd taken a picture of the menu. It's possible I just misread but (to me, on this menu) it looked ala cart. However, it did come with rice and a bit of beans, on top. I ordered one vegetarian, one carnitas and one al pastor. The first tacos two were fine. Good but not great. But the al pastor? The meat was old and had a funky taste. I told the server and she offered to replace it but at that point, we just wanted to finish our lunch and get on with our errands. So, at this point, 3 stars. However, when she brought the check, there was no adjustment for the taco that was left on the plate. Just a dollar or two to acknowledge the issue would have kept this a 3 star rating. But I was served pork that should have never left the kitchen. And I paid $18.99 for it. Did I speak to her about it? Did I ask for a manager? No, in either case. We sat on the patio and I certainly didn't want passersby's overhearing the conversation. Same would be true, had we dined inside the restaurant. As an aside, I didn't realize this was a "celebrity chef" restaurant. Not that it really matters but our experience felt very far away from a chef who is a 2 times James Beard semi-finalist and a "Top Chef". Also, the menu is a bit too edgy. There's literally no place for goat birria RAMEN on a menu. BUT. Today I called and asked to speak to a manager. He actually took my call. Heard me. And took the feedback, knowing I don't live in the area and probably won't return. And this moved a 3 star to a 2 star and back to a 3 star. Maybe even a 3.5 star.

Torero's is a durham staple. Beloved by all duke students and alumni alike. We went with a group…read moreof 10 around 7p on a Friday night and it was basically empty. This location is HUGE so there was lots of space. It wasn't very loud (besides my group of 10 lol) so we could chat comfortably. My ACP was quite spicy... not unbearable for me but might be for someone else with a lower tolerance. It was delicious tho. Table had skinny marg pitcher. Also banging. Queso was a lil runny and not very thick which wasn't our preference. Service was quick and easy. I would obviously forever go back!!

Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday around 1 and I think we were the only people in the entire place…read more- so we had really fast and attentive service. I had the Tamales Espinacas lunch portion - the tamale and beans were good. The rice seemed a little under cooked. Their salsa that came with the chips wasn't really that good IMO. One cool thing for this spot is you can order and have it delivered to Crank Arm that's right around the corner.

My first time visiting Fonda Lupita in Durham. I have been to the one in Sanford. The food was…read moreamazing as always. I had a Fonda bowl with pork and salsa Verde. The team was very kind and friendly, and the restaurant is beautiful.

The quesabirria tacos, rice, and beans were good. I can tell they're actually handmade. I loved the…read moresalsa bar, you can try them all! The service was good, you go up and order at the register. The space is decorated well and it's in a convenient place in downtown.

When we first started wedding planning, one of the first decisions we landed on was having Luna…read morecater. It was absolutely the best choice. The food was delicious, of course, but logistically they were communicative, knowledgeable, punctual, and efficient. Anthony went above and beyond on multiple occasions. He took our truly astounding array of intolerances and allergies (gluten-free and vegan were just the beginning) in stride and made sure all the guests had plenty to eat. For a reasonable fee, they delivered, set up, and served. We ended the night happy and with more than enough food.

Luna is a great downtown Durham staple for Peruvian food like rotisserie and empanadas…read more It's a cute restaurant with a handful of tables and a bar. There's two benches outside, too. It can get really busy here on weekend nights or when there's events going on downtown. The menu is kind of small, but offers some appetizers, empanadas, salads, and a few entree options. I really like their fries, which comes in a big bowland is seasoned to perfection. I also love the arepas which come covered in avocado and one of each protein option. The rotisserie chicken to me was just okay, and it was a little dry. I will say the food is slightly on the pricier side, but definitely worth considering for a nicer evening out.

Got lunch here. My friend got the (ginormous) torta, I got the bast fish tacos I have had in the…read morearea. This is not a fancy place. Small, on 9th st. We sat outside, service was prompt and the chips and salsa were good. My friend loved his torta, and my fish tacos were great, fish was flaky, well cooked and seasoned. Crispy cabbage and yummy sauce. I will definitely be back for more.

Hmm, for the reviews Mi Calvillo had I was expecting way more flavor profiles. However the food was…read morevery bland. The chips were not fresh and there was no spice at all in the salsa. We had a cheese dip as well that was lukewarm. The server was very pleasant and helpful. It was a cute small space.

First time here - great experience! It was easy to get a table for 7 for a 5:30ish Friday dinner…read more The staff were quick, attentive, and friendly. Food was really good and different. The burrito relleno was a unique vegetarian option - definitely recommend! I also had the house pineapple margarita. Great kids menu options too - my son had the taco and burrito combo.

This place has everything: sushi, burgers, pizza, and Mexican food. Considering I came for Mexican…read morefood, I was a little put off by the extensive menu to be honest. I don't want a restaurant to do everything, I want it to do one thing well. The chips were not crispy, hot or salty enough for my taste, and the salsa was super bland (I can't tolerate spicy but I do like flavor). I ordered vegetarian fajitas, which were just ok. The veggies were tasty, but not super varied (some places have grilled tomato and summer squash, this was mostly peppers and onions with a tiny bit of mushroom and zucchini). The refried beans and rice were very tasty. The service was perfectly pleasant. The ambiance was nice- lots of comfortable booths and a family friendly atmosphere. Probably would not go back.

Great authentic tacos, friendly staff, and fast service. Me and father got tacos and chips and…read moresalsas that were full of flavor and came out quickly. Salsa and chips were solid in addition to their red salsa, tomatillo salsa, and pickled onions. Would definitely go for a casual lunch with friends

we were headed to an event at DPAC and hadn't really thought out food options in advance. Just…read morekinda drove over there and see what we found. I have been on a hispanic/mexican/other South American food truck kick for a bit and figured I'd see what we find, because I didn't want to do a 'fancy' meal just a 'good meal'. Stumbled across this as we walked out of the parking garage, looked like worth a shot, so we took a shot. The problem is, I can't remember what I had. I waited too long between reviewing and eating, I just remember 'holy crap this is good' but I don't remember what I had. Both of us were pleased with what we picked and ate it all, then we went to our DPAC event. place had lots of seating, order at counter and off you go. Really enjoyed it