Costas is an amazing server! Amazing food, excellent service, and great vibes. Everything we ordered was delicious and arrived quickly. The staff was friendly and made us feel right at home. Pancho's Cantina is easily one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the area. Highly recommend! read more

If you want top-tier service, ask for Denise! She truly went above and beyond to make sure our meal was perfect. Her positive energy, great recommendations, and quick service made the entire evening a wonderful experience. Thank you, Denise, for taking such great care of us read more

It's a nice place very aesthetic place. Denise is very nice and kind serve. she went above and beyond our meal and drinks was perfect.

Fun happy hour spot! Great drinks! I've been here a few times and I really like their watermelon margarita the best, as well as the soft serve espresso martini. The food so far has been okay, but I would gladly return to try more things. The Chips & Queso was pretty good. The El Bowl was decent. The Santa Fe salad was basic and bland. They have an option to get it with buffalo chicken so I did, but the buffalo sauce was aggressive and overpowered the entire thing. Kind and attentive service. They even brought out free tequila shots to celebrate my friend's engagement. I love all the colorful murals, flowers, and tables. Excellent music playing and it's such a festive atmosphere. TVs for watching sports. It's a fabulous covered patio with open sides and great breezes during the summer, and they enclose it in the winter and have heaters. I appreciate that it's a year round patio. Great views of the gorgeous Harold Washington Library. Positive vibes and lots of fun! read more

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Went here for the soft serve marg and they did not disappoint! They serve it with a shot of tequila on the side, and I wasn't sure if there was actually alcohol in the marg or if you're just supposed to dump the tequila on it? I tasted the marg first without the tequila and then took half the shot and dumped the other half on the marg. Strawberry mango flavor was really good and pretty presentation!! It was a very expensive drink but glad to experience it at least once. Didn't get any food bc heard it was mid. Service was fine! Place was very busy so glad we made reservations. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Soft serve marg - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Please make sure to take with a grain of salt those that review who have single-digit all-time Google reviews. Something to consider. I needed to burn some time before an event at the Chicago Club so I wanted to watch the Sox Playoff game that they promoted on their socials. I get there and it's not on and no one can figure out how to get it on. I find out they have DirecTV which does not carry NBC Sports Network. Not sure why that wasn't checked ahead of time but eventually I cast the game off my phone to a TV once I was on their WiFi through my YouTubeTV account. Eventually the owners son came to sign up to Peacock to get it on all the TV's. Good job buddy. I just ordered some salsa and chips along with a Tecate. My server was amazing and she was one of a few that busted her hump servicing the tables and checking in. A majority of the employees were standing around gathering at the bar right in front of one of the managers. It felt like it could've used some help from Bar Rescue. The restaurant was kinda full but crazy I saw that much standing around. I wouldn't come back here and I let the waitress know she was doing an amazing job and deserved more than what this restaurant can offer. The owners son doesn't know to run a restaurant and I'll be surprised if it lasts another year. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't even waste your time or your money The Service 0/10 The Food 1/0 The Drinks 0 read more

Recently came here for happy hour with a reservation but it was pretty empty so I'm not sure if a reservation was needed. We were seated right away and given menus. My friend and I ordered frozen mango margaritas and they were very sweet with a salt rim. They were pretty good if you like sweeter drinks. We also got the chips and guac off the happy hour menu and it was a lot of guac! It was a very large portion and the guac was a little spicy and well seasoned. The guac also had chunks which I like rather than a super smooth texture. We also ordered a cheese quesadilla and we were given a chicken quesadilla. We aren't vegetarians so we enjoyed the chicken. It was pretty stuffed and cheesy. We sat outside on the roof and the decor made it a really fun atmosphere. The music is loud so be prepared to sing rather than talk! read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Frozen Mango Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a cute spot for happy hour! The rooftop is nicely decorated, but location wise there's no view. You look over a pretty dirty shorter rooftop with garbage on it lol. We stopped in for some happy hour margs and a snack. Got chips and salsa, a couple classic and spicy margs and then a soft serve watermelon marg. Our waitress even brought us an extra shot of tequila with the soft serve, which was nice because it didn't really taste like there was any alcohol in it. For $10, the margs were pretty standard. Not very strong. The classic had a bit too much lime--was overly tart. The place was pretty full and the service was a tad slower than we'd have liked. We likely would've gotten an extra round before HH ended if we were checked on a bit more frequently. Overall, the food at nearby tables looked good too so I'd be curious to come back and try some. read more

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The food isn't the best beyond just chips and salsa, but the drinks and shots are fire. The creamaritas are amazing!!! 10/10 my new favorite thing. You only need one because they're really filling. It tastes just like ice cream. The only thing is that although there's alcohol in them, it doesn't exactly get you drunk after one. Either way, it was hard to decide which ones I like the most so far: horchata, strawberry mango, espresso martini. Something else to keep in mind: it's on the 6th or 7th floor so you can take the stairs or the scary, old elevator that sometimes breaks down. The bathroom is also one floor below the restaurant and reminds me of the backrooms. Last thing I'd keep in mind is that the service here is few and far between so I would recommend ordering everything you need all at once because you may not see your server for a while read more

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We came here to celebrate my bff's birthday, she lives in China and is here visiting for a few weeks. Fatima, our waitress was swamped, she had at least 19 tables, bless her heart, she was trying. We had a reservation for 20 people, but after 30 minutes, restaurant policy, if your full party is not there, they have to start taking table and chairs, understandable. As soon as Fatima took the tables and chairs, our party arrived. Maybe because our waitress was swamped, she was unable to remove empty dishes from the table and they started piling up. The tables are already small, so space is limited. I had the borracho barbacoa fries, tasty, the barbacoa was a little bland for me, but with the cheese, guacamole, jalapeños and tomatoes, they were okay. The guava margarita and the passion fruit margarita were very weak. I tasted 4 different mango margaritas ordered by our party and they all tasted different, some were too sweet, some were weak and some were just right. No separate checks and only 1 card... HORRIBLE. Overall, I doubt if I come back. Chicago has far too many rooftop and Mexican restaurants for subpar service, drinks and atmosphere. read more

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The annual Alliance of Illinois Judges event is held here and it is a PERFECT venue. Great food, great service and a vibrant atmosphere!

Food: 4/5 Service: 2.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 I'd heard so much about Pancho's and their famous soft serve margaritas, so I was excited to finally try it. My boyfriend and two of my friends joined me for happy hour. One of my friends and I decided to split the strawberry mango soft serve margarita, which was $16, and we also ordered a raspberry mojito along with the passionfruit, watermelon, and strawberry margaritas on the rocks from the happy hour menu. The soft serve margarita was definitely fun and Instagram-worthy, but I was a little disappointed with how it was served. The tequila comes as a separate shot for you to pour in yourself, and once it's added, the soft serve loses its consistency almost immediately and turns into more of a liquid, similar to a melted smoothie. Because the tequila isn't mixed in, it can also be difficult to get an even flavor throughout the drink. It was still good, just not quite as great as the hype made it seem. The raspberry mojito was refreshing, and the happy hour margaritas were flavorful and a much better value. It's worth noting that the soft serve margarita and mojito are not included in the happy hour specials. For food, we shared the Elote Bites and chips with queso. The Elote Bites were flavorful with a great balance of crema, cotija cheese, paprika, and lime, and they were easily the highlight of the meal. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, especially if you're looking for a fun spot downtown. However, the service left a lot to be desired. We found the staff to be less friendly than expected, and the overall experience didn't feel particularly welcoming. The bathroom location was also a little awkward, as it's tucked behind the area where servers are entering and placing orders. One thing that stood out was the reservation policy. They require a credit card to hold your reservation and have a strict 10-minute grace period before giving away your table. Because of that, it was surprising when we arrived on time and still had to wait because our table wasn't ready. It wasn't a long wait, but it felt a little odd given how strict the reservation rules are. Overall, Pancho's is a fun place to check out at least once, especially if you've been curious about the soft serve margarita. The drinks and atmosphere were enjoyable, but the service and reservation experience kept it from fully living up to the hype for me. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First come, first serve vibe with reservation attitude. I had high hopes for this spot because it's in my neighborhood and could be a cool regular patio spot however was disappointed. Starters, the host wasn't welcoming. I went on a Sunday, all day happy hour, and it was completely booked for the day. The host advised we could wait by the bar and if a table opened up she'd come to get us. We stood by the bar for a good 15 mins and were able to get a seat. A few tables opened up so we thought she'd grab us soon, so we just got a drink to start. As more tables opened, she never came so we just ordered food. There were tables with "reserved" signs open the entire time were there, never was offered a table. The food was typically bar food, nothing special. They have a seasonal soft serve margarita that everyone was ordering but it's not on any menu and no one mentioned it to us. We tried it eventually and it's the only good thing on the menu. Seems like they are just understaffed and can't keep up with the rush, maybe they'll get it together in the future but I wouldn't rush to get there. read more

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This place has been on my "must-try" list ever since I heard they had soft serve margaritas, and let me just say this: PANCHOS DID NOT DISAPPOINT! It came with a shot on the side for those that wanted theirs stronger. I didn't indulge because it was perfect just the way it was presented, in my opinion. I would go back, order 10 soft serve margaritas, and leave happily. The service was great and the food was good. I tried the elote bites and carne asada fries. The elote bites were sweeter than I expected, but I'm not sure if that was a good or bad thing tbh. The carne asada fries were spicier than I thought and I was pleasantly surprised by that. However, I wish the presentation was better. I'd suggest pico de gallo on top and a lime wedge on the side to brighten up the dish, add a touch of freshness, and take this dish from good to great! Overall, I had a pleasant experience. I would definitely come back and try something new! That soft serve margarita, however, will forever be ordered so long as it's available for purchase. read more

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Poncho's Cantina & Rooftop feels like some of the restaurants we went to in San Miguel. The concept is open air, with a view of the CTA trains and Harold Washington library, which I like. The Queen took me and The Doctor here for lunch as we were all interested in trying their soft serve margaritas, which they call Creamaritas. I did not know what to expect, but now that I do, I would strongly recommend just coming for those and not a meal because they are soooo good and filling! We did order lunch but ended up taking it home as we had the margaritas first. The Creamaritas come out looking exactly like soft serve ice cream, but instead of sauce you get a shot of tequila with it. Although our server said that there was tequila in the "drink", I couldn't taste it, so the shot was good to have. You literally have to eat your drink with a spoon, but I was not mad about that. Me and The Queen got the Mango/Strawberry Swirl and The Doctor got the Mango. While we were having our Creamaritas, we saw that someone was getting an Espresso Fiesta (Soft Serve Espresso Martini with Vodka + Irish Creme). Had me and The Queen seen that one, we definitely would have gotten it, so that is going to make us have to come back to try those. As we had no idea how filling the Creamaritas were going to be, we ordered food as well. We started with the Ceviche (shrimp, tilapia, avocado & pico de gallo) and guacamole and chips. Both of these were good, with the ceviche having a fresh flavor to it. For entrees, The Queen got the Lemon Pepper Chicken Sandwich and me and The Doctor got the El Bowl (cilantro lime rice, tomato, pickled onion, fajita pepper, avocado, black beans & pico de gallo): mine was with carnitas and his was grilled chicken. The bowls made for a good lunch the next day. The Queen's Lemon Pepper Chicken Sandwich did not have any lemon pepper flavoring that we could taste, but the chicken itself was nicely prepared and not dry. My only complaint is going to be about the seating arrangement. The space itself is not that large so they squeeze in tables everywhere. There are high top tables near the outer parameter and standard four tops towards the back of the wall. The tables are so close together that it is almost impossible to get in and out of the area. When we go back, we all agreed we would get there when they open and just sit at the bar instead of getting a table. Service was good but felt like our server was left working a lot of tables. We didn't sweat it too much as we could see she was trying to hit everyone's table as fast as she could. Except for the seating situation, I would come back here for an outing. They do take reservations on OpenTable, so that is nice, but be aware that your entire party has to be there before they seat you. read more

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Came here for their soft serve margarita and I'd have to say it was just okay. We started with a combo - burrito & a marg for $20 not bad! The burrito was really good - I got al pastor. It was very cheesy & creamy and I always appreciate that. The marg was tasty but didn't really hit like I expected. We moved on to the soft serve margarita which I heard mixed reviews about. As a drinking expert I can tell you that it's pretty much just a fruity soft serve. That's why they give you a shot on the side. It was tasty though! We were super full from our meal & marg though so we barely finished them. I took off another star because they should absolutely open their indoor space on 95 degree weather days. Everyone was on the rooftop burning up! They kept spraying a mister from the roof shingles that went all over us and our food/drinks. Pretty unsanitary if you ask me. read more

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We put Pancho's on our list of fun places to visit while in Chicago and were left very disappointed. The bad experience started with seating process. The hostess was unwilling to put us on a list and said they had reservations back to back all night. She said we could stand by the bar and wait, which we did for about 15 minutes before 3 seats opened up. The tables with the "reserved" signs sat empty the whole time we were there. After sitting, we were able to order food pretty quickly and were told the soft serve margaritas were a 15-20 minute wait. We were seated right by the machine and could see it unattended most of the time - not constantly serving drinks like you would expect for a 20 minute wait. We did finally get our 3 soft serve margaritas and they had no taste of alcohol at all, but were served with a side shot of tequila. All the other drinks being prepared at the bar were pre batched. The food came out before the drinks were ready. We were unsatisfied with our food dishes. The nachos were covered in onions, which was not disclosed on the menu. I paid $20 for a quesadilla with steak in it that included no sides. On the way up to the restaurant, there was a pretty big leak coming from the ceiling that was dripping on customers getting on and off the elevator. Not the best environment overall. read more

Went here for my birthday and I have to say, 10/10 experience! The soft serve ice cream was sooo good I could not stop eating it. I also ordered carne asada fries (not pictured) and they were also extremely good. The service was fast and they even gave me a birthday shot which I honestly was not expecting but it was cute and fun. Definitely need to come back and enjoy the vibes of the rooftop again! read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - espresso martini soft serve - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for the soft serve margarita launch day (4/18). Drinks are strong but lack any real fruit flavor--both the margarita and strawberry Long Island tasted mostly like mix and tequila. Service was slow, but the food was hot and really good. The rooftop vibe and music are a plus, so I'd come back for that. Be prepared--it gets very crowded. The bar area was packed with barely any room to move, which felt like a safety issue. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Soft serve margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of seating. The servers are helpful and the vibes are awesome. There are plenty of seatings both at the bar and along the wall of windows. The music is lively. The views are cool and there are heaters to keep you warm on those cold days. I didn't try any food but the cocktails looked awesome! I got the Tamarindo Cantarito and it tasted like a Mexican candy! Super delicious and aesthetically pleasing for social media! Crazy enough, if you take a pic and share it to Socials and tag Pancho's, you'll get a free shot of tequila! Come check it out and have fun with it! read more

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We went to Pancho's to try the viral soft serve margarita. It was pretty but it was just ice cream and you had to pour a shot into it but it didn't mix until it was fully melted. We did get the carne asada fries which were better than they looked. The service was just poor. They are clearly understaffed. read more

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Food and drinks are really good! The soft serve martinis/margaritas are indeed some of the best drinks I've ever had and truly are ice cream with a decent amount of alcohol. The service isn't the greatest. I've been a few times and the waitresses take about 15 minutes to greet you and don't come by a lot. Other than that I would love less AI imagery in their decorating and the water sprayers can be a little much at times... food is still really good. read more

Drinks are great -- the tamarindo cantarito is sweet and tart with just the right amount of chamoy. The classic cantarito was stronger and a little more acidic / bitter but good nonetheless. Interestingly, when we walked in Spanish music was playing and when we were sat, it immediately stopped. There was an eclectic mix of country music and indie sounds being played. With songs sometimes being cut off in the middle. Pancho's is loud; service was slow the day we visited; and the vibes are by no means traditional. read more

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I was excited to try this place out and was surprised how much I was underwhelmed. Foremost, I was saddened by the fact that a place called Pancho's cantina only carried one mezcal. Even with getting past that the food wasn't good. The guacamole didn't taste fresh at all. I ordered the pastor burrito and asked for it to have rice. There was a miscommunication and when my burrito showed up it had a side of rice and beans. Okay I take a bite and realize there's no rice in my burrito, I flagged the server and she insisted there was rice, when I then open the burrito and say nothing there isn't she literally just looked at me. After sitting for I called her back over and sent the plate back not only wasn't it how I ordered it, its taste wasn't good and I couldn't just muster through it. I don't even feel it makes up in ambiance what it lacked in food and service, bar area is cute but views are not. I walked away thinking I don't think I'd come back. I was hoping for my experience to be great because my wife talks very highly of experiences here from when she previously lived here but maybe that place doesn't exist anymore like it once did: read more

Pros: the happy hour menu is an excellent deal, the margaritas are good, and the soft serve margarita is worth the hype. Cons: This has already been stated here, but the soft serve margarita takes an insanely long time to receive. We waited 1 and a half hours from ordering. Honestly, they should not offer it until they are at a place where they can make these in a reasonable amount of time. Soft serve margarita wait-time aside, our waitress completely disappeared for 45 minutes after we had received the soft serve margarita, and we eventually had to flag down another server who then had to hunt down our waitress in order for us to be able to order to pay. It doesn't appear that customer service is prioritized here. read more

Great happy hour and TV's for the World Series game - Marissa had really good service!

This review is ONLY about the drinks. Waitress was amazing and food was ok. Went here for Mother's Day brunch and there is NO way these big ass drinks had more than a shot in them, if even that. For $15 a piece I should have felt at least something but two in and the group consensus was there was little to no alcohol in there read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Big drinks, nothing but juice... - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our visit started off shaky. We were first in line but somehow seated behind everyone in said line. We were seated in a frigid area and asked for the heaters to be turned on; they obliged for a while then turned them off again. Of course the wait was 15 minutes longer to be served after everyone. We ordered a sangria and peach margarita, guacamole and chips, elote, carne asada tacos dinner, steak fajitas, and churros. When we received our meal, I can't say it made up for the poor service. The standouts were the drinks: the sangria and peach margarita were excellent. The carne asada tacos were also pretty good. Everything else was barely edible. It's a nice place to go for drinks...maybe. read more

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My daughter and I came back for a late evening dinner. The main floor was closed but the rooftop was open. It is enclosed but the large windows were open and it was a bit chilly. We were seated right away despite it being busy on this Friday night. Music was blasting and people were enjoying. She had the carne asada fries which she really liked the first time and I had the taco dinner again but with shrimp this time. Delicious!! They were spicy but very good. $35 for two meals. We were content. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came in and we had to make a reservation but there were plenty of tables around. The girl at the front was really rude. So we made one just 10 minutes later and sat down. We had to ask for the happy hour menu which is all day Sunday but it's mostly drinks. We mostly came here for the soft serve margaritas and I would say it is really really strong and didn't really have much flavor of the strawberry or mango. That's why I give it a 3/5, but if you like a strong drink this might be your go to. Presentation is nice though. I didn't even finish it or rather just took tasted it. The elotes bites was alright it was really tangy. We got sat on a high top and it was cold because the windows are kind of open. read more

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FIRST OFF AMAZON MUSIC!!! I love the rooftop and the spacing! The food was awesome and very delicious!!! Our Server "Nieves" was very attentive and friendly! Please request her when you come in she has your back!! read more

Marissa at Panchos was amazing. She was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. She definitely made our experience enjoyable.

Would not really recommend (dinner). Stopped by on a Saturday night for a quick sit down before heading out for a night in the town. Had to take elevator up to 3rd floor where the main dining area is. It seemed like a chill spot good for casual gatherings. We were sat at one of the high top tables, but here is where it started. From the time we were sat to the time our server first stopped by was 15 minutes. Another staff had to come by and ask us if anybody came and we told her no until our server came. Looking at their menu, they had a moderate variety of options, nothing too much. I ordered the Surf and Turf Burrito (had steak and shrimp), with extra rice (since I don't eat beans). I noticed that the rice was different, not just in the burrito but on the side as well. It was plain, lacked taste, and it affected the burrito as well. I would give it overall a 5.7/10, that green sauce that it came with definitely stole the show, saved the meal if I'm being honest. Our food came out, the server didn't even come out to ask how our food was before going back (and I know what your thinking, it was not as busy when we went, the dining floor was around 60% full and there were 3-4 other servers working as well so it is justified to expect somewhat timely service). Mix that in with sub-mediocre food, this is probably a place I won't be coming back to. Can try it yourself or come to grab some drinks if you want, at your own discretion with the food. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Surf and Turn Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The wings here have no business being this good!! The bone in wings here are insane, they fall off the bone!! And they are made so quick! My favorite sauce ever is the mango habernero from here! It isn't too spicy but is has the perfect kick! The buffalo is also great! Seriously the best wings! I keep coming back every game day! read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - 12 piece bone in Mango habernero and buffalo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I ate here last night and had a wonderful experience! We got there quite late, and starving, after a long day of being tourists and they kept the kitchen open for us. I had an excellent Cantorito in an adorable goblet and my friend had a tasty strawberry no-jito. My Texcoco Tacos were fantastic, and might have been the best tacos I've ever had. They were so flavorful! We also shared some guac and chips that were really good too, and my friend had the barbacoa burrito, which she really enjoyed. The rooftop ambience was lovely with the city lit up at night and the service was very friendly. read more

Pancho's Cantina & Rooftop - Cantorito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

came here for the soft serve margs and they did not disappoint! all their drinks were really good and pretty strong. the interior looked really pretty and was fun vibes. the elevator was a little slow but it's either wait for that or walk up/down 4 flights of stairs. the food wasn't the best especially for the price as it came a bit cold and was pretty salty. id return for the drinks, service, and vibes but i probably wouldn't order food. read more

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Great vibes on a cold night in the Windy City. The roof top setting is amazing. It's a cold winter night but the atmosphere here is fire! The heat was flowing down along side the margs and mojitos. The carne asada burrito was stuffed full of flavorful ingredients and big enough to satisfy this big man's hunger. Paired with a side of the freshest and most flavorful Mexican street corn I have ever had, it absolutely crushed my hunger pangs to death. The food was fantastic and the staff was very attentive. I can't wait to come back here in the warmer months to experience the open air vibes! read more

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The food and margaritas were outstanding. A little sad that they don't have flour tortillas. And we probably won't go back - the music was way too loud. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

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Food was great but honestly terrible service. Experience was not it. We arrived around 10 PM was rushed immediately to put food and drinks. Server barely checked in on us. Lucky an 18% grat was added because he didn't deserve it. Wouldn't recommend sadly, again food wonderful read more