We started with two mezcal cocktails- Ramona and Flor Salvaje. They were the perfect balance of sweet, smokey and citrus/berry. Moving on to appetizers, we tried the empanadas and the taquitos -- delicious! And the salsa tomatillo was so good we got chips to take up the left over sauce. For our main course, we had the Ramona flight of tacos and the mole oaxaqueño. My husband said he hasn't had mole like that since we lived in Texas. The flavors of everything were so deep and rich. Delicious! We can't wait to come back again. We never thought we would see this quality of an authentic Mexican restaurant in Springfield, and we are over the moon that Ramona Tacos + Mezcal is here! Incredible quality of food and service and atmosphere. read more

Let's start by saying I was really excited to try this place and waited too long maybe to try it and it peaked and now is a complete disappointment. Walking in, space is very beautiful and well thought out. I would have only subleased one of the spaces and made it smaller to make sure I have a line out the door. Place was very empty with not many diners and as I sat down and looked at the menu, I see why they are dead. First off, If you are going to rip off Session Taco's business model, follow their pricing and not charge double what they charge, especially when your tacos aren't as good and lack flavor or seasoning. Not the customer's fault you overpaid on rent. That's why you will be closed in the foreseeable future. Hence why they should have made the space half the size. Second, menu is impossible to read and the smallest print in the worst color too. We ordered up some apps, empanadas and the queso fundido. 3 tiny empanadas with less than 1/4 of a teaspoon of filling came out with your typical spicy mayo dip that wasn't memorable. Was more dough than anything on these. Not worth ordering again. Reminding me of bad, overpriced catering food you get at a wedding you are wanting to run from to go eat better food . The "signature" queso fundido was disappointing too. The cheese was almost impossible to scoop and had the consistency of Elmer's glue starting to harden with no flavor. Same with the pico and chorizo on top- no flavor. This was served with stale chips and some flour tortillas on the side. The entrees, I had the pork belly tacos, picture shown. 2 tacos- $19! A lobster taco at session taco is $7 for one taco. If that tells you anything about why I am so disappointed with this experience. Tacos were eh, nothing special and again, lack any real flavor or seasoning. Kosher salt is your friend, Chef.... One friend had a burrito that looked like something you get at a cafeteria and they couldn't even wipe the rim of the plate of the cheese sauce they dropped all over it. So, if you are running an upscale place, wiping the rim takes only a minute and also shows you care about your product and your plate you produced. Not here obviously. Other friend got the flight of tacos that was 4 tacos for $25. Said the best one was the steak, again not sure what they called it and the online menu of course doesn't match the menu they are handing out to diners. Said the other 3 weren't great- said the carnitas were so salty that it was almost inedible. So my tab was $41 and some change for 2 tacos and some bad cheese dip and stale chips. After tip- $50. I really expected more from an upscale place for dinner warranting that price and also for how small the portions are for the price. Good luck to them, won't be returning... read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal stands out immediately for its ambiance, which is easily the highlight of the experience. The space feels cool, stylish, and genuinely unique for Springfield, with a vibe that's modern yet inviting. It's the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger, have another drink, and enjoy the setting, which they've clearly put real thought into. The food, however, was more average than memorable. Nothing was bad by any means, but most dishes landed in the "decent" category rather than something you'd go out of your way to come back for. The flavors were fine and portions reasonable, but they didn't quite match the expectations set by the restaurant's look and concept. Service was acceptable but uneven. Staff were friendly, though attentiveness could have been better, especially during busier moments. With a bit more polish and consistency, the service could match the otherwise strong presentation of the restaurant. Overall, Ramona Tacos + Mezcal is worth visiting for the ambiance alone, especially if you're looking for something visually different and fun in Springfield. If the food and service continue to improve, it has the potential to become a standout spot rather than just a cool place with average execution. read more

See all

Visited with friends on Valentines Day. Nice setup with plenty of tables, romantic lighting and a decent sized bar with additional seating. Chill background music set a mood for a nice meal. Looks like it would be a very bright and vibrant space during daylight hours and during summertime. No complaints about our server. He had excellent timing, was almost always available and kept our drinks filled. Service here is very good and very friendly. They are happy to explain menu items, including some of the history behind them which is awesome. We shared some appetizers which were Abuelitas Empanadas and tostadas and both were tasty and good start to the meal. I had the signature Ramona cocktail made with mezcal and it was really good. I have it every time I visit. My wife had one of the Valentines Day specials which was some kind of cherry martini. It looked good. I had the Baja tacos for my main and honestly, these are the best tacos in Springfield. I imagine the carnitas, Al pastor, birria etc., are probably outstanding too. Tacos aren't all they do well here. Everything on their menu is good. We didn't do any desserts this time... maybe next time. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Springfield area and if you try it I think you'll agree. Highly recommend. read more

See all

A wonderful tribute to grandma Ramona! She'd be proud. Great food, ambience, and service!

I had high hopes going in. We had a large party and not one single person said they would be back. 1. Let's start with food since that is why everyone would come here. Zero flavor. Everyone was looking for things to add to their food to give it some sort of taste. Multiple unfinished plates. Lukewarm queso dip and food. Everyone was shocked at how terrible it was. People went home hungry. 2. Impossible menu. Everyone at the table had to google literally every single item. We eat out a lot, even in multiple countries but this was wild. The online menu doesn't match the in house menu. Two people in our party could have had medical issues if we hadn't googled some of the items. They even asked us about allergies or food people couldn't eat but then let you roll the dice by trying to decipher the menu. 3. Pricing was insane. I don't mind paying for something great or even something good but this was neither. I know they have high west side rent but come on, $20 for a midsize burrito??? I can literally name three other local spots with burritos twice the size, way better flavor and cheaper. 4. Drinks: room temp water with no ice, alcohol with way too much ice(obviously so they can short you on the alcohol)...huge disappointment. 5. read more

Neat establishment, food is decent but overly priced. We had one drink each as a couple and dinner and the bill was $100. I have no problem spending money on dining as we enjoy fine dining, but it needs to be worth it. read more

A delicious dinner, elevated food and experienced wait staff. All around wonderful experience. The cocktails must not be missed. read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Incredible every time. The butter rice is outstanding, and every dish I've ordered has been consistently delicious. Portions are generous, and the drinks are phenomenal. After moving here from Chicago, it's been hard to find restaurants that truly deliver both consistent service and high-quality food--but Ramona does exactly that. The modern interior is beautiful, and the food and drinks more than live up to the aesthetic. It's officially a staple for me. read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

This is absolutely the most incredible Hispanic fine-cuisine within 500 miles! So very delicious!

OMG are we in Springfield? This place is OUTSTANDING! Coming from Austin (tacos) I wasn't expecting to be so blown away. The menu is fresh, creative, and an explosion of flavors. I had the grouper blue corn tacos, and my husband had the flank steak tacos which were unbelievable. The vibe is modern, music was great for a date night, service was prompt & attentive. So happy to have places like this is Springfield. read more

Food was wonderful and they are knowledgeable about GF. Had the queso and guacamole as appetizers. Guac had small chunks of avocado, if you don't like that flavor, but very fresh flavors. We were told by the hostess they had taco or quesadilla w/ rice. Server said they have 2 options for kids: cheese quesadilla w/ cheesy rice and shredded chicken cheesy rice. A little pricey for a kid's plate; $10-$12. Adults had La Gringa, Quesa Birrias, Trikis Tacos, Taquitos Dorados (blue corn hard shell with carnitas and a spicy (for some)), and my personal favorite Birria Pizzita. All fresh flavors. The dough for the pizzita was better than some top pizza joints. Another review referenced delayed response times. It did take a bit to get to order and to get the check, but the ambiance is not a quick hit restaurant. It's for hanging out. Server told us it would be "a few minutes more until we could order". Got the feeling they were trying to manage ticket times. Music is a little loud, but again, it's designed for hanging out. Definitely a must try. We will go back! read more

See all

Our server was knowledgeable and helpful. Loved all the food we ordered!!! Empanadas for appetizers ; then I had the chilies stuffed with cream cheese in taco shells. My hubby had shrimp tacos. The server recommended the corn cake on caramel. That was awesome too. Everything homemade and fresh. We tried the signature Romona cocktail. I saw the charcoal and thought hmmm but what a surprise!!! What a great drink!!! So glad we tried it. Had another with cucumber and it was good too, but the Ramona was the star. Never had anything like it and the mezcal in it reminded us of great memories when we had visited mexico. Very classy place. Loved the beautiful hummingbird mural. We will definitely be back. We feel like we'd like to try everything on their menu! Thanks for a great experience!! Ps ..shout out to the sweet bus boy who recommended the empanadas; he was sooo right haha. read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Chile tacos, shrimp tacos. Ramona ( black) & cucumber mezcal drinks - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Upscale casual with great service, ambiance, and variety, including "trios" samplers, ceviche, and chicken & fish entrees. Only caveat: very noisy prime time. read more

Great food, different from what you might expect. Fine fining Mexican. Great service. Beautiful restaurant. Good for date night. Unusual presentation. read more

Wow. This is the food that Springfield was lacking. Great flavor and amazing looking! Make sure to stop by here; you won't be disappointed!! read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Steak tampiquena - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Best Mexican food I've had in ages. The skirt steak tacos were fantastic and the pulpo tacos were a revelation. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Their story. - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Pleasantly surprised. We came in on a Thursday and sat at the beautiful bar. The ambiance was amazing!!! New, upscale pleasant vibe. We immediately felt welcome as soon as we entered. Drinks were amazing!!!! Food, service and overall presentation were top notch. Such a great addition too the west side. We definitely will frequent this establishment again. read more

See all

Food was excellent. Full of flavor and uniqueness Also the wine cocktail was delish. I hope to return

This was an authentic Mexican experience from the divine food and crafted cocktails to the hospitality. I had the Gobernadores tacos with camarones (shrimp) in a sofrito sauce. The pulpo (octopus) is amazing, give it a try with a Ramona mezcal cocktail. Enjoy the atmosphere and you can be part of la familia. Provecho! read more

The service and the food both surpassed my expectations. Biri was our witness and chefs kiss to her because it made it that much more amazing. We had the shrimp tacos, plum margarita, queso dip and regular beef tacos. Everything was out of this world. Highly recommend !!!! Here's a photo of the flan read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Flan - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

This is different than your typical Mexican restaurant - similar offerings but the food and drinks are elevated for a special experience. Great portions, too, so definitely a great value for your money. The service was great - very kind and helpful with suggestions. Great place to visit for a cozy date night. read more

We came to Ramona Tacos + Mezcal for a late dinner on a Thursday night. It was very busy, but luckily they were able to seat us quickly. The layout and space was very stylish, but still inviting. The service was fast and the server was very friendly and suggested things to try. We ended up getting multiple dishes to share because we couldn't pick just one! We started with the tostadas de atun. The tuna was fresh and seared on the outside and the sauce that was served with it had a little kick. For the entrees, we got the ceviche de grouper, birria de pollo, and el pastorcito. The food came out quick and the plating of the el pastorcito was definitely a surprise! It was like a small version of a pastor trompo. It was a little tough to cut the meat off of the trompo, but the flavor and salsas were great. The birria de pollo's chicken was so juicy and the portion size was huge! We definitely took the rest home that we could not finish. The ceviche de grouper was very refreshing and had good flavor with a little kick also. It was served with tortilla chips. Then we got a dessert to share. The elotito was my favorite thing of the night. It was a small cornbread that was a little savory paired with vanilla ice cream, some caramel corn, and a Dulce de leche tasting like sauce. I almost licked the plate clean, the flavors were so balanced and delicious. We can't wait to come back to try more things on the menu! read more

Ramona Tacos + Mezcal - Tostadas de atun - Mexican Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

See all

Really enjoyed Ramona. The food was the best I've had - especially in Central Illinois. It is spendy for Mexican food but worth it!

Food was amazing but service was awful.... It took so long to order, get drinks filled, and get our check. We even ordered another few more margaritas and they never showed up. Drinks were left unfilled for a long time. It just took so long for everything besides the food. Not sure if we will be back. read more

Upscale Mexican food with new twists to traditional dishes in a comfortable, clean atmosphere.

10 stars for food, bar, service and ambiance! A welcome addition to Springfield dining!

Very new and very crowded, having said that the food was good! The waitress was very apologetic for the time on our food. Again new and loud! read more

Had the BEST server tonight, Biridiana (sp?) Beautiful waitress with fun piercings and stylish attire- she was so welcoming, informative, gave the best recs on drinks and entrees! Will be back again with friends bc of how warm and attentive she was- and also bc the food is amazing!! read more

Love this place. Food is amazing, atmosphere is amazing, service is amazing. Their drink menu is unbeatable.

Went with a large group recently and had great service! The fish tacos have me ready to go back and the strawberry margarita was delicious!

We have been twice. The first time was on a Sunday evening and our reservation was at 7:30. We were seated immediately and told as soon as we sat down that we had to order before 7:45 because the kitchen closed at that time. We barely had time to look at the menu but we did get something ordered. We ordered drinks after the entree. The drinks took quite a while to arrive but they were tasty. Food was excellent but it did seem we had to wait longer than expected given the few people in the restaurant. So we decided to try again on a Saturday night. Reservations were at 7:15. We arrived a little after 7:00 and were asked to wait while they got the table ready- all fine - we were early. We waited a short time and were seated with drink menus only. We sat at least 10 minutes before we had water. Then another 10 or so before we saw a server who took our drink order. She asked if we wanted an appetizer, but we had no food menus. She said she would get them, get our drink order to the bar and be back. Another 10-15 minutes passed and my husband's beer made an appearance. My drink was still being made. We were given food menus and the server left us. About 7:40 we ordered an appetizer- my drink - still not there. Finally about 7:50 we got our appetizer and my drink. Appetizer was delicious and my drink was excellent. However given the time it took to get 2 simple drinks and an appetizer - we were very concerned how late we would be eating an entree. Given the fact that the restaurant is very loud with conversation and incredibly loud music over that. We asked for our check and went elsewhere for entrees. Many of the reviews mention slow service. We want to come back, but until service gets faster, we will wait. read more