Well, this was my original review from a visit years back:
I eat here once a year when the Bronx Arts Ensemble does its yearly Memorial Day concert across the street in Van Cortlandt Park.Wish I lived closer, I'd eat here every month! I love good 'ol Tex-Mex food and this place does a really good job with it.
Along with Mexican seafood specialties, they serve all of the familiar Tex-Mex favorites, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, nachos... you get the idea, but Santa Fe seems to do it just a bit better than your average Tex-Mex. Also they give you a major pile for an average or below average price. Even the usual "filler sides" of refrieds and Mexican rice that come with the entrees are a stand out here. I like the Burrito Colorado which is a massive burrito smothered with a chunky tasty red enchilada sauce, covered with just enough cheese and then put under the broiler until browned and bubbling. Their free chips and salsa are also above average. Also, the oversized pitchers of Dos Equis here are good and cheap.
The people who run Santa Fe are really nice too. They always let us in a half hour before they open because they know our rehearsal has just let out and we need to get in and hurry up and eat, before the concert starts. They even opened up special once to serve us when their water went out and they were going to otherwise close down for the day. The service is always relaxedly friendly and low key, yet efficient. How do they do that?
Writing this is making me want Memorial Day to hurry the heck up and get here so I can go back. Oh, WTF - I might just go ahead and make a special trip! Me need smothered burrito & Mexican beer!
In reality, 4.5 stars.
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Revised review:
My, how things have changed here! I walked in, sat with my people and ordered a XX beer. The waitress tapped me a warm one and it was about one third beer and two thirds foam. I asked, "Is there supposed to be this much foam?'. She answered yes, the beer will come up. I was skeptical so I waited for the beer to "come up". It did not. The foam came down to where I had a third of a glass of $4 beer. I called her attention to this and swore I had not yet taken one sip. She then huffed and went to the tap and attempted to pour the rest of my beer. I had to go over and SHOW her how to tap one. She still failed and gave me a 2/3 full beer. I Iet it slide because time was tight. Another from the table ordered a Campari and soda. She said they had no Campari. So one more of my party had to get up and show her where the Campari was on the bar. She eventually made it, but the drink sat on the end of the bar for the next hour without ever being served.
The meal I received was not at all like the former ones I was used to. The burrito was about as thick as a cigar, the beans were a watery puddle and the rice was as dry as gravel. All tasted nuked.
To top it off, the lame waitress insisted I her tip in cash, even though I was paying for five people with a card. I wanted to leave the tip on the card, but she argued with me for a good twenty minutes, almost making me late for work. She even suggested that I was somehow trying to STEAL from her! I ended up leaving her 15% in cash rather than the 23% I would have given her on my card.
From the name on my charge slip, her name is Delfina. Needless to say, I won't be coming back here again and I'd advise you all not to either. If you mistakenly do, ask for anyone BUT Delfina!
This place has gone the way of the dogs from my original 4 star review and is not worth visiting. Please - steer clear of Santa Fe Grill! read more