Finally and I mean FINALLY I made it to Santoro. Loved Rivera's back in the day and wow last night didn't disappoint. Excellent service. Our server was absolutely amazing and attentive. So friendly. Love the house salsa they give you. Great flavor. but if you are like me and love SPICY then as for the habanero salsa. So good! I had the fajitas trio. (Steak, shrimp and chicken) by far best I've had in Omaha. Also tried the slow roasted pork shank. Wow it's so tender and just falls off bone. The almond mole on it is incredible! Can't wait to come back for more! True Omaha Jem. Only complaint is it is loud. High ceilings makes peoples voices resonate. read more

Santoro - Fajitas trio - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Love that you're able to join the waitlist beforehand. As we were driving I noticed there were 5 people on the waitlist so I added my name, when we got there I checked in at the host stand and at that point we were 2nd to be seated. The space was nicely decorated, but a little smaller than I expected. They don't have a great spot for waiting. You can wait at the bar, though it was full when we were there. Once we got our table the server was friendly and attentive. Ordered Frida's Mezcalita and the Spicy Golosa. Both were good, the Spicy Golosa was a little too spicy for me. We also got the Queso Dip which was also a bit spicy to me, not sure if it was because of the cocktail or not. For our entree we split the Mole Enchiladas. The mole was great, full of flavor with the blend of spices and chocolate. It was the perfect amount to split, we each got an enchilada and shared the rice and beans. Even with a couple of things being on the spicier side everything was delicious and we would come back to try more off of the menu! read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Santoro! Our waitress was wonderful and she took great care of us the entire experience. I love the decor and it's a perfect location! The mural on the wall is absolutely beautiful and I loved the authenticity of each piece of decor. Our food was phenomenal! We all shared the Queso Dip, Guacamole and Salsa. We had the Fajitas, Cowboy Enchiladas, Carne Asada, and Al Pastor Tacos. Looking forward to our next dinner! :) 10/10 read more

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Not your typical Midwest Mexican. Fantastic service. Food is creative, well executed and all around great. Highly recommended. read more

Santoro - Steak tacos - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

Went here on a whim thinking maybe we could get in. Place was very busy. It's basically fairly small with limited seating bar area and no waiting space. The door locks behind you so if you leave to go wait outside or in your car you're kinda sunk. It's all hard surface so it can be very loud. The menu is very intriguing along with a nice selection of cocktails. Food was very flavorful and drinks were good. The waitress was ok, the actual server of our food was very pleasant and smiling. read more

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Santoro is by far the best Mexican food in Omaha! Anytime I come home to visit family I make it a priority to come here. The food is absolutely perfect. I am obsessed with their salsa and enchilada suizas. The service is always great despite how crowded the space can get. I really hope that they open a second location one day somewhere with tons of seating. Overall I can't recommend this spot enough. read more

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I've missed Riveras!! So glad to see Jesus Rivera's food back on a menu! The wait right now is no joke since it just opened but I'll be honest -- the food is worth it. The starting salsa alone is so spicy and yummy. I forgot how good it was! Delicious margs as expected. And the entrees didn't miss! Just so good with a nice heat. My only complaint is the noise level indoors. We were lucky to be seated outdoors on a beautiful evening but the inside is incredibly loud. I'd still deal with it to eat there again but a heads up to anyone who might have an issue with loud spaces. Also the fact that they have a patio is so amazing. Drinking their margs outdoors was a treat! read more

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Worth the wait! Seated at the bar with chips, salsa, queso, and margs that were excellent. After being seated at the table, enchiladas supremas and enchiladas suizas that were unbeatable. Will absolutely be back again. read more

Santoro - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Came here on a TUESDAY after 7pm and this place is PACKED. We were quoted a 30 min wait, it was maybe 15 min. To answer the question everyone is asking, yes, they serve you chips and salsa right away. And yes, it's the good chips! But forewarning the salsa is a bit spicy. I normally don't do spice, but this is tolerable (but I don't know if a kid could handle it). We did the queso with chorizo, it's so good, but spicier than the salsa. Had the GOAT margarita and I 100% recommend it (yes it is strong). The staff is great, she knew the kitchen was busy, so told us to let her know as soon as we're ready, which is very considerate of her. The aesthetics and especially the mural are beautiful. This is a brand new restaurant, so do they have some kinks? Yes. Is that normal? Yes. Have I already decided we're coming back? Yes, but we'll probably make a reservation! read more

Excellent margaritas, unique house salsa, and a carne asada to die for. That plus a gem of a server made an excellent impression on these first-timers. The ambience is interesting: it's far better than it should be. This is basically a split-level restaurant in a strip mall. Which is not normally a statement that inspires. But somehow they've made it work. You walk in, then immediately walk down, and somehow quickly get the impression that you're going someplace cool. Which you are. Maybe it's the wall of tequilas/mezcals, maybe it's the people at the bar, but something says you're going to like this. Simply put, had we not been driving we would've enjoyed a lot more time and a lot more margaritas. Delicious! read more

Aieeee! My favorite Mexican restaurant in Omaha was Rivera's which closed due to a fire. It has been reincarnated as Santoro. It's not easy to find - but it's gonna be very hard to miss. Spousal Unit and I took Favorite Daughter and the grandkiddies for dinner. Santoro opens its doors at 4pm, and when we arrived at 5pm there was an hour wait for a table in the dining room. We opted for the patio - a bold choice given the 96 degree temp. It was worth it. I ordered Mayan Chamorro (pork shanks marinated in chintextle spices, beer braised, and finished with an almond mole sauce). It was outstanding, and way too much for me to finish. (It was equally outstanding for breakfast the next day!). SU and the kiddies ordered - and devoured - street tacos with beef and Guacomole Casero with hot fresh tortillas. Favorite Daughter scarfed up Enchiladas Suiza. There was nary a crumb to be found. I'm so happy this place has reopened. It offers mole sauces that I've never found anywhere else, and the people are amazing. Please, please stay away so I can keep Santoro all to myself! read more

First time trying this place and I can with 100% certainty say that I will be back. Highly recommended for both food and service. We had the nights' special which were the nachos as an appetizer. Followed by the enchiladas suizas and the carne asada entree...every dish was as delicious as the next. However, I will say one thing... I am a huge fan of a good Elote or Esquite, but unfortunately I will say that the Elote fell short on the delish scale. Presentation was beautiful but it was definitely missing the lime, and the corns texture tasted as if the cob had been sitting in water for much longer than the usual. Overall I will say that we will be back as the main dishes did not disappoint. The service was friendly and very welcoming. Thank you to Mia the great service and recommendations. read more

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My wife and i decided to try Santorini for dinner on Tuesday . We were seated right away. The restaurant was very clean and upscale. Very nice. We placed or drink orders. The menu had many of the same dishes liked from the old Riveras restaurant . I ordered the cazula Norte and my wife ordered the chipilo enchiladas and a side of Mexican street corn. My dish was as tasty as i remember from Riveras. My wife's enchiladas were excellent. The portion sizes were large enough for two people to share. We were disappointed in the street corn. The flavor was good but the corn was mushy like it was previously frozen . Overall it was a good meal. We look forward to returning read more

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Had the ribeye street tacos, by far the best tacos I've had. The chorizo fundido was an amazing appetizer to start off with and their churros were hot and fresh with ice cream to pair with. read more

Santoro - Ribeye street tacos - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

You could just "go out to eat," at Santoro, but that wouldn't be doing it justice. It's an experience. Not a loud, flashy show with no substance behind it but real food that - from what I saw - draws the crowds we've seen for Chef Rivera in the past. I came in at 3:59pm Friday with a line of people in front of me. I sat at the bar and ordered a drink, an entree, and a side, and I took in what was happening around me. It was everything we've been missing for the last couple years. The service was great even at a busy bar. The food was incredible - little has changed in that regard. You think after so long it can't possibly live up to the memory, but I'm here to tell you - it's even better. I could keep going, but to summarize - there's nothing else like it for Mexican food in Omaha. They don't take reservations and fill up fast. Grab a drink; it's worth the wait. (For some reason, Google currently says it's cash only - it is not. They take cards.) read more

Santoro - Enchiladas Suizas & Street Corn - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Overall this is excellent food and I would come back, however the ambiance of the restaurant definitely needs some work and the service seemed a bit flustered. It was extremely loud so much so my watch alerted me to extreme noise exposure. This made it difficult for the server to hear and ended up causing a miscommunication with the server and our second app wasn't ordered which ended up being okay but not the intended result. I do appreciate that they were able to modify my street tacos for my allergies so that was nice. The street tacos were incredible and the margaritas were tasty. I wish the noise level hadn't been so loud cause I would have loved to relax for a dessert but was overstimulated and needed to leave. Our food orders took a fair amount of time to be taken and water was never refilled but I'll give them another chance to get a 5 from me as the food was incredible! read more

Was excited to try a 'Good' Mexican restaurant in Omaha upon moving back. I tried the spicy margarita. It was ok. Moderately spicy. You could tell they tried but it was maybe a 3 on the spicy scale. All the margaritas are apparently premixed and service is quick as a result. Tried the steak Aquachile for a healthy choice - No Rice No Beans No Tortillas just protein. It arrived and looked absolutely fabulous. It had one Chile on the Menu warning you that it was spicy but... Same as the margarita. Not really spicy. The chilis had absolutely no flavor. The meat was fatty and tough. It was confusing because it was charred nicely but several pieces were pretty much completely raw. To the point I didn't finish it. In addition it was served absolutely cold which I didn't expect for a charbroiled meat dish. I was asked how it was and 8 commented that it was undercooked and served completely cold. I didn't even get a opportunity to point out the lack of spice or toughness when I was informed that was how it's supposed to be because it's 'Lime Marinated.' Olin confusion I actually googled lime marinated steak thinking maybe I had missed something in my restaurant experiences and this was some sort of meat ceviche. Google said this: Properly cooking Mexican meat marinated in lime juice--such as Carne Asada or Pollo Asado--requires a balance between achieving a deep, acidic marinade flavor and preventing the acid from turning the meat mushy or tough. The key is to use lime for flavor, often balanced with oil and other citrus, and to cook it over high heat for a charred exterior. Mine was tough and cold. I'm going to have to go with a good old plain not good. Also... Expensive... One appetizer and one margarita was $35 plus tip. Dinner would set you back $60 or so with an entree and a couple of drinks . I'll save my Mexican experience for LA if this is what I get here in Omaha. Disappointed. read more

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The Cazuela (I think I got close on the spelling) was AMAZING! The service was absolutely wonderful! Jenesy was quick, kind, attentive and friendly!!! read more

The food was amazing. They are trying to be upscale Mexican and they are definitely meeting the criteria for food. My only criticism is literally the tables and chairs. I felt like we were seated in a cheap Mexican place but served this amazing upscale Mexican food. Still would come here again. read more

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Hesitated to make this review as I don't like to be negative. Was very excited to try Santoro's as we loved Riveras before they closed and read lots of great reviews. We ordered the Chili Rellenos and Enchiladas Rancheros. The entrees were very good, but the price of $28 and $27 respectively was excessive. The place beautiful and modern but the acoustics set my apple sound alarm off several times and this was a Wednesday night. Staff efficient. Overall good but overpriced. read more

Santoro - Chili Rellenos and Enchilada Rancheros. - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

I was so excited to visit Santoro. I was a huge fan of Riveras end devastated when they closed. I was happy to see a few of the old menu items. They were just as good as I remembered. I wish they still made the chicken Laredo! That was my favorite dish. The seafood and enchiladas were out of this world. The customer service was great and the place was cute. We will definitely be back. read more

Santoro is 10/10! Best authentic mexican food in town! Great drinks and amazing food. We came as a table of 8 and had wonderful service and waiter. We came in the summer and the outdoor patio area was great! read more

Santoro - Verano Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Food was amazing. The weight staff is very attentive, friendly, and efficient. It also seems pricey but they are going for upper scale to the Mexican food we know. But I won't go back. The noise level is too much. We originally had a seat in the main inside room, but thank goodness a table opened up outside and we moved. There is no way we could have enjoyed our meal sitting in that room. They really need to put some baffles on the ceiling or something because the noise level is Excruciating! Please, please talk to your architect or whoever and make some changes in your dining room. read more

Food was OK but expensive for Omaha to just be OK. Everything seemed to have a little extra oil added to it, from the guacamole to the enchiladas suizas. I was excited to find mole on the menu, but it lacked a depth of chocolate and chile flavor and just tasted of salt and grease. Excelled service and the churros were bright spots but otherwise, eh. Won't be back. read more

A friend treated me to Santoro for my Birthday dinner. It was my first time and I loved it!! We sat at the bar and Brenda was our bartender. She was very polite and knowledgeable about the menu. We both enjoyed delicious margaritas and the Chorizo Fundido for our appetizer. We had the street tacos with al pastor. It was ALL SO DELICIOUS We will be returning soon!! read more

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Food was absolutely delicious the best mexican food in Omaha! The Marquerita was wonderful also. Excellent service and great atmosphere. Would highly recommend trying this restaurant for fresh wonderful food. read more

Jesus Ventura's new restaurant is wonderful. Santoro"s has an upscale atmosphere from the previous place, with an entire glass wall of unique tequilas behind the bar. Seating is comfortable and spacious. You'll find a lot of old favorites in the menu, most with an updated twist which makes them both familiar and new at the same time. Generous portions are standard, especially the appetizers, with huge shrimp and big bowls of Guacamole or cheso. Entrees are well proportioned and delicious. Everything seems to have a little more heat than I remember, but flavors are rich and delicious. The variety of margaritas is wonderful, with a straightforward, one called Verano, up to a spicy jalapeño infused one that you have to sip to enjoy. A wide selection of beers and other drinks as well. If there were two improvements, I could suggest, the night that we were there, the staff seemed a little overwhelmed. They could've used an extra hand behind the bar to handle more of the drink orders I thought. Second, the open ceiling to the concrete rafters doesn't offer a lot of sound damning, so the noise of the crowd can get pretty loud. It's a great atmosphere, but it isn't super quiet. We will certainly be back again and maybe come a little bit earlier than 6 o'clock on a Friday, because by then the wait for a table was an hour and a half! Thank goodness we were able to get drinks from the bar and eventually get a seat at the bar, which got us some food a lot quicker. Thanks for coming back into business, Mr. Ventura! read more

The margarita selection is diverse and absolutely fantastic. The food was plentiful and was very unique with great seasoning. A little pricey but it is not your typical Mexican restaurant. A must try if you like this type of food and want an upscale experience in a casual setting. I also saw the owner/chef come out and personally interact with customers. Class act! read more

Soooo good! Loved the suiza enchiladas and the carne asada. I've been going once a week lately. read more

Santoro - Carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

This place is One of a kind. Everything was heavenly. Perfect spot for date night. We had such a wonderful dinner. The service was top notch! You have to order flan to go for a midnight snack. Pure Perfection. read more

Santoro - Two epic appetizers to start! - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Fantastic Mole Enchiladas, would highly recommend. Service was good, a little loud in there but great drinks made it all work. read more

Santoro - Mole Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in town. Great steak. Amazing margaritas.

The margaritas are seriously the Goat! We met the owner. He told me they make jalapeño margaritas too fresh every day. He gave me a taste and the is what I'll be ordering next visit. We had the queso. It was the best I've ever had. We also had the street tacos and I mean I thought I was sitting in the grandmas kitchen. I can't believe how wonderful they were. We asked for a side of beans and rice and they were the real deal. This is seriously the best restaurant!! You must try. Bring your wallet because it's not inexpensive but so worth every penny. It was like we were in the southwest. The business is sunken which makes for a unique experience. The salsa was like nothing I've ever tasted. They don't scrimp on seriously great ingredients. This is your go to place if you want authenticity. read more

As a 15 year Rivera's patron I patiently awaited the opening of Santoro. Jesus always brings the flavor. I've yet to find a Mexican restaurant in the U.S. that combines unique Mexican cuisine with spice in a way that isn't overwhelming (unless you order the Diablo enchiladas lol). It doesn't come without a wait, but it's worth every moment. The mango margaritas are the best I've ever had, which helps ease the 40 minute wait on Friday and Saturdays. I've heard a few folks mention the prices. Yes, it's at the top end of the spectrum for its category, but for the quality of ingredients and dining experience- worth the spend. You also have to take into account the new location and heavily upgraded interior. If you have a party of two, you can usually squeeze into the bar within 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, the patio was closed due to rain but we look forward to eating out there this summer. This was our second visit since the opening and we'll be back each week. Service was amazing as always. I got the enchiladas rancheros, which are a combo of steak and chorizo and covered in their verde salsa. If you like spice, I highly recommend. If not, maybe get an extra side of sour cream sauce. My wife is trying to adapt to my love of spicy food and they were slightly too much last time we were in. She still loved them. The rice and beans are the best in the game. My wife got the enchiladas Supremas which are the new version of the old Robbie's seafood enchiladas that were on the Rivera's menu. 9.5/10. The creamy white mole sauce could have been a tad bit thicker, but the quality & quantity of shrimp and lobster meets the price tag. Mole is not my thing and these were phenomenal. Not pictured, we had the cheese dip and dolce de leche flan. Cheese dips just like the old Rivera's you are used to- nice level of spice, ideal saltiness and a perfect amount of pico de gallo on top to add a hint of onion and garlic to each bite. read more

Santoro - Enchiladas Rancheros - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Jesus has done it again, but even better! The ambiance was warm & inviting. We even felt like a King & Queen with the attention bestowed upon us by none other than Chef Rivera himself. All that aside...the food. OMG it was so delightful! My husband ordered the enchilada suizas & loved it. I ordered the special, which was short rib enchiladas with a guava-mole sauce, and garlic cream. It absolutely melted in my mouth! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Awe and shock! Went here with my brother for what I thought would be a low key Mexican food evening. The prices were a bit more than expected 20$ + but worth every penny! Amazing cocktails. I had the galasco margarita (spicy) and my bro had a beer. I ordered the chipolio enchiladas and my brother ordered the mole enchiladas and we spilt guacamole. Food was clean, elevated and like no other Mexican food we have had in Omaha. We ordered a couple more beers. Fantastic service and fun atmosphere. Total bill was around $100 but worth every penny. Can't wait to put this spot into my rotation! read more

Absolutely amazing, the owner is always here. pin pointed, healthy servings, extremely rich. High quality foood. read more

It takes a lot for me to leave a 1-star review, but here it goes. Walking down into the basement, we were greeted by one beautifully painted mural... and three unfinished walls. Still, we were excited--mainly for the shrimp alambres and margaritas we used to love at Riveras. After sitting down, we had to ask multiple times just to place our order. We finally ordered shrimp alambres, fajitas to share, guacamole, and a round of margaritas. While waiting (with only one other table occupied and at least five employees standing behind the bar), we had to ask again for chips and salsa. When we asked for another margarita, only my husband got one--not me. The fajitas were the saddest-looking we've ever seen, though to be fair, they tasted decent. Still, halfway through dinner--while I was literally sharing my husband's margarita--they came by to ask if we wanted to-go boxes, then dropped the check before we were even finished. At this point, only one more table had come in, so it wasn't as though they were slammed. For a $115 check, we at least expected the chance to sit and enjoy our meal. Instead, we left disappointed with the entire experience. The only highlight was that the shrimp alambres tasted like the original recipe. Everything else? A huge letdown. read more

This place is awesome. I have been here three times and each time is better than the last. Try the mayan chamorro. read more

Santoro - Mayan Chamorro and carne asada. - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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Everything is authentic and good. Knows how to put out welcome mat. Costs are reasonable.