To be honest, I didn't really have high expectations for Painted Burro. I mean, come on. With Felipe's just around the corner, the thought of venturing elsewhere felt almost unnecessary. But given that work was covering the tab, I was more than happy to indulge. To start off, the food was de-light-ful. For appetizers, we ordered the elotes, chips with guac and salsa, and some roasted potatoes. These were all fine--nothing particularly fancy--but I did really like the potatoes. We then ordered some drinks, which I admittedly don't remember very well... we may have partied a little too hard. Despite the hungover amnesia, though, the clear winner was the Coconut Passionfruit. If I remember correctly, it tasted almost like an alcoholic cream soda, and it was by far the table's favorite. One of my coworkers ordered it first and let us all try it, and suffice it to say, we were hooked. The whole table eventually ended up ordering a round. Now, since the tab was covered, I decided to go all out and order three fish tacos AND the Fajitas Clásicas. Was this excessive? Yes.... Did that stop me? Absolutely not. The Fajitas Clásicas were massive (easily enough food for two people!) That said, looking back, I was a little underwhelmed by the actual variety of meats. Between the steak, chicken, and shrimp, nothing really stood out. The steak was okay, the chicken was a little dry, and the shrimp... well, I gave the two pieces they gave me to my friend. I eventually turned my attention back to the fish tacos, which were thankfully very yummy and probably the better choice. Now onto dessert! If you come here for nothing else, come for either the churros or the tres leches. Some of my coworkers found the tres leches a little too sweet, but I absolutely loved how creamy and indulgent it was. The churros were also delicious. I didn't love the chocolate sauce quite as much, so I ended up dipping them into the ice cream instead, which I personally thought was much better. Suffice it to say, you really can't go wrong with either. Overall, Painted Burro pleasantly surprised me. Not everything was a standout, and I'd probably skip the fajitas next time, but the drinks, fish tacos, and especially the desserts made for a very fun meal. Would I abandon Felipe's? Lol no. But if work is paying again, you'll probably find me back here with another Coconut Passionfruit in hand. read more

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Always a good time visiting the Painted Burro! There's an array of items on the menu from food to drinks so there's something for everyone. I ordered the chicken chimichanga and found it to be flavorful and filling enough to have leftovers. The sauce was creamy with a hint of tomato that balanced out with the guacamole really well. We also ordered tacos and chicken fajitas. The fajitas particularly looked really fresh and again had a large serving size. They also have good list of margaritas to choose from. The servers were all very friendly and accommodating- one even tried to fix our wobbly table for us. We chose to sit outside which was lovely with seating that had shaded options. The inside is also nice with extensive seating options as well. This place is a fan favorite when youre not sure exactly what you want to eat but know you want something tasty. read more

If you love brunch, Painted Burro is a must! The all-you-can-eat, bottomless brunch is a fantastic way to sample a little bit of everything. We definitely had big eyes and wanted to try it all, but the service is so quick that it's best to pace yourself. The Palomas were refreshing, and the skinny margaritas were perfectly balanced, not too sweet. The bright, lively atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. Great food, great drinks, and a fun vibe. We can't wait to come back! Service is friendly n courteous. read more

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We can't believe how perfect the Paint Burro was as the venue for our wedding reception. We rented out the whole restaurant, expecting a simple do-most-of-it-ourselves type of reception given that we weren't using a wedding planner, nor were we going crazy with big ticket wedding items like DJ, Photographer etc. We wanted the day to be special, but were willing to be creative to control the insane cost of the modern wedding. So when we approached Bridget Tivnan and her team about having our reception here, our expectations were modest to say the least. We had no idea the generosity, thoughtfulness, open mindedness, and hard work that this place was going to offer to make our day beyond special for us and our guests. A special shout out especially to Bridget and Sam who went above and beyond both leading up-to and on the day to make the event perfect. From the beginning, Bridget helped us to envision a set up that went beyond our our own plans, without going beyond our budget--allowing us to reserve the entire restaurant for our event at a reasonable price. She was incredibly accommodating and excited to make our day special, working within our parameters to ensuring we had enough space for our guests, a dance floor custom bar, and a buffet table. She and Sam, the restaurant manager, also supported a surprise musical performance I had planned for my wife, allowing us to store instruments and practice the night before. When the rehearsal ran VERY late night before the big day, Sam stayed very late with me, without complaint or pressure to wrap up and even making me a nice night cap without me asking for it, when I'm sure he was eager to get home. All this ensured we were all set for the big day. On the day of the event, the team set up speakers so we could broadcast our own Spotify playlist throughout the venue and the outdoor courtyard, which doubled as our dance floor. Sam was on hand to help trouble shoot technical issues and even offered to let us use his phone for the night at one point in case we couldn't resolve to a connectivity issue. They transformed the other rooms into a dining space and a bar area, and even created a makeshift outdoor bar. The food was phenomenal. They not only met all our menu requests but also crafted an alternative menu to accommodate numerous allergies and dietary restrictions. They even provided a special kids' menu at no extra charge, which was a huge hit with the little ones. All of our friends and relatives still talk about how much they loved all the food that day and we know many of them have been back since! Bridget, Sam and the great service people made sure we, the newlyweds, got to taste all the appetizers by bringing us a special tasting plate while we mingled with guests. They ensured we got to enjoy our meal and coordinated the cake cutting seamlessly. The attention to detail and personal touches were extraordinary. They also brought my wife and I fresh plates of dinner when they realized we had been chatting with guests throughout most of the dinner portion of the evening. The highlight of the evening was the surprise band performance, which brought the house down and filled the room with joy. None of this would have been possible without their support and flexibility and willingness to accommodate our outside the box ideas. They accommodated every request, from custom drinks at the outdoor bar to delicious mocktails for our pregnant guests. They even helped with the décor, setting up flowers and family photos, transforming the restaurant into a beautiful, intimate space. Despite being a Mexican restaurant, the atmosphere felt swanky and luxurious. We can't thank Bridget, Sam, the cooks, service folks, bartenders and the entire staff enough. They turned our wedding into an amazing event and created memories we will be able to enjoy and talk about for a long long time. If you're looking for a place that offers exceptional service, delicious food, and a team that truly cares, look no further. read more

If tacos are your love language, the Painted Burro speaks it fluently. I came for Mucho Monday, which offers $29 all-you-can-eat tacos, and left completely impressed (and full). It's not just a gimmick. The tacos are genuinely creative, flavorful, and made with care. I tried almost the entire lineup, skipping only the chicken and cauliflower. Here are my top picks: The birria taco: rich, tender, and served with habanero/tomatillo salsa. The blackened mahi mahi: smoky, citrusy, and super fresh. The gulf shrimp taco: perfectly balance with a sweet and spicy mango habanero salsa that had me reaching for seconds. The vibe is casual and fun, with great service that keeps the tacos coming without making you feel rushed or awkward (yes, I went back for more than one round). It's the kind of place that's perfect for a low-key dinner with friends or a chill date night. I'll definitely be back. Mondays just got way more exciting! read more

The Painted Burro - Mucho Monday All-You-Can-Eat Tacos! - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

A ordered the Burro Salad with grilled chicken and it was delicious. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the lettuce was crisp and the veggies were fresh. The Painted Burro is a favorite place for great margaritas, too. read more

The Painted Burro - Burro Salad with tomatillo vinaigrette and grilled chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Our friends took us here for brunch and the food was out of this world. The four of us put in reservations in advance and we were promptly seated. We quickly got started on our bottomless brunch options and had delicious tacos, eggs benedict, potatoes, cauliflower and more. Everything was so good. We left full and a bit tipsy. Service was good- there were a few times we had to flag down staff but given the crowd of the day I was incredibly satisfied with service and I would come here often if I were a local. read more

The Painted Burro - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great spot for brunch nachos and a marg! They do an AYCE option for brunch but it's optional. Very clean location and wasn't too busy which was nice. Lovely service as well. read more

If you're looking for a brunch that brings flavor and a vibe, The Painted Burro in Somerville is the spot. Their bottomless brunch is the perfect mix of bold dishes, strong drinks, and laid-back energy that makes you want to stay way past your last mimosa. The menu is stacked with creative twists on brunch favorites--churro pancakes, spicy breakfast tacos, and flavorful huevos rancheros that hit every time. The portions are solid, the cocktails are flowing, and the staff keeps the energy high and the glasses full. The space itself is colorful, cool, and full of personality. Whether you're with friends, your partner, or just there to treat yourself, it's one of those places that instantly feels like a good time. The vibe is lively but not overwhelming--just enough buzz to feel like you're in the right place at the right time. The Painted Burro knows how to do brunch right. Come hungry, bring good company, and prepare to leave full, happy, and maybe just a little tipsy. read more

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Very small intimate location. Bottomless brunch was amazing. Love French toast and eggs Benedict. Cauliflower potatoes and Brussels sprouts were tasty. Lychee refresher was so nice. Staff was friendly and attended to all tables on busy day. Not very spicy which I love. Loved they give tattoos at the end. read more

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Ambiance: Came for the bottomless brunch on a Sunday with a friend and sat outside. The outdoor area is not well covered so be warned on sunny days. Service: decent. It was weirdly difficult to get anyone's attention at the beginning, but once they got our orders, they were attentive and returned for additional orders. No notes! Food: cost to quantity of food for non-college students was satisfactory. We had about 4 rounds of tacos and appetizers, and walked away content. The flavor was okay, however. Most of the food was disappointedly bland and unremarkable. read more

Wonderful option in Davis Square - great for an outdoor meetup! I stopped here with a friend to catch up and we were delighted by the size of the "extra large" cocktails at a reasonable price and great flavor. I was able to get a mezcalita which is one of my favorites and it was refreshing, well balanced and not too sweet! The staff are incredibly light hearted and kind, the atmosphere friendly and casual and the seating options diverse and comfortable. I'll definitely be back for Mezcalitas - for foods there were some very tasty options like ceviche, fried Brussels and chips but all a little too firey for my stomach! read more

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Good food near Harvard. Outdoor and indoor Food:4/5 Nice menu with both spicy and non-spicy options. We enjoyed the fajitas, the tacos, the appetizers and the beverages. There are both many varieties of margaritas-both multiple alcohol and one non-alcohol version. As well as two other non-alcohol drinks. Large beer and wine list. Service: service was excellent Julie waited in the outside tables and checked on us often Location -very convenient to Harvard. Street parking available-and one all-day parking lot for $45. Facility -Nice clean cheery interior. Outdoor tables on the sidewalk between the busy street and the busy sidewalk. Pleasant evening site. read more

After attending this past year's honk fest in Somerville we decided to try this place right down the street off davis square. The place had good seating and a very nice layout with an interesting fun atmosphere. We were seated and immediately served a delicious complimentary chips and salsa that kept coming once we ate them all. The food here comes with large portions and with very tasty and deep flavor. There are so many great options on the menu and the stuff we ordered was extremely good and filling with great prices. Overall I highly recommend this place and will be returning for some authentic Mexican food! read more

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Great food, drinks, service and ambiance. Family friendly. The bottomless brunch is the best option. I'd definitely go again. read more

We came here for some drinks to socialize over during the weekend. They had a nice drink menu with some great sounding options. Thankfully we made a good choice - 3 guava spritzes please! They were soooo tasty and even aesthetic! Perfect choice :) good place to meet up with friends/family and even for dates. read more

The Painted Burro - Guava spritzes - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I went for bottomless brunch with two friends and had a lovely time! Overall, we felt the $25 was well worth the variety of choices we had. I think maybe 3-4 people is the best group size to share the tapas plates so you can order more. The service was friendly and quick, though they did forget our kale salad, so we had to ask again. We ordered a lot of different things. Our favorites included the chilaquiles, kale salad, and French toast. We enjoyed the corn, papas bravadas, and various tacos as well. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Came here with some friends for bottomless brunch. Every dish we ordered was insanely delicious and packed with flavor. My personal favorite was the chicken milanesa torta. The music in the restaurant was very upbeat, groovy, and had us dancing in our seats. The service could have been a lot better. When waiting to order more food, I had to yell "EXCUSE ME" very loudly to get a waiter's attention. Aside from that little mishap, I highly recommend this place, especially for bottomless brunch. read more

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The food and service here is incredible! We love coming here for a few drinks and apps. The vibes are great if you're looking for a casual date night. Check out our foodie instagram for more: @flavorofthetaste read more

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Be warned during brunch each order takes a really long time (we had to wait 45 minutes for some tacos) and customers are treated like they are at a cafeteria (ie little to no actual service). It seems their business strategy is to charge US $18 then take a very long time with each order so the customer can't really eat that much. read more

I don't have any real gripes about the Painted Burro. The food is well-executed, the dining and bar space is very well spaced and decorated, and the service is usually VERY good. They also have a great outdoor patio space during the warm months and it's great to have a meal outside and bring your dog to enjoy the nice weather and meal with you! My favorite dishes are strangely in the appetizer section and include the street corn, the yuca fries, chips and guac/salsa, and the singular tacos. I will say the tacos are a bit pricey for what you get (in my opinion), but they are indeed delicious. The drinks also appear to be one of the main draws, and I can confirm as a happy hour spot alone... it is probably a 5-star experience since the apps and drinks are appropriately priced (and even cheaper during happy hours). The reason my review yields 4 stars is purely based on the price point/value proposition. I'm not sure I feel that the prices are as good as other similar restaurants in the area or in the Mexican cuisine space. If the prices don't bother you at first glance, I can't recommend TPB enough. read more

Yummy all you can eat brunch on the weekends! Great cocktails and portions are nice as well. Speedy service and fresh ingredients. May be just me but sometimes when I'm walking in there's a slight smell of gas, not sure why...otherwise great! read more

Great service, good food & selection, good veg options. Biggest complaint is portion size, I feel like the tacos are tiny for the price you pay (though they are delicious). I have had an experience where it was way too loud in there for a 4+ party to be able to hear each other. Not at the top of the list when picking a place to eat in Davis but also nothing would stop be me from recommending it as a good option read more

What a unique spot to get some tasty Mexican food! Perfect spot for a date night or meet up with friends. Plenty of seating and excellent service. The waitress was very attentive to our table and was very accommodating. The food was amazing and portions exceeded expectations. Would definitely recommend to others and come back myself. read more

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We came here after seeing a show at ART on a Wednesday night and we were seated right away. They have completely renovated the space since it was Border Cafe and it is gorgeous! It has an upscale vibe and is artistically decorated with beautiful tile and patterns. We wanted a light meal and cocktails and it was the prefect place. Tacos were $5 each and there were many delicious options. The cocktails were creative but my Basil Margarita had a sage leaf in it. Hmmm. Still good. We tried the churros to finish up. They didn't taste very fresh and were completely caked with ciinnamon sugar. Chocolate sauce was meh. Our server was very attentive - overall it was a great night. I'm telling my friends to try it out. read more

The Painted Burro - Beautiful bar - everything is displayed nicely. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

A friend invited me to lunch with a family and friends who had lunch here a few weeks ago. It was wonderful. We had eight people (they called ahead) and the staff accommodated us even though we had a last minute addition to our group. The wait staff was on the ball and very helpful with all our questions and requests; they were professional, knowledgeable and knew their menu and food! We each ordered a dish and we shared among the group. The chicken dishes (we ordered chimichanga and tacos) were all delish and the rice dishes were stunning - cooked just right and plenty of flavor and perfect texture. I look forward to coming back here! read more

If you want mexican in Somerville, Painted Burro is your place! Great portions at a good price. Amazing flavor combinations. Very good service. read more

The Painted Burro - Great food with a bunch of flavor combinations. Pretty large portions that are hard to find for Somerville price. Couldn't finish it all. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Delicious food, amazing service, margaritas are a must! One of the gems of Davis square!

One of my favorite spots to grab some nachos and margs. The margs are great and fairly strong. The nachos are loaded with toppings. I like to add grilled chicken to them and it's filling enough on its own with another app. The Brussels sprouts are yummy as well. They also serve you some complementary chips and salsa. My friend got the tacos, they were a bit light on the filling but flavor wise were good. The service is great, it gets busy on the weekends during prime time but you can usually get a table otherwise. The interior is very cute and bathrooms are clean. During the summer they have outdoor seating as well. They also have an ayce brunch on the weekends that I have yet to try. I'd definitely recommend this spot for a date night or outing with friends. read more

The Painted Burro - Brussels sprouts and nachos - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Have gone for their bottomless brunch and highly recommend. Great food options- recommend ordering a bunch of things at once cause portions are small. And the horchata coffee is huge read more

OMG!! I want to shout from the rooftops about how good this food is! Never have I ever tasted Mexican food like this before... My friend and I came here before seeing a show at the Somerville Theater. We ordered the nachos to share and one carne asada taco each. These nachos are something special; topped with chorizo, pickled veggies, cabbage slaw, a mayo sauce, pico, guac, etc. I cannot believe these amazing flavors!! Pickled carrots and mayo sauce are now something I want on every plate of nachos I ever have, and I never thought I would be saying that! And the taco was just as incredible - overstuffed with the most tender/flavorful carne asada. You do not need teeth to eat this meat!! Every taco and plate of nachos I've had in the past pale in comparison to these. This was an overwhelming amount of food for 2 people but I would definitely still order it again. They certainly do not skimp on ingredients here. I would recommend coming with a lot of people and sharing dishes so you can try a few different things. I already can't wait to come back! read more

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Went here for a friends birthday and thought it was just alright. I ordered the mole enchiladas. I can't remember having mole so the chocolate caught me off guard. Not sure if I don't like it or if it's poorly made but I wasn't rocking with it. I paid around $20 for the enchiladas but the service size was small. I'm used to these places giving a side of rice or beans to complement the meal, but all I got were these three enchiladas. The taste was alright but the mole sauce kind of made it taste like it was burned. I just kept eating it but I couldn't get into it so I took the rest home which is rare for me to do. The inside was fancy, and felt like an upscale Mexican restaurant. I'd rather just eat at a cheaper Mexican restaurant because the food was not worth the price. There were similar reactions around the table to the food. Regardless of what people ordered, it was just alright. read more

The Painted Burro - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Family dinner. Food was OK. I had a steak salad and the meat was very salty. Staff was excellent. Salsa, guacamole, chips and some of the sides were good. Fun place. read more

Efficient staff, a little rushed. Good food but pricey. Dinner for 2, 3 drinks, will run you about a hundred bucks.

It is with such a heavy heart - ok that may be overkill - that I write this review. But we were quite disappointed with the food here. Everything else - service, ambiance, bathroom cleanliness, decor - was nice & enjoyable. What caught my eye in selecting this establishment was the reading of a dish - Street Cart Chicken (with plantain, kale & rice) - on their menu. Which sounded delicious! I think there was a little more detail given on the menu, but I read it to my husband & he agreed. So, off we went for family dinner. They had a few accommodations for us even though they were approaching busy hours. We were seated quickly, gave the menu one last glance & placed our order: Chips & guacamole - I liked the chips. Homemade. However husband thought guac was super bland. It wasn't great. But not the worst I've had. Coconut lemonade (non-alcoholic beverage) - delicious! Unique and refreshing. Here's where it went down hill... (Sautéed) Kale & plantain side - VERY BLAND. Not much seasoning or herbs. But kale is a GREAT vegetable, so I ate as much as I wanted. It also was NOT over cooked. That's a plus! However, the plantain was dry. Which is not atypical. But when it's right, plantain is scrumptious, so I always order it when possible. Rice (side) - Although it was colorful and appetizing to see, it was MORE bland than the kale dish! Tasted like (rice and) water. Street Cart Chicken - sits on a bed of rice, kale & plantain... don't need to repeat that. But the chicken - although it looked GREAT - as with almost everything else, was unflavorful. It was also pretty dry. I did enjoy the crispiness of the skin! Cheese enchiladas - didn't try, but husband said they were fine & he finished the dish. Our server really did her best to help us enjoy what we ordered. Everything was edible. I don't like sending things back. So we ate, asked for salt or additional seasonings, which our server brought. Once I got to the chicken, I also asked for some sauce the kitchen would suggest. Management (I presume) came over to check in and hear our feedback and explained they've been told their dishes were over seasoned so I guess we were experiencing the results of the efforts to accommodate previous feedback. We're from California. I don't know how much that impacts our bias on Mexican and Latin-based foods because living in other states, I've found it hard to find great restaurants from that/those regions. And in general we've struggled to find AMAZING restaurants in the Massachusetts area, especially Boston. So it's not just Painted Burro. read more

The Painted Burro - Kale Salad, Creamy Poblano Rice - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I went here for a friends birthday dinner. With the warmer weather, the windows were open, giving the restaurant a summer atmosphere in doors. The waiter was lovely and very kind. He recommended different margaritas for us, depending on what we liked. I ordered the pork carnitas enchiladas. While I thought the portion size was admirable, I thought the sauce was a bit too heavy. read more

The Painted Burro - Pork Carnitas Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

If you're not drinking, this is a skip. We got the birria taco, shrimp al ajillo, and the tres leches cake. The cake was massive, but the taco and shrimp were small for the price, and didn't taste of too much more than fat/oil. The service was also strange--we had at least 3 different servers, and had to continually flag them down to get menus, drinks, foods, the check, etc. I know folks love this place for the drinks and especially the bottomless brunch, which seems great. However, if you want a great meal, skip the Burro and head over to East Somerville, or to Gustazo just a few blocks away. read more

The Painted Burro - Birria Taco - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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It's not very often I feel the need to leave a review, but Kemil and Gaby are worth every second it takes to make one. My husband and I enjoyed everything!!! The atmosphere is great, food is good, but the drinks and the skill their bartenders have is exceptional. Kemil went above and beyond with his recommendations, bartender skills, and energy overall. If you're reading this, you will not regret going for some tacos and drinks at the bar! read more

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Rating: 4.5 (round up to 5) I've only ever been there for the $25 bottomless brunch and have only gotten the food then. And it's been incredibly delicious! Even nicer when you go with a group of friends and can sample even more items together without being wasteful. Service was good when we went and our waiter did a good job at telling us about the process and taking our orders even with my modification requests. Really enjoy mostly everything we've gotten (with a couple items that were still good but not quite my flavor preference). Had a sip of my hubby's mimosa and it was nice too. Favorite items include: French toast (it may be my favorite French toast in Boston) which is a lovely soft brioche piece. I always get this (maybe even two orders of it!) Fish taco - Wow, where had this been my whole life, lol Short rib taco - Delicious flavor and tenderness Morning taco - So good and perfect for the "breakfast" portion of my brunch ordering. We'll be back! One quick note, the menu on the website has slightly different items than the menu in the restaurant. I posted a picture of the menu from today. read more

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This place has a mix of proper fork and knife Mexican food along with everyone's favorite tacos. I couldn't say I was really blown away by anything here. Aesthetic of the establishment, service, and the food - they all seemed decent but not incredible. I really don't remember having that much interaction with the service, just the bare minimum to get food and checks really so it didn't feel like we were served that much. The food was good, but felt like it had an overwhelming amount of oil and butter. It's a nice place, but would consider other options for the price read more

The Painted Burro - Street Cart Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts