I have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant in Rochester. I decided to pop into the Silver Iguana for lunch. I was told that they were only serving the brunch menu. I sat inside, the restaurant was filthy. The seating was uncomfortable and there were several flies. The decor was not Mexican. There were two old men and a waitress gossiping loudly. The brunch menu didn't include anything Mexican. I settled on the Acacado Toast. When it eventually arrived it was soggy. The toast was goo. I will not ever be returning. read more

I've been here several times but it's been a couple years. Came in Wednesday night and didn't have the best feeling being there. Felt like the bartender hated me for even breathing. Maybe she was just having a bad night? I asked if she could make a skinny margarita and it was like I asked her to bake me a cake from scratch. It's a shame because we like the food here but I don't even want to go back if I'm going to feel that way. One thing I was super happy about is they have Lalo brand tequila. It's seriously the best tequila I've ever had. That might be what brings me back. Love that they have indoor and outdoor seating. The parking not too bad either with there being the parking lot across the street. read more

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Went on a Tuesday night. Place was about as busy as normal. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks and 5 tacos from the taco menu. It took about 40 minutes to get the tacos. Two other people at the bar had their food orders forgotten about. The tacos were delicious as always. After 7:30 pm this place turns into an episode of Jersey Shore. The bartenders boyfriend and crew roll in and shots start flying behind the bar. We dont see much of her after that. We didnt make eye contact with them becasue they looked like they want that sort of interaction if you know what I mean. I could imagine this place being on Bar Rescue. We thought we were being punked but it was really happening. read more

I had personally been hearing mixed reviews on this place for a little while and I hadn't eaten here myself since COVID times. I had some time to kill at lunch on a Saturday so I stopped in while they were still serving brunch. I had not one thing to complain about. The featured margarita was Apple Cider (five stars all by itself) which fit the mood perfectly on a crisp fall afternoon. I got the brunch special of a french toast Cuban sandwich. It was stuffed full of meat and pickles, and the french toast complimented the flavors better than I would've ever guessed. I skipped on the maple syrup dipping sauce just to not make it too sweet, but the option was there. Finally, I was influenced by another customer behind me ordering churros so I got a plate of those to go. They were perfect. The bartender and server were both lovely and helpful. Service was prompt, friendly, and I thought reasonably priced for the sheer amount of food I got (enough for a whole other meal of leftovers). Worth another try if you haven't been here in awhile. read more

The Silver Iguana - Churros to die for - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Me and some co workers went to celebrate a co workers birthday on a Tuesday this month and the food n drinks were great but our waitress was not very customer service, she had a tantrum like a child upon miscommunication of a to go taco, asked for a manager and was told not 1 as present. I called today to share the experience with the manager and was told yes I heard about this and said sorry do u wanna try us again :( not what I expected from a manager. She stated Tuesdays are our busiest days etc. Not sure what happened to good CS nowadays and managers rectifying bad CS. We spent well over $100 easy. Undecided if we will try again :( read more

I went here on a Tuesday and you know what that means......tacos!!!!! I ordered one beef, one chicken, and one pork. I have to say these were probably the 3 meatiest tacos I've ever had. Perhaps a little too much meat (if that's possible). Not that I don't like meat (I most definitely do!) but would have liked a little more of the other taco components in there. I was there at 4 pm so it wasn't busy. The service was fine. I thought atmosphere of the restaurant pretty cool and it had character. read more

The Silver Iguana - 3 very meaty tacos. - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Listen...get the chips and salsa, cheesy potatos with a protein, a paloma or two, the fish taco, the old school taco.... honestly we've found you CANNOT go wrong with anything on the menu. The outdoor seating, quick and friendly service, STRONG tequila drinks - we can't get enough. The owner even offered for us to try an experimental new cocktail...just go now! read more

The Silver Iguana - Cheesy potatoes with barbacoa - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

Our trip to The Silver Iguana was a mixed bag. I have a hard time writing reviews like this. I don't write many negative ones. I try to keep things as positive as possible, as I know the impact it can have. We had high expectations based on recommendations of others. The patio area is absolutely gorgeous -- let's get that straight. The service was good, but the food was hit and miss. We found everything to be "just OK" at best with nothing outstanding. For the chips and queso, the queso was nice, however, the many of the chips were over fried and slightly greasy. The quesadilla was a bright spot. It was very tasty, nice cheese blend, and great with the accompanying sauce. That diner was very happy. The two Chilaquiles Brunches suffered from the same problem as the earlier chips -- everything was over fried and a little greasy. Everything was also slightly one note in that there was no spice or depth of flavor. My family is on the fence about whether or not we would try this place again with the quesadilla orderer raving happily, the Pork Chilaquiles orderer saying, "Maybe one more time, but definitely ordering something else and no chips", and the Non-protein Chilaquiles orderer saying, "I won't come back with you if there is a next time". read more

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Bartender was awesome and creative with drink suggestions (Shelby), friendly service and great music. Great drinks, great food, great energy. Will definitely be back-and sitting at the bar again! read more

I'd recommend avoiding Sundays. While the food was good, the bartender's attitude really impacted the overall experience. She came across as rude and made us feel uncomfortable, which took away from what could have been a great visit. Hoping this was just an off day, but it's something to be aware of. read more

The Silver Iguana is a nice place to visit and eat at. The food is decent to very good depending on what you're ordering. The drinks are great and the ambiance is nice. The bartenders are quite nice and friendly. Most visits have been successful with one notable visit resulting in a very unpleasant server. I didn't see her again after that suggesting she moved on or was fired. I do wish they retire this QR code menu... read more

This is my experience, take it or leave it. I haven't given a review in quite some time, but the tacos at Silver Iguana brought me out of retirement. We decided to try Silver Iguana again after seeing that they advanced to the finals of best taco in rochester and I'm not sure I have ever been more disappointed in a taco. We went in about 5:30 on a Saturday. It was very busy, but we were greeted and given a seat pretty quickly. Server was fine, not amazing, but not awful either. The vibe was ok, but a bit cliché. Mexican movie posters and lucha libre mask ect... We ordered a cowboy candy, Pollo, and ahi tuna tacos as well as wings. The candy cowboy was edible, but not great. The Pollo and ahi tuna were some of the worst tacos I have ever had. Not sure if the sour cream was spoiled or what, but we couldn't eat them. I like well done wings but these were a bit over well done. Flavor was ok, would have been better if they weren't so burnt. Solid blue cheese though. Cocktails were mediocre at best and with great Mexican in town like Tavos or Chuy's, I can't understand how this place made it to the finals. Bill came to about $62 and we will most likely not give this place a third chance. To many other great places to eat and drink in this city to give it another chance. read more

I'm really not sure how this place only has three stars on here. This is our third time being here, and if we lived closer, we would be here all the time. Their guacamole and chips are some of the best we've had, their tacos are delicious, and don't get me started on the loaded rice. They have amazing tequilas, draft beer, a huge selection of regular bar items, and it's a really cool vibe. Lastly, the service has always been exceptional!! Highly recommend. read more

The Silver Iguana - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

I've never felt inclined to leave a yelp review before tonight, and I've had my share of awful service experiences. But this one was uniquely astounding, and frankly so astonishingly bad that I feel like I owe it to the silver iguana to give them the credit they worked so hard to earn. They probably could've warranted a two star review based on the weak drinks alone, but they absolutely deserve the one star after they brought my girlfriend two tacos with cheese and myself one with a wheat tortilla, after we had clarified our order with our server twice. My girlfriend decided to send one of her tacos back, something that she doesn't like to do, but when the waitress came back with the new taco, it had cheese on it. Again. And the cheese was melted between the shells, so she didn't notice until she had already eaten half of it. Bringing the wrong order out the first time is understandable. I've done it myself plenty of times. But to make the same exact mistake twice, and in an empty restaurant? Please. I know that we're annoying people to serve. Substitutions, whether for preference or allergies - which was the case for both of us - is never easy to deal with. But we've both worked in food service for years, and we were one of three tables in the restaurant at the time. I haven't tipped under twenty percent since I was 14, but I regret not breaking that streak tonight. We have a reason to believe that this might've been a problem with the kitchen, given something that the waitress said under her breath. Either way, the service of both was unacceptable, and now our night, which included plans to meet up with friends we rarely get to see, has been ruined; we will be spending it on the toilet instead. read more

We have been here many times and have never been disappointed! Their special are always creative and tasty! Wonderful cocktails and you cannot beat the prices! We visited today for brunch! I had the Chocolate Churro Martini- delicious! My friend loves their sangria, my husband had the Tia Maria and a couple of us had the tequila sunrise mimosa! The food is great and the setting is quaint! read more

The Silver Iguana - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

Wonderful outdoor seating that is fun and inviting. The services was wonderful until they got a bit busy, but always smiling and welcoming. Food was ok, shrimp and chicken/avocado taco were really amazing. No pictures because we were hungry!! read more

Smells great walking up Beef, chicken, pork from the taco Tuesday menu and the Baja shrimp and fish (cod) from the regular the regular menu Baja fish taco was the best of all read more

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Super excited when I heard there was a New Mexican place to try out, didn't realize how small this place would be. The parking is ridiculous, has to be the smallest lot anywhere.... Maybe five spots out back... we lucked out with a street spot in walking distance. Regardless of the cold weather people were huddled outside on their front porch, quickly realized they were all waiting for a table. Added our name to the waiting list, no room at the bar... after 25 mins were were seated at a super small table for two even tho there were three of us... ok we will manage. Order drinks, margarita's are amazing. Went with some tacos and really liked the baracoa ones. Hopefully they expand their menu, ready for more options. I will be back. read more

This place had so much potential that it just did not live up to on this visit, so I may need to check it out again. Starting with the complimentary chips and salsa, the salsa was delicious but the homemade chips were over seasoned. They were hot and fresh though which was great. The margarita flight was just okay. The lime margarita stood out the most for taste and the mango habanero stood out most for uniqueness because it was actually pretty spicy in a good way, balancing the sweetness of the mango. The seasonal (I cannot recall the flavor) was very thick and seemed to be mostly purée. I'd stay away from that and the Paloma on a future visit. The tacos were definitely flavorful, with the fish taco being my favorite. I did have to request a remake of the cowboy taco due to dry meat initially, but the replacement was pretty good as well. Knowing that it's a pretty small location, we called before our visit to see what if there was space available for our party of four. The hostess made it known that they were short staffed which was greatly appreciated and it was also made known once we arrived, but we were in no rush and the servers did great. And on a beautiful Rochester day, we were happy to sit outside in a calm atmosphere. The tables are well spaced to give groups some privacy which can be a challenge in small locations. Also, Winton road can be busy but it did not negatively impact the patio experience. read more

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So, this used to be a solid Mexican restaurant. While the service is still great, if a little surly at times, the food has really fallen off over the past year. The care in food preparation isn't really there anymore. For example, birria tacos used to be spot on with a great flavor and the tortillas dipped in the birria juice before crisping up on the griddle. Nowadays it's meh shedded beef a no dipping...hardly qualifying as birria tacos. Burritos are just packed with rice and maybe two tablespoons of meat. Seriously, my last burrito had one bite with the barbacoa. Shameful and sad. read more

Extremely unfriendly wait staff. Came with a dog to ask basic questions about availability of a table and hostess wouldn't answer a straight question AND got an attitude about it. She just kept saying that the uncovered part was closed due to possible rain but wouldn't give me a straight answer about where dogs were allowed. Finally got her to answer that the covered part also allows dogs but that there was a wait - no offer to add me to a list, nothing - just basically shut the door in my face. Guess a new neighbor won't be patronizing in the future. read more

Went last night with some friends. Ordered the wings. $12 for 6 of their special chicken wings is insane, I thought it was going to be 10 wings, but just 6. They were the best chicken wings I've ever eaten. When I'm not poor, I'll be going back and ordering as many as I can afford. So good. read more

Consistently inconsistent. Fun attempts with food and drinks that fail upon delivery. Small space, outdoor seating is more ideal. Creepy dude that lingers there makes you feel uncomfortable, from a female perspective. read more

We live in the neighborhood and want to give our business to local establishments. Have to say the food is great but the bar service lacks. I sat and watched a bartender laugh it up with people at the bar and ignore people who were waiting for food and drinks. I went a whole dinner without a drink because she was too busy laughing it up with people at the bar. Felt bad for our waitress who had to make excuses and eventually gave me 2 free drinks. Better off ordering take out. Pretty sad. read more

Overall a net positive. The tacos were the best I've had in Rochester and the house special was good. I also liked the small business vibe and decorations. Was told not to sit at one of the tables because that section was closed which bordered on being laughable because the place is on the smaller end, but practically speaking I appreciate that they were up front about it because I got good service at the bar and would have hated some of the delays I've read about in the other reviews. Will be going back. read more

On a nice late summer evening some friends met me here for dinner. We were able to eat outside on their small patio which was a big plus. I liked how they served their Moscow mules (mini booze bottles jammed into the top of a ginger beer can). The price for the drink was reasonable. My friend ordered a drink she did not care for and they replaced it with something else at no charge. Good customer service! Regarding the food, I ordered the pork enchiladas - they were pretty good but nothing special. My friends got different tacos and were less than impressed. Given the other Mexican places in Rochester I would not rush back. It wasn't bad but... read more

I've heard mixed reviews from friends about Silver Iguana, but my personal experience has always been really positive. I've been for happy hour, post-rehearsal drinks/snacks, and casual meet up with friends. In all of these situations, we were met with pleasant service - even the times when we were a big, loud group asking for separate checks. When businesses handle that with grace, I always like to give a little extra kudos. The happy hour deals are great and my margaritas are always serviceable for the price. I also think there's something magical about grabbing a corona and sitting out on their patio in the summertime. Super refreshing and always a really nice vibe! It can get a little packed on weekend evenings and Tuesdays. They do their best to navigate the smaller space, and bartenders are usually friendly when ordering. Their tacos are a step up from Salena's, on par with La Casa, and not nearly as good as Old Pueblo Grill or Neno's - if you're looking for where they land in the ROC taco hierarchy. I always look forward to going back for happy hour and taco Tuesday, and am happy to have this spot in the NWV neighborhood! read more

I have tobsay that I loved the Cubano. My friends said that the way they prep their wings has changed and liked it less. However the real reason for the one star is the new practice of charging diners for using credit cards. I totally disagree with the practice, why penalized your customers when they are coming there to support your business. read more

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Stopped in before a game for dinner and drinks. It was a little crowded for early on a Friday night... The fun kind of crowded so no complaints at all. The restaurant is a bit cramped with a big bar and a small dining area. Eclectic, fun decor with lots of unexpected things that catch the eye. It's a little roomier in the summer when the porch and patio are open. We put our name on the wait list but quickly found a comfortable spot at the bar and decided to stay there. Our bartender was fantastic. Enthusiastic, well informed about both the menu and the bar specials and very interactive. She got us drinks from the latest draft list and provided samples of a peanut butter Porter and Mexican Porter which were both excellent. We opted for the specials and tried a tuna fish taco which didn't do it for me but my companion loved. I liked the cowboy candy taco and Mediterranean taco. Our server also suggested two house made hot sauces... Not for the timid! The citrus had some heat and a nice, sweet flavor. The other was also delicious... And took about 15 seconds to kick in. The porter samples were a welcome complement to the heat. All in all a very fun way to start the evening. Looking forward to the warmer months when we can enjoy the patio. read more

The Silver Iguana - House made hot sauces... Delicious but not for the timid! - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

The food was great, service was good. The wings were amazing for an appetizer. Definitely worth trying.

I had dinner at the Silver Iguana for the first time tonight with a friend. First thing we noticed was how incredibly loud it was inside. The waitress was going to put us at a table only about 3 feet from the bar, which was crowded, with everyone talking over each other to be heard. Very small area. We asked to be seated in the small dining room in the back, but she said they were all tables for 4, nothing for 2 people. We sat at a table just outside the front door under the deck roof, because sitting at a table outside on the patio was right next to Winton Rd. and the traffic was also busy and loud at 5:30 pm. I ordered a glass of Malbec and received a half-bottle, which I only found out when it was put on the table that is how they serve wine with a meal...turned out to cost $16 for a half bottle. I had one glass out of it and had to either drive home with an open bottle of alcohol in my car or leave it behind (it came home with me). The waitress pointed to a small board on the table with a QR code and said "That's our menu" and as she walked away, I said out loud "We don't get menus to look at?" and 30 seconds later, she brought us 3 menus - all different, and just one of each. Drinks, Brunch, Taco Tuesday, and their regular menu. I don't want to look at a menu on my phone while sitting in the restaurant. I ordered a chicken taco, a beef taco and the Mexican rice. The chicken looked like shredded beef due to the dark seasoning on it, and, while good, they tasted exactly the same - could not tell the difference between chicken and beef. I would have preferred less meat and a little more of the taco toppings - there were plenty of diced tomatoes and onions, but only a few pieces of shredded lettuce and cheese on both tacos - I tasted no cheese - and the taco "toppings" were on the bottom, smothered under the meat. and the lettuce was limp (which wouldn't happen if it was put on top of the meat). The ramekin of rice was barely warm. My friend said the Baja fish tacos she had were delicious. And our server was very nice, attentive to us throughout the meal - not intrusive, but always checked we were doing okay. I won't be going back, tho. read more

My daughter and I had a delicious dinner here. I was a little worried given some of the reviews but we enjoyed the Birria tacos as well as the margarita flight. We will definitely be back to try other items on their menu. Nice outdoor seating area. read more

13 Apr 24 - Saturday Night. Cool atmosphere. Nice plate of nachos. Friendly bar staff. The downside was the double $16 watered down margarita. No.kick at all. read more

My boyfriend and I are obsessed with this place. We have gone a few times and every time we are still impressed. The drinks and the tequila are strong and the food is so flavorful. I tend to always get the nachos bc it can last me 3 meals or share with a bunch of friends its huge. The meat is always tender and seasoned well. There are a variety of tacos to choose from which makes it easy to find something new to try every time. Will continue to go here its our favorite Mexican restaurant in Rochester! The place is small and not much seating but if its a nice day out they have a cute little patio to sit at right in the north winton village area. read more

The Silver Iguana - Tacos Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Came here with a few friends for Sunday brunch. Service was great! I especially love that they're dog friendly. It's so hard to find a restaurant to eat at when you have a dog and I'm glad we found one that accommodated us with outside seating. Food was delicious too with decent portion. read more

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I just had a great customer experience with a new employee identified as Marissa. I was sorta in a cranky mood, and I just wanted my taco . The young person was just delightful and so pleasant. Keep up your good works. Wayne Ps I'm pretty sure that she didn't even know that my mom passed away last year and at this same time frame. She was an absolute doll. I encourage you to support this kind young person. read more

i was looking around yelp for Mexican food and i saw The silver Iguana only had 3.5 stars. If you are looking around Yelp for good Mexican food don't pay attention to them stars. i will start with the negatives. Silver Iguana is a small bar/restaurant. On a busy day it can be a challenge finding a seat. Ok, now on to the positives. Silver Iguana is such a fun bar with tasty food they will often be busy. The food is amazing with a capital "A". there are few places around in this city with as great a menu. The drink menu has some unique selections and taste phenomenal!! also, unlike some other places, they give you a great portion for the hard earned money you spend. Some of my menu favorites include the cowboy candy taco, the cheesy potatoes and the sangria. the tortilla chips also have a tasty seasoning on them perfect with salsa or queso. don't take my word for it, please go see for yourself. Silver Iguana is the real deal baby! read more

It's a nice atmosphere and our waitress was great. The food could be good if they made a few small changes -- heat or grill the tortillas used for the tacos and stop using plastic containers as serving dishes. And provide chips and salsa free. The chips and salsa tasted good, they were crispy and warm and they add a seasoning which was fine, but having to pay for it is not a good sign for me, not only did I grow up on the west coast, but there are other Mexican restaurants locally that provide it complimentary which to me is a must. Not to mention that the salsa, guacamole, and queso are presented in plastic containers with lids -- not appealing at all. Plus there was brown (old) in the guacamole and the queso tasted flour-y. On to the food -- I ordered tacos and rice and beans. Again, the rice and beans was served in a plastic container and was cold to boot. I could not eat them and decided against saying anything to the wait staff thinking they would just microwave it in the plastic container. The flour tortillas that were served with the tacos were cold and bland which really took away any goodness that the insides, in my case pork belly and ahi tuna might compensate for. We did order donuts and churros which were delicious. We ended up paying $50/person (with drinks) which did not match up with our expectations. Overall, I think The Silver Iguana has a lot of potential -- a few small changes would do wonders for this restaurant. Otherwise, we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Our first time here today and I loved it!! Do yourself a favor and order the nachos with carne asada and the house margarita right away....yum!!! And the Baja fish taco was delicious too. All of our food came out pretty quick - in fact we received our nachos before our drinks - so fast! We sat outside and the outdoor seating area was nice and breezy and right in the heart of the Winton road neighborhood. The waitress was very nice. It looked like she was the only server on at lunch and she did a great job. All and all, it was a great spot for lunch and I would definitely like to go back and try more things! read more

A group of us recently had lunch here after kayaking on Irondequoit Creek with Bay Creek Paddling. We all shared gthe chips and salsa, guac & queso -- and each got various tacos, ranging from Barbacoa, to Carnitas to the "Cowboy Candy" spicy jalepeno sizzler! The margaritas were FANTASTIC -- from Mango Habanero to Blood Orange Vanilla. Our server was great! Outdoor seating, even covered in the shade from the sun. Easy parking, price was right ... everything to love, and we'll be back! read more

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