The food is very flavorful however the portions could be improved for the price. Maybe you're expected to munch on a bunch of chips to be full before eating the main entree. Mi Cancun and Fiesta Mexicana win in portion sizing but lose out in flavor and ambiance. Staff was friendly and tended to our needs. Several reviews were critical on service, my party went on MLK day at 6pm with barely a crowd so your mileage may vary. Flavor: 8/10 Portion: 6/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 10/10 read more

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I came here on a Friday evening with a friend after we were both craving Mexican food and margaritas! It was a pretty long wait for a table so we decided to sit at the bar. The service was fantastic considering we were at the bar and it was very busy! The margaritas were sweet but weak. For a $10 margarita, I would have hoped it would a bit stronger. I got the quesa birria tacos which were decent although it was missing the consome that typically accompanies birria. I thought the food was decent and average although overpriced for what you get. The restaurant is located within the Southpoint Plaza so it is a convenient location to grab a quick meal after a day out. Overall, I think this place has very average Tex-Mex food. I don't see myself coming back here for the food, but if I was in the area craving Mexican food, I wouldn't be opposed to coming here. read more

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this place. The food was very good! We all ordered different food, but we're all happy with it. The service was horrible! The place was almost empty and I see why. At first there were a total of 6 people at the bar. When we left it was just the three of us. The guy behind the bar had to be repeatedly called over for refills and orders of food. I don't know what the hell he was doing. We had to order drinks from another restaurant airees once. She was friendly and helpful. Someone that looked like a manager walked by a few times and looked at us, but never even as much as said hi or asked about our experience. The ambience is fine. Light music and a pretty facility. The restrooms needed some serious cleaning. That's always one of those things that separates good from great. read more

This was my first visit to an Uncle Julio's since 2009. This Tex-Mex restaurant was better than I remember. I notice the chain's branding is now "Uncle Julio's Mexican from Scratch." If memory serves, that wasn't always the full name. Currently, there are two Uncle Julio's locations in the Triangle: (1) this one at The Streets at Southpoint shopping mall in Durham and (2) one in Raleigh at Crabtree Valley Mall. The location I went to a couple times, more than 13 years ago now, was in Atlanta. That location has since closed and I don't believe there are any more Uncle Julio's locations in the state of Georgia. My wife and I were running an errand at Nordstrom and decided to get dinner afterwards somewhere at Southpoint. Uncle Julio's was our third choice after we walked into The Cheesecake Factory and Maggiano's Little Italy and there were wait times of at least 20-30 minutes at both places. This was on an ordinary Thursday around 7:15pm. Uncle Julio's was able to seat us almost immediately. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we enjoyed both the food and service here more than I expected. I can't imagine The Cheesecake Factory or Maggiano's being significantly better. This is a spacious, nice-looking restaurant with a casual vibe. Chains like this and the aforementioned are convenient for groups/families because of their ample seating options and (typically) plenty of staff. There are several seating areas here including two open-air patios, the bar room, and a tiered dining room. We sat in a booth in the part of the dining room that faces the restaurant's open kitchen. That was kind of cool because we got to see the staff prepare food including scratch-made tortillas from one of Uncle Julio's tortilla-making machines. They flatten dough into round tortillas. The one-page, double-sided dinner menu included apps like prepared-to-order molcajete Guacamole ($14.90) and Barbacoa Beef Quesadillas ($16.00), "Famous Margaritas," bowls and salads, Uncle Julio's "Famous Fajitas," and Tex-Mex and mesquite-grilled entrees. My wife was eyeing the Carnitas Tacos (2 for $14.50, 3 for $17.50) and I was considering the Carne Asada ($28.50) after seeing and smelling one of those steaks hit the table next to us, sizzling and smoking. It looked good. We ended up going with... Famous Margaritas: * The Swirl ($10) - frozen margarita and frozen sangria Famous Fajitas: * Carnitas Fajitas ($22 for 1) - braised pork with honey chipotle glaze, crema and fresh cilantro; served with fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, Mexican rice, frijoles a la charra, sauteed peppers and onions with Uncle Julio's homemade flour tortillas Tex-Mex Classics: * Combination Enchiladas (2 for $14.50) - ground beef and pulled chicken; served with Mexican rice and frijoles a la charra Also included were complimentary chips and salsa. They were good. The portion sizes on both the chips and salsa were generous. We didn't have to ask for refills on either, which is normally the case at Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurants. The chips were hot, fresh, thin, crispy, and oily. The salsa was fresh, thin and runny (not chunky), smoky, and delicious. Overall, we both thought the chips and salsa were terrific. The Swirl was yummy. It was icy, cold, sweet, and refreshing. Just the right amount of alcohol. Not too strong and not too watered-down. The Carnitas Fajitas were satisfying and filling. All of the ingredients were fresh (common theme) and good-quality. Everything tasted great together. The pieces of pork were savory and tender. In general, this dish had an appetizing flavor mostly thanks to the tasty honey chipotle glaze atop the pork cooked and served on a skillet with peppers and onions. Other highlights of the dish were the guac (wonderful, though a little salty towards the end) and the warm, soft, freshly-made tortillas. The tortillas had excellent texture. The Combination Enchiladas were more of a three-star dish, like something you'd get at most run-of-the-mill Americanized Mexican restaurants. Not bad at all, though. We still enjoyed it. The enchiladas were hot, cheesy, and gratifying. I would rate them higher than average, so maybe 3.5. Both the Fajitas and Enchiladas came with rice and beans. For the latter, the menu says "frijoles a la charra" which I believe are the same thing as Mexican cowboy beans, made out of pinto beans and other ingredients. For the beans, our server gave us the choice between black beans, pinto beans, and refried beans. We tried the black beans and the refried beans and thought both were good. They were well-seasoned. My wife preferred the black beans over the refried beans, but I didn't have a strong preference even though I normally prefer black beans. The rice was good too, also well-seasoned and tasty. Our server was Clarissa and she was great. She was polite, friendly, attentive, and on top of her game. A+ server. Thank you, Clarissa! read more

Went there a few days ago for an early dinner and it was already packed - I guess due to all of the Christmas shoppers. We were seated next to a private room which they were setting up - all of the tables near us were being moved, chairs dragging loudly across the floor... a few of the staff were standing next to us and it felt like we were being rushed to leave so they could move our table, too. The food was okay, our waitress was nice.... But that was all ruined with feeling rushed. read more

Uncle Julio's INTRO: Mexican restaurant located in the Southpoint mall in Durham. Combination Enchiladas ($14.90)- Got the pulled chicken and cheese and onion enchilada. Came with side of rice and beans. Very flavorful and enjoyed the pulled chicken best. Chocolate Pinata ($33)- Not sure what to expect from reading the menu but it was an absolute surprise when it arrived. A Chocolate shell that you hit with a dowel, this dessert was filled with churros, Strawberries and Pineapple. Best for a group of people, such as a small family. Parking/location- Located in the outside portion of the Southpoint mall. It was easy to access without having to go into the mall itself. However, located at a mall, depending on the day, or weekends this would definitely be a busier time and harder to find parking. Ambience and Service- Service was good and food arrived in a timely manner. Very large and open dining area. read more

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Uncle Julio's has shrunk their menu, removing a lot of options. Tamales are gone. The food is ok not great as the past years or so. I guessing covid bought in the changes and lack of staff. The guacamole is still good and the chips and salsa are filling. I shared the beef fajitas. The beef was good, way to few vegetables to add to your fajita. I will return but Uncle Julio's is now one of many Mexican style restaurants. So, it will not be a must go. read more

The food is reasonably good but the service was just slow and terrible. They charge a lot for a veggie fajita but keep everything optional - the beans, rice, guacamole, cheese, pico-de-galo - what is the point of the fajita, you just don't turn up veggie and small tacos with no other stuff. We had to ask. The margaritas were good. We waited for a long time even to close out and get a check - there didn't seem like much going on. Some might like ambiance - it is a bit too dark for us for a family restaurant. read more

In Durham and decided to stop for an early dinner. I don't understand some of the negative reviews. Made from scratch means it takes a while to get your food. Regardless we love it. The steak and chicken they use is so tender. Their bacon wrapped shrimp is awesome. We really like the food, service, and ambiance of this place. Wish they were closer. read more

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Service: Amazing! We (party of 3) stopped by on a Thursday around 5pm, and there was no wait! Our server (forgot his name but was male with curly brown hair) was professional, constantly checking in, and represented the restaurant with a friendly manner. He was great! I felt bad just because it seemed to be very understaffed. Not their fault, but I hope that they're (and other restaurants) are able to bounce back soon. Food: My 2 friends had the enchiladas (chicken) and both said it was good. Not the most amazing mexican food ever had, but it was good! I had the classic taco salad without dairy (cheese & ranch), which was presented very well! The tortilla bowl on the side was awesome. Conclusion for the establishment: Food was good! Nothing too special about it honestly, but the service was great. I won't be rushing back, but I wouldn't complain if I had to go back! read more

Uncle Julio's - Taco salad (no cheese or ranch) - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food would come out faster and hot at a Chipotle. Spend $25 on an entree somewhere else that actually is trying to serve a meal

We put ourselves on the waitlist and they told us 30 minutes, okay no worries. I come back after missing the text which I got 6 minutes later, not 30 like we were told and I was willing to accept the consequences but the door is locked. I see the host (not the same one who put us on the waitlist) and she's shaking her head at us and making aggressive faces through the door. She then comes and shouts at us that since we missed our window that they're now backed up (no one else was there waiting) and that they've closed for the night. It was 8:30 on a Saturday, a full hour and a half before they're supposed to close. Again, I was willing to accept that we'd get pushed to the back of the wait, but locking the door and basically yelling at us for missing our window (which 5 minutes is insanely short, especially for a mall as large as Southpoint but that is what it is) is just another level of rude, disrespectful, and unnecessary behaviour. Absolutely ridiculous and I genuinely have never had someone be so rude and uncaring to my face. I will not be going back to this location any time soon and will be discouraging others from going as well. read more

Plenty of selections to choose from. Chips and salsa on the table immediately upon seating. DELICIOUS and fresh! I had the shrimp and crabmeat tortilla. You have to ask for beans of you want them (read the fine print). Unfortunately, it had bacon in it. I wish places would have full transparency. Nonetheless, my meal was luke warm however, I attribute that to being with a large party. I also had the watermelon margarita. DELICIOUS! Bathrooms are clean as well. Acoustics are good as well as the temperature control. One thing that was funny during our dinner, no joke, at least 6 occasions of people dropping and breaking glasses/dishes. Doesn't affect anything, it was just funny. I will definitely be going back. My bill with tip $47.00. That hurt a little bit. However, the waiter sent me home with fresh chips and salsa. He's a gem! read more

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Terrible. Food was just bad.I've been to UJ's in Chicago and it was amazing - not this place. Tried it 2x just to give in another chance. Bad both times ... had fajitas and enchiladas - they did not have any taste ... read more

This was so bad chat! We were told we would have a 10 minute wait but ended up waiting 45! We asked the hostess about and she just told us to be patient. The chips were unsalted, covered in hair, and the salsa looked like diarrhea. The menus were COVERED in sour cream and we never got silverware and my little cousin had to get it off of other tables in the restaurant. My sister, uncle, and I ordered chicken enchiladas. There was no beans, which were promised, and no chicken!! We asked to get beans and it took them so long to the point we didn't even want beans anymore. We both received onion enchiladas. The food tasted bad and the service was extremely bad. We have been waiting for the check, and then we FINALLY got the rest of my food. My 5 year old cousin was absolutely starving, he got the food by the time everyone else was already finished and we were ready for the check. DO NOT RECCOMEND. The food court was 2037462920x bett read more

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We ordered Via door dash. We were sent raw food that looked old as well. I use to think this was a decent chain tex mex restaurant, now not so much. I would suggest someone do a quality assurance check before to go orders leave. If it looks raw or like dog food it shouldn't go out, period! read more

Uncle Julio's - Raw and old steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

It was not a pleasant experience. The service was awful, the quality of food was below expectations, the space between the table and the couch sitting is so small that a 12 year old kid had a hard time sitting down without being uncomfortable. When the receipt was brought to us for 2 kids, 2 adults the waiter waited and watched until we gave the payment with the tip she was getting instead of putting the tablet down for us and walking away. Very disappointed and dissatisfied. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Service = slow, inattentive, scattered (we were told by three different servers that they would be with us in "just a second") Food= I ordered the chicken fajitas for one. They market their fresh tortillas but the past two times I've been they have served Mission brand tortillas from the grocery store. If I wanted those I would eat in the comfort of my own home. Paid $23.50 for one grilled chicken breast slapped in a bed of onions on a skillet. Experience = patio garage doors were closed by a staff member and made several people in the restaurant scream because of the loud noise from slamming the garage doors shut. - normally, I love this restaurant. When it first opened it was phenomenal and had a line out of the door. However, now they have upped their prices, cut their portions, and skewed from their "made from scratch" motto. I am not one to criticize the servers for a restaurants issues, but I have been here several times and over the past two years the staff has been consistently declining in kindness and speed. I do not think that I will return to this restaurant unless changes are made. read more

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Uncle Julio's is a fun restaurant to visit on a special occasion. The ambiance is very classy (but you don't have to dress up) and the decor is gorgeous. All of the staff is extremely nice and our waiter was polite and helpful. On the evening we went, they were out of many menu items (and the menu isn't huge to begin with). Our food was good, but nothing special. It was all pretty standard Tex mex. The star of the evening was our chocolate piñata. The chocolate and sauces were amazing, but the churros weren't fantastic. Again, great experience, food just wasn't what I was expecting. I would definitely return for a celebration! read more

Sooooo, It always pains me not to be able to give a decent review, then I realize it is the business that provided me this opportunity to give them feedback to make things better. Service was good when it happened and they really did try, but there was no one in the place, and we sat in the bar area and once you got something, they did not come back unless they had to bring you something (More food or your bill). We ordered margaritas and they use a mix that is so sweet, and on the menu it says they make there own margarita mix, they dont, or if they do, they dont know how to make it, so much simple syrup, it was like sucking on a sugar cane stalk. The food just did not taste fresh. Will we go back probaly not, only because the wife has said so, PF Changs is right down the road. read more

Overall, I had a decent experience here. My service was really good with Tyler. Our orders were brought to the table wrong, but they were corrected pretty quickly. I ordered a cheese and onion enchilada, but it was made with cheddar. I'm used to cotija or Mexican cheese being used in enchiladas. It was hard to choke down the thickness and hardness of the cheddar. It really was difficult to eat. I don't recommend that dish. My kids enjoyed their steak and rice bowls despite the errors that were made. Their salsa and chips are DELICIOUS. Overall, I would go back. Uncle Julio's desperately needs more vegetarian options. It was hard for me to order as a vegetarian. If I had known my enchilada was made with cheddar, I would've skipped it. They were incredibly difficult to chew and swallow. On the way out, I got a to go order of steak fajitas for my husband to bring home to him. He's NOT a picky eater. The steak was so full of gristle and fat that he couldn't eat it. It was an expensive dish at $25. We had to throw it away. I called the restaurant and talked to a manager who was very kind and refunded me for the dish. I would definitely go back. Their cocktail list looks great. I just really wish they had more vegetarian options. I had great service and a really nice service recovery effort from management. I'd recommend this place, and I will try again. Uncle Julio's, please look into adding more vegetarian and vegan options. read more

Uncle Julio's - You can see all the gristle. So much fat and stringy pieces. Not worth $25. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Quality - 5/5 Price - 4/5 Size - 4/5 Greatly impressed by the quality of food at Uncle Julio's. We got the Bacon Wrapped Camarones with Honey Habanero shrimp, which were delicious and flavorful. The Shrimp had a little kick to it, which I loved. Then, we got the Steak fajitas, which were the best fajitas I've ever had. In every Mexican restaurant I go to, I get fajitas, and these were phenomenal. The steak was perfectly cooked and not overdone at all such that when biting into the fajita, I could perfectly bite into it without having drag the rest of the meat along with the bite. I was so impressed. My only criticism is that is very expensive with small portions. For example, the Bacon Wrapped Camarones only came with six bacon wrapped shrimp for $25! You talk about expensive bites. The only reason we were filled were because of the side rice and beans, which were great. read more

Uncle Julio's - Bacon Wrapped Camarones with Honey Habanero Shrimp Add-on - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This place must be severely understaffed. A long wait to get in, didn't look busy and then a slow order from a waiter who didn't know the menu. Clearly the table hadn't been cleaned properly in a while as it and the menus were sticky, but the food was nice and hot. The final straw was that it took ages to get the bill. Will not return. I should have read the reviews first. The number of management apologies for the same issues over a long period tells the full story. read more

Absolutely mouth watering I wish to go there again and again. Serving was excellent and perfect with amazing people!

We drove an hour to Uncle Julio's in Durham, excited to try the viral chocolate piñata--only to be told by our waitress, after ordering, that "they don't have that" despite it being listed on the menu. That alone was a major letdown, but unfortunately, the rest of the experience didn't make up for it. Our waitress was extremely inattentive, promising things throughout the meal and never following through. The most frustrating part? We didn't get water until dessert--after eating most of our meal with nothing to wash it down. Every time we asked for something, it was as if she immediately forgot. As for the food, it was nothing special. My chicken enchiladas were supposed to come in a green sauce but instead were smothered in what looked like half a pound of melted cheese. My wife had the chicken fajitas, which tasted decent but came in a portion about a third of what you'd get at any other Mexican restaurant. Overall, this place felt like style over substance. We came for a fun, unique experience and left frustrated, underwhelmed, and still craving the dessert we drove an hour to try. Not worth the trip. read more

Uncle Julio's at Southpoint is a fiesta for the taste buds--if you're patient enough to wait for it! The vibe is lively, the service is friendly, and the food? Increíble. The steak fajitas were so tender they practically wrote me a thank-you note, and the queso was liquid gold. And yes, smashing open a chocolate piñata for dessert made me feel like a kid at a very upscale birthday party. The only downside? The wait time. Long enough for me to rethink my life choices... But once the food arrived, all was forgiven. I'll be back--just maybe with a snack in my pocket read more

Food was mediocre. The hostess was rude and super unorganized. We waited over an hour (which is fine) but everyone that came in after us got seated before us. We ended up being the only ones left in the waiting area. I assume this place is understaffed. The atmosphere is ok If you don't get ran off by the staff first. Was a great spot when they first opened but have severely went downhill. read more

They don't take reservations, even if you make a reservation via their website. We showed up for our reservation and they wouldn't seat us, just add to their waitlist. It makes no sense to offer reservations if they don't acknowledge them. Poor service, but thankful that there are other restaurants nearby to walk to with better service. read more

Ambiance was nice. Nachos and salsa were brought first and were delicious! The entree was amazing! read more

Uncle Julio's - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

So first time here..the staff was very friendly! There was a line to get inside because they only wanted one party checking in at a time, which was great! We had reservations so we got seated pretty quickly, not that they were busy or anything. Once we were seated they brought us tortilla chips and a salsa. Which was really good! We ordered queso as an app and it was okay. My virgin marg was so damn good! It was delish!! We got our entree which my husband and I shared. We got 2 chicken and 1 beef enchiladas. The rice was delish! The chicken enchiladas were a little bland but the beef one was on point! The beans were ehh also! Overall great company, great food, and great staff! read more

Uncle Julio's - Virgin Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The food was great, but they are way under staffed. Our server forgot to put in the appetizer and rarely checked on us for beverage refills. Because she had other tables, but the place barely had any customers. read more

So I have really mixed feelings about this place. My wife and I have been wanting to try this place out. However I am not sure we will come back. The food was really good. However everything else made it horrible. We had reservations but had to wait 15 minutes. Then it took an hour to get our food!!! The server's area was disgusting. read more

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Uncle Julio's is adequate food cooked well. I didn't think the food was particularly cooked super well or that the flavor was delicious - that I would want to come back. But then again, it was also not bad to the point where I hated my meal and did not want to eat here again. lol - Uncle Julio's live in a perfect middle ground. I thought my husband's grilled shrimp and chicken was cooked well- it wasn't dry, but there wasnt much in the flavor department. My chicken enchiladas flavor was just okay...the chicken was pulled apart and tender, but the salsa verde was just "whatever" and I didn't think the flavor on the chicken or sauce used to cook it was that good. My favorite item we ate was honestly the tomato rice- which was cooked perfectly and the salsa (which was awesome that it came in a spicy version). I would not recommend this place nor seek it put, but if I was walking around Southpoint mall while starving , as I did this day, then I would go in :P. Taste: 2.5/5 - rounding up for good service Presentation: 3/5 Recommend to a friend?: No Consistent: Yes (2nd time here) Cost: $$ Parking: Plenty of parking in the mall read more

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Great place to grab a margarita and glass of wine! We loved the quesadilla's and the smile of Sarah as she suggested the churros to end the nights food festival. Ask for Sarah to give great recommendations , if you are unsure. Until next time uncle Julio!! read more

Uncle Julio's was fine! I got the vegetable fajitas. The tortillas were AMAZING. Everything that went inside, less so. read more

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Upscale Mexican restaurant. Decor is elegant. Food is fresh. Strawberry Margarita was the best I've ever had. Freshly muddled strawberries. Amazing. Corn tortillas were made on-site. The restaurant is a bit pricey, but in line for upscale dining. I highly recommend Uncle Julios. read more

Uncle Julio's - Chocolate Pinata. A must for any celebration. Pinata is filled with churros, strawberries, and pineapple. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've enjoyed the service the times I've dined here but the food is definitely a hit or miss for me. I tried it again but I may not order entrees from here next time, the chicken lacks flavor no matter what meal option I've had and the pork I ordered for fajitas tend to come out dry and slightly burnt. ‍ What does help the meals are the toppings and the sides. I do love their drink menu here so If I ever end up coming back, that will be my treat. read more

Uncle Julio's - Chicken quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I stopped in here for lunch, I thought they had a lunch menu from the pictures of such a menu here on Yelp, but apparently that is no longer the case. Now they just have a one page menu for both lunch and dinner. It's very limited, and doesn't really seem like a great deal. Also the waiter kept trying to upsell me for stuff I didn't want. I didn't want a margarita at lunch time. And I didn't want to try and eat fajitas at lunch either but he kept trying to get me to order them. But the worst part about the meal was that it appears they are recycling the tortilla chips! A couple of the tortilla chips in the bowl had dried salsa on them, I don't know how else that could happen unless they had previously been on somebody else's table. I was a bit grossed out and didn't eat any more of the tortilla chips I really don't think I would come back to this place. read more

Uncle Julio's - This is the new menu, very limited options compared to before. No more lunch menu. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I would never come back the service was the worst I have ever experienced everyone just kept walking past us took so long for them to just bring water to the table. The food took so long and it was cold when it got to us. The place was not busy at all if it would have been maybe it would be more understandable but honestly they don't care that's how it felt Just go across to firebirds better food and better service read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We recently had a team lunch at Uncle Julio's -- this was my first time eating there. I went with the Crispy Taco Plate, which came with beans and rice. It was good enough, but looking back, I wish I'd tried something a little more unique -- maybe next time. There were several bowls of tortilla chips, two kinds of queso dip, and salsa at the table -- very tasty. That alone could have been enough for lunch, as it was hard to keep from sampling these. For dessert, each end of the table received a chocolate pinata -- a very interesting and luscious end to what was a good meal overall. The ambience and service were also great. read more