It's so sad how downhill this chain has gone over the last decade. Last night, the margaritas were so weak it felt like I was drinking water for $12.75. The pulled chicken tacos were good but the chicken enchiladas have gone so downhill in quality. The salsa is always good - so smoky and puréed. It was fairly empty but the service was terrible - had to wait for forever after asking for more chips, and waited a long time for the bill and it was just an automatic card reader/tip on the screen. The greeter also wasn't friendly and was not moving quickly to accommodate those waiting - it just made us uncomfortable. I remember over a decade ago, this place was so fun and the fajitas were incredible! The quality and service was always there, but sadly it is gone and I won't be returning. read more

OMG. ok so i am a mexican food connoisseur, and so i thought i would enjoy this place, but the chicken fajitas were an immediate turn off. the chicken looked like it just came fresh off of an overcooked, overweight rotisserie chicken and was not seasoned at all. the rice also tasted like that instant rice that you put in the microwave. ill give it two stars for the birria quesadilla thing being pretty good. but like come on, how are you gonna mess up fajitas? read more

I didn't realize Uncle Julio was a franchise. A while ago I visit Uncle Julio's back in my hometown in Orlando. I enjoyed it back then, fast forward a few years I still like it. It's a Tex-Mex, hacienda style restaurant. To start off, they bring some chips and salsa. I love the salsa. It has a tiny hint of spice and has a smoky flavor. I ordered from the lunch menu. Since I was craving soup, I ordered the chicken tortilla soup and 2 chicken al carbon tacos. The tacos came with lettuce, guacamole, and pico de gallo. I was loving the soup, it was hearty and sort of comforting. It's pretty cold right now and that soup hit the spot. The tacos were okay, not bad, just okay. But I enjoyed the guamacole very much. Service was polite but a little slow. It didn't bother me too much, since the waiter was incredibly friendly and I was just enjoying my time with my friend. 4 stars. read more

Uncle Julio's - Chicken tortilla soup - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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This place was absolutely astounding I really can't choose between here and Guapo's I absolutely love them both

Uncle Julio is pretty good nice selection of food great menu margaritas are fantastic. Price might be a little high for some items, but overall very good. read more

We went here for a date night. Nice food and ambiance. A bit of a wait but other than that, we'd be back again.

I dined here a few weeks ago with some coworkers and had a great experience per usual. We tend to meet here monthly when we want to grab drinks and appetizers. This is a great location to do that. The servers are always attentive and friendly. I was reading a few reviews and I came across one in particular that stood out because I was actually there when it occurred. This customer mentioned the manager not allowing her to bring in her emotional support dog? And she went on a series of complaints that I find shocking because what she is describing isn't what I witnessed at all. I did see the other patron with his service dog that was well behaved and her dog did not seem trained at all. I'm not sure what the policy of this place is but I know like many, usually service dogs are permitted and emotional support dogs are not as they are completely different. The manager who was handling the matter didn't seem aggressive or rude at all. He was just citing policies and gave her an alternative option. I feel like her complaint is very entitled in exaggerating a situation that could cost someone their job just because she couldn't get her way. We overheard the discussion and I believe she was given the option to still have her dog with her but outside in the patio which I think is fair considering her dog did not seem trained to be calmly seated in a restaurant setting. I hope those who continue to write reviews at any establishment are honest and fair and not out of anger due to not getting what they want. Again my coworkers and I thought she was ridiculous when the encountered happened so reading her review is quite shocking on how she is describing it. read more

Prices high, portion size varies significantly across the meals but has shrunk significantly over the years. Service is ok at this location but it's normally been a 3 star experience across the food and service and ambiance. Good spot for regular Mexican/American food. read more

My husband and I have eaten here several times because we really like the location and the atmosphere of the restaurant. It's in a very trendy part of Gainesville, surrounded by a lot of specialty shops. The restaurant is very big and we've never really had bad service. They are a franchise and are known for their chocolate pinata, which is filled with fruit on a tray with a variety of syrups. The chocolate pinata by the way, is very expensive and way too much food for just 2 people who are full from dinner! But it's fun! We got one for Cinco de Mayo last year! As for the food, it's mediocre at best. The first time we ordered their nachos, we were taken aback when they brought us a plate with 8 or so chips with cheese and chicken on them. I am used to going to a Mexican restaurant and getting a plate of nachos loaded. They do offer unlimited complimentary chips and salsa. Their chips are very thin, as is the salsa. I'm not really a fan of the salsa. I've ordered their guacamole once and it does taste fresh, but they bring it out on a bed of lettuce and there isn't much too it. Overall, this place can be nice for a date night, but I never went for the food. If you are looking for authentic or even anything resembling authentic Mexican food, this is not the place for you. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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We went with family from out of town and we loved it! Chris was our waiter and he was very attentive and the food was great! Manager stopped by to check to see if all was ok. We enjoyed our visit here in the restaurant. Will be going back! read more

It was like a premonition.. my brother whispered , " I see a 1 star coming". He looked eerily in front of the restaurant right at the greeter with a LED valve mask, barely getting by in getting people to enter the dim lighting of Uncle Julio's. TexMex is a joke of a genre for this restaurant. They serve fajitas, quesadillas and tacos and that's about it. Waitresses and bartenders don't even know what a Paloma is, let alone have any other flavor of frozen margarita. Fish tacos were stale and had no flavor. "Fresh " guac had plastic. Nachos had a fly underneath it like it just sunbathing. I'd go again if I expect bad food and 100% horrible service read more

Post-Pandemic Review We had been going to this place before and during the pandemic. It was a Tex-Mex place that you could count on to provide good food, good quality ingredients, good recipes all cooked perfectly, but you had to pay maybe a smidgen more, but it was worth it. Now you still pay, but the food and the service are below average. Precious likes fajitas every now and then, and she only wants the best. But these came without tortillas. The waiter said he'd be right back. He wasn't. Then I couldn't get a refill on a coke. The service was just pathetic. And then the chicken was overcooked. Just subpar. We were very disappointed with this place. It used to be a nice place. Sad. read more

We had a long wait to be seated but I was surprised as I was not expecting anything amazing. I did enjoy my fajitas and drink. Our service was good and i would definitely go back. I would say this is more of a Tex-Mex menu not an authentic Mexican restaurant but still enjoyable. read more

Let me start by saying Uncle Julio's is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants. I had a less than desirable experience in the end of December with some issues with a carry out order and was able to effectively share my feedback and have the issue rectified. The general manager was fantastic and I look forward to more fajitas, queso, and swirls in the near future! read more

Average rating is 3 stars on Yelp but that would be a stretch in our case. We were greeted nicely and sat at booth in bar area. I would recommend sitting outside the bar if you plan to dine. The sole Bartender had to cover our table and she must have been swamped because rarely came around - take order, bring food, bring check, thank you - Bye! She wasn't very pleasant either. Taco salad was a good size and well presented. Except my wife asked for no corn but it came with corn. She asked for another and they agreed and brought a new one with no corn. The second one was good except for a full size bay leaf found in the ground beef that she kinda choked on. I got the Shrimp, chicken and steak fajitas. It was just okay but everything a bit over done and dry. I might come back some day and get the Taco Salad and sit outside the bar area. read more

Uncle Julio's - Taco Salad - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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Ordered enchiladas and was shocked to see that my chicken enchilada was made with canned chunk chicken. That's just plain old disrespectful and so I shall never eat there again. The quality has plummeted in recent years. read more

Not even a hostess And we wait for 45 min for a table and they were giving tables for the new people not for the ones already waiting. read more

Terrible service, being place on hold for 15mins plus to order food over the phone. After ordering I was told it would be 15mins until it was ready. Showed up 20mins later and the food wasn't ready, was told it would be ready any min.. 15 mins later I was once atold it would be just another 15 mins, repeatedly until over an hour passed. Our fajitas came with raw vegetables and only two pieces of steak and 5 piece of chicken...for ~$90. Had to check through the bag and come back to ask for tortillas bc they were not included. Very unhappy with the whole experience. This place has gone so downhill. read more

It's a Friday night and the hostess was able to seat a group of 7 immediately! Yes! Our waiter was a bit out of it. He seemed a little confused when we asked to do 2 checks. Once we ordered apps, he was gone for a while. We realized whenever he came back, we needed to order immediately because we wouldn't find him again for another 30-40 minutes. Food wasn't bad. Drinks weren't bad. Place wasn't packed but a good crowd. read more

If you're craving a great margarita and tasty complimentary chips and salsa this place is for you! The chips are thin and fresh and perfectly salted. The salsa is flavorful but not spicy. I'd love more heat. I'm a fajita fan. I tried the chicken and steak combo. Both meats were cooked well and super tasty served with tortillas, ranch beans, rice and all the usual toppings. My boyfriend and I split the meal and both left satisfied. Bring an appetite if ordering for one! read more

Uncle Julio's - Pineapple jalapeño margarita - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

This place has really gone downhill over the past few years. Last few times we have tried, we set for 10 minutes before we even get water. Tonight our waitress was inattentive and absent most of the time. I had to hunt her down to get the check. It used to be hard to get a table on a Friday night, now it's no problem and I think I know why. No one wants to eat there anymore. read more

Was passing through on my way to North Carolina and decided to stop in and see an old friend and he suggested we go check out "Uncle Julio's". He's been here before and told me that no matter what I order, I can't go wrong. So we arrived and we were told it would be 45 minutes unless we sat at the bar which we did. We were greeted by our waiter who was extremely friendly and quickly ordered. Another gentleman brought our food out and did such an elegant job at handing our food out I really felt like I was at my typical 5 star restaurant. When I tell you the food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS I promise I wouldn't lie about it. Me and food are one in the same! I was barely hungry and I ate every bit of this "Steak Fajita Bowl". I HIGHLY recommend you stop here and try it. I would even go out of my way to stop by and try it again! Thank you for a very satisfying dinner! I'll be returning with more friends so I can share the love too! I will say this though, after our waiter brought the chips n salsa and drinks, we didn't see him for a long time. We sat without drinks for a little while. It's possible he had a lot going on because its Friday so I'm not mad at all but that is literally the only negative thing I could say! read more

Uncle Julio's - Steak fajitas Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

I have a tomato allergy (you're probably thinking, "who goes to a Mexican restaurant with a tomato allergy?"), but let me tell you, both times I've gone the servers and (possibly manager?) have come out to assure me that what I get doesn't have tomatoes in it. Like, I don't even ask for them to and they just do. They've informed me that some things that I wouldn't expect to have them do, such as the beans. I managed to get a full chicken fajita meal with cilantro rice subbed for Spanish rice, and it was delicious. I really appreciate the staff going out of their way... Also, 10/10 wait staff every time. These servers are on top of everything and are amazing! read more

We went again a few days ago and really enjoyed the food, starting with the Queso Blanco, which had just the right level of spice. The drinks were not quite to my taste, but the food was. Took the rest home and enjoyed it again for lunch the next day. I would have given five stars except we weren't happy with the server. While we were eating she got a large party, took their order, and then disappeared for a very long time. We were ready to pay & leave and waited a long time. Eventually she came back -- to the other table, and then back to us with an apology. It was still a great meal, and but her tip reflected our annoyance. We will be back anyway, and hopefully will be able to add a fifth star. To me this slightly edged out their neighbor, El Tio, but they are both favorites. read more

Disgusted. Walked in, table was dirty. Chips on chairs and table. Bathroom was dirty, towel dispenser broken and just hanging from the wall. Ordered guacamole, horrible. I unrolled my "clean" silverware out of the napkin, it was disgusting and the knife had what looked like a huge chunk of avocado! My mom unrolled her silverware, surprise! Her fork was just as nasty as my knife! Ordered Jalisco fajitas, barely any meat on the plate no to mention it didn't taste like much either. Husband's food was plain too. This place used to be our favorite spot, now it's going downhill. I don't know what happened from a few years ago until now but it needs new management. We stopped going here a few months ago because of a previous bad experience. Today we gave it another shot, this is the LAST TIME we ever go. We're disappointed and a little disgusted. read more

Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday and this place was busy! There was a wait, even though I used OpenTable to reserve a space before arriving, but the wait wasn't very long. Service at the table was really nice... Our server was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The food I ordered was decent. Their chips & salsa is always fresh and tasty, even their habanero salsa was nicely done with some decent heat. The fish tacos was ok, but the lime that came with them was clearly cut hours (if not the day before) before, as it was shriveled and dried. The cilantro on top of the rice was also dried, as if it had been sitting a while. Overall, the freshness simply wasn't there in this meal. The beans were amazing and tasted fresh though. Again, service was nice, but the prices are way too high for the portions and lack of freshness. read more

Uncle Julio's - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Where do we begin? Ordered from there Savage Burrito part of the restaurant. Ordered delivery. Half our order was missing. The food that arrived was cold and missing ingredients. Would not recommend. The only items that arrived correctly were the churros and the can of coke. Pathetic. read more

Food was fast and tasted great. The general manager is very friendly and walks the restaurant

My family and I came in over the holiday weekend and had a great experience. There are multiple new menu items and our server Caitlyn was extremely knowledgeable and answered every question without hesitation. She even gave us a few tips food wise on how to make the plates even better. We had a great conversation about margaritas and we even watched her make them herself, absolutely delicious. The food was great and the quesabirria and shrimp Caesar are definitely a new favorite. We came for the food and drinks but definitely stayed for the service. At the end of the meal we were offered gift cards and received a great deal with over $40 in reward cards. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Uncle Julio's is always good food. We had a reservation for 10 and were seated on time. This place is always packed, but that's not surprising. Love their chips and salsa which I always fill up on. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Cannot go wrong here! read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Best service in the world The experience is wonderful the is amazing the best in Gainesville read more

Ordered chicken quesadilla and 2 chicken enchilada meals for delivery using Uber Eats. Quesadilla was delicious, however enchiladas were too salty and completely inedible. read more

One of my favorite place at the Gainesville plaza. The guacamole, the enchiladas and the nachos are delicious. I love their patio, it has a nice vibe. Jile,our server, was a sweet heart. We will keep on coming back. read more

The food was fine. I got the Carne Asada Plate; it tasted great but not the kind of Carne Asada I'm used to (I'm from San Diego where Mexican food is LIFE). The rice was more-than-a-lot drier than I prefer. My 3 kids (10/5/2) shared two kids' shredded chicken quesadilla meals. While chewing her third to last bite of her quesadilla, my daughter found a flat, curved aluminum or metal shard in her mouth! I just couldn't believe it! I've never experienced such a thing. Imagine if one of my kids cut their mouth or swallowed it; I just can't. I notified Door Dash immediately regarding the order but when I asked if they'd notify the restaurant the rep I chatted with did not make it clear; s/he simply stated it's been escalated to their team. Hence, my unfortunate two star review on Yelp. read more

Uncle Julio's - a half moon on a wood floor - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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First off, this is a review of Uncle Julio's GAINESVILLE location only. We ended up eating dinner here tonight because we failed to plan far enough in advance to get reservations elsewhere for Christmas Eve dinner. Lesson learned. That being said, there are worse places to eat Christmas Eve. We were greeted promptly and seated immediately which was nice. Almost as soon as we sat down we had our drinks order taken and the first bowl of chips and salsa were delivered. The first of many as it turns out, since this was the point where efficiency came to a screeching halt. After our drinks were delivered and our order was placed we settled in to eat chips and relax with our drinks. The chips and drinks were refreshed as soon as they emptied (water, people!) and 3 bowls of chips and nearly 40 minutes later we were STILL waiting for our food! Now, I understand it's Christmas Eve, the restaurant was busy (not jam-packed but just busy) maybe they didn't have enough kitchen staff, but still that is a LONG time to wait for food. When it finally arrived not all of the food was served piping hot, and everyone's beans and rice looked congealed (beans) and crusty (rice). The food was tasty, though I've had better, but no one was happy with the lengthy wait or being served sides that looked like they'd sat under heat lamps the entire time we waited. Two of our group ordered fajitas but we were not offered any additional tortillas once the 6 we started with we're gone. Needless to say the sides were barely picked at. Overall, not the greatest experience. Next year we will plan better and eat somewhere worth the money. Uncle Julio's is too pricey for the quality we received. read more

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Came here with one of my friends and the service was prompt, the food was tasty, and COVID practices were observed. I don't have any complaints about our visit. I was quite pleased our server rushed our first drink order at 5:53 to make sure we got in before the end of Happy Hour at 6! read more

Uncle Julio's - Skirt Steak Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

They are understaffed as everyone else is at the moment, but they hustle to take care of their customers. I sat by the bar and got to watch the staff run back and forth helping each other take care of tables. It took a little longer for service, but I commend their hard work and teamwork! I had the chicken and steak fajitas. The food was fresh and hot when it came out. Portions were just right and I really enjoyed the house-made tortillas. read more

Love this place! I always get the Fajitas, they are delicious. My boyfriend got the carnitas tacos and loved them as well. Nicholas was very attentive and took great care of us! Can't wait to go back. read more

Tried getting in contact twice by email to management to talk about my experience here 2 weeks ago, no answer unfortunately, im not suprised based on how bad my visit was here please stay away from this place. The service was extremely bad worst i had in the area and only one thing i ordered was decent. read more

Absolutely the best chips and salsa in town! I always love their food and ambiance. Found out they make great Margaritas as well! read more

Uncle Julio's - Enjoy a grand celebration dinner - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia