If I could give 0 stars I would. I have been here a couple times and each time I have found that 1) the food and drinks are ridiculously overpriced and NOT worth it, and 2) the service is absolutely horrible. I was a server when I was in college and so I am usually understanding about the demands on wait staff. However, I've been to Uncle Julio's at down times, when no one is there and it still takes a half hour to get a drink. Don't even think about getting drinks re-filled on a Friday or Saturday. Each time I have gone here, I've left irritated and vowing never to return. This time, I'm seriously never going back. There are other, more authentic and better priced Mexican places. Don't waste your money at Uncle Julio's. read more

We picked this restaurant for my father's birthday! What a great pick! The chips salsa/guacamole was delicious. My chicken enchilada was ok, but the service was top notch! Nick did an amazing job and was so polite! My dad loved the chocolate piñata! Overall, great experience and service! read more

Seriously??? Tamales?? I love those things and UJs does them perfectly. Since the tamales are actually an appetizer I ordered a side of beans and rice and washed it all down with a seasonal pineapple jalapeño margarita, simply awesome. Service was great albeit a little slow, we sat in the bar area and they seemed a little short staffed. 4 stars due to cleanliness and slow service. read more

We were hesitant to come here because of the reviews....but we are so glad we did. The table side guacamole may be a bit pricey but so yummy. The Fresh Grapefruit Marg AND the Fresh Raspberry Marg were DELICIOUS....I'm not the biggest fan of margs because the mix is usually too much but these are super fresh with bits of raspberries and grapefruit. The veggie quesadilla, veggie fajitas, shrimp al pastor, & cilantro rice & beans were absolutely delicious. We will totally be back. read more

Really overpriced for what you get. Fajitas did not come out sizzling. The steak and chicken was pretty plain. Steak was chewy and hard to bite. Server didn't bring tortillas with the meal. Had to ask multiple times. It was fajitas for two but received one small condiment plate which was on the fajita plate so the shredded cheese melted. Brought only 3 tortillas for two people. Had to ask for more. The daiquiris were really bad. The frozen grocery store mix is much better. The beans are very soupy but you don't get a spoon so you drip the bean juice all over the place. Rice is nothing special. Bright side my daughter really liked her taco salad and my husbands enchiladas were good. I think the experience would improve if they trained their staff better with more attention to detail. read more

Food was very good. Our server took our order, and then proceeded to sit at computer register, socializing, never checking back with us other than to bring our check. Noticed many of the wait staff hanging out with each other goofing around playing on the outside patio dining area. Great food, but disappointing service. read more

Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Even though it's a franchise restaurant, I would stack their food against any local Mexican restaurant. Highly recommend table side Guacamole and Fajitas, the Swirls are equally good, Enjoy! read more

Pricey, with poor, slow service in our case, and this was later in the evening when the crowds were thinning (ca 8:15 on a weekend). Food not bad. In their favor I would say in the main room there seemed to be a bit of ambiance, but not in the dull, charmless back room leading to the toilets, where we where we two well-dressed diners got stuck along with the noisy, slobby kiddy familes in shorts and t-shirts, for some reason. Quite limited choice of bottled-only beers. Our waitress was apparently trained by the Congress in the art of not getting things done. Very disappointing. Much better alternatives in the same complex: the surprisingly excellent BJ's Brewery, and the busy, grand Bar Louie. read more

I'm a very patient guy and I used to work as a server. It takes a lot to ruffle me about them because I know they have much to do, much to put up with and not much time. I tend to over-tip because of this understanding. I had some really cold, unwelcoming service tonight. It was efficient. Thats the only positive. We ran out of chips and another bowl was brought out without us asking but then the second bowl was unceremoniously dropped into the 1st(now mostly empty)bowl without just removing the 1st bowl. When My order came without the advertised avocado, I asked about it and instead of something like: "oh they must have forgotten , I'll go get it for you" I heard "ok. what do you want to do?" No smile ever came(Smiles still show through a mask). No pleasantries came through. She didn't even give a name. I asked her at one point if she was ok......At the end of our meal my wife was almost fuming and went to the restroom and I spoke to the server and told her that she made our evening less pleasant than it could've been and made us feel as if we were an inconvenience for her at the time. This may have been true due to something else in her life but we were not a demanding table in the least. For this young lady, please remember that part of your job is to provide a pleasant experience. You don't have to dance on the table or be my best friend but at least make me feel welcome and appreciated. I did tip but not nearly as much as the bill dictated. I'm very disappointed. I could go into more details but that would be piling on. Even if she had given her name, I would'nt share it cause she may have had a really bad day but I hope she learns from this.... Food was good though...... read more

I wouldn't recommend . The steak in the fajitas was really bad , it was just wast of money .

Recently went to this restaurant while visiting VA and we were very impressed by the service, excellent food and drinks and the overall ambiance of the restaurant. I've been in other Uncle Julio's in the past but this location tops them all! The entire staff was very professional and the atmosphere is very warm and inviting. Excellent place for a large group or a quiet cozy meal. The fajitas are awesome! Best we ever ate! The tortillas were perfect! Will be back!!! read more

My wife and I are big Uncle Julio Fans. We generally go to an Uncle Julio's restaurant in the area once a week and the one we most frequently visit is the location in Gainesville. The food is outstanding, the prices right for what you get, the portions are plentiful and I love that the manager and wait staff make sure their customers are happy. I would definitely recommend them for a visit if you are looking for great Mexican and Tex Mex food. read more

Everyone is always so friendly starting with the hostesses! Those ladies were so sweet! Server was awesome with great food! I go every week!

Soo happy Uncle Julio's is open in Gainesville. Food is so good. Staff has been great too. The only negatives are the price and the wait. The good news is they take reservations. I will be back. read more

I'd give this place a solid 3.5 stars *** Great skirt steak fajitas. Also had a table of 8, they could have brought more than 1 refill bowl of salsa to the table, as the bowls are quite small. Service was a tad slow but I am patient especially because I know it is newer and it was during the holidays. I have one complaint. I have been to many Mexican restaurants in the area. Fajitas of any kind are always my go to. I am not huge on dairy so I do not use the cheese or sour cream. But always the pico de Gallo. And there is never that much on the little fix ins plate that they give you. I always have leftovers and I always ask if I could have some tortillas and a side of pico to go. Never EVER have I had a server tell me that they would charge for extra pico. Are you kidding me? I ordered steak fajitas for 2, $37.99 and you can't give me a little extra pico? I thought this was absolutely ridiculous and cheap. I was not happy. It's a little tomato and onion! What could that really be costing you? I'm not asking for another piece of steak! Anyways. Waiter was very cool. He messed up a drink order and gave us 2 swirls for free since that's what we were drinking. It was also my birthday and he brought me some fried ice cram which definitely gave him so brownie points. Will probably be back, but only if I can get some pico!!! ;) read more

Hands down one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Is it real Mexican? Probably not. Is it delicious Mexican style food? Yes. The frozen margaritas are amazing, as are the fajitas- steak and chicken. My favorite dish is the shrimp stuffed with jalapeños wrapped in bacon. The table side guac is good too. read more

When I want Mexican food in the Gainesville area, this is where I want to go. It's one of the few places I can eat this type of food and feel satisfied, but not overstuffed. I would highly recommend it, just know it's a little pricey, but worth the expense. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is Mexican food is generally not my favorite, mostly because I don't like the way I feel after eating it. Uncle Julios makes me like Mexican more. There are a lot of dishes I like here, especially their shrimp dishes, i.e. tacos, quesidillas, fresh guacamole made to order at your table, refried beans and rice, which come with most meals. The only place that would be competition for them would be Jose Andreas' Rosa Mexicana in Washington, DC. Even so, I feel better after a meal at Uncle Julio's, because I am not stuffed. So if I had the choice, I think I would pick this restaurant over Rosa, which is saying A LOT. read more

Went there for my daughters birthday. We were seated quickly. Service was awesome and the food was good. It is a little pricey, but a nice treat. We had a great experience. read more

Horrible experience. Great atmosphere but horrible food, service, and overall quality of the restaurant. Extremely dissatisfied and outrageous prices. Almost wanted to walk out and not pay. Will not return and would recommend NOT going to this location. read more

Got awful food poising after eating here last night one of the worst I've ever gotten. Not to mention we were "asked to leave" and rushed out as the bar tender informed us he had given away our seats at the bar... won't be going here ever again. read more

This place is completely bad! Our server was super nice but unfortunately it took 40 min for our food to come out, it was not busy at all so it was not justify. The booth are also weak on support and they rock back and forth making it feel uncomfortable, and making you feel the person behind you. We spoke to the manager, manager carelessly did not care at all. This will the first and last time at Uncle Julio's. read more

Not great food. Kitschy pinata that kids like, but the "Tex-Mex" food is blah! They got one of the orders wrong and when they had to get it right, it took another 20 minutes. They should have "comped" that one meal because we were a party of 9, but they charged us for all the meals. Not good business practices. And, they are understaffed. read more

Myself, my husband, in-laws, and newborn son came to Uncle Julio's to enjoy a family dinner. We were seated at a booth and I kindly asked for a table as it would be a little easier to feed my son. Unfortunately, the restaurant was incredibly busy and the kind hostess was not able to move us. We spoke with the manager, Darren; he was incredibly professional, and accommodating. He was able to move mountains and move us to a table with plenty of space. He genuinely went above and beyond. As a new mommy and the first restaurant post baby, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Fawwaz was our server, he was also very kind and attentive. Great customer service all around. Would happily come back to this specific location. read more

We had a wonderful experience, our server Michael was great, the food was delicious and fresh, also the Pinata dessert was amazing.

We've eaten here a handful of times. I'm a vegetarian and have asked each times for my food to be served without chicken stock, etc., and every time they've messed it up. I spoke to the manager at least the first three times and was assured they would talk with cooks and staff. Next time, same thing. Food came with regular rice and queso. Unfortunately, we haven't been back in at least six months because my only true vegetarian options are margaritas and chips and salsa. It is important for wait staff to understand how the food is made and to be able to make suggestions for how to accommodate the various diets. read more

One of my favorite Mexican joints in 20+ miles!!! Great for family time and date night!!

This place look friendly, nice appealing. But the food spicy. Everything is!! That is not for everybody... Fish taco.. Not my favor.. The menu is big.. But we are not impress.. I won't go there.. Not for us.. read more

Would give zero stars if I could even though was unable to eat. I work in retail so I never ever complain but to walk into an establishment with 6 and be told at 5:40pm that we would not be seated until 8:30pm due to having 6 in our group and yet a party of 4 walks in right behind us and tell them 20min. Poor customer service. I guess I will never come back read more

We are frequent guests at this location and never have any complaints about the service or the food. Recently though one of our visits was less than perfect, but Larry, one of the the managers there recognized our issue without even bringing it to anyone's attention! He came over right away and took care of it without question! He made sure our experience did not suffer, and was very helpful and professional, definitely just what we needed to fix things. Thank you, Larry!! read more

this is an ok restaurant when it comes to food, it is a chain, nothing crazy, a bit pricey but uys pretty and food is descent

I work near by and our staffed all needed good warm food doing the snow we got today (01/13/2019) and thought of Uncle Julio's. I walked over and order at the bar. James "Bud" was so helpful in getting the orders just right, including adding our employees names on their orders. Once I got my order of two large bags of food, Bud asked if he could help me take them to my car, I told him I walked over from work. He offered to help me take the bags over with me. It was so nice to have someone do that and in the snow too. Thank you Bud!!! read more

Not a fan of this chain, ruined Mexican food by trying to make it gourmet... even the salsa was no bueno!

Went here for opening night so it was hectic as expected. The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. The Cozumel Shrimp Tacos and the Juanitas Platter are delicious. read more

My wife and I tried this new location for the first time since it opened, we have dined at the Fairfax location many times, We were not disappointed! The design of the interior is fantastic, the service and food was as good as we expected. We will be regulars to this Uncle Julio's location since it's about 5 minutes away from your home. read more

The first time it took over an hour to get the food but they made accommodations in the kids menu for my son since we don't eat red meat or chicken. The second time I took a friend for her b-day and asked the hostess to surprise my friend with a birthday dessert instead the waitress came up to ME right away and said happy bday!! spoiled the whole thing not to mention forgetting to leave us straws and so many other things that went wrong. This third time it was the manager Allen who came out telling me they can't make changes to the kids menu without charging us more asking if the shrimp was jumbo or small and repeating over and over things about portion control. I told him I came three weeks ago and ordered the "exact same thing" and the manager did it, he said "well, I don't know what necessarily happened." I said exactly what I'm telling you that they made changes without charging extra. He said again "I don't know what happened, I wasn't there" !!! he said this a few more times like a robot with automated response and disregarding what I was telling him. He stood their arguing with me and I told him it's not about charging me a few dollars more, it's about the principle. not believing me and saying "well I wasn't there" I finally got up to leave and told him how uncomfortable he made me feel and not once did he apologize or was willing to be nice. Allen was stuck on the fact that he needs to charge $2-$3 more because he "didn't know exactly what happened the last time" that is just unprofessional. managers are supposed to make you feel welcomed and not accuse you of not telling the truth... I was so embarrassed and leaving the restaurant hungry with my son, and him not once saying he was sorry or any empathy. He kept on saying "I have to charge you more." It wasn't about the money I would have paid anything but not believing your customer and arguing with them, is rude. They need an experienced staff. People who are fast and have good manners specially when it comes to managers. if your kid can not eat red meat or chicken the kids menu is very unhealthy. just cheese and bread is what they can have! read more

Had great lunch there yesterday. Gaelon the waiter was friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. Margarita was top notch. Had enough for a second meal. Only criticism was the meat in the fajitas could have used a little more salt. There was salt on the table but chose to eat it as it was. Will definitely go again. Chips and salsa, and quacamole were so good! read more

Bad service. Tried to get the attention of our waitress and she kept talking to another waiter. Waited 10 minutes. By that time we decided that a coffee refill and water were less important than leaving. read more

Called ahead as suggested by their website. Arrived with party of 5 and was told it would be 5-10 minutes. After 30 minutes passed I approached the hostess and she shrugged her shoulders and said they couldn't do anything about the delay. Another 20 minutes passed and we were told a table was ready; no apologies or explanation for the ridiculous delay. You are probably wondering why we did not go somewhere else but all the other local restaurants were booked with after Christmas diners too so we kept telling ourselves it was worth the wait. The food was not worth the wait. The menu options were the smallest I have ever seen. The food was nothing special. Not worth the visit and definitely not worth the wait. read more

We are big fans of Uncle Julio's. We were regulars at the location in Reston. We recently moved to the Gainesville area and immediately wanted to check out this location. Food is awesome as usual but the service not so great . The servers are friendly but seem distracted. We had to wait for our drinks to be refilled but were never, items we asked for (like limes) were never brought to our table, and the check took forever. I got the impression they're understaffed. We love you Uncle Julio's so we will continue to go but please keep the chips and salsa coming! read more

Love the location and the food was excellent. My daughter was not a fan of this food until she tried the Shrimp from my fajita.