We dined here Saturday night & had a great waitress. She was so attentive & kind. I got a skinny margarita & it was the best margarita I've found in the area. Most places are very juicy & this one was not, you could actually taste some tequila. I got the shrimp tacos & they were decent. My husband got tacos as well & enjoyed them. We'll be back! read more

Vaquera - Shrimp Tacos - Bars Near Me - Southern Pines, North Carolina

Best in town!!! Great service and nice ambiance!!! We will be back soon. Thanks for the great food and service.

Excellent! I am from Texas-Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, born and raised there and I know my Tex Mex. This is the real deal! I looked for 2 years to find a acceptable TexMex restaurant in this area after I moved here. One of my prime rules is if the chips and salsa is good then try the beans and if they are good also you have found a place that takes care of the lowest items on the menu. I have tried most of what they offer and it has all been good to great except the Flan. Try their Chili Relanos. James Lovell PS they have a good bar also Pss Ask for Koa she's great! read more

My first 5 star review in what feels like a while! Back in town for the holidays and my fam said we had to go to their new "favorite Mexican restaurant in town." We came for lunch and servers were super friendly and food came out so quickly. Their complimentary chips and salsa were good - chips were crisp and not too salty; salsa had a kick but they can provide mild salsa upon request. My sister tried their boozy iced coffee and I had a sip - delicious! For main I had the California Burrito with rice and beans... it was so good and filling. Definitely recommend trying this place! read more

Vaquera - Bars Near Me - Southern Pines, North Carolina

We were in town for the day and, despite the mixed bag of reviews, decided to try this spot out - if there's one thing I know, it's that everyone's tastes are different, so I prefer to try things myself. :) I'm pleased to say that lunch was delicious. The service was prompt and friendly, the chips thin, crispy and fresh, and the salsa had a really nice spicy kick. Not too much - just enough. This spot is well decorated and welcoming, and has a nice covered patio area outside. I got the Flautotas - think of a larger style of traditional flautas- with pork - there were two of them and they were very large and filled with pork. My husband got Las Verdes enchiladas, also pork. He loved his as well. Presentation on both was truly unique and beautiful from what you see in an average Mexican restaurant. Next time we're in the area, we plan to return. Thanks, Vaquera! read more

Vaquera - Flautotas - pork. Delicious! - Bars Near Me - Southern Pines, North Carolina

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I am so happy to have found this place! I am new to the area. I was greeted and seated immediately. Chips, salsa, then a quick order of queso. My server was super friendly, always there if I needed her, but unobtrusive. I didn't feel rushed at all. Vaquera is cute! It is bright and the decor is nice and well placed. The music is great. They have live plants, which I love. And a little cactus collection in a molcajete There is a warning on the menu that the food is made fresh and may take a while to come out. I prepared for a wait, but it came out super quick. Here's the thing, we go out for Mexican food most times because we want a specific selection of foods that are "popular Mexican". This place does it well. I got pollo vaquero and it was delicious. Grilled chicken with poblano, zucchini, spinach, and cheese. The chicken was good and the veggies super fresh. Yelp is bugging me for a photo, but I had already cleared my plate. I liked the heat of the house salsa! Also, I watched the staff turn over several tables and transition to dinner service while I was there.The staff is a well oiled machine, work well together, and seem to enjoy their job. As I read the yelp reviews, the more I like Ms Maria. I don't know her, but her food is delicious and she has created a space that is exactly as it should be when you have a craving for Mexican. When mine hits, I'm coming back to Vaquera! read more

I have been here a couple times and tried different things each time. Their salsa that comes with chips at the beginning is too spicy. I guess it keeps me from getting full on chips & salsa before my meal though ha. Their margaritas are not good. I tried two different ones and it just tasted like mixes and syrups and not with the right ratios. Their CA burrito is huge, so if you're hungry that is a good entree to get. But it isn't the best quality (French fries, steak, etc). I did enjoy the birria tacos I got the 2nd time we went. But I don't ever have the desire to go back...especially if I'd like a drink with my lunch or dinner. read more

Visited here with my dad today and Vaquera did NOT disappoint. Service was friendly and fast. FOOD was intensely flavorful and the spicy mango margarita was out of this world delicious! Way to go gang. Can't wait to bring my husband! read more

Vaquera - Vaquera ACP - Bars Near Me - Southern Pines, North Carolina

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Food is very good. Service excellent and the ambiance is lovely. They are in the old Toast building next to CharBar read more

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Excellent food! Salsa was spicy just the way I like it. Service was great & we will be back again soon!

Ate here twice in three days due to a family member in the local hospital. The food is fantastic and service was very good.

So happy for Maria and her crew! This new location is perfect, the food and drinks are fantastic. read more

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The Queso Fundido is amazing. The service is fantastic! Highly recommend as the best Mexican food in the area.

This is our favorite Mexican food in town! Being from Southern California, we have high standards. The Vaquera ACP is some of the best ever.

This place gets three stars because even though I didn't like it, my husband did. Mostly because of the degree of hotness of the salsa (I couldn't eat it, but it was ok because the chips were just meh) and the other sauces that came on the chimichanga we shared (the shrimp). Everything was very bright and very fresh, and the atmosphere is really cool. The bartender could have been friendlier, but maybe she was just having one of those days. Bottom line is I won't be back, but hubs probably will! read more

I just moved here from the west coast and was worried when I heard there was no good Mexican food out here. While this place isn't the most authentic, the food was delicious. I love that chips and salsa are served right when you sit down. The service was great even during the dinner rush! It was pretty nice and quiet, unlike the restaurant next door that I had to walk right out of due to the overwhelming noice level. We'll definitely be back! read more

Salsa was good, my burrito was tasty. My wife ordered enchilada with flour tortilla instead of corn. the cook made it with corn tortillas anyway. No comp due to his mistake. We won't be going back there again. read more

Hi all, my name is Deborah. I thought this establishment was okay other than this guy named Richard, who more or less ruined our night. He was rude and inappropriate with some of his comments. I found him extremely creepy and off putting. I looked and saw him being careless and disgusting with some of the meals which is just a whole other thing. Hope to have a better experience if we ever return but I would say it's really unlikely after all this. Thanks all. read more

We ordered two burritos and I will rate them at 1 out of 5. The burrito with the chille relleno lacked the egg batter it traditionally has, so that was disappointing. The burrito that was suppose to be a California burrito with fries and avocado should be called onion burrito because they filled it with so much onion it was overwhelming. I will not go back to this place, I feel they can do better, but will they? read more

It was good but the margaritas were not that top shelf for what we paid for and was happy with the service

Service was excellent and got our food quickly. The drinks and food was great! Definitely authentic. read more

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Went here a couple of weeks ago and didn't have the greatest experience. When we came in the host told us he needed to clean off a table for us and he would seat us shortly. He didn't put us on the waitlist and after about 5 minutes it seemed as though he forgot about us? Several parties were seated and after checking again we were finally seated. Then we weren't waited on for at least another 15 minutes at our table. Our food was okay, but nothing spectacular. I don't think we will be back. read more

We we're disappointed to find Charbar 7 closed so we went next door to Vaquera. Our dining experience at Vaquera was a pleasant surprise. Their mixed drinks were superb, and the food was exquisite. We are big fans of Vaquera now! read more

Four of us gave Vaquera our first try today and were pleasantly surprised. Many of the negative reviews just did not make sense to us. Several reviews mentioned the decor as too bright. We thought it looked great and the vibe was very Mexico. The restaurant was very clean as well. But where it counts is the food really. And they did it well. The salsa was definitely made in house and incredibly flavorful. Some reviews have mentioned that it was a bit spicy. Often I am confused at whether they mean heat or spicy as in flavor. It was to me quite mild in heat, yet full flavored. The chips lacked homemade feel but sufficed. My wife ordered Fajita's, which is completely an American invention but a staple now everywhere in Mexican restaurants and these were very nicely made and full of flavor. They came in a small skillet but were not the sizzling show that is done at many restaurants. Just for folks to know, the little show is just the waiter pouring water on the food when it comes out of the kitchen. Many places keep spray bottles in the service area. What was nice was they did not skimp on the meat. It was a good balance. I ordered enmolada's. A cute name for enchiladas with a mole sauce. They are normally made with chicken in Mexico but the waiter offered me to have them filled with steak or carnitas. I did not know there was an up charge for carnitas but was fine with me when the bill came. The carnitas was tender and perfect and the mole tasted well balanced. They topped it with a drizzle of sour cream and some pickled onion. It really was quite a nice dish. The rice and beans were not greasy and really felt a step up from other places. Our guests ordered fajitas and a chicken dish over rice. They both truly loved their dishes. His chicken came with a nice crema and what looked like queso which I abhor normally. But they did not drown the dish which is nice. Queso is just another American idea started by a chef in Arkansas that I wish was not so loved. But if you like white cheese soup all over your food, then good. Here they pulled back a bit. All in all clean, well made, favorable food. Great service and a cheery vibe. We will be back. read more

My first ever review on Yelp. Had lunch at Vaquera yesterday and it was very good. The food was delicious and the portions were large. The chips were very good and the salsa had a kick (in a good way!). Our wait person was personable and attentive. The restaurant was clean, well lit and had a great atmosphere. The next time we are in the area we will be back for sure. read more

As with most restaurants in Moore County, the reality rarely lives up to the hype. After hearing great things about the new Vaquera, my friend and I dined there on Friday night. The atmosphere is bright and cheerful but not what I was looking for in a dinner location. Although the place wasn't crowded, we were seated in a one sided booth facing the bar. There was a television in front of us with a bartender who cast unfriendly looks on the few tables that had occupants. She and another employee frowned and looked miserable throughout the meal. Our waiter was great. Very friendly and efficient. The food arrived and it was exactly the same fare as every other Mexican restaurant in town but more expensive. There were no new flavors or anything to warrant a second trip. I had the Vegetable Fajitas and my companion had the shrimp tacos. Nothing special here and terrible ambiance. I will say that the lunch menu looked reasonable and can see that this place will be more of a lunch spot for the medical center than a nice dinner place. If you want a 'date night' restaurant, this isn't it. read more

Excellent new restaurant. Food is delicious. Everyone was very friendly. Great service. Everyone in our party of four thought their meal was great. Superb Margaritas! read more

This place is amazing! I've been several times and everything I've ordered has been divine. Drinks are great, service is fantastic. The salsa is so good! read more

Fabulous food, great service and nice atmosphere. I ate there 1 weeks and returned with friends the following week. They thought it was great! I can't wait to go back. read more

We have been seriously missing Maria, her brother, and her food. They are back and it is great! The new restaurant is a playful take on Mexican food, starting with the name, a created feminine play on the masculine Vaquero, meaning cowboy. The design is also playful, with room dividers suggestive of papel picado, the punched paper banners used in celebrations. Other decor reminded me of Frida Kahlo's art. The menu is for lunch and dinner, and includes some breakfast/brunch favorites like chilaquiles. Many of Maria's takes on Mexican traditional and street food appear on the menu, too. Of course, Maria's Famous Margarita is also here! You won't go wrong coming here if you are looking for Mexican vs. Tex-Mex. read more

In one word, TERRIBLE! We were excited for this place to open. Being from Texas, hoping to finally have a good quality Mexican restaurant in the area. Unfortunately, this place really misses the mark. The ambiance is noisy, cluttered and too bright. Service is okay. Our server was friendly and delivered the food we ordered, but the food was awful. Chips and salsa were delivered right away. The chips did not appear to be house-made. They were a little stale and the salsa was ok but nothing special - could be a little too spicy for those preferring a mild salsa. We ordered a side of guacamole to have w the chips. It was lacking in flavor. The entrees were delivered timely, but not much "wow factor" in the presentation. We chose the Chimichanga de Cameron (Shrimp) and La Flaca (salad w Shrimp) - both $15.99. The chimi looked more like a burrito. Not the crispy golden fried tortilla stuffed with meat and cheese one would expect. This was a gluey, soggy flour tortilla containing 5 shrimp swimming in a soupy mess of butter, peppers and onions, barely dipped in oil, flopped on a plate and drizzled with a little cheese sauce and a chipotle crema. A scoop of dry black beans sat alongside with a tired pile of shredded head lettuce topped with a few cucumber slices and pickled onions. I ate a few of the shrimp, a couple of peppers and a bite of the beans, but left the rest piled in a heap on the plate. My friend had the salad. A pile of head lettuce with 5 cold shrimp that appeared to be left over from a fajita plate. A scoop of pico de gallo, sliced cucumber, avocado and more dry black beans. The "homemade avocado ranch" was ok but nothing special. She ate a few bites but she found the shrimp off putting and left most of it on the plate. For a $50 lunch, this left us hungry and headed for a stop for ice cream on the way home. Sadly, we won't be returning. read more

Presentation was awful and the food had no flavor we thought because it was new they would out some efforts out but no it was all bad. The fries in my California burrito were cold. It wasn't busy when we went in so there wasn't even a reason to have rushed. read more

It is wonderful that this family found a perfect location for their newest endeavor. The imaginative menu makes both food and beverage decisions difficult to make. The taco salad was delicious with the crispy yet light shell containing all of the components that brought back memories from years gone by. The margarita with tamarind was a blend of savory, mildly sweet yet refreshing ingredients that tantalized the tastebuds and leaves you wanting another. The service is impeccable. Recommendations are thoughtfully provided, and most of the team will greet you at some point during your dining experience. The outdoor veranda is a pleasant place to dine and enjoy an easy breeze. read more

We went for a late lunch and we're so glad we tried it out! The host set us right away. Restaurant is very clean and our waitress was very nice. The food was delicious!! I had the chorizo tacos that came with a corn tortilla, onions, cilantro, rice or beans. I can't wait to have it again!! Definitely go support them! read more

I was very excited to try this restaurant because of the good comments I had heard. I was VERY disappointed!!! First off the 4 seater table was extremely small...not enough room for 4 people, the food, chips, salsas, etc. The chairs were MOST uncomfortable!!! I ordered Nachos with steak. The best thing about this dish was the chips and sauce. The steak was terrible!!! WAY overcooked to the point of being burned. The veggies were okay...not the best but edible. I will probably NOT go back to this place to eat!! A better option is down Morganton beside the service station. read more