We came on a Tuesday around 7pm and it was pretty busy but we didn't have to wait for a table…read more Their service was fantastic throughout our dining experience. The staff were very attentive and hospitable. On Tuesdays, they have a Mix & Match 3 tacos deal for $11.99. You can mix both flour or corn tortilla tacos, but it doesn't include the Birria tacos. I ended up trying the shrimp tacos on flour tortilla, ribeye taco on corn, and al pastor on corn. I also tried a bite of the carne asada on flour taco from my sister. I would highly recommend the al pastor taco. It's juicy (comes with pineapple sticks) and the flavor is fantastic. The shrimp was also good but it's on the heavier side bc they add cheese. The ribeye was my least favorite and although the flavor is good, it's pretty dry without much sauce. If you want steak, I would go for the carne asada instead (they add guac) Overall, fantastic restaurant and a great deal for tacos on Tuesdays. My favorite part is the complimentary chips and salsa. Life changing.

We were sat upon entrance. Our server came soon after but after that we had to ask other servers…read morefor assistance. She popped up after we were finished didn't check on us. Food was mediocre but the atmosphere was nice. The chorizo was over charred for my liking. The beans were bland. The cheese dip is wasted good bit was runny.

Esmeralda Grill is a very authentic local Mexican spot that does a lot of things right, especially…read morewhen it comes to classic comfort dishes. I usually rotate between the tacos, enchiladas, and molcajetes, and while the tacos themselves are just okay, the overall experience is solid. The fresh chips are easily some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant (warm and crisp). Add queso to those chips and it really seals the deal. They more than make up for the tacos being a bit underwhelming and are honestly reason enough to come back. This is a great neighborhood spot if you're looking for authentic flavors, generous portions, and excellent chips and dips (biggest downside is no liquor aka no margaritas). Not every dish is a knockout, but the highlights keep it comfortably in 4-star territory.

Esmeralda Grill absolutely rocks, and it was almost a restaurant that I considered avoiding because…read moreI ordered the wrong thing. I was really one mayonnaise filled torta away from missing out on my favorite Mexican restaurant of Cary. The food is some of the freshest and most authentic in the area, and is consistently spot on. Forget heavy burritos or overly sauced enchiladas, this place is the real deal. When you come to Esmeralda Grill, you should really focus on the meat heavy dishes, whether it be via land or sea. There are so many different options to choose from, from both categories. When thinking seafood, expect the full fish. If you find yourself with the fresh grilled tilapia, you will receive a delicious whole fish that tastes as if it was caught that morning. It is such a fantastic option. I also appreciate the camarones a la diabla, or Diablo shrimp. The shrimp are plump and juicy, the spice of the dish is excites your taste buds and is a great dish. My favorite entrees are the land meat dishes though. El Trio Perfecto is my go-to order, it is grilled steak, chicken and pork all on one plate with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas. The Mexican spice rub on the meats is absolutely mouth watering, the flavors are so bold and tasty. The meats are all cooked to perfection and the portions are gigantic. You can make different tacos with the various meats, it is seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes. I would highly recommend this! Additionally, Esmeralda Grill has so many other wonderful dishes for different flavor profiles. My grandparents are pretty particular about empanadas, but simply cannot get enough of Esmeralda's version. They also make some killer tacos, and some very affordable ones if you were to come on Tuesday! The moral of the story? Don't base your opinion of a restaurant after a single visit. You don't come across a fantastic hole in the wall every day, Esmeralda Grill is one that every Mexican food lover should know!

We came here for lunch on a weekday and we were seated right away. Staff is very attentive and the…read morerestaurant is very clean. Not your typical Mexican restaurant as chips and salsa were not served and a little bit higher in price. I ordered chicken and rice and the chicken was full of flavor. The plate had a good portion.

I've been there three times and have found it overpriced every time. About half of the things I've…read moretried. I feel like OK, and the other half I didn't really care for. They usually aren't very busy, so sometimes I think they forget about us and follow up service get slow. I love that there's something to eat in that plaza besides fast food, but I haven't been too impressed with anything and most importantly I think it's way overpriced. Oh, and I went with young kids Monday and Heard some pretty graphic lyrics in the music. Not a huge deal, but if you're going with young kids, I don't feel like hearing the F word while you're reading your taco salad, you might wanna avoid it anyway.

I'm really going to miss this restaurant. A'verde was one of the best upscale Mexican spots around,…read moreand every visit felt special. The food was creative and full of flavor, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the whole experience always felt elevated. It's such a loss to see it close, because places with this level of quality and personality are rare. A'verde was truly one of a kind.

Atmosphere and service was friendly.. maybe I went too early in the day but the food wasn't good to…read moreme. The Brussel sprouts had a lemon taste and a sweet taste very odd and it was DROWNING in grease and brown butter. I had the KIDS quesadilla , something simple you'd think.. one bite was sooooo salty really overpowering. Chef came out to let me know he could make something diffrent and switched the Brussel sprouts out with fries and that was good but beware they use a very salty cheese on the quesadillas . Other than that they have the $5 margarita Mondays and those got me lit fast! Very worth the 5$, also chips were a little burnt -- this experience was about 9 months ago before closing.

Still amazing service and food! The servers are friendly and fast!…read more The food is always great!

Great food and service I come here very often the food comes out so fast. Great music and viberead more

I love this place so much! Their pupusas are always so good and the staff are always so friendly…read more I'm honestly shocked that whenever we go there is barely anyone there because this is one of my favorite places in Cary and deserves all the hype. I also HIGHLY recommend getting their atol de elote drink when it's cold outside. It is so comforting and taste like Christmas. I always get the #7 and it is the best of all worlds.

El Cuscatleco in Cary…read more Came with a friend and my meal was the plato típico. Came with a nice variation of different foods and flavors. Generally speaking the food was super yummy but not the best ever. The tamale was very bready with little filling, but was good. The yuca fries and sauce were the best ever that i've had. The portion to price ratio is retry good. My plate was roughly $15 but lots of things to nibble on. Atmosphere was nice, staff was friendly. Nothing memorable of this place though.

If you are looking for good real Mexican good, this is where you go. We went twice in a week!!…read more For lunch - you need to get the green chilaquiles. They tasted exactly like my grandma used to make when I lived in Mexico. The right amount of spice, tangy and the eggs on top perfect. For dinner - please get the chile relleno - poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp. Flavors just together nicely with the chipotle crema they drizzle on top. Service - A+ Ambiance - they have these wonderful murals all around that give the place a positive and energetic vibe. The music is a little on the loud side but since one is focusing on all the amazing flavors, it really is not a deterrent.

Vibrant, upscale vibe. Bold, flavorful dishes done right. Cocktails hit, service attentive and…read moresmooth. La Santa is a Raleigh must.

Adorable little place in Morrisville. Food was amazing! We got the nachos Supreme and some…read moreenchiladas and both were delicious. The nachos were probably my favorite nachos that I've had anywhere. Everyone was very attentive and food came out quickly and was really hot. Definitely will be back.

Another great Mexican restaurant option in the area! While it is surrounded many other options,…read moreMamacita holds its own as a place that serves delicious food and has some individual charm to it. While the food is on the pricey end, the portion sizes make up for it and the quality is there. On my first visit, I tried their Tres Amigos dish. It is basically a mix grill with shrimp, steak and chicken. It came with rice, beans, and veggies. The meats were super flavorful and the rice and beans were actually great! I hate it when a Mexican place just dumps overcooked rice and goopy beans and calls it a day. The veggies were very clearly frozen and came from a bag, wasn't all that excited by that. I think arroz con pollo (ACP) is one of the simplest, yet, most delicious Mexican dishes. It is chicken, cheese and rice, how can you mess that up? Mamacita does their ACP justice. The chicken is tender, there is a nice balance between the cheese and rice, and it is just a great combination altogether. They also do a decent job with their birria tacos (although wasn't the biggest fan of the consume) and their churrasco plate. They even top it with a legit salad, not just the chopped lettuce and tomato. In the end, I am always full and satisfied with the meal. I certainly think this is worth a visit. Oh, I forgot to mention everyone's favorite thing about the place, they have a robot server! Definitely very cute.