Popped in to try the lunchtime menu as colleagues have been many times and love this place. A main and a margarita for £10, great! Ordered the mini chicken fajitas (you get a lot for 'mini') and was served beef. When I mentioned this to the waitress she contradicted me and said I'd ordered beef before stomping away to speak to the manager. 2 minutes later I was brought the chicken which was sizzling so much we ended up getting a steam facial. The waitress then barged past my friends chair to open up the windows. Overall the food wasn't too bad and it was a pretty good margarita but the waitress should probably not work in customer service! I decided to give this place another try as the food isn't too bad, what a mistake! Once again the customer service here stinks..we queried the bill as wine has always been offered to us instead of beer or a margarita on the lunch menu. She said this had never been the case so instead I provided her with the Yelp voucher to get 20% off the bill, she then laughed in our faces and stormed off to correct the bill. They seriously need to change their staff!! read more

Mediocrity. Complete and utter mediocrity, with a side order of grocery-store "tortilla chips" and a drizzle of mildly-perplexing stylistic choices. The atmosphere was fine--quite good, even--with the most authentically-taqueriaish ambiance I've found in the UK and a team of wait staff who dealt quite adeptly with our large and boisterous party. The chips were rubbish but the salsa was quite good. The mojitos were almost entirely ice and un-muddled mint leaves, and the blended margaritas were bland tequila-slushies. The server didn't know what Pico de Gallo was. The "street-style tacos" were, um, evidently never served on any street I've visited. Served in FLOUR tortillas (?!) and wrapped as little mini-burritos they were, contradictorily, exceedingly mundane. Points for atmosphere, location, salsa, service, and the pleasant company with whom I dined, but I don't really have much more to give props for. Sorry, homes. read more

This is a place that I thoroughly enjoy going with one other person, be it your girlfriend, boyfriend or best friend or a group. Down a side street in Covent garden you a greeted by a small flight of stairs leading you into the wonderful world of Mexican aromas. The walls have Mexican posters of old adverts and imagery. To your right is the grand bar - always packed with stools situated around the bar and people standing everywhere. In front of you and to your right are table and chairs with red and white tablecloths. This is the restaurant area where sizzling fajitas and burritos are continuously being served. As a group the restaurant is great - sharing food and trying out new dishes. The tables are positioned in a very social setting hence the loud, bubbly atmosphere. My favourite part of this place is the bar. Somewhere to go as just two. You can sit at the bar all night! Ordering corn chips, guacamole, salsa and tasty cocktails. The bar staff are incredible - creating the most amazing cocktail creations ever! The walls are lined with all the different cocktails they produce and a very detailed and thorough selection of spirits. A fun buzzing place open from 12noon to 11:45pm - a must! read more

California knows some Mexican food. I didn't eat here, but I tell you when the plate of sizzling hot fajitas passed by me, I knew this was possibly a legit establishment. Apparently London doesn't do Jose or Margarita mix, things you learn when searching on cinco de mayo. That being said what I had here was good: -it was free -it had Jose me gusta. will return for the food. read more

I've never been fond of Tequila, for me it's always been that nauseating drink that's forced upon you at the beginning or the end of a night along with a dry wedge of lemon and salt. Yuck, yuck and triple yuck! However I have heard that along with Whisky and Rum, that if you avoid the horrible, cheap ones that you find littering bar shelves across the country, and find a good one, it's actually rather nice. I've tried very hard to find a good tequila bar and here at Cafe Pacifico I think I may have found it! They have a good range of Tequila, appear to be rather passionate about it. they even have a lovely certificate to prove that they have been approved by the Tequila Regulatory Council and that they are the first UK catering establishment to be awarded the distintivo T award for it's promotion of Tequila. I take this to be a good sign and can confirm that the Tequila that I sampled here, is indeed nice, in fact I might, even hasten to add, delicious! Cafe Pacifico is affiliated with La Perla, another Mexican restaurant with branches located around London. It has a very similar feel quite rustic and down to earth, with lots of wood and chunky tiles. This restaurant, unlike others in the chain, however is not underground so it has a nice bright atmosphere and is warm and lively. The food at Cafe Pacifico and La Perla, is also very similar, expect nacho's, taco's, quesadilla's. which, although quite uninspiring, is made well, appears to be fresh, and is great Tequila drinking food! The restaurant itself was very busy (especially for my Wednesday visit), but if you go to eat rather than sit at the bar, you'll have more chance to bag yourself a seat. So grab yourself a seat and a few plates to share, and enjoy the lively buzz! Whilst not a gourmet experience, I can see this place as being a fun and friendly place, with a good vibe, perfect for meeting up with friends after work for a few drinks, or before going out on a weekend. read more

As many other yelpers have pointed out, Mexican it is NOT. So if you're coming here for Mexican food, you'll go home very disappointed. FWIW, I'm Mexican-American, born to Mexican parents, originally from Chicago where it feels like there are more mexicans than mexico sometimes, so I know what Mexican food is and is not. The food is more like Tex-Mex, and drowned in melted cheese. Flavors are very bland, nothing is spicy. the "chorizo" is not mexican chorizo, it is spanish chorizo which is a whole 'nother ballgame. The refried beans are more like a paste than beans and I usually substitute black beans or frijoles rancheros for the refried. The enchiladas suizas are drenched in some white sauce that resembles nothing of what real suiza sauce is though the chicken in the enchiladas is very nice. the only saving grace for this restaurant was the fact that they carried "Pacifico" beer which is way better than Corona, and comes from the Sinaloa state of Mexico. Once you drink a Pacifico with lime you will never want a Corona again. Unfortunately, I went over the weekend and was informed they would not be carrying Pacifico beer until further notice. wtf. Overall, for the price and the "mexican" food you get, I would skip this place unless you want tex-mex with tons of cheese on it. read more

Loved this restaurant! I went in to celebrate my 19th with my mates!. I first started with adventure bar which was shit! Their cocktails were horrible then my mate suggested that we should go to cafe Pacifico. The cocktails were AMAZING!!! Great staff especially the bartenders and the food as well was just great! . It was my second time going and looks like I'll be going there every time I'm in the mood of Mexican food. read more

Cafe Pacifico - Amazing food! - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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Cafe Pacifico satisfied the craving for Mexican food, but just the littlest things could have made the place so much better. Some suggestions for improvements: Kudos on the salsa, but replace the thick corn chips with the ultra-thin kind! The chicken in my Quesada Grande was seasoned perfectly, but every part of that dish was strangely dry...fresher ingredients would have made an enormous difference. It all came out suspiciously quickly, too, so that my general impression was that it might as well have been pre-plated two days ago and microwaved to order. Especially the beans. The atmosphere was great, the servers were totally on their game. In the end though I'm really glad I split a meal with my guy and didn't pay 10+ pounds a piece for a basic mexican lunch. read more

Quick summary: the best Mexican food I've had in London so far. As those of you who follow me know, since moving been to London I've been in a never ending search for good Mexican food. As the U2 classic goes, I still haven't found what I'm looking for. But Cafe Pacifico is damn close. We couldn't get into the (mediocre) Wahaca so went off in search of alternative Mexican delights. We had heard rumblings of Cafe Pacifico and a quick check of the Qype iPhone app yielded the address and some good reviews. We found it nestled in a relatively quiet street in Covent Garden. As soon as we walked into the place I had high hopes. It FELT like a Mexican restaurant. Like a cheesy, tacky Californian Mexican restaurant that you'd find in Ensenada or something. I have to admit, I got a little emotional. As far as I'm concerned, restaurants live or die by there ambiance/atmosphere and Cafe Pacifico had nailed it. The place was buzzing with energy, the staff were smiling and having a good time, the walls were covered in nick-nacks and chotchkes that made the place feel like a real Californian Mexican restaurant. And we hadn't even ordered. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table but that wasn't a problem for two reasons 1) it gave us a chance to check out the bar and 2) it was 50 minutes less than the wait at Wahaca. The barkeep handed us a menu and I was immediately impressed with the Mexican beer selection. The Mexicans do great beer. Negro Modelo, Sol, Mexicali, etc are all fantastic and Cafe Pacifico had at least 8 different Mexican beers. We quickly got our table and the menu had some impressive treasures. Burritos, Chimichangas, etc were all there. My one piece of advice to Cafe Pacifico would be to ditch the haute cuisine stuff (duck, soy, etc) - you don't need the foodies, concentrate on your already good Mexican food and you'll be in great shape. LOVE the fact that they have Eastern Mexican food on the menu as well. My barometer for any Mexican restaurant is two fold: burritos and refried beans. Cafe Pacifico delivered both with aplomb. Way to go guys, you've now officially been awarded the alexhunter Best Mexican Food in London award. read more

Loved the decor and vibes in this restaurant. Had a lot of vegetarian choices. I got the avocado and quinoa tacos which was a healthy option and it was good proportion and filling. Tried the mushroom quesadilla which were nothing like I've ever tasted before...absolutely loved it read more

Got to try out their Street Tacos at the London Restaurant Festival Market over the weekend. And I gotta say, not too shabby. Their carnitas and blackened chicken were tasty. I loaded up on all the fixins (i.e. plenty of red onion, pico de gallo, salsa verde, etc.). I was shocked by the number of people complaining that they didn't use any cheese, but it didn't really bother me. If it's not queso fresco or Chihuahua cheese, it's not really authentic anyway. So, this preview made me think I might check out their main restaurant in Covent Garden. And of course, trash accordingly. Updates coming soon! read more

I went twice to the Pacifico. First time thought it was brilliant with its wooden decoration and tequila-filled atmosphere- loved it since. The other day I suggested we go with group from work for lunch there and was absolutely disappointed:(so was the rest of the team after appetizer- which was served burnt- we waited for almost an hour to get the main course!!which again was not up to the expectation. I am talking here on behalf of 5 people that went with me and all agreed that MY CHOICE sucked :( I have to say though that service was polite and nice- even when we said nothing about the burnt appetizer sampler dish- the waiter came over after 20 minutes and suggested to replace 'just the onion rings' with new well-cooked ones !! we said no read more

I can honestly say that I love this place. Being from California, I value mexican food and a lot of the places i have gone just haven't been up to par. This place however made me feel right back at home. I highly suggest the chicken chimichanga, it's so amazingly good. they also have the spanish rice and fried beans along with lots of chips, great salsa and the guacamole is quite delicious as well. All in all this place is great, the service is good. A few friends and I went in when we were in quite a hurry, we were out of there within thirty minutes. Great place and suggest it to all with a craving for mexican food :] read more

Alright, so I am reviewing this as someone who lives a couple of hours away from Mexico. I travel to London for work and I try to make Cafe Pacifico a part of the trip. God forbid I go a week without Mexican food! I would give the ambiance 5 stars, really I would. The interior is cozy, inviting and perfect for relaxing with a margarita after a long day. I think Viviane's review describes it best. It's been packed full both times I've been, which can make for a long wait. As far as the food goes, pretty average. It will satisfy your cravings, but it is gringo style all the way. That's ok, I didn't expect it to be anything else and it helps an Arizona girl get a piece of home while abroad. read more

Originally a tip from a colleague for good Mexican food in London, I end up here every time I'm in London. I've tried a couple of things on the menu, but I often find myself coming back to their "Street Tacos" - 4 tacos each with a different meat filling. The one time I ever had a problem, the waiter came over and apologies profusely, the kitchen had burnt my lobster starter. The end result was a high quality mojito on the house while I waited another 10 minutes for them to cook it again. The bar is fully stocked and I believe it has over 100 types of tequila. I'm not a tequila man, but their mojitos are pretty good, especially if you splash out for the better quality rum. Whenever my craving for good Mexican food gets bad enough, I sometimes find myself considering the 45 min flight to London for quick trip, dropping by Café Pacifico along the way. It certainly beats the 12+ hours in the air to San Francisco. read more

Being an American and very far from the West Coast where we tend to have fabulous Mexican food, I was ecstatic upon finding Cafe Pacifico. I went with a friend and shared a plate of nachos, REALL nachos! Not as big and plentiful as Red Robbin's Macho Nachos, but then again I'm in the States for good reason. We each had a margarita but sadly they left a lot to be desired. I've had beer and other drinks since and they are pretty good. Regardless, the staff were friendly, the environment was great, not too pretending to be Mexican but mostly actual Mexican. I've brought other State dwellers here as finding decent, true Mexican food is difficult to do in London. It's not going to be the same as home, but it is able to provide a very nice substitute. I also believe they are one of the few places that serves El Pacifico beer, and as the BF has lived in Cali he couldn't believe his luck in me knowing of a place that housed one of his favourite beers from the States. So to American's, keep an open mind to this place unless you're only passing through. If you've been here for some time this place is great, and for everyone else, it's worth trying after some viewing of street performers or shopping around Covent Garden. It's far enough off the beaten path that most tourist won't be able to spot it. Total win for me. read more

Gestern war ich hier im Rahmen eines Qype Events. Dies war die dritte Station unseres Covent Garden Crawls. Ein super Event, übrigens!! Ein großes Dankeschön an T und die Londoner Qype Crew!! Hier wurden wir von Carlos begrüßt, der schon seit ungefähr 15 Jahren im Geschäft dabei ist. Das Cafe Pacifico ist nich nur auf mexikanines Essen Spezialisiert, sondern schenkt auch viiiiele verschiedene Tequilla-Sorten ein. Darum ging es hier auch: Um Tequilla. Ob pur oder im Margarita-Cocktail es schmeckte uns! Und heute geht es mir auch gar nicht so schlecht, wie sonst wenn ich einen Tequilla-Abend hinter mir habe ;) Die Qualität der Spirituose, die aus der blauen Agarve gewonnen wird, ist also tatsächlich eine sehr gute gewesen. Darauf pochte Carlos auch: Das dem schlechten Ruf von Tequilla endlich ein Ende gesetzt werden muss!! Das Restaurant an sich ist sehr rustikal aber gemütlich eingerichtet. Viel Holz, eine offene Küche und recht groß. An der großen Bar stehen zig Tequillaflaschen und das Personal ist bestens drauf. Ich werde auf jeden Fall wieder kommen!! Das Essen war grandios, die Margharita war köstlich (frischer Limonensaft, besser gehts gar nicht!!) und die Stimmung war super. In diesem Sinne: Muchas Gracias!!! read more

Cafe Pacifico - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

To celebrate a friend's birthday, a group of 15 of us rocked up fashionably late for dinner. Good start guys. But thankfully the restaurant were really sweet and held our tables for us (they were obviously hoping for the 15-cover!) We arrived and all caught up in our raised private-feeling area of the busy and bustling restaurant. I say caught up, we shouted over the music. It was a tad too loud, even for the music and drinking lover I am! We eventually sat down after standing around chatting for over half an hour (whoops). Mexican is this place's speciality and it does do it well. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were delicious. Lovely tomato sauce, refried beans, coriander salad and paprika rice. Nice flavours, but I wanted more chilli heat. I asked for it without sour cream so I could try and get some of that (plus charging £1 extra for sour cream is completely ridiculous), but to no avail. Plus at £11 this place isn't cheap. It's in Covent Garden so can up its prices to attract tourists, but it won't pull any favours with regular crowds when it charges £17 for fajitas! I mean, THAT IS RIDICULOUS pricing for fajitas that I can cook just as well at home (I do love cooking a cheeky Mexican dish though!) Brisk service, nice food but overpriced. Tone down the music, knock off £2 from your pricing and you'll get another star from me. read more

First time in years me and my wife had starter, main, dessert, drinks and coffee. Everything was just perfect!!! Great staff and super nice service. We'll be back! read more

This is a great little place, and i'm obviously not the only one that thinks so - as the place is always packed out! if you haven't got all of your party with you, you will need to wait until they all arrive to get seated, so you can find yourself sat at the bar, sampling the mojitos and beer. All the favourite mexican dishes are on offer, and are all tasty, although are not amazing. If you have room for dessert the deep fried tortilla chips, covered in honey and cinnamon with ice cream are amazing - although completly filling! Agreat place to catch up with friends. The prices aren't cheap, but reasonable enough whats on offer. read more

I think as a trendy-ish place to unwind with friends for dinner, this place is nice. It's in the heart of covent garden and has really interesting margarita offers like Lychee Margarita. Servers are friendly and seats are plentiful. Compared to Mexican food from Mexico and Southern California, however, the food here is way overpriced and not authentic. In terms of a nice dinner out in Covent Garden, though, pricing is decent and the food is alright. I just wasn't a fan because compared to what I am used to, the food didn't taste as rich and hearty. But! What can I expect.... we are thousands of miles away from Mexico :) read more

This is a good Tex-Mex restaurant if you're looking for atmosphere and space to share with a group of friends. I particularly liked the tables by open windows, which looked very welcoming on a humid summer's day. Price-wise some items seemed a bit high - the appetisers in particular. Saying that, it is a Central London restaurant so they are keeping up with the Joneses in that sense. A bonus is that, in true Tex-Mex style, they provide free tortilla chips without you having to ask. I'm no expert on this genre of food, but I was happy with my quesadilla and the portions were decent - pretty sure I didn't finish mine and that's a rare occurrence! Downsides would be that the customer service seems to try very hard when they want to serve you, but it can take an age to grab someone's eye. The presentation on the plates could also do with a bit of work - I find that with this type of food, it can look like a pile of slop unless handled delicately. read more

How do I love thee, Cafe Pacifico? Let me count the ways.. This fabulous restaurant is not only the source of the best Mexican food in London, but it's fun, energetic and OH those marguaritas!! Due to its popularity, Pacifico is often packed to full, so expect to wait at the bar I recommend any of their cocktails on this occasion it will make your wait an enjoyable one! he Fajitas, Chimichangas and Quesadillas are all favourites of mine, but their range of options is extensive, and whatever you order on the menu, you will not be able to finish what is on your plate (take that as a challenge if you will). Unfortunately at around £8-£12 per main, and £6.50 per cocktail it's not a cheap night out. But perhaps that's just as well, or I would be going there three times a week. read more

The £10 lunchtime special at Cafe Pacifico is pretty hard to knock. A choice of main courses and two bottles of beer (or a margarita) will satisfy most people. The Chimichangas are superb, as are the Enchiladas. But no matter how good the lunchtime special is, it is the full menu that will tempt most people to return. The Taquiza, although on the pricier side, is awesome. The Street Tacos, Burritos and Alabre Tepoztlan are too. Even basics like the Chilli-con-carne are top-notch but might prove somewhat fiery to many palates. Vegetarian options are available, but limited. Best bet to non-meat-eaters will probably be the Tostada. The bill can sometimes take a while to arrive but then that's probably because the staff know that movement shouldn't really be attempted on such a full stomach! read more

This is probably the best Mexican in London, but it's a chain and it kind of feels that way. But, if you're after good Mexican food in London, I would recommend it. Have been here three times and I will go back! The service is friendly. Why only 3 stars? The margaritas in my opinion are weak and overpriced read more

Though the wait at Pacifico can be forever on a Friday night -- I think we waited about 2 hours despite a good deal of negotiating with the hostess -- you can at least hang out in the bar and get some drinks and appetizers. Careful, though, the bar area will be packed, too. The 25 year margarita was my favorite, though there were some others that sounded good, especially since they had a decent tequila selection. They also had a decent selection of Mexican beers, including Negro Modelo and Pacifico. Though some of their menu items are decidedly inauthentic, and they know it, the fajitas are good and the salsa is spicy. I'm still looking for a place in London that makes its own tortilla chips, though. read more

Cafe Pacifico is the best and most authentic Mexican Restaurant I've been to in London so far. Don't fall for those other cheap chains with inticing 2 for 1's or the tex-mex wannabies that pop up every now and then. Chimichangas are always a winner, burritos, enchilladas and quesadillas are all awesome, guacamole is top notch be naughty and try a sopapilla for desert. They also serve tex-mex incarnations, such as nacho cheese platters, which I've tried but not really enjoyed. Although their homemade salsa is very nice. As for drinks, Mexican beer is so underrated and No! Corona is NOT a Mexican beer!!! Negra Modelo seems to be the drink of choice for most of Pacifico's patrons, as it was mine, until they brought in Bohemia. I'd only had it once in San Diego a few years ago but my tastebuds have longed for it ever since. They have a special lunch deal where you can one of the popular mains for about half price at £6 or you can have 2 beers with you main for £10. Otherwise mains will set you back around £9-13 excluding service charge pocket change for the orgasmic taste you will be rewarding your stomach with. 5/5, I'd give it 6/5 if i could. read more

I like the idea of Cafe Pacifico, I'm just not sure I like the actual execution of it. The hype sells it as a mexican restaurant in the heart of covent graden - the kind of place you can go with lots of friends and have a really social experience with lots of cocktails and authentic mexican food. When I went I found that the service is chronically slow (don't go if you want to get food before 9pm), the drinks overpriced and sticky cocktails, and the food deep fried, deep fried and oh deep fried. What I hated even more was the open kitchen and the way it seemed to spew so much smoke into the restuarant that it was impossible to see to the other side of the table. Thank god I wasn't going out afterwards because my hair stank of cooking meat. I like the idea of these restaurants which provide a great atmosphere as well as good food, I just feel like in Cafe Pacifico I could do with a little less atmospere and some better food. I'm willing to give it another go but if I come out smelling of smoke again then that's it!... read more

Came here for a friends birthday. I love Mexican food, and the food here was the best I have had for a long time read more

What a great find, I was lucky enough to be invited to Cafe Pacifico and will most definitely be back again soon. The place was buzzing with a good atmosphere and loved the Cantina style decor. I tried the nachos, roast beef and jalpeno quesadilla and tortillas with fresh guacamole. I have been to many Mexican restuarants and I would highly recommend this one. Mexican food should have a kick to it so I loved having jalapenos in everything I tried. To wash it down I sampled the Margaritas which again where lovely. I have never been a fan of Tequila but Carlos was successful in changing my mind and learning how to drink it properly. His passion for anting customers to enjoy their experience is delightful to see. I look forward to trying more of the menu and maybe even a shot of the £150 tequila if I win the lottery! read more

At one point in time, Cafe Pacifico used to be one of the only London restaurants who actually knew what a burrito meant. Today, with a number of competing Mexican restaurants popping up each yearby the dozens in London, you'd think Cafe Pacifico would do something to keep its edge - but instead it has gone in the opposite direction, seeming unconcerned that loyal patrons such as myself may start frequenting other restaurants. Upon recently arriving at the Cafe Pacifico, we were seated quickly but it took over 30-minutes to actually get our order taken (only after I prompted the host to find out where our waiter was). After complaining, someone did eventually take our order and our food followed fairly quickly, but one of the dished ordered was wrong. Deciding to eat the wrong dish rather than return it and wait even longer, we started eating and immediately noticed how the quality had gone done compared to what was prepared five or even 10 years ago. We finished eating and low and behold, had to wait another 30-minutes before having our bill brought to the table, despite asking various waiters and waitresses, and only after it looked like we were about to leave without paying the bill. Needless to say, the experience was not acceptable, unless you're the type who doesn't mind waiting around for Mexican food that isn't very tasty. Also, if you're looking for a restaurant where you can have a quiet conversation, Cafe Pacifico is not the place. read more

Great Mexican dinner in London. Dinner for 4 covered a combo platter, fajitas, enchiladas and chimichangas. Margaritas daiquiri and a virgin Mojito. Wonderful meal and not ridiculously priced. read more

Best advice about this place is to do mid-week and book a table in advance. The food is OK to good, let's face it most Mexican restaurants seem to serve the same ingredients - tortilla, tomatoes, beans, avocado - in different combinations over and over again. The drinks though are great, especially the frozen margaritas. Enjoy the vibe over dinner, then pop next door for cocktails at The Langley - much more civilised. read more

Nice food, friendly atomosphere read more

Cafe Pacifico - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

I must have been here six times before I actually ate any of their food, and when I did I couldn't really remember it the next day... you see there's a bar here and they sell a magic happy cactus juice called tequila. This not a trendy bar by any stretch but there is always a real buzz about the place and it's way too easy to get stuck here, perched on a scholl, wondering if it's a good idea to spend an obscene amount of money on a shot of tequila that gets your name on the wall. And the food? Erm... it's Mexican. read more

A long metal filament was found in my vegetable fajitas for one. I am 8 months pregnant and took a bite of the fajitas that I had assembled. I suspect that the filament was from the grilled vegetables. I felt something hard and sharp in my throat and spit up the mouthful. I separated the food from the filament and showed the manager. He apologized and said it looked like part of the metal cleaning brush that they use to clean the grille. He said they would talk to the cook and throw away the brush. He took the fajitas off the bill. I was very shaken up. It could have pierced my throat. I suspect that maybe there was also cleaning solution left on the grille if there was part of a brush. The next day I had very bad diarrhea. I think I'm ok now. I think the baby is fine. read more

One of my friends once told me that you don't eat Mexican food in London. We've been here twice now, and honestly I love it. I also love to read reviews before I write my own to get an idea of what people think, and I think I've determined that people's ideas of what Mexican food should be like at restaurants are completely different. Growing up in Alaska, my experience with good Mexican food was pretty standard. Nothing special, but I always enjoyed the flavor profiles. After moving to New Mexico and experiencing the wonders of the cuisine there, I fell in love with the flavors even more. Then I moved to California, where honestly, I felt like most of the places were pretty much the standard, bland, tasteless food you get everywhere. Maybe I've never been to the "good" Californian restaurants, but my six-year experience of the food there basically seemed to be different fatty cuts of meat dripping in grease thrown into tortillas. Throw some boring beans and rice on the side and you've got a Mexican dinner. Granted there were one or two places that really elevated things, like the Oaxacan place I would go to in Watsonville that closed down, but the "standard" places were pretty boring. It's why it puzzles me that many reviews talk about how this isn't the amazing food in California. Honestly, it's better than a lot of the places I went to there. Yes, there are a few faults, what place doesn't have those? But I've eaten here twice now, and both times I was more than pleasantly surprised with the food. The first time I went, it was with a large group. I had the steak and mushroom fajitas, and they were really tasty. I thought the flavors were much better than I could have dreamed and much better than the Mexican place that's near our flat. The second time we went, it was just my partner and I. He wanted to order the duck and scallop fajitas again because they were insanely tasty the first time, but he decided he should try something else. We decided to share some quesadillas, so I ordered the chicken and he ordered the mango, jalapeno, and Brie. Both were quite tasty, the chicken being slightly more traditional, and the Brie being a bit more of a modern take. He had the beef chimichanga main, and I had the street tacos (which are five mini tacos: steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, and chorizo) with a side of the mole sauce. I love mole, and was a bit apprehensive, but I figured I should try it. I want to swim in their mole. It was more chocolately and sweet than most moles I've had, but it had a background heat that made the sauce amazing. I gave some to my partner, and he fell in love with it too. Mine also came with charro beans (a bowl of beans with pork) and I'm going to see if I can order those instead of refried beans. Amazing. Also, I will be ordering mole every time I go. I don't care if it's not traditional, it's fantastic. The drinks are tasty, my personal favorite are the rose margaritas (which are pomegranite and rosemary, seem weird, but tasty). Nothing is perfect, we had slightly stale chips on one of the meals, but the salsa is fairly tasty. Yes, there are some strange things which aren't "authentic", like the duck and scallop fajitas and the Brie quesadillas, but I think they do a great job bringing a modern twist to some great classics. Plus, I've never been to Mexico. My ideas (and several others who reviewed this place) seem to be based on eating Mexican food in the United States. The Oaxacan restaurant in California had some unusual dishes I'd never seen before in Mexican restaurants. I'm pretty sure that like the US, Mexico puts a regional flair on their cuisines, and while they don't seem authentic to me, they might be authentic to others. All in all, it's a fun place, where you can have a good time and some enjoyable food. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait for a table on the weekends! read more

The food is ok, the service is terrible, atmosphere is lively but loud. Had the guacamole, not fresh, comes via ice cream scoops out of a large pre made pot. Ordered the fajitas, lots of veggies, very little meat, veggies not sliced the same size so you'll receive uncooked veggies alongside overcooked veggies. After we flagged a server to take our dessert order, I also ordered a coffee with dessert. The dessert came, the coffee never did. They should be embarrassed to add an auto 12.5% service charge for the quality of their service. Shame on you. Clearly from my experience this will not be a repeat for me. read more

The first thing that I want to do before I go anywhere in London is to go to Pacifico and have a nice beer and a good tequila. Everyone is very nice and attentive...! Still and always will be my favorite restaurant. To all the managers and crew, thank you very much. I wish to live here in London to have more every day. We need one in Philadelphia. read more

if you want authentic Mexican food.....go to Mexico (or a state in US that borders Mexico) ha-ha!! but if you are an uprooted SoCal ex-pat looking for a bit of Mexican restaurant atmosphere and a perfectly good meal, then definitely hit this spot - it will fill the void. i didn't venture further than a burrito (ranchero sauce on the side please), so i played it safe and was happy with my choice. the pleasant surprise was the refried beans and rice that the main course came with, that was just like home and - yum!! read more