Great food and great atmosphere amazing jalapeño salsa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are restaurants that survive on precision, and there are restaurants that survive on memory. This place -- glowing softly in the collective subconscious of Arlington -- clearly belongs to the latter category. You feel it the second you walk through the door: the low-lit booths with their little upholstered walls, the faint ghost of cigarette smoke that no longer exists but somehow still clings to the architecture, the dormant jukeboxes sitting at each table like relics from a civilization that believed Patsy Cline could solve almost anything. Even as a newcomer, you understand immediately that this restaurant matters to people. The problem, unfortunately, is the food. One reads the local lore before arriving: the cooks retained during the remodel so the recipes would remain untouched, the menu preserved almost archaeologically across decades, the reverence accorded to dishes whose flavors now seem less timeless than simply frozen in amber. There is honor in that kind of loyalty. There is also danger. On a Friday night the dining room sat strangely hollow, despite enough seating to accommodate half the city. My glass of house cabernet arrived competent but anonymous, the sort of wine whose primary function is to lubricate nostalgia. I ordered the Italian steak, partly because the steak itself has a devoted following and partly because I was curious about the accompanying pasta. The steak, to be fair, possessed certain virtues: thick-cut, substantial, lacquered with a dark old-school steak sauce that tasted faintly of another era's understanding of sophistication. I requested medium well. One half arrived medium well; the other crossed firmly into well-done territory, as though two cooks had briefly argued over its destiny. Still, the steak was fine. The pasta beneath it was another matter entirely. Its red sauce carried the uncanny sweetness and flattened acidity of canned convenience food, conjuring memories less of regional Italian cooking than of lukewarm cafeteria spaghetti or a slightly depressed tin of Chef Boyardee. Alongside this came a lonely piece of white toast -- dry, pale, almost comically austere. Not garlic bread. Not rustic Italian bread. Just toast. It felt less like accompaniment than prop comedy, a plate from a lost scene in The Blues Brothers. My wife's shrimp fajitas fared worse. The menu promised tomatoes, onions, peppers -- the lively architecture of Tex-Mex abundance. What arrived was startling in its restraint: plainly cooked shrimp beside a few softened onions, one tiny shard of pepper, and none of the promised tomato. No cumin, no char, no chile, no discernible fajita seasoning at all. It tasted less unfinished than entirely uninterested in being eaten. And yet the staff was genuinely kind. That matters. Hospitality radiated from the room even when flavor did not. Driving home, I asked my wife how many stars she would award the experience. "Two," she said immediately, with the confidence of someone who had spent the evening searching for salt. I am perhaps slightly more forgiving, if only because the place itself exerts a peculiar charm. Restaurants like this become civic heirlooms. People do not return because the food astonishes them; they return because the booths once held first dates, because grandparents celebrated anniversaries here, because the jukebox used to work, because continuity itself can become a cuisine. Musso & Frank Grill operates in much the same emotional territory: a historic dining room sustained as much by mythology as by what emerges from the kitchen. But nostalgia is not flavor. Atmosphere is not seasoning. And in a city like Arlington -- where good food is hardly scarce -- sentiment alone may no longer be enough. You leave understanding perfectly why people love this restaurant. You also leave wondering why they still eat there. read more

Went for dinner last night, party of five. Started off with ice cold schooner of beer and the special jalapeno margarita. Both very good. Variety of meals, Mexican food, chicken fried steak and spaghetti and meatballs. All very good. Great server and food. Will be back. read more

Good simple steaks with different sides. They the Club Steak, The Mexican Steak, and The Italian Steak. All the same except for the sides. They also offer TexMex and other types of foods. Just basic food! All good!! read more

See all

I really wish there were more than 5 stars. This was such a fun dining experience. The food was great. We had a variety of steak, Italian and chicken fried steak. It was all delicious. Meatballs were excellent!!!! Our server was so great. Sarah was attentive, caring and we didn't want for anything. Her and Carlos were so friendly and made our toddler grandson very happy. Love the red checkered table clothes and the atmosphere. We will be back. This may be our new favorite spot!!!! read more

It was time for our Candlelite fix, it had been a while since we had dined at one of our favorite restaurants. We had finished up some errands in Arlington and we were hungry. One of the best things we LOVE about Candlelite is their huge menu that has all sorts of delectable entrees. Also, another one of the main draws is their COLD frozen mugs of beer and the addictive guacamole dip. It's the first thing I dig into after getting seated and ordering schoolers of beer. This evening, my wife decided to order the crispy chicken sandwich and fries. I opted for the Mexican steak, a rare top sirloin, refried beans, and rice. I've been ordering it for decades. Our server took very good care of us while we were there. The beer was cold, the guac was awesome and our entrees were delicious. My wife mentioned her crispy chicken sandwich was one of the best she'd had in a long time. She said she'd definitely order it again. My sirloin was cooked to perfection rare. Candlelite never lets us down, we love dining at Candlelite. read more

See all

Oh man, for sheer charm this place is through the roof. We were walking through the park and got hungry, so when we perused the pics and saw all the neon we knew we were in for a treat. Yes, that neon oozes old school wonder. We came in and saw a massive table full of seniors enjoying some kind of get together, so we knew we hit paydirt. Spaghetti? Mexican food? Steak? It's all here. Jackpot. We were seated in a booth (highly recommend) that was named after what I can only assume are either family members or some devoted patrons. The whole restaurant is a family/community/we've-been-here-forever vibe. It's also incredibly dark. Like, I love a good dimly lit spot and this was pushing the boundaries. The leader of the crew at the big party table apparently knew the place because he was visiting with his pals around the table and brought his own headlamp--I kid you not. When patrons are bringing their own headlamps, you know you've got a reputation for dimly lit dark corners. More than one shady deal has gone down here. It's perfect. The food is varied, as mentioned. A little Italian, a lot of Mexican, something for everyone. I slid into one of those combo platters with an enchilada and taco and was delivered a piping hot plate of food the size of a Studebaker. They're not doing gourmet or fancy American nouveau. If your aging uncle comes to town or you want to take your grandparents out for a great situation they'll love, this is for sure the spot. (Note: there was another table full of young people, so you can expect all ages here). read more

My favorite there is the Italian steak. The service is always wonderful. The beer is nice and cold and you just can't beat that nice little steak. read more

Candlelite Inn - Italian steak, mmm mmm good - Mexican Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Today we took a group of special needs adults to eat there -the staff and space was a 5 out of 5. We had great service and we had an area to ourselves. However the food: rice, beans, tacos, and enchiladas was awful-it was served buffet style. It was mush and flavorless. The chips needed salt and the salsa taste like ketchup and canned tomatoes. Someone did order a club sandwich of the menu and it looked good. The bathrooms smelled of sewage when we arrived. The entire area near the bathrooms was unbearable. I would have given 1 star but the service was fantastic. read more

My boyfriend and I had the greatest experience at Candlelite for our anniversary! We have the most WONDERFUL waiter named Sam who was so friendly and even offered to take a photos of us. The food came out DELICIOUS and was so filling. The vibes are so intimate and calm and a GREAT place to celebrate anniversaries. I would talk about the cost, but, my boyfriend didn't let me near the check. Absolutely give this place a chance and ASK FOR SAM!!!! read more

Candlelite Inn - Mexican Near Me - Arlington, Texas

We had a family event for about 24 people and the staff was so accommodating! Our servers were Wanda and Chloe. They were excellent! Our go to person, Nicki was so helpful. She created a special menu for our group and was always available when we had questions. We highly recommend Candlelight Inn. The food is always excellent! On top of our event, a high school reunion was being held in the bigger party room. They handled both of the events perfectly! read more

This is a Hidden Gem with Great Vibes and Even Better Food! I visited for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised! Each booth had its own cute little jukebox, which added a fun and nostalgic touch to the experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. I even had the chance to meet the owner--such a cool and welcoming guy who clearly cares about creating a great environment for guests. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance: it's open and lively, yet also has cozy, secluded spots that make it great for a quiet dinner. Whether you're planning a family gathering or a romantic night out, this place is an excellent choice. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

This is one of the hardest reviews I've had to write. I've been going to the Candlelight Inn since I was in my teens, and now in my 40's this is no longer the place I go to to catch up with the closest of friends. Hey, you can "okay boomer" (not a boomer) thats totally fine. I can remember in the 90's, my buddies knocking on my window "Dude, we're going to the Candlelight Inn, ya down?" and i got my shoes on and went out the door. Every time, I'd have the Chicken Parmesan. When I was getting to know one of my closest friends, that we've had each others backs on for 2 decades. Had a well "to do" friend that wanted to figure out if girls liked him for him, I told him take them to "Candlelight Inn". So many firsts at this place. Place where we went after I got my bachelors degree, had first dates with people I nearly married. We've discussed hard, and great times and life all within these walls. I mean no disrespect when I say this, but this is a Dive restaurant. Theres literally thousands of dollars I've spent in this Dive restaurant. No disrespect is intended. It is what it is. One of the fundamental foundations of a "Dive" restaurant is you don't change things. You can't start deep frying the chicken in the chicken Parmesan after liter decades of grilling it. Hey, if you want to try it a new way, please do. But put it on the menu under a different name. I hope this place has a long and successful future. It breaks my heart that I won't be a part of it, but it was there choice to make. read more

Love this place. My family has been coming here since I was in a high chair. My sister and I still go every chance we get. Had the nicest time today thanks to Wanda. Great staff, great food! Cute little booth with private jukebox playing! read more

Candlelite Inn - Mexican Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Excellent service (LJ) and great food! So cozy and clean and decorated for Christmas which was a plus! It gave my family a great opportunity to spend time together read more

So heard about this place from some of my co-workers. They said the food was really good. Decided to try ot out because a BBQ joint we went to was running out of BBQ when we arrived. Walked into the location and it's nice but very dim inside. Waiter came by and took my co-workers order and my order. Co-worker ordered the surf and turf which is steak and shrimp and I ordered the mushrooms burger with onion rings. I was hesitant about the onion rings because I hate the batter dipped ones I like the crunchy ones but ordered them anyways. Ordered my burger medium well and Co worker order his steak medium. Here is where it takes a turn for the not so good. It took forever to get food and there wasn't alot of people. When we finally got the food my burger was well done and co-workers steak was on the well done side no pink. Wasn't gonna send it back because we had been waiting for a while so it would have taken that much longer. On the plus side the burger tasted very good enough for it being pretty dry, bun was tasty and the burger reminded me of when I was a kid in the military bases and would go to the chow hall and get burgers loved them. Brought back memories of when my dad was station on the bases. Onion rings were great crunch and warm Steak 3 outa 10 just on the fact that it was well done Shrimps ? Outa 10 didn't taste them Burger 4 outa 10 again due to well done Onion rings 5 outa 10 Location is more a 2 1/2 for me but it won't let me put half stars. This is def not the place to come on a lunch break you might maybe call ahead. read more

Candlelite Inn - Mushroom Swiss burger and onion rings - Mexican Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Brought my MIL here today to reminisce. Chicken enchiladas filling was very moist and flavorful. Best beef taco I've had. read more

See all

The. food was nothing special. It may have been what I ordered (spaghetti and meatball). The place is a time machine and has a great family-friendly vibe. I will have to go back and try something different. The service was friendly and they really appreciated the business. read more

Have always. Loved. Candlelight inn only 2 times I was. Disappointed / once place was empty and they sit us down kinda close to the only other customer in the. Property The other time. Drove. Always to see a band & it was over when we. Arrived & they was loading up in the. Parking lot p read more

What a gem! We were looking for parking for Cowboys/Bengals game and this place offered a free drink and nacho bar with parking which was $60. Cold Dos Equis and delicious food. It is a restaurant could bring kids. We would do it again if offered. read more

Our group of almost 30 people had the chance to eat at the Candlelight Inn in Arlington for lunch. We were told we had a choice of three different items on the lunch menu. No menus were provided, so we had no idea of the prices. The choices were a "Mexican salad", a chopped steak with a side of either a twice baked potato or green beans, or a pork chop with the same choice of one side. We were given chips and salsa. At our table there were pork chops, chopped steaks, and Mexican salad. The salad was a small side salad with some hamburger meat, a little cheese, iceberg lettuce, and a little bit of tomato. The pork chops were dry, and the potato was half of a small potato that was like mashed potatoes in a potato peel and a little bit of cheese, and the chopped steak was a small ground beef patty, which was hard to cut. They added on 20% tip because our group was large. I had to go get my own to go cup because the waitress was also the cashier. I was shocked when she said my bill for myself and my daughter was $30.14! No way! I would rate our experience as a 0 if that was a choice. We will not be returning to eat there. read more

Lived within 5 miles of this place for over 8 years and this was our first visit. Firstly was a little frightened walking in because it wasn't very busy and it is old... I'm talking a year older than me old!! I ordered the beef tacos and hubs ordered the soft chicken tacos. We were both a little nervous because this place has a little bit of everything on the menu. Mexican, Italian, steaks, hamburgers, seafood and usually that is not a good sign but the Mexican food was good. The chips and salsa were really good and the beans and rice were decent as well. Sweet tea was excellent also! Will be back to try the charcoal steaks but will pass on the Italian! Hubs is from Rome so I doubt he would go for their pasta. Lol. Sorry we waited so long to give this place a try. 65 yrs they have been here!!! read more

If you are looking for a place to host a large party I highly recommend Candlelite Inn. We celebrated my parents 65th wedding anniversary on Saturday for lunch. We had a party of 20. We had a large private room to ourselves and the service was absolutely amazing. Shout out to our server Wanda. She is the best!!!! She is the sweetest and very personable. She gave us all top notch treatment. Of course the food was great as usual! read more

Went there today, got a steak and they did not disappoint very tender thanks Nacho for cooking it, great service from Wanda.

Love Candlelite Inn, have eaten at this place for over 20 yrs (old & new building). I no longer live in Arlington/Mansfield area. So do not get to eat there that often anymore. Recently 4 days ago (Wednesday) took relative to DFW Airport and went down to restaurant around 11:30 am. Waitress was Wanda, she was awesome. We chatted often when she would check on me. I had the #4 (always #4 or #3), this is cheese enchiladas & tacos with Rice & Beans. This was great as it has always been. Hasn't changed in all the time I've gone. Always love there chips and original hot sauce and there spicy sauce (green). They had a new Roasted salsa, but didn't try. Like I said Wanda was great and could hear her talking and making customers at other tables enjoy conversations also. She was great. I get to eat here maybe 1-2 times a yr now. Never disappoints. I have gone 30-40 min out of my way to come here sometimes. Thanks for the great Food and Service. read more

As always, Candlelight Inn was over and beyond. Wanda took great care of me during my visit. I've been coming here most of my life and I love the food, staff and the place!!! read more

It has been a while since the last time we were here... the meal was amazing (Beef Enchiladas, a side of their guacamole, and drinks. we had a primary server and a trainee. both were attentive, pleasant and familiar with the menu offering. the service and delivery were quick, accurate and they checked back often providing service that is rare these days. The food was delivered not warm, but out of the oven hot. serving size was was large enough that I will have a substantial lunch tomorrow. overall assessment... Candlelite Inn still delivers a great meal at a great price with service that harkens back to when good service was the rule, not the exception. read more

For a new waiter, Sammy did a good job. Good service. Very attentive. Ample portions! Free queso on game days if you wear Ranger gear. read more

The Service was wonderful 5 on that. Very attentive without asking. Ambiiance. Hmm not sure what that is It was very dark inside. Oldies music playing. You could reasonably talk above. Food not on menu but they sell small rib eye with potato and salad toast. 8 oz somewhat overpriced at 30 US and medium well was only so so equivalent to Ponderosa of old. Friends got Mexican dishes one got pizza all had generous portions. They seemed to enjoy. Double check on sporting event days nearby. They charged more to park cars so they close. read more

Candlelite inn . Been coming to this place for 20 years , this was the first time we've been back since 2020 , some friends of ours were looking for a good spot to eat so I recommended this place. Boy has this place gone downhill. My wife ordered the Surf & Turf and my friends wife ordered it as well , each entree cost 30 dollars , came with a salad first then the steak and baked potato they both asked for the steak cooked medium rare but both came out WELL DONE , we were waiting for the waitress to come back to the table to tell her but she never came back to the table, this was at 7 pm on a Saturday night and the place was dead ! Only 3 other tables in the entire restraunt, we finally had to wave the waitress down . We told her the steaks weren't eatible and that we didn't want them anymore and didn't have time to wait , the steaks were not eaten because they were way over cooked and terrible taste . The restraunt refused to take the steaks off the bill and said they weren't going to because the ladies ate the salads that came out before the meal and took a bite from the baked potatoes . Asked to speak to a manager and they didn't care one bit ! All we wanted was to not have to pay for something we couldn't eat . I've been in the restraunt industry for fifteen years ! If the guest isn't satisfied we don't force them to eat the item or pay for it . I don't ever recommend anyone to ever come to this place , it was once good but has really gone downhill. They do not care about the customer or serving out good food . There was 8 of us and none of our food was good . Unless you like unseasoned well done steak. the fact that the management could care less about the customer returning speaks volumes .we didn't ask for none of the eaten food to be taken off the bill only the steaks we could not eat. And they refused . The service wasn't good either but since there was more then 6 of us we were forced to pay the 20 percent gratuity , we would of at least payed 15 percent for the terrible experience but we were stuck giving with the bill for the uneaten steaks and 20 percent gratuity . Terrible expierence please do not eat here . There were only 4 total tables in the entire restraunt on peak Saturday night , that ought to tell you something . My food tasted awful as well , had the spicy chicken Alfredo was very underwhelming . And the prices have gone way up ! Maybe your expierence was different but tonight was bad enough to make us never want to go back . Rude management that did not care about us at all. read more

Always love Candlelite Inn! L Jay was terrific and the food was in point! Will be back for sure!

Extremely friendly service and a huge delicious variety of food to choose from. L Jay and Wanda are the best waiters and care about their customers. I go here often and love their guacamole! Portions of food are huge and prices reasonable. read more

We met my son and his wife for dinner tonight. Dinner was great, even though we all think prices are a bit out of line since we have been eating there since the early 1960's. My problem tonight was the fact that there was something on the floors to make shine,(my opinion). They looked wet. My husband is almost 83 years old and walks with a cane. The floors were slippery and he almost fell twice. Once he took hold of a table and the second time, my son took him by the arm and supported him till we got outside. The server told us that it was from the humidity. I disagree, but I won't take a chance of the possibility of his falling. read more

Food was horrible- we ordered a fajita dinner; and there was actually gum, stuck in between my daughter's tortillas- the manager came over and argued with me, her kitchen didn't do it... please don't go there; terrible food but even worse customer service!!! read more

Love this place been going for 55 years great food best green dip need to bring back the piñatas though ;)

Great place for family and friends to sit and have a good meal. Try the green sauce.

The food is not good. It lacks flavor. There are too many other options to come here.

I haven't been here since I was a child. It still has the same vibe it did back then. This place is adorable. It is so Arlington and I'm glad it's still around. The server was a great guy. He added to the atmosphere by being respectful and friendly. The food is great. I can't even remember the last time I had a steak that tender. My husband is picky about his burgers and all he could do was talk about how he wished we had burgers this good in Austin. read more

I love this place and always have. This place is not a 5star restaurant so come with an open mind. It is a hole in the wall, off the beaten path, old school type of a place. Yes it is dimly lit in here but the name is Candlelight Inn. Food is always served hot and by friendly wait staff. So enjoy. If you are a stuffy uppity type then you may not care for the charm of this restaurant. It promotes a real vibe not pretentious one wanting to keep up with the Jones'. read more

Not a favorite. Our son-in-law loves shrimp, but didn't like the shrimp dish he ordered. our daughter and the two of us ordered everything burritos and wished we didn't. We thought too many ingredients were mixed together. read more