I don't know why this place consistently gets reviewed as the best Mexican restaurant on the shoreline, but I have been there 3 times and it's been mediocre every time, I thought everybody could make nachos, but evidently not the Cuckoo's nest. The final straw was the obviously purchased tubs of half guacamole and half sour cream (even the supermarket's guac is better than that). I get terrific nachos from a sports bar a few miles down the road (specifically Chips in Clinton), which is hardly a gourmet haven, but at least you do get freshly made guacamole. That same night, my husband had very strange fajitas with carrots and zucchini. read more

Here's what I can say about this place after checking it out a couple times over the last several months. The service is consistently fine. The salsa is delicious and the chips are thick and crunchy. My preference would be a thinner chip but hat stand up well to any of the nacho appetizers - survive being overloaded with cheese, refried beans, et al. The best thing I can say about this place is that I've has the streak quesadilla. Sometimes you choose steak instead of chicken or ground beef and you never know what kind of rubber bands you'll be chewing through - fantastic. Fantastic steak quesadilla. Do not hesitate to order your taco, fajita, whatever with steak. Very tender, easy to enjoy. The worst thing I can say is over time I've tried different margaritas and never been thrilled with any of them. I love a delish margarita but just haven't found one here yet. If you are in the mood for Mexican absolutely give this place a chance. It's been around a long time, the prices are fair and we all have different taste. read more

I I had food from there that was brought home. So I never step foot in to the restaurant. My parents are gone shop to dinner. I was home recuperating from surgery. So they have called & said 2 look up menu anyway & call them back they would order when I wanted to bring home. Is ordered a beef burrito. I believe they got the beef burrito Grande because it came with rice and beans. I wanted it to have cheese in it which they put in it plus it had someone top-mounted along with a red type of sauce sour cream on the side lettuce tomato but I didn't want the onions because I only eat red onions. When they got home it was still warm the burrito was huge I can only eat maybe 1/3 of it & some of the rice & beans. I save the rest of the burrito to eat the following day. the rice and beans were so so but I save them at my parents finish them. I definitely would love to go have a food again and actually go see the restaurant and explore the menu some more. read more

What happened?! This used to be the go to Mexican spot along the shoreline. 10+ years ago I knew people coming from all over the state to go here. So sad, the food is literally inedible now. Sorry to say but cheese whiz style doesn't cut it. Are you cutting corners to save $ or your chefs just don't get it?! Clean house, bring back the "old' cuckoos nest, and step it up, big time. This new restaurant under questionable management is killing the name. Better tacos at Taco Bell. BRING IT BACK! You know what to do. Please! read more

I am a transplant from San Diego California where Mexican food is everywhere. I took my son to this restaurant shortly after moving to CT. I ordered beef tacos with beans. I received two tacos with "hamburger meat" and the beans were the type you have with hot dogs. My son and I could not believe how un authentic the food really was. We will never go there again. Sorry people but this is not what Mexican food tastes like, you are sadly being misled. read more

We ate on the patio last night. The food was pitiful. The chips were cold and greasy. Our waiter had few suggestions about specials. My grilled chicken over beans had a weird taste. The guacamole was acceptable, My husband has the beef fajitas and son had the taco plate. The food was exhorbitantly expensive for Mexican Food. It earned our "Never Again Family Rating." Sandra R read more

Though it's rated the best Mexican food along the shoreline, most of the votes must be from people who've never been to Mexico. However, it is better than many Mexican restaurants, expecially the big chain types. Their specials are some of the better offerings and tend to be a little less "Mexican". During the summer, the shrimp tostados are especially good. Tuna Mexicana is also a dependable special. Many of the regular dishes are overwhelmed by the sauce. The salsa is usually good, though the tortilla chips can be hit or miss. Crispy some days and soggy at other times. read more

I have lived in the area for over 20 years and have had decent meals, but last night was the worst meal, the food is horrible, over priced, microwaved food. We ordered enchaladas with mole sauce, my husbands was completely covered with thick nestle syrup flavored gravy and the corn tortillas were microwaved, very soggy, it truly tasted like dog food. We sent it back and it came back very fast. We spent far too much money for Taco Bell quality food, the only good thing about it was the waitress. Will not ever go back under that management! read more

We almost didn't go there after reading the reviews but our hotel staff recommended it, so we figured we would give it a try. The waitress was very nice and was able to give us great recommendations. We started with the guacamole app and it was very good. Then we had the enchilada mole and the fish taco. The enchilada mole was perfect and the fish taco was also very good. I can't understand why they have such bad reviews. Maybe they finally got it together. What ever the reason We will be back again. ! read more

We ate at this restaurant yesterday for this first time and ordered the lobster quesadilla special each. We were both disappointed as there was barely any lobster in it. Pretty much cheese and tasteless and not a cheap entree. I mentioned to the waitress that she should not recommend this dish if anyone asks how it is. We will not be back. read more

We go to the Cuckoos Nest every summer when vacationing in the area. It is one of our "go to" places. We have never been disappointed! Margaritas are great! Chips and salsa excellent and plentiful. We've been for lunch, dinner, and once just to relax at the bar for drinks. Yesterday we had the fajitas for the first time- not just the typical peppers and onions mixed in but also fresh veggies like carrots and zucchini, seasoned just right. We have not had any of the bad experiences mentioned by some reviewers. Staff has always been professional, we will be back! read more

I'm amazed at all the negative reviews of the Cuckoo's Nest. We have been coming here for 20 years and absolutely LOVE it. The staff is always attentive, the food consistently comes out delicious and the drinks are fabulous. We are always sending out of towner's here and have never had one person say anything negative. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun, clean and casual meal. read more

Don't waste your money if you are truly looking for Mexican dishes. The food is pricey for the portions you receive . The water had more flavor than the food! The staff is very robotic and there was not a welcome vibe going in... That was my sign I should've turned around and walked out right then and there read more

The Cuckoo's Nest is a shoreline staple. In business for over 30 years, it's the place to go to have a delicious Mexican meal in a relaxed environment. Not a fan of Mexican food? Try one of the weekly specials or a Cajun dish. There's something for everybody here! read more

Came here for the Sunday brunch. The selection was good, with options like an omelette station, French toast, burritos, ham/bacon/sausage, a taco bar, fajitas, and steak. The food itself was hit or miss though. The potatoes in the hash were nearly raw, the rice tasted stale, and the ham was fatty. The Mexican food was flavorful and better than the traditional stuff. Makes sense because it's a Mexican restaurant, but you shouldn't put out sub-par food even if it's not your specialty. Servers were attentive and friendly, and the restaurant was very clean. read more

Terrible food! Awful service. Started out good. Building is neat. Hostess was sweet! Very disappointing!

Beyond horrible. Hands down one of the WORST restaurant experiences I have EVER had. We took my friend here for her bachelorette before going out, thinking it would be a great fit since she loves Mexican food. Unfortunately, this is NOT Mexican food. It is disgusting, and I think ours was actually spoiled. The night started off badly with the waitress spilling water literally allover my friend and I who unfortunately were seated at the flanks of the table. But we brushed it off and were nice about it. Hey- accidents happen. We ordered drinks, the margarita were absolutely horrible. 3 of us got the original and they were all made differently. Mine had no sour, one girls was so bad (looked like dishwater, tasted that way as well) she had to send it back. When she did, the manager came over and was incredibly rude. She argued with us about removing it from the bill despite the fact that the drink clearly hadn't been touched. But still, we stupidly kept an open mind. Regrettably I have a gluten allergy, so I asked if they had any gluten free options. She said yes and told me she would bring me a menu. Instead, she came back 20 minutes later, took the order of the table and I had to ask again. Eventually she brought me a menu, and then didn't take my order. When she did bring out everyone's food, she only brought the side of mine. I sat there for another half hour with only rice and fajita contents and nothing to put them in, because she forgot my tortillas and started taking other tables orders. I would have been okay with this if ONE out of 7 of us had decent food. Instead we were all incredibly sick before we even went out to the bars. We literally left the place and drove BACK to where we were staying, and had to wait hours for our stomachs to settle down before actually going out again. Our bill was $150, and normally when you're sending that kind of money you are treated reasonably well. We asked that a certain dollar amount be charged to each credit card, and said to take the rest out of the cash. We had a more than 15% tip on the table, which was generous considering the experience. The waitress disappeared with our check and was gone for 30 minutes. So long, that 3 of our party stepped outside to smoke. The manager chased them down and told them they could not leave a $7 tip (the change from the meal bill, which would have been added to the tip on the table had she not done this) and began to harass them about what was wrong with the service. Finally they were able to explain that the tip was already on the table - mind you FOUR of us were still sitting at that very table, so it clearly wasn't a run out on the tab situation, and the waitress brought us our change. I am livid at this place. The food was terrible, and good service would have gone a long way to assuage us but considering the way the manager was treating patrons, it's really no mystery why the waitstaff is incompetent. Leading by example is all I can say. Don't ever go to this restaurant unless you want to spend an otherwise beautiful evening focusing on your newly acquired intestinal spasms. read more

Solid choice for dinner in the Old Saybrook area. As background, I should say that years ago, coming from a region of the country with excellent Mexican food, I avoided this restaurant - well I won't go into the details but it was sad. Since some apparently new management has come in over the last few years, the restaurant has changed totally in all areas: the food quality, range of choice in the menu, appearance and service. I am never disappointed. Being a pescatarian, I really appreciate all the fish and vegetarian alternatives to chicken and beef, and my family really likes the chicken and beef options. There are also a lot of non-Mexican alternatives. If you come here with a group, even the pickiest people with dietary restrictions or food preferences will be happy. They will also modify anything. Great beer and cocktails. The Cinqo de Mayo celebration was terrific. They also have a good pianist some nights - we prefer to talk rather than listen and they're always great about seating us at a distance from the pianist when we ask. In nice weather, the patio is delightful. It's also open on Mondays - many restaurants are not. read more

Had an amazing experience here! The atmosphere is super inviting and was great for the big group of friends we went with. The food was great but the service is definitely what will have me going back! Our server Dustyn was one of the best servers I've ever had! read more

Went there for dinner tonight with my girlfriend. Total disappointment! Food was less authentic Mexican than Taco Bell!...salsa didn't even have cilantro in it! Save your time & money, get a frozen burrito at the convenience store & nuke it! read more

This is what seems to be this area's standard take on Mexican cuisine. Mediocre. No fresh, bright flavors. No finesse. Just a mess of cheesy muck on a giant plate. Even worse, it's not inexpensive! I think you need to be drunk on slushy margaritas to enjoy this food. Horribly disappointing. I wish someone would open a good quality, authentic Mexican restaurant on the Shoreline. read more

The food was mediocre, the server was pleasant. They nickel and dime you for everything! We will not go back!

This is the worst restaurant I have been to in my life - service, food, wait time was so bad and they never returned my calls or emails - how bad this is - they should not be in business - They should have NO STARS or BELOW STARS!!! -- DGottert - read more

To be honest, I would not even give this place half of a star. The food was awful. Just awful! Tasteless refrained beans, gummy bland white rice, and what was supposed to be the specialty of the house, some sort of shrimp burrito......literally a large tasteless soft taco shell with five undercooked shrimp in it......nothing else. Just terrible! On the plus side, the service was fast, and the waitress.....wonderful. She serves better! Avoid this place! Even Chipotle, on the highway, is better! read more

Excellent Mexican cuisine in a warm, rustic atmosphere. Great food- Great drinks- Great service!!!! Congrats on 33 years!!!

How can Mexican food truly ever be 5 stars. Its like formal fast food. This place does a great job though and has been around for over 30 years. They have a great selection a great atmosphere and a nice cozy bar. If you want Mexican you can't go wrong here. read more

The absolute worst mexican food ever. I'm thankful my friend and I decided to share a plate since the prices are outrageous. The only thing that was somewhat ok were the chips and salsa. The food is exrtremely bland non authentic mexican. The tacos were soggy and there was no cheese in them or on the side. The enchiladas were tiny and tasteless. The rice and beans also had no taste and the guacamole was the worst I have ever had. I was so disappointed and quite frankly my stomach was sick the rest of the day and I barely ate anything as the food wan't edible. Only thing this restaurant has going is the location and the building it's in...it's quite a cool looking joint but that doesn't make the food tast any better! read more

Great Sunday Brunch...... Dinners are hit or miss. Service leaves a lot to be desired. Recently tried the Octoberfest Pork Dinner Special and I was pleasantly surprised it was quite tasty. Another favorite is the Mexican Pizza I really enjoy it.... Margaritas are a little watery though! read more

Heard some good things, thought we would try it. We did and probably won't come back. Nothing terribly wrong, but nothing worth revisiting. Just average at best. Relatively tasteless, service was OK but nothing special. So in a world of choices I would certainly make another choice. read more

Have ate here quite a few times and never disappointed. They have great margaritas and their salsa is very good don't listen to those other reviews it taste great it is a little thin but salsa varies in consistency it is about the taste. The rest of the food is usually very good especially the fajitas. The atmosphere is unique and very fun. read more

Pretty much the worst Mexican food I have ever had in my 35+ years. The rice was without a doubt NOT made today. The chicken was overcooked and under seasoned. The cajun shrimp and scallops were cooked well but not fresh, and under seasoned. They advertise, "1/2 off Everything Seafood" on Tuesdays, although I guess it's not really "everything" because I was charged full price. This is my third time here in three years, each time the food has gotten worse. Definitely never going back. read more

I will definitely be back! I went in with my father the other night and I have to say, we were both very pleased with our food and the service! I had the steak fajitas and he ordered the special pulled pork quesadilla.. YUM! The service was fast and friendly and their house-made margaritas were a perfect way to top off the meal! read more

Ordered a Mexican pizza on Tuesday, got food poisoning, missed the rest of my work week. It was delicious, but I have sanitary and cross contamination concerns. Bad first and last experience. read more

I always get the same meal here and love it! I order the Grilled shrimp caesar salad with added avocado and a light dressing on the side. The chips and salsa is always very good and their Sangria is tasty. My husband has tried a few items on the menu and likes the fajitas (without carrots) and their salads. He tried the street tacos and they were gross. It looks like most people have the same opinion of the street tacos. I'm not sure why they are still on the menu.I only have one complaint. Our last trip I found a wad of what looked like chewed up paper in my salad. My husband bit it to see what it was thinking maybe it was a piece of fish but it was paper! We were disgusted. It was in the bottom of my salad. I told the manager on the way out who asked how she could compensate us but I declined compensation. I just wanted her to be aware that it seemed intentional. The waitress was new and I have never had an issue like this in the 19 years we have been going to this restaurant. read more

Poor food and overpriced! I grew up in this town and this had been a great place to eat. We ordered tamales and empanadas, both of which were very poor. I don't mind paying a little more for quality Mexican food but this was bad. Thats all I can say read more

Back in August of 2014, I gave this restaurant a ONE STAR and I was being generous. I had not gone back until today. I read many of the reviews, some gave it 5 stars and some gave it it 1 or 2 stars. Most of the good reviews were More recent. I saw advertisd a Sunday early Bird buffet 8:30- 10:30 at 8.99. MY wife and I decided to try it. WE expected it to scrambled eggs, etc. The kind of buffet reasonable in price but not too exiciting. But were we surprised. FIrst, it had an omelet station and the chef took your order and then brought your omelet to your table. NO NEED to hang around the omelet station waiting for your omelet to be done. But the other choices were very good. Restsurant is a Mexican restaurant so you will find in the Buffet, tacos and Quesadilla. There is also stuffed sole and the usual breakfast items. SORRY NO LOX. UP to this review, for a breakfast buffet to get 5 stars from me, it must include an omelet station and bagels and lox. These buffets cost from $18.00-48.00. BUT, since this early bird buffet at the cockoo's nest was so good and the price so reasonable, I give it 5 star even though there was no lox. AND the DESSERT offers were awesome and included many choices from Key line pie to rice pudding. Again this was a big surprise. Just eating the desserts is worth the $8.99. Coffee was extra 2.00. Service was very good. Always filling up my coffee cup and taking away my empty plate. At 10:30, the early bird ends and a regular Sunday brunch starts. Price is $14.99. At least four items are added. And these are good. I will be back for the SUNDAY BRUNCH st 10:30 one of these Sunday. I wonder if you stay over after the EARLY BIRD, you might be able to " sample " the additional new items and only pay the early bid price. I think you can but you shouldn't. THE FIFTH of every month, the restaurant has a Malachi band. I WILL BE BACK soon. TRAVEL KAL read more

Worst Mexican food I've ever had! Lunch menu is small and not very traditional. The salsa was good, nachos and queso dip were so so. Lunch fajitas (steak/chicken) had no flavor at all and the chicken was dry. They were also mixed with carrots and zucchini which was a first. Fish tacos were way over cooked, and the beef chimichanga had chili in it and was bland. On top of that we had to battle flies then entire time there. Won't be returning... read more

The only thing worth eating here is the salad and the salsa. This place had gone so far down hill in the last 15 years I'd have a tough decision if it was next to a taco bell. I had a runny bean borrito, ew, and rubbery burned super salty scallops that I sent back. The one last time I went there I ordered soup, it tasted nothing like it's description. It tasted like beef broth and cream with spices. I wouldn't eat it. If I ever go there, it will only be for salad and salsa. Anyone who writes a good review must work their or also enjoy the fine dining experience of Friendly's read more

This place is HORRIBLE! Nothing authentic about it! Food and service was terrible! Decor was nutty, stuffed animals, plastic flowers that had a layer of dust on them!!! WHATEVER YOU DO......DO NOT ON ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GO TO THIS PLACE, EVER! read more

Went on a Friday night with my son, best friend and his four children. We were greeted by the owner who was sweet as pie and we were sat quickly with a smile. We sat outside and it was jammn. We were takin care of quickly and our food came out fast. The kids got tacos, nachos and a kids cheese burger which all was enjoyed. My buddy and I ordered the land and sea special which was amazing! Coming back real soon for sure! Grea food, great staff and amazing new owners!!!! Great Job! read more