Good plates and presentation. But skimpy on main ingredients. Two lobster tacos ($25) had about 1 oz of lobster meat in each of them. If that. Also, they charged on iced tea refill, which is unheard of, and salsa refill too. Service and atmosphere are good. But $50 for one person who doesn't have alcohol is way too much. Cute place but my bill should have been $10-$15 less. read more

I wish I could say no stars. I vowed a few years back NEVER to return however a birthday dinner was planned and I was unable to extricate myself. what followed was one of the worst dining experiences ever. I have worked in food service in the kitchen ,out front and behind the bar many years ago. I have lived full time at the CT shore for more than half my adult life I am 62 yrs old. a visitor prior to that every summer as a child/teen .I understand all the challenges as well as a busy shoreline restaurant on a weekend night.I eat out at least two times a week and give as much leeway as possible however I am compelled to post. NO EXCUSES NO MORE!. so may red flags appeared I should have walked out but didnt want to embarrass anyone. we arrived and half our party was already seated upstairs and had ordered drinks and apps. Right away looking at the chips,salsa and quacamole there were issues...drinks too. a member of the party asked why no salt on the rim of the margherita`s. response no salt unless requested ..we can get you another for additional charge . the water warm..no ice..what was called salsa a pond of warm liquid in a ramekin with almost no solids,the chips ..many broken unusable ,clearly the chips and salsa were recycled from the day ? disgusting . PS we were there early before 730 pm. of course the children in the group consuming what they could of the guac saying it tasted funny. table sticky to the touch . my gumbo for sure NOT up to temp... not a good sign. I mention it explaining the specific issue on temperature.. response a nod and a smile . no offer to replace or correct . mains arrive (various menu items) NONE that are as depicted in the photographs on your website and are plated differently than previous visits ..smaller portions on smaller plates with sides delivered separatley . did they run out of plates? . are they billing ala carte ??? now the worst part after consuming approx half thier dinner 2 women and a child in our party discreetly left the table . upon thier return it was explained they had experienced catastrophic digestive issues. I was the fortunate member of the group as later all but myself, a total of 8 people had become ill. I was the only person who didnt have the salsa/chips or guac. after spending in excess of 350 dollars I blame myself for allowing my loved ones to expereince such a disgraceful excuse for a restaurant. overpriced overrated terrible food that has consistantly gotten worse and worse every year . no sober foodie / patron could ever eat whats being served and walk away happy or satisfied .its sad this long standing shoreline staple has deteriorated to this level . relying on drunken shoreline visitors under the influence who happily pay to eat sh!t on a shingle and bring home a tshirt. shame shame shame . maximum profit over quality,quantity and yes food safety !!! I will NEVER under any circumstances return. the cukoos nest is the worst.PS its NOT authentic mexican ...you dropped the cajun description and you were NEVER cajun but your food is aweful and makes people sick ..again anyone could do better in thier kitchen at home with basics from the ethnic isle at any local grocery store. there is no reason to pay for what you are offering. you should be ashamed read more

I go to Cuckoos Nest around once a week and I always have a great experience here. The staff is wonderful and attentive and the food is always full of flavor. The grilled fish tacos are my personal favorite! Not to mention the margarita selection is great too! read more

Another great visit to the restaurant. Me and my friend come here after work every now and then and it's always a good experience. Great drink sprite food and awesome staff! read more

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Commenting for the fabulous service we had over Cinco de Mayo - our server (Cameron) was fabulous and very attentive to our table during this busy celebration day! The service was timely and efficient, and they happily accommodated our party where some were late to show up. Atmosphere is lively and fun. Nothing too upscale, BUT this location is great for a group gathering with margaritas. Will return same time next year. read more

Came here for dinner and thought the food was great. I thought the tamales had an interesting twist to them since they were served with so much cheese, but I really liked it! All of the food was great, though I thought the salsa was basic. My main complaint is that we felt very rushed by our waitress. My friend was literally mid-bite in her taco and the waitress asked if we were ready for boxes and the check... and there were plenty of empty tables so we didn't understand. Otherwise though it was a good stop for Mexican in the area. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Pork Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Had a work party here and honestly can't complain. Solid mexican food!! Pretty strange atmosphere inside though.

Great restaurant environment--even on a rainy day. The waiters and waitresses are very enthusiastic and kind. Our waiter, Rodrigo, graciously described the dishes that we asked about. They also held a big celebration for my dad's birthday, complete with a free Mexican dessert. ¡Gracias a Cuckoo's Nest por nuestro cena y postre! read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

The open parking lot takes you to a warm and friendly space. The decor fits the name, as does the menu. We started out with the ultimate margarita and the Oaxaca old fashioned. The drinks were solid. We ordered the Mexican street corn, veggie burritos, and the spicy pulled pork truck burrito. Chips and salsa were brought to the table after we placed our orders and after popping a few chips, this nacho chip lover actually couldn't get herself to do it. The Mexican street corn was ... soft and boiled. The vegetarian burrito was good. The tortilla on the truck burrito was fried. read more

Great food, innovative specials, have had the fajitas, Taco lasagna, CT Nachos, Etc.. all superb! Butternut squash with crab soup- amazing!! Fast & friendly service!! read more

The wait wasn't bad, even though we made reservations on line. They said we didn't have a reservation. The veggie fajita was pepper onions and 2 broccoli flourettes. No beans, etc. Service was slow. We spent almost 3 hours total. Kind of pricey for the quality. The churros were overly fried and not dome on the inside. No comp for the churros. read more

Came here for lunch (second visit) and the service and food were phenomenal...again. This was maybe the third time in my life that a bite of food was so good that I got emotional and had to wipe away a tear. Ha ha! It's so true though. Amazing place. I've been to Mexico twice and felt transported back to Puerto Vallarta at the Cuckoo's Nest. Loved the outdoor seating. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Outdoor seating area feels natural and authentic. - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

$12 nachos = Plate of chips with American cheese slices, microwaved. Ordered jalapeños and scallions. Forgotten, yet charged $7 more for and given after the chips were gone 20 mins later. $7 = Slanted table that spills your drinks for you as they slide off on their own. "That happens" response from the waitress. Waitress arguing instead of apologizing for terrible service = Priceless When you're the only game in town, you don't have to care I suppose. read more

Josie is a class act!! Loved how she handled the bar! We just had drinks and chips between functions. Such a cool place and a great happy energetic vibe here. Can't wait to return and get into the menu! read more

My wife and I had lunch outside on the patio the other day and had a great time. The young lady who waited on us was very hospitable and had a couple of good recommendations for us. We had the ranchero nachos with chicken that we thoroughly enjoyed, followed by spare ribs that were cooked to perfection and had just the right amount of sauce on them, very tender and I would highly recommend them with crispy potatoes and nice asparagus. in addition, the catfish fingers were crispy and cooked nicely and the gumbo was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant for a relaxing lunch or dinner. Nice ambience and decorated colorfully with the Mexican theme. It almost makes you feel like you're in Mexico. Pleasantly surprised. read more

place was dead. Sat us next to the bathroom. chips were stale coming out of a literal metal trash can. salsa was gross. literally set the mood for failure. ordered 2 margaritas that were very sour and bitter. we got the check and ran. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Love, love, love the Cuckoo's Nest! Been coming here since 1980 & does not disappoint! It's like home away from home. Consistently great food and atmosphere. Can't wait to come back on our next visit north! Queso, salsa and nachos are awesome! Just makes me happy being here! read more

Go anywhere else! Went this summer (2024). One of the glasses on the table was dirty, quite honestly the whole place is dirty. The drinks took 25 min to arrive and were watery and tasteless. It took an hour to get two margaritas and nachos. The nachos were the most broke-looking nachos I've ever seen. It looked like chips slathered with refried beans with cut up kraft singles melted on each chip. The explaniation was "this is how we do our nachos, people really like it." If we're "people," we disagree. The server was a plesant enough person but completely inattentive. The first hour was so bad, we skipped dinner. They had piano music going in the background. Odd to be at a mexican place and hearing classical piano. Hard pass on the Cuckoo - Did I say UNCLEAN, dusty, and dirty. read more

I give a 4 cause the waiter was excellent very informative of tequila. good 3 cause my enchiladas were almost floating on the sauce and the potato skins weren't crispy and had raw bacon . I have been here several times and this one wasn't so good . but I would go back read more

Cukoo is what you would have to be to eat here more than once. Service was good. However, cold rice, brown lettuce and flavorless enchiladas and burritos. Also, the place is both filthy and ramshackle. read more

Well staffed restaurant and friendly servers. They were knowledgeable and helpful in making our drinking and eating decisions. Had a salad offer that had quinoa, black beans and avocado. Taste was there but presentation lacked a little. read more

Just what I needed! Thoughtful and fun decor, the Cajun-Mexican mashup sounded perfect. Such a great server, kept my lunch fun while on my way through driving I-95. I'm gluten intolerant, so it means a lot that they were smart and careful about the menu as well. read more

Have always wanted to try this place. I love the atmosphere and decor! Great menu, something for everyone! Prices can be a little high. I tried the chicken, bacon ranch wrap with curly fries and I loved it. The chips and salsa were also good and fresh! I am looking forward to going back and trying other things, especially the quesadillas! Restaurant is spacious, service is friendly, but can be slow at times depending on busyness. I would recommend! read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Chicken bacon ranch wrap with curly fries - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Ordered takeout and when I got home noticed the order was wrong. Used to be much better. Very disappointing!!

A great place. We were driving through 95 and looking for fish tacos and stumbled on Cuckoo's Nest. We were seating in the beautiful patio, light breeze kept the patio cool and wonderful. The service was great, our server was on top of her game. The fish tacos were amazing, I was a bit surprised and did not expect them like this. They were a bit spicy and awesome. And bold flavors too. Good chips and salsa. Kept the kids happy with their food too. Loved the special patio on a great warm summer day. read more

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Damn! I really want to love this place!! It's hit or miss! Tonight, it was a miss! I ordered a chicken chimichanga which comes with rice and beans. The chicken was rubbery, the rice was hard, and the beans were more baked than refried. My margarita was terrible. I mean, I will drink anything and I couldn't even have more than a sip even after adding club soda. Too much sour something! Phillip was an ok server and took the margarita off. Probably won't ever be back. Not sure what happened, but this place went down hill!! The French fries gave it the second star!! read more

Have been going to cuckoo's nest for a few years and the quality has definitely gone down. Ordered take out today and the pricing is not worth the food quality. 15$ for a chicken quesadilla...and only got 3 triangles. My boyfriend ordered a combo dish with two tacos and a burrito, and we asked for soft shell for the tacos. Not only did they not give soft shell, they only gave him one taco. He also got an enchilada and not a burrito. In addition the chips taste like wontons and not tortilla chips... not impressed read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Not a tortilla chip. - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Had my daughters 50th birthday party at Cuckoos nest and I cannot say enough about it. I'll start with the ambiance of the private room. It is newly redone and is decorated beautifully with warm and cozy colors and lighting. The menu and bar packages are amazing with a variety of hoi as to fit every budget. The servers Sarah and Phil were amazing not only efficient but extremely nice. Last but not least the prices are the most reasonable on the shoreline and that is a fact because I checked out multiple venues. You won't be disappointed when you book your next celebration at the Nest read more

We've been customers since the Nest opened (40+years). Had very good meals tonight, and my wife loves the Cajun Gumbo soup. Salsa is still the best. Only suggestion I would make is to update the pricing on the web menu, as not all items line up with the restaurant menu read more

This place has some of the better Mexican food on the shoreline! I have eaten here a few times and the service is always attentive and friendly. I enjoy their tacos and enchiladas. The tamales are okay but heavy on the breading. Margs are pretty good. Flan isn't bad. read more

Cuckoos Nest is a Mexican standard in a sea of chain Mexican food conformity. Getting Mexican food on St. Patrick's Day is weird but so what. The food was fresh and looked and tasted like everything was made in house. The fried ice cream must be had. The atmosphere is rustic southern, even though Cuckoos Nest is located on the Connecticut shore. The service was stellar. Prices are reasonable. Looking for something different then chains and seafood? Try Cuckoos Nest. Their longevity is a sign of their quality. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Lots of Mexican specialities. - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Food is overpriced for the quality. Ordered nachos and it was cheese and chips with a side of beans. How is that nachos. I got fish tacos and the fish was super dry didn't even finish and it was $18 for two tacos. Never again read more

Welp. My colleagues and I came here on a whim for dinner. Unimpressed is my word for my meal. I will say that the alligator bites were tasty, but the street tacos were so very small and bland. The margarita was so weak that I switched to corona. If I'm gonna put useless calories on, I at least wanna catch a buzz. Ya know how you say a place is hit or miss? Well, this was definitely a miss. Sorry guys, y'all need to step up the game. read more

Awesome chicken fajitas! Have also tried their enchiladas and the taco truck burrito. Out of these three dishes, I'd rank fajitas first (awesome), burrito second (okay), and enchiladas last (would not reorder). The fajitas are tasty and have plenty of veggies - carrots, zucchini and onions in the mix too. It comes with cheese, sour cream, guacamole and hot sauce, plus tortillas and rice. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Roll your own Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

I really love eating here. Love the chips and salsa lots of food options excellent margaritas!!!

Have been on a Mexican kick trying to find a go-to. Cuckoo's used to be better years ago. Not bad now, just not amazing. I'm trying all the queso all over the area and this is the least good queso I've had (I don't want to say the worst Bc it's not awful, just not great). The mole sauce is really good, though. I would get it with only chicken and no cheese on top next time. read more

Cuckoo's Nest - Queso (kind of spicy-good, chunky and thick-not as good) - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Well what can I say..... I was down by the shore and didnt feel like seafood so we drove by the cuckoo's nest and there were a lot of cars so we said hey it must be pretty good. Well it wasn't. Lets start with the stale chips and what tasted exactly like tostitos salsa not a good start. Then came the margarita's and they were good but cup was small. The fish tacos were overcooked and the rice that came with them was different than the Spanish rice not sure why. The sizzling fajitas were just ok but they needed some oil or glaze of some kind as the meat was so dry and I have no idea why they mixed in carrots and zucchini with the onion and peppers. And lastly prices are much to high for the plates. Here's my thoughts on Mexican restaurants like this one when you walk in and you don't see one Spanish person in the entire place it's probably better just to turn around and leave. There is no level of authenticity here as you can tell by the crowds and the workers in this establishment. I gave it a three instead of a two stars because the wait staff was friendly and while it wasn't the worst Mexican food I've ever had I still won't be returning here and cannot recommend. read more

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this is my go to mexican place when home in CT. fajitas. house marg. never stray. always amazing. and the to go margarita packs right now are read more

Cuckoo's Nest - To go margs - Mexican Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Excellent service, food & atmosphere even on a very busy night. We enjoyed the coconut shrimp, Fajitas, & a soup special, I can't remember the name of it,but it was a butternut squash bisque with pepitas. So good! Love the chips & salsa, too. read more

Not sure how this place only has a 3 star rating but I love it. I ordered the simplest thing on the menu, ground beef soft tacos. They were huge, packed with seasoned beef and really good cheese. Service was good and it was a good overall value. read more