It was fine. No really, we're fine. You fine? Just fine. And that's about all I can say about El Meson. After circling the alley way about 3 times, we finally found the S. Lamar location of El Meson. "Is that it? No, that can't be it, they'd have a sign. But people are walking in. Look out for that car!! Are we going to get towed if we park here?" Husband had spent some time at the Burleson location enjoying their breakfasts, and wanted to try the new location for dinner. Kind of unusual little joint. Looks like someone in the mid-salary bracket wanted to build a home out in the hill country on a little bit of land and ran out of money before they painted or furnished it. Little bleak, sterile, air conditioning was weak. Ok, I nitpick, but I honestly felt just on the edge of uncomfortable from the moment I walked in here, and that's a strike against food foreplay. Ordered: Al Pastor: s'alright. But as in "didn't need to drive 25 miles to get this when the exact tasting semi-dry pork could have been had on practically every corner between here and there." Pork with Guajillo Sauce: Oh yeahhhhhh. Savory, velvety, tangy. Too bad I wasn't the one who ordered this. My knight in shining armor did offer to share, but I had to take my Pastor lumps on this one. This IS worth a trip. Mexican Martinis: we usually avoid these as they're typically sno-cone syrup variety margaritas. But the description looked pretty au natural, so we gave it a shot, and were tickled pink to be brought hefty filled shakers. Ahhhh...long sip. GAH, HACK, PTOOEEEY. Well, not so dramatic. But I paused, looked confused, looked up to see hubby giving me that meaningful speaking-volumes look of, "What the hell?" Then a, "Is that..." "Yeah.." "So I'm not just being..." "No." It was pretty much just lime juice (and I'm not totally convinced it was the advertised fresh-squeezed stuff either). But it burned, buuuurned! I just can't believe it was the normal recipe, it was that bad, and suspect our bartender got distracted and just didn't finish the mixture. There could not have been a single drop of orange liqueur, and I kind of doubt tequila even sniffed around the drink. So we did what we never do...we sent them back despite the chance of a spit-cocktail. Can you imagine how schmucky you feel to be a 30-something year old sending back a margarita b/c "it isn't sweet enough?" Now how can we be taken seriously at that point? But the manager (owner?) brought them back, graciously saying that they were still fine-tuning the recipe. And they were better. Still not good, but at least no longer blistering. Would we return? No. Just too many places all over town that serve the same if not better food. And those other places wouldn't have ended up costing $45 for 2 people, even minus the $9/ citric acid margarita. Or at least for that price the chips and salsa would have been free (yeah, that's right, I went there with my chip entitled self). read more

So tasty! The chile rellenos and enchiladas are the bomb! Literally the only thing that I did not like here was the pinto beans! They were overcooked with no flavor or color, alot like the food in nursing homes. Never, ever go pinto! Do the refried black beans and try the guacamole, chips and salsa! Yum yum ~ And do not underestimate the frozen margaritas or blueberry mojitos. Have a ride home or be full of regret! Across the parking lot from lick, a small ice cream shop that puts amys to shame. Hipster moustache waiter, you need to give better service. read more

Have you ever eaten something and not wanted to STOP eating it, even after you are stuffed? The flavors fill your mouth with something so delicious that you aren't sure you will ever taste anything like it again? This is how I felt when I was eating El Meson's 16 hour cooked Chilorio. The pork just fell apart the minute it met my mouth. The flavors made my taste buds dance, It was so good, I stirred the rest of the spices left over from the dish into my beans. Now, let me just say the beans were also yum. I had never had beans that tasted the way these black beans did - not sure what they added but I want to learn how so I can make my beans the same way. And, yes, I am talking before I added the spices. Now, before we even ordered we were also given lentil soup. Also delicious and I am glad they only give you a scoop because I could have eaten a whole pot of it. But I haven't even gotten to the service yet. First, I should note that my friend and I went during their slow time so I have no idea how service is when busy. When we walked in, everyone was friendly, we were sat and promptly served. There wan't a flower on our table and my friend told the server she was sad that our table was flowerless so he went and placed, what he found to be the best looking flower in the joint, on our table. After our first three bites we were asked how everything was and then when we finished asked if we needed anything else then given the bill. Thsi may all sound simple enough but you would be surprised how many places I have been to, especially in Texas, where service was less than par. My friend and I got the same thing so no clue on the other food but everyone who was there seemed to be enjoying themselves! read more

Went here for dinner and had some of the worst service I've ever experienced. We got there before 6pm on a night when the restaurant was over half empty. It took a long time to get our drinks, a longer time to gets chips and salsa, and over half an hour to get guacamole. We waited another long stretch for our food to come out and then were told they had messed up our order. When the order came out for the second time, it was wrong again. When it came out a third time, it was still wrong, but I resigned to eat it since we had been waiting an hour and a half at this point for our food. The food was fine, but not good, when we finally got to eat. There were no apologies for the wait or the wrong orders. There was no offer to take anything off our bill. We will not be back. read more

The location is great, the parking is ample, the venue is cute, and the food is delicious. We've been a few times, evidently at slower times in the evening, as we have never had a problem getting a table. While the food is good and flavorful, the only downside is the service can be hit or miss, and the margaritas, while delicious, sometimes taste like the tequila was replaced by additional margarita mix. The chorizo queso fundido is fantastic, the chips are thick and crunchy, and the mole is delectable. I haven't had a bad dish here, but it is just missing that whatever "je ne sais quoi" is in Spanish. And, given all the options in Austin, this place just doesn't make my Top 10 Mexican Restaurants list that I would refer people to here in town. Sorry this review was so serious. read more

Anyone who has been scouring the greater Austin area for good mole, look no further! El Meson has the BEST mole in town! My husband and I ventured to El Meson last Sunday night on a whim and were pleasantly surprised by the experience. Parking wasn't a problem, we were seated immediately in the spacious restaurant and the wait staff was very prompt with greeting us and taking our order. We started with the chips and salsa (bummer that they're not complimentary) and were intrigued by the multiple salsa choices. My husband ordered the pork al pastor and I ordered the mole rojo chicken plate. And the mole was great - just the right balance of sweet, savory, and spice!! We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals, although my husband was disappointed with the amount of pork provided in his entree. I would definitely recommend El Meson for dinner and would go back again - I want to try the Cochinita Pibil and something from the lengthy alcohol menu! read more

There was absolutely nothing that blew me away about El Meson, a highly regarded Mexican food powerhouse of Austin. So why did I enjoy it so much? The quality of food? So-so; slightly bland and just about room temperature. The amount of food? Eh; I had some beans and 2 crepes, disappointingly miserly at $13. The presentation? Nope; my food was slapped on a plate with nothing more. The service? So slow.... So what is it about El Meson? It is surely the anti-Tex-Mex offerings you can get here. With your totopos (chips), you get 3 dips: a smooth smoky red sauce, escabeche, and some chipotle salsa. My entree for the night? Huitlacoche crepes with roasted poblano sauce. It was like the brainchild of dishes straight out of... Mexico. The creamy dark purple interior was so rich, the poblano sauce had a kick, and everything melted in my mouth. The beans were more disappointing: plain creamy black beans and "Peruvian beans" which were in fact just plain pinto beans. In summary, I have to give this place the nod just for actually offering something way crazier than "chicken enchiladas with your choice of red or green sauce." If you want atypical Mexican eatin', El Meson is the way to go. Just be prepared to brush aside the technical side of restaurant dining: i.e. hot food, good service, and filling food. I am hungry as I write this... but man did I have a unique dinner. read more

OH MY!! This is my second time here. I can't believe I've missed out on this place. The food is fantastic! The margaritas are out of this world fresh, fresh, fresh lime juice. The owner is super nice!! Super is the word of the day. But very applicable. We had the guacamole sampler, chorizo, and taquitos al pastor. Obviously house made fresh with quality ingredients. CN say enough good things. Run here fast!! Support them. They are a local Homegrown business. Almost a unicorn here in the austin market. read more

The ONLY reason I am giving them 2 stars is because of the infused margarita I had...it was spicy. I sent the 1st one back because it was a regular margarita but too tart. We ordered cheese dip which is melted string cheese on a plate. I have NEVER seen cheese dip like this and sent that back too. It took forever to get out chips and guacamole. I told them to take the cheese back because there was no way I was eating that stuff. I got my food to go and gave it to a homeless person because I wasn't sure if they spit in it since I complained about the cheese dip that it took forever to deliver. Yuck... We got charged for EVERYTHING. Our bill was $42 and I had 1 drink, 2 tacos and tortilla soup that was $8. This is USA. We sent shit back. They charged me. I will NEVER go there again. read more

I have never made it all the way to an entrée at this ElMeson. The appetizers are simply too good. simply the best plate of guacamole I have found in Austin. Fresh chips, fresh avocado, all made perfectly. I have, however, raided other plates and they have all been great. The chicken mole verde is fantastic. one day soon I will skip the guac... read more

If I could rate this place a -5 I would. HORRIBLE service. I would expect EXCEPTIONAL customer service from a restaurant in this part of town but I was absolutely wrong. The waiter THREW the basket of chips on the table, took 20 minutes to bring me an iced tea, and to top it off, charged my party(party of 5) over $20 in tip for service that wasn't good AT ALL (gratuity policy wasn't stated on the menu or doors). When brought to the managers attention, she claimed there was nothing she could do. DONT COME HERE, IT'S SERIOUSLY A WASTE OF TIME. read more

I am a little hesitant to give this review. ONLY because this is the best kept secret on S. Lamar in my opinion. I never have a problem getting a spot at the bar and absolutely love sitting there when I don't have the kiddo in tow. I have dined at a table as well, we had the same server twice and each time she was attentive, polite, had tasty suggestions, and didn't hover. The ambiance is great. Never over crowded and family friendly. I always get the same things and haven't actually tried any of their entrees, but I have heard great things from those who have. I'm obsessed with their ceviche, the olives and the avocado make it my favorite in Austin. The queso fundido with either the rajas or the chorizo is fantastic. I love the mini shrimp tacos, why is little food so much fun to eat? The guacamole is fabulous too, you can add what and how much of the onions, cilantro, tomatoes, lime, and salt you want. I like things my way, so I love this. Every drink I have ever had has exceeded my expectations. Their house margarita is hands down the best in Austin. I also love ALL of their infused tequilas. I love spicy tequila and they went above and beyond with all of the combinations. Now I want to make a trip today! If you haven't been, GO! read more

Awsome food excellent service. Their Sunday brunch is the best. Highly recommendable.

Sweet lord this brunch will change you. If you're bold enough to come here on Sunday between 10 and 2:30, expect to see straight-up the best interior mexican food I've ever seen on a buffet. There's a section full of main dishes: lengua, pork chile verde, chicken mole, cochinita pibil, carne asada, beef rib, just to highlight the meat. They've got posole with all the fixings, great rice/beans, ceviche, salads, migas, bacon, chilaquiles, a variety of salsas and a dessert table featuring the best pumpkin pie I've had in a while. Oh, let's not forget the eggs, pancakes, french toast, in-house corn + flour tortillas and more made-to-order. It's a pretty incredible, and the price ($20 base) is pretty damn high. But every once in a blue moon, if things are looking good or they need to look better, treat yourself to some El Meson. I'll definitely be back for this and dinner, once I've saved up a bit more. read more

While I suspect the owners were not thinking the same thing I'm thinking right now when they built this place - "do the people of Austin reallllllllllllllllllllllllly want another mediocre Mexican restaurant around here?" - they did it anyway. While it was very slow in there, only 3 tables occupied including ours, so was our server. While CF said in review that it is a big no-no in Austin to charge for the chips and salsa, CF was right. At least inform patrons that the chips might be stale, and that we are going to be charged for them. While I would give lower stars for service, the entree food was passable. While you could do worse than El Meson, you could do better. read more

Loved our experience here! Very friendly staff and the food was great. Comfortable/welcoming feel, could've stayed for hours.

What a mysterious place. The atmosphere is excellent. The indoor dining room is dimly lit, but not so dim that you can't see your companions. The bar is large and inviting, and the staff are always warm, friendly folks who seem to take genuine pride in the food they serve. Although we've been there for dinner several times, and it's always delicious, I decided to write this review based on their Sunday brunch buffet. You know the scene: it's Sunday mid-morning in Austin and every single brunch purveyor in town is packed with people. You can expect to wait in line for at least half an hour, sometimes nearly two hours, just to get in and grab the one rickety open table right beside the bathroom/kitchen/busboy station. If you're like us, you're on the lookout for a new spot with amazing food, great service, and NO CRAZY WAIT. El Meson is it. Things I love best about their brunch buffet: Stewed mole chicken, the pork in pipian sauce, migas, quiche, sautéed potatoes and onions, the potato flautas, the bright and crisp salads and ceviche, the three different types of auga fresca, and the decadent dessert table with tres leches, flan, orange cake, chocolate cream pie and more. All you have to do is show up, ask for a table inside or out (they are very dog-friendly!), order a beverage, and within two minutes you'll be eating some of the best authentic Mexican brunch fare you can find anywhere. That is, until this brunch secret gets out. Go enjoy it while you can. read more

Can't say enough about this restaurant, the owners are AMAZING and the brunch is the best I have ever seen, good job guys, see you as soon as possible! read more

Do not go to this place. The food is bland and the service was slow while no one was there . i soon realized i was walking in to a kitchen nightmare episode . my dish which was not recommended by the wait staff. The mole verde was bland & it looked like split pea gerber babyfood. the chicken had no flavoring or seasoning as it was just boiled & watery. they charged for chips and salsa and over charged me of the my Bloody Mary which was on the menu for 3.00. And was on the bill for 5.50 i talked to the owner about the bill he accused me of coming in here and complaining all the time . I have never been in this establishment before nor will I ever come here again. if you want to enjoy a real life kitchen nightmare minus Gordon Ramsey stop by. enjoy read more

Their interior Mexican food is legit. Big airy space, very minimalist décor. Friendly service, not usually very crowded. I had their green mole chicken enchiladas last time I went, and they were very good. I was eyeing my friend's al pastor though. I feel like this is a bit of a hidden gem, and I don't understand why they are not more crowded than they are, but it works to my advantage. Bonus is it's in the same parking lot at Lick, so you can get ice cream after. Not fancy, not divey, right in the middle, but with impressive food. read more

Parking is a nightmare. It's not clearly specified which buildings are allowed to park where and they tow you in under 15 minutes.

I paid $17 for a chile relleno that sounded amazing on the menu. When it came out (too quickly for it to have been made fresh), the sauce was cool. It was a lonely little cold pepper on a plate. No garnish. No nothing. It tasted like it was previously frozen and the cook was just dialing it in. read more

I came here on a Saturday night with a group of 4. We were promptly greeted with complimentary soup. Chips and salsa had a small charge. However, this was not your average canned tomato salsa. The chiles and tomatoes had been lovingly smoked and probably hand ground...Worth the couple of dollars....And, they were replenished often with no extra charge.Our server was nice enough to bring us a taste of their traditional and green mole. We had a wide variety of creative and well priced dishes...Mine was an ancho chile relleno with goat cheese ( and couple more I can't remember) and dried cherries. So yummy. Margaritas were delicious. I would love to try their weekend brunch with cheap bloodys and mimosas. I would happily return here anytime.... For the the yelpers who complain about a view of a parking lot (hello, you saw the patio when you arrived) and those who complain about a salsa charge for handmade salsas...you're just plain silly. read more

Probably never going to come here again. The food was alright but the waiting time is just horrible. Waited forever to get the menus, for the drinks, for the check.. And the place was not even busy at all! read more

Austin is a funny place. For as many Mexicans and Mexican restaurants as there are, I would expect better Mexican food. It doesn't help that I am in the gravitational pull of the culinary black hole known as Westlake and the central Mopac corridor. But El Meson stands out as really good and really inexpensive. It is interior Mexican which I don't see much of in Austin (not sure why). The salsa's are great. Ive had the Al Pastor tacos which are really good (though sadly not the type that are shaved off a rotating spit). The queso fundido is nicely browned on the bottom. I had the poblano relleno which was good. It was lightly fried and not overly battered. However, it needed more spice or something in the ground meat filling. read more

I went here on NYE (kill me) and the mole sauce was barf-worthy. Before our main course came out, we snacked on some bland guacamole and, conversely, delicious tamales. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing or maybe it was because it NYE - whatever the case, I will probably never be back. read more

Well we came here for brunch again because we were desperate and it was close by. It had been long enough where I had forgotten about the hair and an unknown object in my food and the owners complete lack of responsibility last time. This time we arrived for the brunch buffet at 1:45. (Brunch is served until 2:30). When we arrived at the buffet line it looked like it had been picked over pretty good. I managed to get a clump of browning guac and tamales from the table, and thought I would wait until the buffet was refilled. Literally, empty dishes everywhere... Of all of the things we COULD have had if it had been 2hrs earlier. We waited. And waited. There were empty pans everywhere, one dessert left that was apple pie and soggy like water had been spilled in it, and literally nothing bussed. I asked our waitress when things would be refilled, and heard the kitchen tell her they would not be, since brunch was only on for another 45minutes. I explained how ridiculous this was, that we were paying full price for a brunch that was completely inedible. The tamales were so hard that they literally would not come out of the wrapper. Everything else was fried to a crisp and basically that's all that we had to eat. We asked to speak to a manager, and were told he was busy eating but would give us five bucks. I demanded he come over. He was a complete idiot and had a confused look on his face the whole time like he couldn't grasp why we were upset. He offered a $5 coupon, total insult. His only explanation was that they were "really busy earlier." Let me just say I highly doubt that based in this experience. I explained that the waitress said it was because it was the last hour of brunch. He was stumped, clueless. Then as we waited for our check they sent out 2 pieces of pie as a peace offering. (I would have rather had an omelet, since we basically had no real food to speak of for breakfast.) The manager then returned after we got our $30 bill, and said "is everything ok?" I said "not really sir." And he said "why?". Again, totally confused like the previous conversation had not happened 5 minutes earlier. This place has gone downhill so badly. Everything is dusty, the bathrooms are gross, the buffet dishes they give you have crap caked on them, and the manager is responsible for the horrendous service. Save yourself the time and money. This restaurant sucks. read more

Mole Verde??, NO F'ING WAY!, I've been in the US 10 years, and couldn't find a place that have good mole verde, my search is over!. I love this place, they have AUTHENTIC Mexican dishes, such as Carne de puerco en salsa verde con habas supreme!, and if you like mexmarts like I do, this is the place to get them, top shelf mexmart for 9 bucks?? serioulsy?!. Go there now, thank me later. read more

I always look forward to the innovative cuisine that El Mason is noted for. Tonight, however, the food took a backseat to the disorganized service and the most deplorable waitstaff. We had to wait for the bill to even know our waiters name. WAIT was the order of the night actually. There wasn't even a line to get in and there probably won't be anytime soon. Please don't use the dishwasher again when you are short a waiter... read more

The best interior Mexican food in Central Texas! The margaritas will get you smiling, but the queso fundido and cochinita pibil will keep you coming back for more. Save some room for flan or, my favorite, tres leches. The Sunday brunch buffet is stellar and the drink specials give you a great deal. This isn't Tex-Mex, but trust me you'll love what you find! read more

El Mesón - Quick shot of the bar while it is quiet. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Complimentary fresh pineapple when we sat down. Awesome. El Meson bloody mary's aren't bad, a little heavy on the pepper. All the food and ingredients were fresh and tasty, just not what we were necessarily craving for a hungover brunch meal. My guys wanted really messy and greasy enchiladas with lots of slop leftover for tortilla soaking. These enchiladas were good, but maybe just too.... neat and organized. Chips are homemade and crispy, but the queso is more like a thick tortilla soup or something. It wasn't bad, just not what we were really expecting, again. I won't avoid El Meson, but I probably won't come back with guys who are hungover... this is more of a Grab the Girls for Mexican and 'Ritas place for me. Oh, and the inside was really loud... again, not ideal for a hangover. :) But the patio was just fine. read more

"Mexican" food my arse. Terrible margaritas. Terrible fajitas. Terrible enchiladas. Queso fundido was ok (and I LOVE cheese). I like how people excuse sub-par Mexican food by just saying it's "interior." I've had much better, uhhh pretty much anywhere: Casa Chapala, Fonda San Miguel, Polvos...the list goes on and on. And we weren't even sober! EVERYTHING tastes better drunk so that really says something. 2 good things: our waitress Ashley was awesome and the chile relleno was pretty delicious as well. If only this list were longer. I've seen pretty good reviews for this place so I feel like I should give it another chance, but sorry, not this girl. read more

We have been to El Meson several times, I'm just getting around to writing a review. Short and sweet. EXCELLENT MARKS FOR: Service Food (interior Mexican) Margaritas (Zilker Margarita is my favorite) read more

Wow, I am embarrassed. I enthusiastically suggested El Meson tonight over another nearby (not perfect, but reliably good) restaurant for a family dinner. After visiting this place months before and being very optimistic in the face of a shitty entrée, I reasoned that, surely by now, they'd gotten their act together. Wow, am I embarrassed. Reflecting some of the other reviews, slow start to service, with loads of unaffected seeming staff drifting around (I ended up liking our server fine). Like last time--delicious salsas and starters (lentil soup starter was cold, albeit free), but truly shameful entrées. Several were sent back, ruining the pacing of this family meal. The pork dish a couple of us ordered was not only not hot, but was dried out and featured no highlight. In my last review, I said I would give this place a couple more whole-hearted chances. Revoked. Done. In this town, to serve Mexican, you have to do better, you have to at least pretend to care. Outlook not so good for this place. read more

Good was very average. Came here for a dinner with my parents and they were not happy with either of their meals. I never have issues with the quality of food in Austin (never have any complaints, especially w Tex Mex) but I can not recommend this place. read more

This restaurant came very highly recommended by a close friend of mine. When we walked in we didn't wait long to be sat. We ordered queso, which comes in a sizzling skillet and is basically melted cheese (not a cheese sauce like it is in some places). Our server was very helpful about choosing entrees and I had a beef stuffed pepper in a red sauce that was so amazing. Their tortillas are homemade, and served warm. We ended the evening with tres leches that was so sweet and flavorful. The restaurant is pretty large, 20 tables in a room with lights on the walls and colorful ribbon hanging everywhere. The floors have beautiful tile that instantly transports you to another place. A wonderful experience over all. read more

This review is for the Sunday brunch. I've been to the brunch two times now and have been extremely impressed both times. Both days my date and I arrived around 10:30. At that time, all the dishes were full and the food very fresh. The manager was very interested in making sure we were happy and the service was prompt. Their prices on mezcal bloody marys and bottled beer are very fair, but they might be on a brunch discount. I am particularly fond of their stone ground salsa, the short ribs, the duck in green sauce, the tostada-like things (the corn was puffier than a tostada), and the tres leches cake. Also, the kale salad with pumpkin seeds and raisins was amazing. I think they might blanch the kale because it is so much more tender than fresh kale, but doesn't appear to be fully cooked. My chef date even liked it, and she hates kale. I general I dislike brunch: the food, the social aspect, the overall concept. I've been dragged to brunches countless times before (TnT, Jacoby's, Nemacolin, The Ritz, multiple 4 Seasons, one off ala carte places, etc ) but this is the only place I actually want to go. If you plan on attending, maybe try the earlier times, it sounds like they don't deliver as well towards the end. Not saying that is an excuse, but the experience seems completely different from the reviews I have read. read more

I can't believe how good this was. We came at the tail end of brunch into a very relaxed environment. Friendly staff and management. Unprompted, the owner personally offered to make us eggs or pancakes (they were no longer on the buffet). Although we weren't looking for those, we were impressed by the classy offer. The owner is now eating with the staff as the brunch shift comes to an end-again, a classy, family-oriented move in my book. About the food: The mole poblano is easily the best I've ever tasted, and I rather enjoyed the flavorful, creative takes on traditional "north-of-the-border" brunch staples. The ceviche was top notch as well. There were so many (I mean, really, SO many) tasty looking things that I couldn't try all of them, but I'll be back again to make sure I do. The carne guisada was out of control good too. Bartender and staff were all very, very accommodating. read more

Interesting mix of reviews regarding El Meson. This was the second time we have dined here. Frankly, the first time around we had a pitcher of Margarita's and needless to say, I recall the food to be good, but that's all I can report of this visit. After watching some Euro's at BSL, we opted for a little walk down to El Meson for din din's. The restaurant was fairly empty around 6.30pm, when we arrived. I did a silent "oh oh", perhaps our first visit the food was truly awful, but I just didn't remember it. Not to be deterred we were whisked over to our table and shortly afterwards was presented with a little amuse bouche. A little bowl of lentils spiced up nicely to wet the appetite. It was unique and a nice touch. I ordered up Margarita and a glass of vino for the woman. Although, they were out of our first couple of requests, we did settle on a tasty glass of white for the wifey. Which the waiter promptly dropped on me. :) I didn't get to soaked, but we laughed pretty hard about it since I thought the waiter was going to have a heart attack as to what just happened. Came to find out he was a young man from Mexico City and had only been waiting tables for a few days. Been there done that, but it was a double chicken fried steak with gravy and pinto beans when I worked at Lone Star Cafe years ago. Ended up pulling a steak out of the back of a gentleman's pants... Started with the guacamole which was served with onions, tomatos, and jalo's on the side. We mixed them all in and it was heavenly and chunky.. quite good. I was looking for something different than the usual enchilada's. I opted for the Chilorio. I I had no idea what this was. It was basically a pork smoky ancho pepper stew. This was honestly a delicious, tender, and complex dish. The pork just melted in your mouth and the ancho sauce was perfectly seasoned. It was obvious that this dish is something that wasn't whipped up in a jiffy, but had been on the stove for hours as it melded into a great flavor profile. It was accompanied with El Meson's freshly made corn torts. When I could get near it, my wifey's chicken verde was exceptional as well. Fresh verde salsa on top of shredded chicken, very good. We had a great night and have all plans to return when we can. read more

Food - beyond belief good. I had the Chilorio, and can't recommend it enough. Think carne guisada, but pork in a smoky ancho guajillo sauce, slow cooked until the flavor ran through and through. Perfect as a filler to the house made tortillas. Even the black beans and rice were well above the average. DW had the chicken enchiladas and they too were outstanding. Chock full off moist shredded white meat, melt in your mouth tortillas, with a nice thin red fresh pepper based sauce that complemented the chicken vice overpowering it. Service - amateurish. Waiter disappeared for long stretches. Never checked after the food was delivered. Had to ask for more water, and even then, only filled one glass, though both were at least half empty. Ambiance - elementary school lunchroom. Tile floors, wood cielings and rock walls make for an exceedingly loud setting. Chairs are uncomfortable. Doesn't come close to the quality of the food. read more