One star only because I couldn't give zero stars. The food was okay, the margaritas were good but service was shit. Sorry for my language but when you take forever when the place is empty. read more

The food was okay but its overpriced and the service was horrible. We xame in Saturday morning and they had maybe 4 other tables besides ours but everything took a while to come out and it took a while for a server to come over. I ordered the juevos con mole rojo. It was tastey but its a sweet mole recipe, it needed some spice added to the dish and they over cooked my eggs. My friend also had overcooked eggs and his chilaquiles looked unappetizing. The other two in our party ordered the barbacoa tacos, one of the most expensive items on the menu, and when it came out they only got two small tacos. No sides, they both were still hungry and agreed it was definitely not worth the cost. read more

El Mesón - Juevos con mole rojo - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was great. Good quantity and quality. Nachos definitely feed at least 2. They have a nice happy hour as well. read more

El Mesón - Fajita nachos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came here looking for brunch, but we barely missed it, so we decided to stay and enjoy their lunch. They still had $3 Mimosas and they were very tasty. We had a assortment of salsas to try at the table, which all were very good. For our appetizer we ordered queso fundido, and it was insanely amazing, the only thing I wish came with it was warmer for it Bc the queso did start to harden. We also order the enchiladas and flautas which were amazing. Over all I would definitely come back here and try their brunch! read more

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So mediocre. Skip. So many good restaurants in austin and this one is solidly mediocre. The service is confused. The food is kind of flavorless. Parking is a disaster. Most mediocre to lower middling experience of my life. Spend your coins at El Alma, or De Nada, or LITERALLY ANY OTHER PLACE. Not this one. read more

Stopped in after moving to the neighborhood. Very disappointed. No free salsa. Small portions, esp appetizers. My main course was cold. Margaritas were good. Not too sweet. Won't be back. read more

Ate there last night. Chille Relleno del Res. Worse dish ever. Absolutely horrible. Left half on the plate. There were six of us and nobody liked what they got. Hard pass. read more

Where to begin? Slow, borderline non-existent service? Overpriced brunch buffet? Or the stale, dry food? This was our first visit and we came with friends who have frequented this restaurant before. At the time we arrived, 1:30pm, our friends were already seated and had ordered. We were told it's Sunday Brunch until 2pm and informed its $25/person, drinks not included. Our friends said this was a new rise in price since their previous visit, when it was $18. My girl wasn't very hungry and when we asked if it's possible to see a menu for something other than the brunch we are told the kitchen is only doing brunch until 2pm so we'll have to wait until 2pm for something else. When I asked if it's possible to just get a side of bacon or sausage, both served on the brunch, the waitress was confused and said she'd get a manager, who never came. If we hadn't been with friends, we'd have left then. We both ended up having the brunch. It's a decent size spread but definitely not worth $25. Several labeled dishes were empty and when I asked if they were making anymore, I was told no because brunch is almost over. It's ridiculous that they charge full price but do not maintain the only items available until the brunch is over. Nothing I had, coffee, black beans, brussel sprouts, gorditas, guac, potatoes, etc tasted very good. It wasn't bad but it definitely didn't make me want to return. When I made a second trip to the buffet I looked for a clean plate but none were made available. When I asked a server if we re-use our plates, she said no but she too could not find any plates. She had to go to the back and bring one out for me. Our waitress rarely stopped by our table and only once re-filled our drinks. These re-fills were useless since they don't have straws and she grabbed our glasses by the rim where our mouths go. I rarely write 1 star reviews but this place earned it. It was the most frustrating brunch I've ever experienced; it was so bad it was almost comedic...almost. read more

I don't know what is going on at this normally fabulous restaurant but when I was asked for my name and phone number and refused to give my phone number the owner or manager not sure which later came over and began screaming at me waving a piece of paper in my face that was highlighted saying that she had been asked to get this information. I told her the waitress had said the same thing but I'm not giving my phone number. Contact tracing is unconstitutional and I will not participate in it. I mean what's next concentration camps? The woman started screaming and waving the paper some more and screaming and screaming and I kept saying I am not Giving you my phone number and she just wouldn't leave! I finally just started eating again. I think it will be a long time before I come in here again. If ever. The Smart thing for her to do would be to make up a phone number. I mean how hard is that? read more

Saturday brunch was Wandered here when Snooze's wait was too long and do not regret it. Get the chilaquiles! Patio seating is nice, brought my dog. Staff is accommodating to custom requests and is friendly. read more

Loved this place!! Came on Friday night around 6 and had no wait to be seated or receive food. Excellent drinks, food, and the sweetest server. Highly recommend for great food and to support small business! read more

Chips and guacamole were awesome. Order the chicken fajitas and was very satisfied (just wish it came with a salsa or some type of sauce). Otherwise, awesome!!! Will be back again :) read more

El Mesón - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I just can't. Nope- not after that ceviche. Neva again- because the way I felt the next day could only have been from cubes of fish and not flakes in that ceviche. I won't go into detail, but I had a 4+ hour long make out session with the porcelain. Ceviche Acapulqueño Fish ceviche mixed with our Acapulco-style salsa, served with totopos. As for the rest of my experience. The pineapple margarita was amazing. delicious- highly recommend!! Service was very welcoming and warm. Great customer experience. Salsa was tasty and my tacos were cute little tiny bites of yum-o. Taquitos de Espinacas (marked as a appetizer, but i had as my meal. uuuum spinach.) Our vegetarian antojito. Sauteed baby spinach and caramelized onions garnished with cotija cheese and served with chipotle salsa on the side. the item my friends ordered were equally as drool worthy, but that ceviche experience will prevent me from returning. Mole Verde (most excellent dish- you gotta give it a go!!! ) Shredded chicken breast in our special green mole, made with pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, chile serrano, and fresh green read more

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I love this place! The margaritas are good, and strong. They know their stuff, and have a variety of tequilas. Next time, I'll come in to drink the tequilas. This time, I spent the evening with my family on their front patio. The food is authentic and delicious ! Our waitress was awesome. So friendly, and willing to share her stories about the tequila. If you're driving too fast, you'll miss this place. But slow down, and come in. Or better, sit out on their patio. I would give this place a solid 4 1/2. Awesome ! And save room for dessert. The tres leches is delicious ! read more

El Mesón - Tres leches cake ! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The best Caldo in the city, hands down. The margaritas were incredible too!! My husband had the green mole and it was earthy and the right level of spicy. Overall experience I would give it a 10. read more

Awesome Saturday brunch with ZERO wait time. We love Snooze down the street, but the 1hr wait for a table can be a bit extra. Really authentic Mexican food. read more

Super disappointed in this place..... It was out first time here, we got a table on the patio along with a couple of margaritas and chips/salsa. All of which was good! So why the tough score? Well, we got a Caesar salad that was SO OLD most of the leaves were black and slimy. Totally inedible, and I can't understand how anyone could actually dress this salad and serve it to someone. I'm still stunned. Not as bad, but still pretty awful were my cheese and vegi enchiladas. Everything was cold, the cheese was hard and never melted. And between the side of white rice (oddly, think white sushi rice at a Mexican restaurant?) and a cold, black soup that was supposed to the be the side of black beans and neither of us could take another bite. The waiter took the salad off the Bill, and apologized for the food. He offered to remake it, but we were done. And unfortunately will not be back. They served us food that would actually make us sick. That's not OK :( read more

Dining here felt like being in Mexico City! The handmade tortilla chips, salsa varieties, and craft cocktails are some of the best I've had in Austin. I ordered the flautas papas and can't wait to get them again. Our server Haley was so kind and welcoming. Best mexican restaurant in Austin! read more

DO NOT COME HERE! Hilariously horrendous service despite the restaurant being over half empty. While we were greeted promptly, it was as if our waiter forgot about us as soon as we were seated. We had to constantly ask for water and when we finally received our food, we were similarly unimpressed. Food was incredibly bland and overpriced for what we got (seriously how hard is it to make taquitos and quesadillas??). Please do yourself a favor and never step into this restaurant if you care about food or your money read more

I went for dinner with friends on late Sat evening. Parking: Parking was fine as they have a pretty decent sized lot. We didn't have trouble finding parking at all Atmosphere: We walked in and were greeted and sat down. It's a pretty large space inside and they do have a patio. They have a bar as well with a good selection of stuff. There wasn't that many people which was surprising bc it was Sat evening. Food: it was very average. Nothing special about it. They DO NOT provide complimentary chips/ salsa as it cost 3 dollars. They portion sizes are pretty decent. I got their Mole Enchiladas and it came with three chicken stuffed enchiladas. Service: it was pretty slow. I think they were understaff because our waitress was with all the tables it seemed like and also behind the bar. Getting food took a while and even chips& salsa didn't come out until we got the food. Same with getting the check, took a while. They need more help. Overall it's a very average place and an average experience. I probably won't go again as there wasn't anything special about this place. read more

Big fan. Their ceviche acapulequeño, chile relleno de res, & carne al pastor are so damn good. Also, they were serving complimentary (seriously good) margaritas on voting day to anyone who voted, which I think is lovely. The restaurant's interior is so beaut, as well. read more

Hopped in here for a Sunday brunch. Food was pretty good although it got cold quickly since the weather out was frigid. Buffet style with a lot of different options. In particular - loved the guacamole, the beef/pork with mole sauce was really good too. I tried both the soups but wasn't overly impressed with those. It's a hodge podge of food that reminds me a little of an office potluck. Note-if you want tortillas they're extra and you have to ask for them. read more

We were bored of our usual Friday night frozen margarita rotation. It's a thousand degrees here in Austin in August and we were BORED. YELP suggested El Meson. So we thought "Why not?" I can't believe this place wasn't mobbed just for the margaritas. They were obviously made with fresh limes, no gross concentrate. They were tart, refreshing and icy! We decided on dinner after enjoying the yummy queso fundido, which reminds me of Fonda's. I had shrimp taquitos and he had the ribeye. It was all so good. Still can't believe this place wasn't packed. I think this may be our new Friday night margarita spot. Stop over & say "Hi!" if you see us there. read more

El Mesón - Ribeye was great. But the margaritas were the best. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

As you people know, I'm from South Texas, Land of milk, honey and The Botana. I love mexican food and it all sits right on what I lovingly refer to as "birthing hips." Interior Mexican food isn't something I've dabbled in however so finding this little spot, courtesy of those fab folks at do512 was like finding a cultural treasure.. Everything -- from the food to the service to the nice open layout -- was fantastic. And the margaritas? Good. Like really good. Not that gross sweet and sour vom-flavored rita but an honest strong, well salted, on the rocks kind. I arrived a little early and ordered chips and salsa, wondering why you had to order them. When she brought a basket of chips and THREE salsas (roasted, regular, tomatillo) and a bowl of vinegared veggies (including nopalitos!) I understood this was going to be a different kind of experience. My companions arrived and we struggled over what to order. To help us make up our minds, our server (really really nice) brought us a little plate of four flavors of things on the menu. i LOVED this. I am that person that gets an olive out of the vat to try before i buy. I wander around whole foods with tastes of soup before I make my decision. I lick the icing off cookies in th... just kidding. It was super sweet of her to do that and I settled on the chicken tinga. Everyone's portion was large -- even the appetizer of al pastor tacos, small tortillas, generously filled. And i took home a gigantic doggie box of food that will last me for two meals if i use portion control. All in all, a lunch that i plan to repeat with a group of folks so that we can try all of the goodness at El Meson read more

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Amazing food! Our favorite Mexican restaurant in Austin. Their weekend buffet is also amazing!

More happy culinary changes along South Lamar Boulevard! The owners of the highly rated, but off-the-beaten-path Interior Mexican restaurant El Meson (5808 Burleson Road), have just opened a new restaurant-El Meson, Cocina Mexicana Y Tequileria-which sits adjacent to and in the neon shadow of the Horseshoe Lounge sign. The new restaurant's renovated interior is cleanly upscale without being pretentious. Native stone, tile and a high wood ceiling complement the large open kitchen's blue tiled wall, and the bar's soaring red accent wall. And, yes, this version of El Meson has a full BAR! This is an exciting addition to El Meson's fine cuisine. However, here's the rub: A full bar is new territory for El Meson as the original location does not serve alcohol. So there's a not-unexpected learning curve happening behind the bar. This was immediately evident upon the first sip of their Margarita. They were so tart that most tables (shockingly!) had multiple Margaritas sitting practically untouched. Frankly, they were undrinkable. People hurriedly switched to beer. Upon request, the bartenders were very willing to make replacements. The remade drinks, presented with confident smiles, were basically the same tart, weak concoctions as before. Hopefully, the bar will come along and set a high standard on par with the food. If you visit the restaurant, and you're not satisfied with your drink, send it back until they're getting it right. Hopefully this will be a non-issue by the time we reach Memorial Day. As with the original restaurant, the menu is Interior Mexican; the recipes home-based, and the family member-owners hands-on. Our visit included all the normal "shakeouts" any new restaurant experiences those first few weeks of opening their doors. Everything we tried was fresh and tasty. There were some stand-outs, which I've marked with an *. APPETIZERS: Tacos de Bisteck* were so delicious we placed a second order. Guacamole*, the smoky Salsa and tortilla chips were excellent. Queso Fundido was thick, but tasty, with plenty of chorizo, and heaped with roasted peppers. Chile con Queso, as the menu states very clearly, is not the traditional recipe. The Oaxacan queso cubes swimming in a Serrano chile and tomato sauce did not appeal to several at our table. Ceviche Acapulqueno tempted us, but we wanted to save a little room for the entrees. The homemade tortillas* accompanying several of the appetizers were served hot. They were excellent. ENTREES: Chilorio, a traditional Northern-style pork dish was good. Came with some delicious rice cooked with corn and other vegetables. The accompanying beans got the job done, but didn't have a particularly unique flavor. Vegetarian Enchiladas* were quite good. There are a variety of other enchilada sauces and fillings (chicken, beef and cheese) to choose from as well. We have enjoyed El Meson's food at several catered events, along with a few visits to their original location. Based upon our previous experience, I am certain the food will be right-on at this new location. Service was friendly and attentive with supervisory staff doing follow-ups at each table. If a server wasn't sure of an answer, they got someone who did. The owners greeted newcomers at the front door, a tradition that I hope will continue. It brings to mind Los Tios, a favorite DC area Salvadorean-Mexican restaurant located in the Del Ray section of Alexandria (Virginia). The owner, German Mejia, is almost always 'in the house" greeting regulars, meeting newcomers and making sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. That personality-driven, personal touch is harder to find these days. (Must be why I love the Austin trailer eateries so much! The hard-working, independent owners are omnipresent and often quite charming.) Que Aproveche! read more

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Very unimpressed. The food is mediocre, they cannot separate checks, and the server coaxed is into a pitcher of margaritas for $65 without telling us!!! They charge for chips and salsa and extra tortillas. Service was also totally mediocre. I would not recommend this place and will not be coming back. There are way too many excellent restaurants in Austin to go someplace like this. Even as part of a group, a Tuesday night dinner at a mid-class Mexican food restaurant with 2 cocktails each and a shared entree should not cost $70. Even in Austin. Will not be back. read more

Want a taste of Monterey, right here in Austin Texas... El Meson is serving up the tastiest dishes, with a side of amazing service. We had the chorizon migas, and a pork dish (chorlios sp?) the migas were the best in Austin, and the simmered pork was full of flavors and perfect in texture. Both plates were served with two sides... the black beans were delicious, potatoes were like no other, and the rice was flavorful and fluffy. El Meson also has handmade tortillas, and guacamole to slap your mother for~ We had two drinks, guac, and two lunch plates all for $25. I can't wait to go back. read more

El Mesón - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Wow, what a great brunch spot! They open at 10am and have a huge variety of brunch offerings. Service was very friendly and personable, the staff and cooks talked to us about the different dishes and how brunch works. In addition to the buffet, they make eggs, pancakes, and street snacks to order that are included in the $15 brunch price. $3 fresh squeezed mimosas and house made bloody Mary's to top it all off! The buffet had a beautiful spread of salads: watermelon with micro greens, kale and quinoa with sweet potatoes, greens with fruit and cheese. There was ceviche, pozole, carnitas, mole, sopecitos, tamales, rice, beans, guacamole. Even an entire desert table! Basically everything your little heart could desire. When I'm in the mood to stuff my face with deliciousness, I will definitely be back here! read more

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I love their mole. The parking can be a hassle, but it's worth it. When you sit down the server brings a little dish of lintels to prime your palate while looking at the menu. Pictured is their REAL Xmas tree. read more

El Mesón - A REAL Xmas tree. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

We went the first weekend this place opened on South Lamar. We were one of three tables in the entire place. We had the corn appetizer which was sort of overpriced for what it was. We avoided the margaritas and the drinks altogether--thanks for the warning Yelp! And we tried the mole, which was excellent. The white rice was amazing and so were the home-made tortillas. Overall, the interior decorating was pretty impressive--high ceilings and an open kitchen. The waiter was a transplant from the East Austin location and seemed confused. It was refreshing in some ways to have a waiter that was not a know it all hipster with spiky hair, but she seemed nervous and out of her element. We went down the street to La Feria, aka The Ferret, for some good old-fashioned mullet spotting and a margarita, which the table next to us described as "delicious and toxically strong." The poor girl next to us said she had to cancel thre rest of her Saturday evening plans and go home to sleep off her margarita and recover before she made it to her yoga class the next morning. I left a little like Goldilocks searching for the perfect margarita: too sour at El Meson...too strong at The Ferret...etc. but I'm getting off track. To sum things up, I don't really think Austin needs another Mexican restaurant on South First or South Lamar, or anywhere. I hope to see more French and Italian and maybe even Burmese at some point in the decade to come. read more

Good food, good service.our dinner was great, with, for me. Mole enchiladas were excellent. Decent margaritas also.

I love this place. We've been several times and each time the food was excellent. We finally made it for the buffet. You can't go wrong plenty of meat and veggie options. The desert table was awesome, try the flan and the cinnamon tortilla chips. read more

It was a so so. Was hungry for some Mexican food and we decided on this place for lunch at 215p. FYI happy hour starts at 230p. When we showed up and were seated, I felt the waitress didn't really know the menu and happy hour items available. She also seemed like she didn't want to be there. We waited till happy hour pricing to order most of our dishes and she stil seemed kinda clueless on beer selection and also did a horrible just explaining what was available for happy hour. We ordered the Chips and Salsa(5/5) to start and the chips were amazing. Homemade thick and very tasty. For entrees we got the Cantina Tacos for $2 each. The tacos we're actually really delicious and flavorful. Good amount of protein in each tortilla and extremely juicy. I would recommend these for sure. Also tried taquitos de espinaca (1/5)... I should have asked but I was expecting it to be like spinach rolled tacos, however it's just a mini taco with spinach lol hence the name. I would say that dish was so basic... Also took her a while to ask me for my drink selection, but when she finally did I got the House Margarita (1/5) on the rocks. Let's just say when it came out, I was not impressed at all. The happy hour Marg was the size of a shooter glass. Matter of fact, I probably took larger shooters with alcohol compared to this tiny Marg. This drank should be named Pequito Margarito because it ain't foolin no one. I gave it a 1 star because at least there was tequila in it. Ultimately, I probably won't come back here again because I can find better service and food somewhere else. Also, Happy hour pricing isn't really that great of a deal here. AC read more

El Mesón - Cantina Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Let's start with the billing mess. The menu lists a few "craft" Mexican beers, and my husband ordered the IPA, $5 on the menu. When the bill came, it was $7. We ask the waitress about it. "Oh, we don't carry that beer anymore, and the one we do have costs $7." Of course, she didn't tell him that when he ordered. We challenged her on that as a bait and switch. She stood her ground for awhile, then went off to check the menu for prices and speak to a manager. She came back: No, sorry, that's the price. More words were exchanged and we asked to speak to the owner/manager -- not sure of his exact role, but he sits at the bar and he filled our bar order. After more words, he agreed to refund the $2. This was never about the $2 -- it was about the shady business practices. After scanning other reviews below, it seems that ours was not the only such problem. And, as others noted, it consumed way too much time to resolve. I didn't even mention to them that I ordered a house margarita on the rocks, no salt, but was given a frozen marg with salt. Sheesh. As to the food, it's pretty good. We ordered guac mainly to get the accompanying totopos, which are great (didn't love the guac). Instead of the usual black beans, we both tried the peruano (navy) beans - yum. As a vegetarian, I found little on the menu except enchiladas. The veg version has mushrooms -- a huge NO in my book -- so I reluctantly opted for cheese with half mole and half ranchero. Way too cheesy; I mostly ate the peruano beans and rice. The mole is too rich and sweet for my tastes. The ranchero was unremarkable. The hub enjoyed his chicken tinga poblana but swears he won't return because of the BS with the bill. Overall, El Meson doesn't measure up to the other interior Mex restaurant nearby, Sazon. There, the mole and the pipian sauces are outstanding! The service is fantastic, and they always accommodate my requests for mix and match vegetarian fillings and sauces. Prices are more reasonable, too. Side note: We've dined at El Meson maybe 6 times since it opened several years ago and usually the service is spotty. We live very close and I often see "help wanted -- all positions" signs in the window. So what's up with that? read more

One of my favorite places to eat so interior of Mexico I just love the salads and enchiladas suizas so good and the queso chirizo such a delight and drinks include the tamarind. They are dog friendly and very good waiters, very attentive. I recommend the enchiladas!! Quality food you will enjoy!!! read more

El Mesón - Sauces and chips - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The Sunday Brunch is a feast! So much great food to choose from. I highly recommend this delicious interior Mexican food. read more

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Amanda and I wanted margaritas after work and were excited ALL DAY to try Matt's Famous El Rancho. Come to find out, they're closed on Tuesdays! So, I whipped out my phone, used my trusty Yelp app, and found a Tex-Mex place open now with a full bar and outdoor seating right down the road. THANK GOD Matt's was closed. This place was incredible. The patio wasn't anything too fancy, it just faces the parking lot and Lamar, but it was outside and the weather has been beautiful lately. We had big plans to get dinner, but all I could handle was the Queso Fundido. It was a huge portion of cheese, and so, so good. Though I've never really met a pot of melted cheese I didn't like. I asked our wonderful server, Orlando, whether I should get a margarita or a mexican martini, and he said "they're both great" and then said the magical phrase "we free pour". So I tried both. And they were both great. Back to Orlando. He was fantastic. Attentive, friendly, a terrific bartender. Exactly what I look for in a man. Amanda and I definitely plan to come back and bring some other girls from work and hopefully Orlando will be there. read more

When I walked in I wasn't sure what to expect. The decor is modern (furniture) but the decorations appear to be what you'd find in a panaderia. There are pinatas on the walls and christmas lights on the ceiling/walls. FOOD: the bf went w/ pork carnitas ...defreaking liciousness flavor!! soft and tender meat. omg he won that battle. I went w/ the mole verde. it sounded intriguing and I wanted in. It was great flavor.. not as robust as the carnitas plate but .. the chicken was extremely dry. wasnt sure if it was perhaps prepared previously and just reheated but definitley too dry. Won't be ordering chicken again from this place. the beans weren't that good. Rice was ok. SERVICE: it was ok. The waiter was very nice and friendly but our drinks werent refilled and we waited a long time before we could get our check. Prices were a little high for the what you received. I'd go back but only if I was not that hungry. perhaps a light lunch. read more

I got the Chilorio and it was pretty good, but I guess I thought that it would be better. We went with a big group for a birthday and unfortunately no one was impressed. I saw all of these great reviews and wanted to try it. Not sure what happened on this past Saturday night but it was just sub par. One issue, that sounds kind of silly, but it was SO dark in there, everyone had their cell phones out to read the menu. read more