OK Mexican food. The atmosphere is very dated, kind of dingy, like the grout in the tiled tables. Had the lunch tamales, lots of corn but not so much filling. It was nice to see tamales on the lunch menu, my regular Mexican lunch place, Mexican Fiesta, does not offer lunch tamales. They only offer one kind of salsa, spicy. The rice had too much tomato sauce in it, lacked salt and not very good. read more

El Nibble Nook - Lunch tamales for $7.99. - Mexican Near Me - Livonia, Michigan

I typically only leave reviews if a place is disappointing, but tonight I am more than pleased! "The Nook" is aptly named with a quaint interior that is authentic and cozy, with little 'nooks' of seating, perfect lighting, beautiful brickwork accented with stained glass windows decked with flora. We were there on a busy Saturday night, but were seated and greeted right away. Our drinks, (margaritas) were fast, strong and made with fresh fruit. The food was phenomenal and came within 7-8 minutes of ordering. Everything was authentic and house-made, from the tortillas, salsa and even the beans and rice. My husband had the chicken chimichangas which were perfectly crisp and the chicken so tender and flavorful that I wish I could have ordered it (gluten sensitive :( ) I had a mixed plate with fresh made taco, perfectly crisp and seasoned, enchilada and flauta, all perfect (and I am picky!) Definitely going back for more and getting the enchiladas again. read more

This is the only Mexican restaurant that I have ever patronize that doesn't have a combination fajita dinner with Shrimp, Chicken and Steak. They even won't sell it to you this way and just charge you extra! Some Customer Service read more

First time I was here was during the mid 70's. I like the food especially the Taco Titanicos. It used to be called Taco Tatanicos Del Norte at dinner time. I saw other reviews, customers not liking the old Mexican decor. That's exactly why I enjoy coming here. I get tired of the cookie cutter restaurants. It's refreshing to actually visit a Mexican restaurant that actually looks like one. I went to the West Bloomfield El Nibble Nook and though the food was good, the atmosphere could have specialized in steak, burgers or seafood. The only thing that I thought could use improvement was the Guacamole. It was too salty. read more

This is our favorite place. We've been coming here for years and we've gotten friends and family hooked too. My husband and I often order a large appitizer to split and eat there (can't go wrong with any, but we like the Botanas or Mariachi Calientes) along with a 1/2 or full liter of strawberry margaritas. Then we order a dinner each to take home for the next day. read more

Update: the place has turned around. We haVe been here quite a few times, and have not been disappointed. Glad we went back and gave them a chance read more

I was hesitant to try El Nibble Nook given some of the low-star reviews, and then felt obligated to post this to help offset them. My experience was very positive. I ordered a margarita (original, on the rocks, with salted rim), a small side of guacamole, and the steak fajitas. Everything was delicious! I especially liked that they offered to cook the steak to order; I asked for it medium rare and it was beautifully pink and deliciously tender. My waiter was very attentive but encouraged me to take my time both when decided what to order and when he dropped off the bill. That was a nice difference compared to many places I've eaten recently where they rush you to order and leave. I'll be back! read more

The Food: I wasn't expecting much when the menu boasts that their Nachos are served with dill pickles (WTF?!) and they charge $2 per refill of chips (WTF?! x 2)... but... -Let's start with the chips and salsa- chips were fine though likely out of a bag. Salsa came in "Mild" which was essentially Prego sauce and onion and "Medium" which tasted like blended tomato and bell peppers. I found a piece of onion as big as a half dollar floating in ours, so I guess it has that in it too. Overall, both salsas lacked any discernible heat or depth of flavor (such as roasted tomatoes, garlic, or cilantro). Kick in the gut is that they charge $2 per tray of chips after the first free one. It's obvious they are paying pennies wholesale for these chips and making huge margin selling them at $2 per tray. The salsa didn't justify asking for more, thankfully. -Tortilla soup tasted more like tomato bell pepper bisque. Found one small piece of chicken in it, not much else. Wife said it was far too sweet and wouldn't eat it. Covered in tortilla strips that were so stale I had to chew them for 10 seconds to swallow. The cornbread served on the side was cold but tasted good. -We ordered 3 different chicken entrees (enchiladas, quesadillas, and burrito). They all tasted pretty much the same. Tastes like they take the chicken and put it in a skillet with their unremarkable salsa, then just put it inside a tortilla and cover it with cheese. This is a poor imitation of authentic Mexican food and I found it insulting. The rice tastes literally like a bag of 90 second Uncle Ben's from Kroger, and I would bet my mortgage that the re-fried beans come out of a can. The kids (who LOVE Mexican food...normally) wouldn't eat anything but the french fries. The Service: Outstanding. Our Waitress took excellent care of us and the food came out quick. Place was mostly empty, but we were well tended to and the staff was very friendly. The Cost: $50 for a family of four (1 soup, 2 entrees, 2 kids entrees). Verdict: Unfortunately it was a bland and and unappealing caricature of Mexican food. I liked the people, but if I was back in Texas I would have respectfully asked for my money back if they served me this food. I would rather spend half the price at Taco Bell- honestly it's a better impression of Mexican food than what El Nibble Nook is serving up. read more

This was by far the worst experience at nibble nook and I've been coming here for 20+ years. There were huge onions mixed in the beef tacos. The soft taco dinner didn't come with the shells fried at all. None of the tacos had any cheese what so ever. The beef chimichanga dinner was perfect except the salsa was a bit spicy. I think I'll hold out and keep my money for real Mexican food in Mexican town from now on. read more

The food was good but the décor is so out dated it kinda makes you feel gotta odd. The chairs were café type chairs and the walls were dark and old looking. No windows so you feel closed in. read more

Ugh. This meal was so disappointing. The chips & salsa were lame - salsa was boring and seemed as though it came out of a Chi-Chi's jar. Chips flavorless, no salt, possibly not made in house. I ordered the beef tacos lunch (gringo, I know); two tacos plus rice & beans. The taco shells were very thick - possibly an authentic/quality corn tortilla, however difficult to eat without fearing for one's dental work because they were fried so hard. The beef inside was VERY flavorful, however there wasn't much of it, or cheese. The lunch combo comes with two tacos, and I briefly considered requesting a third because there just wasn't much to them. The rice & beans were a REAL disappointment though; the rice *looked* flavorful but was dry as hell and totally flavorless. The brown paste passing for refried beans was devoid of flavor. The service was bad, too, however my poor server had 8+ tables to take care of during the lunch rush so I can't really blame her (I counted her tables). One thing I found really upsetting was hearing the server basically YELL at another customer regarding whether they wanted corn or flour tortillas for their tacos. The customer didn't understand the difference and this server actually yelled so loudly, "NO, I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WANT A CORN TORTILLA OR A FLOUR TORTILLA!" that myself and five other tables turned around to see what was happening. I even exchanged a look of bewilderment with another table. I really wanted this to be good. I know it's a long-time family owned business and it's half a mile from my work. read more

Love this place. We have been going here for years. One of our favorites. Great food, atmosphere and service is quick and friendly. The Sangria is homemade, it's a must have!!! read more

My favorite Mexican restaurant ever only four stars this time cause the server wasn't super attentive

What a joke for a Mexican restaurant. I can't believe this place was packed on a Friday night. Place is clearly owned by gringos that know nothing about Mexican food let alone how to cook in general. It's no secret that everything comes from a can and is microwaved. Even the salsa comes from a fucking can! The salsa! In a Mexican restaurant!?! Come on!! Shameful. Seriously shameful. Only thing I can say is that the margaritas were pretty good and service was decent. So much potential at this location but seriously lacking a solid leader in the kitchen. Some simple tweaks could make this place a legit Mexican place. I give it a try every couple years just to remember why I don't eat here and tonight definitely left me with a strong impression. Shame on me. I knew better. read more

I love this place-it's dear. Best... name... ever!!! Story goes that originally it was just called The Nibble Nook until the owners went to Mexico and had such a maraca-shakin' good time that they immediately changed the identity of the place upon their return. Sometimes the draw of a place isn't all about gourmet eatins, though what you get here is plentiful and the chicken chalupas, not found in every Mexican joint, are quite good. The not-so-secret word here is PERSONALITY. There are doodads, cool vintage paintings, interesting old pics of the place through the years, brick arches, tiled tables, painted bathroom doors, and much more. The staff is genuinely nice and so accommodating! They really care and aren't afraid to lend some fun to the evening. There's a certain lady I've seen there often who I believe to be an owner or manager who is such a gem-so naturally bawdy and hilarious that she needs to be onstage doing comedy for all to enjoy! Last fall as I exited "The Nook" full of tasty margaritas and a chalupa or two, I noticed a funny Halloween display at the door featuring severed body parts. Chuckling at this with my pals (ya don't find stuff like that at chains or trendy joints), a motion-activated skeleton wired to a gate suddenly chimed in with "Hey fatty!" and other faux insults and we lost it right there in the parking lot. I'm sure the cars pulling in thought we were nuts, stumbling around clutching our stomachs in laughter while desperately gasping to catch our breath. But then again, that's The Nook for ya. read more

The name of this place cracks me up- that plus the decor are so 1965. It's the sort of place your chain-smoking step-mother with the wilting beehive would adore. It is looking a little worn around the edges, but was reasonably clean. It gets one star for the frozen margaritas, half a star for the kitcsch, half a star for a really nice hostess who was concerned about me and kept checking in with me when my dinner date was late to meet me there, and one whole star for actually having some interesting vegetarian selections. I like broccoli, so I really liked the Burro Del Jardin, though I agree with other reviewers that the food is a little on the greasy side and not terribly authentic. read more

The margaritas are very good. Don't bother with anything else. Very dry beans and rice. Hint to cook: at least mash the beans so they don't look like they were pushed right out of the can. And canned tomatoes do not Mexican rice make. Please make fresh chips and for Pete's sake salt them. read more

El Nibble Nook - Beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - Livonia, Michigan

Once again, we found ourselves in the Metro Detroit area with a hunger for things Mexican. Yes, I know, we should really head down to Mexicantown or try some of the smaller, mostly take out type joints in the Wayne, Westland, Ypsi area. But, we like a good margarita with our Mexican food and most of the aforementioned do not serve them. I read the Yelp reviews and decided there were enough positive reviews to warrant the 5pm rush hour trip from Canton to this restaurant. We checked out the menu and it certainly sounded great. In fact, my dinner guests were "ooing and ahing" over the menu on the way there. Too bad it didn't live up to the hype. The person who writes the menu descriptions for El Nibble Nook is who deserves the five star rating. The food definitely does not. I even called ahead to ask about the Margaritas - do you make them from a mix or are they made from your own recipe? I was assured they were NOT made from a mix and that we would LOVE them. Well, we did like them quite well but we didn't LOVE them. Are they above average and better than those served by the vast majority of so called Mexican restaurants out there? Absolutely. Are they "The Best Margaritas in Detroit" as touted on their website? For your sake Detroit, I hope not. As other reviewers have noted, the decor is rather kitschy but that's ok - I don't go to a restaurant for the decor. The place appeared clean enough - though I noticed a LOT of food splatters on the walls in the dining area. Not quite sure how that happens as the tables are not right next to the walls. Anyway, we began with the obligatory chips and salsa - always a good test. The chips were "OK" and the salsa was disappointing. Much too thick and very bland in taste. When I asked for some green sauce, I was told they don't have any but our waitress (who was moderately attentive throughout the dining experience) offered a spicy version of the red sauce. What she returned with was the original red sauce with some red pepper flakes and chopped jalapenos on top. That hardly qualifies as spicy salsa in a Mexican restaurant.. Next we ordered the Queso Bravo as an appetizer - touted on the menu as a new item and a combination of queso and their "world famous" chili. In reality, it tasted like Velveeta and a can of Hormel chili dumped together and microwaved until not quite hot enough. Disappointing. Equally disappointing is the fact that there is no bean dip offering as an appetizer. We also tried the guacamole. $4.99 for a tiny bowl of mediocre guac with a few chips stuck in it. We also tried the jalapeno poppers. They were ok - the best part about them being the ranch dipping sauce. We each ordered a meal. Between the three of us, we tried a spinach burrito or enchilada - can't recall which it was - chicken and beef tacos, a been and cheese tostada and something called a flouta tinga. All of it was mediocre with nothing standing out as very good let alone exceptional. The spinach (they use frozen not fresh) burrito was drowning in cheese - an all too common practice in what passes for Mexican restaurants these days. The rest of the dinners were buried in lettuce and tomato to the point you couldn't tell what was what on your plate. A cheap ploy to make you think you're getting a huge portion. Don't misunderstand, there was plenty of food but the mile high pile of lettuce and tomato make the portions look gargantuan. The fact that our meals came within just a few minutes of being ordered is never a good sign in my opinion - unless you are there for a quick lunch on limited time. In which case, the lunch menu should differ to accomodate that. The final tally for appetizers, a total of 4 margaritas and dinners for three with a $20 tip (not earned) : $107. We can definitely do better for that kind of $$. Whenever we try a new place, the question I always ask at the end of the experience is: "Would you come back?" We all agreed the answer was "maybe for a margarita - if I were within a stone's throw at the time. But not for anything else we experienced." Do yourself a favor and pay close attention to the reviews of this establishment that rated it as "average" or "just ok" - those reviews are correct. read more

I used to work in the area so I frequented here. But, this experience has me never wanting to eat there again, seriously. Drink there, yes. I ordered a taco salad thinking you can't go wrong. Well, I've been wrong before and this was no different. The shell wasn't just cold, it had oil sitting on it that congealed. And the meat wasn't hot as the cheese wasn't even close to melting. It looked appetizing as I attested I decided to just not eat the shell, but the first bite repelled me. The lettuce was like salad out of bag which included carrots. I asked the waitress why wasn't the meat hot and she had no response but took it back I'm sure to put it in the microwave. Needless to say, the margarita was the best thing there since it took the edge off the horrid salad. So I obliged to have another...margarita not the salad. read more

If you passed by El Nibble Nook, you probably wouldn't even notice this little diamond in the rough. If it weren't for a handful of cars parked out front, most people would assume this restaurant was closed. However this place is anything but closed. I've been coming to this place since I was a child and compare every other Mexican Restaurant in Michigan to this place. I won't bother to compare it to other regional Mexican restaurants because the there are just to many intrinsic differences when comparing Mexican restaurants from Michigan and say, California. Recently a new Mexican Restaurant opened near our house, and we thought we had to stop by because they had a line out the door. So eventually we stopped in... And left very disappointed shortly after. The only thing good we had to talk about was when we would be able to make our way to El Nibble Nook for some "good Mexican food". Now I won't sit here and tell you that this will be as close as it get's to authentic Mexican, hell I've never been to Mexico! but the food is great. Plain and simple. And we've never had bad service. When we go here i'll always get the "Tijuana Bypass" which includes a shredded chicken chalupa, a shredded beef burrito, and a deep fried shredded beef taco. But I would say anything on the menu which has the shredded beef in it will probably be awesome. Where most restaurants just serve shredded beef, they actually season the beef, which makes it delicious! Give it a try, I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

If you like margaritas, check the addy and hop in your vehicle, you've found the spot. They are crisp, delicious and ice-cold. The prices are great too. Just be careful, they are hella stronger than they taste, for real. The food is ok. It's not exceptional, but it is well-priced. It's a bit greasier that I would prefer. The nachos are better than most bar nachos, but don't come close to any of the places in Mexicantown. I suggest getting dinner elsewhere and dropping in for some awesome margaritas. You know you wanna.... read more

Coming from Chicago I've been spoiled with excellent "Mexican" fare. My friends and I always looked for the Mexican grocery store with a table...of course then everybody else would find out about it, and it would turn into a restaurant. El Nibble Nook is O.K....it's not great, but for microwaved food ( careful the plate is hot) it's O.K...oops already said that. Why is it that you can't find Carne Asada in Detroit? read more

El Nibble Nook is a comfortable, friendly casual little restaurant with lots of personality and just the right amount of ambiance. The food is not quite authentic, but it doesn't really pretend to be (I like authentic in general, but I'd be disappointed if Nibble Nook changed its recipes--the food stands on its own merit). True to its name, it has several little nooks for seating small parties, as well as a medium and a large dining room (the large room can be configured to accommodate a fair-sized group, perhaps 20 or more). The lighting is kept somewhat dim, but not uncomfortably so, and the art and wall hangings are interesting enough (I wouldn't call them kitschy, though they perhaps toe the line). Overall, the atmosphere is slightly muted but still alive, which is as it should be. The Nook is family-friendly (see the "leetle peeple" section of the menu) and provides menu items for those party members who have not yet been converted to the (semi-)Mexican way. The portions range from large to gut-bursting, but sharing a meal can both alleviate future discomfort and drive down the cost of the dining experience (they'll happily split the meal for you in the kitchen and serve it on two plates if you ask). Don't let the missing star fool you--Nibble Nook is truly one of my favorite restaurants. It's missing that extra star not because it falls short, but because it doesn't reach that far. I'm not sure I'd want it to. read more

I asked the restaurant what their most popular dish was and they said the Tijuana Bypass. We ordered the Tijuana Bypass and Beef Fiesta, and they were both excellent! The shredded beef was especially good. The chips and salsa were also great. Everything tasted fresh. Will definitely return. read more

Wow, okay so we just moved super close to this restaurant, and decided to give it a go with some friends. I don't know if it was just a bad day, but this food was awful. The shredded chicken was so dry I had to take a drink of water with every bite, same with the refried beans. My friend got a bowl of soup (this was all takeout) and they only filled the cup like 1/2 way!!!! So frustrating for an 8 dollar bowl of soup. Very disappointing as to the fact we live so close and had high hopes! May try again just to see if it was an off day for them. But overall very underwhelming. read more

You know a restaurant is doing something right if it's been open since 1946 - which is the case for El Nibble Nook! This Mexican restaurant serves up a wide array of yummy tex-mex dishes, where you can get a quick meal for a great price. With locations in both West Bloomfield and Livonia, this is the spot I love for a weekday dinner out. As you can see from the pictures - the entrees here are massive! I love the combo meals because you get a little bit of everything and they will run you $10-$12. Chips and salsa are complimentary but appetizers are anywhere from $5-$9 and all other entrees cost $6-$27. The vibe at El Nibble Nook is simple, comfortable and homey. It's a casual restaurant where I always feel comfortable stoping in on a Tuesday night to enjoy a quick meal and a margarita. read more

I have lived about 1.5 miles from this place for over 4 years & I just finally got my butt in here. I love Mexican Fiesta in Deaborn Heights but really wanted to find something closer to home for some tasty eats & margaritas. Now, I had every intent of ordering a margarita but they happened to have Pearl vodka cocktails on special so I ordered one of those. It was a plum something & tasted just like a plum, I enjoyed it! The chips & salsa came & I thought the salsa was good but I prefer the watery kind that Mexican Fiesta has & they also offer mild & hot where this place seemed to have a medium only. My friend was a little bummed that there was no hot choice because she always likes it extra spicy. The food is the most important part & it was great! I had chicken enchiladas that were delicious, the cheese combo the use was perfect & it had just the right amount of spice. My friend had the tamales & they were tasty, she was very happy with what she got as was I & I was very happy to be able to swap cole slaw in place of the beans too. I will definitely be back here & I can't wait to try something else too! read more

Stopped in for a late lunch. Service was slow and server had zero personality. Food had no flavor. We ordered a taco, beef and cheese enchilada, and California style burrito. BORING! We will not be back! read more

Still great after all these years. I had heard there was a decline while I was living away, but I love it as an alternative to driving downtown. Botana was good, but couldn't find any chorizo in it. Tijuana Bypass is excellent. read more

Well - no one is going to rank a place named "el NIbble nook" a 5-star mexican restaurant. I get it. BUT - if you know the history of the original Nibble nook and how a couple vacationed in Mexico and then changed the entire atmosphere of their OWN restaurant back in Detroit - well, they just couldn't give up the "Nibble Nook" name... There is ample food - I have never left hungry. The Margaritas are NOT watered down. The service is good. It is full of locals - and is a very reliable and comfortable place to dine. After a long day at work and we don't week like cooking at home - where else to go and relax than your local mexican fare. I say Pooo to those who don't give credit where it is due. El NIbble Nook does not pretend to be authentic-spanish-only-speaking place, but they deliver on a yummy meal, and a full stomach to go home with. read more

Good food try the fried tacos you won't be disappointed. services nice if you get the right waitress. Could work on the price structure easy to get to $100. over all a good experience read more

For a little "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant that is close to home, you can never go wrong with the Nook. The food is decently priced and for me you get plenty. I always leave full and I am a fat kid so that should mean something. If you are going in expecting a fancy fine dining experience, go some place else. But if you are in the mood for a great authentic Mexican meal (California Burritos make my tummy happy) in a laid back relaxing atmosphere then the Nook is for you. read more

Last week Friday we arrived at 957pm and were still seated We were worried we would be refused because the restaurant closes at 10om but we had the best service Our waitress said they treat the last customer as if they are the first Our food was so good and our drinks perfect Thank for helping a horrible day end on a good note | read more

Sometimes when I walk into a Mexican Restaurant in the Detroit Metro suburbs, I wonder how many drinks it's going to take to make the food palatable. Apparently, the bartender at El Nibble Nook shares my opinion, as he certainly mixes one stiff drink. The margaritas at El Nibble Nook are strong enough to take home a deadlift gold medal at the Olympics. A half liter carafe was on special for $15, which equated to about 4 tall margaritas. And since it felt like there was about $15 worth of tequila in it, this was a serious value. The food? That's another story. It's fairly average Detroit Mexican restaurant fare. The salsa was probably the best part of the meal. It was fairly chunky, and had a nice tomato-y flavor to it. The tacos were decent enough, and I applaud the powers that be at El Nibble Nook for deep frying their shells. The chicken was tender and moist, but didn't have a lot of flavor to it. A little cilantro/lime juice would have made it a very solid taco, but I understand there's a lot of people out there with cilantro issues. The beans and rice were more afterthought than side dish, and appeared to be just tossed on the plate. The refried beans were thicker than most places. And the rice wasn't quite Sahara Desert dry, but were definitely Mexico City in June dry. Overall, I'd say El Nibble Nook is a great place to grab a drink. And a second pitcher of margarita will definitely make the food more enjoyable. read more

I've loved El Nibble Nook since the '70's. Whenever I'm in town I make sure to stop by. I love the decor, the margaritas and always order the chips, salsa, and guacamole. Thanks for keeping it real, Guys! read more

I was surprised to see this place only had 3 stars. As a veg head, I was really happy to see a nice section of vegetarian dishes on the menu. The vegetarian combo was great with the chile rellenos as the standout! Your arteries may groan a little, but they are really fresh. My only real complaint was the refried beans were dry and a bit bland but I just won't bother with them next time. All the food came out piping hot, our waitress was cheerful and on top of everything and overall it was a great first visit! read more

Today was my 14th year eating here. My main purpose today was to finally do a review. Today my foodie friend am I ordered fajitas! We both found their beef filet fajitas to be under seasoned. In addition the out side of the filet was burned which left a bitter after taste. The beef also suffered from being properly cut. The portion size was adequate, and the rice was very well seasoned! The salsa was very good also! Overall I do recommend el nibble nook. Plus in this area it's the best Mexican cuisine. read more

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We have been coming here for quite a while now... the food is awesome and the margaritas are outstanding! We keep telling them that they need to sell them outside the restaurant! The wait staff is friendly and prices are reasonable. You won't be disappointed. read more

El Nibble Nook - The margaritas are the best I've tasted - Mexican Near Me - Livonia, Michigan

A friend and I went to El Nibble Nook last night for the first time. Overall, it was a good experience. I loved the general atmosphere and decor. Our waitress (unfortunately can't recall her name) was friendly and attentive. The food, for the most part, was good (not necessarily great). We started with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa reviews have been mixed, but I personally enjoyed it. Being a fan of mild/medium spice swayed this, I'm sure, as I wasn't missing the hot option. The chips were good. They were nice and warm and not too greasy. Next, I had the bean tacos, which even being a tad bland, were still good. (I added a bit of salsa on top of each one, which helped.) I stuck with rice only on the side and this was the one spot I was truly disappointed! The spanish rice was not good! I found it to be way too bland and agree with another reviewer who said it tasted like rice mixed with stewed tomatoes. Finally, I know they are known for their Margaritas, but I had a Strawberry Daiquiri. Yummy and reasonably priced! I'm glad I went to El Nibble Nook and would most likely recommend it. However, being about 30 mins away myself, I'm not sure if it would be worth the drive again anytime soon, especially when there are some really good places closer by. read more

I enjoy the food and drinks served here immensely. The owner and staff are always super friendly and happy to serve me if I'm with a group of 12 or 2. That's a major win for me. And always the food is great and served hot. Can't wait to go again! read more