I have been at your restaurant in Cypress with my family three times. Last night, again we expected having a good time. The place was busy as usually and we were told that wait would be around 15-20 minutes. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks. I ordered Macallan 12 Yr. and to my surprise, the bartender served it on a brandy glass rather than on a whiskey glass. Bad start. In less than five minutes our table was ready, not where we asked, but on the patio. It was cold and we asked the server to shut off the ceiling fan on top of us. Never happened. We ordered our food and asked for the wine list. Oddly enough the beverage list did not have a wine list, we as the server again for a wine list, another server came and told us that we did not see the wine list on the beverage list. We told him there is not a wine list on the list. A third server brought another similar list with a wine list. We ordered a Joel Gott Cabernet. We got our food but not the wine. We waited and waited and no wine was served. We asked another server to find out about the wine. The original server brought one single glass of wine, and we reminded him that we had ordered a full bottle. Another ten minutes passed and still no wine. By then, we were almost done with our meals. My grandson got up and told the server to forget the wine. Five minutes later another server brought the same glass of wine and left on the table. I thought, well people make mistakes, the place was packed and they felt bad about our bad experience. We got the check and to my surprise they charged me $11 for the glass of wine I did not order. As a former business owner, I always welcomed customers' suggestions. read more

Very dependable dinner spot that gives a homey Mexican feel. The food always comes out fresh and very timely with amazing service as well. Feels like you're apart of their family every-time we go and it is a very popular Cypress local location. Good dependable restaurant. read more

How sad.. I was planning to leave a great review until we went to the bar as it's first come first serve.. as we were about to sit down my wife and I got approached by the Owner.. he told us the seats had been reserved. We were so confused as how they were reserved if it's a "self seating area" and there was no reserved signs there ? The employees and owner had told us it was "self seating" .. he mentioned that the group waiting had been waiting for 20 mins.. as if that mattered, we had been waiting for over 1 hour!! He mentioned how "he can't make everyone happy" But all he cares about is making his friends happy. We have been here many times and have spent thousands of dollars here .. but all he cares about is his non-Hispanic friends .. so sad for a "Mexican restaurant".. it's crazy tbh.. if it wasn't for the great bartenders and their great attitude we would've spent our money elsewhere.. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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Came here to celebrate my husband for an accomplishment..per usual like any restaurant it's packed for a Friday night which is understandable. We were scouting the bar to see if we could possibly find 4 seats together. We found two seats and took them, we anticipated that another two seats next to them would open up, which eventually happened. As my husband and I approached the open seats a bartender approached us and told us there was 5 seats reserved. (There was no reserved sign) mind you the bar here is always first come first serve. The owner approached us to let us know that we could NOT sit there because there was a party of 5 that's been waiting for 20 mins to sit down. My husband and I were so confused because the bar is first come and first serve and we had already been waiting over an hour for a seat. I explained to the owner that we've been waiting for an hour and we were simply the first to approach the open spot. The owner argued that the other party rsvp'd and was waiting for 20 mins. After I began to get upset, my husband chimed in and asked well is it a first come first serve basis. The owner then agreed to what my husband said. Owner tried to justify that they were paying customers, but what makes them different then us other than we're Mexican and they are white? What an excuse. At this point I wanted to leave but the only thing that held me back was that we are super cool with the bartenders. (Enrique, Diego, Arturo) Honestly if it wasn't for the hospitality the bartenders have showed us I would've left. Since this location has opened I have visited since then, it's very upsetting that the owner couldn't even apologize or take any accountability. If the owner would've just took accountability I would've been super cool about it, I mean look at all my previous reviews I'm a chill person. But what pissed me off the most is there was no accountability taken, what kind of customer service is that. I really do appreciate the other staff though, I can't emphasize that enough. If it truly wasn't for them we would've gone elsewhere with our business. I genuinely think that the owner should rethink the way he treats his customers. I understand if you're hosting a friend at your restaurant but don't make it seem like they're bigger than any other paying customer. Even if they weren't your friends, treat every customer with respect and mutual accommodations. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Carnitas burrito with red sauce - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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03.27 2026 Celebrated a 50th birthday party here. We had a party of 20. It was a surprise birthday party scheduled for 7pm. I arrived at 6:50pm. The location we gathered prior to the arrival of the birthday person was at the outside patio area. The outside patio had a great ambiance to it. Large sitting area with a nice fireplace. Waitress would come down to take drinks orders too! There are bushes with benches that makes your lounging stay private. We were able to hide behind the bushes at the sitting area. We were successful in surprising the Birthday person! Our tables were ready for us right after the surprise. We were all escorted to our tables. Greeted and seated. Assortments of Alcholic beverages were ordered. From Maragaritas, Micheladas, and wines. All were delicous! The Michelada was cold and refreshing. One of the best I have tasted. Ordered our entrees. I ordered some Shrimp Tacos and majority of the party ordered Seafood. Since it was good Friday, majority of the party opted out from eating meat. All was tasty. No complaints. Overall, the ambiance is very warm. Nice decor, nice bar, and comfortable seating. I would definitely come back. The place is Clean. Clean dining area and clean restrooms. Parking can be difficult to find. All is pending on the hours you visit. Its a hit and miss. Good luck. "I recommend this place." read more

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First the salsa served with the chips was amazing. The tacos were just okay nothing special. I had an enchilada. It was good but not over the top. But the problem was I ordered a hibiscus margarita and never received it. The waiter said they made a jalapeño hibiscus margarita that was insanely hot. Ummmm why???? So I said just get me a strawberry margarita. He kept bringing drinks to the table behind me but not me. When I finished my meal he finally brought over a margarita. I first of all hate ice blended margaritas. I was not asked if I wanted it over ice. It was okay but made me have a headache because it was like drinking a slurpee. What the heck???? read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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Great food , family owned , staff always friendly and strong Margaritas ! We've been to the Cypress location since it's been open , beautiful open patio area . read more

I've come here now about 6-7x and each time I have thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I typically will get a combo meal of an enchilada n taco with rice n beans. My recent meal was a shredded beef crunchy taco and chicken enchilada with rice n beans. The beef taco was excellent as I prefer crunchy tacos. The chicken enchilada had a lot of good flavor n ample amount of sauce with cheese on top. I enjoy it more when there is extra enchilada sauce. They gave me a lot of refried beans with cheese on top. They were so good with the chips n salsa. The Spanish rice was moist n flavorful as well. The salsa is freshly made with chunks of tomatoes n onions. As we nearly ate the basket of chips, our waiter came by n brought new chips n salsa. This is what makes a Mexican restaurant better! The staff is very friendly and engaging. There's a large bar and patio seating for those beautiful sunny days. Parking can get full as it shares the lot with Trader Joe's and several other businesses. read more

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Stopped by for dinner last night Been meaning to check this place out and finally remembered to give it a go. Sat at the bar. Great ambiance at the bar. A few tv's and great service. Water, chips and salsa came right away. Salsa was very spicy but fresh. Chips were great. Wife got the margarita and loved it. I had a beer and tequila. Great variety. We shared the chicken fajitas great portion size. Fresh veges. Plenty of sides to go with the fajitas. Three tortillas. I wish there were four based on the portion size Great experience. Can not wait to go back. read more

I'm not sure if I would give it a five star rating any longer. It used to be my go to Mexican restaurant. Since they opened it on Katella the salsa seems to be much hotter. They've told me it's the same heat as their old restaurant, but my mouth tells me different. The food is not consistent with the heat either. Sometimes it's spicier than others. Even the chicken vegetable soup so spicy the last time I could hardly eat it. I could still go open to hit it when it's not so spicy. If it continues, I'll just go back to my old Mexican restaurant a little further away. read more

Service was horrible, we had to wait 15 mins plus to get a drink order. Our waiter went to the other table next to us who was seated after us. And he also took their food order first. I wouldn't go back. Our waiter was more concerned about how he looked then attendinf to his customers. They are only getting one star because zero stars was not an option read more

We had sisters night out and was actually planning to go to Long Beach, but time did not allow so we stayed close to home and chose El Zarape. It turned out to be a perfect evening. It was peak hour on a Wednesday and we got the last table for 4 out in tha patio area. Yay! We had family style and ordered massive quantity of food. Chips and salsa to start. And the salsa is nice and picante. Libations include: Organic skinny margaritas for me - cazadores, agave, lime - it was good and classic. Virgin strawberry margarita. Conundrum red wine. And water. We were pretty tamed. Trio tacos - asada, carnitas, and shrimp. Served a la carte. And we ordered one fish taco thinking we each needed a taco. Lol. Chimi Flautas - flour tortilla filled with beef, rolled and lightly fried. Topped with salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole. Served with side of Spanish rice and beans. Carby goodness. Chicken mole - leg and thigh in a mole sauce. Served with a white rice and beans. It was so awesome, I wanted my own plate! Steak fajitas - served with Spanish rice and beans. Flour/corn tortillas. Salsa. The works. We had a good amount of leftovers. It was a lot of food. Our eyes were bigger than our stomach. Service was friendly and fairly quick. Parking may be challenging since it shares a lot for Trader Joe's shoppers. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Chicken mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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Back at El Zarape! This time I tried the Chicken molē burrito. The molē was a little on the sweet side for me.... but I still ate the whole burrito =) Beautiful day so we sat on the patio. My brother ordered the carnitas plate. That's his go to dish. He's a trained chef and loves the carnitas here Always a good meal at El Zarape read more

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OMG, yes! I have to go out of my way and give this place a top review. This was some of the best Mexican food I've had in the Los Angeles area. But, dont trust just my judgement, my whole group was singing high praises for the food. Beyond the food, let's talk about the margaritas. Maybe not the best I've ever had but they may have been the strongest. After 2 of them, I had to hand over the key to someone who wasn't drinking. I didn't expect that! A word of warning! This place is very popular. There may be a wait. We waited for an hour (which I never do) because of the high praises it has. Was it worth that wait? DEFINITELY! read more

We enjoyed ourselves at El Zarape! We were driving home from Temecula and I was craving tacos. It was busy when we arrived but we waited less than five minutes for a table. Alexah was our server, and she was friendly and attentive. In addition to our server, pretty much every worker who walked passed us asked if we needed anything. The customer service was on point! We ordered the trio tacos which was fulfilling. I of course devoured it bed thinking about taking a picture. We also ordered mango margaritas. I ordered mine on the rocks and boyfriend ordered his blended. Surprisingly, I liked the blended one more. Overall, great food, drinks, and service. We will definitely return! read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Blended mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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I love this place! Been going here since their old location! The food is always top tier! However I also am so amazed by their service. Marco is such a gem at this location, he makes the experience so comfortable and brings the vibes. Love this place! I plan on coming more this summer for the vibes! read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

We rolled in on a Sunday afternoon to grab some food before catching the horse races--because nothing says weekend like tacos and thoroughbreds. We even spotted a few folks in full cowboy hats dining inside. Pretty sure they were racing... or at least committed to the aesthetic. Either way, respect. We've been here a few times now and it's always a solid experience. Highly recommend the soft tacos (they can make them crunchy if that's your vibe). The chicken fajitas? Fire. And heads up: portions here are no joke. Come hungry or be ready to roll yourself out like one of the horses after a long run. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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Parking- free, but often crowded and hard to find Decor/ambiance- really nice design, one small complaint would be flies can come in through the open concept back end of the building; really good music in Spanish; relaxed and fun, family style environment Staff- all really friendly and pleasant; can be a bit slow though at times Food- really good salsa, the best chile rellenos and everything else we have tried has been better than average except for the fajitas which were average Drink- great cocktails and a decent selection of beers read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Mango margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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An Excellent dish! I ordered the shrimp enchiladas from the brunch menu for about $25 - it was delicious and came with rice and beans! The enchilada sauce was slightly sweet, and went harmoniously well with the beans and chips! The service was decent. We went during a busy lunch hour, so it wasn't the quickest, but still worth the wait for me. They also have free tasty chips and salsa while you wait! They have lots of seating (indoor and outdoor) and loud music, so not the easiest place to have a conversation, but you'll definitely get seated fast haha All in all it was a good experience and I would come back again for the yummy food! read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Shrimp Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

They could improve on their customer service. We ordered take out one night right before closing hours and got home and part of our order was missing. We called but they were already closed so my husband left a messaged on their voicemail. No return call the next day so my husband gave them a call again, reached the host and informed them of the situation and the host said only manager could take care of this but he was busy at the moment. So we gave our name and number to await a callback. Nothing back. So on day 3 we call back to ask to speak to the Manager and apparently he is off and won't be in until Tuesday. Keep in mind this is our first experience at this restaurant, I've heard rave reviews but with this experience I don't think I'll ever come back or recommend this place. Which is quite sad to Be honest. read more

We stopped by for lunch Wednesday. We had a recommendation from a "friend" of my good buddy and weekly lunch partner. The place was hopping a large party occupied the center of the patio. We had a corner nearby. The setting is very comfortable and light. The menu is very very typical. We always go for the chile verde pork burrito our first visit. The burrito was excellent for a giant sauce, cheese and crema coated flour tortilla stuffed with beautiful pork. I would eat here again, the service was friendly and fast! read more

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We came on a Friday night was told the wait was going to be 50 minutes, it ended up being a little over an hour. If you plan to come here, get here earlier to avoid a wait. They start you off with chips and salsa, it was a medium spice. The food was good, solid Mexican food. The Pina Colada was topped with alcohol instead of blended into the drink, it wasn't as sweet as I expected. The pineapple flavor was on the weak side, I wouldn't get that drink again. The restaurant is very modern and they have two locations in Cypress. ig: @cravingswithcat read more

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This place never miss, great services at the bar full menu. Hopping and busy on Mother's Day. We always shared the trio fajitas, but changed it up this time for chili Verde. Now this is our new favorite dish. It's can be loud, but not to bad read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Delicious Steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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This place was lively on a Friday night around 6 pm, but the wait wasn't too bad, about 20 minutes. They have a small patio in the back where you can hang out while you wait. The food was awesome. They start you off with complimentary chips and salsa, which were super tasty. Just a heads up, the salsa is pretty spicy, but it was so good I kept eating it anyway. For the mains, the portions were huge and totally worth the price. We got the el rey with chicken, steak fajitas, and grilled salmon. Everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The steak fajitas were my favorite. They came with rice, beans, and warm tortillas. They also brought out some different salsas for us to try, which was a nice touch. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - El rey, grilled salmon, steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

I've been to this new location 3 times now. It's nice. Obviously very updated compared to the original. Food is good although quite pricey, pricier than I remember since our last visit. It won't be on our "frequent all the time" list but it's good to go to every once in a while. The next time I go, I decided that I will be going to the OG location in Cypress on Ball Road, which I noticed that they are re-open now (as of at least early November). read more

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Very busy Saturday night. Able to snag a table though, with no waiting. House Cadillac margarita was served with salted rim o. Request - I don't always get alcoholic drinks but this was very good. This place serves a variety of signature drinks, I could see the barkeep busy blending and shaking up drinks all night. Friendly waiter John recommended some dishes for our toddler, since there is no separate kids menu. Two item Combo dishes your choice , my companions got chile relleno and enchilada. Each dish served with red Mexican rice and refried beans. I got the pan seared halibut , it was tender and tasty, came with grilled zucchini and bell peppers, white rice and mango salsa. Ceviche was quite tart , fish could have been marinated for less time, it was quite chewy already when served. Music played throughout the evening, customers kept arriving till close to 10 pm. Good value for meals - we each took home half of our meals - portions are quite generous. Okay to come here for dinner, serving breakfasts on weekends as well. Gender neutral restrooms are located in front of the reception area. Changing table available inside. Clean and well stocked paper towels and soap. read more

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Came on a weekday evening, and we waited around 20 minutes to get a table. We got a nice spot right by the front, and it was comfy and spacious. Our server was very kind, attentive, and checked up on us multiple times throughout our meal. We got complementary chips and salsa, which were super yummy. The salsa was on the spicier side. I got the Chicken Enchiladas Verdes ($22.95), and it was so delicious! The portion was very nice! It came with a lot of rice and beans, which I LOVE. Everything was piping hot as well. The chicken in the enchiladas was so tender and perfectly cooked. The salsa verde on top was perfect, and everything paired so nicely together. My friend enjoyed her tacos too. I had lots of leftovers to bring home! I would love to come back to try their other dishes like their tacos or burritos. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Chicken Enchiladas Verdes - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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I stopped by to get an enchilada plate to try out the restaurant. If it passes that stage, then I would bring the family. Well unfortunately this place didn't make the cut. I didn't deal with the servers, but the hostesses were absolutely wonderful. My food was done in a timely manner. So to make sure I tasted the food at its best I ate it in the car. The enchilada plate came with two cheese enchiladas, rice and refried beans. All three were bland. The rice didn't really have any taste. The enchiladas were borderline on the salty side. That was pretty much the only flavor it was giving. And the refried beans needed a little more salt...or something! The salsa and chips were pretty good. The spiced red salsa actually had some flavor and a slight kick. The place overall seems fun and lively. With that and the service I very much wanted to like the restaurant. Unfortunately it didn't. Food 4/10 Service 9/10 Overall 5/10 read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Two cheese enchilada plate - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

The food was amazing. Our server Marco recommended the El Rey and Zarape Nachos, which I shared with my friends. Absolutely delicious! And I personally got the carnitas tostadas. Yuuummmm. Aside from the food, our server was amazing. He was soooo funny, personable, and kind! He honestly made us feel at home. He made sure to take care of us the entire dinner. It was our first time dining here but we'll definitely be coming back because of Marco :) read more

I really don't understand the local hype around this place. Ambiance (4.5/5): New and modern. It's not huge, but there are a good number of tables, bar seating, and a large table on the patio for big groups. Service (4/5): Generally attentive, but I felt like the busser provided better service than the waiter? Food (portions 5/5, flavor 2/5): - The best part of the meal was the free salsa and chips. The salsa was fresh and a solid medium heat. - Burrito mojado/wet burrito with chile verde pork: stuffed with pork only and the chile verde was so bland. Huge but so underwhelming. - Tostada with chile colorado beef: beef was very tender but was served lukewarm bordering on cold. The chile colorado was also super bland. Pretty disappointing. I would rather eat a Crunchwrap supreme. - The portions of each entree were enough for two meals. At 5:30 on a Wednesday night, we were seated within a few minutes. There was a wait by 6:30. I can see this place being an option for people who want a nicer looking restaurant and service, who haven't really tried Mexican food in SD/LA, and are unwilling to drive outside of Cypress. But otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Food is always good! The burrito is basically two portions . The server wasn't all that good though he took forever to take out order and never checked in with us and also took forever for us to pay read more

Food is amazing! Atmosphere is perfect, very clean! And the service was great! A good portion for the price! Definitely 10/10 read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Breakfast plate! Huge portion - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

Although the atmosphere of El Zarape is awesome, the food is simply forgettable. We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table on a Friday night, which was expected. The place always seems so busy, so I was really looking forward to giving it a try. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre. If you are looking for a lively atmosphere inside a beautiful restaurant, this is definitely the place for you. If you are looking for delicious Mexican food, you might be disappointed. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

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Not if you have a big group. Made a reservation for 15 of us and just never got seated after waiting over 45 minutes. I've been here plenty of times with a much smaller party and it was fine. Food is usually very good. Was hoping for a better experience but just wasn't in the cards. read more

This new spot is a solid addition to the Cypress scene! It shares a plaza with Trader Joe's, so parking can be a bit of a circus during peak hours--bring patience (or a backup lot). Once you're in, though, it's all good vibes. The staff is super friendly and attentive, and they don't mess around--chips and salsa hit the table before you can even say "margarita." The portions? Absolutely massive for the price. Like, "how is this not a catering tray?" massive. Definitely shareable unless you enjoy food comas. Bonus points for the solid beer selection and dangerously tasty margaritas. read more

El Zarape Cocina Y Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Cypress, California

These days, finding good customer service can be challenging. I ordered food to go and Sammi delivered exceptional service, even though I wasn't dining in. Her commitment to customer satisfaction is noteworthy and makes me want to go back to the restaurant. Excellent customer service makes a difference. Thank you, Sammi, for your outstanding service. read more

First time visitor Located in cypress square plaza next to Trader Joe's so be prepared for potential terrible parking overall unless you make it at a good time when it's not so bad :) Family kid friendly group outing date night eat solo get food to go type of spot Server was friendly and provided recommendations and checked up on us a few times Large bar dining enclosed patio booths tables to meet all sort of sitting arrangements as you are sitting close to folks overall Food was hearty and on the pricier side but shareable. The dish I order I enjoyed the sauce more to add to my sides and the chilli relleno seems a bit thicker in batter so wasn't able to taste too much of the chili Complementary salsa and chips, had a nice zing to it Glad to have tried it out but also ok with not returning back immediately to meet my cravings but a fun spot to check out! Enjoy! read more

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Went to dine at El Zarape for the first time and I can say I was truly impressed. Our waitress Alexah was outstanding, very attentive and efficient. The food was delicious especially the rice. Very flavorful unlike most other Mexican restaurants where the rice is not very tasty. The portions were generous and like I said very delicious. I do recommend this place as I will be going back again soon. read more

Second time I've been with my mother who loves salmon. Got her the grilled sandwich which she really enjoyed. I had the Camerones a la Diablo (not really spicy but still good) which surprisingly came with some crinkled potato slices. Good size portions. Had the grapefruit breakfast margarita (hey, I was having brunch with my mother after all and needed to get thru it somehow!). It was light and refreshing. I remember the first time I had the halibut tacos which were tasty as well. Cute place. read more

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Great ambience and good food! The service is an A plus, such a friendly atmosphere. Everything we ordered was good, including the drinks. The Paloma is a must try. Portions are plentiful to share! We called an hour before to put our name down since they take reservations for less than a party of 8 and they were able to accommodate us when we arrived, so no wait! Place was busy on a Friday night but service was still great for being busy! We will definitely be back! read more

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