Good food and attentive service. Delish drinks too. We will be back! Fun place to stop when visiting State St.

Always have found parking on the street right in front of the restaurant. Good wait service. Nice menu. I've tried the burrito and enchiladas Verde both very good. Blended and on the rocks margaritas are large. Cute Mexican decor. I would recommend this restaurant. read more

Pretty good Mexican food, although my burrito did come out a little cold in the center. The service was great otherwise and the vibe was cute! read more

It was a nice place with good amount of crowd in this Friday night around 8pm. I could down the block a couple of other nearby places that seemed even more lively from a distance. Anyway, overall very nice people and staff. The food, I have to say, was fine. I think the complementary chips and salsa were fine. The crispy taco was also ok. I didn't care for the enchiladas as the cheese wasn't very melty and both green and red sauces could've used some depth to them. Portion sizes are pretty decent, and we had leftovers, but we were visiting from out of town, so we couldn't really take it with. Oh yeah, I'm still left with the million $ question - why do they have an Italian named Mexican place. read more

I was in the area over the weekend and wanted to try some Mexican food. Garibaldi was near by, so we decided to check it out. The service was great, and the food was delicious! read more

See all

Went to Art Fair on the Square today with some friends from Milwaukee. So many amazing restaurants in downtown Madison. But I was thinking about how I had not been to this place in two years and I remembered how great it was and how amazing the atmosphere is. The restaurant is beautiful and even though it is a Mexican themed restaurant it has a New Orleans vibe. I think it is because of the previous restaurant which was the Bayou from quite a few years ago. Anyway, I didn't catch our servers name, but he was phenomenal and very timely and friendly. I had the pastor tacos with beans and rice. My friend had the ceviche. I wish I had gotten a picture of it because it was so beautiful and so fresh. So often you go to restaurants that have seafood that is fishy if you know what I mean. The shrimp was extremely fresh for not being anywhere near the ocean. We asked if there was an extra salsa they could bring to the table and our server delivered! That extra spicy salsa was wonderfully flavored. I had two different margaritas. I had the house margarita and then I had the Cadillac margarita. If you are a margarita person and you love them strong definitely get the Cadillac. There is a reason it is called that name!! The place itself and the employees are all lovely. It will definitely not be another two years before I come back! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - House Marg - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Craving some Mexican while away in Madison, we heard this was the place to beat, and I'm happy to say it was just fine. I got a Garibaldi Fajita, and I can't say it was anything special. If you like fajitas, well, it just tastes like fajita. Not amazing, but not bad by any means. Service was ok, we had difficulties with the language barrier but nothing we couldn't easily get past. I feel like the atmosphere is where this place would really shine. Their upstairs area looks like a really nice place to be. Unfortunately, it wasn't at all busy when we went, so we were downstairs. Overall, not a bad place, just not one that sticks out. read more

Excellent food and service. Will return! Attentive staff and a wide variety on the menu. This is the real deal. Nice location-- and easy walk from the capitol building in Madison. Enticing booths and nice bar with TV's. read more

After dining at Garibaldi's several times now I've concluded that service is consistently a miss here. The food is pretty good. I've tried their chimichangas, enchiladas, queso/guac and have no complaints. Their margs are huge and delicious. It's a fun vibe inside and they have extra seating upstairs to accommodate more people. However, their staff is never equipped to handle the amount of customers they draw. Every time I've been here our servers disappear for up to 30 minutes at a time. It's bizarre. Even waiting to pay and be on our way out is always a long process which is confusing because you'd think they'd want to open up a booth for the people waiting to be seated. Also parking is a PITA around dinner hours but that's to be expected downtown. I think we just keep coming back because there's not many standout Mexican places around downtown Madison, but I'm always prepared to wait longer for service here. read more

I had lunch from here. The place was not too busy. Molcajete looked excellent in pictures. So decided to give it a shot. It came in a super hot stone bowl. There was a lot of meat, chicken, shrimp and other stuff. In addition it also comes with a side of 5 tortilla and rice and beans. That food is enough for atleast 2 people. Meat was flavorful. And food was ready in about 15 minutes. Molcajete was not in the lunch menu. But they were happy to prepare it for lunch. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

The food is delicious and the service is great!!!! A bit quiet but still great atmosphere

Authentic Mexican cuisine with full bar and outstanding service. Terrific space in side with booths and tables, and traditional Mexican music adds to the festive atmosphere. read more

Popped in here for our V-Day meal and it did not disappoint. It's tucked away behind the ginormous ugly DNR building but you can't miss the LED strips lining this restaurant/house. It is super cozy! Kinda gives me New Orleans vibes. There's an upper floor balcony-ish level with more seating. We got seated in a booth. There were some V-day deals going on. Like this 6 dollar marg. We ordered the queso fundido which is this honking bubbling skillet of queso and chorizo. Sheesh it's so delicious. Remember to bring the lactaid. Enchiladas Jalisco and enchiladas verdes - really good! Solid meals and they made for great leftovers. Of course chips and salsa complimentary :) Wasn't too busy in the Tuesday we went, especially given it was Valentine's Day. read more

See all

Very cute and well decorated restaurant. The restaurant is located off the square so you have to look for it, but it was not very busy on a Wednesday evening when I stopped in. Friendly service, delicious food, and large portions. I am looking forward to returning and trying more items from their menu. Viva Mexico! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Jalisco, to go, with no sour cream - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

We've been meaning to try this place especially since there are so few good Mexican restaurants in town. The good reviews drew us in. With some friends we stopped in early on a weeknight. It was pretty quiet with only a half dozen or so tables being occupied. The restaurant is surprisingly very big with a large loft-like space. They do have a happy hour but it was only for wine - $5/glass. Three in our group got wine and I tried their $8 Mai Tai - it was OK for a generic version of this drink. The complimentary chips and salsa were the typical fare. I ordered the combo with two cheese enchiladas and a beef taco. It came with beans and rice. It was very good. One got the enchiladas and burrito combo and gave it a thumbs up. The fish tacos were also a hit especially since the fish was not fried. Overall we had a very good experience and will be back. read more

This place is FABULOUS! I walked in with my daughter and we were quickly seated. The chips and salsa arrived shortly after. My daughter devoured the salsa. We asked for extra multiple times because she loved it. The staff was wonderful! I had the pleasure of having a delicious dinner. The first drink I had was the Purple Dragon. It tasted like a grape jolly rancher, YUM! Followed by the classic Piña Colada. My main course, enchiladas poblanos. It was perfect! I wish I lived closer to have this more often. We ended the dinner with dessert, churros. I have had a lot of churros in my lifetime, growing up in the Southwest. With that said, these are the best churros I have ever had. The strawberry filling gives it an incredible touch. read more

See all

I'll start with the guacamole because who doesn't start with the guacamole? It's called "tableside guacamole" which led me to believe that it was made at the table, as has been my previous experience with the same name. It wasn't, it was made in the back, which is still fine by me. If you go in expecting to watch it made, you may be disappointed. It was still fesh, bright & piled up with onion and cilantro, two of my favorite things. I ordered the Burrito Badger thinking I'd go lighter, no sides. It was the size of my arm. The server busted out laughing when he saw my reaction. It was decent tho, in retrospect, I wish I'd just opted for the tacos and asked them to leave the rice off. I tried my husband's tacos & they were really good. No crazy toppings - just meat, cilantro and onion, I believe that I already mentioned how I love them. We were the only 2 in and service was fast until we finished eating. They were in no hurry to get rid of us - let us sit and talk then brought the bill once I placed payment on the table. A decent meal, good service & fair pricing street parking is metered til 6pm. The building blends well with the surroundings, while still being easy to find. I'd go back but I likely won't find myself craving any of the dishes I tried - tho, if I do, the other half of my burrito is in the fridge! read more

See all

I ordered the Carne Asada to go. The chips were a bit tough, but salsa had decent flavor. The steak had almost no flavor and was tougher than chewing gum. I know it was to go, but it was still tough and flavorless. The rice has good seasoning, and tortillas that came along were okay. The guac was watered down and runny. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Why has it taken me this long to try Garibaldi?! We visited with a group of friends for an early Cinco de Mayo night of margaritas and Mexican food, and Garibaldi did not disappoint! Everyone's meal was fantastic, and the service was excellent. I had the Enchiladas Poblanos - best Mole I have ever had. Another person we were dining with ordered the Molcajete and thoroughly enjoyed it. One thing to note is that each of our meals had a fair amount of spice (which I love). If you are sensitive to spicy foods you may want to ask if they can turn down the spice a bit for you. read more

See all

Amazing Fresca margarita, fresh chips and salsa, and affordable! Service was also great.

A nice 5-minute walk from the hotel I was staying at for a conference. The food here is very fresh and authentic and the services fast and friendly. Ambience is very festive. Prices are fair for the portion yet. The chips and salsa are excellent. I ordered the chimichanga with steak. I would highly recommend them. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food was very but the service was marginal. They were more interested in watching soccer on the tv than attending the tables. We finally had to get up to talk to them. read more

Garibaldi hits the spot when you're craving Mexican food. For any Mexican restaurant, the chips and salsa have to be delicious and Garibaldi delivered big time. My enchiladas were flavorful with just the right level of spice. The guacamole was creamy and fresh. Our server didn't seem to come back to refill drinks too often, however, overall this is a great spot near the capital. The food came out super quick and filled our hungry bellies. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick bite to eat around the capital. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Poblanos - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My new go-to place for friendly staff and good food. Love the decor - I feel like I'm at someone's house in a way that is hard to explain. Super place to go with friends. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is a really good value for great Mexican food. Portions are extremely large and ambiance is pretty decent!

Soooo glad I finally tried this place (and have ordered from here twice in the last week ). This is my new Madison staple restaurant, and in my opinion the best Mexican food in Madison!! This is going on our delivery rotation FOR SURE. Run, don't walk to get your hands on their poblano/mole enchiladas! Oh my lord is that mole sauce good. I have literally dreamt about it and cannot wait to have it again. So much depth of flavor and a subtle sweetness that just keeps me coming back for more. I am also obsessed with their guacamole, so fresh and the portion size is insane! I was so full last time I ate here because I couldn't stop myself from scooping up another bite of guac with their authentic and tasty crispy corn chips. I've also tried their burrito and pastor tacos and I am just obsessed!! I can't wait to explore more of their menu (but also worried I'm going to just get the enchiladas and guac every time because they're SO GOOD). I absolutely recommend this place! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Partially eaten Table Side Fresh Guacamole (SO GOOD YOU GUYS!!!) - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

You can tell if a "Mexican" restaurant is authentic. This one does not make its own tortillas. That is a big "NO" in capital letters. It all starts with the tortilla. Processed, factory tortillas are the worst. Everything after that has nothing to add. read more

First time here, didn't order a lot so can say about other food items besides what we ordered. The place itself seems like a upbeat Mexican spot, kinda dark, but good vibes. Clean! Ordered some queso to go along with our chips and salsa, they were good. The salsa was not watered down . We got the Molcajete and it was enough for two. It came with four tortillas and you can order more as needed. What's a Molcajete? Easy way to put it is a fancier version of a fajita in a mortar with some extras. Very good and flavorful. If you ask for hot sauce or the "red sauce" it's a $2 charge but it's good. Overall good food, clean place, good vibes, just wish we got water refills. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Molcajete...a little of everything, fajita in a mortar. That's my opinion. - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Pretty sure I didn't get quite what I ordered... but everything I got and my friends got tasted great. Service was great; ambiance was great! Food came out quite fast and the chips and salsa were pretty good. Prices were fair. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Salt + pepper - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Enjoyed the fast friendly service. The food was authentic, and flavorful. Would definitely return. Try the tacos and ceviche, delicious. read more

See all

So far the food has been great!! The beer is ice cold and fresh. The waiter is very professional and attentive. And the vibe in here is great. read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - This guacamole is so good it's mouthwatering. This is how table fresh quac is supposed to be made. Job well done. - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'd been hearing good things about Garibaldi since they opened and for the most part they delivered! We got Tinga Tacos, Fajitas De La Casa, and Guacamole. The Tinga Tacos were pretty much the star they were well seasoned and the sauce that came with them was actually a little spicy. The Fajitas were solid but just needed a little more salt. Guacamole was on point and they gave us a good amount of chips with our take out order. The refried beans could be more seasoned but were not bad. Solid Mexican place in Madison! read more

See all

The best pastor tacos I've ever had. A bit expensive for two meals with drinks but great attentive service

Went here for a dinner and was pleased with the drinks especially the noche en Miami. As a vegetarian options were limited, I got the quesadilla which was nothing special. Would recommend going if you're looking for some standard Mexican food and fun drinks read more

This is a great Mexican option for downtown Madison. The food is fresh, and the menu has a wide variety of dishes to try. The al pastor tacos are my favorite order so far, and their refried beans also deserve some attention (so good!). We've gone here a few times for takeout during COVID19. The staff is friendly and the food is done fairly quickly! Plus, they always give us complementary chips & salsa. Def will be back! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Overall the food was good, not great but good. The staff were really nice and attentive refilling drinks either just before being completely finished or just after. It was a relatively fast service and didn't feel like we are being rushed out after the bill was handed to us. Overall a decent place to go, good service, and looked nice and clean inside. read more

Probably the nicest waitress I have had in any circumstance in my life. I usually like to hurt myself with Mexican food and overeat, but this time went off the lunch menu. It's 12 hours later and I still haven't ate again. I did the Badger Burrito. Chips and salsa were good too! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Badger Burrito lunch. - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went here for drinks on Cinco de Mayo and had to come back to try the food!! Amazing homemade salsa and tortilla chips, Poblano Mole chicken enchiladas were sweet but very good! Even better is the nice atmosphere and the sweet staff. Definitely will be going back! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Poblanos - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was nervous because the restaurant was empty when we walked in, but this place was amazing! It's our new favorite Mexican restaurant in downtown Madison. The staff was very nice, the margs were great, and the plates of food were huge. We had to take a box home! I definitely recommend going here ! read more

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant - Tacos Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The best Mexican we've had in Wisconsin. Eric the bartender (one of the owners' sons) makes a fantastic margarita!