The food was okay but over salted. Our hostess tried to seat us at the worst table in the uncrowded house (close to the door). Our waiter started with a hard sell on the appetizers and then seemed disinterested when we went straight to the menu for entrees. No one made us feel particularly welcome. read more

I had he pleasure of dining here for lunch and it went busy at all. In fact, we were the only customers there. Maybe it must be and evening restaurant. The restaurant is very nice and clean. The service was really good and fast. The food was average. This is a polish Mexican restaurant and the food didn't really have a lot of taste to it. The drink menu looks interesting though. The Jose Fries was great too! read more

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Gave this place another shot and incredibly disappointed. Undercooked chicken fajitas for $20. Taco Bell tries harder than this place. Great location but man, so not worth it. Step it up guys. read more

We tried Jose Babushka's for the first time tonight, and we had a wonderful meal. Kirsten, our waitress, was amazing! She was so incredibly nice and honest... steering us toward great food choices. Both of my kids loved their meals (a rarity) and my husband & I were both impressed with ours. The kielbasa is soaked in beer and SO juicy. The quesadillas were crispy, pastor pork tacos were yummy, and the drinks can't be beat. We've lived in Michigan for 5 years, and I have not been able to find a margarita that even comes close to what I'm used to back home. This restaurant actually hit the mark! I recommend the "Buenas Noches" margarita to anyone who truly likes tequila (it's not a watered-down lemonade). It may be $13... but it's worth every penny. I would come back just for the Buenas Noches... but it's a plus that the food was awesome too! We also tried the El Sol margarita which was not our favorite, but I think that's just a personal taste issue... I've never tried mezcal before, and I probably won't try it again lol). We drove 1 hour to give this restaurant a try, and I can guarantee that we'll be back soon. read more

Mediocre food made even worse by HORRIBLE service. The host who regularly works does everything he can to NOT help customers and the rest of the staff is very similar. Could be a great spot, but the employees are clearly taught to turn customers away and/or avoid customer satisfaction. Abrasive, slow and unapologetic. read more

Honestly such a good hidden gem! They're drunken shrimp fajitas were amazing. Their chips had a bit of a tang to them. And they're margaritas were more sour than sweet. But I plan to go back! read more

This place was so elegant and miraculous. The guacamole and chicken enchiladas were phenomenal. Our waitress Grace was so invested and committed to our experience and surely delivered. amazing. 10/10. Would recommend. read more

Actually went here twice in one day (on 4th of July), once for a party and once for dinner. The margarita's are fantastic - not over doing it with Tequila and quite tasty. The taco's I had at the party were very good, but I don't believe they were on the regular menu (they were make your own taco's). Staff was welcoming and friendly. I had a fantastic burrito for dinner later in the day - spicy and extremely tasty. The kids liked the cheese quesadilla's. I'd recommend to anyone looking for tasty Mexican and good margarita's. read more

Hi I never leave a review but this was much needed This restaurant was awful Terrible service the waitress/bartender seemed annoyed we were in the restaurant maybe she was annoyed she was there as well!!! Big indication no one else was there at lunch time!!! A fellow business said it's just okay It's a hybrid of polish and Mexican so I think they have their own identity crisis and can't figure out who they are as a business The food was terrible Over cooked and over microwaved tortilla didn't know that was possible and steak tough and bad quality overall!!!!!!!! The guacamole-was brown and no taste The chips were very salty and stale Glasses were not cleaned when served Don't waste your time whether visiting like myself or live here!!!! read more

Combining Polish and Mexican tastes in a casual, upscale environment would be no small feet for another restaurant, but Jose Babushka's pulled it off effortlessly this past Friday night, while attending to a packed house, no less. I got a tip that they allow for 30-minute call ahead seating, so at 5:30 on the dot I called for a 6pm table. I'm so glad I did because it was a tight fit in the restaurant even for an early dinner. My table of four was welcomed in and escorted to the bar to start with drinks. I was beyond thrilled to see that they had a Paloma on the drink menu and immediately asked for that. Up until last week I was unfamiliar with the Paloma but at the suggestion of a co-worker who loves these tequila-based grapefruit drinks, I decided to get one to celebrate spring. The drink was tasty and it inspired me to try their fresh pomegranate cocktail as an after-dinner drink. Our server immediately brought chips and salsa to start with and we all ordered different Mexican themed items. My vegetarian burrito was stuffed with grilled veggies, wrapped in a steamed wrap, and topped with slightly spicy red sauce. I asked for a side of guac and used that with the burritos and put a little on the chips. The polish entrees were scattered throughout the largely Mexican themed menu. While we didn't get any of the Polish infused plates, they all sounded really good. I'm going to make their house-made Perogies my next order. The prices were surprisingly reasonable for dinner and given the larger portion size, we all felt like they provided a great value. The restaurant itself is small but mighty. There isn't a lot of inside table space and seats are pretty close together. Even so, it didn't feel cramped and come summer time, they have a small outdoor patio that will be a nice place to eat. read more

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The food was good and the prices were really reasonable. They do Polish Mexican really well because they understand balance in flavors. The homemade chips and salsa were also tasty. I recommend the pomegranate margarita. The thing is, the space does not make a good sit down restaurant, full bar included. There were not too many tables, so luckily we used call ahead seating. There was no leftover space for patrons waiting for a table or for a proper service station for the staff. They were all crammed in the back in front of the bathroom. To get to the restroom I had to complete a series of pardon me, I'm sorry, and shimmies, so not ideal for staff or customers. Hopefully the restaurant is able to figure out some spatial solutions as they get further into the opening. read more

Three of our party had Mexican and it was delicious. One had polish and it looked OK. The burritos were huge and so good. The guac could have used some more flavor. The margarita was tasty and they have a good tequila menu. The waitress suggested a tequila and it was smooth They were very busy so I can only imagine it will get even better when they have a few weeks under their belt. We will definitely go back read more

Just finished a meal there. It was terrific. The Gaslight in EGR really needed a place like this. The concept is really Jose Babushkas 2.0 updated and redone more upscale in a striking contemporary / industrial decor. Stand out menu items include the Tacos (grilled fish, asada, barbacoa, pork. The queso fundido was lighter and fresher than most. The house made ceviche was fresh and delicious.The steak taco was made with delicious house marinated flank steak uncommon in mexican restaurants. Kyle (Ex Rockwell Republic), the chef, is wonderfully creative. The beverage program is easily one of the best outside of Downtown GR. They have a wide selection of local beers on tap from Founders and others, traditional bottled mexican beers, top shelf liquor and mixed drinks, a nice selection of beer, wine, french champaign - Veuve Clicquot (Known as "EGR Bud Light" to the locals). Everyone in your party can get their favorite drink here. Not easy to do in GR. Walter ( Ex Donkey) heads up the bar. Despite the sophisticated setup, the place is also family friendly and reasonably priced. Service in this sit down restaurant was outstanding. You will see the friendly local native GR owners, Rob and Julie Kowalewski working the restaurant and talking to guests Open for Lunch and dinner. M-Th 11-11pm, F and Sat 11-midnight. read more

Loved it! Fantastic food, generous portions, fun atmosphere! Very large selection on menu , everything we had was fresh and delicious, not your typical mushy beans and rice sides. We all took home a box of leftovers so could share next time . Taco salad is in a beautiful fried tortilla bowl, quesadillas and wraps were huge! The sausage made one quesadilla too greasy, but that was only downfall. Cocktails are also festive ! read more

Polish and Mexican fusion- something that sounds strange but was also really exciting to try. Unfortunately it was just so-so. Elote was tasty but not served well; no skewers or cute corn holders and you end up just covered in that mayo based sauce. It was tasty, don't get me wrong, but it was also super messy and he presentation just wasn't well thought out. I had the quesadilla burger, which was a burger patty (not hand pattied) in a flour tortilla wrapper with guacamole, cheese, spicy peppers, a huge amount of onions, and crispy tortilla chips. This was decent but was crying out for fresh veggies or salsa. It was greasy but decent. My wife had the beef and bean burrito with seasoned shredded beef instead of ground beef. This was simply not up to par; chipotle and Qdoba are much better. No cheese, no guacamole, no sour cream, no salsa. Meat dry, bland, and lacking flavor. Not even served with a side...this was just disappointing! The saddest thing was that the wait read actually recommended this item. Service was fine, no complaints there. I'm tempted to come back for Polish food, but also not in the mood for a lackluster meal. Could easily be great, but needs polishing. read more

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Nice greeting at the door from the hostess. Noise bounces around in there making it hard to hear a conversation at a small four-top table. The table was small making it hard to fit four dinner plates and some chips on it all at once. As far as food- The guacamole was just avocado with fresh cilantro on top. Menus says it has Jalepeno, tomato, green chiles and onions, but did not see or taste any of that in it. Chicken burrito was also VERY bland except for the enchilada sauce on top, as was the chicken Chimichanga another at our table had. The chicken inside is not "spiced" as it says on the menu. Pescado fish tacos also very bland. The salsas were good, we tried the house salsa, the pineapple salsa and the hot salsa. The waiter was ok, but after trying to clear our plates from the table before we were done, then when we were done, let them sit on the table for a quite a while before finally clearing them. read more

This place was delicious. With the combination of polish and mexican as its focus, I expected a little bit more fusion as opposed to mexican or polish. Regardless, the menu was extensive and everything we had was very good. We think they did the polish part very well, but the mexican part was a little bit lacking. I may be biased here as Grand Rapids offers a plethora of delicious and authentic mexican food, and I suppose my polish palate is somewhat unadvanced. My wife and I split a chicken chimichanga and some steak burrito. The chimichanga was good, but perhaps lacking in contrast to some local mexican eateries. The steak burrito thing was out of sight. It had mashed potatoes, steak, blue cheese, balsamic onions and was absolutely delicious. The portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. We were able to sit out on the patio which made for a lovely evening and I recommend it over the somewhat cramped dining room. The wait staff were knowledgeable and friendly and accomodating (it started to sprinkle so we wanted to move under an umbrella....no problems). Very very good. read more

Toward the east end of East Grand Rapids' Gaslight Village is this stylish, modern-looking spot for Polish and Mexican food. What? Yep. The menu definitely leans more toward the Mexican (or technically Tex-Mex), with traditional fare such as chimichangas, fajitas, and very delicious guac. The margaritas and sangria are great as well, there are good local beers on tap, and the service is always friendly and fast. The Tex-Mex food is nothing inventive or exceptional, but the ingredients are fresh and everything I've tried (I've been 4 or 5 times) has been well-made, not too spicy, and large enough to provide leftovers. (I've never tried the pierogies or other Polish items.) read more

We stopped by Jose's yesterday on a fluke. It turned out to be an amazing g experience. We sat at the bar and sampled several apps. Food was good. The menu has a great selection. We had nothing had lunch a few hours before we arrived there, however , looking forward to trying the entrees moving forward. The staff however, really made the experience. Miranda, Adam and Alex were so much fun and so knowledgable regarding the menus and the restaurants history. We will be back soon read more

I went in for a second time last week and I have to say, I am really liking this place! I got the queso burrito and it was amazing. It was huge, slightly spicy, and the queso was really good. I also got a steak burrito to go for my boyfriend and he really liked that too. I tried the pineapple margarita and it was SO good. It has chunks of pineapple in it, which I loved. I can't wait to go back and try some of the tacos! read more

When we first walked in everything in us wanted to love this place. Unfortunately, the burritos were very salty and tasted as if everything came from GFS. Very bland flavors. Would not recommend. read more

My wife and I ate dinner there last night. Guacamole was below average, chips were not warm and meal was very bland. Would not eat there again, but if you have to make it a Tuesday or Wednesday early dinner. Definitely average food, mediocre experience and no real reason to eat there. Too bad as combination of Mexican and Polish could be cool. Also great location in EGR. read more

I always like the food here. I try different things each time. Classico is great. My wife gets the Garcia. The fajitas are good. I would recommend it to anyone. Chris Krupp read more

We are visiting from out of town and our family took us here when we told them we love Mexican food. I liked the concept of chips with three different dipping sides - guacamole, cheese and salsa. I thought the chips would be homemade but they looked at tasted like bagged tortilla chips. My husband ordered a pale ale and they were out of it. They were also out of the food he ordered so he had to order something else. Weird, right? The tacos were ok, but if you want rice or beans or any other sides that's extra $$$. Save your money and go somewhere else. I was not impressed by this place. read more

Friendly staff. Drink and food menu is good with Daily specials. Particularly like the Carne Asada tacos and chips and salsa, guacamole, and cheese app read more

Went on a Wednesday night and ordered the white Sangria which is one of the best l have ever had. Fruity but not too sweet, very refreshing. I had a meeting to go to after dinner, otherwise, my friend and l would have ordered the putcher. Friend is Polish and really likes the potato pierogis. .I also ordered the Barbacoa Quesadilla, with green peppers and onions. Very cheesy, which l enjoy, but juice from the meat was all over the plate. Beef was not shredded fully, so better to eat it with a fork and knife and not your hands. The flavor, though, was super delicious! Definitely would order it again. read more

Entering the door as a single diner, I was asked by the host, "can I help you?" Like I was out of place. Once they found a spot for me by myself, the waitress clarified that I was not waiting for anyone else even though there was clearly one menu. There were multiple uncleared tables around, and the atmosphere was not welcoming. I had the Classico burrito with Barbacoa and a Mexican mile. The drink was ok. The food was bland. A huge flour shell with tons of tasteless meat and canned enchilada sauce. They could have improved the flavor with more other fillings such as beans, onions, tomatoes, or lettuce. I had to flag down a waitress to get some salsa. There was no upsell of chips, appetizers or any other items. A very unwelcoming place with bland food. I will not return and would NOT recommend this place to anyone. read more

We love the taco salad(beef) and tacos here! Great for takeout - they are fast and the food is awesome! One of our go-to's in the area.

The Serrano shrimp tacos were fantastic! Service started a bit slow but the server that came out was worth the wait. Had the bartender make the jalapeño margaritas "skinny" with the agave nectar instead of the "mix" and they came out great. I had a side of the cucumber salad which was tasty! My polish hubby was not so impressed with the kielbasa fajitas (and lack of horseradish), as it was a bit overdone. Our littles stayed happy and overall a good experience. Will come again. read more

Great Location. Awesome idea. Quality of food has changed so many times and never a regular consistency. Extremely loud. Could be a great EGR attraction or "go to" place. All those "things" are simple and can and should be fixed asap. Number one reason for such a poor rating. Wait Staff. They seem to think we the customer are doing them a favor. Time and time again its a simple request for salsa or even another bar drink and a smart smile and a turned back with a snarl rolled eye expression. ouch! The wait staff can make or break the whole experience. The customer is buying, returning and recommending based on the experience. A lunch experience this week was the straw... read more

Having been long time Jose fans from back in the day we were excited to see it re-open in EGR. We used call ahead seating for our party of 7 and were seated promptly in 30 minutes. Our server brought chips and salsa and served us our drinks. The food was good and we have no issues with the menu. But shortly after placing our order, the hostess kept looking over at our table. After several times of her giving us the stare down, she then engaged another server and then another.this continued throughout our meal. Having appetizers, drinks and dinner for 7 and spending over $160 we felt as if we were taking up space even though we did not linger after our meal. When a group waiting for a table joined the hostess in the "stare down " we decided to leave. It is apparent that this was more of a fast food place rather than a place to meet up with friends . read more

Meh! That's probably the best I can muster for the place. Our waiter was obviously inexperienced and was given too many tables - all of which were seated in quick succession - translation: slow service. Ordered steak fajitas (on Saturday before 7); waiter came back to tell me they were out, although they could do steak tacos. Wife's food came out cold. And, it wasn't cheap. Taco Bell would've been faster, probably tasted just as good or better and cost a fraction of the price. read more

Have tried this place 3 times now and very unimpressive. I remember the old Jose on East Beltline and was hopeful this would be as good, it's not. 1st time had Chimichunga, it was soggy and no flavor. I can't even remember what I had 2nd time, but last week had their special tenderloin burrito. About 1/3 of the meat was grizzly, this is tenderloin should be no grizzle. Will not be going back. read more

Went to this restaurant one hour and half before closing and their kitchen was closed! Was really dissapointed about this.

Came here for lunch, not impressed at all with their food. Lacked flavor, and was overpriced.

Great combo of Polish food and some fun south of the border foods. The Polish platter is kinda expensive but a great item to share. It was delicious ! The atmosphere was really fun and it has a great location in the heart of gaslight village not to far from the yacht club of GR. read more

A group of us came here for dinner, the waitress was extremely disrespectful she kept bringing out food that we never asked for, which was too expensive, everything someone asked for she back-talked with the worst attitude and that we didn't really care about but when she started bringing out the food, every order was messed up and when we told her that it was nothing we ordered she replied with "it actually was but what ever!" And stormed off, So we asked for the manager who said that the waitress is "best friends" with the owner which basically gives her a free pass to disrespect customers. Disappointed and will not be coming back read more

Jose Babushkas is the best Mexican food in GR. The menu has a wide spread of many different items. The queso is unbelievably good, it is not heavy so it is a wonderful appetizer!! They have a wide variety of drinks such as cocktails, many beers. The staff is very nice to all of the customers!! The restaurant is a very nice design and very modern looking!! The chef is amazing at cooking the food, every bite you take is tasty!! The restaurant not only seats indoor, buy also seats outdoor patio in the summer which is very nice. I recommend going to this place and would be in my top 3 in GR. This is a must go for sure and hope you enjoy your food also!! read more

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It was just ok. It was the first nice day in a long time, so the service was pretty slow. The veggie burrito was pretty bland, almost zero mushrooms inside of it. That would have provided more flavor. My daughter loved the kids burger but hated the fries. We need to try it again to be sure. read more

Portions getting smaller, but prices stay the same! The beef and bean burrito used to have some "heft" to it. Got one to take out, and I immediately noticed that it was more compact in the take-out container and much lighter than usual. I can understand mgt's decision to downsize the portion(s), but it should be reflected in the cost to the customer, as well! read more