Good and service were phenomenal. We were looking for a Mexican restaurant that was just a little upscale and we found it. It's not pricey at all, but the food is certainly a cut above normal fare. I had the tacos al pastor and they were the best I've had. We enjoy eating out, but know we can make similar dishes at home, often better than restaurants. Not this time - food was well worth the trip and money. We'll be back next time we're near Charleston. read more

La Minerva - Tacos Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

food is beautifully presented and very tasty! service is prompt but non-invasive ambiance is gorgeous read more

Really great! Huge amount of parking space since it's in a plaza near PetSmart, Homegoods, etc. Interior is super cute. Staff were very attentive and welcoming. Everything came out very fast. Ordered an overly friendly IPA from edmund's oast. Chips/salsa were free. Ordered the enchiladas trio and it was a great portion--came with a side of rice. Honestly all the sauces were fantastic on the enchiladas but the mole negro was the best. Love the bold flavors on it. It was a little slow on a Tuesday evening--go and give them some love! read more

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Just went to this place. And it's totally amazing. Especially nice and CLEAN. Service are great very friendly. Good came out not oily at all. Love the salad they give me. Many berries in it!!! read more

La Minerva - Mahi mahi - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

We tried La Minerva for the first time today for lunch. The chips and salsa are not free refills, they did let us know upfront. It was 2.50 for additional salsa. I had La Minerva bowl with grilled chicken. My husband had the barria ramen. He compared it to beef stew with ramen. It was like nothing he's ever had before. Would he get it again?,no. My bowl reminded me of something I would get at a tex mex restaurant. The restaurant was huge, clean, and beautifully decorated. The bar was huge! The bathrooms were clean. I'd be willing to come back and try something else due to the extremely friendly and attentive staff. read more

La Minerva - La Minerva bowl with grilled chicken. - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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Located off of Dorchester Rd in an easily accessible area, La Minervais a Mexican restaurant that warrants attention if one has that Tex-Mex itch. Fair warning I lived in Austin TX for 4 years and would frequent San Antonio, the street taco capital of the US, so I'm a stern critic. Considering I just moved back, I asked my nephew where to go and this place received high marks but the comment "it's a little more expensive" was mentioned. Walking in there's not much of a Mexican soul to the place: it's devoid of hats, murals, balloons, flags and all things that scream authenticity. Instead, they have opted for a very sterile and uniform vibe which, if one says "we eat first with our eyes" then I'm feeling ho-hum. The extremely nice hostess was quick to seat us on a slow day yet the waitstaff was a bit slow as well, at least the chips and salsa came quick. First up the traditional chips and salsa were ok. The chips are light and salty however the salsa was a bit bland devoid of anything interesting. I think anyone who likes what has become a staple of "Mexican food" will find it agreeable. But today was free majitoes! I can see why it was free as the Orange Juice dominated it all together and although the rum was used sparingly, so much so I was curious if it was a virgin majito. It was like an adult drink with training wheels or something for a beginner. Aside from the drinks, I debated an enchilada or tacos. Considering I just moved from Austin, I hate comparing royalty vs anyone else. But I was hungry and my heart ached for something familiar. I was splitting meals with my mother so she got the shrimp tacos. While the shrimp were very good having 3 huge shrimp, well-seasoned and not overcooked, however the rest was like they skipped out on anything else. The tortillas were cooked nicely however there was barely any cabbage on the tacos while the rest of the usual toppings were on the side. This includes a pico with hardly any cilantro and a bland avocado "salsa"(more like a crema). The saving grace was the birria! The shells were perfectly browned in the "consume" fat (it's not REAL consume but the poaching liquid with the fat from cooking the meat). I got mine with cheese so it's got 2 wonderfully browned corn shells. The meat was tender and moist, not that dry stuff grandma cooks up and the, lets call it broth, perfectly flavorful for dipping. Yes, I would say hands down, this was my favorite thing I tasted at La Minerva by far. At La Minerva, the food is above average, the staff is nice and decent speed while the atmosphere is safe and limited. I haven't been here long enough to give comparisons so I can't say how it stands among other options. But in a vacuum, it's a good place to enjoy a pretty good meal with extremely good birria but steer clear of the shrimp tacos. read more

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This was my first visit to La Minerva. They advertised that they had live music Saturday night (a saxophonist) so I wanted to check it out. Upon being seated I noticed a majority of the menu was not in English, this seemed odd. I also felt their menu was a bit limited. Second, I noticed every thing seemed A la carte. You are not getting free chips and salsa over here my friend, nope $5.00. Ok no problem that's not expensive. Now when ordering tacos (2) rib eye tacos for 18.00 with no side dish.. no rice or beans?? That's crazy to me since I have a Happy Hour spot in the area with $3.00 beef $ 4.00 chicken tacos AND complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered the Quesa Birria tacos, they were good. My service was a mixture of good and odd. We asked The server who brought the drinks if we could have some lime wedges he smiled, walked away and never returned. We figured out he didn't speak English. Later a woman, possibly a manager checked on us regularly and thanked us for coming, she had great customer service skills. While I enjoyed the saxophone player I don't know if I'll return any time soon unless it's for a cocktail and to listen to music. read more

La Minerva - Birria Quessa-tacos - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

La Minerva was a hit and miss for me, but the hits outshined the misses, so I'm leaving 4 stars. We stopped in around 2 on a Saturday. The place was dead, but granted we were eating at an odd time for lunch. The place is also gorgeous. They spent a lot of money and time on the decor. It's definitely upscale compared to the other Mexican restaurants in the area. We started with the queso. It's fantastic and worth the $8. Same thing can be said for the birria egg rolls for $10. I love birria meat with the consome and this was good. Then when it came to our entrees, both were a miss. I had the lunch enchiladas. Everything was bland except for the salsa verde. Their salsa verde is delicious and should be highlighted in way more options! Where things went downhill was the crema, tortillas, rice and chicken tinga. All were bland and the chicken was dry and chewy. I wasn't able to eat it. JD got the paella and there was plenty of good seafood, but he said the plate as a whole, mostly the sauce, was bland. One note. I didn't try it, so this is his take. We wanted to try a new local place, and we accomplished that! In my book the good outweighs the bad, so I'll return. I'll just be sure to order the hits! read more

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La Minerva had cute cocktails and the guy assigned to our table was really helpful with suggestions on what drinks to get and explained the menu to us. The queso I ordered was almost mozzarella consistency but it could be due to the hot plate it got served on. It was still good but I ended up not finishing it. Me and my friend enjoyed the drinks, and the Churro was the perfect dessert to finish our meal with! I was really excited to try it, and I thought it was very good. It comes with a caramel and chocolate dip as well as ice cream on the side. It's definitely not your usual Mexican restaurant. They did a good job with the interior. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a more upscale Mexican dining experience in the area. read more

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We love to sit at the bar and have Diego make us drinks! The food is really good too! I read a few reviews on here about people that want "free chips and salsa" lol this isn't that type of spot....wild to leave a small business a bad review for that. Welcome to 2020s in America ‍ We love the Mexican old fashioned with mezcal and Diego makes the best espresso martinis in Charleston! We have been probably 40 times. HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

La Minerva - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

Stopped in, thinking it would be a typical fast casual Mexican place like Los Reyes. Turns out to be a very upscale Mexican place! Food was stunning on the price, meaning it was extremely reasonable, only a few dollars more than a place like Los Reyes for a very premium experience. Inside it's swanky and hip, nicely decorated. Server was fantastic he recommended the grilled mahi mahi which was light, but filling, and tasted amazing. Can't believe this gem was right here the whole time and I never stopped in before! J.Ja read more

La Minerva - Grilled mahi mahi - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

I mean wow this place is stunning . It was definitely not what I expected walking in but glad we stumbled upon it. The owners have several restaurants but this is their newest and more upscale. You could tell there was a lot of thought and intentionality in developing the concept so I really admired that. Our server Vania came and greeted us, shared some things about the menu and made some recommendations. We informed her my husband was celiac and she was very knowledgeable about what he could and could not have which was refreshing. We were off to a good start with a delicious margarita and we ordered a birria ramen simply because it was a unique option and also a pork plate with rice and beans. Everything was colorful and had distinct flavors, while the ramen could've used just a touch of salt, it was still very good and enjoyable. All the accoutrements of sauces, diced onions and jalapeños made the dishes even better. I got to meet the owner and she was so sweet. I think this is a great spot and the menu had so many amazing options so we look forward to coming back! read more

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Go! This is not just a new Mexican restaurant. This is an authentic cornucopia of offerings from the owners' hometown, in an upscale, relaxed, and pleasant setting. The dishes are crafted with care and reflect a regional cuisine with several dishes I've never seen before. The service was excellent, attentive from the moment we walked in. We enjoyed a memorable experience. read more

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Stopped by for lunch . Was surprised they had a lunch menu on the weekends. Inside is very pretty with trees and lights and they have a bar that lights up. They do not give you free chips and salsa . We had to buy it for 5 bucks and no refills. There was 4 of us with 1 bowl. The sweet tea was unsweetened. We had to send it back. Staff was very nice. We needed a kids menu and was told it had to be printed since they were out. We had to wait 15 min for a menu for my grandson. The chips did not appear to be homemade. I ordered Pizole soup. My husband got the lunch fajitas and daughter got the chimichanga. Food came out and my soup came in like a little metal pot w a lid. I've had Pizole before and it has a rich brother with hominy and chicken and sometimes it's creamy . I opened the crock and it was dark meat chicken pieces and hominy floating in chicken flavored water. It had the radish and toppings on the side to add but the broth was terrible and the chicken was like big pieces of leg meat just torn off the bone. At first it thought it wasn't complete. But he said that's how it comes. I had to had salt and pepper and the chicken was all greyish from just sitting in the juice . I should've sent it back. I got a separate bowl so I could put the components in a smaller bowl so I could control the taste. I did not like it at all. My husband really liked his chicken fajitas and said the beans were the best he has ever had. So that's good! And my daughter liked her chimichanga. I ate some of it and it was good. Grandson got fries and a steak taco and ate it all. If I go back I def won't get the soup and I'll try something different. And to note.. The women's bathroom was adorable. I did not take pictures of the food like I normally do. read more

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The food was very delicious! Great variety of apps, entrees, and sides. The atmosphere was very decorative and there was live entertainment which was a nice added bonus! The service was quick for how busy the restaurant was. read more

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Delicious food, top notch ingredients. Great staff, and great atmosphere. It is a little on the pricey side, however, it is well worth it. Everything was high quality, and the staff were amazing. read more

La Minerva - Fajitas plate, my wife and I shared - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

Second visit, still amazing! Great service and the food was outstanding! Niece ordered the nachos which we loved! Added an extra side of queso because we need them drowning. So good. The ramen was perfection. Large portion and will be a go to winter craving! read more

La Minerva - Birria ramen - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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Stopped by for an early dinner, there was a decent crowd, but got seated quickly. It was clean and fresh inside. Starting with the Chips and Salsa. You could tell the chips had been sitting around awhile, and the Salsa was more of a tomato sauce with Oregano, not much flavor. I ordered the Carnitas, which was moist and tender but lacking real flavor, the traditional rice was bland, but the Charro Beans and Poblano Rice were very good. The Margaritas were more Sweet and Sour than traditional. Also, not a fan of the pre packaged Tips and at 20%, 22% and 25% plus the server wanting to hold the card reader making it difficult if you felt like doing custom. read more

Beautiful upscale Mexican restaurant. We were promptly greeted and sat when we arrived for lunch. Menu is varied with typical Mexican food like tacos and enchiladas but also more unusual dishes like scallops and salmon. We started with guacamole which was freshly made. Good flavor despite the fact that the avocados were not fully ripe. I ordered Al Pasteur tacos...which I forgot to take a picture of! There were too many grilled onions for my tastes but my companions loved them and ate them all. Description said pineapple but unfortunately I didn't see any in my tacos. Prices a little high but the atmosphere would make it nice especially for a special occasion. read more

La Minerva - Nice atmosphere - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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We had a great lunch on a Saturday afternoon, before the snow. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with 2 amazing hand painted murals, and everyone was very friendly and attentive. The chips and salsa were delicious to start our meal, we also ordered the guacamole and queso- both were fantastic. My husband had the Birria Ramen which he said was the best ramen he's had. I had the fish tacos which were wonderful, and our daughter had the kids meal with a steak taco that she brought half home for lunch the next day. We also shared the churro dessert which was 4 churros, ice cream, caramel and hot fudge. Already talking about going back for dinner! read more

La Minerva - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

Everything was good! The service was great! The ambiance was sexy! Will definitely return! What I ordered: Birria Ramen: very good size serving. Quite tasty! Birria egg rolls: very very good! Paloma: was sooooo good!!! read more

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Went to lunch here today. The service and food are top notch! Very pretty interior. I got the chicken fajita lunch for $14. There was definitely enough for me take home for dinner! Highly recommend! read more

La Minerva - Chicken fajita lunch - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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This is more of an aesthetics restaurant than anything. Amazingly decorated with a beautiful large bar. Indoor and outdoor seating. The place is gorgeous and the food was just as beautiful. The food was absolutely average tasting. It lacks flavor and depth. The waitress seemed young and new. When asked about gluten-free options she was guessing instead of finding someone that knew. We went with a party of 4 and we all agreed this is not a second-chance restaurant. On the bright side, the ceviche was very tasty. The queso was bland, the empanada, and octopus were bland. Finally, drinks were really tasty! read more

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The food was definitely good, with authentic flavors that stood out. However, the service left a lot to be desired,staff seemed inattentive and slow to respond. On top of that, the wait time was quite long, which made the overall experience frustrating despite the tasty dishes. If they improve the service and speed things up, this place could be great! read more

Always a good experience when I visit La Minerva. The servers and bartenders are always nice and great with answering questions about the menu. Live music they have on some evenings sets a nice relaxed and upscale vibe. read more

La Minerva - Rosé - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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Date night. Was told that this wasn't a "typical Mexican" joint. Service was extremely slow, with very minimal traffic in the restaurant. We were left waiting to order drinks for 15 minutes. Whatevs, not a big big deal. Food was basic asf. You would find the same food at La Hacienda for half the price. Same vendors, same way of cooking. Not saying it's bad but when it's advertised as being a step up, you start to question it. Avoid any places that are supplied using Sysco or US Food. read more

The chicken tacos were delicious along with the salsa that has a little kick to it. We also enjoyed the fajitas, though just the tiniest bit dry. The rice and beans that came with the fajitas we so good, probably the best rice I've had in a while. Service was quick and all of the staff were very friendly. When we went they had a guy playing the saxophone live to give a jazzy/hip hop feel to it which we liked a lot too. We will definitely be coming back! read more

La Minerva - Chicken tacos and fajitas la minerva - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

Beautiful new restaurant, staff were outstanding. Jose was our server tonight, he did a great job answering many questions about the food. I had the Milanese which was fantastic. Breaded, chicken, rice and grilled radicchio salad. The owner stopped by the table a couple of times to introduce herself and welcome us. Check this place out when you get a chance you won't be disappointed. read more

La Minerva - Menu - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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Food came out very fast and was amazing. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic Mexican food. read more

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Diego - hands down made our experience 10/10 The food, service, atmosphere was so amazing. I got the Jalapeño Cucumber Margaritas was soooo yummy!! It was fresh and omg soooo yummy! The ceviche was fresh and clean and so yummy! My boyfriend got the carnitas taco and it was sooo good Just go here and eat read more

La Minerva - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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We stopped in for lunch on a whim. We were seated in a booth& immediately serviced either by water, chips & salsa. The red salsa was tasty & the chips were thin and crispy. We both ordered from the lunch "pick 2" menu. My spouse had a salad (del valle) & taco (carmitas). I had the fideo soup & mushroom empanada. (Thought I would try something totally different. The mushroom empanada was tasty, but I would probably do a meet one next time. The service was excellent shout out to David! I ordered a cocktail which was tasty and presented in a stylized bathtub. I would probably order the drink again but without the dramatic bathtub. We will absolutely go to la Minerva again. It was great. read more

La Minerva - Fancy drink, empanada & soup. - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

Great upscale Mexican restaurant in the Home Goods shopping Plaza. I was happy to catch them for their grand opening. The place is beautifully decorated and very large and spacious. My party was seated near the bar which was perfect to enjoy the live music being played by a talented saxophonist. Their bar area is huge. Our waitress was very attentive and gave great recommendations on drinks and food. Service was average time and the place was packed. Everyone seemed happy to be there. The food and drinks were delicious and we really enjoyed our visit. I have already recommend them to other friends. I'll definitely be back soon. read more

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The food was amazing, the environment was clean, and it's a really nice place overall. The drinks were delicious, and the service was very good. read more

I realized that it is a very pretty place, but often bad service, haughty attitudes of servers, being charged 5 bucks for salsa and chips, taking until I was done, to give me salsa, this was not acceptable to me. Go to Toro Birria, N. Charleston, for great service, many more authentic Mexican dishes and better food, free hot salsas. Life it too short not to do the best when it makes too much sense. read more

Beautiful decor, delicious food, and helpful and patient staff. Our waiter and trainee basically picked our full meal and it did not miss. The birria egg rolls were such a highlight of the meal... almost missed them because they're not in the appetizer section but in the birria section on the menu. Just know, you cannot miss those! I asked for a mocktail and was happy to hear that any of the margarita options could be made into a mocktail and the very berry flavored option was delicious. I'll definitely be back to make my way through more of the menu! read more

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My family and I where so excited for the grand opening of this restaurant!... It is beautifully decorated. The location is accessible, in a plaza with plenty of parking. The service was fantastic! Unfortunalty I was not able to place 5 star rating because the food lacked the authentic mexican taste and presentation. I ordered the chilaquiles, with chicken and egg added, all the ingredients where piled up in a bowl, which made the tortilla chips very soggy after the second bite. By the way the chips are the same tortilla chips that are served in the table as a starter before you order the meal. In my opinion, the tirtilla chip should be thick for this particular dish. Also, there was hardly any beans. The tamal did not have the meet inside, the meet is placed on top of the tamal, a very small amount of meat, so all you are eating is masa. The guacamole was missing salt. The carne en su jugo had barely any meat and was missing bacon on the side. I shared my experience with the manager and gave some suggestions. We plan to come back and try again in a couple of months in hopes that some improvements are made. It is absolutely worth trying again! read more

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Wow! This place is amazing! The environment is classy and beautiful. Service was excellent! I had the avocado Caesar salad and they grilled the romaine lettuce topped it with avocado dressing, yucca and queso fresco. The grilling method added a really wonderful Smoky flavor and it tasted excellent. My husband had the chicken tamales and rice topped with the Aztec sauce that was flavorful with roasted peppers and peanuts which added a great depth of flavor. My margherita was superb! Love the Carmel Flan!Definitely coming back! read more

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La Minerva did really well. We were greeted correctly. It's an enjoyable ambience felt comfortable. The prices are right and the food was amazing. Definitely recommend this place. We came for lunch, but I would definitely come back for dinner. read more

La Minerva - Drinks - Mexican Near Me - North Charleston, South Carolina

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Fish dish was amazing .. I recommend adding cilantro!! Service was as expected and very nice ambiance read more

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La Minerva is a really good spot for fresh, tasty Mexican food. Everything tastes clean and well-made, and it feels worth the price. The cocktails are a bit expensive, but they're excellent--well mixed and thoughtfully done. Nice atmosphere, good service, and overall a solid place to grab dinner or drinks with friends. Would definitely go back. read more