I'm a bit torn on this review. We hate the queso... it looks like a bowl of ranch with chunks of pepper and carrot in it. And the salsa is pure water. Not your typical Mexican restaurant queso or salsa. On our four or five visits here, we've had tacos, fluatas, chimichangas, nachos and everything was just okay. Just doesn't feel like quality ingredients put into anything. My son does love their chicken burrito... it's the only reason we come back when it's his turn to choose. It's a decent size and actually has a lot of fresh chicken. The service is unbearably slow if there's anything more than two tables. It's an okay place, just not great. Especially for the cost. read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Great place. Love it. Good people and good food! Very consistent quality. Great service.

Wow, WOW! We came for the Sunday Buffet... I was totally blown away. The buffet had so many different options - regular breakfast with bacon, scrambled eggs, French toast, etc. AND they had a Mexican brunch options - egg burritos, quesadillas, etc. there were so many options and it was all pretty delicious. I really appreciated all the salsa and sour cream toppings so you can really make the meal your own. The service was great! I may have had 3 of their $5 mimosas (what a deal?!?!). Our server was prompt and very nice. I'll be back! read more

We had dinner here right after they opened in 2019 and loved everything about Loren and Mari's, and I'm excited to return today. I'd never been to the brunch buffet, and I wasn't disappointed. The restaurant has a large bar as you enter and several separate dining areas. Some are large enough for large parties and even small events. The full service bar is fairly large, and you can dine at the bar. Booths are also in the bar area. The buffet brunch had an excellent selection of breakfast and something for everyone. Beautiful mixture of American breakfast items and delicious selection of Mexican lunch items. The buffet started with biscuit and gravy, scrambled eggs, pancakes, French Toast, waffles, hashbrowns, fajita meat, bite size slices of burritos/enchiladas with different meats, excellent noodles, tortillas, queso, meats, beans, rice, salsa and all the sides to satisfy your tastebuds. These are just a few of the options on the buffet. The desserts were covered as well. Small dark chocolate cake bites garnished with a strawberry slice were rich and amazing. It's definitely my favorite dessert. Those who prefer a healthy dessert would be satisfied with the large bowls of fresh fruit, which was excellent with watermelon, cantelope, strawberries, and grapes. Other desserts were available as well. The group had a fun time getting to know each other better. All found the buffet and price an excellent deal. Our drink orders arrived timely for 8 of us, and our server was so efficient and friendly. She handled each request timely, and no one waited long for those continuous requests such as extra napkins and refill on drinks (coffee, sodas, salsa). Overall, we all agreed this was a terrific restaurant with delicious food, excellent service, and a comfortable atmosphere. Whether you come for brunch, lunch, or dinner, I don't think you'll be disappointed. You'll find a wide selection of delicious food. read more

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We went to Loren & Mari's last night for dinner. I'll start with the positive. The server was very nice. We waited several minutes to be seated although the restaurant was empty. The complimentary salsa was very watered down. We ordered a queso dip. I would be willing to bet it was Tostito's White Queso, but also watered down. Flavorless. My husband ordered a Smokey pineapple margarita, I ordered a house lime margarita. His was not Smokey at all. Mine was definitely the Jose Cuervo premade margarita mix. Could tell by the color and flavor. I ordered an al pastor and steak burrito, my husband ordered a shrimp chimichanga. I received a steak and avocado quesadilla, he received a chicken chimichanga. I don't know if this was because the waiter didn't write down our orders or for another reason. Luckily, our bill was for the items we received, which were cheaper than what we ordered. We did not complain at the time and we did not short the waiters tip. We just won't go back. And I wanted others to know that the food and drinks are lackluster at best. read more

Visited at dinner time and there were only a couple of tables occupied and only one person came in while we were eating. Our server Luis was great. Gave us plenty of attention and helped us customize our selections with no problem. He seemed to truly care about our satisfaction and we greatly appreciate that kind of service. Our food however was less than satisfying. The queso was ok but Tostitos makes a better jarred queso than this establishment. There is plenty of room for improvement. The chips were very thick and hard and the salsa could have also used more flavoring. Our dinners were good however still on the bland side. The rice had no flavor and our entrees lacked any hint of "Mexican" seasonings. I wish this establishment well but unlikely we will return. read more

This family owned Mexican Grill has the drive up/car side down pact! You call in order, (ours was done within 20 min) drive to right side of restaurant. You can call if you don't see anyone when you come to tell them you are there, but someone came right out. They take your card inside and come back out with your food and slip to sign. We've gotten the arroz con pollo and NY strip which were really good, and comes with free chips and salsa. The menu has a variety if someone wants Mexican and someone wants a burger or steak, you can do it. We've already been there twice in the past month and will sure be back! read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Esquites - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Wonderful staff and authentic Mexican food We have friends who are used to authentic food ( husband is Hispanic and grew up in Texas) and they love it! read more

Service was great and 5 stars. Food was unacceptable. How do you mess up Tex mex?! As many others have stated, the chips, salsa, and queso set the tone of everything. I'm willing to bet money the queso is from a big jar or something . Totally tastes like Tostitos. I couldn't put my finger in it but then going through the negative reviews and seeing some comments about it, totally it. We were sat near the kitchen and the place was pretty much empty during peak dinner time. After we ordered, I heard a microwave beep go off many times. I was hoping it was some other timer or something but our meals def tasted microwaved. The guacamole and pico on our plates tasted fresh and was good. We definitely won't be back. Too bad. read more

Had a family meal on Saturday evening at 6 pm. There was only one other table in the place that was full. I guess that surprised me on a Saturday evening. Food was ok. Margarita was ok. Service was ok. But that's it. Ok. Nothing terrible. Nothing great. Just ok. Was hoping for greatness. read more

I started with an appetizer called Tacos Dorados, corn tortillas that were stuffed with chicken, fried, and then covered with all of my favorite toppings including fresh guacamole. For my entree, I went on a recommendation even though I couldn't imagine how leftovers would be reheated. No problem. No leftovers. When YOU go to Loren & Mari, get the Coco Burrito and you won't have left-overs, either! Then, I just HAD to have something sweet. Unfortunately, the strawberry chimichangas were not available, but the churros covered with cinnamon, chocolate sauce, strawberries, and whipped topping paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream were soooo satisfying! I WILL Facebook.com/getlostindiana there again!! read more

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Good but not great fajitas. Outstanding service. A wide, robust menu of mostly Tex-Mex choices. A nice, spacious restaurant that has housed a lot of different things over the years. The server said she believes this place is closing because the owners don't want to renew the lease. I hope that isn't the case. I thought the food was good, and there aren't a lot of choices like this in Carmel. I would enjoy coming back and trying other things - street tacos, a chimi, a chili relleno, maybe a quesadilla. You could eat here every week for six months or so and probably not have everything on the menu. I've certainly had better Mexican food other places. Better and more authentic. And this restaurant was about 10% more expensive than other places. To get steak and chicken fajitas, instead of one or the other, I had to pay an extra buck or so. To get either shrimp or chorizo, it's another buck or so. In all my bill was $27 with tip, but I tip pretty well. So it's not a quick place for cheap eats. But in the end I thought it was good, and I hope enough people start coming by there to eat that it stays open. read more

Heard a lot about the buffet. I'm a bit skiddish about buffets these days but got their early. For the price, it was very respectable. Just need a few more vegetables/something green. I like that they seem to make small portions at a time so things don't get too old. Def worth a try. Didn't get pics of breakfast stuff but French toast and pancakes looked great. read more

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We absolutely love this place. I heard a rumor that they are closing & I hope to heaven it's not true. I'm from San Diego, where there's Mexican food available around every corner, good Mexican food. Loren & Mari satisfies my cravings for that. Fresh, reliable, excellent. read more

If you want a delicious weekend buffet with lots of selections this is a must try. From fajitas to pancakes, it was all fresh. I recommend getting there right when they open as it's not very busy. Service has always been attentive and friendly. Plenty of seating and can accommodate larger groups. It's also reasonably priced. read more

Wanted to try a new place in the area and I have heard good things about Loren & Mari! We were immediately welcomed by the host, who happened to be bussing a table outside. We decided to sit outside on their patio. They had plenty of seating to choose from with the options of an umbrella. We both ordered the rosé margarita, which I think was a little to sweet for me. The complimentary chips and salsa were really good and much appreciated while we took our time looking over the extensive menu. To settled upon the chorizo and potato tacos. Everything was just average here. I'm not in a hurry to return, but I'm willing to try again if I'm back in the area! read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - I've never seen a taco with sliced cotija cheese. I think I would have preferred it crumbled - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I really enjoy the food and staff here. I am always greeted with an enthusiastic smile. The food is great. I have had numerous different items on the menu and lean towards the tacos. They make their own chorizo which is very good. They have a fully stocked bar so if you can't find a libation here, you can't find one anywhere. read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Chicken Pabano Quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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A favorite Carmel restaurant. Love their tortas. Never had a bad meal. Staff very friendly.

Went to this restaurant for a work party. The food and drinks were both excellent. Highly recommend. read more

Amazing food, lovely staff and environment. I highly recommend their Mexican street corn! And boy they know how to make a margarita.

Great Sunday brunch go-to! Must try. The price and variety of food is great, it is fresh. The lids are the only annoying thing about getting your food at the buffet. The Bloody Mary was not good, do not recommend. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Great value. read more

To my loyal Yelp followers and groupies, I'm going to make this very easy: I rarely do five stars, just because perfection is rare. However, Loren & Mari is now the undisputed heavyweight champ of Mexican restaurants in the Indianapolis area, period. End of story. They now hold all three championship belts, just like Mike Tyson in the late 80's. Every aspect of our meal last night was full of superlatives. The Enchilada de Carne (steak) with Mole sauce was out of this world in terms of flavor and presentation. The Tacos al pastor were perfect and authentic in every way, right down to the lime wedge and radish slices. The mango margarita was the perfect balance of tequila and mango flavor. The service was equally impressive; we spoke to several members of the family that owns the business, and it's clear that this family of 9 siblings has put it all on the line, and their work ethic is clearly evident. As of the date of this writing, they've only been open for about six weeks, but they're already hitting on all cylinders. I've been to nearly every Mexican restaurant in the greater Indianapolis area, and last night, Loren & Mari dethroned the former champ by a knockout. My former #1 was Agave in downtown Carmel. I'm already thinking about my next trip to this place. read more

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This was our first time trying Loren and Mari Mexican Grill! First off, the service was amazing! Our waitress was super sweet and personable. She had a smile on her face the whole time and was very friendly and attentive. We also had one of the managers or the owner (?) come chat with us at our table as he filled our waters. And he was super appreciative of our visit & us supporting mom and pop restaurants! It was our goal tonight to support a local spot and chatting with him just made our night because we feel like we accomplished our goal. The chips and salsa had great flavor! This was my first time trying street corn but man it is GOOD! I didn't realize it would be spicy though, so if you aren't huge on spicy then maybe ask for the spice on the side! Still a must try either way. We also tried the tortilla loaded nachos, their cheese sauce was really really good. The chicken enchilada soup came out very hot which I really appreciate at restaurants because there's nothing worse than cold soup! The arroz con pollo entree was good. This is the first Mexican place that I have ordered arroz con pollo and it wasn't shredded chicken. Great flavors in this dish! This spot is practicing social distancing guidelines, all of their employees were masked up, and they had the option of touch-less digital menus. It also looked like they had a great out door seating, although it's kind of cold for that now! read more

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Go for the brunch buffet on Sunday! Such a variety of fresh food and great service for a reasonable price.

Organic margaritas and salmon tacos?! Yum! I like this place-is it local? Is it a chain? Unsure. The menu had a wide range of options and I appreciated multiple healthier choices, like green veggie quesadillas and fish tacos. Portions were more reasonable (smaller) than what you sometimes get at Mexican restaurants and food tasted fresh. Our server was VERY attentive-checking in almost every 2 minutes to a point that it started to get annoying because we just wanted to chat and eat and not be interrupted so frequently. Salsa and queso was just OK. But all around, good stuff! read more

We stopped in a second time during COVID19 and holy smokes were they crushing it! We called in our order and they are doing 15% off takeout orders during quarantine. They had clear signage in their windows, so when you arrive, you know exactly where to pull up your car. Once you pull up, you call them and they'll run out. The owner was literally running from car to car and had a smile on his face the whole time. They were working so hard and were so quick! Our order was ready within 15 minutes and they even gave me a side of queso, chips and salsa with my meal and I didn't even ask or order them! Such a fun and delicious surprise. Y'all crushing it and we're noticing! Thank you! read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - COVID19 takeout: they were amazing and even gave me free salsa, queso and chips with my side of guac - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I'd learned of this newer place to open in Carmel from other Yelpers so was pleased to check it off my list. We were greeted enthusiastically when we walked in for lunch and seated in a booth across from the kitchen, which was kind of fun. Chips and salsa were brought before we could even open our menus. A menu insert listed specials including $3.25 cocktails. At that price point, it'd be stupid not to I thought, so I ordered the Tropical Mango. It was fruity without being overly sweet, refreshing, and had a definite kick to it. Our server was super attentive and downright sweet. It took her a couple of tries before we had absorbed enough of their large menu to order entrees. In the meantime we ordered guacamole, which was deliciously chunky and fresh. We ordered the carnitas burrito and the carne asada platter. Mine, the latter, came with warm corn tortillas, red or green sauce, grilled onions, guacamole and pico, and 2 sides: rice and refried beans (with the beans in a separate bowl because it's so much food). The carnitas burrito also came with a side of refries. Food came hot, seasoned quite nicely, and with plenty of it. In fact, I ended up taking some home. I found quality to be similar or a step up from most of the Mexican places in our area. The criticism I have is that the carne asada, 3 large pieces of thinly sliced beef marinated well and cooked with just a touch of char, was tough pretty much throughout. I cut it up into smaller pieces and chewed my way through. Because it was our first time there, we got a 10% off coupon at check-in through Yelp. We merely showed it to our server and the discount came right off. We interacted with at least 4 staff while there and all were friendly and seemed eager to please. It was an enjoyable lunch experience but next time I may try the pozole that our server had suggested. read more

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Family owned and operated. Not your typical Mexican restaurant. The service and staff are top notch. The menu is Mexican home cooking at it's best. I highly recommend. read more

This is the place to be on Sundays for an awesome brunch buffet!! Classic breakfast meets fiesta with nachos and tamales and more. The paloma was a nice touch, bright and fizzy! read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Brunch buffet - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We eat here almost every weekend. They have the best tacos al pastor anywhere in Indy, and our Mexican friends all love that they have Pozole (perfect hangover cure, if you need that!) read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Stopped in for lunch and thought this new place looked good. Cute and clean, friendly service right away. Chips were very fresh, salsa had a great homemade taste. Ate way too many! I went with the bacon chicken quesadilla. Full of bacon and chicken with fresh pico. Large portion that I found I couldn't finish! Husband had a steak bowl. Looked like a work of art when brought out! Also a large portion that was very filling. As we were here for lunch, we did not try any drinks, however their cocktail menu looked great with very reasonable prices. We will be back and try dinner next time so we can enjoy the cocktails, and try to not eat all the chips! read more

Loren & Mari Mexican Grill - Bacon chicken quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I had pretty high hopes for this restaurant given the reviews and size. However, I wasn't too impressed after dining in. My family and I went there to celebrate a birthday for lunch and though the restaurant was fairly empty, the service was extremely slow. The food was average, but I do wish they had a spicier salsa. I noticed that they do a buffet brunch in the mornings which looked pretty intriguing. I did not try that, though given the limited vegetarian options. read more

Disappointing. I brought my wife here after seeing the great rating and had pretty high expectations. And although the service was good and the restaurant was clean and spacious, the food was a big let down.....bland. Understand that I like flavor, not especially spicy hot flavor, but I like when a food has more than a simple "one note" taste. When we arrived, our waitress brought us salsa and chips. (She didn't ask if we wanted them and there was NO charge for them, so maybe they have changed their business plan and are giving them free like the competition does.) The salsa was thin and quite mild. Not bad, but I was surprised when my wife who prefers less spicy food made the comment that there wasn't much flavor. We then ordered the Street Corn which was wonderful! It is on the pricey side ($7.50 for 3 half ears of corn) but it was the best thing we tried. My wife ordered a Taco Salad and apparently, she must not have read the description very carefully. Instead of a crunchy bowl filled with lots of flavors, she got a plate with the ingredients spread out with a few crunchy tortilla strips on top. If you like the crunch, then this is disappointing. And the flavor was lacking. I went with the Carne Asada which I had read was excellent, but this was the least favorite. The steak is sliced into three thin slices, cooked well done, but without any char. Very little seasoning. I will concede they do give a lot of meat (each slice is larger than the corn tortilla), but it comes with lettuce, about a quarter cup of pico de gallo, and two roasted green onions. Nothing else. No sauteed peppers or guacamole, no sour cream or cheese, and very little seasoning. I can't say that the food was bad (I did eat them) but I can't figure out how this was supposed to be a great meal...did they forget to bring something? For anyone still reading this, they do offer first time Yelpers a 10% discount. That is a nice perk which was appreciated. Overall, with all the Mexican places that I've really enjoyed dining at, I can't say I will stopping in here again. Review #2097 read more

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