Great Latin American food, great atmosphere and great service! I love all of their restaurants, Pearls is my favorite but Red Mesa never disappoints! read more

Bad food. Dry and flavorless. The service was just as bad and dry as the food. Definitely do not try the Jamaican jerk bowl. It was terrible!! Will never eat here again. I rather starve. read more

We almost always visit this restaurant when we're in Traverse City. They have many vegetarian and vegan options. They have a huge margarita menu, they are tasty but pricey. I ordered the red rice and bean burrito without the cheese and it was delicious. read more

Red Mesa Grill - Red rice and bean burrito - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Service was wonderful, polite, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations. The food was excellent, stuffed poblano pepper with rice and black beans. And I picked up two new bottles of hot sauce. Highly recommend this when you are in Traverse City and looking for Mexican. read more

2.5 stars Food was just blah. Pork in burrito was not seasoned at all. Tortilla soup was lukewarm and tasteless. Rice was mush and came whole like it was in the microwave. Chips were good. Food was definitely overpriced for the taste and quality. read more

If you are hungry this is a great place to stop. The portions left everyone full and satisfied. I got the Strawberry Kiwi margarita. I wasn't a huge fan of the freeze-dried strawberries in the margarita but it was still very good. I also ordered the chorizo and chicken poblano. It was not super spicy which was surprising and the rice was good. My sister order the steak fajitas. There wasn't a lot of steak or peppers but had a lot of onions. This wasn't an issue for her because she liked the onions. The whole table really enjoyed their meals. No one was able to finish their meals they were so full. read more

Great food and great service! My wife ordered the Don Julio Margarita and I had a couple Coronas which were both very good and cold on a 90 degree day! Ordered the sampler appetizer and the variety was great but only 2 of each item for $18??? Seriously 2 chicken wings? Chips and salsa were good but our first bowl of salsa tasted nothing like the second?? After all was said and down...the bill came for $103! The most expensive Mexican restaurant we have ever ate at and we eat Mexican food everywhere we go (look at my reviews)! We are on vacation so no big deal just be prepared to not be able to buy a dinner for under $15. read more

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ORDER THE BRAZILIAN STEAK, MASHED POTATOES OR CANNED BLACK BEANS. mashed potatoes tasted stale old and without it's flavor profile. Stewed black beans are simply heated canned black beans. Firm versus slowed stewed equating to soft, flavorless beans. Sauce on the sliced steak pieces ruined what was an adequate hanger steak. Decent service. read more

Food was delicious and fresh tasting. Generous portions. The service was great and accommodating. Our server Kelsey was sweet and very on top of things. I would come here again and again! (If I lived around here) read more

Great (northern) Mexican place. Being from Texas, I'm used to Tex-Amex, which is spicy and just different than the Mexican food available in the southwest. This place was good - had dinner with a group, ordered the queso and guacamole for appetizers, great - really had a kick to both. The combination fajitas were good, and the Argentinian fried bread was also great. The sour cherry marg is a MUST try! read more

Red Mesa Grill - Sour cherry margarita - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Everything is just one note of heat, including the items on the kids menu. Seriously, have these cooks ever fed children? Even the cashew chicken salad was too spicy! I'm happy I refrained from dumping all the dressing on it and was able to just eat the plain lettuce for sustenance. Unless everyone in your party likes flavorless heat as a whole meal, skip this restaurant. read more

Great place for a quick and easy Mexican food stop. Was seated fairly quickly given the number of people that were waiting. They have outside seating as well and you can ask to be seated in that area . Food is not fairly priced and the chips and salsa were decent as well. I had the pollo asado and it has decent portions Would recommend to fellow travelers read more

Food was good service was pleasant. It was medium busy and the food did not take long to get to me.

Wouldn't return. Started with chips and salsa. The chips were stale; had almost a pita-like texture. Ordered the queso fundido which was a mistake in hindsight because of the chip issue. It was mediocre. Luckily we ordered the house margaritas because those helped us forget how bad the chips were. I ordered the enchiladas. The cheese enchilada was inedible. Should've sent the whole thing back. My date ordered two tacos and she said the only reason she ate part them was out of extreme hunger and confusion due to the margaritas. Great margs and huge tequila list but refrain from the food. read more

From out of town and went because of past experience and their vegetarian options. Their menu has changed and there are way less options for us. My main issue for our visit......My child has food allergies and ordered the Mexican grilled cheese (quesadilla) off the menu. Was not told the tortilla would come out as a spinach wrap (green) because their supplier lists eggs on the ingredients. My complaint is that I did not order a spinach tortilla, and would have declined and chosen another option if had the chance. As we were not given the option nor told about the switch until the food was served, and sent back, my issue is mostly with the communication. The rest of us already had our food and were not impressed with the service (under staffed, dirty dishes, drinks not refilled) so we sent his food back and grabbed a jimmy johns sandwich on the way back to the hotel. It seemed like we were an inconvenience to the restaurant and its staff. I give two stars because the food I ate, the veg tacos, were good. Can't say as much for the service. We always visited Red Mesa when in Traverse City, I cant say we will be back anytime soon. read more

Husband and I visited on Friday 7/29 & we were sat in the bar area.. food was okay... this place is more of a TEX MEX place like chili's. Our waitress wasn't very friendly or attentive to us... never bothered to check in with us on the food, or asked if we needed anything... which was a bummer. what I did love...the atmosphere, vibe, & especially the variety of tequilas they had. I'd probably pass on Checking this spot out unless you wanna grab a quick margarita!!! read more

We came on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was at about 30 percent capacity . We waited 20 minutes to get a table for no obvious reason whatsoever. There were tables and booths galore to choose from but the hostess seemed completely overwhelmed. Mercifully the manager finally came to seat us at one of the several empty booths. My wife and I ordered a margarita that sat at the empty bar for 10 minutes before I finally tracked down our waitress and asked her if she could make her way over and pick up our now-watered-down drinks. To which she responded, "sorry, the bar is slammed tonight". There was literally one person sitting at the bar! The food was actually decent but far from overcoming the staffing issues. I will certainly never be back. read more

A somewhat overpriced Tex/Mex joint amidst all of the touristy hotels... The food is "ok," though drastically overpriced. $10.99 for 3 small tacos? Brother, please. The desserts were DROWNING in Rum, so much so that we had to order the little bugger a new dessert because we thought he might become intoxicated...and like it. No, for serious though I think the recipe got mangled for the coconut bread pudding, it had a BAC of about 5 percent. They were HUGE though for $5, so hey...maybe just skip the cocktails and order a few desserts to get schnockered... Atmosphere is pretty good, legit American-influenced Mexican decor complete with skeleton mariachis and a random dragon. Hmmm. Ok. Service was stellar, though I did think he might quit after my dad refused to drink stout out of a wine glass. Wrong on so many levels...first, why serve stout at a Mexican joint? Second, a wine glass? Ouch. Eh, I hate to be such a....hater. It's just probably pretty touristy, but I'm sure its a good spot if you're staying at a nearby hotel...but otherwise, save your money. For some real ridiculously sloppy Mexican food, just head to La Seniorita for about half the price and twice the food... read more

Red Mesa Grill - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

I've been to the Red Mesa Grill numerous times over the past few years and have always had good food and excellent service. It's a must whenever we travel north. Atmosphere: It's a standard loud-ish bar/restaurant with a wide variety of Latin-themed props covering the walls, and frankly I think it's gorgeous inside. There's a whole lot to look at (particularly near the bar). Food: They offer an interesting variety of standard dishes, but also some fusion dishes as well. It's really an interesting blend of everything from Caribbean flavors through Central/South America on over to Portugal/Brazil. I've never had a bad dish - though some stand out a lot more than others. Their appetizers are fantastic; the mole quesadillas are delicious as are the cuban black bean cakes (which are also available as an entree). I'm a big fan of tortilla soup and theirs is stupendous. For entrees (dinner), I recommend the Brazilian skirt steak, any of their combination platters, tacos, fajitas, and the pork churrasco. The only thing I've had that didn't light me on fire was the Peruvian pollo aji amarillo. For dessert, they have a pretty good selection - but my favorite is the habanero fried ice cream. It's a delicious bit of fried ice cream drizzled with a spicy habanero chocolate sauce that has the most excellent burn to accompany the ice cream. Drinks: They have a full bar, and one of the nice things about the Red Mesa is that they have a decent tequila selection and offer tequila flights for those interested in sampling something beyond the food coloring-infused dreck us wetos usually drink *cough*Cuervo*cough*. PS - Why serve a stout in a wine glass/snifter? - To hold the aromas for your nose, and so you can swirl it around and loosen up the flavorful sediments. PPS - Why serve stout at a Mexican place? - Because they go great with grilled/roasted/barbequed foods (all of which are hallmarks of Latin/Spanish/Portuguese cooking) - they can add sweetness where the dish may be mostly savory or salty. read more

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The food at this restaurant is no better than OK. Very heavy, artlessly prepared and presented. Big portions, though. The service and vibe are fine, with one weird exception: they don't list their draft beers, instead the server recites them to you, which is not very helpful. The margaritas were fun, though. read more

my server and service was horrible. my server Emilia C need more training and experience. She is not comfortable around people she was Very shy, but far as my services it was horrible as well . i must say the manager was nice and understanding. read more

I'm usually skeptical about restaurants with bright exteriors. Experience has taught me that the brighter the outside, it is usually compensating for deficiencies on the inside. Red Mesa Grill proved me wrong. I went there as a last dinner in Traverse City after a conference, and the place honestly astonished me. The menu was extensive, much more than typical burritos and tacos (even though that is what I opted for in the end). It ran the range of Latin food, including churrasco and other non-Mexican options. The restaurant was also in the middle of a tasting tour of Latin America, with a specials menu that included regional selections from Guatemala, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. I was impressed. Starting on the table, the salsa was homemade, as well as guacamole. I went for the pulled pork burrito, which came stuffed into a soft flour tortilla with refried beans (beans that had a bite to them, and didn't taste like they came from a can) and smothered in tomatillo sauce and a melting cheese. Alongside was a thick crema, and small bites of rice and more beans. The food was fresh, flavorful, and had a good edge to it all. My only nitpick was a little over-reliance on lime, in the food and guacamole. The atmosphere was lively, a lot of big tables for families and parties. A bit loud, but not so much that you couldn't have a conversation at modest levels. Complimenting their menu was a large drink selection, including an impressive number of tequila bottles. I went for a mojito, which was made with real mint and sugar. It felt a little light on the alcohol, and again there was a bit much lime, but it was refreshing overall. I left impressed with the restaurant, it was a great experience that I would recommend to all. read more

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Just a very average lunch experience at Red Mesa. The best part about Red Mesa is the restaurant decor. Quite nice. The rest was somewhat of a disappointment, especially given that it was highly recommended on yelp and by another restaurant in the Traverse City downtown area. With the long wait and kid of average food, it was all OK. The people were nice too, so that counts for something. Thanks Red Mesa. read more

Service was great... food was average. I was very dissatisfied with the steak quesadilla. Anyone that reads my reviews knows that I call a spade a spade... with that said, there was one small piece of steak in my quesadilla square. That's not right considering I am paying for a steak option. I was also not impressed with the $6.50 taco that lacked a lot of flavor. The burrito that my friend ordered seemed to be the way to go. read more

Stopped here for dinner, mainly because pretty much everywhere else in traverse city is closed on sundays. They have a convenient online ordering system if you want to do takeout, and prices are fair. They do super delicious takeout margaritas, too. I had the cuban black bean cakes, which were good, but nothing special. I would come back here if it was my only option, but I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way. read more

Waitress was great. Brought us a taster of the Caribbean Seafood Chowder to help us decide. Was wonderful. Full bar. Celiac menu , gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian menu as well. Jack Stuffed Shrimp and substituted green chiles smashed potatoes! Steak and Chicken Fajitas. Waitress was great. Brought us a taster of the Caribbean Seafood Chowder to help us decide. Was wonderful. Full bar. W 165 different tequilas. Celiac menu , gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian menu as well. Jack Stuffed Shrimp and substituted green chilesSmashed potatoes! Steak and Chicken Fajitas. Tender steak in the fajitas and garlicky potatoes. Accommodates large groups with a minor wait. Becky B. is tha bomb! read more

Yummmm! Can't go wrong with Mexican, but this place was above and beyond the norm. This place has so many items to chose from (including a whole separate vegetarian and vegan menu) and they have some super hot sauces to try if you're a fan of spice. The Peruvian Armadillo Eggs appetizer is something I've never had before and were savory and addicting. It comes with a green salsa and creamy chipotle sauce that pairs well. The black bean cakes are delicious and just the right amount of food if you're not wanting a large meal. The spices and sauces for the bean cakes are amazing. The proportions are just right and everyone's food was savory and devoured :) The coconut cheesecake with lime is also a delicious end to the meal. The staff was friendly and attentive. Our waiter was new (it was his first day!) but very friendly and accommodating. We had a good time overall for our first night in Traverse City. read more

We had the best service here! Dane was outstanding. So attentive and food was out quick. Especially for a Saturday night! Food was amazing and we will definitely be back.... Hoping we can have Dane every time we're here. read more

Tried to stop at 8:50pm and the door was locked. Suppose to be open until 10:00 Disappointed. read more

We stayed across the street for a few days and decided to eat here twice during our stay. We loved the stuffed poblano and the shredded beef and bean burrito! The service was great and we dined outside which made us feel safer given the current pandemic. Will definitely return whenever we are back in Traverse City! read more

Service was great; food was just okay. I ordered the chicken enchilladas, and they were bland and soggy. Sides were good; chips and salsa again just okay. Atmosphere is nice; we sat next to the fire place which felt good. Be warned if you get easily hot though, I wouldn't sit there. But for me it worked. All in all, I'd go back, and probably order something different. It was my first visit there, so I don't want to throw the place out based on one meal. It wasn't that it tasted bad; I just personally wouldn't order it again. read more

We read the reviews and were excited to go. Unfortunately, our experience was not good. Our waitress I am hoping was brand new. If not, waitressing is not her thing. They have a house margarita for happy hour and it's super sweet. I wasn't able to drink it. Food was not flavorful in my opinion. My sons quesadilla had a long black hair underneath it. Very disappointed for our first night of vacation. The manager did discount our bill for the hair, but we wouldn't go back. read more

Food was good. Was interesting decor. Was good for a Tex-mex place. Staff wasn't that attentive compared to the other local places we dined at during our stay. read more

Red Mesa Grill - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Best place to enjoy a fajita in Traverse City. Fresh ingredients and a tasty treat when sharing both the chicken and shrimp sizzling dish. Enough for two to share, especially with the complementary chips and salsa. We can't resist at least one visit when we visit TC! read more

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I don't know if I'd call this authentic Mexican food, but it's a good place to go to get a quick bite to eat. Margaritas are worth giving a try! read more

If you want true authentic Mexican food do not go here! There is absolutely nothing Mexican about this place expect for the tequilas. I will say the watermelon margarita was pretty good although the food was really bad no flavor what so ever and they served me cold queso. The chips tasted like they were store bought along with the salsa which had no spice no flavor just so bland. I don't think the cooks know what salt is in fact I don't even think they know how to cook because every single thing we had was not good and their was ten of us and we all ordered something different. Hope this review can change things but unfortunately I will not be returning in the future. read more

Our favorite go-to Latin American food stop in Traverse City, Red Mesa is large enough to host big groups and parties, yet small enough to still feel intimate. My wife and I try something new every time we come and we've never been disappointed. Everything tastes fresh and there's a great variety on the menu. Even our non-taco-eating first grader said she loved the food. That in itself earns a four star review! read more

Red Mesa Grill - Jack Stuffed Shrimp: shrimp stuffed with cheese wrapped in bacon?! Yes, please! - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Tasty chips and salsa, yummy margaritas and some creative dishes. The ground beef was unfortunately beyond salty (and I like salt) but service was delightful and we would go back read more

Overall, Red Mesa Grill provides a very pleasant dining experience. I recently went to enjoy dinner with my mom, and we were searching for some food with a Latin flair. While I would not classify this place as Mexican, the menu is certainly focused on dishes from that area. We ordered the pork flautas to start, and to be quite honest I probably would not recommend this dish. Although the flautas themselves were served hot, and perfectly fried, I felt the pork lacked some serious flavor. It was served with a cilantro cream sauce. My entree on the other hand was absolutely delicious. Shrimp and chorizo enchilladas covered in tomatillo cream sauce. The combination of the spicy chorizo and the creamy tomatillos was to die for. If your up north in traverse city, and looking for food with a Latin flair I would highly recommend checking out Red Mesa Grill. read more

Red Mesa Grill - Shrimp enchiladas in a tomatillo cream sauce...wow - Mexican Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Restaurant food quality in general has been on a serious downward trend and Red Mesa is no exception. As a frequent visitor to the area I used to count this restaurant as a reliable decent place for Mexican fair, but no more. The food was bland and lacked taste. For the prices, I would expect a lot more quality. The tortilla chips were stale tasting and the salsa was tasteless. I unfortunately won't be back. I would pass on this one and seek another Mexican restaurant if that is what you desire. read more