Update: my family and I have been back twice since my last review, and both experiences have been MUCH better. Back in line with the first few visits. Food and service were very good on both subsequent visits. I'm back to telling friends about this place! read more

Santa Catarina - Chicken & shrimp fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

My husband like the place and food but not for me. I ordered shrimp every time I go but the taste was so so. I gave 4 stars because he like otherwise 2 or 3. The dish I ate not as good as Dos Salas read more

See all

We love getting the mayita shrimp. Just enough spice and always fresh. I always purchase enchiladas -spinach, cheese and I mix up the salsas. My favorite are mole then jalapeño to green sauce. If you purchase a pint of salsa and a large Chile con queso, there should be the comparable amount of chips to accompany that. Instead we received a 1/4 bag of chips with our order. This is the 2nd time this has happened. Food is great and we will keep coming back. We just wish someone listened to our feedback as we do provide for a reason. read more

Amazing service! Playground onsite, fenced in off the patio! Really great happy hour! Fresh, unique food! Our waiter was great. Also, the son of the family that owns the place checked on us a few times and was SO polite and incredibly gracious, especially for being pretty young. Left quite an impression! That playground is amazing for families with littles. Safe and a quality playground, easily monitored from the porch. The food was superb, with some things you dont see at your run of the mill tex mex locale - for example, I had a wonderful Chile relleno, stuffed with meat, a hint of cinnamon and raisins and topped with a savory almond cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. The happy hour is extensive and runs every day of the week - my fav HH style! read more

5 star service & good food. Not Tex-Mexican but very tasty. Pulled pork enchiladas were great. So we're the drinks.

This place had such a beautiful atmosphere. The inside was welcoming and there was a live violinist and guitarist playing Spanish music. The porch had a nice playground for kids to play on and a relaxing fountain on the outside. We came here on a Sunday, and it wasn't too busy. We sat out on the patio. I ordered a Bloody Mary and a scrambled egg, chorizo, and avocado plate, which was phenomenal. My husband ordered pork shoulder inside of a banana leaf, and it too was absolutely amazing. This place doesn't disappoint when it comes to good food, but it does fall a bit short on the service end of things. Essentially, we saw our waitress when she took our order and brought our food out. Other than that, we didn't see her. My husband ended up filling our cups up with water himself. Overall, this is a gorgeous place to eat with some great food. I'm so glad we decided to stop here. It's a bit of a hidden gem, and I absolutely recommend it for anyone looking for really good Mexican food. read more

Great overall experience except. The upcharges. Just be careful when ordering anything extra, needed some extra tortillas, they charged. Most Mexican restaurants will comp you for extra tortillas. We also ordered the basic Mexican nachos but they gave us the upgrade and then charged us for the upgrade not what was ordered. The Margaritas are good but they're all 1 size. A bit overpriced. Stick with their basic margarita won't go wrong read more

Outstanding authentic cuisine. The tortilla soup was amazing - just like we make it at home! The chili relleno was simply incredible. And the tequila drinks were perfect. My only ask would be to have more authentic chips and salsa. An easy course correction for the business. read more

The food is delicious and fresh! They have great customer service and the restaurant is very clean!

Had dinner here and it was fantastic. Staff were super friendly and food was on point. I had the camarones chipotle and it was flavorful with the right amount of spice. read more

The food wasn't bad; it just wasn't anything special. The corn chowder had no real flavor. The margaritas were ok but not great. Our service was fine. Maybe I pick the wrong dishes, but this place is just not my favorite. read more

Before the 'Ronapocalypse, the wife and I visited Santa Catarina three times. Each time was better than the last. Also, they have $2 Mimosas on Sunday. I can't wait to go back. I even ate Nopales there. I've hated Nopales my whole life, and they put some in one of their dishes, and they were very very tasty. The staff is great and very attentive as well. read more

Visited this place for the 4th-5th time last night with a few ladies for Happy Hour. It wasn't my choice because I have never been a fan of their food, drinks or service. This place is full of families and little kids. It's almost like the parents choose this place to sit and drink while their kids run wild and in and out on the playground. If you don't have young kids and just need to get out and relax this is not the place to go to. I find myself as a mom watching all the kids and making sure their not running solo and get injured. Our server was very kind. The other four gals ordered beer and seemed happy. I ordered a vodka soda with lime. I received something flat and very watery with a lime that didn't squeeze. I also ordered the guacamole. It was very bland. I stole the community salsa and poured it in the guacamole to add some flavor and so did the girl next to me who ordered the same. The girls ordered another drink so I did as well. I asked the waitress this time what she brought me and she said it was vodka water. I ordered vodka soda water, big difference. I also specifically asked for Tito's each time. It was definitely not Tito's. I received another bland drink with a super dry lime and cheap vodka. I was done. The waitress was missing in action for the next 30 minutes.... We got our tabs and paid our bills. I was charged $17 for the 2 waters.... $8.50 each at 4pm on a Friday evening. When you are with a group of friends you don't want to be the one to complain. But I felt it was about time I write a review for this place. I won't be back. There are plenty of good Tex-mex places in town to visit with great drinks, better prices and service! The food is very bland.... missing some good quality ingredients. One of the gals had the ceviche. I have ordered it before. She said it was definitely missing something as well. The fish was brownish. Another gal ordered the shrimp cocktail for the whole table. We left it there barely touched. I wasn't a fan, it was very tomatoey and very odd... read more

We love Santa Catarina! The food, drinks and service, especially Dominic, are all terrific. Their rellano and other shrimp dishes are delicious - everything we've tried is great. read more

Amazing! One of my favorite spots in Cedar Park! Love the outdoor patio and the fajitas are so good!

Delicious, fresh, and light Mexican food! Our friends recommended this place for authentic ceviche and it did not disappoint. The mariscos stuffed poblano was out of this world. Delicious nuggets of seafood in a light creamy sauce stuffed in a pepper over rice. That dish and the perfectly sized, well-kept, fenced in playground is what earn this place 5 stars for me. The plates are also pretty (I know, small things). The service was ok. Nice, but understaffed for the crowd so we had to wait for our check. My husband was not impressed with his brunch dish, which he ordered because he wanted to try the queso fresco. I was not super impressed with the size of the brunch steak, but it was yummy at least. This place would be great for groups. Both indoors and out, there are a ton of movable 4-top tables. My guess is that they can seat 100 inside and another 100 on the patio. They have a brunch menu on Saturdays until 3. If we had ordered from it, our meal would have been more affordable. That was our only regret from the meal.. That it ended up a bit expensive after appetizers, etc., for lunch. read more

See all

What a pleasant place to eat. We chose to sit outside on their nice patio. They have a small waterfall and plenty of shade to protect against the Texas sun. There is even a play area for the kiddos set outside of the patio area but enclosed for safety. Service was a bit slow to begin with but between our two servers it was ok. I think they could have been a bit more attentive - just not at the end of our meal - and I would have given this place 5 stars. The food.... My husband and I shared an appetizer and an entree: Queso Fundido: This is the melty cheese unlike the queso we usually order. It was absolutely delicious and served in a mini skillet with tortillas. We asked for both corn and flour tortillas - this was a very good dish. Camarones Poblanos: One of the best shrimp dishes anywhere I have ever tried - and I have tried many. The shrimp was so fresh and cooked perfectly, they were enormous too. The pablano sauce was to die for it was so good. Highly recommended dish right here! The chips and salsa: This is was defines a Mexican or Tex-mex establishment for me. If I don't like the salsa and/or chips - I will never be back. But I can honestly say - this was one of the best salsas I have had anywhere. Perfectly balanced with flavor. Thank you! We also ordered a La Perfecta margarita. This was perfectly mixed. When we left, we asked for chips and salsa to go which they happily provided. This is a great place to eat! Do not pass this place by without giving it a shot! read more

See all

This is easily our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Lakeway/Bee Cave area. The food is excellent as is the atmosphere. The service is also far above average. We always find the staff and management to be extremely friendly and helpful. Managers Jonny and Roberto are top-notch and attentive. We unconditionally recommend this restaurant. read more

We had Tacitus Dorado and Chicken fajitas. The Dorado enchiladas were flavorful and grilled. Amazing! The fajitas were excellent. The service was immaculate. The ambiance was bright and lively, but a little too noisy for us. read more

Typical mexican food chain restaurant items. I thought the sopas were ok. I did enjoy the ceviche and nachos. Definitely needed more spice even with the extra jalapeños. I liked the tortilla soup. Cute date night setting. read more

See all

The food here is always excellent and my husband and I never have a bad experience dining in or take out but just wanted to give a shout out to Juan for going above and beyond on correcting a mistake on our to go order tonight. THANK YOU SIR!!! read more

The Girlfriend and I have been to Santa Catarina twice. Each time we've had different dishes. This time I had the Camarones Poblanos (shrimp, rice, peppers, avacado, creamy-green-sauce) and The Girl had Pescado a la Talla. Both dishes were exceptional. Good portion sizes, cooked perfectly and the flavors are awesome. Margaritas are very good. Service today was done by a friendly and attentive young lady...very well done. The value is great. I don't know how to give them a higher compliment than "we will be back often". Thanks guys. Nice job. read more

All around poor experience- The food was horrible and the service wasn't great either- the poor waitress was super busy. The playground was rowdy and dangerous for young kids. We didn't get refills and the tea was warm. Ugh... not worth the money we spent to leave our plates practically full. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because our waitress and another server were pleasant and offered advice on what to order. read more

This is about our second TERRIBLE experience with delivery. They send 2 ramekins of salsa....even though we ordered an actual additional order of salsa. AGAIN. They forgot our queso. AGAIN. They forgot the guacamole. AGAIN. *all of this that was forgotten is possibly a moot point since they only sent one bag of chips anyway.* They forgot the tortillas for fajitas. They sent ONE, SINGLE, LONELY "extra jumbo shrimp" in a freaking ramekin. One. Shrimp. In. A. Ramekin. Let that sink in. Last time when the exacct same first 4 issues happened, I called. The guy who answered was worthless. The manager, however, asked me to tee the him photos and apologized swearing this is not what normally happens. I'm calling the bluff. Once is a fluke. Twice, on the exact same order, is an absolute breakdown in management, expediting and quality assurance. Additionally, the pork picadillo taqueria had zero flavor, so thank god we ordered delivery so I could remove the filling, reheat and season properly before eating chopped up in a bowl. What an absolute joke. If you're planning on ordering, don't. If you're eating in, maybe that's best so you can complain first hand. read more

WOW! Delicious authentic Mexican cuisine. We tried two types of Fajitas: tender, juicy steak and fresh shrimp. The fajitas could have used some extra veggies but were nice sized portions and full of flavor so we were happy. Also tried a house specialty Cochinitas Pibil. This dish was awesome! Tender marinated pork with an achiote chile sauce all steamed inside a fresh banana leaf. The tortillas tasted homemade and the guacamole was fresh. Good chips and salsa too! We ordered delivery from the restaurant and it was delivered through DoorDash. Just as our order arrived the manager, Daniel, called realizing they forgot to pack the tortillas for our order. He drove the tortillas all the way to our house himself! Bam, we'll be back for sure!! read more

Food wasn't very good and staff was not knowledgeable of the menu Long wait for food and drinks as well Was $75 for 3 children's plates and 2 adult plates read more

Fresh tasty food, very good service and the environment um is nice. We love to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the water fountain while we eat our meal read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants, (flavor wise) in Cedar Park!! Service is great and food is very good. The portions are good but a little pricey for the amount. read more

This is some of the best Mexican food I've had in Cedar Park. The chef is obviously thoughtful and creative and delivers some amazing flavors. The patio atmosphere is good, especially for the burbs. Highly recommended! read more

Best fajitas I've ever had! What an amazing experience. I got the chicken and shrimp fajitas. Not too expensive either.

Our go to local Mexican restaurant Have been back 4 times now. Never disappoints. Wish drinks were a little stronger but just order a double. read more

Wow, wow.... thumbs up.... great food.... loved it. The food is so good. Ordered some tocos.... Delicious and the server "Evelia" I believe that's what her name is, Hispanic lady with glasses. Her serves was excellent. I say, from 1 to 10 she got a 10, A+..... I would definitely recommend this to everyone I know. For sure I will come back for more great food. ^_~ wink wink read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

Imagine having a chicken breast drenched in sauce and fully stuffed with chorizo that has absolutely no flavor. I mean CHORIZO! One of the most pungent sausages and still nothing, zilch, nada. It was so bland I thought I lost my taste buds for a minute. The fajitas were the same. It was so not seasoned that just looking at the meat you can tell it had nothing on it. Not to mention the portions offered for the fajita's are pretty skimped. Two stars go to the nice waitress and considerate manager who tried to make things better, they were great! read more

Not your regular Mexican menu; definitely more gourmet and chef designed culinary experience and not in a foo foo way--this was delicious food and at reasonable prices. The decor is also more appealing than your average blah Mexican restaurant. So if you want a cool environment, a great twist on Mexican favorites that are excellently prepared then this is your place; get there before happy hour ends at 6pm for even better prices on drinks and appetizers. And if your coming with kids then let them enjoy the great outdoor fenced in kids playground. All in all I'm glad we tried this place, we will be back! read more

See all

We've eaten here a few times. Family and friends have loved their meals. I enjoyed mine, even though it's been spicier than described. Next time will ask for no hot spices. read more

That place is always popping when I go. Love it ! Food delicious and the environment says it all. Greats drinks and food. read more

We've dined here several times for both lunch and dinner. For lunch I typically have the Ceviche. Some places douse this in a tomato sauce, but not here. It is tasty and fresh with a mixture of black drum, jalapeno, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and lots of lime juice. This is a hearty portion which my daughter and I often share. If we're extra hungry we'll split an order of fajita tacos - Yum! The dinner menu offers several savory options. We've had beef fajitas, Enchiladas Cochinita, Rellenos En Nogada, Carne Tampiquena, Taquitos Dorados (their specialty) and more. We haven't had a dish we didn't like. You'll enjoy this place especially their large patio now that the temperatures are improving. Also, their staff is friendly and very accommodating. read more

So yummy! Cute place with plenty of tables. Patio is really nice. We'll definitely be back.

Two stars for the playground concept. Minus three stars for the uber lack luster service and their insistence on bringing sugary sweet drinks despite the multiple requests for NO agave. Food was just okay. My mother had the pork wrapped in a banana leaf (can't remember the menu name) and that was hands down the best plate delivered. I could have dismissed everything if they had bothered to get the drinks right. I could have at least sipped something nice and waited out the rest.. Oh, and we showed up at five. It was not busy when we arrived and picked up a bit after. But overall, not busy enough to justify such awful service. read more

My mother in law was in town and wanted some Mexican food. My neighbors rave about this place, so I thought I would take her here. It also didn't hurt that they had a playscape to entertain the kids. We got there around 5:30pm. We decided to sit outside, in spite of the hot weather, because we wanted the kids to be able to roam and play. We were the only ones out there. They seated us out of the sun and the fans were going. It was pleasantly cool. There were some guys working on the iron work outside with tools but they stopped as soon as they saw us. I'm not sure if they were told to stop or if it was a coincidence. The playscape slide was a little too hot for the kids to go down, but they loved the outdoor water feature. Our waiter, Junior, came out quickly for drink orders. He indicated that he wasn't sure of the answer to my question about the two drink prices but quickly ran off and came back with the answer. He was super attentive the entire time, even with us being the only ones out there. The sweet guy kept trying to clean up after my kids that were making a disaster of the chips. The drinks came quickly and we ordered some apps that were on happy hour, campechana and cazuela con pollo. They both came with great presentation and the flavors did not disappoint. This is NOT Tex-Mex folks!!!! This is better than that! The margarita was fresh and strong. The food was amazing and fresh. Homemade tortillas and chips (with the campechana). No joke... this is my new favorite happy hour spot! I shouldn't be telling you this because I don't want you crowding the place out. But I do want to make sure this place stays around. read more