The bartenders are amazing. The food is mediocre. If you don't mind most of your food being microwaved then u will probably be impressed. The owner is questionable at best. read more

Very dissatisfied.The fajitas consisted of dry, hard slices of chicken on a plate. I've been eating fajitas for years and have never seen it served on a plate and not come out on a sizzling platter. The menu is a misleading description with sweet potatoes( none) and broccolini (one piece) . I would have ordered a salad if I wan room temperature onions, peppers and sliced chicken on a plate .. read more

Southwestern food with a New Mexican focus. Some good options with green chile sauce and plenty of the typical enchilada, taco, fajita, and burrito options that one would expect in a Mexican restaurant. One of our family members had a chile relleno ($18) which was good but not great. A few of us ordered the soft shell crab tacos, which was one of the specials. Again, good but not great and it was overpriced ($24). I should have ordered the green chile stew of the chimichurri steak, both of which would have perhaps highlighted the New Mexican focus and would have perhaps been a bit more interesting. read more

Excellent place for a lunch or dinner. Went there for lunch. Excellent, just right fajitas and a rather plump burrito. We shared both entree's! The fajita was nicely cooked steak, peppers and onions accompanied by two tortillas. The flavors were wonderful, the quantity just right - filling, not stuffing if you get what I mean read more

I love Southwest Cafe - the food is fantastic; the atmosphere is very comfortable and the staff is super friendly. Although I really enjoy trying the specials, the New Mexican menu is excellent and so are the salads. The beer selection is excellent (craft and Mexican) and they make the best margaritas! read more

What a charming little find tucked away in Ridgefield! Clever updates to traditional mexican fare like our portabella mushroom and goat cheese enchilada, and the spicy cornbread with the green chile coumpound butter left us delighted and stuffed. Friendly and attentive staff and reasonable prices make this all a sucessful evening, I'd give it 5 stars but the drinks are a little weak. Even so, it's more than worth the visit. read more

If I don't like a restaurant I generally don't review it. I sympathize with how difficult it can be to run a restaurant. I would rather just let them fadeaway. However, it is been six hours since I have been here and I'm still grossly full. I didn't even finish my plate because it didn't taste very good and I was getting full while I ate it. Also when I came home I had to take an hour and a half nap because the MSG was overpowering. Maybe it wasn't MSG, but whatever it was made me feel like I was drugged. My waitress, who I think was the mother of the owner/manager, was rude and abrupt. I overheard her at the next table when a man started to ask her for another beer. "Just let me get your food out on the table." When I asked her why she was charging me 3 dollars for two different types of tacos, she said that its because it was "a combination and that's just the way they did it." I showed her what the menu said and she dismissed me. That kind of service can only come from family I am assuming. She turned on the "honey" near the end of the meal but I subtracted $3 off what should have been an $8 tip. I hate it when I leave a bad tip and I am sorry I left anything. I feel kind of like a dick writing this review but I'm on vacation and not feeling good after the meal. Southwest cafe has stolen half a day from me with mediocre food and bad service. read more

This is our go to restaurant for date night. We love it here and the staff and atmosphere are always fantastic! If you love New Mexico Hatch Chile you have to go! I also love their mole. read more

While the food was tasty and fresh, what prevents me from rating this restaurant four stars is due to the manner in which my husband and I were treated by the bartender/waitress. Her attitude was curt and dismissive, and therefore we won't be returning. There are many fine restaurants in this area where our patronage is demonstrably appreciated. Perhaps her attitude is not pervasive throughout the staff and you'll have better luck if you choose to go. You may find that the food is worth the risk. Staff attitudes do influence the dining experience. It certainly affected ours. read more

I don't have much to say, I've been here maybe 20 times and always left content. I like the food, a little pricey, but it's a cute date night spot in Ridgefield. Partially the salsa and the guacamole, super yummy and addicting. I am a HUGE fan of the market place, and because of that I will always recommend Southwest to anyone. I understand what other reviewers say about being rushed, especially in the summer, and knowing that I would chose to eat a little later, so I can have an after dinner cocktail. But the real reason for the four stars is the owner. She is the nicest, most accommodating restaurant owner I have ever met. You should stop by just to meet her and see how being hands on in your own business makes for a fantastic experience for your customers. She handles her staff with respect and is constantly checking on the patrons. She truly makes coming here an enjoyable experience. read more

Have been here so many times before but hadn't been since before covid. Finally made it back and it EXCEEDED expectations! Everything was delicious! I had the southwest bowl with pork and I'm always nervous to order pork but it was cooked to perfection, not dry at all. My mom ordered the hatch Chile roulette, and it was to die for. You don't know how spicy it's gonna be, hence it being called roulette, so it makes it fun. The service was great too, very caring staff! read more

Best/only mexican joint in town! Best one around the surrounding area! This is a staple in Ridgefield with very good ingredients, awesome service, and and a wonderful atmosphere. I would highly reccomend going here. Besides the great ambiance (and awesome outdoor seating in the summer) - the food is SOUTHWEST inspired cuisine - NOT your normal MEXICAN food. It really adds a good twist and flair! Enjoy! Cheers! read more

Crab fritters, Chipolte hummus, and tuna tacos are a few of the various creative Mexican options here with a SW flare. Nothing like this around with this quality of ingredients, right down to fresh baked bread from the bakery next door. read more

Southwest Cafe - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Ridgefield, Connecticut

I came for the Margarita 5k run on August 1st. During registration I met the owner Barbara and corporate manager Russell. They are such nice people! After the run I had a margarita that was amazing and decided to eat in the restaurant. I then sat down and ordered the chicken chalupa while my friend ordered the big chili. We were very happy with the food and I walked out with a full belly. The restaurant was busy and they had a band outside on a beautiful summer night. I suggest coming to this place not only because the owners are really great people and do things for charity, but also because the food and atmosphere are really nice an relaxing. Check out some of the pictures I put up. So don't miss out and stop by for some great Mexican food with friends and family. The margaritas are great! read more

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We needed to find a quick, healthy meal before the band took the stage at Ridgefield Playhouse last night (Friday night), and just came upon Southwest Cafe (we usually consult Yelp when in an unfamiliar town, but didn't in this case). We had a GREAT meal. My husband loved the chips and salsa - the waitress even gave us some salsa "to go". It is a small place, but the vibe felt good, management and wait staff were friendly and attentive (hostess loaned her reading glasses to my husband), we were in and out within 45 minutes, and got to our concert seats in time :-). My husband really enjoyed the Hatch Chili Stew made with pork, and my mixed vegetable fajita was fine. Servings were generous - we will have a second meal with the leftovers..... I'm surprised the Yelp ratings aren't higher. Definitely a fortunate find! read more

My husband and I hadn't been for awhile but decided it would be good for our date night. All I can say is that the pulled chicken taco was bland, cold and inedible. When the waitress asked if we were enjoying our meal I told her that it lacked flavor... she responded by asking if I had tried putting some salsa on it. For the price ($17) I shouldn't have to put on the cold salsa to make it edible. Pulled chicken is supposed to be slow cooked with flavor. This was plain, chicken breast, shredded. Like they used a grocery store rotisserie chicken. In the end they didn't apologize, offer another meal, free drink, dessert, or take it off the bill. Very poor customer service. And I will never go back. Southwest Cafe, please speak to your staff and chef. read more

Always fresh food but somewhat over priced. The take out experience has been significantly upgraded and the horrid styrofoam boxes replaced. read more

Overpriced (okay, it's Ridgefield, so that's a given), okay, completely unremarkable Mexican food. Rice and beans were completely generic, red sauce was at least competently executed. Service was a bit slow considering I was literally the only person there. I would've tried flan for dessert but they hadn't made any for that day. And NEW Mexican? Two words for that false claim: No sopapillas. read more

Times are tough right now but if you want an uplift you need to take out at Southwest Cafe. We have been customers sine 1997, however we have not appreciated Barb and her dedicated staff more than now in these trying times. Just did carry out this evening. We had the green chile stew with corn bread which was out of this word. To start we had the classic guacamole and chips and skinny margaritas. If you are a Mexican food lover these are the best. Barb and her staff have done so so much for Ridgefield over the year last 35 years. Now is the time that Ridgefield needs to stand strong behind Southwest Cafe! read more

Terribly overpriced. A $17 chicken quesadilla that I could've gotten for four dollars at Taco Bell. Chips and salsa that came straight from Stop n Shop. Not family friendly, too dark and cramped. The ambiance is nice enough, drinks ok. I'm much more a fan of Agave in Danbury for sit down or Prime Taco for casual. If all you want is a margarita then Southwest Cafe might fit the bill but the food is just not worth it. read more

Eaten here several times, but last dinner, was meh. A combination of food and service issues. We sat down and within 10 seconds we were asked if we wanted a drink - give us a moment. Twice they asked is we were ready to order, while we were clearly still viewing the menu. We then ordered a shared appetizer and 2 main courses. The appetizer came and was plopped onto a corner of the table, like it was too much effort to gently place it in the middle of the table. While we were eating the appetizer, the main courses came, so we had to quickly finish up the appetizer so they could remove the plate to make space for the main courses. During this time, the restaurant was 1/3 empty, so they did not need the table. The timing of the whole meal was really off. The service was not gracious and did not "read" the table. We felt very rushed. The food was so-so. One of they joys of Mexican cuisine is strong flavors, and those were not in the dishes we had. The mushroom appetizer (portobella gordita), had slivers of mushroom (perhaps 1/2 a mushroom) on a type of bread that was mushy and had no flavor. The Green Chile Stew was bland, no standout flavor and with way too much squash in it (another low-flavor item). We really left disappointed. It can be a good restaurant, but please pace your service and use more spice/flavor in the food. read more

Southwest Cafe has been around for decades and for good reason. The food is delicious, the service is friendly and they are really part of the community. They offer outside dining in the summer months and sometimes have live music. If you enjoy flavorful, spicy food then you are going to love Southwest Cafe. The entrees consist of Mexican favorites mixed with Americana fare as well. Great roasted veggie sides and yummy rice. Everything is a step up from the usual Mexican. I wouldn't take the kids, as we have had challenges finding things on the menu bland enough for my daughter. So make this a date night if you have kids that are picky eaters. read more

Great service, atmosphere, food, and drinks!! The outdoor seating is very nice and was great for socially distancing during covid. The staff is very friendly and the food was delicious! This is my go-to for a quick lunch or a nice sit down meal. read more

I really wish this place was good but sadly it's extremely mediocre. I've been here quite a few times over the years because it's one of the only restaurants in Ridgefield that serves food past 9 pm. I guess I'm an optimist and always hope they'll improve. The service is spotty and not overly friendly...they'd do well to hire some professional waiters. Although the decor is cute, it doesn't have a welcoming feeling. I attribute that mainly to the staff/owners though. The patio is probably the best part. The food is always disappointing. Everyone I've ever gone with has the same feeling as I do...it's just so blah. The red enchilada sauce is verging on inedible. Everything else is just passable. I wish they'd change up the menu at the very least. read more

Thank goodness we found SW cafe. Fresh and delicious. My third visit in one week. Corn soup is amazingly wonderful Have tried their chicken and beef so far. Nicely seasoned. Excellent staff. Will be back often. read more

Freshly prepared dishes served in generous portions keep me coming back to the Southwest Cafe for more. The food is creative but stays within the flavor profiles of Southwest cuisine, and there are always leftovers. The only thing better than one delicious meal is two delicious meals! I am generally weary of mixing seafood and dairy, but the Shrimp Quesadillas were amazing and the salads are crisp and fresh. The fajitas, as well as the rest of the traditional menu items, are a surefire hit every time. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive and they have a decent beer selection. read more

Real New Mexican food - a real treat in this part of the country. Having lived in New Mexico, Southwest Cafe is a real treat. This is NOT sloppy, Tex-Mex, or rice-packed California-Mex food. The individual ingredients sing. I've focused on ordering traditional New Mexican dishes and they pass the test with flying colors. Good service and a friendly staff. read more

Wow! We are new in town, the chili here is the best thing I've tasted in all of Ridgefield.

Where to begin.... If you like food service food, this is the place for you! Assembling food from a can on a plate is not what a restaurant is about. Oh and the service... Not sure why they needed our table so badly when there were plenty open... Kept trying to take our plates then rudely interrupted our conversation to ask if we needed anything else or if we were we done.... Definitely done... Will never go back... read more

Creative Mexican food done extremely well. We are about 5 for 5 for this place now. Hanger stake and Chicken quesadillas were among the best we've had. Fried and cheese filled pepper is also very good. Challupa is not as good. Friendly staff. read more

When I'm in Ridgefield, this is my first stop. A great Mexican restaurant and outstanding staff. Barbara Nevins has been running this establishment for years and it just keeps getting better. Not a place to miss when in the area. read more

Really good food...enchiladas with a delicious green salsa.....friendly chat with Pam and Ann.....they even bought us a drink....a delicious local spot. read more

Decent but not good. I had the vegetarian quesadilla and the vegetables were raw... Yes hard veggies wrapped in a cheesy crust. Not very good. My boyfriend had a mediocre and extremely expensive burrito cover in cheese next to a small salad and wet beans... It was basically meat wrapped in a wet tortilla. Very sad Mexican food. The chips were good though! read more

So good, the best vegetable quesadillas and salads. Love that you get fresh chips and salsa with to go orders!!

Love the food and people at Southwest cafe! The salsa is amazing and the menu is incredible. Highly recommend this restaurant!

Asparagus & green chilies soup truly outstanding. This chef is top notch! Margaritas are smooth. Salsa is very tasty & chips fresh, crispy & just the right amount of salt. I love the enchilada duo with combination (red & green) sauce & the choice between pinto & black bean is a nice touch, too. Been eating here more than 20 years & never disappointed! read more

My mom's favorite restaurant in town. Very good food, good cocktails, and nice staff. The patio is cute in the summer. It's a little small inside, so sometimes has a wait, but almost always worth the wait! read more

Ordered Southwest Bowl with chicken and the other with beef for carry out. Weather too hot for cooking. Apparently so at the Southwest Cafe too. This was the most tasteless dinner I have ever experienced. Chicken was dry as was beef. Absolutely no Southwest style seasonings. Guacamole basically mashed avocado. Very disappointed especially at $21 each. read more

Tiny hidden gem - if you know southwest food then you will appreciate this place. They use real hatch chilies from a farmer in New Mexico. Service was good and margarita was delish. Tex-mex it is not so come with open mind if all you know is Taco Bell. They have been in business for a long time and that is a good sign for a restaurant. Thanks for a great night. read more

My family and I went for dinner and had an okay meal with worse service. My cousin and I were looking over the drink menu and talking about the drinks amongst ourselves. The waitress was filling our waters, overheard our conversation and instantly budded in to accuse us of not being 21. She demanded to see our ID's before we even decided if we were going to order a drink or not and questioned me because I live out of state..I ended up not getting a drink because I was so uncomfortable. One of the rudest waitresses I have ever had. At the end of the meal she asked my family if we wanted dessert twice, obnoxiously cutting us off in the middle of conversation. Very uncomfortable dinner. We will definitely not be back. read more