We've been customers for 5 years but last night was our last visit. We were seated outside and sat there for 15 minutes until someone came to ask if we had "questions about the menu". Apparently all outdoor tables are made to order online through Toast but no one mentioned that to us. The online ordering is very clunky--you can't make any modifications or get any questions about ingredients answered. If you have a dietary restriction you'll need to factor in an extra half an hour to 1) get someone to answer basic questions like "is this made with raw egg" and then 2) get them to modify your order after you place it (disconcerting and the opposite of standard practice). Unclear what the purpose of any of this is since the staff still brings the food, they just don't provide service. We wait about 40 minutes and the food arrives. Bear in mind this is a semi-upscale tequila bar with entrees in the $20-$30 range. The food was served on wax paper placed on a cafeteria tray. No plates. The "salad" that came with my dish was a small pile of wilted brown lettuce with some carrot strips. (Salads here used to be good fwiw. They also used to have plates.) Service continues to be nonexistent. Every single thing we need (side of hot sauce, a napkin, water refill etc.) we have to walk inside the restaurant to request since no one checks on the tables. The real kicker is when you go to pay in the app and the default tip is set to 18%. If you've engineered the entire experience to remove service from the equation, why would you expect to be tipped for full service? I don't tip 18% at McDonald's and that was the level of this experience. I know restaurants are having a hard time during covid. Many have risen to the occasion and others have struggled for often understandable reasons. But Painted Burro is the only one I've come across that seems to be exploiting the situation. read more

I"m joining the chorus of recent one star reviews (hey readers I invite you to sort by date). "Abysmal service" describes it right. Joe Cassinelli and the Alpine Group need to replace the front service line at the Somerville location immediately before the snowball of complaints grows and permanently damages Painted Burro's business with a wave of "never return again" customers (consider me one of them). Today's experience was the worst I have had in a long time. We showed up to the patio and were offered a table. When we inquired about indoor tables, we were told to check in the front. At the front, the epitome of rudeness front service said: "we're not taking any walk ins without reservations", no reason given. Two things: 1. The indoor restaurant was empty. 2. There were reservations available online as soon as in 30 minutes. We proceeded to go back to the back patio where we had been offered a table TWO minutes prior. The table was still open. We were told "we're not taking walk ins". We reminded the staff that we had just been offered THAT empty table. Front desk rude person comes to the back and makes the same statement. We mention that according to their reservation system, there is availability in exactly 30 minutes and given that the restaurant is empty, can we sit in now. The answer is "we have nothing to do with Resy, it's two separate things, it has to do with our kitchen". Really? Two prospective customers show up at your empty restaurant and you're not able to say, "unfortunately our kitchen can't take any orders but we have a spot in 30 minutes, would you like to wait at the bar? Or we can offer you chips and salsa at one of the (20) tables we have here upfront..". Complete miscommunication, rudeness, illogical excuses (doesn't Resy reflect the restaurant's availability? And aren't you able to control it? ) I used to visit Painted Burro and I once bought out the entire Porto restaurant (yes, $25K) for a wedding. And this is the best that Joe Cassinelli can provide in terms of service? Deeply disturbed by the experience and joining the chorus highlighting the ineptitude of the front desk. I understand the pandemic might leave your kitchen short-handed causing delays in getting the food out. Customers understand that especially if they are informed frequently. But allowing prospective customers to walk away with a bitter taste in their mouth vowing to never go back because of merely stepping in into the restaurant and dealing with the dismay front desk service is ridiculous. Cassinelli, the front desk at Painted Burro Somerville needs some fixing. Or you will continue to lose customers for life. Perhaps instead of doing a "bottomless" fixed price of $21 brunch which encourages over ordering and gluttony, you could return to a normal menu that encourages quality and less food waste (and less overextension to your kitchen staff) so you can serve prospective long-term customers and not risk losing so many of them. read more

Came here for the first time in a group of 5 for brunch on a Sunday at around 1:30. They told us it'd be another 30 minutes but it only ended up being 10; the space was very crowded though and that's always a good sign. We got chips and salsa (complimentary!) to share and we appreciated how they gave us two buckets/salsas for 5 of us. The chip to salsa ratio was a bit off (too much salsa), but it was delicious nonetheless. The tacos I had (chorizo) were filling and really hit quite the spot. The horchata as well was fantastic, maybe a bit too much ice but the size was large regardless and I found it well worth the price. The rest of the table all very much enjoyed the food and for most of us it was our first time coming, I think it's safe to say we'd come again. I'd like to try their tortas next time if I come for brunch, it definitely looked delicious and I'd like to order their guac as well as another table had it and it looked amazing. read more

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I've had a lot of great experiences here at PB, their nachos are sublime and pretty much all of the other dishes I've tried have been right up there too. It's a fun spot in Davis Square, prices are what you'd expect for the neighborhood as they're on the higher end, but I do think it's a must-try for anyone who hasn't been. The margaritas used to rival the nachos, they're strongly made with fresh ingredients, but the last few times we've been they were mouth-puckeringly sour. It was like sucking on a lime. They were so bad we had to ask the bartender to remake them, and when the waitress brought them over she said "here's your margarita with extra syrup". I don't know what's going on with that but I don't think you should have to ask for extra simple syrup with a margarita, they're supposed to have a little sweetness. Even after adding more it was still on the sour side. If you like sour drinks then this would be your jam, but I'd recommend asking for extra syrup with your margs here if you want to keep your tastebuds. Minus one star. And minus one star for the butternut squash enchilada. It's like eating breakfast for dinner, but not in a good way. Way too sweet, it's basically squash, apples, cinnamon mole sauce and cheese with a drizzle of crema, there is no relief from the sugar or acidity. It wasn't savory at all, it was dessert. Maybe the cook and bartenders should swap? read more

The food here is good, but they need to figure out their seating/hostess situation. Three of us arrived today at 4:30pm. The restaurant was almost completely empty, I think there were maybe three parties seated. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation. I told her we didn't and asked if one would be necessary, considering the 200 empty seats surrounding us. She said that she "might" be able to squeeze us in at the bar (even though this made no sense, since we had a 9 year old child with us). When I scoffed in disbelief that we couldn't be seated in an empty restaurant at 4:30pm, she spun her iPad around to show me how many reservations were coming up...at 6pm. My wife slowly explained to the hostess that we would most likely be finished eating by 5:30pm, but at this point I was so disgusted that we left and ate at a nearby restaurant instead. This is literally the fourth or fifth time this exact scenario has played out here, so I assume it's the restaurant's policy and not just the hostesses doing this. Regardless, it's the last time I'm putting up with it. It'd be one thing if I walked into the restaurant at 8pm when it's busy and expected a seat. But come on, 4:30 in the afternoon when it's empty and they're literally turning customers away? Insane. read more

The Painted Burro has decent food and a good atmosphere but it is overrated in my opinion. It is very loud and crowded, which is true for many restaurants in Davis Square, but the food isn't the highest quality and it is very pricey. The guacamole appetizer is tiny and really expensive, definitely not worth it when you already get free chips and salsa at the table. The menu is extensive and you can find tons of options that fit all dietary restrictions. I got fish tacos and tofu tacos. They were both okay, not bad but not the best tacos I've had. The service was good, the waiter was very friendly and attentive which is one reason I might go back and try other options on the menu but as previously mentioned it is very expensive for what you get. There are less expensive higher quality Mexican restaurants not far from the Painted Burro. read more

The Painted Burro - Fish taco and tofu taco - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I really wanted to like this place since the Boston market has so few Mexican restaurants. We went for dinner, its really cute inside and out, and the service was great. But unfortunately the food was terrible. Guac tasteless, chips greasy and salsa was just weird. We tasted several different tacos, all were bad. First all the shells, flour and corn were COLD. The shrimp was over cooked and mushy, the chicken burned, the steak had an odd sauce and the carnitas was wet and soggy. They didn't even bother to remove the stems from the fresh cilantro which was like chewing dental floss. We were going to order more food but if you can't tacos right forget about the rest. Not going back. read more

Every year around the middle of May my father calls me and asks we're are we going out to eat for my birthday. For the first time in 33 years my selection was not an Italian restaurant. The Painted Burro has usurped all others. The cocktails 10 outta 10. Beer list 10 outta 10. The quesadilla 10 outta 10. The Tortas 10 outta 10. But all pale in comparison to the perfection that is their nachos. They say on the 7th day god rested (I think). Well on that day he probably went down to Davis sq grabbed a pint, and ordered a plate of nachos at the apex of humanity that is known as the Painted Burro. Thank you the everyone at PB. Thank you for being you. read more

Came in Feb 2023, gave it one more chance in March 2023, and will not come back to this location unfortunately. Our time in Feb 2023, my boyfriend did not like his margarita, it tasted awful, the waiter replaced it at no charge but later charged us on the bill and we had already paid before we realized. Waltham location is SO much better and we love it there. Our time in March- Margaritas were good but small, queso was too runny, chicken fajitas... not even sure if it was chicken we were served, and the tortillas were thick and doughy, we were not given chips and salsa when we sat down (the first batch is free) and had to ask for them, our server also never checked in on us and took forever for to get the bill. Was unfortunately not worth the $100 at all. read more

With in-door dining during COVID-19 I never know what to expect, so I keep an open mind going in. But my experience here was awkward and rushed, with the waiter kind of hovering with constant reminders about the time limit when other tables were there for longer. Tacos were v good tho. read more

Went to brunch today here with my daughter and roommate! We were quickly seated in the bar area that was much quieter than the main restaurant. Our wonderful waitress was Ann. She was very helpful with the menu and super nice! Kudos to Ann! I had a Carnitas Cubana sandwich that was wonderful. My daughter had the Mexican chopped salad and Stefanie had the chorizo and egg sandwich! Everything was delicious. My husband had been last month and suggested we go and he was right! Delightful ambience and an all around good experience! read more

The Painted Burro - The Carnitas Carnitas Cubano with Pork Charro Beans - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I had come here years ago for breakfast & it was great. I don't remember what i had, but they did have an iced coffee that had a cinnamon ring on the glass. Recently i came for dinner, & i have to say I was disappointed. I love the decor & the ambiance of this place & i will be back to try their guac & an actual meal, but we got a few of the tapas style tacos to try & were not impressed. One was shrimp, the other was beef the other was mushroom. The mushroom one was the most flavorful. We did try the mango margaritas that were not on the menu & those were tasty.. read more

The Painted Burro - Mango Mahhgaritas were yummy - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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So as the prompt said, "it's COVID, so everyone it's trying to do their best"; which is EXACTLY why I am so bugged by what just happened. It was 7pm on a beautiful night in Davis Sq. People were out and I had just gone to the package store next door and thought I'd treat myself to a margarita outdoors at Painted Burrow before going home. There were a dozen outdoor picnic tables, and two were free. So I asked the hostess if I could sit outside for a drink. Reasonably she asked how long I might take, and told me Mass law requires that I get food, too. I said I'd be happy to order chips, and expected to be done in 15 min. She pops outside to confirm two open tables, comes in, checks with her co-host, and then says, "I am sorry, but we have reservations coming in a 7:30 and need to reserve tables." I said, "It's 7:04 now, I said I'd be done in 15 min, well before 7:30, and there are two tables free now." She just said, "So sorry. We are busy." I said, "No problem. I'll take my money elsewhere." And I did. Orleans, up Holland St. has a nice patio, accommodating staff, and a decent margarita! read more

Went there at Saturday at 2pm and all they were offering was all you can eat brunch for $21 or nachos. I'm not interested in all you can eat and it really pisses me off that was the only option they offered. I got the nachos for $15 and they were DISGUSTING!!!! Covered in coleslaw, carrots and Russian dressing. This place is a rip off with no respect for the customer. I would have loved to have any single item from the menu instead of all you can eat but instead they forced me into choosing an absolutely gross cheap dressing covered dish (I normally love nachos) for an exorbitant price. I will absolutely never go back to this restaurant again and advise everyone to avoid it. read more

The Painted Burro - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

A+ brunch service for a rowdy and hungry bachelorette party of 8. Went completely above and beyond to make sure all items I ordered were celiac-safe in spite of the chaos, and did so with a smile. Food and cocktails were also excellent. A+++++ food and service!!!! Will definitely go back. read more

Food was pretty good, service was pretty good, a little pricey for the area. Just a little weird that they ID'd everyone in my party of 25+ year olds even the ones who weren't drinking read more

Worst place I have ever been. I have worked in the food industry. There is a 25$/person all you can eat on their menu. We didn't specify we wanted that, nor was it explained that we were going to be doing that. Order apps - one had hair in it, the others weren't correct and the food was cold. there was no explanation for any mixup. I never got my order, and another friend in my group got her order done wrong 3 times. I got charged 200$ for three apps, and 4 drinks. Absolutely outrages. No apologizes, no comps, and they charge a 5% kitchen fee. I am never coming back here read more

This was a fun, trendy, upscale Mexican joint that had good food and good music that was not excessively loud. My only critique would be about the salsa, which is provided on-the-house. Neither my husband nor I really cared for it; it was just too sweet and didn't have any heat to it. The consistency was good, the chips were great, but the flavor was just not on point. We came here for dinner, arriving just before 6pm on a Friday night. I am wondering if their main room was full of upcoming reservations because they directed us to the lounge. That was fine with us! We grabbed two seats at the bar, which we enjoy. (Side note, they have hooks under the table for purses, coats, etc. I always appreciate when restaurants do that.) We each had a drink. I don't remember the name of mine, but it was pink due to the raspberry and had shrub in the title. It was very good. My husband had a beer on tap; they have lots of good Mexican beers on tap. We started by sharing the nachos. These definitely could have been a meal for us by themselves--they are very filling. Delicious too. I love all the different, unique toppings on there. They put sour cream and chipotle cream on top of a mixture of pork, beans, and pickled jalapenos and carrots. I loved the addition of the pickled carrots! Next we shared a pork barbacoa torta. The pork was flavored very well and super tender. The toppings on this were not designed very well and were minimal, as they kept sliding off while we ate the sandwich. The sandwich was served with a small dish of beans and a side arugula salad. There is metered parking available near the restaurant and around the corner is a paid parking lot. read more

The Painted Burro - Something about Shrub $12 very good! - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I am slightly obsessed with Mexican food, so while in Davis I had to try The Painted Burro. The location itself is quaint with a fun lowlight vibe, but they definitely put as many tables as they could in the small space - maneuvering between them is kind of difficult. After a short wait we were seated near the front of the restaurant and we were able to order drinks fairly quickly. My margarita was ok, not the best but it went well with the rest of the meal. We also got chips and guacamole, again, not very flavorful but the chips were crunchy and hit the spot. For two of us though they really skimped on the chips - we had to ask a few times for more to go with the amount of guac and salsa we still had left. I also tried 2 tacos - the chorizo and mahi mahi. The chorizo taco was fun with an egg on top, but the mahi mahi taco was bland. Overall I wasn't largely impressed with The Painted Burro and I don't know if I'll be back anytime soon. There are so many other Mexican restaurants in the area and even in the city that I don't think this stands out against them. read more

My friend and I went for a late lunch on a Sunday only to find out their kitchen is closed between 3 and 4, boo! Luckily, they still do seating and offer chips and salsa, as well as drinks, while you wait. I got the house margarita, which was good, and my friend got the sangria, which was delish! Once the kitchen reopened, we got the empanadas to split, which were also great. I was torn between several of the tortas and asked our very friendly server what she suggested. She helpfully went through the pros and cons of each and I decided on the pork barbacoa. It was absolutely delicious and I've been thinking about it ever since! My friend let me know that brunch there is stellar, so I definitely plan on going back. It seems like such a great place to visit during the summer and I hope to try plenty more stuff off the menu. Between the service and the food, I'm sold! read more

We came here for Sunday brunch and it was great! It was our friends birthday and they sang to her and gave her a cake! Our waiter was excellent! He was helpful in suggesting something to eat as well as surprising our friend w her birthday song. We all got three different meals and they were all delicious! We also got the brunch drink hair of the dog - SO tasty! If you're looking for a good Mexican style brunch spot - you've found it here! read more

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I had the best short rib taco anywhere. Our server Karen was fantastic and even ran down the street bringing my left behind cell phone. Thank you Karen read more

3.5, rounding up to 4 for service. Came here for a birthday dinner. Our server was awesome - she checked up on us regularly, and dealt with answering many questions about the group's food restrictions. I had the chorizo and short rib tacos, as recommended by our server. The chorizo was a great choice - can't go wrong with runny egg and potato, and overall the flavors and textures were well balanced. The short rib taco, in contrast, felt too sweet, and the taco wasn't able to hold all the broth. At $7 and $6, my meal also felt a little pricey, particularly given that no matter how many tacos you order you only get one side of beans. Also, A+ for some of the best bathrooms in a Boston restaurant. read more

Great experience! Came with a friend a few weeks ago and it was really good. Tacos were a good size, guac was nice and fresh! Margaritas were Strong and not too sugary. Wait time for service was long despite having a reservation. Also, it was EXPENSIVE. But I guess that's Cambridge for ya! read more

Delicious. Already a regular fan of Burro Bar, for some reason I hadn't made it to the Painted Burro until now, and I'm happy I finally did. The menu is in the same vein as Burro Bar, with some familiar favorites and some Painted Burro-only items, and had less of a focus on small plates. As always, the salsa/chips/guac (with mango, yum) were solid, and my pork enchiladas in red wine and cola mole were excellent and very filling. The drink menu is fun too- I had myself a tasty frozen cocktail, and it was a perfect summer drink. And the space is deceivingly large, and is fun and lively but still classy and especially good for dinner/drinks with friends. I love what this restaurant group is doing and will keep the Burros on my regular rotation. read more

3.5 stars, I guess, but this place is always so inexplicably crowded that I had to round down. Not too bad for weekdays but gets a little insane busy Friday and Saturdays. Reservations can be a pain - almost every time we've come with a ressie we've always had to wait at least 30 minutes. The bar area on the side is fun, and the bartenders are efficient at making sure you have a drink in your hand ASAP. They have a lot of fun drinks but almost all of them push the boundaries of too sweet, down to rimming their margaritas with sugar which I've always found to be too much. Food is pretty good, it's more of a ~modern~ kind of take on Mexican food. Tacos are a bit pricey at 7$ each and come with almost no sides (beans/rice/cheese/slaw?). They have a few large entrees including the enchiladas which I feel are shockingly overpriced at $20+ a plate. Lots of apps and sides if you wanted to do a bit of a Mexican tapas kind of action. Overall the Painted Burro is a bit of a meh place in my book - I think if it wasn't so crowded constantly (an hour and a half wait on a friday??) I'd bump it up, but the frustration and price it takes to get a table makes it rather underwhelming. read more

I thought this place was great! After recently moving to the North East I've really struggled to find good Mexican food. I'm Mexican and love me some authentic Mexican food to make me feel home away from home. First off, MAKE A RESERVATION. Even on a Thursday night the place was packed (as was surrounding restaurants respectively). This is not the staffs fault, and I'm appalled at the reviews that expect them to ignore the folks that planned ahead. Download OpenTable/Resy like everyone else and get with the times. Anyways! I ordered the Shrimp Ajillo appetizer and it was so flavorful and delicious. My boyfriend got the fish tacos and ordered a second serving of the mahi mahi taco. They give you chips and salsa (great salsa!) and an extra tortilla to catch what falls out. Extra tacos!! The icing on the cake was the churros. They were so doughy and scrumptious! Every staff member from the hosts and waiters were courteous, attentive and delightful. Definitely stop by for some good Mexican eats, be patient for all good things take time, and see exactly what I'm talking about! Cheers! read more

When approaching the mahi mahi tostada, eat it like a cookie. Only suckers try otherwise. Cliched review line #24: I'm surprised it's taken me this long to review The Painted Burro. It's since surpassed our go-to when local Mex cravings strike, primarily because of that summer-friendly dining terrace, the tall, cold Micheladas (done right with Modelo and clamato juice) and those baller chips and salsa. ChiTacos are a bit pricey for what you get - perhaps an a la carte option that strikes the pork charro beans side in favor of moar tacos? - and they've since ditched the Chupacabra, a meaty feast for the heartiest of appetites. My go-to for dinner are the Carnitas Enchiladas, with red wine & cola mole, tomatillo & cilantro bechamel and a handful of three cheeses. Used to be more of a fan of the chicharrones, but they've undergone a serious transformation, abandoning their slight sweet, tacky slabs of well-rendered pork belly to carpaccio-style slices swimming in a syrupy glaze. The real stars of the show: brunch and dessert. From the chilaquiles and the egg, chorizo, maduros and kitchen sink mess known as El Montanero "Superbeasto" to the unreal churros and chocolate dip, I basically want to wake up here and raid the menu for a midnight sweet. Service runs hot and cold with regards to attentiveness, but have always earned aces on demeanor. A definite must-see when in Davis Square. read more

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The service was difficult. The restaurant was nearly empty yet they said they couldn't seat us because they had reservations. They did end up seating us after I took a photo of the not very full restaurant. Then we ordered an appointment that never came out and we had to remind the waiter after our food came. Also, we were dining with a child whose food came out after others food was delivered. The food itself was good. The omelette was good but the content could have been more evenly distributed. The drinks were amazing and I will come here for brunch drinks! The guacamole is not the best I've had but is solid. read more

We had pretty good meals, and the drinks were good as well. The service was fair. We were glad to see the liveliness of the restaurant and the surrounding establishments. read more

"He Said, She Said: The story of a dinner" I'm heading over early, she said. I'm starving. He said, Ok I'll see you in 15. Whoops, I just ate a bucket of chips by myself, she said. Hey! We need another bucket of chips, he said. Those chips were sort of bland tonight, he said. Oh man, I thought they were great! she said. Why does my beer have ice in it? he said. She said, This chick is doing a great job keeping my waterglass full. I'm parched. My pork belly tasted like bacon french fries! she said. My cheesy grits were quite cheesy. My empanadas were meaty with a great tangy tomato sauce. My enchiladas resembled more of a casserole. My enchiladas were probably the most expensive enchiladas in the entire Western Hemisphere, he said. Ugh, now I'm wondering why I come here so much. Cause the food is good and it's a fun restaurant, she said. He said, Yeah. You're right. read more

The Painted Burro - Dinner for two! Enchiladas, empanadas, guac, pork belly and cheesy grits! - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I like this place! I've been twice now & the meal was filling & the drinks were good! Last night I had the Carnitas taco & Mahi Mahi taco. Both were good. The tacos are pricey here, but they are large and stuffed with great flavors. Also, the drinks were great. I got the house "de la casa" margarita & mezacarita (?) marg - both delish. I've always had really great service here! I love how they have special drinks you can only here about through the waiter. Only rated four stars because I wish they had more taco options, but it is plentiful! read more

BEST. NACHOS. EVER. If you come here and leave without trying their nachos then you're insane. They seriously have the best nachos I've ever had in my entire life. Housemade chorizo, guacamole, pork charro beans, cabbage & jalapeño slaw, pimpin' jalapeños, tres quesos, baja cream, and chipotle mayo on top of a bed of fresh, crispy chips. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. I split an order with my boyfriend and we severely underestimated the size - we had zero room for our entrees. Not sure if I was just overly full from the nachos, but everything else we ordered paled in comparison. Long story short - get the nachos, they will change your life. read more

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Food was delicious. The bottomless brunch was such a good deal. My only complaint is the food runners; they need more training. During the hour that we sat down, food runners messed up our orders twice. One time he gave our order to the next table, realizes that was actually ours a bit later, and brought the food back to our table. Usually I'm fine with that, but with COVID that is pretty unsanitary given the other table were already talking all over the food without masks. Thank god our server saw immediately and offered to get us a new serving. But food runners really need to step it up a little!! read more

Best "gourmet" Mexican food I've had in Boston (as I hold a special place in my heart for Boloco, Anna's Taqueria, and any Mexican food place in East Boston). Can we hold a prayer circle for Cholo Corn on the Cob? This stuff could stop wars. It's amazing- It's the prom version of corn on the cob- dressed to impress smothered in garlic mayo and cotija cheese. $6.50-9 per taco, with a side of beans. Expensive for a taco, I know, but they get pretty creative with how they pair things together. My favorites? The BLT (crispy pork belly), Short Rib Ropa Vieja (Double Stack of soft & hard shell taco) and the Crispy Baja Fish taco (there's jalapeno slaw but it's bearable). I once tried the Oaxaca Cheese grits. I can go without the texture of grits, but for my friend who is apparently "very familiar" with grits, said it's one of the best versions he's had. I vaaaguely remember trying one of their desserts (after I had had a couple of margaritas) which was a very well done flan. But now we're on the subject of margaritas, keep 'em coming. Definitely one of my favorite places to go in Davis Sq and I'll use basically any opportunity I have for an open meal invitation to suggest this place. And I forgot to mention: an endless supply of chips and delicious salsa. 'Scuse me while I kiss you, Painted Burro. read more

So full disclosure / I've been here before and don't remember really liking it to the extent that we would be dying to come back soon. This experience was much different. We started off w the horchata and the marg flight - both yum and a fun concept to get to choose and try different margs. Nachos were amazing. I've had a ton in my life but this was top 5. And then shared the shrimp tacos to not die of a food coma. Overall, a success and our waitress was super sweet! We shall be back! read more

The Painted Burro - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Walked to see if they were open. They were. Enter, hostess politely says a 7pm reservation has not shown up and that table may be available, it's 8:05pm. She says she will check but do we want to put our name on the list. "yes." She says "15-20 minutes. OK?" "Sure." We head over to the bar and order beverages. "De la casa" margarita is a slightly too sweet combination of agavales blanco, combier and fresh lime. Needs more blanco. Like the non-traditional "rollers" glasses, super sized, in which they come. The melon juice (cantelope?) vodka and cinnamon cocktail was a fail according to the lady friend. I tend to agree: when sampled, it tasted like it reads. Fortunately two high seats are available to wait out the 25 minutes until we are seated comfortably in a corner table. Our server was incredibly polite, attentive and actually knew the menu. Sliced and deep fried tacos appear as chips with a fresh and piquant salsa. Chicharrones of pork belly in a spicy sweet sauce arrive promptly. Thick, succulent chunks of crisp yet tender pork in a small clay vessel. Next come the chicken liver tacos with a chipotle drizzle, shredded lettuce and unripe tomato chunks. Two soft tacos support each portion of chicken liver. The combination needs more citrus or cream to balance the intensity of chicken liver. The chacaceros taco special arrives as a "pile of meat." The "pile" includes chorizo, lamb neck, pork and beef shank. Tasteless and confusing to the palate, my friend is less than pleased. Enormous is the only positive feedback. The beef shank sauced with mole is a large portion as well. Ordered off the entree section of the menu, the meat is tender and seasoned nicely. The mole is thick, soft and smooth. Close to a mole negro, hints of cocoa are prevalent. The day's ceviche arrives and is a welcome respite from the meat heavy dishes presented thus far. Shrimp, flounder, scallop and Maine red fish cooked in a lime citrus with pickled grapes. Perfect amount of seafood in a three quarter globe glass with sliced scallion as garnish. The house made tortilla chips reappear and work well to scoop up the fish concoction. This dish is the winner of the dinner. The "Lowlands" tequila flight contains Partida blanca (smooth), el rey blanco (slightly smoky) and don roberto plata (full on agave). read more

The Painted Burro - Chicken liver tacos, bad pic, sorry! - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Made a reservation for Saturday morning but arrived to an almost empty restaurant. I came here with the intent on ordering their churros, but completely forgot about them because we were so stuffed by the end of our meal! Pass on the Horchata Iced coffee, it was regrettably watered down. The only redeeming quality to the drink was that is donned a sugar rim. The boyfriend and I ordered what I perceived to be the two most popular items on the menu: The El Montanero Superbeasto and the Chilaquiles. The names can throw you off a bit, but just imagine pork, beans, rice and tortillas topped off with two sunny side eggs!! Mmm~ What I liked most about the Superbeasto were the plantains. I've had homemade plantains that weren't nearly as tasty as these, and they paired well with the beans and chicharron of the entree. Admittedly, I think I enjoyed the Chilaquiles a tad more than my own entree. The Chilaquiles was a bit bit zestier, this is in part to the smoked chile and roasted tomato salsa. This is going to sound silly, but I was most impressed with the complimentary chips and salsa. I'd like to think I enjoy the simple things in life! I have never had salsa that tasted so refreshing. p.s The restrooms are beautiful and spotless. read more

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Great chips and guacamole here and love the kale salad . And ya can't go wrong with a good margarita!!

This is such a cute place! The Latin American-inspired brunch cuisine is pretty bomb, and the really tall tables make you feel small and ready to eat a ton! I ordered the huevos divorciados, which had black beans, cheese, fried plantain, two eggs, and yummy toast. It was actually a pretty simple dish, but well executed. My friend's French toast, from the bite I tried, was caramelly and amazing. The portions are also reasonably sized, meaning you won't leave painfully stuffed, just pleasantly satiated. I also got the horchata coffee, which was HUGE. It was tasty, comparable to a really cinnamonny Starbucks frap. I would have liked a stronger horchata taste, though! This is an awesome brunch spot! Make a reservation because it's crowded on the weekends! read more

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