Yes it's loud and you'll probably have to wait (especially on the weekend) but go in with that expectation and be ready to have fun (and enjoy a drink while you wait) and you'll be fine!! First of all, the service here is usually (with occasional exceptions) fantastic and very friendly. I usually prefer relaxing and eating at the bar and the folks behind the bar never forget you if you've been in at least twice, so I always like that! So to further prepare yourself, this is sort if tex-mex cusine, not traditional Mexican- but again, set your expectations, and know that they do a good job doing what they do here... Personally I only ever get one thing here, because it so damn good: the Baja fish tacos. Very tasty and light too. My companion always goes for the beef tacos- again, it satisfies and they do a good job with it! I love their extensive tequila selection and they're ways ready to recommend something new for you. read more

Their chips and guac are delicious to start with. They have a great variety of Mexican food to choose from for the main entree and all seem to be served to order. For drinks you've got to try the skinny margarita. No sour mix and two will do ya. read more

Ol' faithful. Competent bartenders who know how to make a drink and serve a crowded room. Solid food, and a lively atmosphere. I was partial to the pre-renovation decor complete with Steinbeck portrait- but perhaps not so many got the reference. read more

I frequent Tortilla Flats for Mexican beers and hot salsa on the weekends, and recently had my first food experience there, which prompted me to write this review. As for a spot to have a few beers on a low key night or before heading into Providence, I strongly recommend. The hot salsa is good (though last time it tasted oddly smokey) and pairs well with my favorite Mexican beers, Modelo Especial and Pacifico. It is a fun and laid back vide, with hewn wooden tables and a decent sized bar that is usually full. As for the food, it was just ok. I went with the classic chimichangas, which were large but somewhat dry, and the accompanying guacamole was only decent. My family seemed to enjoy the food, but no one was really blown away. The food is not really authentic, more the faux Mexican with some Cajun dishes as well, so no real surprise it won't blow anyone's socks off. I'll be back for the chips, salsa, beer and vibe, but perhaps not for the food... read more

Go for the margaritas, stay for the margaritas, stumble back for more margaritas. If you must eat, and you should, stick with the taco, burrito, tamale, and enchilada combos and you can't go wrong. I like to go black bean and cheese burrito with a black bean and cheese enchilada and both are fina. I'm a veggie and eschew the veg option because it is way heavy on the chunky onion. I accompany this with either double rice or rice and the cucumber salad. If you catch the cuc salad on a good night it will be spicy and perfectly sharp with vinegar. It is best later in the day after having time to marinate. My hubs and I have tried other menu items but they are always pricier and provide less sustenance and flavor. For an app, you cannot beat the queso dip, though that is always a little different every time I order. But I suppose it is testament to its homemadeness. Chips are standard. If you want the best chips around, go to The Border Cafe in Harvard Square. You'll never be the same, chipwise. If you're in a plain Jane mood, the cheese quesadilla is a paletable version of the grilled cheese. So what's wrong with that?? Oh, and never, ever sit at a table unless you absolutely have to. The bar is the place to be and is worth the wait for a chair if that is the case. Service at the bar is prompt and friendly and the chairs will not require you to see a chiropracter the next day. Wassup, Steve and Trish! Keep holding it down at the Flats! Don't ever let anyone tell you to put less tequila in the ritas. I'll take mine with Commemorativo por favor. read more

Like othe reviewers have pointed out...the food is ok...kind of bland and not the point of going here...it'll fill you up and that is about it. It's Mexican food in the northeast....sort of like ordering Italian when you go to Texas. The margaritas are the reason to go and the reason to stay... read more

Tortilla Flats is like my personal "Cheers", it's where everybody knows your name. We made quite a habit of going here for quite some time, and though our trips are not as frequent, our waitress is always very welcoming. Admittedly, there's probably better Mexican around, but their margaritas are tough to beat. Their wings are to die for and come in a delicious tortilla basket. You want to eat it all, believe me. The Flats is a great place to go with friends. I have a lot of fun memories there, and that's what keeps me going back. read more

Hit town from San Francisco to visit the bro. Over the years I've heard him tell me Hunter S. Thompson like tales that all seem to end up at the same watering hole (or is it Margi Hole), the venerable Tortilla Flats. So when he said, "Where do you want to go?" I said, "Tortilla Flats sounds good." He eyeballed his watch (Hello Happy Hour), "Sure we can do The Flats." 2 pitchers of Margi's and a Quesadilla plate later, we were feeling no pain. The world was our oyster. We were going to go out and "pah-tay," which in Providence means "Havin' bee-yas." Instead, we stayed at The Flats enjoying good convo and some more Margi's. 3 duckets for the best Margi's in Providence. read more

Third time is a charm. Twice I'd been here and been told over 45 minute wait so went elsewhere. Was still told a 45 minute wait around 6:30 on a Saturday night but decided to wait anyways. And it was truly about 45 minutes. Our waitress had a lot of tables and wasn't told about us, so we probably did wait another 15 minutes for her but we had already gotten drinks at the bar so we didn't mind waiting. Got more drinks and apps and delicious food. I understand the hype now. I will definitely be back! read more

We called ahead for a party of 11, stated we were willing to wait, and were told it would not be an issue. Upon arriving, we were treated extremely coldly by the hostess. We were told where we'd be seated, in an empty section save for one table of two, but that we'd have to wait because the waitress "couldn't handle more than the one table". We ordered drinks at the bar, and attempted to wait patiently. For 45 minutes, we instead watched as the hostess and waitress spoke poorly about us to one another and to the bartender. Final straw was when the hostess trashed us to other customers. The table remained empty, and it was pretty obvious no one wanted to seat or serve us. Completely rude and unprofessional, particularly the hostess. We will absolutely not be returning. read more

I was shocked to see 3 stars !! This history of this place is EPIC!! Any one in the restaurant business knows!!!

This place is always packed. I went to a late dinner around 8 pm on a Friday night and there was a 40 minute wait. We got a drink at the bar and it ended up being only about 20 minutes waiting for a table. The Paloma and the cucumber jalapeño margarita are my favorites. The drinks are strong and come in big glasses. They bring out chips and salsa when you first sit down, but I recommend also getting the guac. It tastes really authentic and is topped off with queso fresco and tomatoes. The tacos are my favorite here, especially the Baja tacos which is served with Mexican rice and a black bean salsa. If you're super hungry and looking for a heavier dish, the habanero Mac n cheese is to die for. I'm not a fan of enchiladas in general, but my boyfriend said they are really great here too. Overall, we had a good experience and I don't have anything to complain about. We were served quickly even with how busy it was. It's also super easy to find Street parking on the side streets nearby. read more

Tortilla Flats - Chips and guac - Mexican Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Perfect Sunday fun day stop. Good service at the bar and drinks that at least match the alcohol content to the amount of sugar that you know you're about to consume in a margarita. Definitely would recommend this place!! read more

I was a bit disappointed with the margaritas... they were ver acidic, I couldn't really drink more than one, as I was feeling heartburn (which I normally don't get) after not too long. To be fair, I had been at a party prior to this, so I didn't try any of the food. read more

I've been to Tortilla Flats quite a few times since I've been living in Providence - all of my experiences there haven't been stellar. I have ordered dinner once and then I vowed I would never order food from this place again. It was bland, boring and way to American to be considered "Mexican" cuisine. That being said, I steer clear from the hostess and head straight toward the bar. I can't remember a time that this place wasn't packed with college students overflowing from the tables and stools. The service has never been great, not even good. Long wait times between check up's to see how you're doing, if you need another drink, etc. The only saving grace is the sangria; it's pretty dang strong and this girl likes a strong drink! read more

Yes, there are WAY better spots to get more authentic Mexican food in the PVD but sometimes you just want to sit and eat some tacos and drink a margarita in a place with a good atmosphere and some tunes on the radio. Tortilla Flats offers all of those requirements. The menu has a good mix of Mexican and Tex-Mex offerings. I got the Baja Tacos and my husband went for the BBQ Ribs. The tacos were messy and drenched in the marinade but the flavors were good and I was satisfied. To my own surprise, I really liked the seasoned rice that was served on the side. Overall, prices seem a bit high compared to the more down and dirty taco spots in the city, but you are definitely getting your money's worth with the portion sizes here. The Spicy Mango Margarita was very good but I prefer less sour mix/juice in my margs. At $9 the price deterred me from getting a second one. Overall, parking is aplenty, no wait on a busy Sunday night, decent food, decent service, good drinks, and a lively atmosphere. If just want something easy and reliable, then get to Tortilla Flats now. read more

Amazing drinks - decent food. I'm from southern California so I'm pretty darn picky. The margaritas are simply amazing. When you ask for spicy, you get spicy so that is a definite perk. The food is always pretty standard, just not fabulous. Service is always pretty decent and its never to long of a wait. And hey, if there is a wait - just go to the bar and enjoy. The one really annoying factor is that they don't take pick-up orders over the phone. If you want take out you have to walk in, order it, and pretty much wait. It rarely takes longer than 15 minutes, but its just a bit strange. read more

This place fulfills its role as a much-needed neighborhood bar. TF has an interesting selection of beers in bottles--while not overwhelming, sometimes I've found some unusual names. I'm probably in the minority here, but I like a bar that ISN'T jammed with TVs..it's refreshing to find a place that doesn't revolve around the game du jour. The food is sub-par, but if you're looking for an evening beverage, a rowdy crowd, and an overall good time, this is definitely the place. read more

The husband had wanted to try this place for a long while and we had a few recommendations from some friends over the years so we finally tried it this past weekend. We started with chips & salsa and a pitcher of margaritas, I suggest getting the mixed salsa. Not too hot but not weak either. My husband got the jambalaya and absolutely loved it! I tried some and the broth was so rich and smokey, they did it right! And we were impressed with the amount of crawfish he had received. I on the other hand had a steak burrito that was disappointing. It was good sized but very bland, even the quac and salsa didn't do much to boost the flavor. Although my cornbread side was delicious and super moist. If we go back I will probably order something nontraditionally Mexican, there were many things that sounded good but I was craving mexican food this visit. The husband was eyeing the alligator appetizer so I'm sure we will be back. read more

Not super impressed by the Flats. Then again, I'm not a big fan of Tex-Mex/Creole/etc food... but my friends love the margaritas, so I've been here a few times... but I wouldn't come here again without some cajoling. Expect a packed restuaraunt on the weekends, even on a Sunday night. The last time my trio of friends and I came, it was *incredibly* packed. Just as a FYI, wait to get your name in for a table, but don't be alarmed if it appears you aren't getting sat before people who came in before you. Some people come in to put their name in, but because everything is so disorganized, it sometimes looks like people are cutting. Now, to the food. I ordered the Savannah chimichunga (special) expecting a crispy fried tortilla, and I was fairly disappointed. The bed of sweet potato fries were delicious, but the chimichunga itself was not that flavorful, and had all of the chicken on one side, with all of the onions on the other. The BBQ sauce wasn't in the chimichunga either, just on the side. I wasn't very impressed, and while the portions were big, I would have much rather paid a little less, and received a smaller, more manageable portion. Like I said, not my thing, but if you like the Tex-Mex atmosphere and some strong drinks, go for it! read more

I used to go here a lot back in the day for the margaritas. They are strong and there are a lot of fun flavor options. In fact, these margaritas are single-handedly the reason my now-husband and I got our start! Anyway. I've been in for meals here on a handful of occasions and the food isn't very good. It's edible if you happen to find yourself in the situation but definitely isn't anything I'd recommend. Flavors tend to be bland (either that or too salty) and the menu isn't very interesting. Final verdict: go in for a margarita (or 3) at the bar and maybe order the chips and salsa. read more

Pitcher of sangria was excellent and very reasonably priced..food was excellent as usual... I had a minor problem with my dish and it was corrected quickly. Will be back read more

Man Oh man was this food good. The bbq chicken quesadilla was also really good. Parking isn't too bad

I want to like this place so much. The bar is a blast with great appetizers and killer margaritas. But then the food lets us down. Have ordered enchiladas and chimichangas... Mole sauce had little flavor and the chicken and pork fillings were bland. No flavor, no salt, no sauce. Didn't even take leftovers home. Sorry guys, you have to do better to get me back. read more

This place is my Cheers. Hands down the strongest Margarita I've ever had. The bartender (Trish I believe is her name) is awesome. I like all the bartenders and I would avoid sitting at a table like the plague! This place is usually ALWAYS packed, avoid going there with large groups. I prefer just going here for a drink and some chips and salsa. read more

For a Good Neighborhood Bar, I think this place is pretty good. They have a nice selection of beer and the service is excellent. My friend and I did not have any mixed drinks, just beer. The beer is nice and cold. They were out of Harpoon UFO, which I wasn't going to get anyway, I just hate when it happens. It was nice how the bartender let me know before I ordered. I think it is a good sign of service when you are notified what is on tap and not on tap. I hate to get my heart set on something and find out it is not there. I have not eaten there yet, but if I do, I will update. Cheers. read more

Decided to give this place another go, because I had a 50% off coupon. I basically knew what I was in for from the onset, but as I am a major glutton for punishment, I went anyway. Not much has changed, but I will say the service was better this time. The food remains painfully mediocre. I had a catfish burrito. There were scattered bits of catfish here and there but it was mostly just spinach and jalepenos (the icky pickled kind). I don't know what it is about this place that draws me back, time after time... oh wait, yes I do- their tequila selection. Clearly, the full-bar, full-restaurant, and line of people out-the-door were not there for fancy tequilas... so what then? The salsa here sucks- it is either too hot or too mild. The service is hit-or-miss, usually miss. These guys should just knock down their booths, stop serving food, and build a second bar. read more

Ok, the bottom line is, the margaritas make it worth it. Overall, this place has some major flaws. No free chips (seriously?) and I don't think I have ever seen one of their waitresses smile. However, the food is pretty good and this place REALLY knows how to make a good margarita. The drinks are so strong you may forget that you had to wait forever for a table on a weekend night and that the service was terrible. Be careful, you may want to stick to just one, two is my magic number. They take reservations so for special events, birthdays etc. call ahead! I recommend sitting at the bar and getting either some pre-dinner drinks and heading somewhere else for food or stopping by after dinner for a night cap. They really are the best margaritas I have been able to find in Providence. read more

The sangria is like an old friend: always there when you need to get trashed. Plus the food is great and the atmosphere is young and fun. Love it! I don't really like Mexican food all that much, so I guess it doesn't really matter to me that it's not as "authentic" as others would like it. I think the Tacos are delicious, the fajitas are huge, and the cornbread, don't get me started on the cornbread! It's delectable. I'd recommend it to people looking for great drinks and a fun night out with their friends! read more

Delicious chicken nachos. I mean really good! Great margaritas of course as well! However, surprisingly mediocre chicken quesadilla... drinks and apps only it is next time! Really big booths make it a good place for groups of 6 or 8. read more

Man, am I striking out here. Second visit: The Chimichunga was too dense, too big and not very flavorful. I figure if you can't do one of these right... This place is probably fine for nachos and a drink for the college crowd but I can get better Tex-Mex most other places. They charge for chips & salsa? Ouch...particularly as they asked us if we wanted a "refill". read more

Love going to this place. The food is good and the portions are huge. They have huge cups for coffee, which I like so much. On the weekends go early to beat the crowd. read more

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I'm close becoming the Mayor here on foursquare so I shouldn't really say anything bad about this place. I just wanted to mention my food experiences here. For starters pitchers of margaritas will bring me back time and time again. They are strong. Enough said. In my experience they food is pretty pedestrian Mexican. They have a couple of surprises here and there, but my friends usually get some sort of burrito/taco/enchilada tamale combo which for $8-10 isn't bad. I've had the not so "incredible burrito", which was decent but nothing special just a bunch of meat stuffed in a tortilla basically. After a pitcher of margaritas I also thought it was a good idea to get the steamed crawdads. I ate them even though they basically tasted like garbage...what can you expect from mini river lobsters? I'll probably stick to chips and salsa, and not go for the full meal for now on but I dig the bar whether for an afternoon beer or a few pitchers of margaritas to really get your night started. read more

I'm disappointed there isn't a lot of love for the Flats. I'm not a big fan of Mexican-American food, but I go to the Flats nearly every Friday night and cannot get enough of it. Here's the thing. If you're going there on a Friday night, you should expect to wait for an hour to get a table for four. But it's worth it. Enjoy a couple of the house margaritas or a beverage of your choice and just hang back with friends. If anything, you have a wonderful opportunity to people-watch and watch some people make questionable decisions. You also get the opportunity to look at other people's food and decide what you feel like eating before agonizing over the menu, where everything looks wonderful. Even better, you get to watch the bartenders work their arses off (let it go, I'm an Irish gal) and know that you are being served by some really wonderful people. They are kind, fast and, well, awesome. So why do I crave the Flats every week? The answer is simple: the buffalo chicken potato chips. I cannot get enough of this outstanding appetizer. I even convinced myself I could eat it by myself as my meal and even though I couldn't do it, one day I hope I can. The dinner is delicious too. I always tell myself to limit how much I eat so I can finally try a dessert, but that has yet to happen. Those damn buffalo chips are just too good to pass up for dessert. And I LOVE dessert. Like I said, I'm not a fan of Mexican-American food. Before the Flats, I craved it once a year, if that. Now it's a weekly hot spot and a daily craving. The bathrooms aren't too fancy, and there are some steps that a drunk person could easily lose sight of and trip over, but when you are in good company with great service and delicious food, none of that seems to matter. Go to the Flats and give it some love! read more

The first time I went to Tortilla Flats, I was looking for decent Mexican or Tex-Mex to sustain my boyfriend's insatiable desire for fajitas. We sat down at the bar (by the way, the bar step up is kid of neat -- I like having the option or being able to sit on regular chairs instead of high-top stools) and ordered ourselves some margaritas while chatting up the bartender. The bartender started putting in tequila while we talked to him. And he kept pouring. Recommended ounces of alcohol be damned. It was like a delicious golden waterfall of bad decisions. For the price you pay for the house margarita, my boyfriend and I might have well lived in a tequila barrel -- it was cheap, highly alcoholic, and pretty tasty. When I asked the bartender about the heavy pouring, he grinned and shrugged and said if you're going to be drinking, you might as well know it. My kind of bartender. It may be telling that I don't remember much of the food from that night. We've gone back a few times since -- I'd describe the food as average, with a few highlights such as the veggie quesadilla, but it's real damn hard to screw up food slapped between two pieces of tortilla. However, as a bar and as a local hangout, I keep coming back. It's nice to my wallet, the company is good, and sometimes everything doesn't have to be perfect for it to be worth it. read more

Just had tuna avacado salad. This was a lunch special, truly inspired. Salsa topped, avacado wrapped, tuna, with a cilantro aioli drizzle around the edge of the dish. The pairing of the tuna, salsa, and aioli was genius. This dish had a single tortilla chip standing upright in the tuna, gorgeous presentation. I could have used 3-4 more chips!. TRY THIS !!! read more

Tortilla Flats - Avacado tuna salad. See review. - Mexican Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

If it were possible to give ZERO stars,I would. This place makes me angry every time I drive past it. I grew up in Southern CA and I am used to really good Mexican food. To call this "Mexican Food" is really stretching the truth. This is not Mexican at all. In fact, this is some of the worst food I have ever eaten no matter what you call it. Do yourself a favor, and keep on driving past it! Don't waste your money or your time. I can't believe this place hadn't closed down yet. It must be the bar that keeps them open. read more

As a California native I am always skeptical when someone says they know a great mexican place.. I am additionally skeptical when this is said to me in Rhode Island. I wasn't surprised by the lack of real authentic Mexican food, this was not a mexican restaurant, however as a Tex Mex place it was pretty good. BBQ sauce was used like salsa for the most part and the quesadillas were more often stuffed with bison and grilled onions more than carnitas. Over all Meh on the food, but I had excellent company so that made up for it. read more

It's good as a restaurant and great as a bar. Another nice place I frequent because is right next to where I work. Not only they have great drinks (Margaritas are the signature here! so make sure to try those) but the food is actually pretty decent. Not extraordinary, but decent. I have had their quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, sandwiches, nachos and they are all pretty good. It's all pretty casually general food for a local Mexican place. Nothing really strikes fancy (except the alligator which I'm still hesitant to try) from the menu which is the only reason why I'm giving it a 4 star rating. Besides the food, the whole ambience of the place is actually quite nice at night. The bar definitely makes it up with some of the most delicious drinks. And the restaurant has some pretty good seating spaces. Spacious and cozy. Probably a cool spot to hang if you're up for some good drinks with a little Mexican mix. read more

This is our go to, didn't prepare a meal, need to eat, and we love margaritas go-to-place! Beware: the house margaritas are great and pack a punch! They have fantastic bartenders that know your name, talk to you, make recommendations, but also are able to leave you alone when you are in conversations. The clientele are also super friendly- people aren't afraid to scoot down so multiple bar stools are together. My absolutely favorite dinner is the Quesadilla Amarillo. The cucumber salad is very good as well that comes on the side. And you can not go wrong with chips and salsa as well as queso fundido. I will say the meals are always consistent however, the salsa is not. They clearly make their own salsa, and the degree of spiciness as well as flavor is dependent on who made it or perhaps the peppers and the time of the season. Sometimes the hot salsa is hot, and sometimes it is like, "Oh my gosh, where is the water?!" For a Mexican Restaurant, the chicken wings are fantastic and they are not afriad to cook them to order aka my favorite way: well done. If you are able to take a doggy bag home, be prepared to be pleased. They take the time to put tin foil down in the box so that your food does not become soggy! Finally, the recently upgraded their restrooms. They look nice and are always clean. Way to go Tortilla Flats, we will be there soon! read more