La Calaca Comelona

I have mixed feelings about La Calaca, because I love the food but I hate the service. Been here several times and have experienced rude servers who run around frantically like chickens with their heads cut off, even when it's not busy. Literally RUNNING through the bar and acting too busy to serve you. We were actually told that we could not stand in the bar--we had to be sitting down while we waited for our table. Our margaritas and mojito were terrible--totally watered down. Another couple returned their drinks while we were sitting there. If you can stand the service and avoid the cocktails, the food is great! The most authentic I've found so far in P-town. Be sure to try the pork in black sauce, puerco negro, I think it's called. Absolutely fantastic. The patio is wonderful, too.

If you are looking for increadible mexican food at a decent price try this 23rd and belmont favorite. Weekends can be a little packed and sevice can be a little better earlier in the week. Waitstaff is friendly and efficiant and the portions are good sized for the dinners "try the sarape ". The cadilac margarita Is choice and the chi can is one of the most interesting drinks that I have ever tried. p.s. they dont have chips and salsa or burritos

We were headed to Por Que No and thought we might not get a table since it was friday night. My friend (Whom I'm not sure I can call a friend after this) suggested we try this place. He said it was just as good. So, after arriving and waiting for 15 minutes to give a drink order we were greated with a friendly waiter who was obviously too busy. We ordered drinks and food. Drinks took 10 minutes, Food took 20. Mojitos tasted like kool aid (i.e. no rum) and the margarita tasted like yurine (does McCormicks make tequila?). The margarita would have been returned if we could have successfully gotten the waiter's attention. The chicken tacos looked like someone opened a can of wet cat food and placed it inside a small tortilla; and they tasted bland, yet gross. I didn't even eat my beef taco as I was sure it would be just as gross because it looked unappetizing. We ordered more drinks - for some reason - and they took quite a while. The first sip gave me a mouth full of sugar crystals. When we got the bill. we almost fell out of our chairs. Unfortunately, Portland lacks good mexican food, but I didn't think it could get this bad. Seriously, BAD! My girlfriend pyooked for hours this morning and I had dyarhea. NO LIE! Save your intestines and go elsewhere - like the dumpster behind McDonalds. Nice Waiter though... and yes I can spell, but this website won't let me tell the truth!

I love this place. Not the best Mexican I've ever had, but the whole experience has been pleasurable every time I've visited. The service is friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is just plain cool -- including the wonderful outdoor utopian patio. I've had tacos and sopes, as well as their fantastic ceviche and hearty meat skillets. Everything I've eaten is wonderful, but probably my favorite item on the menu is the spinach tortilla appetizer. They give you fresh onion, red and green hot sauce, and cilantro making this simple handmade fresh tortilla perfectly tasty. The crickets are worth trying just for the hell of it, but I certainly wouldn't get it every time. I did learn one very important lesson from the crickets: anything with chili and lime can taste good, even if it has small scratchy legs. Not too impressed by the drinks, but the smoothies and fresh horchata are totally awesome! It's a total experience.

Despite all of the negative reviews on here, my friends and I tried this place for a birthday celebration. We made a reservation for a party of 12 the day prior. When I got there, the host/waiter said that there was no reservation for us and further, that they could not accomodate a party of 12. He said that he was the only person that had been there the day before so we could not have possibly made a reservation.

Even though there was only one other party there at the time (another large party that was told they had no reservation either - hmmm), we were told there was no room for us. He pretty much told me to come back some other time, but they could not get us in that night. Once they realized that we were not leaving, they put some tables together for us. Once we were done with dinner, a few people in the party wanted to stay and have a drink in their (small) bar area and were told that we could not fit in there so we should go somewhere else.

The service was horrible and slow.

The food was really good though, and authentic. If they would focus a bit on their customer service and not turn customers away they might have a chance. But if they continue with they way things are now, I am afraid that they will never be successful. Such a shame.