Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant
About Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant
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Other than a slight language barrier between our authentic Mexican waiter and ourselves, this place was fantastic! Happy Hour margaritas = WONDERFUL, $1 Taco Night = YUM!
We almost didn't try this place because of the bad reviews, but I am so glad we wanted to check it our for ourselves. I don't know where they went, but it wasn't here! I would go every night!!!
I live in Land O Lakes and wanted to find a good Mexican restaurant. We went to Vallarta's in Land O lakes last 2 months ago and we have been back every week since! The food is DELICIOUS! My favorite is the Chicken Burritos and the Quesidilla Fajitas! You have got to try the white cheese dip also!!! SOOO YUMMY! The beans are great also. This is authentic mexican food at it's best! I have had family down to visit me from up north and they loved it also! I plan on visiting every week! I could never get tired of this food!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
We eat at the Wesley Chapel and Land O Lakes restaurants and love the "La Favorita". It is a chicken burrito and a chicken enchilada. The Land O Lakes is a new location for them but the quality of the food there is on par w/ the Wesley Chapel local. I love their re-fried beans I'm spoiled now and can't eat the canned kind most other "Mexican" restaurants offer. My husband has tried a couple of other things he thought were ok but for the most part we order that
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
I am from Michigan, and my husband and I moved to Tampa. A Friend took us to their favorite Mexican restaurant, then it became ours too, Ive eaten at many Mexican restaurants in the north and now that I have had "authentic" Mexican food i cant bring myself to eat Mexican food anywhere else now that i have moved back up north. and i think their margaritas are excellent! I was never offered a medium or a small sized. They always had buy one get one whenever i was there. We really enjoyed our meals at the Dale Mabrey location And I give them two thumbs up...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
My friend who is Mexican & I decided to give them another try. We went to the Temple Terrace location and then to Anderson. The food was horrible, we couldn't finish. We complained to the manager and he said all the cooks cross train at every location. If you think this is what Mexican food tastes like you are really missing out. Its not the cooking or the service, their recipes are just seem to be straight out of a can.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Ok I would never be able to count how many times I've ea-tin at the Dale Mabry location. I have been going to it since I can remember. I have never had bad service or gotten sick and now that I'm able to drink I believe the Margaritas are perfectly sized accordingly if you want a small Margarita order a small don't order a larger size and then complain about it.... and as for the Anderson location it is a very nice restaurant inside the food is also just as amazing as the dale mabry location and for the people writing bad reviews i suggest you stick with your taco bell.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
I've been to Vallartas so many times and it is one of my favorite places! I think a lot of the reviewers below have just never had real mexican food before, my point being that it won't be like taco bell. The food at the Dale Mabry and Anderson locations have always been hot, fresh, and super tasty! The staff has always been fun and, frankly quite understanding to those of us who aren't familiar with Spanich.
As a side note to the person complaining about the "medium" margaritas, why didn't you ask the size of the drinks before ordering it? At American style restaurants, $10 will probably give you about 8-12 oz of a watered down sugar mixture.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
My family of four have been to Vallarta's dozens of times at two of their locations. We have ordered off of the menu at both the Dale Mabry and Anderson locations, and have repeatedly had the buffet at the Dale Mabry location. Service is always prompt and the food is always good and affordable. I have to beleive that some of the below posts are bogus as I would not eat so many times at a "dirty" restaurant, and none of us have ever had "food poisening" or any of the other things claimed below. I wonder if these were posted by competitors trying to knock the best Tampa Bay area Mexican restaurant off of 1st place? In any case, I like Vallarta's and will be back.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
My husband and I got food poisoning from the lunch buffet at Vallarta's on Dale Mabry on 1/3/09. I called the manager and he said that no one else had called (yet).
He also said that the heat on the buffet table is turned off at 1:45 pm, but the buffet ended at 3 pm. We ate at 2:30 and the food was just warm. We should have known better.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
If you want a great Mexican dinner at a reasonable price and good service Go to the Vallarta??s on DALE MABRY. NOT Land O?? Lakes
I think they must be very different owners because there seems to be no concern or care in Land O Lakes location its kinda like the boss is always gone. Lets just do whatever whenever.
We have been 3 times for dinner the 1st there was no air conditioning, (things happen) we went back a week later
This time the service was so slow we were there forever for 2 people. We decided to give it 1 last chance well it was even worse the last time. We ordered our food about 30 minutes later they brought my husbands dinner but not mine about 10 minutes later I got my dinner but it was not what I ordered by then dinner was over I was still hungry waiting & waiting for someone to take back the unknown dinner I received. Finally we just gave up ane got up and went to pay told them sorry have no ticket cause nobody was waiting on us. The atmosphere is so cafeteria style I guess that??s what the servers think too. There is no style to the restaurant its just a bunch of folding tables & chairs and so loud.
Sorry to say but I gave it 3 try??s and every one it just kept getting worse.
Dale-Mabry Location is the best. We will only go there. Its worth the extra drive.
Slow Slow Slow and did I mention Very Slow. Waited 55 minutes at my table and still no food, as well as the other 4 tables we watched get up and leave. They try to pump you up with drinks so you can't taste the awful food the sober people were complaining about. BEWARE NEIGHBORS in Land O Lakes
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
I'm sorry, but we had a group of 8 people, we all had different selections from the menu and we ALL got food poisoning.
Maybe the green fly that went inside my sisters drink should have been a sign something was wrong somewhere. We are used to spanish food, but this is the first time i got sick from it.
Sorry Vallartas/Dale Mabry, this is one place i will never go back again.
Tampa. FL
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Sunday night, table for 2. We were seated quickly. Drinks and food were good. I enjoyed a steak fajita, my guest a burrito. We were offered a choice of Margaritas in small or medium. We ordered the medium margarita. What was served was a behemoth sized drink that we were later charged $10.00 each for. Beware of the medium margaritas!!
I can not believe the excellent reviews this restaurant is getting. The only explanation is they are drinking way too much and service is so slow that by the time the food comes you have no taste buds left. A friend and I were seated, and started looking around at how run down things looked. There was a pile of chairs and other things like boxes stacked in the corner. The ceiling tiles were sagging and had stains everywhere. We were waiting for our order, it started raining outside and the ceiling started to leak right into my friend's purse which was on the chair next to her. The tile was hanging and could have easily fell. The server came by and very nonchalantly picked up our utensils, etc. and moved us to another table. We were getting upset over the wait for our food and thought about leaving but were too hungry. Finally the food comes and it was horrible. the enchilada and burrito were exactly the same except for the sauce. They were filled with what I guess was supposed to be beef but it was so finely ground I suspect there was some type of filling because it did not taste like beef. I ordered a chalupa and got a tostada (which they told me a chalupa is a tostada, we said then what is a tostada, and why are tostadas on the menu?) there are no descriptions of what is in anything on the menu, so the guacamole all over my chalupa/tostada was very unwelcome because I happen to hate it and would not have ordered that. My friend's order was not correct either. We complained about the whole thing when we went to pay (we had to get up to go pay because we got tired of waiting for check) We were offered no compensation or even apologies. It was a completely unsatisfying meal. Actually my friend suffered indigestion all night. I wanted to go to Taco Bell and get a chalupa. That's pretty sad when Taco Bell has better food than what is supposed to be such a great "authentic" Mexican place. Also I think the health department should be interested to know the condition. I shudder to think what the kitchen looks like. We will not be going back.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Authentic Mexican food with fast service and great prices. That?s what you get a Vallarta?s. I love that they have many vegetarian items and not to mention a huge menu with anything else you could possibly want. At this location they have a lunch buffet that stays fresh and items are rotated quickly. They have a great happy hour with killer house margaritas. Vallarta?s is a must for any Mexican food lover.
PROS: Great food, prices and service
CONS:
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
I don?t think there are many places in the US where you can get authentic Mexican food. This place is pretty good, but I think if any place in the US sold real authentic Mexican food, only Mexicans would go there because it is usually Hot. The food here is pretty good though and their appetizers are great. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is pretty nice.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Vallartas Mexican Restaurant is a great place for authentic mexican food. I am one who frequents Mexico and I must say that this place is the closest I have found to real mexican food in the states. Order the "Michelob Light" Grande with any meal.
A+++++++
PROS: Great, authentic mexican food, free chips and salsa
CONS: NONE
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Inside patrons were all gringos and only one Hispanic family - BIG HINT!. Waiter had a huge Mohawk and recommended either the fajitas, the chili relleno or the Rib eye steak. The first two were already poorly rated here. Wish I had read these reviews first! I ordered the Vallarta steak - a rib eye with onion, pepper and tomato on top. He did not ask how I wanted it cooked - BIG HINT #2. I did not get a Rib eye. I got a half of a ROUND STEAK sliced 1/8th of an inch thick and cooked to a crisp.
DH ordered the Two Burrito?s. They were extremely small. Meals came with just rice & pureed beans. We paid $12:50 & $9:50, We could have gotten huge portions of great food, with side salads & guacamole at Estella?s Restaurant. I also ordered a side dish of Guacamole - but I said if it?s not fresh don?t bring it. He offered to bring a fresh sliced avocado instead HINT #3
When the waiter asked how it was, I said ?BAD? and he asked if I wanted to order another dish. He disappeared and never came back. Another waiter took over and he said to another in Spanish - ?they just want a discount?. HINT #4 they assumed I did not speak Spanish. I asked to see the manager and he never came.
I wrote a note on a napkin telling the manager about our food and service. I took it to the front receptionist and asked her who the manager was. She looked at our old mohawk waiter and in Spanish he told her to say it was a guy sitting in a chair who had been chatting with her (her boyfriend?). He looked nervous and played along. We were so disgusted with the meat scam and one lie after another.
I will also try to report the misrepresentation of the steak to the restaurant inspectors.
Cons: Small servings of overpriced aweful food
After hearing recommendations. I Took my family there for dinner. As soon as we were seated we all agreed there was a terrible odor throughout the place. It was a soaked in spoiled stink. Then, my son used the bathroom. He came back and said it was a mess. I checked, it was a filthy mess. WHERE'S THE HEALTH INSPECTORS. We didn't order. It was badddd! Employees had no answers for the odor on filth.
So disappointed. Just moved nearby.
Cons: Odors, filth. Just like Tijuana.
I was born and raised in mexico and still live there, so i know really mexican food when i taste it and let me tell you people this is not it. I came to visit my cousin who lives in tampa and she decided to take me to this restaurant thinking i would like it, boy was she wrong. When you walk into the restaurant the first thing you see are the servers who are dressed with sloppy t-shirt that don't even have the restaurants name on them, of course I ignored that fact because i don't judge a book by its cover but when i tasted the watery salsa and greasy food i thought screw that i should have. The salsa has no spices what so ever, you can tell that it is made with nothing but tomato juice that i bet aren't even freshly squeezed but from the can. After dumping a pound of salt in the watery whatever they call it i ordered the fajitas and not suprised gagged at the first bite. Im not the kind of person who returns the food and asks for money back so instead i asked for a togo box, bad mistake I finally realized how people get clogged arteries, from eating food soiled with grease like this all the time. If anyone would like to have a heartattack go there and order their food. All the people who write good reviews for this place would not know what really mexican food was if i took a tasty carne asada and slapped them in the face with it. I mean for god sakes people quesadillas can be made by taco bell and still come out better then theirs. The only reason some of you guys think its good is because you all a tipsy off the cheap magarita they have their. Any who after almost loses all of the food i ate the entire week ,i had myself some mcdonalds i suggest you guys eat that better!!!
I started going to this Vallartas on Dale Mabry a few years ago, and from the first taste of their queso, i was hooked! add to that their margaritas that are made with real lime juice and oj that are brought out in a glass that fish could make a home of and you will surely be smiling by the time your entree gets there. i highly recommend the burritos guadalajara!!!! if you want better ambiance, i suggest the new location in the veterans amc 20 plaza. its beautiful in there!
Pros: queso!!! real margaritas
Cons: a bit far from my house
I could eat here everyday! The menu is large, the price is great, and the margaritas are the best. Try a jumbo Texas margarita. The chips seem to be more fresh at the Dale Mabry location, but the total atmosphere at the AMC Veterans plaza is great with live music, outdoor patio bar, and great service.
Pros: price, margaritas, selection
Cons: chips reheated
Great Mexican for the money. Cheap and good. Not fancy, so dont expect it. The sweet tea is good (and I'm from the south!), The service is quick and you can order by number in case you dont speak (or pronounce) Spanish!
Pros: Cheap, Casual, Quick seating
New to area and wanted good Mexican food. I've been to Texas and I'm from Southern Cal, maybe I was expecting too much, but what a disappointment. Service was quick and the chips were good is about the only plus. Salsa tasted like something from a jar. Taco Bell has better. I ordered the lunch special, a chili relleno, taco, with rice and beans. Boy what a big disappointment! The chili relleno were simply awful! I think there was a chili in there somewhere amongst the cheese. The plate and food were hot which is a good thing, but the cheese was starting to brown on top, it seemed it sat under a heat lamp. I also ordered a margarita and again was disappointed! Weak and sweet, yuck! I will never go back again still searching for good Mexican food in the Tampa area. Again, maybe I'm expecting too much.
Pros: quick service
Cons: , margarita
I want to caveat my ratings...we love this place, but only for the lunch buffet. For the price of items on the normal menu, I'd expect better ambiance. But the food is terrific. The restaurant is not the kind of place you would stop in with the family, unless you lived in San Antonio, and knew that restaurants that look lousy usually have the best Mexican in the city.
Pros: incredible food, lunch buffet
Cons: ambiance, menu prices, tvs all in spanish
We love coming here. I can honestly sayI have never had beter Mexican food. If my boyfriend doesn't eat here at least once a week he goes into withdrawls. They use a white cheese that is ooh soo good. All of the extras are freshly prepared. One warning though, leave room for your meal. We always over eat on the chips and salsa, they just keep bringing it. And the best part is it's inexpensive for the quality and quantity of food given. I always have a doggy bag when I leave.
Pros: great food, excellent service, authentic
Great for groups and they LIKE kids! Seated in a timely manner. Chips and salsa kept coming but make sure to leave room for dinner as those portions are good size!
Pros: Local, Parking, Mexican!
This is an Okay Mexican Restaurant in the Carrollwood Area. Food is better than Rio Bravo but Service is poor.
Pros: Flavor of Food, Cheap Drinks, Inexpensive
Cons: Waiters, Poor Margaritas, Poor Salsa
The best Mexican food this side of the border. We've been going to the Temple Terrace location for almost 10 years and still recommend it to everyone! Great food, big portions, very good value.
Pros: good food
Cons: parking
If that little dog on the Taco Bell commercials had tasted the food at Vallarta's, he would have had a different gig! With an abundance of Mexican restaurants in the Tampa Bay area, the competition is fairly intense. Still, Vallartas keeps the opposition at bay with an amazing assortment of authentic Mexican dishes at a price that is very affordable. If youre exceptionally hungry around lunch time, or just like to pick, Vallartas offers a lunch buffet that sports most of their menu. If you are a resident of the Tampa Bay area, or just visiting, I recommend checking out Vallartas Restaurante for one of the best Mexican dining experiences that you will ever have.
Pros: Never crowded, Lunch buffet, Reasonable price
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