Tu Y Yo

We had dinner last night. I know quite alot about the Slow Food movement; I had no idea however that it meant no seasoning or flavor profiles. My fried grasshopper tacos were burnt shells of taquitos (flour not corn as advertised) with what appeared to be mushed up bits of grasshoppers. Don't order this until you have had a chance to know what truly great treats fried grasshoppers can be in Mexico! My pork carnitas were a joke, absolute mush again with no seasoning. Mushy rice, mushy beans. Great place for bland baby food. In addition, we were served nothing to nosh on with my "sangria" (code word for bland red wine and fruit juice...where's the brandy?)The final insult was the check. Riduculous to charge these prices. This is what your editorial staff thinks is the best Mexican restaurant in Boston (over places like Casa Romero?) Come on...what's going on over there?

Pros: nothing

Cons: COST, bland mushy food, no bar

Posted 04/22/09

Over 5 years ago, we discovered this lovely joint in Davis Square. We were faithful patrons for the following years until 2 years ago, when we started having bad experiences.

The servers are rude, not knowledgable about the menu, don't refill your drinks, and often, we sit for 10 or more minutes before even being greeted and brought water.

The menu doesn't change much, however, the dramatic increase in prices over the past 3 years has been really surprising. The quality of their food has gone down drastically. After a really disappointing meal, which was completely bland, this past weekend, we've decided that our love of Tu y Yo is a thing of the past.

Pros: Good location, plenty of street parking, good sangria

Cons: rude service, poor quality of food, overpriced

Posted 11/12/08

I was born and raised in Mexico and just about the only thing that reminded me of Mexico in this place were the names of the dishes. The food was not even remotely typical Mexican and despite the owner'sa claim to being Mexican I didn't find them to be knowledgeable at all about Mexican cuisine.

NOT recommended or at least not as a Mexican restaurant!!!

Pros: Nice place

Cons: Bad food & rude servers.

Posted 09/18/08

This little place in Powderhouse square is a gem of a place. The people who are dissapointed go there with wrong expectations. If you want Tacos, Burritos or Quesedias at a cheap price, go to Anna's Taqueria in Davis Square. If you want just a drink go to other bars in Davis. I have enjoyed every meal there. Only one appetizer dissappointed, the crepe with the fungus that grows on corn. The boraccha is great and so is shredde pork and the stuffed cactus paddle. The Sangria is tangy and the wait staff are pleasant.

Pros: Authentic Mexican food(I guess) Tasty

Cons: No Margeritas

Posted 07/13/08

The food here was pretty good. Authentic menu, although a little limited. The biggest disappointment is that this website listed the restaurant as costing $...it's definitely NOT CHEAP. I thought it was pretty overpriced. About $17 average per plate. Worth trying once, but not in a rush to go back.

Pros: Authentic Food

Cons: Overpriced

Posted 04/05/08

The food is amazing! We started off with the tamales for appetizers. My favorite was the fish tamale. I had tried some on a trip to Mexico and last nights were better. I had a shrimp & octopus dish that was out of this world. I was a little hesitant about the octopus at first but am glad my partner convinced me to try it. The Sangria was also very tasty. I had no room for desert but my date was quite satisfied with the flan. Service was very good!

Pros: food & service

Cons: hard to hear the music.

Posted 03/13/08

I decided to give this place another shot and left extremely embarassed and shocked. I went in for a simple appetizer and sangria and was very rudly told that it wasn?t a bar and that we had to order a meal to receive our sangria. I do not see anything under MA state liquor laws implementing that it is illegal to serve patrons a drink without a certain amount of food --more like it is illegal to deny service.

Posted 02/29/08

I was raised on Mexican food. Tu Y Yo was a huge disappointment. When we entered the restaurant, two teenaged boys peeked out from the kitchen to stare while being seated. Clunky menus fold up/down and side to side (confusing). I was hungry for Enchiladas. Waitress said only for breakfast. (Nobody eats Enchiladas for breakfast!) They had Fried Grasshoppers. No burritos. No Carne Asada. No Carnitas. Listed Tacos or Tamales listed as "deep fried mini tacos" and "mini tamales". ?? We began with a mushroom Quesadilla plus an order of Flautas. The Quesadilla: no cheese, made from CORN MEAL shaped like a turnover, was hard and chewy, and the filling was unidentifiable brown mush. How can you mess up a Quesadilla?! The Flautas (NOT): made with the wrong kind of tortilla (corn instead of flour), were simply ordinary taquitos, not crispy. "Tinga" (stew) says Angus Beef, came as shredded beef in thick, mild sauce. Not bad. But, any Mexican restaurant would serve tortillas with this. You have to order/pay extra for store-bought tortillas: served warm between two paper towels, plopped on the table, no plate. Green and red rice: compacted in into a bowl shape (like some Chinese restaurants). Bland. Chili Relleno Camaron (poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, and shrimp): inedible, undercooked, swimming in orangish sauce, cool. Traditional Mexican Chili Rellenos are lightly battered, quick fried, then oven-baked (to thoroughly cook the chili), and served hot, oozing in queso cheese, in red sauce. Black beans in a small bowl: mashed and soupy. With an informal an name like Tu Y Yo ("You and Me"), I had hoped for a good Mexican fix. Key to good Mexican food is basics: rice, beans, and tortillas. This restaurant had poor rice, so-so beans and cold, store-bought tortillas. They didn't know how to use tortillas. If you aren't familiar with Mexican food, how do you know? Few items described in other reviews are on the dinner menu. Unsatisfying, overpriced. Tan mediocridad!

Pros: Mexican music

Cons: bad food, overpriced, cold, not authentic

Posted 12/16/07

mmm...the burritos are really yummy here! The tacos are amazing too. The service is really quick. We were able to enjoy our meal without being rushed. This mexican restaurant is for you if you're really into authentic mexican cuisine. The price is amazing..can't beat it. recommend it.

Posted 01/21/07

Excellent Mexican food! Best I have had in Boston so far. The tamales are excelelnt, but don't ask for a burrito... Highly recommended.

Pros: Food!

Cons: Ambienc could be better

Posted 06/23/06

over and over, people kept mentioning that i should try tu y yo. i finally listened and ate there last night. the food was absolutely fabulous! the tamales were rediculous. i could have eaten them all day long. the tinga was also oustanding, super moist and flavorful like super slow-roasted chilis. the flan made me want to kiss someone. it was just that good. the space is somewhat crowded (after we were seated at a small table in the middle, they seated a party of 7 almost right on top of us) but that is a small price to pay for this amazing food.

Posted 02/19/06

nice and quiet, very authentic, low low low prices, some of the best mexican in boston

Posted 03/08/05

great little gem just outside of Davis Sq. I agree with other post, Tu y You would be blockbuster if in a better location (but no complaints, because I get to walk to it.) the food is fantastic, right down to the refried beans. Sangria is a must. don't go there with intentions of ordering your "regular tex-mex dish." most items will not be familiar. be brave and trust the chef -- the odder something sounds, the more surprised you'll be at how delicious the food is. i'v never had a bad dish.

it's not that their portions are small, it's that some many other restaurants have oversized portions (can you say Cheesecake Factory?, can you say obese american). Portions are just right, you won't go away hungry and get to enjoy a wonder dessert to boot. It's what you'd expect to pay for Boston's top mexican restaurant...

Pros: family-run business, exciting menu

Cons: parking, ambience

Posted 03/07/05

The food was simply amazing. Each dish was very good. The drinks were pretty good, including the sangria, but it certainly wasn't the best in Boston or anything like that.

We were real disappointed that they don't have any tequila at all :(

Also the food, while amazing, was a bit overpriced for what you actually got.

Overall it was a good place to try new. It just doesn't really grab me as a place that I 'must' go back to though, sadly :(

Pros: Excellant Food, Variety

Cons: , No liquor License

Posted 09/23/04

I grew up in Mexico City, and until I found this restaurant I could only chuckle to myself when someone asked me if there were any good Mexican restaurants in the Boston area (as if my national origin gave me the right credentials--though I think it does to some extent: I can tell you what's real and what's just posing as such). The food here is dead-on, and very good. I guess the decor could use some help, but then again this is supposed to be a fonda (something of a family-run low-budget restaurant), even if the prices could go lower to stay within the theme. Still, someone who tells you that this is too expensive for Mexican has very silly expectations about what Mexican food ought to be.

Pros: great food

Cons: only wine and beer, can get crowded

Posted 09/22/03

As long as you don't walk in expecting burritos and tacos, you won't be disappointed here. Everything on the menu is good, especially the chiles rellenos. The staff is friendly and service is exceptional. The sangria is really good too. I go there as often as I can.

Pros: Sangria, service, appetizers

Cons: out of the way, Parking can be tough

Posted 05/17/03

Great little restaurant. We had a zuccini quesadilla (the red sauce IS spicy), a shredded pork dish, and the chicken with mushrooms and spinach. The chicken looked a little weird (an egg shaped object drenched in a green sauce) but it tasted AMAZING!!! Highly recommended from a finnicky palette. The tap water tasted pretty awful, so be warned. Also, you better love mexican muzak. We were lucky enough to hear Copa Cabana 3 times during our meal!

Pros: food

Cons: bad tasting water, bad music

Posted 01/11/03

Tu Y Yo becomes the most original Mexican in the Boston area by being the most traditional Mexican in town. A bit of a tough location just outside Davis Square, if this restaurant were downtown the lines would be out the door. Good Margaritas, great sangria and a good, inexpensive wine list. Most of all, great "home cooked" Mexican food most Bostonians have never seen before. Friendly service - you feel like these folks actually want you there. A warning, though, NO TEX-MEX!!

Pros: Great food, Reasonable, Friendly

Cons: Location, Decor, Parking

Posted 12/11/02

The guy who said it was overpriced has eaten at Taco Bell too often. Mexican cuisine has a solid history of dishes with subtle and surprising flavors, and Tu Y Yo does not limit itself to run-of-the-mill burritos and tacos. Try the more exotic dishes!

Pros: Food, Decor, Service

Cons: No Parking

Posted 11/23/02

Finally a place with real authentic Mexican food, my friends werent lying. I was very skeptical as most of the restaurants serve only Tex-Mex and call it authentic Mexican. The food was of the same quality as what I have eaten during my travels through Mexico. Some of the best sangria can be found at this little place. The service was warm and friendly. Next time well go during the week as it can get crowded during the weekend.

Posted 10/27/02

Good food, good place, very friendly people, just way too expensive for Mexican food.

Posted 10/21/02

The food is delicious-that's why the place was packed when my friends and I went for the first time this past Friday night. Every dish that was ordered (and we all tried each other's) was yummy. The sangria is delightful, with a hint of cinammon, and it is not overpriced like at Dali's. While I do agree that the atmosphere is not fabulous, and there was really no place to wait for our table, my friends and I will definitely be back there soon.

Pros: food, sangria

Cons: atmosphere, bar area, crowded

Posted 10/20/02

I've been hooked on this place since my first trip there. The decor might not be elegant, but it's cheerful and very friendly. The food is why you should go. Just like my Mexican mama used to make (if I had one, that is). The sopes are wonderful, crisp with a tangy meat filling. The octopus and green olive dish is to die for, as is the pork with the pumpkin seeds and cream sauce. Finally, make sure to try the Mexican coffee, spiced with a hint of cinnamon.

Pros: Great food, Friendly Service, Unusual menu choices

Cons: Parking

Posted 09/23/02

The food was excellent and authentic, but the interior of this storefront restaurant did not match the excellent food and service. I've seen high school cafeterias with more charm. I doubt I would eat here again, but would possibly order takeout, since my home does not have hard plywood benches, industrial tile floors, and bad lighting. These guys should take a look at Salsa's in South Boston--they didn't spend a fortune to make a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Also, I have to question why they seated everyone along one wall of the restaurant so that when you drive by it looks like the place is completely empty.

Pros: Great Food, Prices, Sangria

Cons: Pizza shop atmosphere

Posted 08/28/02

This is the real deal! No Americanized Tacos or Burritos. True Authentic Mexican Food just outside the Tufts University Campus. I never knew that there were more food choices "south of the border".

Pros: Good Food

Cons: On the Pricey side, Portion size

Posted 07/28/02

A wonderful and quaint place to dine. The food was out of this world. Some of the best Sangria that I've ever had can be found here as well. The service was very friendly and efficient.

Posted 05/21/02