UPDATE 9/20 - CLOSED!!!!!! Went here for a date night at 5pm on Saturday (left the toddler with a sitter). We came because we got the Groupon and wanted to support a local business and live nearby. The place was empty the entire time we were there 5-6:30 Saturday. My husband mentioned that the bored staff was staring at us a lot (I was sitting with my back to them so I didn't see). We were told right away that they would not accept the Groupon because Groupon hadn't paid them yet and they couldn't pay their food suppliers and this is a business blah blah blah so unprofessional to tell us their restaurant woes. Owner told us we could use the Groupon later or get a refund from Groupon. What an awkward way to start a date night with not honoring a Groupon. Why pass on your stress and dilemmas to your customers/guests?!!? - it ruins the VIBE and experience of dining there. We decided to stay (we were on the clock with the sitter and didn't have a plan B). We got the agua frescas after being offered samples which was nice. They were good and refreshing but I thought the fruity sweetness clashed with the rest of the meal. We got the appetizer recommended by our server, chips and 3 salsas, 1 torta and 2 street tacos. They tortas are big IMP and the street tacos small. I thought the tortas had too much bread - I ate mine without the top piece of bread so I could actually taste the meat (pork).
'Ris B.
Sorry folks - went there this weekend (my purchased some livingsocial.com coupons) and the placed was CLOSED. Like for good. They really ought to update their webpage, FB, etc. :( We made the trip for nothing.
Lynn W.
I had been wanting to try Rosa Blanca since the first review. I am always looking for good mexican food. It has been on my list for some time now. I had not revisited the yelp reviews for awhile when I found myself in the area and it was lunch time. It was a Wednesday at lunch time and the place was empty. I thought that was rather odd and sad at the same time since I hate to see any local business struggle. I ordered the taco plate special. Two tacos and a drink for $5. The tacos are street tacos. They were delicious. I had the carne asada and the chicken. Both were tender and tasty. I think the carne asada was my favorite though. I could have eaten 3 more. I could imagine being in a tiny town in Mexico and stopping by a street vendor for a snack and having these wonderful morsals. Since I was the only one there I asked the owner how business was and he said they were having some difficulty. He also said they do $1 tacos on Tuesday and Thursday. Now that's a deal! So, when I got home I thought I would write a review. I pulled up all the review and started reading the positive and the negative. I'm sad to say that I didn't like what I was seeing in terms of response to people who did not enjoy their meals or service at the restaurant. I know that running a restaurant is not easy. It's hard work and often thankless. The customer isn't always right but it's not a good idea to reply back when you don't agree. Take the criticism gracefully and ask what you can do to make it better. Serving the public is not easy and not everyone will like what you do but if you attack them it can be the kiss of death. The owner was nice and friendly to me and I enjoyed my meal so I agonized over what to write My experience was good and I will go back. Why didn't I give it 5 stars? I want to try some of the other menu items first. And I would hope that there is a lesson learned here and that is to read reviews and try to adjust without stricking back.
J L.
The gorditas here are amazing. The corn masas are delicious, and there is a good amount of heat without being overwhelming. This place serves truly delicious Mexican food, and the chef is also the owner, which in my mind bodes well for quality control. My only complaint is the chips served with the guacamole were a little too greasy for me. I wish this place was nearer to me, as it far outshines most of the Mexican food places in my area.
Raquel P.
The chips and salsa/guacemole starter is fantastic, esp the red sauce. I could lick it out of the bowl. Tamale app is also very good. Chef/owner came over to talk to us, totally nice and even sent a couple things from the kitchen we didn't order so we could try (we were the only ones in the place but it was like 4:00pm). VERY good agua fresca, hubby wanted the whole jar. Flan is ok but strawberries and crema (OH MY GOSHSSHSHSHS) really stole the dessert show. We will be going back soon and we'll be taking the kids, the friends, the family, anyone who will come. We want this place to do well because the red salsa needs to live on.
Nam D.
On a lazy Tuesday morning my girlfriend and I wandered to this corner of Val Vista and Elliot, intrigued by the statements of "artisanal, seasonal, authentic Mexico City cuisine" proclaimed upon Rosa Blanca's website, yet sitting in the middle of bland suburbia. This was one of the first results that popped up under the new restaurant tab for this area is Rosa Blanca, so I was hoping that breaking away from the usual rotation wouldn't leave me disappointed again (that's NOT what she said, I swear!) Walking in was extremely startling, with a very trendy decor but very pleasant airy openness. If I remember right there is probably seating for about 50, with a booth along one wall, tables scattered about, and a bar area, with a view of whats going on in the kitchen as well. Also of note is the President's Award the owner got as well as picture taken from when he served in Afghanistan. We were promptly greeted when we entered, seated, and took our drink orders of water for the g/f, and Hibiscus Pomegranate($3)agua fresca for me, which was ridiculously good and was the perfect rejuvenation for a warm day. We took a long time ordering, with our server checking in at respectful intervals. The tamale crisps ($8) were calling out to me, with 2 tamales deep fried and cut into halves, topped with Mexican crema and salsa. 1 tamale was pork in a spicy red sauce that I preferred, and the other was a chicken in green sauce which while also quite tasty, didn't quite match the heights of the red. The interplay between the meat, masa in a deep fried format is something that I intend to indulge in repeatedly- one of the wonders of this dish was the fact that I didn't get an oily feeling at all. Still feeling peckish and not quite ready to commit to an entree yet, I also ordered a side of Green Poblano Rice ($3), which was described as rice simmered with herbs, poblano chilies, chicken stock, topped with crumbled queso fresco and corn kernels. The queso fresco didn't add much to this dish I felt, but I still thought this was a wonderful appetizer and a delicious rice dish. I also ordered Black Bean Soup ($3) black beans served chopped onion, cilantro, and olive oil, which was tasty but nothing spectacular. Tortas dominate the menu, so we decided to go with them. My girlfriend ordered the La Ranchera ($9), which was steak, poblano strips, grilled onions, melted Chihuahua cheese, and lettuce smothered in a smoky borracho salsa. This was absolutely one of the best tortas I've ever had, with the filling being supported by wonderful bread as well. I'm sure the Taliban put up a pretty tough fight against the owner during his time of service, but I battled an even fiercer opponent in my girlfriend when I tried to get a 2nd taste of her sandwich. Although I think my forearm will be scarred from when she stabbed me with my fork, I judge that as a fair exchange for a second bite of that torta. My torta was less of a hit, as I wanted to get away from my comfort zone and ordered La Chilanga ($9), which was barbecued pork strips served with an interesting citrus mayo spread, pineapple cilantro relish and arugula greens. The pork was tender, but the torta was too sweet for me, but for others with a greater appreciation for sweetness in meat this torta would be wonderful. I only ate half of my torta, so I also decided to order a beef taco and a carnitas taco ($3 each). The beef was very average, and the onions + salsa that came with it didn't save it from being too dry as other reviews have stated. However, the carnitas taco was excellent, with the pork being as moist as pork could be, although once again the onions and salsa were too quiet as accompaniments. Overall, I was impressed and satisfied with coming here, despite spending about $55 on lunch, although it was $41 pre tip. If I had ordered a torta more along the lines of what I know I like I probably wouldn'tve ordered those tacos, and the sides I ordered on a whim- so
Kelly C.
After seeing the comment that the owner left for that bad review, where he talked about those people stuffing their "fat face", and the horrendous customer service they received, I can guarantee I will never go back to this place. As a business owner, even if you feel this way, you keep it to yourself. You just lost a customer, have a nice day!
Caryn S.
We tried RBC tonight because we had the Groupon (and had no problem using it) and because we love supporting good independent restaurants. How refreshing to find something different in Mexican food! First, no chips and salsa, and that's ok, because I always eat too many and can't enjoy the main course. The restaurant was fresh, appealing, open. I didn't see many vegetarian options on the menu (quesadilla and salad are pretty much it) but the waitress offered some off-the-menu possibilities, including chili relleno, which is my standard for judging good Mexican food. We started with the black bean soup, flavorful and beautifully presented. Husband's La Tingona Torta held a generous portion of pulled chicken with chorizo and onion; he was fully satisfied. My chili relleno was a happy surprise -- it was stuffed with potatoes, onions, and a bit of cheese instead of the huge gobs of gooey cheese I usually eat around, and the breading and chunky tomato sauce were quite tasty. The poblano rice had a slight kick. The chef obviously has an artistic flair, and he was noticeably interested in our experience. He was at the table as we ordered, again after the main course was served, and later, to see how we liked the food. Service was over the top ... sweet waitress. There are no desserts on the menu. I wish I'd known to ask for the flan. We WILL go back ... I'll get it then.
Will N.
Rosa Blanca is a great place to go if you care more about the looks of a restaurant than the food. We heard there was a place in Gilbert that served the Mexico City style tortas and tacos that we usually only get in Phoenix. So we entered with great anticipation, and yes it is a nice restaurant. Modern look, art on the walls, exhibition style kitchen. It went seriously downhill from there. The owner/manager sat us, an obviously inexperienced waitress took our order and returned with drinks for another table. We tried the chicharron de queso, which is a cheese crisp without the tortilla. I'm guessing the cheese is fried in a small skillet, allowed to cool until it can be wrapped around a rolling pin and the slid off and served as a cylinder with a smidgin of guac and a taste of their two salsas. $7.89! Wait! That's the cost of an entree at any other taco and torta place I've been to. Then after waiting way too long, my wife's two tacos(2.99 each) came out (small eater), and my torta(8.29). The "La Culeca" is advertised as a butterflied chicken breast with light panko breading...ya da, ya da. What I got was 2-3 oz of pounded thin breaded chicken breast fried to a dry crisp served on an oversized torta bun that I kept breaking off pieces just to find some chicken and a semblance of a torta. I looked over at my wife and she was in disbelief. Her two tacos, one chicken and one beef had just a morsel of meat in the middle of each taco. The chicken had no taste(overcooked, sat holding too long?) and the beef was ok. Served with no salsa, so we had to flag down the owner/manager who was running between the kitchen, front, and trying to assist the rookie waitress who now had 7 tables. Which is why we never saw her. As a former restaurant mgr, only a pro with years of experience would get 5. But this is tacos and tortas presumably. My wife left hungry and we both felt ripped off. My take on Rosa Blanca is that they advertise artisinal (their spelling, not mine) Mexico City cuisine, one would conjure up something like Barrio Cafe. But it's tacos and tortas!! That conjures up Los Reyes de Tortas that serves a platter of 3 Mexico City style tacos for 4.99 and the entire taco is covered with your meat choice along with garnish of cucumber slices, radish, lettuce, a grilled jalapeno. A ceviche tostada is piled with shrimp/fish ceviche and topped with half an avocado in slices on top. And it costs a whole 2.99! Tortas with meat spilling out of the sides are in the 6.29 range and only a very hungry person with finish one. The flavors in the food are wonderful, the staff anxious to please. And yes, it is a casual place, not as fancy a Rosa Blance but the food is sooo much better. I'll make the trip there any day. That's my benchmark for Mexico City food ( aka estilio D.F.) Gilbert: you deserve better than Rosa Blanca!!
Stephanie T.
One of the biggest dining disappointments I've ever experienced. After hearing a glowing review from another trusted Yelper plus a Groupon, I was psyched to try this place. It's just a few miles from my house, and I love patronizing independent restaurants. Not considering price, presentation, ambience, or service, the food is bad. My husband got 3 different types of tacos (salpicon, carne asada, carnitas), and he thought the meat was dry and flavorless in all of them. He was also disappointed that they didn't come with any fixings, just a whisper of onions. The beans were ok, but the poblano rice was awful. So bland! I got a specially made vegetarian torta which was comprised of refried beans, cheese, and sauteed onions/poblanos. The torta bread was good, but it was pretty bland overall. I've had MUCH better tortas elsewhere. Where was the avocado that I specifically requested? Trying to keep food costs down I suppose. They served it with a side of mango salsa which was very good on its own, but it did not go with the dish at all. The only great dish was the red salsa that came with the chicarron appetizer. It had a great smoky flavor from chipotles. Unfortunately, we weren't offered any salsa with our food (and they certainly don't give you complimentary chips and salsa) so we had a wait awhile for to ask our server for a side. Please note, there were two other occupied tables (a two top and a four top) besides ours. Once you consider price, the dining experience at Rosa Blanca borders on obscene. Street tacos are $3, the chicarron app is $7.50, and the torta was $8.29. But the BEST part? They weren't accepting the Groupons because "Groupon hasn't paid us." Unreal! We will never come back here. Hopefully when Barrio comes to town, we'll finally get some great Mexico City style food in Gilbert. Updated later this evening (5/17). A message sent by the owner (edgar m.) Kinda funny since I was raised in my dad's Mexican restaurant.--- "Stephanie, unfortunately you have had a bad experience somewhere else, and wish to bash our fine restaurant to compensate your lack of knowledge of fine Mexico City cuisine. If you want oily orange cheese, dried beans, and old iceberg lettuce go somewhere else as you won't get that here. We strive everyday to bring this community what it so badly is starving for....great tasting entrees at an affordable price. We also noticed that you ordered items that are not on the menu, and our staff did our best to accommodate you....We are a new business and understand we have to be flexible. However, we have to be consistent. Our menu and our products are top drawer. Our preparation is solid. Seems you also had a problem with how to pay. Perhaps you shouldn't eat out if you expect things to be discounted and still can't afford it. ( FYI) cilantro and onions is how street tacos come.... ( " for all the fixings ") go Filiberto's...."
I went to this Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo at 1:oo for lunch - when we arrived we were taken aback by the fact that we were the only people there aside from the staff! Our waitress was fine - took our orders and then we waited. Although we were the only people in the restaurant it took us over a half an hour to get our food. When the food did arrive it was unimpressive to say the least and very small amounts (I do not like huge amounts of food). After eating a few bites my husband found a piece of plastic in his food. The waitress came over to see how our food was and he showed her the plastic. She apologized and took the plastic away to show the manager. A while later she returned to say that the plastic came off a container that the chef was using while making the food - that was it - no offer of new food, complimentary anything - just an explanation as to how it got there. While we were still eating she brought us our check. She knew that we were using a Groupon so she said that she could take that now - I asked how much the bill came to and she replied $19.00 and that our Groupon would cover the whole meal - it was a $25.00 Groupon so of course it would. We thought about perhaps just paying cash and using the Groupon at a later date but decided that we really were not going to be coming back and so we just gave her the Groupon. Only later did I realize that she hadn't even given us the option of getting coffee or dessert. There is a recurring theme of poor service, unimpressive food, high prices and huge wait times. I love supporting local neighborhood restaurants but unless this place rethinks itself and gets new management I will not be going back there.
kamela k.
Tried Rosa Blanca on a whim because we had a Groupon and the website (and reviews here) made it seem like an interesting choice. I am so glad we went! The food was so....special. Extraordinary, even! Everything was unexpected and fresh, obviously handmade and perfectly prepared. I am a home cook, and I can appreciate the art of home cooked food, which is rare in a restaurant setting. We had the pleasure of speaking with the owner/chef and I was delighted to hear some of the nuances of his recipes and his cooking philosophies. You could really tell how much pride he takes in his craft and even if I hadn't had the joy of hearing it firsthand, it certainly shows in the food! The carnitas were the best I've ever had and the beef soup was AMAZING! Every single item we ordered was prettier, tastier, more interesting than I expected- and I admit that based on what I'd read, I had very high expectations for this restaurant! This is definitely a new favorite and will replace Cantina Laredo for nights when I am looking for an "upscale Mexican" meal. The service was perfect, the atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed and the food was truly beautiful and delicious. I agree with others that the prices are surprisingly high...but the quality of the food is obvious and as anyone who cooks can tell you, good food isn't usually cheap. You get what you pay for- and this meal was worth the price tag. It will be an indulgence that I look forward to in the future! Thanks for bringing this creative and fantastic cuisine to good 'ol Gilbert!
Kelli C.
Amazing!!!!!! We tried this place after reading the other yelp reviews, and it absolutely went above and beyond our expectations. We ordered the chips and guacamole to start, the guac was clearly freshly made, but what really got us was the chips! Strait out of the fryer to our table, and oh so tasty. I ordered a special they had for the night, short rib served over polentas with a mango salsa. It was served with a steak knife, which seems to be purely for aesthetics , as the meat was so tender, if I had bumped the table it would have fallen apart! The owner let me know that they slow cook it for 2 days! The mango salsa was not your typical gooey mango chunks, but shreds not drenched in sauce, which complemented the meat as opposed to drowning it. All this plus fantastic polentas = phenomenal! My husband had 3 of the tacos. These are small so you can mix and match any of the taco selection to your hearts desire. When they arrived he feared looking at them that they might be a bit bland, but was pleasantly surprised with a huge pop of flavor! Again super tender meat! These would be a great option for anybody watching there portions, as each taco is small but super satisfying ! The icing on the cake was the service! Very attentive and knowledgeable staff who are happy to describe the selection, as well as recommend their favorites. The owner made a point to introduce himself, check in, and ask for our feedback, which I think is important for a new restaurant. The only disappoint was that they were out of flan as we arrived quite late in the evening. I guess this means a trip back in the near future... Darn! Ha ha Truly a pleasant locally owned gem in an area filled to the brim of run of the mill chain restaurants! Eat here!!!
Andrew Meister
Try the braised short ribs. Best taste and price in the valley!
Chet P.
I bought a Groupon for this place and thought it would be nice to try something new. I'm sure happy I did. The place was nice with fun bright colors on the wall, the staff was friendly and the food was great. They also allow you to BYOB since they don't currently have a license to sell alcohol. If I had anything bad to say it is that the prices are a little on the high side for the portions but the quality of the product makes it worth splurging every once in a while. I was also a little confused about them being out of the Chicken Enchilada special before 7pm. I guess since they have only been open a couple of months, they still need time to estimate the quantity to prepare for daily specials. All in all, I will definitely be back as soon as I can to try more of their delicious food!
UPDATE 9/20 - CLOSED!!!!!! Went here for a date night at 5pm on Saturday (left the toddler with a sitter). We came because we got the Groupon and wanted to support a local business and live nearby. The place was empty the entire time we were there 5-6:30 Saturday. My husband mentioned that the bored staff was staring at us a lot (I was sitting with my back to them so I didn't see). We were told right away that they would not accept the Groupon because Groupon hadn't paid them yet and they couldn't pay their food suppliers and this is a business blah blah blah so unprofessional to tell us their restaurant woes. Owner told us we could use the Groupon later or get a refund from Groupon. What an awkward way to start a date night with not honoring a Groupon. Why pass on your stress and dilemmas to your customers/guests?!!? - it ruins the VIBE and experience of dining there. We decided to stay (we were on the clock with the sitter and didn't have a plan B). We got the agua frescas after being offered samples which was nice. They were good and refreshing but I thought the fruity sweetness clashed with the rest of the meal. We got the appetizer recommended by our server, chips and 3 salsas, 1 torta and 2 street tacos. They tortas are big IMP and the street tacos small. I thought the tortas had too much bread - I ate mine without the top piece of bread so I could actually taste the meat (pork).
Sorry folks - went there this weekend (my purchased some livingsocial.com coupons) and the placed was CLOSED. Like for good. They really ought to update their webpage, FB, etc. :( We made the trip for nothing.
I had been wanting to try Rosa Blanca since the first review. I am always looking for good mexican food. It has been on my list for some time now. I had not revisited the yelp reviews for awhile when I found myself in the area and it was lunch time. It was a Wednesday at lunch time and the place was empty. I thought that was rather odd and sad at the same time since I hate to see any local business struggle. I ordered the taco plate special. Two tacos and a drink for $5. The tacos are street tacos. They were delicious. I had the carne asada and the chicken. Both were tender and tasty. I think the carne asada was my favorite though. I could have eaten 3 more. I could imagine being in a tiny town in Mexico and stopping by a street vendor for a snack and having these wonderful morsals. Since I was the only one there I asked the owner how business was and he said they were having some difficulty. He also said they do $1 tacos on Tuesday and Thursday. Now that's a deal! So, when I got home I thought I would write a review. I pulled up all the review and started reading the positive and the negative. I'm sad to say that I didn't like what I was seeing in terms of response to people who did not enjoy their meals or service at the restaurant. I know that running a restaurant is not easy. It's hard work and often thankless. The customer isn't always right but it's not a good idea to reply back when you don't agree. Take the criticism gracefully and ask what you can do to make it better. Serving the public is not easy and not everyone will like what you do but if you attack them it can be the kiss of death. The owner was nice and friendly to me and I enjoyed my meal so I agonized over what to write My experience was good and I will go back. Why didn't I give it 5 stars? I want to try some of the other menu items first. And I would hope that there is a lesson learned here and that is to read reviews and try to adjust without stricking back.
The gorditas here are amazing. The corn masas are delicious, and there is a good amount of heat without being overwhelming. This place serves truly delicious Mexican food, and the chef is also the owner, which in my mind bodes well for quality control. My only complaint is the chips served with the guacamole were a little too greasy for me. I wish this place was nearer to me, as it far outshines most of the Mexican food places in my area.
The chips and salsa/guacemole starter is fantastic, esp the red sauce. I could lick it out of the bowl. Tamale app is also very good. Chef/owner came over to talk to us, totally nice and even sent a couple things from the kitchen we didn't order so we could try (we were the only ones in the place but it was like 4:00pm). VERY good agua fresca, hubby wanted the whole jar. Flan is ok but strawberries and crema (OH MY GOSHSSHSHSHS) really stole the dessert show. We will be going back soon and we'll be taking the kids, the friends, the family, anyone who will come. We want this place to do well because the red salsa needs to live on.
On a lazy Tuesday morning my girlfriend and I wandered to this corner of Val Vista and Elliot, intrigued by the statements of "artisanal, seasonal, authentic Mexico City cuisine" proclaimed upon Rosa Blanca's website, yet sitting in the middle of bland suburbia. This was one of the first results that popped up under the new restaurant tab for this area is Rosa Blanca, so I was hoping that breaking away from the usual rotation wouldn't leave me disappointed again (that's NOT what she said, I swear!) Walking in was extremely startling, with a very trendy decor but very pleasant airy openness. If I remember right there is probably seating for about 50, with a booth along one wall, tables scattered about, and a bar area, with a view of whats going on in the kitchen as well. Also of note is the President's Award the owner got as well as picture taken from when he served in Afghanistan. We were promptly greeted when we entered, seated, and took our drink orders of water for the g/f, and Hibiscus Pomegranate($3)agua fresca for me, which was ridiculously good and was the perfect rejuvenation for a warm day. We took a long time ordering, with our server checking in at respectful intervals. The tamale crisps ($8) were calling out to me, with 2 tamales deep fried and cut into halves, topped with Mexican crema and salsa. 1 tamale was pork in a spicy red sauce that I preferred, and the other was a chicken in green sauce which while also quite tasty, didn't quite match the heights of the red. The interplay between the meat, masa in a deep fried format is something that I intend to indulge in repeatedly- one of the wonders of this dish was the fact that I didn't get an oily feeling at all. Still feeling peckish and not quite ready to commit to an entree yet, I also ordered a side of Green Poblano Rice ($3), which was described as rice simmered with herbs, poblano chilies, chicken stock, topped with crumbled queso fresco and corn kernels. The queso fresco didn't add much to this dish I felt, but I still thought this was a wonderful appetizer and a delicious rice dish. I also ordered Black Bean Soup ($3) black beans served chopped onion, cilantro, and olive oil, which was tasty but nothing spectacular. Tortas dominate the menu, so we decided to go with them. My girlfriend ordered the La Ranchera ($9), which was steak, poblano strips, grilled onions, melted Chihuahua cheese, and lettuce smothered in a smoky borracho salsa. This was absolutely one of the best tortas I've ever had, with the filling being supported by wonderful bread as well. I'm sure the Taliban put up a pretty tough fight against the owner during his time of service, but I battled an even fiercer opponent in my girlfriend when I tried to get a 2nd taste of her sandwich. Although I think my forearm will be scarred from when she stabbed me with my fork, I judge that as a fair exchange for a second bite of that torta. My torta was less of a hit, as I wanted to get away from my comfort zone and ordered La Chilanga ($9), which was barbecued pork strips served with an interesting citrus mayo spread, pineapple cilantro relish and arugula greens. The pork was tender, but the torta was too sweet for me, but for others with a greater appreciation for sweetness in meat this torta would be wonderful. I only ate half of my torta, so I also decided to order a beef taco and a carnitas taco ($3 each). The beef was very average, and the onions + salsa that came with it didn't save it from being too dry as other reviews have stated. However, the carnitas taco was excellent, with the pork being as moist as pork could be, although once again the onions and salsa were too quiet as accompaniments. Overall, I was impressed and satisfied with coming here, despite spending about $55 on lunch, although it was $41 pre tip. If I had ordered a torta more along the lines of what I know I like I probably wouldn'tve ordered those tacos, and the sides I ordered on a whim- so
After seeing the comment that the owner left for that bad review, where he talked about those people stuffing their "fat face", and the horrendous customer service they received, I can guarantee I will never go back to this place. As a business owner, even if you feel this way, you keep it to yourself. You just lost a customer, have a nice day!
We tried RBC tonight because we had the Groupon (and had no problem using it) and because we love supporting good independent restaurants. How refreshing to find something different in Mexican food! First, no chips and salsa, and that's ok, because I always eat too many and can't enjoy the main course. The restaurant was fresh, appealing, open. I didn't see many vegetarian options on the menu (quesadilla and salad are pretty much it) but the waitress offered some off-the-menu possibilities, including chili relleno, which is my standard for judging good Mexican food. We started with the black bean soup, flavorful and beautifully presented. Husband's La Tingona Torta held a generous portion of pulled chicken with chorizo and onion; he was fully satisfied. My chili relleno was a happy surprise -- it was stuffed with potatoes, onions, and a bit of cheese instead of the huge gobs of gooey cheese I usually eat around, and the breading and chunky tomato sauce were quite tasty. The poblano rice had a slight kick. The chef obviously has an artistic flair, and he was noticeably interested in our experience. He was at the table as we ordered, again after the main course was served, and later, to see how we liked the food. Service was over the top ... sweet waitress. There are no desserts on the menu. I wish I'd known to ask for the flan. We WILL go back ... I'll get it then.
Rosa Blanca is a great place to go if you care more about the looks of a restaurant than the food. We heard there was a place in Gilbert that served the Mexico City style tortas and tacos that we usually only get in Phoenix. So we entered with great anticipation, and yes it is a nice restaurant. Modern look, art on the walls, exhibition style kitchen. It went seriously downhill from there. The owner/manager sat us, an obviously inexperienced waitress took our order and returned with drinks for another table. We tried the chicharron de queso, which is a cheese crisp without the tortilla. I'm guessing the cheese is fried in a small skillet, allowed to cool until it can be wrapped around a rolling pin and the slid off and served as a cylinder with a smidgin of guac and a taste of their two salsas. $7.89! Wait! That's the cost of an entree at any other taco and torta place I've been to. Then after waiting way too long, my wife's two tacos(2.99 each) came out (small eater), and my torta(8.29). The "La Culeca" is advertised as a butterflied chicken breast with light panko breading...ya da, ya da. What I got was 2-3 oz of pounded thin breaded chicken breast fried to a dry crisp served on an oversized torta bun that I kept breaking off pieces just to find some chicken and a semblance of a torta. I looked over at my wife and she was in disbelief. Her two tacos, one chicken and one beef had just a morsel of meat in the middle of each taco. The chicken had no taste(overcooked, sat holding too long?) and the beef was ok. Served with no salsa, so we had to flag down the owner/manager who was running between the kitchen, front, and trying to assist the rookie waitress who now had 7 tables. Which is why we never saw her. As a former restaurant mgr, only a pro with years of experience would get 5. But this is tacos and tortas presumably. My wife left hungry and we both felt ripped off. My take on Rosa Blanca is that they advertise artisinal (their spelling, not mine) Mexico City cuisine, one would conjure up something like Barrio Cafe. But it's tacos and tortas!! That conjures up Los Reyes de Tortas that serves a platter of 3 Mexico City style tacos for 4.99 and the entire taco is covered with your meat choice along with garnish of cucumber slices, radish, lettuce, a grilled jalapeno. A ceviche tostada is piled with shrimp/fish ceviche and topped with half an avocado in slices on top. And it costs a whole 2.99! Tortas with meat spilling out of the sides are in the 6.29 range and only a very hungry person with finish one. The flavors in the food are wonderful, the staff anxious to please. And yes, it is a casual place, not as fancy a Rosa Blance but the food is sooo much better. I'll make the trip there any day. That's my benchmark for Mexico City food ( aka estilio D.F.) Gilbert: you deserve better than Rosa Blanca!!
One of the biggest dining disappointments I've ever experienced. After hearing a glowing review from another trusted Yelper plus a Groupon, I was psyched to try this place. It's just a few miles from my house, and I love patronizing independent restaurants. Not considering price, presentation, ambience, or service, the food is bad. My husband got 3 different types of tacos (salpicon, carne asada, carnitas), and he thought the meat was dry and flavorless in all of them. He was also disappointed that they didn't come with any fixings, just a whisper of onions. The beans were ok, but the poblano rice was awful. So bland! I got a specially made vegetarian torta which was comprised of refried beans, cheese, and sauteed onions/poblanos. The torta bread was good, but it was pretty bland overall. I've had MUCH better tortas elsewhere. Where was the avocado that I specifically requested? Trying to keep food costs down I suppose. They served it with a side of mango salsa which was very good on its own, but it did not go with the dish at all. The only great dish was the red salsa that came with the chicarron appetizer. It had a great smoky flavor from chipotles. Unfortunately, we weren't offered any salsa with our food (and they certainly don't give you complimentary chips and salsa) so we had a wait awhile for to ask our server for a side. Please note, there were two other occupied tables (a two top and a four top) besides ours. Once you consider price, the dining experience at Rosa Blanca borders on obscene. Street tacos are $3, the chicarron app is $7.50, and the torta was $8.29. But the BEST part? They weren't accepting the Groupons because "Groupon hasn't paid us." Unreal! We will never come back here. Hopefully when Barrio comes to town, we'll finally get some great Mexico City style food in Gilbert. Updated later this evening (5/17). A message sent by the owner (edgar m.) Kinda funny since I was raised in my dad's Mexican restaurant.--- "Stephanie, unfortunately you have had a bad experience somewhere else, and wish to bash our fine restaurant to compensate your lack of knowledge of fine Mexico City cuisine. If you want oily orange cheese, dried beans, and old iceberg lettuce go somewhere else as you won't get that here. We strive everyday to bring this community what it so badly is starving for....great tasting entrees at an affordable price. We also noticed that you ordered items that are not on the menu, and our staff did our best to accommodate you....We are a new business and understand we have to be flexible. However, we have to be consistent. Our menu and our products are top drawer. Our preparation is solid. Seems you also had a problem with how to pay. Perhaps you shouldn't eat out if you expect things to be discounted and still can't afford it. ( FYI) cilantro and onions is how street tacos come.... ( " for all the fixings ") go Filiberto's...."
Restaurantji Recommends
I went to this Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo at 1:oo for lunch - when we arrived we were taken aback by the fact that we were the only people there aside from the staff! Our waitress was fine - took our orders and then we waited. Although we were the only people in the restaurant it took us over a half an hour to get our food. When the food did arrive it was unimpressive to say the least and very small amounts (I do not like huge amounts of food). After eating a few bites my husband found a piece of plastic in his food. The waitress came over to see how our food was and he showed her the plastic. She apologized and took the plastic away to show the manager. A while later she returned to say that the plastic came off a container that the chef was using while making the food - that was it - no offer of new food, complimentary anything - just an explanation as to how it got there. While we were still eating she brought us our check. She knew that we were using a Groupon so she said that she could take that now - I asked how much the bill came to and she replied $19.00 and that our Groupon would cover the whole meal - it was a $25.00 Groupon so of course it would. We thought about perhaps just paying cash and using the Groupon at a later date but decided that we really were not going to be coming back and so we just gave her the Groupon. Only later did I realize that she hadn't even given us the option of getting coffee or dessert. There is a recurring theme of poor service, unimpressive food, high prices and huge wait times. I love supporting local neighborhood restaurants but unless this place rethinks itself and gets new management I will not be going back there.
Tried Rosa Blanca on a whim because we had a Groupon and the website (and reviews here) made it seem like an interesting choice. I am so glad we went! The food was so....special. Extraordinary, even! Everything was unexpected and fresh, obviously handmade and perfectly prepared. I am a home cook, and I can appreciate the art of home cooked food, which is rare in a restaurant setting. We had the pleasure of speaking with the owner/chef and I was delighted to hear some of the nuances of his recipes and his cooking philosophies. You could really tell how much pride he takes in his craft and even if I hadn't had the joy of hearing it firsthand, it certainly shows in the food! The carnitas were the best I've ever had and the beef soup was AMAZING! Every single item we ordered was prettier, tastier, more interesting than I expected- and I admit that based on what I'd read, I had very high expectations for this restaurant! This is definitely a new favorite and will replace Cantina Laredo for nights when I am looking for an "upscale Mexican" meal. The service was perfect, the atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed and the food was truly beautiful and delicious. I agree with others that the prices are surprisingly high...but the quality of the food is obvious and as anyone who cooks can tell you, good food isn't usually cheap. You get what you pay for- and this meal was worth the price tag. It will be an indulgence that I look forward to in the future! Thanks for bringing this creative and fantastic cuisine to good 'ol Gilbert!
Amazing!!!!!! We tried this place after reading the other yelp reviews, and it absolutely went above and beyond our expectations. We ordered the chips and guacamole to start, the guac was clearly freshly made, but what really got us was the chips! Strait out of the fryer to our table, and oh so tasty. I ordered a special they had for the night, short rib served over polentas with a mango salsa. It was served with a steak knife, which seems to be purely for aesthetics , as the meat was so tender, if I had bumped the table it would have fallen apart! The owner let me know that they slow cook it for 2 days! The mango salsa was not your typical gooey mango chunks, but shreds not drenched in sauce, which complemented the meat as opposed to drowning it. All this plus fantastic polentas = phenomenal! My husband had 3 of the tacos. These are small so you can mix and match any of the taco selection to your hearts desire. When they arrived he feared looking at them that they might be a bit bland, but was pleasantly surprised with a huge pop of flavor! Again super tender meat! These would be a great option for anybody watching there portions, as each taco is small but super satisfying ! The icing on the cake was the service! Very attentive and knowledgeable staff who are happy to describe the selection, as well as recommend their favorites. The owner made a point to introduce himself, check in, and ask for our feedback, which I think is important for a new restaurant. The only disappoint was that they were out of flan as we arrived quite late in the evening. I guess this means a trip back in the near future... Darn! Ha ha Truly a pleasant locally owned gem in an area filled to the brim of run of the mill chain restaurants! Eat here!!!
Try the braised short ribs. Best taste and price in the valley!
I bought a Groupon for this place and thought it would be nice to try something new. I'm sure happy I did. The place was nice with fun bright colors on the wall, the staff was friendly and the food was great. They also allow you to BYOB since they don't currently have a license to sell alcohol. If I had anything bad to say it is that the prices are a little on the high side for the portions but the quality of the product makes it worth splurging every once in a while. I was also a little confused about them being out of the Chicken Enchilada special before 7pm. I guess since they have only been open a couple of months, they still need time to estimate the quantity to prepare for daily specials. All in all, I will definitely be back as soon as I can to try more of their delicious food!