No one was present when we walked in and we thought they might be closed due to the open sign being propped up inside doorway. Really weird vibe and we were treated like they didn’t want to serve us. We left while trying to order due to feeling really uncomfortable. This was the oddest restaurant experience ever.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
Timothy Mansfield
Antonio sat me down at the private chefs table behind the bar when I came in late by myself. Royal treatment!Food was excellent, and the hospitality Will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wade Cruso
I will never forget the memories I have made here.
Peachy Keen
The food was amazing, as was the atmosphere, but the cook is also the waiter and everything. You have to be willing to wait forever for your food, have the wrong food to you, and maybe get forgotten. There was another guy helping him out, but I was told that was not normal, and the young male disappeared shortly after taking our order and never came back.I was told by the friend who invited us that "the old cowboy" is usually the only employee, and there's only one customer. Tonight, he had a stream of customers and ran out of supplies.We didn't get our third drink for quite awhile. He brought the wrong food to the table next to us. We waited 2 hours for our food and he brought us an extra taco. I assumed it belonged to a different table and suggested as much. I said we'd accept it if it didn't belong to a different table. He left it with us.It was all absolutely delicious, but it was $45 for four tacos -- one of which we didn't order, 2 pieces of delicious Key lime pie, one $2 bottle of water, 2 $3 bottles of Jarritos, and he tried to charge us for chips and guac that we neither ordered nor received.My husband absolutely refuses to go again, but we had a good time chatting with our friend and the food and atmosphere were wonderful. I'd go again. Just don't expect professional service.And make sure you bring cash.Parking: There were a number of free spots available when we arrived, though I don't know if that's always true. Some of the other parking spots had parking meters.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fresh Made, Tacos De Carnitas Taco
Ikea Grace
I was very disheartened and disappointed. After looking around for a location after driving over 6 hours, my partner and I were greeted by 3 friendly customers who gave us some great recommendations on their way out at about 8:35 . Unfortunately we were only offered liquor and were informed that the kitchen was closed due to the cook “not wanting to go on “ I’ve never been so disappointed. If the location says it’s open until 10 I understand shutting the kitchen down 30 minutes before. But almost an hour and half because your cook is not up to it is not something I ever expected to hear from a restaurant. Very sad
Emily S.
El Tango is excellent! Antonio is so kind, and I was blown away by everything we tried. The food is prepared with love and care, and the ingredients are fresh and unique. The guacamole was the best I’ve ever had, and everything tasted fabulous. We will definitely be coming back here frequently - I can safely say this is one of the best restaurants in Cleveland.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Vanilla
Desmo A.
Luv this small place and the owner Antonio. We started with chips and salsas... they were excellent. I had a California burrito and my wife had some tacos. Both excellent. As some have noted it's a quirky place and that is part of the charm.
Jeetsue Negativich
We've been eating here sporadically for years. Although the menu is pared down (we miss the deep fried avocados) and the host is also the server, the food is still excellent. I had the chicken coconut lime soup, a meal in itself. The soup had more ingredients than a wedding soup, all freshly cut and served mostly al dente. My husband had the beef tamale; it was huge and tasty, a good value. The guacamole was not overly onioned or too much cilantro, with bits of fresh apple in it, a nice change. The chips were dusted with cinnamon, a heads up for those unused to the mixing of flavors.We lament not going out to eat more often but when we do, we gravitate to owner-run small businesses.
It's probably best to arrive during non-peak hours. The host is proud of his creative cuisine and might have time for a quick chat.
Kylee Stalzer
Literally so fantastic, I can’t wait to go back. Would recommend to anyone! Food is one of a kind!
Daniel Shively
The owner makes some of the most amazing mexican food I've had before his homemade sauces and salsas are incredible
We visited El Tango with friends who have never been there and it was an absolute hit with everyone! We have been there many times so we knew but our friends raved about the food all night. First, those freshly made chips and salas were outstanding. We ordered one of each sauce to try them all and was it ever worth it. Then let's talk about those AMAZING margaritas, can we? Every one was passing theirs around to try them all. Freshly made and delicious to every drop. Then came our food which looked out of a magazine. We literally sat in silence for the first few moments just tasting and then all you heard was "This is amazing!" We absolutely love this place and highly recommend it. We knew going in everything is created for you at the time you place your full order, service was absolutely great for our party of five.
Justin W.
If you're looking for a super chill place with lovely decor to hang out with your friends - do it! The food is amazing, and Antonio feels like family. Expect to relax and wait like it's a home cooked meal. The margaritas are good too.
Brian Coverstone
This is a little hole on the wall with some excellent Mexican food. Cash only. Make sure to order a cactus margharita and get a slice of keylime pie. I don't even like keylime pie, but just do it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Cuban Key
Sid S.
There's not many casual restaurants that are as cozy as my dream home and and serve food as thoughtfully prepared as a loving home cook would make for guests. I can't wait to go back.... so refreshing to get "REAL FOOD". I ordered the meatless option and I was very surprised at how flavorful it was. It wasn't an afterthought like at most restaurants. There were little delightful surprises on my enchilada platter that made it above and beyond what I could have hoped for. My heart is full.
Tom Pereira
This place has SOUL. A unique flavor you can’t get anywhere else — a gateway to a time before the cookie-cutter-$$$ food, when people gave a damn about their flavors.It was good to have food with life in it for once.Treat yourself to a slice of the key lime pie. Might be the best pie I’ve had.
No one was present when we walked in and we thought they might be closed due to the open sign being propped up inside doorway. Really weird vibe and we were treated like they didn’t want to serve us. We left while trying to order due to feeling really uncomfortable. This was the oddest restaurant experience ever.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
Antonio sat me down at the private chefs table behind the bar when I came in late by myself. Royal treatment!Food was excellent, and the hospitality Will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I will never forget the memories I have made here.
The food was amazing, as was the atmosphere, but the cook is also the waiter and everything. You have to be willing to wait forever for your food, have the wrong food to you, and maybe get forgotten. There was another guy helping him out, but I was told that was not normal, and the young male disappeared shortly after taking our order and never came back.I was told by the friend who invited us that "the old cowboy" is usually the only employee, and there's only one customer. Tonight, he had a stream of customers and ran out of supplies.We didn't get our third drink for quite awhile. He brought the wrong food to the table next to us. We waited 2 hours for our food and he brought us an extra taco. I assumed it belonged to a different table and suggested as much. I said we'd accept it if it didn't belong to a different table. He left it with us.It was all absolutely delicious, but it was $45 for four tacos -- one of which we didn't order, 2 pieces of delicious Key lime pie, one $2 bottle of water, 2 $3 bottles of Jarritos, and he tried to charge us for chips and guac that we neither ordered nor received.My husband absolutely refuses to go again, but we had a good time chatting with our friend and the food and atmosphere were wonderful. I'd go again. Just don't expect professional service.And make sure you bring cash.Parking: There were a number of free spots available when we arrived, though I don't know if that's always true. Some of the other parking spots had parking meters.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fresh Made, Tacos De Carnitas Taco
I was very disheartened and disappointed. After looking around for a location after driving over 6 hours, my partner and I were greeted by 3 friendly customers who gave us some great recommendations on their way out at about 8:35 . Unfortunately we were only offered liquor and were informed that the kitchen was closed due to the cook “not wanting to go on “ I’ve never been so disappointed. If the location says it’s open until 10 I understand shutting the kitchen down 30 minutes before. But almost an hour and half because your cook is not up to it is not something I ever expected to hear from a restaurant. Very sad
El Tango is excellent! Antonio is so kind, and I was blown away by everything we tried. The food is prepared with love and care, and the ingredients are fresh and unique. The guacamole was the best I’ve ever had, and everything tasted fabulous. We will definitely be coming back here frequently - I can safely say this is one of the best restaurants in Cleveland.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Vanilla
Luv this small place and the owner Antonio. We started with chips and salsas... they were excellent. I had a California burrito and my wife had some tacos. Both excellent. As some have noted it's a quirky place and that is part of the charm.
We've been eating here sporadically for years. Although the menu is pared down (we miss the deep fried avocados) and the host is also the server, the food is still excellent. I had the chicken coconut lime soup, a meal in itself. The soup had more ingredients than a wedding soup, all freshly cut and served mostly al dente. My husband had the beef tamale; it was huge and tasty, a good value. The guacamole was not overly onioned or too much cilantro, with bits of fresh apple in it, a nice change. The chips were dusted with cinnamon, a heads up for those unused to the mixing of flavors.We lament not going out to eat more often but when we do, we gravitate to owner-run small businesses. It's probably best to arrive during non-peak hours. The host is proud of his creative cuisine and might have time for a quick chat.
Literally so fantastic, I can’t wait to go back. Would recommend to anyone! Food is one of a kind!
The owner makes some of the most amazing mexican food I've had before his homemade sauces and salsas are incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchiladas Rojas
Restaurantji Recommends
We visited El Tango with friends who have never been there and it was an absolute hit with everyone! We have been there many times so we knew but our friends raved about the food all night. First, those freshly made chips and salas were outstanding. We ordered one of each sauce to try them all and was it ever worth it. Then let's talk about those AMAZING margaritas, can we? Every one was passing theirs around to try them all. Freshly made and delicious to every drop. Then came our food which looked out of a magazine. We literally sat in silence for the first few moments just tasting and then all you heard was "This is amazing!" We absolutely love this place and highly recommend it. We knew going in everything is created for you at the time you place your full order, service was absolutely great for our party of five.
If you're looking for a super chill place with lovely decor to hang out with your friends - do it! The food is amazing, and Antonio feels like family. Expect to relax and wait like it's a home cooked meal. The margaritas are good too.
This is a little hole on the wall with some excellent Mexican food. Cash only. Make sure to order a cactus margharita and get a slice of keylime pie. I don't even like keylime pie, but just do it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Cuban Key
There's not many casual restaurants that are as cozy as my dream home and and serve food as thoughtfully prepared as a loving home cook would make for guests. I can't wait to go back.... so refreshing to get "REAL FOOD". I ordered the meatless option and I was very surprised at how flavorful it was. It wasn't an afterthought like at most restaurants. There were little delightful surprises on my enchilada platter that made it above and beyond what I could have hoped for. My heart is full.
This place has SOUL. A unique flavor you can’t get anywhere else — a gateway to a time before the cookie-cutter-$$$ food, when people gave a damn about their flavors.It was good to have food with life in it for once.Treat yourself to a slice of the key lime pie. Might be the best pie I’ve had.