El Puerto Mexican Grill & Cantina

Usually love to eat here, but had a terrible experience on 11/5/24. No one would answer the phone for a to go order, then once I arrived at the restaurant no one would acknowledge me for over 10 minutes so I left and got dinner somewhere else. I understand if you’re busy, but this was unacceptable.

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

Really good food!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sizzling Fajitas Steak

I read local Mexican reviews before choosing. The guacamole and chips were fresh and great and generous compared to Charlottesville stingy portions. The mushrooms were fresh and nicely sauteed, but had no herbs or spices per description. Another review said to get the chile poblano, not relleno, so I did. The portion was huge, and pretty good, but the sauce was a bit thin and could be tastier. I did takeout. The atmosphere is quite dark. I'll probably try another place before returning.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

Great service and delicious food. Outstanding area and great food.
Recommend it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This review is based on one meal only, will be going back in the future. The dish I had was the Chori Camarones. Grilled shrimp topped with cheese sauce and Mexican sausage served with rice and beans and tortillas. The sauce was excellent. Would have like more chorizo, but it was very tasty. They have a varied menu, with the more expected dishes as well as some nice surprises. Reasonably priced, great service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

I waited a few days before writing this review. I'm sad to rate 3 stars. The chips were not good. I've had Mexican resto chips from Brownsville to North Dakota, and these were 1/5 stars. Still better than you can get in most store. But not good. Perhaps their fryer oil is old.
The salsa was ok. It's a cooked fresca salsa. There was some weird aftertaste and also I remember the consistency was odd. And I've had a lot of salsas. Spice level was good though.
I ordered a chimichanga. I think I've been on a chimichanga binge lately. Of the three restaurants in the binge, this was easily 3rd place. The beef tip was not as tender or flavorful as the others. The queso on top was somehow kind of flavorless, and very very runny (yes, the dish was hot, which makes it runny, but so were the other restaurants).

Service was fine, as was the restaurant itself.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 4

Great Mexican food. Very good service! Good prices!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

There was pubic hair in our food, and we had diarrhea all of the next morning. Do not go there unless they make some major sanitation changes..

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 4

One of the best Mexican restaurants in

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chips Salsa & Cheese Dip, Sizzling Fajitas Steak, Steak Fajitas, Guacamole, Cheese Dip, Chicken Fajita, Refried Beans, Fresh Ingredients, Shrimp Fajitas, Chimichangas

Love this restaurant!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Need more Chiles on the chile relanous and. Need more tortillas for fajitas

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is always delish and service fantastic. One of our favorite places now for almost 20 years.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Steak Fajitas, Chicken Fajita, Taco Salad

Love this place. Great prices, fast service good food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great place for a good Mexican meal

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Cheese Dip

Our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Fast, delicious, reasonably priced. I recognize many of the wait staff being consistent over the years which is a good sign to me as well. Dine in or take out they don’t disappoint!

Vegetarian options: There is a (small) vegetarian subsection of the menu, but with rice and beans it’s not hard to find other options.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fresh Ingredients