My mind is boggled why this Restaurant only has 2.5 stars unless it's pulling from The Geo Code of the previous restaurant that used to be in this location. This is my 3rd visit and I have to say the service is always On It. Thee food is excellent and now proves to be consistent. The decor is hand tooled and very authentic such a better choice Than out downtown option keep up the great service Thank you for becoming my favorite MX food in Cape Coral
(4)
Craig T.
If your goal is to wait 1-1/2 hours for Mexican food, this is the place for you. The wait staff kept pushing chips and salsa on us. We ordered chicken fajitas, which should be a quick meal. The chicken was way over done, the veggies were barely even cooked. Not to mention that the AC must be broken bc there was ZERO air movement. I made several trips outside to chill off during our 90 minute wait for our food. My family and I won't be back. Zero andele here.
(1)
Roberta D.
I'm not sure why this place has such low reviews. I headed to Monarca's last month while visiting family in the area. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. I got the steak fajitas and mango margarita. You're given chips and salsa when arriving and I couldn't stop myself from eating them, they were so tasty. The service was quick, our group of 6 were in and out within an hour.
(3)
Jamie R.
Stopped in here, mid/afternoon to celebrate sale of a little house nearby (i'm a real estate broker, ta-da.) Monarca's setting is very welcoming, especially with its deck that overlooks a canal that runs from the River and passes under Del Prado Blvd. I had a Patron margarita. It was alarmingly small, but I realized soon that it was in no way watered down. Salted correctly without lumps around the rim, it was delicious. The decor is very "Michoacan" with carved wooden chairs, enameled and hammered iron work, and heavy, molded bubble glass stemware. I chose from the luncheon menu. My selection was two enchiladas, plus black beans and rice. The rice was made with tomato and was appropriately not spiced and a nice coral color. The black beans were in a separate small bowl because of their thin, watery covering. Not so nice. The enchiladas for lunch were what I would call soft tacos: rolled from small flour tortillas, not baked, and garnished with a bit of shredded lettuce and a few pieces of diced tomato. They rested on a smear of cream sauce with a hint of guacamole green. I asked for one chicken and one beef enchilada. Though technically to order, the beef would not be my first preference for either enchilada or taco : unseasoned ground beef It was a forgettable luncheon plate, sold for $10. Service was prompt and courteous. I would return for the bar offerings, but would probably search out another Mexican restaurant for notable food.
(3)
Dino D.
Good food, great drinks and happy hour is the absolute best. The decor is great and even the chairs are very unique. The restrooms were clean and the service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Larry B.
Ok we are in Cape Coral for 3 months in the winter and my wife just loves eating at waterfront places therefore Monarca's. Sure I read the reviews but she loves the water . Ok the highlights were the chips and salsa and house margaritas. That was it! Downhill from there. COLD beans , rice enchiladas and chimichanga. Absolutely no flavor period. Steak chimi was so tough you couldn't chew it! Not a good wait staff and they were not busy. VERY disappointed and will not go back. Such a shame good location good drink good chips but Nothing else. We eat a lot of Mexican and this was awful! Certainly not authentic !
(1)
Kathy F.
Not sure about all the bad reviews. My husband and I went for lunch mid-week. Everyone was very friendly. Service was great. Food was very good. My husband had a chimichanga and I had the carnitas. The decor was beautiful. Our drinks were "on the house" which was really nice. The only complaints I can make are that the music was a little too loud and the side dishes needed a bit more heat. We will definitely be going back.
(4)
Ed B.
Had dinner here. Second worse margarita I've ever had. The mix had a chemical taste, no fresh squeezed anything . The worse was downtown Fort Myers at a Mex place there. Had enchiladas, the beef was good, cheese tasted like cheapest cheese off the Sysco truck. Rice was unseasoned and beans straight out of the can. I cannot recommend this place and it's sad, very nice on the inside and good location. Wait staff was friendly and service was good, reason for the 2 stars. Will not be back.
(2)
Dwayne A.
The most authentic part of this Mexican restaurant is the fact that it is 90 degrees indoors! Food is mediocre. Service below average. Air conditioning is horrible. I was literally sweating into my food! Stay away.
(1)
Andrea S.
We were visiting family and they suggested this place. The food was okay. The Margarita was good. It wasn't anything great or bad. It's just average. The service was a little slow. We sat outside which was nice. I probably won't come back next time we're I town.
(2)
Maribel M.
Nice place for family, friends, and colleagues. Food was good and filling.
(3)
Dave J.
Wait until they work the kinks out. The decor is nice. The staff is friendly. But the food needs some tweaking. The rice is bland. The steak is tough. The burrito was unflavorful. The menu is limited. I think this place will be great, once management improves the quality in the kitchen.
(3)
Fran D.
Decor delightful . Service attentive. Portions generous. House margarita tasty and sangria delicious. Fish tacos flavorful and done well. Chimichanga super!
(4)
Noreen S.
A DISGRACE!!! We were seated and got a beautifully carved table which was sticky and dirty. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which had little flavor and No fruit! It tasted like boxed. The staff should have realized when we ordered 2 mojitos while we still had the awful sangria. The mojitos cost $12, were huge portions and were tasteless. As for the food, basic fair. Nothing to speak of. DO NOT TRY THIS PLACE.
(1)
CoachDebra D.
The best quacamole in the area, made fresh at your table.... We split an entree and still had left overs. Large portions, great flavors.
(5)
Shannon N.
I really liked this place our first visit. Our server, Joao, was very attentive. He checked on us several times to make sure we had everything we needed. He gave suggestions for dishes and drinks. I was very pleased. Our second visit we had another server. I had to find the server on 2 separate occasions because they never checked on us. At the end of our visit they gave us 20% off of our bill. They said they were understaffed that day. I appreciated the nice gesture. Will definitely return.
(4)
Christopher G.
I wish I could give this restaurant "zero" stars. It was incredibly hot, smokey, slow service and the management is horrible. I am glad that iguana mias is down the street. Do yourself a favor and save your money!
(1)
Beachy V.
We were in michoachan last year and I give this good marks given it's location in an area not known to offer much of the rich culinary diversity of mexico. We had a couple of dishes that they listed as special and they were good, Morelia good, but good. Service was good, frozen margaritas were way sweet, but if you ask for fresh they are much better.
(4)
Lacee M.
My review isn't much different than the others. Decor and atmosphere are nice. Staff was bland and clueless and our order came back wrong. Margarita was pretty bad too. The food is promising and so is the restaurant if they get some new employees that actually know what's going on. Hopefully they'll work out there tweaks with the food and running a restaurant because it would be nice to have a really good Mexican restaurant around here. ***on the plus side the chips and salsa were outstanding!...they only gave us a tiny little cup of salsa which was gone after 5 chips and we had to ask twice for more which took like 15 minutes and a charge of $1.50 but was good nonetheless
(3)
Marcia F.
Love the decor of the restaurant. You feel transported to Mexico. The food is delicious and reasonable. This was our second time there and we took family with us. They loved it, too.
(4)
Joan W.
Upon our arrival the restaurant looked very welcoming from the outside, it sits right on a canal and had a quaint view. But once inside the experience went downhill. First, they tried to sit my family right next to the window where all the servers gather to grab the food from the kitchen. I asked to be moved but that turned out to be a bad idea. The hostess moved us to a large round table where there was an a/c vent right above one of the chairs so water kept dripping on the seat and floor. We kept letting other patrons know to be careful because the floor was wet. The next distraction we immediately noticed was the LOUD mariachi group that was going around from table to table playing music. At first it was nice but after being there for over 30 minutes the music was beyond frustrating and annoying. My family could not talk throughout the meal because the damn band was OBNOXIOUS! It's one thing to have some light music but a damn 8 piece group going around and around is beyond obnoxious. My father sent an email to the owner the next day letting him know that we are also own a local restaurant and we enjoy supporting local businesses but that the 8 piece group was too much. Well it's been over 3 weeks and he still has not acknowledged my fathers email. We finally left dinner with half our meals in to-go boxes because we could not enjoy ourselves. Once outside we saw a group of 4 who had left before us and they were in the parking lot talking because they could not converse in the restaurant because was too loud. My steak fajitas were very good and I would definitely order them again but unless the band is gone or the number of members is drastically reduced then we won't be visiting this place again.
(2)
Jeff M.
Best Mexican restaurant in town. Great food. Great service. The atmosphere is fantastic, you will enjoy the attention to detail. Just don't take my word for it, try it. Wow!
(5)
Colin C.
Extra Large Burrito (Lunch) was lots of Rice and Beans and that is it.for $13.00 ! WHERE'S THE MEAT ! ALSO WHERE"S THE SPICES ! The flavor was pretty blaaah for "authentic mexican cuisine" This place has BIG Margaritas, decent ( but watery) salsa , and large prices for Mexican cuisine but the flavor is just not there if you are craving real Mexican.
(1)
Craig D.
The two times I've eaten here the service was slow. The food was good but lacked in variety. They also don't have a selection of hot sauces. One thing I ordered they were out of so I had to make another choice. Service also was not that great. I waited among time to pay my bill.
(3)
C A.
Well... Read the reviews and were intrigued by the table side guacamole so, we gave it a shot. In brief the chips were good, salsa good, guacamole made at our table side was good and the margaritas were right. The service was prompt and courteous as well. With that said the steak fajitas and carne asada were mediocre, bland at best. Agree with the other posts, food just ok.
(3)
Renee M.
Food was amazing, service was great!! Totally recommend this to EVERYONE that likes Mexican! Soooo yummy!! Just no tamales.
(4)
Ryan N.
Not too sure what all the negative feedback is due to, I just assume this place has worked through its new restaurant hiccup issues. My wife and I really enjoyed the food and the service was well above average and very attentive. Glad to have found this place, we will be back!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Have tried in the past to come in to eat biut the parking never worked out. Sunday at 12:30 is an ideal time to come apparently! Drinks are strong, service is quick and the food is tasty! The salsa and chips were great! Sangria is NOT watered down. The chimichanga was well prepared and rice and beans were great! The staff was nice to my children (always important!!) who are 3/5. Fish tacos are tasty and made well!
(4)
Ratalie N.
What an outrageously horrible experience. The waiter put in the wrong order for my meal and I was left sitting while my companions finished their meals. They were done and I hadn't even received my order (which was take-out at this point). My companions said their meals were cold with canned beans and soggy tortilla. They were missing items listed from the menu. Salsa tasted like it was poured straight from a jar and the chips from a bag. If not for the exceptionally gracious apology from the owner, I would've given the place 1 star (with the hope of being able to give 0 stars). The owner made me a table side, 'flaming coffee' which was phenomenal. I would probably give the place 1 more try once the new menu is out just because the owner was great (nice save, man!).
(2)
Cody W.
This building previously housed a burger place with a non-exciting atmosphere but with decent burgers. Now you would hardly believe this is the same building! The renovation performed on this place blows my mind. We ate here on the third evening it was open and they were serving an abbreviated menu. I feel this will be a great place once the full menu is available. They have a few kinks to work out, but seem to be heading in the right direction. This part of Cape Coral needed another quality restaurant and this may fit the bill. I can't wait to come back when the full menu is available and report with a new review.
(3)
K N.
Service was excellent. Food was good, but over priced. $10 for tableside guacamole that has only 1 avocado seemed really steep. But will go back.
(4)
Dawn R.
This was a tasty stop! Great salsa, delicious burrito and everyone with me had a wonderful lunch. Not sure why the reviews were poor. I would suggest give it a try!!
(4)
D. L. G.
Second visit and still disappointed. I am writing this whilst seated at Monarchs on Cinco de Mayo. I visited Monarca's soon after they opened. 5+ month's later I visited for lunch on Cinco de Mayo, a day one would expect a Mexican restaurant to be at the top of their game. No Cinco de Mayo lunch specials but "compliments of Monarca's" I was given a cheap cloth bag that was provided by Patron advertising there XO Cafe tequila liquor. As for the food, I was hoping for improvement. Alas, it has deteriorated further. The fish tacos have gone from fresh, grilled fish to frozen, pre-breaded, as supplied by typical major food vendor, deep fried. I must drive past Monarca's on my daily commute and have noticed that the food supply truck is a different vendor. The beans tasted as though they came straight out of the can. The server was great and honest, telling me that they have changed managers 3 times in a few months along with many of the other staff. DON'T BOTHER they are neither authentic Mexican nor worth your hard earned money. Save your Palate as well. Two stars for the server an decor.
(2)
Thomas T.
If there were a way to add a half star it would be 2.5. With that said this place is the kinda place where dan the accountant from hoboken can go while on vacation because he wants "authentic mexican food." Order the most mexican thing on the menu and still not have eaten authentic mexican food. Touristy to say the least.. A bit overpriced and we already have an Iguana Mias... Basically the same Americanized southwest "mexican" food. My wife, who is actually from Mexico, and I had nachos (not real mexican food) because the appetizers were few to choose from. The ground beef a tad over spiced but not spicey hot, just over use of the spices. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, tasted more like kool aide not sure there was any alcohol involved. I won't be going back. I'll leave the place to the out of towners from Hoboken!
(2)
Lunda B.
Went for lunch. Devore is awesome. Had fahita salad was good. And servo pec was great. They are doing much better.
(4)
Laura R.
Had been wanting to try this restaurant since it opened. We liked it just from walking in and seeing the fantastic decor - carved tables, chairs, etc.... plus loved that you can boat up to the restaurant as well. The staff was attentive and really seemed on top of things. The food was great, fantastic Mexican food, plus they had some other items on the menu for those that might not feel like Mexican. They have some tables outside on the water, which is a very nice view. Pretty large portions, especially the burrito - it was the size of a large dinner plate - you'll need a box. We'll definitely be back and it's our new go-to Mexican restaurant in Cape Coral/Fort Myers!
(5)
rick c.
First time here. I was a fan of Jimbos, mostly because of the stellar service. The new renovation of this restaurant is beautiful! First, we did not order cocktails because we are dieting but our water did not have the limes we requested. We ordered the chorizos and they came out on time.a large portion and delicious! We did not get two small plates to share the appetizer though. The entrees, (fajitas), came out 20 seconds after the appetizer. They were very tasty. We ordered the $8.00 "instantly made Guacamole (Table side). First we got a little plastic container of guacamole that you would get as a side in a fast food restaurant. I told the waiter this can't be correct. He agreed and said he would get the right one. I said I'll keep this small one while we are waiting. He would not let me keep it! Ten minutes later he comes back with their guacamole salad in a tortilla bowl. It is a good salad and has a small scoop of guacamole. It certainly was not what we ordered and a far stretch from table side made guacamole. We had told the waiter we were on a diet and did not want chips or the soft totillas for the fajitas, so how could he bring us the tortilla bowl? We did not have a spoon to split the salad. BTW he charged us $10 for it to add insult to injury. There was an abundance of staff walking around but they didn't seem to know what to do. We ran out of water and the waiter took our glasses away to refill them. Ten minutes later we got our water back. Why don't they have one of the many helpers refilling water glasses. They need training for the staff. Restaurant Stakeout where are you? The website reservation system seemed great. I got an email confirming but when I got to the restaurant they didn't have my name. The told me it wasn't working. Remove it then! Funny too, I clicked on the guacamole salad and the same picture as the Table side guacamole came up. No wonder the staff does not know the difference. Bottom line: great decor, very good food. plenty of staff but poor service. I will return in a couple of months hopeful that the owners will make the changes needed. This place has great potential and I am rooting for success.
(3)
Marc S.
It's sad to say but Monarca's has progressively become worse and worse over time. When they first opened, they had a few issues but we're not enough to keep us from going back because the food was good, the portions were generous and the wait staff was good. They used quality ingredients and the food tasted fresh. Fast forward to tonight, we called in an order for take out and sat on hold for 15 minutes before someone took our order. The person who answered the phone forgot to put us on hold for the first 5 minutes as we could hear her conversation with the guy she was speaking with. The food was ready when promised by the person taking the order. I ordered the burrito panzon with grilled beef (as the online menu stated it came with), asked for no onions or peppers in the beef with shredded cheese on the top of it. When opened the box, the burrito had cheese sauce (like you get at the ballpark with nachos) and the beef was not grilled beef, but was ground beef loaded with peppers and onions. Not what was on the menu. If you are going to create a menu and provide options, stick to it, but if you make changes to the way the food is prepared, change the menu! All in all, the quality of the food is now awful. They use cheap ingredients like ones they would get from the low end offerings from Sysco. If you want good Mexican food, go to Iguana Mia's. That's where I'll be going from now on. P.S. If you look at other companies that have negative reviews, at least a manager has usually responded to the concerns. I didn't see any manager responses from any of the negative reviews here. Just a thought.
(1)
Stephanie W.
Wow ! What a disappointment. I was soo in the mood for a margarita on a canal on a hot day..what I got was a dispenser lemonade with no tequila..and she even forgot the limes,and she obviously has been in this biz a while. No chips and salsa offered to bar patrons either..c'mon..that is what real Mexican restaurants do.I saw my favorite dish in the world on their Facebook page the Mexican shrimp cocktail,with avocado,salsa,lime,cilantro..you get my drift..I tried to order one..'We don't make them' was the response..WHAAAT ? There is a picture..I saw it...what else can go wrong here..how about $4.50 for a Corona Light ? That's wrong. I ordered a Chile Relleno .with beef filling..YIKES..why was it not a roasted poblano filled with spicy meat or cheese..WHY was it battered and fried with the consistency of a kitchen sponge smothered in canned cheese sauce [yellow/orange cheez whiz]..WHERE oh Where was the authentic relleno 'gravy'..that nice kind of mole/red sauce..simmered for hours,you know,the stuff ,and I haven't even told you about the bland black beans and rice and shredded lettuce on the old diner plates. I was there 45 minutes,spent $45.00 dollars on junk..will never be hungry enough to repeat that performance. I honestly do not think they will be able to fix it unless they bring in real cooks,good bar tenders and competent staff because the location and the decor are good..it's just the rest that is bad.
Meh is right. 2 stars for decor n canal front. Decor is really detailed. Comfortable restaurant. Minus 3 stars for service, food, and drinks. Server asks...want more salsa..well it is empty. Want more chips...well we have more salsa so yes. Did u want the crunchy tacos with lettuce tomato and cheese or the tacos with onions and cilantro...onion and cilantro please...got the lettuce tomato and cheese...pitcher of (weak) margaritas with so much ice you can't pour it almost gone...want another pitcher...no just that water...well food was mediocre at best...seriously the cheese enchilada was rough...we just needed water...finally done eating...oh the shrimp app with bacon was good but not worth the price...pitcher of margaritas gone no water still...server amazingly shows up the second we start clearing our plates...want another pitcher??? No just that water. Think about that customer service and that tip next time. Won't be back.
(2)
Maryann B.
Looks nice inside and out but food sucks, waitstaff bad and when I asked to speak to manger he could care less.
(1)
Jan H.
Had lunch here today, steak fajitas, and the steak was impossible to chew. Remodeled interior was very nice, but what good is it if you can not eat the food.
(1)
Ashley L.
Terrible. Queso is liquid nacho cheese from a baseball stadium, gaucamole has no flavor and when has a Mexican place not served black beans??! Will not return. What a shame.
(1)
Londynn M.
I am originally from San Diego, CA. I have been to Mexico and I have had authentic Mexican food. I went here for dinner, craving some authentic Mexican food. When I saw the menu the prices were very high, and I was expecting a big plate with a lot of food. I ordered the Carne Asada, which should have been a nice size portion. When I got it, the steak was about 6 oz. or less, which was not very impressive for a $15 meal. On the third bite my mouth was one fire, I guess there was chunks of raw jalepeno peppers in the pico de gallo. When I told the waitress that I could no longer eat any of my meal because of how spicy the pepper was, and that my mouth was on fire, she told the manager. I was expecting him to come over and apologize for the HUGE pepper pieces in the pico, but he never did. When the check came I was charged for the meal I DID NOT eat. When I confronted the manager about it myself, I told him I would not pay for a meal that I did not eat because of his chefs carelessness. I was not charged after I confronted him, but I was given attitude. I would not recommend this restaurant to any person. The manager does not even have the decency to come a apologize and has no manners. Crappy service, crappy food, crappy managerial skills, if you want americanized Mexican food, go to Iguana Mia's, at least they don't charge an arm and leg for a tiny steak with rice and beans.
(1)
Adam C.
Someone else told me that this was her favorite upscale Mexican place in the Cape but my own opinion was not that great. It's sometimes the little things that bug me. I walked in at lunch time and was quickly seated. The service thoughout my stay was attentive and prompt. It's a pet peeve of mine that the spanish language does not differentiate between a lemon and a lime and as it relates here, that a server in an American restaurant also does not know the difference. Fortunately I know verde and amarillo so I got the lime I wanted in my diet cola. Next: It was lunch. I wish there was a lunch special that was under $10. As there wasn't one (or if there was I missed it) I ordered the fish tacos. My plate arrived and I felt like what I saw there should have been under $10. I got 3 tacos with 4 hunks of fish and some rice. The rice was tasty, the fish was acceptable. As it turned out, the tortilla chips they gave me filled me up so I ended up only eating 2 of the tacos, leaving me one taco and two hunks to take home. Alas, in the next day or so I could not sufficiently enthuse myself to eat it because it really wasn't that good the first time and it went out monday with the trash. I suspect that If I had gone during happy hour and consumed a few margeritas that my experience would have improved the star rating. Therefore: for food- meh. for drinks- yay!
(3)
John S.
My wife and I had a very enjoyable dinner last night. We were seated immediately upon arrival and the staff were very attentive and friendly. Our server, Stephanie made our visit even better. I ordered a pitcher of their Margarita Supreme and was surprised at the large size. It easily serves 6 regular size drinks and tasted superb. Recommend have a designated driver, which I did - my wife. Stephanie made from scratch the guacamole table side while explaining the ingredients - yummy. Their chips are fresh made and very tasty. Portions are large and plenty of side dishes such as rice and beans with fresh salsa. My wife had beef enchiladas and loved them. I had their Mocaljete - a house special. Excellent and loaded with shrimp, beef & chicken plus grilled onions and peppers including a whole jalapeño pepper grilled to perfection. Complete with tortilla and rice & beans, guacamole and sour cream. Very delicious, but come hungry as it is large dish served in a hot stone bowl. We finished with a fried ice cream desert that even though we were full from our dinner, we managed to finish. Delicious. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting a great Mexican dining experience. The entire furniture chairs tables booths were are made with hand carved designs. This is my favorite restaurant and will make many dining experiences in the near future.
(5)
Richard H.
Well here is my 2 cents on food first. I was so surprise as to how good this food is. The chips and salsa was chilled and fresh. They have 2 types. one for all you wimpy folks, a modified catsup flavor. The 2nd for real Men. This salsas was smokey flavor with a slow burn, that kicks in at the end. It would be nice if they had a 3rd option middle of the road. I tried the crush ice Margarita. It was perfectly balance. At least for me. The main entree beef enchilada. Being from California for 30 years I have had my fill of mexican cuisine. Most of time they all taste the same. They did not not offer shredded beef but I got the ground beef. It was actually very flavorable and tasty. It was very unique in what I was use to. It was good.... They did not I offer and I forgot to ask for the traditional hot flour tortilla. It like bread. Always served with a meal. Over all one of the best traditional meal since coming to Florida. Chit Chat... The appearance was like you are in Mexico. Seating is inside or outside. Lots of TV. I was here at 11 AM. My server was Stephanie. She did a great job. Music in the background. I did think prices were high but its Florida. Not a lot of competition with other Mexican eatery. Over all very good I will be back.
(4)
Crysy G.
I'm from New York! This is my first time eating here and I loved it! The service was quick, the waiters were super friendly which is always a plus! The scenery was beautiful right next to the water if you choose to sit outside. But if you choose to sit inside, don't worry, the restaurant is beautifully decorated . The food was delicious and was fairly proportioned. I would certainly recommend this restaurant to a friend !
(4)
Julie P.
Had an amazing time. Drinks were awesome. Macho margarita highly recommended. Staff is enthusiastic and friendly. Food is delicious specially the guacamole.
(5)
Julie B.
Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Atmosphere is great & food was excellent! The server took fabulous care of us. Will go back soon!
(5)
Rachele S.
Three things: 1) Watery tacos 2) Undercooked chicken (salmonella anyone?) 3) Watered down sangria What a waste of time and money. The service was great and too quick; how ironic since our food was undercooked and soggy. The restaurant is beautiful and located on the water. But please please please do not eat here. Management needs to step it up on the food quality.
(1)
Nicole M.
I should have read the reviews of this place before I spent my money and spared my taste buds of low quality Mexican food. I ordered the burrito. Meat was flavorless and the quaso cheese that was poured on top looked and tasted brunt. Our server was very nice but blindly up charged me on my margarita. She failed to tell me there is a $2 up-charge on flavored margaritas. Had I know that, I would have never purchased the peach margarita she pushed on me. I hate when servers do that! On a positive note, the restaurant is in a great location. On the water and easily accessible from the main road. Will I return? Probably not. There are other gems in Cape Coral I want to try before I give this place a second chance.
(2)
Billy H.
We stopped here one afternoon because we were out on the boat in the canal and saw we could dock & eat there. We decided to dine on the patio that overlooks the canal. It was a Sunday afternoon & the restaurant wasn't busy at all. Our server was very prompt on bringing over menus & chips/salsa. I was a little taken aback at the menu because the prices were so high. I know we are on a canal but so is all of Cape Coral. Also you're right next to Del Prado so that's about all you hear on the patio. The chips were hot & the salsa had a sweet & hot flavor. I loved them. I could've sat there & just ate those all night. Back to the menu. I looked through & saw that most items were over ten bucks. An example would be a chicken quesadilla for 13 dollars. That's a lot for a quesadilla with basic chicken. If you want the quesadilla with shrimp, chicken & steak it'll set you back 16 dollars. Damn. That's what I decided to get & split with someone because I wasn't very hungry at the time, it being about 3:30pm. It took a while to get the food. We were there at the restaurant longer than we wanted to & boated back home in the dark. The quesadilla finally came & it was large, not huge. I personally don't think it merited the 16 dollar price tag. It was mostly chicken & some peppers. A couple shrimp & some steak. It tasted fresh but I found a small, hard piece of something burnt, almost like plastic. Maybe it was burnt cheese but gross nonetheless. Overall this place has some great chips & salsa, but they need to reevaluate their menu, lower prices or at least have a section with a la carte so someone who isn't that hungry can order a taco or something.
(2)
Karen D.
Mexican at it's best. Chips and salsa and guacamole were great. I had a quesadilla with shrimp, chicken, beef, mushrooms and cheese. Delicious! We shared a pitcher of sangra and left stuffed.
(4)
Serial Diner D.
Docked here after an afternoon on the water and what a great choice it was! It was a beautiful day so we ate on the patio. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful wood-carved furniture - everything from the chairs to the tables to the doors were very impressive and added nicely to the atmosphere. The food was wonderful. The chips and salsa were a great start to the meal. The guac was made fresh right at the table - which was a nice touch. and and the fish ceviche was seriously amazeballs! So fresh! For my entree, I ordered the pork carnitas and was not disappointed. It was just so much food though, so I brought the second half home and had it for breakfast the next day (Hey, I was on vacation!) Oh and how could I forget the Margarita?! Deeelicious!
(4)
John F.
The lunch stop took one hour and ten min. Seated quickly them 10 min. Wait to take drink order another 15 min. To place food order. When we finally received our food presentation was good I had the skirt steak burrito. It turned out to be a 12 in. Flour tortilla shell filled with beans and rice. It was very dry and when I asked for salsa it was a fifty cent charge. The service and foo are both bad. They have seen the last of me $14 for meatless burrito AUDIOS.
(1)
Cameron C.
The place looks fantastic as other reviewers have mentioned. You walk into the place and it looks like it is going to be a great dining experience. That is pretty much where it ends unfortunately. Our service was OK but glasses were frequently empty and we had to ask for everything. The place wasn't particularly busy either. The food... very hit and miss. Our chips were OK but a bit stale. The salsa was basically water with some tomato and seasoning but mostly water. It also came out in a tiny plastic cup. It did taste fresh so it could have just been a weak batch. They should up the quantity and work on a better consistency. The cheese dip... ughh. It is yellow cheese with a smokey flavor. It tasted very processed and not particularly smooth. The guacamole was plentiful and very good so it seems they have ironed that out. Tacos were OK as the chicken and beef was seasoned well but they were sparse and the shell was chewy. The chimichangas were good. Pricing was reasonable for the decor but WAY over the mark for the quality of the food. They may have priced themselves out of much of the Cape Coral market as well.
(2)
A P.
Best margaritas we've had for s long time they used a very good tequila I had the mango - loved it Awesome food we had chicken fajitas and a burrito The salsa should of been been served in a glass or with a spoon Love the decor. Nice people Eduardo was our server - we couldn't have asked for better Definately will be back
(5)
Sherry B.
I seriously don't know why all the negative comments. Being from California I know good Mexican food. I have been searching for it since I left the state. Granted it's not California Mexican but it is by far the best I have had in a long time. Decor is beautiful ..service was great..it's as good as it gets here in swfl. We will return it enjoy again.
(4)
Chris E.
We made reservations and the restaurant was very prompt in seating us even though the restaurant was busy and we had a party of 10. Our waitress was very pleasant and accommodating to all our needs. She was very efficient and concerned regarding our dining experience even though, due to the size of our party, our tips were included as part of the bill. The food was excellent for each and everyone in our group. This was my second visit to this restaurant and I've been equally pleased on both occasions. The prices were very reasonable and the portions were huge. Two Thumbs up on this Mexican Restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Dessert Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Sheila S.
My mind is boggled why this Restaurant only has 2.5 stars unless it's pulling from The Geo Code of the previous restaurant that used to be in this location. This is my 3rd visit and I have to say the service is always On It. Thee food is excellent and now proves to be consistent. The decor is hand tooled and very authentic such a better choice Than out downtown option keep up the great service Thank you for becoming my favorite MX food in Cape Coral
(4)Craig T.
If your goal is to wait 1-1/2 hours for Mexican food, this is the place for you. The wait staff kept pushing chips and salsa on us. We ordered chicken fajitas, which should be a quick meal. The chicken was way over done, the veggies were barely even cooked. Not to mention that the AC must be broken bc there was ZERO air movement. I made several trips outside to chill off during our 90 minute wait for our food. My family and I won't be back. Zero andele here.
(1)Roberta D.
I'm not sure why this place has such low reviews. I headed to Monarca's last month while visiting family in the area. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. I got the steak fajitas and mango margarita. You're given chips and salsa when arriving and I couldn't stop myself from eating them, they were so tasty. The service was quick, our group of 6 were in and out within an hour.
(3)Jamie R.
Stopped in here, mid/afternoon to celebrate sale of a little house nearby (i'm a real estate broker, ta-da.) Monarca's setting is very welcoming, especially with its deck that overlooks a canal that runs from the River and passes under Del Prado Blvd. I had a Patron margarita. It was alarmingly small, but I realized soon that it was in no way watered down. Salted correctly without lumps around the rim, it was delicious. The decor is very "Michoacan" with carved wooden chairs, enameled and hammered iron work, and heavy, molded bubble glass stemware. I chose from the luncheon menu. My selection was two enchiladas, plus black beans and rice. The rice was made with tomato and was appropriately not spiced and a nice coral color. The black beans were in a separate small bowl because of their thin, watery covering. Not so nice. The enchiladas for lunch were what I would call soft tacos: rolled from small flour tortillas, not baked, and garnished with a bit of shredded lettuce and a few pieces of diced tomato. They rested on a smear of cream sauce with a hint of guacamole green. I asked for one chicken and one beef enchilada. Though technically to order, the beef would not be my first preference for either enchilada or taco : unseasoned ground beef It was a forgettable luncheon plate, sold for $10. Service was prompt and courteous. I would return for the bar offerings, but would probably search out another Mexican restaurant for notable food.
(3)Dino D.
Good food, great drinks and happy hour is the absolute best. The decor is great and even the chairs are very unique. The restrooms were clean and the service was fast and friendly.
(4)Larry B.
Ok we are in Cape Coral for 3 months in the winter and my wife just loves eating at waterfront places therefore Monarca's. Sure I read the reviews but she loves the water . Ok the highlights were the chips and salsa and house margaritas. That was it! Downhill from there. COLD beans , rice enchiladas and chimichanga. Absolutely no flavor period. Steak chimi was so tough you couldn't chew it! Not a good wait staff and they were not busy. VERY disappointed and will not go back. Such a shame good location good drink good chips but Nothing else. We eat a lot of Mexican and this was awful! Certainly not authentic !
(1)Kathy F.
Not sure about all the bad reviews. My husband and I went for lunch mid-week. Everyone was very friendly. Service was great. Food was very good. My husband had a chimichanga and I had the carnitas. The decor was beautiful. Our drinks were "on the house" which was really nice. The only complaints I can make are that the music was a little too loud and the side dishes needed a bit more heat. We will definitely be going back.
(4)Ed B.
Had dinner here. Second worse margarita I've ever had. The mix had a chemical taste, no fresh squeezed anything . The worse was downtown Fort Myers at a Mex place there. Had enchiladas, the beef was good, cheese tasted like cheapest cheese off the Sysco truck. Rice was unseasoned and beans straight out of the can. I cannot recommend this place and it's sad, very nice on the inside and good location. Wait staff was friendly and service was good, reason for the 2 stars. Will not be back.
(2)Dwayne A.
The most authentic part of this Mexican restaurant is the fact that it is 90 degrees indoors! Food is mediocre. Service below average. Air conditioning is horrible. I was literally sweating into my food! Stay away.
(1)Andrea S.
We were visiting family and they suggested this place. The food was okay. The Margarita was good. It wasn't anything great or bad. It's just average. The service was a little slow. We sat outside which was nice. I probably won't come back next time we're I town.
(2)Maribel M.
Nice place for family, friends, and colleagues. Food was good and filling.
(3)Dave J.
Wait until they work the kinks out. The decor is nice. The staff is friendly. But the food needs some tweaking. The rice is bland. The steak is tough. The burrito was unflavorful. The menu is limited. I think this place will be great, once management improves the quality in the kitchen.
(3)Fran D.
Decor delightful . Service attentive. Portions generous. House margarita tasty and sangria delicious. Fish tacos flavorful and done well. Chimichanga super!
(4)Noreen S.
A DISGRACE!!! We were seated and got a beautifully carved table which was sticky and dirty. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which had little flavor and No fruit! It tasted like boxed. The staff should have realized when we ordered 2 mojitos while we still had the awful sangria. The mojitos cost $12, were huge portions and were tasteless. As for the food, basic fair. Nothing to speak of. DO NOT TRY THIS PLACE.
(1)CoachDebra D.
The best quacamole in the area, made fresh at your table.... We split an entree and still had left overs. Large portions, great flavors.
(5)Shannon N.
I really liked this place our first visit. Our server, Joao, was very attentive. He checked on us several times to make sure we had everything we needed. He gave suggestions for dishes and drinks. I was very pleased. Our second visit we had another server. I had to find the server on 2 separate occasions because they never checked on us. At the end of our visit they gave us 20% off of our bill. They said they were understaffed that day. I appreciated the nice gesture. Will definitely return.
(4)Christopher G.
I wish I could give this restaurant "zero" stars. It was incredibly hot, smokey, slow service and the management is horrible. I am glad that iguana mias is down the street. Do yourself a favor and save your money!
(1)Beachy V.
We were in michoachan last year and I give this good marks given it's location in an area not known to offer much of the rich culinary diversity of mexico. We had a couple of dishes that they listed as special and they were good, Morelia good, but good. Service was good, frozen margaritas were way sweet, but if you ask for fresh they are much better.
(4)Lacee M.
My review isn't much different than the others. Decor and atmosphere are nice. Staff was bland and clueless and our order came back wrong. Margarita was pretty bad too. The food is promising and so is the restaurant if they get some new employees that actually know what's going on. Hopefully they'll work out there tweaks with the food and running a restaurant because it would be nice to have a really good Mexican restaurant around here. ***on the plus side the chips and salsa were outstanding!...they only gave us a tiny little cup of salsa which was gone after 5 chips and we had to ask twice for more which took like 15 minutes and a charge of $1.50 but was good nonetheless
(3)Marcia F.
Love the decor of the restaurant. You feel transported to Mexico. The food is delicious and reasonable. This was our second time there and we took family with us. They loved it, too.
(4)Joan W.
Upon our arrival the restaurant looked very welcoming from the outside, it sits right on a canal and had a quaint view. But once inside the experience went downhill. First, they tried to sit my family right next to the window where all the servers gather to grab the food from the kitchen. I asked to be moved but that turned out to be a bad idea. The hostess moved us to a large round table where there was an a/c vent right above one of the chairs so water kept dripping on the seat and floor. We kept letting other patrons know to be careful because the floor was wet. The next distraction we immediately noticed was the LOUD mariachi group that was going around from table to table playing music. At first it was nice but after being there for over 30 minutes the music was beyond frustrating and annoying. My family could not talk throughout the meal because the damn band was OBNOXIOUS! It's one thing to have some light music but a damn 8 piece group going around and around is beyond obnoxious. My father sent an email to the owner the next day letting him know that we are also own a local restaurant and we enjoy supporting local businesses but that the 8 piece group was too much. Well it's been over 3 weeks and he still has not acknowledged my fathers email. We finally left dinner with half our meals in to-go boxes because we could not enjoy ourselves. Once outside we saw a group of 4 who had left before us and they were in the parking lot talking because they could not converse in the restaurant because was too loud. My steak fajitas were very good and I would definitely order them again but unless the band is gone or the number of members is drastically reduced then we won't be visiting this place again.
(2)Jeff M.
Best Mexican restaurant in town. Great food. Great service. The atmosphere is fantastic, you will enjoy the attention to detail. Just don't take my word for it, try it. Wow!
(5)Colin C.
Extra Large Burrito (Lunch) was lots of Rice and Beans and that is it.for $13.00 ! WHERE'S THE MEAT ! ALSO WHERE"S THE SPICES ! The flavor was pretty blaaah for "authentic mexican cuisine" This place has BIG Margaritas, decent ( but watery) salsa , and large prices for Mexican cuisine but the flavor is just not there if you are craving real Mexican.
(1)Craig D.
The two times I've eaten here the service was slow. The food was good but lacked in variety. They also don't have a selection of hot sauces. One thing I ordered they were out of so I had to make another choice. Service also was not that great. I waited among time to pay my bill.
(3)C A.
Well... Read the reviews and were intrigued by the table side guacamole so, we gave it a shot. In brief the chips were good, salsa good, guacamole made at our table side was good and the margaritas were right. The service was prompt and courteous as well. With that said the steak fajitas and carne asada were mediocre, bland at best. Agree with the other posts, food just ok.
(3)Renee M.
Food was amazing, service was great!! Totally recommend this to EVERYONE that likes Mexican! Soooo yummy!! Just no tamales.
(4)Ryan N.
Not too sure what all the negative feedback is due to, I just assume this place has worked through its new restaurant hiccup issues. My wife and I really enjoyed the food and the service was well above average and very attentive. Glad to have found this place, we will be back!
(4)Elizabeth B.
Have tried in the past to come in to eat biut the parking never worked out. Sunday at 12:30 is an ideal time to come apparently! Drinks are strong, service is quick and the food is tasty! The salsa and chips were great! Sangria is NOT watered down. The chimichanga was well prepared and rice and beans were great! The staff was nice to my children (always important!!) who are 3/5. Fish tacos are tasty and made well!
(4)Ratalie N.
What an outrageously horrible experience. The waiter put in the wrong order for my meal and I was left sitting while my companions finished their meals. They were done and I hadn't even received my order (which was take-out at this point). My companions said their meals were cold with canned beans and soggy tortilla. They were missing items listed from the menu. Salsa tasted like it was poured straight from a jar and the chips from a bag. If not for the exceptionally gracious apology from the owner, I would've given the place 1 star (with the hope of being able to give 0 stars). The owner made me a table side, 'flaming coffee' which was phenomenal. I would probably give the place 1 more try once the new menu is out just because the owner was great (nice save, man!).
(2)Cody W.
This building previously housed a burger place with a non-exciting atmosphere but with decent burgers. Now you would hardly believe this is the same building! The renovation performed on this place blows my mind. We ate here on the third evening it was open and they were serving an abbreviated menu. I feel this will be a great place once the full menu is available. They have a few kinks to work out, but seem to be heading in the right direction. This part of Cape Coral needed another quality restaurant and this may fit the bill. I can't wait to come back when the full menu is available and report with a new review.
(3)K N.
Service was excellent. Food was good, but over priced. $10 for tableside guacamole that has only 1 avocado seemed really steep. But will go back.
(4)Dawn R.
This was a tasty stop! Great salsa, delicious burrito and everyone with me had a wonderful lunch. Not sure why the reviews were poor. I would suggest give it a try!!
(4)D. L. G.
Second visit and still disappointed. I am writing this whilst seated at Monarchs on Cinco de Mayo. I visited Monarca's soon after they opened. 5+ month's later I visited for lunch on Cinco de Mayo, a day one would expect a Mexican restaurant to be at the top of their game. No Cinco de Mayo lunch specials but "compliments of Monarca's" I was given a cheap cloth bag that was provided by Patron advertising there XO Cafe tequila liquor. As for the food, I was hoping for improvement. Alas, it has deteriorated further. The fish tacos have gone from fresh, grilled fish to frozen, pre-breaded, as supplied by typical major food vendor, deep fried. I must drive past Monarca's on my daily commute and have noticed that the food supply truck is a different vendor. The beans tasted as though they came straight out of the can. The server was great and honest, telling me that they have changed managers 3 times in a few months along with many of the other staff. DON'T BOTHER they are neither authentic Mexican nor worth your hard earned money. Save your Palate as well. Two stars for the server an decor.
(2)Thomas T.
If there were a way to add a half star it would be 2.5. With that said this place is the kinda place where dan the accountant from hoboken can go while on vacation because he wants "authentic mexican food." Order the most mexican thing on the menu and still not have eaten authentic mexican food. Touristy to say the least.. A bit overpriced and we already have an Iguana Mias... Basically the same Americanized southwest "mexican" food. My wife, who is actually from Mexico, and I had nachos (not real mexican food) because the appetizers were few to choose from. The ground beef a tad over spiced but not spicey hot, just over use of the spices. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, tasted more like kool aide not sure there was any alcohol involved. I won't be going back. I'll leave the place to the out of towners from Hoboken!
(2)Lunda B.
Went for lunch. Devore is awesome. Had fahita salad was good. And servo pec was great. They are doing much better.
(4)Laura R.
Had been wanting to try this restaurant since it opened. We liked it just from walking in and seeing the fantastic decor - carved tables, chairs, etc.... plus loved that you can boat up to the restaurant as well. The staff was attentive and really seemed on top of things. The food was great, fantastic Mexican food, plus they had some other items on the menu for those that might not feel like Mexican. They have some tables outside on the water, which is a very nice view. Pretty large portions, especially the burrito - it was the size of a large dinner plate - you'll need a box. We'll definitely be back and it's our new go-to Mexican restaurant in Cape Coral/Fort Myers!
(5)rick c.
First time here. I was a fan of Jimbos, mostly because of the stellar service. The new renovation of this restaurant is beautiful! First, we did not order cocktails because we are dieting but our water did not have the limes we requested. We ordered the chorizos and they came out on time.a large portion and delicious! We did not get two small plates to share the appetizer though. The entrees, (fajitas), came out 20 seconds after the appetizer. They were very tasty. We ordered the $8.00 "instantly made Guacamole (Table side). First we got a little plastic container of guacamole that you would get as a side in a fast food restaurant. I told the waiter this can't be correct. He agreed and said he would get the right one. I said I'll keep this small one while we are waiting. He would not let me keep it! Ten minutes later he comes back with their guacamole salad in a tortilla bowl. It is a good salad and has a small scoop of guacamole. It certainly was not what we ordered and a far stretch from table side made guacamole. We had told the waiter we were on a diet and did not want chips or the soft totillas for the fajitas, so how could he bring us the tortilla bowl? We did not have a spoon to split the salad. BTW he charged us $10 for it to add insult to injury. There was an abundance of staff walking around but they didn't seem to know what to do. We ran out of water and the waiter took our glasses away to refill them. Ten minutes later we got our water back. Why don't they have one of the many helpers refilling water glasses. They need training for the staff. Restaurant Stakeout where are you? The website reservation system seemed great. I got an email confirming but when I got to the restaurant they didn't have my name. The told me it wasn't working. Remove it then! Funny too, I clicked on the guacamole salad and the same picture as the Table side guacamole came up. No wonder the staff does not know the difference. Bottom line: great decor, very good food. plenty of staff but poor service. I will return in a couple of months hopeful that the owners will make the changes needed. This place has great potential and I am rooting for success.
(3)Marc S.
It's sad to say but Monarca's has progressively become worse and worse over time. When they first opened, they had a few issues but we're not enough to keep us from going back because the food was good, the portions were generous and the wait staff was good. They used quality ingredients and the food tasted fresh. Fast forward to tonight, we called in an order for take out and sat on hold for 15 minutes before someone took our order. The person who answered the phone forgot to put us on hold for the first 5 minutes as we could hear her conversation with the guy she was speaking with. The food was ready when promised by the person taking the order. I ordered the burrito panzon with grilled beef (as the online menu stated it came with), asked for no onions or peppers in the beef with shredded cheese on the top of it. When opened the box, the burrito had cheese sauce (like you get at the ballpark with nachos) and the beef was not grilled beef, but was ground beef loaded with peppers and onions. Not what was on the menu. If you are going to create a menu and provide options, stick to it, but if you make changes to the way the food is prepared, change the menu! All in all, the quality of the food is now awful. They use cheap ingredients like ones they would get from the low end offerings from Sysco. If you want good Mexican food, go to Iguana Mia's. That's where I'll be going from now on. P.S. If you look at other companies that have negative reviews, at least a manager has usually responded to the concerns. I didn't see any manager responses from any of the negative reviews here. Just a thought.
(1)Stephanie W.
Wow ! What a disappointment. I was soo in the mood for a margarita on a canal on a hot day..what I got was a dispenser lemonade with no tequila..and she even forgot the limes,and she obviously has been in this biz a while. No chips and salsa offered to bar patrons either..c'mon..that is what real Mexican restaurants do.I saw my favorite dish in the world on their Facebook page the Mexican shrimp cocktail,with avocado,salsa,lime,cilantro..you get my drift..I tried to order one..'We don't make them' was the response..WHAAAT ? There is a picture..I saw it...what else can go wrong here..how about $4.50 for a Corona Light ? That's wrong. I ordered a Chile Relleno .with beef filling..YIKES..why was it not a roasted poblano filled with spicy meat or cheese..WHY was it battered and fried with the consistency of a kitchen sponge smothered in canned cheese sauce [yellow/orange cheez whiz]..WHERE oh Where was the authentic relleno 'gravy'..that nice kind of mole/red sauce..simmered for hours,you know,the stuff ,and I haven't even told you about the bland black beans and rice and shredded lettuce on the old diner plates. I was there 45 minutes,spent $45.00 dollars on junk..will never be hungry enough to repeat that performance. I honestly do not think they will be able to fix it unless they bring in real cooks,good bar tenders and competent staff because the location and the decor are good..it's just the rest that is bad.
(1)Russ S.
Please folks, do your self a big favor and and don't spend all all your money on hand carved wood decor and expect that to make up your lack of execution. Like other reviews, I had really hoped for a new option for Mexican food in Cape Coral but was disappointed in almost every way. Our waitress was not well trained and did not know the limited menu they offered (the menu was 3 well used stapled copied pages, really?) We started with drinks that took way to long to get and unless you order basic drinks you could be in for a surprise.( don't order a Cosmo) Plate presentation was lack luster and was typical with no imagination. Why serve yours salsa and sides in plastic soufflé cups , you don't have a dishwasher or don't want to spend a few extra bucks for some monkey dishes? The food was not a value what so ever. This was pre packaged, pre-marinaided product that might work in some situations but they seem to be trying to be more than that and should have better skills. I could go on but it's New Year's Eve and I don't want to get on with my night but please think about what you're doing and if you have the skills it's time to use them.
(2)D M.
Meh is right. 2 stars for decor n canal front. Decor is really detailed. Comfortable restaurant. Minus 3 stars for service, food, and drinks. Server asks...want more salsa..well it is empty. Want more chips...well we have more salsa so yes. Did u want the crunchy tacos with lettuce tomato and cheese or the tacos with onions and cilantro...onion and cilantro please...got the lettuce tomato and cheese...pitcher of (weak) margaritas with so much ice you can't pour it almost gone...want another pitcher...no just that water...well food was mediocre at best...seriously the cheese enchilada was rough...we just needed water...finally done eating...oh the shrimp app with bacon was good but not worth the price...pitcher of margaritas gone no water still...server amazingly shows up the second we start clearing our plates...want another pitcher??? No just that water. Think about that customer service and that tip next time. Won't be back.
(2)Maryann B.
Looks nice inside and out but food sucks, waitstaff bad and when I asked to speak to manger he could care less.
(1)Jan H.
Had lunch here today, steak fajitas, and the steak was impossible to chew. Remodeled interior was very nice, but what good is it if you can not eat the food.
(1)Ashley L.
Terrible. Queso is liquid nacho cheese from a baseball stadium, gaucamole has no flavor and when has a Mexican place not served black beans??! Will not return. What a shame.
(1)Londynn M.
I am originally from San Diego, CA. I have been to Mexico and I have had authentic Mexican food. I went here for dinner, craving some authentic Mexican food. When I saw the menu the prices were very high, and I was expecting a big plate with a lot of food. I ordered the Carne Asada, which should have been a nice size portion. When I got it, the steak was about 6 oz. or less, which was not very impressive for a $15 meal. On the third bite my mouth was one fire, I guess there was chunks of raw jalepeno peppers in the pico de gallo. When I told the waitress that I could no longer eat any of my meal because of how spicy the pepper was, and that my mouth was on fire, she told the manager. I was expecting him to come over and apologize for the HUGE pepper pieces in the pico, but he never did. When the check came I was charged for the meal I DID NOT eat. When I confronted the manager about it myself, I told him I would not pay for a meal that I did not eat because of his chefs carelessness. I was not charged after I confronted him, but I was given attitude. I would not recommend this restaurant to any person. The manager does not even have the decency to come a apologize and has no manners. Crappy service, crappy food, crappy managerial skills, if you want americanized Mexican food, go to Iguana Mia's, at least they don't charge an arm and leg for a tiny steak with rice and beans.
(1)Adam C.
Someone else told me that this was her favorite upscale Mexican place in the Cape but my own opinion was not that great. It's sometimes the little things that bug me. I walked in at lunch time and was quickly seated. The service thoughout my stay was attentive and prompt. It's a pet peeve of mine that the spanish language does not differentiate between a lemon and a lime and as it relates here, that a server in an American restaurant also does not know the difference. Fortunately I know verde and amarillo so I got the lime I wanted in my diet cola. Next: It was lunch. I wish there was a lunch special that was under $10. As there wasn't one (or if there was I missed it) I ordered the fish tacos. My plate arrived and I felt like what I saw there should have been under $10. I got 3 tacos with 4 hunks of fish and some rice. The rice was tasty, the fish was acceptable. As it turned out, the tortilla chips they gave me filled me up so I ended up only eating 2 of the tacos, leaving me one taco and two hunks to take home. Alas, in the next day or so I could not sufficiently enthuse myself to eat it because it really wasn't that good the first time and it went out monday with the trash. I suspect that If I had gone during happy hour and consumed a few margeritas that my experience would have improved the star rating. Therefore: for food- meh. for drinks- yay!
(3)John S.
My wife and I had a very enjoyable dinner last night. We were seated immediately upon arrival and the staff were very attentive and friendly. Our server, Stephanie made our visit even better. I ordered a pitcher of their Margarita Supreme and was surprised at the large size. It easily serves 6 regular size drinks and tasted superb. Recommend have a designated driver, which I did - my wife. Stephanie made from scratch the guacamole table side while explaining the ingredients - yummy. Their chips are fresh made and very tasty. Portions are large and plenty of side dishes such as rice and beans with fresh salsa. My wife had beef enchiladas and loved them. I had their Mocaljete - a house special. Excellent and loaded with shrimp, beef & chicken plus grilled onions and peppers including a whole jalapeño pepper grilled to perfection. Complete with tortilla and rice & beans, guacamole and sour cream. Very delicious, but come hungry as it is large dish served in a hot stone bowl. We finished with a fried ice cream desert that even though we were full from our dinner, we managed to finish. Delicious. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting a great Mexican dining experience. The entire furniture chairs tables booths were are made with hand carved designs. This is my favorite restaurant and will make many dining experiences in the near future.
(5)Richard H.
Well here is my 2 cents on food first. I was so surprise as to how good this food is. The chips and salsa was chilled and fresh. They have 2 types. one for all you wimpy folks, a modified catsup flavor. The 2nd for real Men. This salsas was smokey flavor with a slow burn, that kicks in at the end. It would be nice if they had a 3rd option middle of the road. I tried the crush ice Margarita. It was perfectly balance. At least for me. The main entree beef enchilada. Being from California for 30 years I have had my fill of mexican cuisine. Most of time they all taste the same. They did not not offer shredded beef but I got the ground beef. It was actually very flavorable and tasty. It was very unique in what I was use to. It was good.... They did not I offer and I forgot to ask for the traditional hot flour tortilla. It like bread. Always served with a meal. Over all one of the best traditional meal since coming to Florida. Chit Chat... The appearance was like you are in Mexico. Seating is inside or outside. Lots of TV. I was here at 11 AM. My server was Stephanie. She did a great job. Music in the background. I did think prices were high but its Florida. Not a lot of competition with other Mexican eatery. Over all very good I will be back.
(4)Crysy G.
I'm from New York! This is my first time eating here and I loved it! The service was quick, the waiters were super friendly which is always a plus! The scenery was beautiful right next to the water if you choose to sit outside. But if you choose to sit inside, don't worry, the restaurant is beautifully decorated . The food was delicious and was fairly proportioned. I would certainly recommend this restaurant to a friend !
(4)Julie P.
Had an amazing time. Drinks were awesome. Macho margarita highly recommended. Staff is enthusiastic and friendly. Food is delicious specially the guacamole.
(5)Julie B.
Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Atmosphere is great & food was excellent! The server took fabulous care of us. Will go back soon!
(5)Rachele S.
Three things: 1) Watery tacos 2) Undercooked chicken (salmonella anyone?) 3) Watered down sangria What a waste of time and money. The service was great and too quick; how ironic since our food was undercooked and soggy. The restaurant is beautiful and located on the water. But please please please do not eat here. Management needs to step it up on the food quality.
(1)Nicole M.
I should have read the reviews of this place before I spent my money and spared my taste buds of low quality Mexican food. I ordered the burrito. Meat was flavorless and the quaso cheese that was poured on top looked and tasted brunt. Our server was very nice but blindly up charged me on my margarita. She failed to tell me there is a $2 up-charge on flavored margaritas. Had I know that, I would have never purchased the peach margarita she pushed on me. I hate when servers do that! On a positive note, the restaurant is in a great location. On the water and easily accessible from the main road. Will I return? Probably not. There are other gems in Cape Coral I want to try before I give this place a second chance.
(2)Billy H.
We stopped here one afternoon because we were out on the boat in the canal and saw we could dock & eat there. We decided to dine on the patio that overlooks the canal. It was a Sunday afternoon & the restaurant wasn't busy at all. Our server was very prompt on bringing over menus & chips/salsa. I was a little taken aback at the menu because the prices were so high. I know we are on a canal but so is all of Cape Coral. Also you're right next to Del Prado so that's about all you hear on the patio. The chips were hot & the salsa had a sweet & hot flavor. I loved them. I could've sat there & just ate those all night. Back to the menu. I looked through & saw that most items were over ten bucks. An example would be a chicken quesadilla for 13 dollars. That's a lot for a quesadilla with basic chicken. If you want the quesadilla with shrimp, chicken & steak it'll set you back 16 dollars. Damn. That's what I decided to get & split with someone because I wasn't very hungry at the time, it being about 3:30pm. It took a while to get the food. We were there at the restaurant longer than we wanted to & boated back home in the dark. The quesadilla finally came & it was large, not huge. I personally don't think it merited the 16 dollar price tag. It was mostly chicken & some peppers. A couple shrimp & some steak. It tasted fresh but I found a small, hard piece of something burnt, almost like plastic. Maybe it was burnt cheese but gross nonetheless. Overall this place has some great chips & salsa, but they need to reevaluate their menu, lower prices or at least have a section with a la carte so someone who isn't that hungry can order a taco or something.
(2)Karen D.
Mexican at it's best. Chips and salsa and guacamole were great. I had a quesadilla with shrimp, chicken, beef, mushrooms and cheese. Delicious! We shared a pitcher of sangra and left stuffed.
(4)Serial Diner D.
Docked here after an afternoon on the water and what a great choice it was! It was a beautiful day so we ate on the patio. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful wood-carved furniture - everything from the chairs to the tables to the doors were very impressive and added nicely to the atmosphere. The food was wonderful. The chips and salsa were a great start to the meal. The guac was made fresh right at the table - which was a nice touch. and and the fish ceviche was seriously amazeballs! So fresh! For my entree, I ordered the pork carnitas and was not disappointed. It was just so much food though, so I brought the second half home and had it for breakfast the next day (Hey, I was on vacation!) Oh and how could I forget the Margarita?! Deeelicious!
(4)John F.
The lunch stop took one hour and ten min. Seated quickly them 10 min. Wait to take drink order another 15 min. To place food order. When we finally received our food presentation was good I had the skirt steak burrito. It turned out to be a 12 in. Flour tortilla shell filled with beans and rice. It was very dry and when I asked for salsa it was a fifty cent charge. The service and foo are both bad. They have seen the last of me $14 for meatless burrito AUDIOS.
(1)Cameron C.
The place looks fantastic as other reviewers have mentioned. You walk into the place and it looks like it is going to be a great dining experience. That is pretty much where it ends unfortunately. Our service was OK but glasses were frequently empty and we had to ask for everything. The place wasn't particularly busy either. The food... very hit and miss. Our chips were OK but a bit stale. The salsa was basically water with some tomato and seasoning but mostly water. It also came out in a tiny plastic cup. It did taste fresh so it could have just been a weak batch. They should up the quantity and work on a better consistency. The cheese dip... ughh. It is yellow cheese with a smokey flavor. It tasted very processed and not particularly smooth. The guacamole was plentiful and very good so it seems they have ironed that out. Tacos were OK as the chicken and beef was seasoned well but they were sparse and the shell was chewy. The chimichangas were good. Pricing was reasonable for the decor but WAY over the mark for the quality of the food. They may have priced themselves out of much of the Cape Coral market as well.
(2)A P.
Best margaritas we've had for s long time they used a very good tequila I had the mango - loved it Awesome food we had chicken fajitas and a burrito The salsa should of been been served in a glass or with a spoon Love the decor. Nice people Eduardo was our server - we couldn't have asked for better Definately will be back
(5)Sherry B.
I seriously don't know why all the negative comments. Being from California I know good Mexican food. I have been searching for it since I left the state. Granted it's not California Mexican but it is by far the best I have had in a long time. Decor is beautiful ..service was great..it's as good as it gets here in swfl. We will return it enjoy again.
(4)Chris E.
We made reservations and the restaurant was very prompt in seating us even though the restaurant was busy and we had a party of 10. Our waitress was very pleasant and accommodating to all our needs. She was very efficient and concerned regarding our dining experience even though, due to the size of our party, our tips were included as part of the bill. The food was excellent for each and everyone in our group. This was my second visit to this restaurant and I've been equally pleased on both occasions. The prices were very reasonable and the portions were huge. Two Thumbs up on this Mexican Restaurant.
(5)