El Gallo Grande
1625 4th St S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701
El Gallo Grande Menu
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Address :
1625 4th St S
St. Petersburg, FL, 33701 - Phone (727) 851-9579
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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R. D.
Third time here, each time has been great. This trip I had some very specific requests due to diet. My waiter Derrick went to the kitchen and they came up with an excellent salad dressing that fit the bill. Piece of grilled grouper was a 10! Service was a 10 as well.
(5)Kath M.
Wickedly good . Had no idea place existed. Variety of veggie, meat, and fish dishes at great prices. Friendly, helpful service. Will recommend to friends. And will go back again.
(5)Brelan E.
Great little Mexican place. Great environment and nice staff. Good comes out pretty quick, looks and taste great. Hidden jewel of St.Pete
(5)TJ R.
Don't go on Sundays. I want to like this place but they won't let me. Tonight was the third time after two "eh" trips. The food is good. The presentation is very bad. The taste of the house margaritas is a selling point, however, you get 4 oz of ice and probably 3 oz of actual margarita if you're lucky. The service is not good. There is no accountability from management or servers. I was told "It's not my fault, guys." tonight (8/24/14) that I had to wait over an hour for food. I never received my refried beans and rice so that made it sting a little more to be overpaying for a mediocre experience. I wanted this place to open and be awesome but it seems like all they did was open. More classic dishes need to be added, prices need to be evaluated and customer service and staffing needs some serious attention. I may give it a shot after some time has passed when the kinks may be worked out. I have no intention of going back until I hear something different. Even then it's going to be hard to drag me in there. Again, this is a bummer because I want to like this place and give them my money AND feel good about it.
(1)James W.
Was an ok experience. The guacamole was great while the salsa was not. If you're a dull white guy, order the Chili Relleno. Very bland with very little chicken. Came with Black Bland Beans and a fishy tasting tomato rice? Lauren, our server, was very pleasant and accommodating. Might give it another try, just to be sure, but not in the forceable future.
(3)Paulie V.
I suppose I've been taking most restaurants for granted. I expected servers to know what comes with my meal, to actually show up more than once to take the order and have someone else deliver the food. El gallo grande seems more like el gallo with it's head cut off. Not organized, food was okay but they brought my rice and beans at the end with my bill when I asked if it came with rice when my food was originally brought to me. No drink menu, so I had no idea of their selection on anything like soda, juices, specialty drinks or beer on tap. Amateur hour is from open to close. Seems like everyone reviewing really wants to like this place and el gallo is not making it very easy. I give it 6 months unless they want to lose even more money. Oh yea, watch out for the paintings on the wall, lawsuit waiting to happen. One fell off the wall and onto someone's table.
(1)Ragon R.
It's "that" Mexican place! The food is great, always hot and fresh. I love the chicken taquitos and the salsa. The decor is amazing, painted by St. Pete's own Vitale Brothers.
(4)Todd C.
Wonderful surprise real authentic Tex-mex. food. Beautiful orginal Mexican decor w a flare of orginallity design. Great margaritas and excellent guacamole and salsa. Order the carnitas you won't be disappointed. Such a nice surprise for ST. PETE. ENJOY
(4)Tami F.
Atmosphere is great. Awesome waitress. Food was not that good. Queso was way To thick and meat in taco tasted odd. Had a serious stomach ache that evening. Won't be going back.
(2)C A.
So good to find Miguel Espinoza (chef) again. I'd call his dishes gourmet Mexican food, quality not quantity. My margarita mostly ice yet tasty. The fish ceviche was loaded with tomatoes avocado and fish. Eaten with chips and I was satiated. Dining partner ordered queso fundido with poblano and 3 tacos. These tacos are basically meat and tortilla which is the way they should be, in my humble opinion. So happy to find Miguel again but too far to go on a regular basis
(4)Ashley J.
Just visited tonight at 6pm for the first time. It was a terrible experience. And here is why: -we got there at 6pm and didn't get our food till about 7:20pm. -one plate came out about 15mins before the rest of our party got their order. It was a plate of nachos so there was no reason to even plate that order till the rest was ready. -we had to sit at a "high top" table in the middle (we were a party of four) and had random couples next to us. The seats are very small and uncomfortable. Not conducive to sitting forever for your meal Service was terrible. It seems the servers are all brand new to being a server. Took forever to get a refill on waters and they ran out of coke before 730pm. Won't be back again.
(1)Jen P.
We've been here twice now. They have made their menu smaller and still don't have all their margarita or beer choices on the menu (had to ask the waiter for a list and he handed me a folded-up typewritten list from his pocket). For the portion size, I think the prices are a tad on the high side, especially the $9.50 margarita I had that came out in a tumbler. The beer you ask? It was almost room temperature. That's not the way I want to drink my Dos Equis Amber or my Negro Modelo. While the ambiance is spectacular and the wait staff friendly and attentive, there just weren't enough menu choices and ground beef isn't even an option. Our (soft-only) tacos came out with shredded meat and lettuce only - no cheese or other veggies. The taquitos were delicious, but really small and the ones on the bottom were soggy by the time I ate the ones stacked on top. I will say the salsa is great, as are the chips but you have to pay extra if you want the spicy salsa. Really? So you can get your mild stuff for free, but because I like a little heat, I have to pay extra? Lame. I've never been to another Mexican joint that did this. All-in-all, a little too pricey, a tad to froo-froo for the area, and the ambiance doesn't make up for it the way you wish it could after you get the tab. Since this place is in my neck of the woods, I was REALLY hoping for more.
(2)Dawn D.
Great food. Awesome handcrafted margaritas. They need to NOT allow electric cigs at BAR when employees friends are taking up all bar seats...
(3)Andrew W.
WAY overpriced for Mexican food. It'll be funny when the new taco bell opens one block away. Lower cost Mexican fast food and about the same quality.
(1)Clifton F.
We ordered enchiladas, carnitas, chips, salsa and guacamole. All of the food was excellent. The server, host & hostess were very friendly. Tried 3 margaritas and the Rosa Sabrosa was her favorite. The Desperado was deliciously hot as well. I would recommend tou stop by and give them a try.
(4)Hassan S.
This place has gone downhill. It is such a shame because my boyfriend and I were looking forward to some authentic Mexican food within the downtown area. We have been here a few times and the initial visits were really promising. They had a few things to work out from a service perspective, but I felt the food was on par and very fresh. Since those initial visits, my experience here has not been favorable. It seems that the operations of this place has some constraints which has now impacted the food quality. They have completely dumb down their menu. The mole dish is gone. The pescado was not printed on the menu but the server said it was still available although it did not taste like the original. The tacos were lacking flavor. We tried the carne, chicken and ground beef tacos and felt the meat was lacking seasoning. We did enjoy the salsa verde which accompanied the tacos and added some much needed flavor. When I asked the server what was going on, she mentioned that they were transitioning menus. This seems to be the theme of this place, specifically since they had a closure and reopening within the course of this year. Oh and I must mention that on a prior occasion we were turned away because apparently the kitchen had crashed. I wish they would have stayed true to their original concept and worked on the service and their cocktail program, which needs an overhaul. Unfortunately, I do not think they will last.
(3)Rep D.
We really love El Gallo Grande. The food is excellent and a great value. I love the skirt steak and my wife likes the vegetarian options. The margaritas are excellent and freshly prepared - no terrible "sour mix" here. A good happy hour with cheap Three Daughters on tap. The atmosphere is great as well - not overdone and with a good layout. The service has always been good, even with large groups. All in all, a great addition to St. Pete and one of our favorite restaurants.
(4)Curt S.
This place has a "Jeckle and Hyde" personality.... and until they get their act together I'm not going back. Had a great experience for lunch just after new chef and boss took over then went back a couple days later in the evening and the service was crappy and no employees cared about anything ... including the cook... and calling that person a cook is being EXTREMELY generous! Everyone at our table that had ground beef (and one who never asked fro ground beef) got some over cooked / crusty / cool meat product. The waitress screwed up the drink orders big time. The menu is small... not much of a selection and too expensive for what you get.. Decor is "fun" but that's all I've got to say for this last trip
(2)Kia G.
This is the first time I tried this place and I was really impressed, the food was very tasty...I wouldn't say authentic. ..but still good. Service was great (a smidge sugary sweet) but it's better than having some angry b as a waitress. The only thing is that the restaurant is in the hood. I grew up in this neighborhood and would never come here at night lol. Happy dining
(5)Tracy A.
Been back and it seems to be going down. The service and value have both declined. We will still go back because the food is pretty decent. Cool ambiance. Great margaritas, but they are literally two gulps for $13.
(3)Lisa M.
My husband and I have been there twice together and he has been there a few times alone. This place is a gem off the beaten path in St. Petersburg. Both times I was pleasantly surprised by not only the excellent service (three cheers for Virginia behind the bar) but the rest of the staff is VERY attentive and polite. We always sit at the bar to dine and I can't say enough nice things about this place. It is new and so they are going thru the newbie stage but as a foodie from way back, I believe they are trying their best. The food is delicious and fresh. Someone complained below about the chips and salsa not being free. So what? They are freshly made and the salsa is delicious! What you don't finish, they box up and send you home with. Made a great snack the next day. Portions are large and plenty to split if you are on a budget. I highly recommend this place and we will certainly be back. Keep up the good work!
(4)Susan D.
I was looking forward to this place because restaurants in the south end are lacking. I honestly can't say the food was all that great. Not much kick or flavor. There are too many Nexican places in the area, so there's competition. I suggest revamping the menu.
(2)Jared R.
WORST Service WOW small portions the atmosphere is great! Drinks expensive. Just not a good experience. Daniel is the worst waiter. Very disappointing situation.
(1)Chuck R.
Only giving it 3 stars due to service. The food was good, but service took the experience way down. With only about 5 tables of people, we ordered our food only to receive it not complete. We had to actually show the waiter their menu to show what the entrée came with. Twice we were given the excuse that it was a new menu and the kitchen wasn't used to it. Sorry, but that's a lame excuse. If you're running a restaurant - my first intuition is that you get your staff to know and possibly memorize the menu. Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but being a major foodie I have high expectations. I may or may not try this place again - we'll see.
(3)Tom M.
Not sure what happened to cause the shakeup where they were closed for two weeks but the changes they decided to make made things worse not better. Food quality is way down, prices are higher, menu was pretty ghetto, and service was a hot mess. Really disappointed as I really wanted this place to work but won't likely be back anytime soon. Oh yeah and last time I checked tableside prepared guacamole is supposed be prepared tableside not taste like came out of a package.
(1)Julie M.
Bad service, okay food. Bar was slow and they were out of many wines/beers and no clean wine glasses?? This was a Wednesday! Limited menu. Only one salad on the menu and it was a Ceasar - horrible! I will not go back...
(1)Keith N.
Finally authentic Mexican. Haven't found a really good Mexican joint since I moved from New York. Now I have. Excellent food and great decor. Gotta try the Margaritas. Little pricey but worth every penny.
(5)Tony R.
Cool Place. I love the decor inside and the people are great. I met the manager and owner who were both fabulous. The chips and salsa were tasty and the carnitas tacos were great. The order consists of 3 tacos with corn tortillas. A perfect meal for lunch that is not to filling. I want to go back to try the Chile Rellenos for dinner as that was not on the lunch menu. Bueno.
(4)Alex E.
Very much enjoyed my torta for lunch. Love the art inside.
(4)Renee K.
Second time in was Soooooo much better! Kinks definitely getting worked out. Very customer friendly owners that really want to please everyone. Guacamole is a must try!
(4)Ziya K.
I really wanted to like this place. As said before it is definitely over priced, perhaps for a reason. I sat at the bar for literally 15 minutes before I had to ask the manager for assistance. Finally when the manager came to me, at the exact same time, the bartender asked me if my friend and I have been helped. Yeah we had a round of beers comped, even though I asked for margaritas. They got our order wrong; nachos and a quesadilla turned into nachos and enchiladas. However, on the plus side, the food was very good despite everything.
(2)Barbara D.
This was our first visit to El Gallo Grande. The service was excellent, starting when we walked in the door. We ordered the house Margaritas, which were good, if a little on the small side. My husband ordered the carnitas and I had the chicken enchiladas. Both were excellent. Only mine came with a side of black beans and rice, but it was more than enough to share. Some of the reviews I read complained about the lack of free chips and salsa, but we actually enjoyed our dinners more because we had not filled up on chips beforehand. All in all it was a great dinner. We will be back
(5)Sylvester M.
I like this place, great ambience, great food, and reasonable prices. They make everything in house but the tortillas for the nachos. The interior is done really well, almost like an artist owns the place. The staff was excellent as well the service top notch. The only hang up I have with this place is really not the restaurant's fault. I went there for lunch and I pulled into the parking lot while talking on my cell phone on a business call(I know I shouldn't do that). While still on the phone I got out of the car and was greeted by someone wanting money. Since I didn't get off my phone and ignored him, he cursed at me so loudly the person on the phone asked where I was at. I made sure to sit inside where I could see my car out the glass block windows. I mentioned it to the staff. Then as I was leaving someone else came up looking for money. I just jumped in my car and drove off while receiving a glare because I didn't stick around to hear what I am sure was a great story of tragedy and need. This place is in a very rough side of town, which doesn't bother me. I would never let my girlfriend go here by herself, especially at night.
(4)Rodney R.
Great food! Nice staff, friendly people. Atmosphere is awesome true mexican with a flare.
(5)Brian L.
We are mexican food snobs and we love it here. We ate here twice during a 24 hour trip. Service, food and prices are great. The queso fundido and carnitas are wondeful as are the margaritas and salsa. We will certainly be back on our next visit.
(5)Winter R.
Not a bad place. My family actually thought the food was wonderful (some other reviews have posted about the food not being good). My family loves Mexican food and although this wasn't the traditional hole in the wall place, it was still good. Our waiter was attentive, our food came quickly and everything tasted fresh and wonderful. The portions were smaller than we expected but we filled up on yummy chips and salsa. The menus left a little to be desired but we all found something. This place is not one of those authentic mom and pop Mexican places, but the food is still good.
(4)Eric S.
Friendly staff. Good food. The bar leaves a lot to be desired, but it's decent. This place is one of the best Mexican restaurants in St Pete.
(5)Donna B.
We've been regular customers to El Gallo Grande and have brought friends and coworkers to the restaurant. Last night we found out that management has decided to penalize all customers because of a few bad apples. Our waiter cheerfully informed us (after we'd asked him why we weren't served tortilla chips and salsa, as in the past) that there are people who come in, order a glass of water and eat several helpings of the (formerly) free chips and salsa and don't order anything else and leave. Apparently, it hasn't occurred to management to take orders first and then serve chips and salsa, so they've decided that loyal, frequent customers should be treated with suspicion and duly penalized. Oddly enough, our waiter did tell us that several customers had complained about the no-more-free-tortilla-chips-and-salsa policy. Ring, ring management, pick up the clue phone. The other interesting justification for the new policy, according to our waiter, is that tomatoes are really expensive. Really? Note to management: one-third of the nation's tomatoes are grown in FL. The gringas which we've had before, lacked flavor and the portions had been downsized, as were my chicken enchiladas. The good news is that we have a plethora of really good Mexican restaurants. The bad news is that our desire to patronize this local business is over.
(1)Antony D.
On the plus side the Chili Releno was quite good and my wife enjoyed her chicken quesadia. On the down side I thought the margarita was terrible. Too sweet. Service was excellent. We will be back. I'll just stick with the Negro Modelo on draft!
(3)Brian D.
I've been looking forward to the opening of this new Mexican place since a photo of their mural first ran in the paper as it was being developed. I went last night with a friend to celebrate our birthdays. It was a weeknight and around 6pm. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and immediately seated in a comfortable booth near the door. The booths have charging stations for your digital gadgets, and the striped leather covering them is supple and reminds me of a race car. The visual excitement in the decor hit me immediately. Murals, painted architectural elements, great lighting... Sugar skulls and a giant luchador in purple, black, aqua, red and white... it led to a fun ambiance without a lot of noise. Speaking of noise, the music I remember was Shakira singing in Spanish -- always fun! Our server was courteous and smiley. He brought us chips and salsa with our menus. He suggested a watermelon sangria, but it turned out they didn't have it that night, so he brought us the white sangria to try in a shot glass. It was full of fruit flavors, light and refreshing. We each had a glass. I asked about their margarita menu, and it was typed up on plain paper and not quite finalized. I ordered the enchiladas. The menu said it comes with 3 and there were 3 sauces to choose from. I asked if I could try all 3, and the server said I could but asked if I knew what mole was because some customers had ordered it without knowing what it was, and it is "an acquired taste". Then my friend ordered the chile rellenos stuffed with marinated chicken and cheese, and I mentioned that was my second choice. The server said I should go for that instead because "you can get enchiladas anywhere." I agreed, and changed my order. The chile rellenos were delicious! The 2 peppers had sauce between them, so from the top they were green but every bite still had yummy sauce. It was served with flavored rice and black beans. The plates were hefty and square, white china. We checked out the ladies room just to view it. I smiled when I saw the inside of the door was painted deep aqua while the walls were purple. Like a teenage girls' dream bedroom! Other than that, it was a pretty basic bathroom but I didn't see soap. All in all, I spent just over $20 for a light, refreshing drink and yummy meal that I would never make at home, and loved the environment I was in. The place was hopping but not stuffed full, and all age ranges were present - families with children as well as a group of women in their 50s filling the bar to celebrate 3 birthdays. I recommend it, and can't wait to try more items on their menu. I hear the ceviche is awesome and was told to try the El Rey margarita next time too.
(4)Ginger R.
The atmosphere, food and service are excellent. Love it!
(4)Dominique C.
The decor in this restaurant is cool and fresh. I love the murals and the sugar skulls. Even though it's a new restaurant, it has a lived in feel. This restaurant has been open for only a few days, and I visited on day two. Like in any new restaurant, the staff is still getting into its rhythm, and they have had to contend with huge crowds - the place has been packed! Some previous reviewers have been quick to criticize, but give it a week or two for them to work out the kinks. The food is yummy (get the enchiladas mole) and the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. The guacamole is among the best I've had, and can be customized to suit your taste (don't love cilantro? no problem!). We needed a fun, fresh Mexican restaurant in this city, and now we have one!
(5)Pauline G.
First time at this place, and I must say I was very impressed. Went on a last minute lunch with a girlfriend and we both agreed that the food was wonderful. Our server initially was amazing but as the place started filling up we noticed a decline in service level and attention, which is to be expected I suppose so I'm not sure if that's a mark against them. I was surprised to find that most like Mexican restaurants they did NOT serve rice / beans with your meal - I ordered tacos and just got tacos. Server claims it's "how they do things in Mexico" I wonder if he knew we were in the US? They were absolutely delicious however. We also got an appetizer of guac and all I can say is holy guacamole!! It was so good, I can't even explain it. And the portion was huge. That along with the wonderful authentic salsa made up for the lack of side options. The menu was small and limited to a few selections, but they do it well. Oh, if you like spicy (and not your typical "yeah, this is really hot be careful" and then you get it and its as bland as lettuce) try the Habanero salsa, but just mix a little in your regular salsa - don't say you weren't warned! We didn't get drinks so I'm not sure how they are, according to the other yelpers not so hot but my water glass was always full if that justifies anything. Overall, I will certainly be back and will be bringing my hubby next time.
(4)Fred T.
Wow. We had a fantastic experience here. There were so many diverse choices on the menu. All of the things we tried were super fresh. The wait staff was very attentive and our food arrived quickly. We will definitely go back!
(5)Annie M.
Ordered take out and the food was killer. We'll definitely be going back. Portions were perfect and everything was cooked to order. Staff was friendly. Haven't had authentic Mexican since moving to Florida, that is until now.
(5)Laura R.
It was ok. Not really impressed by anything we got. We got the Salsa, guacamole, and chile rellenos. Great service though! Thanks Lauren!!
(3)Mary V A.
Great Mexican food and on the side of the bldg That Mexican Place!!! Service was fast and gracious, answered all questions quickly. Only drawback the other servers always wanted to know if you were done with your plate if you paused a few seconds. Will go back again and again
(4)Tracey W.
Just returned from a trip to San Diego and finally got why so many people said there was no good Mexican food in St. Pete. Well -- there's a great Mexican place now. Really surprised about some of the reviews based on the service that we got. It's obvious that they are taking those reviews to heart. The hostess was super friendly, our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and the manager checked on us more than once. My date and I had margaritas (the first ones on the menu) and they were good. The food. Wow. The food. I had the chile rellenos and my date had the pork carnitas. I had two generous rellenos, one batter dipped. Fresh black beans and rice were the accompaniments. My date had the pork carnitas. As much as I loved my dinner, his was even better. The pork was incredibly tender and well flavored. The server encouraged us to come back, seemed apologetic regarding the small menu, and let us know they would be expanding and opening up for lunch soon. That they were working out the kinks. I don't see any need to expand the menu when the items that you have are this good, but I know some people would prefer a larger selection. Give this place a shot. There were no "kinks" to work out on this visit. I will definitely return.
(5)Mark M.
Nice little neighborhood jewel! Great design and great food. The guac is not to be missed.
(4)Eddie B.
I'm surprised by some of the bad reviews. I think people need to cut some slack for a brand new restaurant! Our server (Desiree) was extremely attentive, water glasses and chips and salsa refilled without even asking. Food was hot and fresh and timed just right!! I had the Chile Rellenos and they may have been the best I've ever had. Will definitely be back.
(4)Kathy G.
The atmosphere is loud. The food is pretty good. The margaritas are tiny. My husband order steak tacos and got chicken. He ordered rice but didn't get it until he asked again. We like crispy tacos and these are soft. I orders pinto beans and got refried beans. I ordered a side salad of shredded lettuce, tomato and avocado. I got two tablespoons of lettuce and the avocado was guacamole. All in all, meh.
(3)T G.
Love everything!! Food is amazing atmosphere is like no other. I have never had better Mexican food and I have been to Mexico numerous times. Server was wonderful Elijiah he was super friendly and helpful. Even though food was a little bit slow ready not bad at all for a brand new place, when it came it was perfect. They said everything was made from scratch and they were not lying. Beautiful dishes. Manager was super friendly stopped by all of the tables to thank us for coming in. I will be back often and bring friends. Finally a great restaurant in the middle of the South Side.
(5)Michele M.
What a fantastic surprise! This Mexican restaurant far surpasses what others have written. Authentic tastes from an actual Mexican chef. No ground beef tacos for those expecting the Mex-American usual. This place has the best fish tacos I have ever tried and pulled pork carnitas are to die for... if you dare. Wait staff knowledgable and prices are reasonable. This was the first of many visits to come. Left too full to adventure into deserts but heard they are as good as the rest of the menu.
(5)Rafael R.
I will never come back to this restaurant ever again. I decided to take my family out to dinner on 2-13-2015. When I arrived at the restaurant, the hostess told us it was going to be 30 minutes. We told her we would wait. In the 30 minutes that we waited, more customers showed up. Some told the hostess they will wait and some left. After the 30 minutes had passed, a Spanish family walks in. The hostess tells them it was going to take about forty minutes. The gentleman walks right in and spoke with the owner who graciously sits them down at a table. I asked the hostess what that was all about and she replied, "They are friends with the owner". The hostess went to the owner and told him that I had questioned the couple that just walked in. The owner comes over and tells me that they will have a table ready for us. Mind you, I have a baby waiting patiently for a seat. As we wait another couple gets seated before us and the hostess tell us they are not eating they are drinking. So lets sit the ones drinking and not the ones eating?!! I was so upset I told the hostess that we were not going to wait any more and I told her that this was BS and I was going to let everyone I know about the crappiest experience I've ever had. The owner comes over again after he heard me talking to the hostess. He tells me that my dinner is on him. That the kitchen was backed up and that they will not be able to have food ready for about an hour or two. I did not take my family out to a ridiculously failing place to get free food. All I wanted was to get a table and order my food, eat and pay. While we are outside, apparently some lady got fired because all the lady was screaming about was how they hired illegals to work in the kitchen and how she was going to call Immigration on them. I will never go back nor would I ever recommend anyone to this restaurant. The owner was such an A-HOLE that I am going to review and warn others of this crappy place
(1)Bud M.
Portions were small, prices were high, better flavor at Taco Bell. Not going to waste my time writing a lengthy bad review. I would recommend Red Mesa if your into upscale Mexican, but for the best food you still can't beat Mexico Lindo.
(1)Tim D.
We went there about month after they opened to allow the kinks to be worked out. The atmosphere was great, as well as the service. I got the chicken enchiladas, they flavorful and portioned appropriately. My wife got the mole and loved it. We have not been back, but will be going very soon.
(5)Terri D.
I absolutely adore this place! The decor and music are fantastic and all the servers and hostesses, especially Joanna, are cheerful and amazing.
(5)Kelly S.
The service was spot on and super friendly! The decor inside was beautiful, and the enchiladas mole was uniquely mouth-watering. Top it all off with unlimited salsa and a margarita and it's five stars!
(5)Megan C.
I just had amazing take out from El Gallo!The ceviche was so fresh and the zest of lime is the perfect addition! Definitely try the gringa tacos, tons of flavor!
(5)Adam E.
I really enjoyed the ambience and decor of this place. The hostesses were nice and our waitress, wish I could remember her name, was delightful and thoroughly helpful. I started off with the ceviche. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. I think it was the addition of the green olives mixed with the nice citrus flavors that really made the dish for me. I am picky about my mole and I do not like it to be too bitter. I asked for a sample before ordering the quarter chicken mole dish. Our waitress happily brought me a sample and assured me it was really good. She was not lying! It was delicious! It had a rich and sweet flavor with a small bit of spice and the after taste was slightly bitter which is to be expected with this dish. The experience is like a good red wine. Anyway, being from the southwest I have had some bad mole and great mole. I would rank this as great! I will definitely order it again. However it is an acquired taste. My second favorite dish at a Mexican restaurant is chille rellones. I was fortunate that my date ordered this. I sampled it and we both agreed that is was a stellar relleno! I'm glad to see that they had some locally brewed beers on tap. Date ordered the three sisters blonde pale ale and I ordered a Paloma which was prepared nicely! This is one of my new favorite places to eat in St. Pete! Well done chef Espinoza!
(5)Laura S.
Visited twice during opening week. Yes, there are some kinks to work out as with any new popular restaurant. However, the food is delicious (I've had the grouper and the shrimp dish, the fundito and the guacamole) the service is super friendly, and the atmosphere is lively and fun. This is the place to go for good Mexican food.
(5)Hannah W.
Very cool atmosphere, enchiladas were amazing and service was great. Homemade chips and salsa were very good. The only downfall is the menu is very limited.
(4)K T.
Ordered margaritas from the bar while waiting for a table - So bad we couldn't even drink them. Finally seated in a near empty dining room 45 minutes later, but weren't seen by a server for another 20 minutes. Ordered queso as an appetizer - didn't get chips to go with it until it was literally rock hard. Had skirt steak that was so fatty and tough nearly 1/2 was inedible. Asked to speak with a manager at the end of the meal and were met by a young kid who made excuse after excuse as to why we had so many problems. Terrible food and even worse service. Won't be back.
(1)Coleman M.
Food that I actually got to eat was decent, but worst service I've had in 15 years. It being new isn't an excuse, sorry.
(1)Donald N.
OMG the service was so BAD. Our server asked for our drink order and suggested Margaritas but didn't mention they were $12 each. Brought the drinks and chips, took our food order, writing down nothing,and disappeared. 25 minutes later he showed up to ask what we had ordered, not good... asked if he had lost our order he gave us attitude about how busy he was and problems in the kitchen blah blah blah. He again took our order and said he be right back with more chips and salsa, that took another 10 minutes and all the tables around us were being served. We called the Manager and explained that we now had been waiting an hour for food and we had had enough, thank you, we were leaving. We had never left like that before, food may have been great but will not tolerate poor service. Not going back.
(1)Marcie B.
The pescado tampeno was the most delicious piece of fish I've had at a restaurant in a long time. It was amazingly fresh and reasonably priced. I loved the decor and friendliness of the staff. The chips and homemade salsa are the BEST I've ever had!!! Eating "south of the border" is turning into the place to be and be seen!!!
(5)CL R.
I have no idea what some of these reviews are about. Went there for the first time tonight and was greeted promptly at the door by the hostess. She welcomed me warmly and sat us at a table. Jenn was our server and she was FANTASTIC! The margarita selection was unreal and very unique. The food was exceptional and came out so hot that we had a few extra minutes to chat so it could cool down just a bit. The guacamole was so good and the chips were warm. I can't say enough good things about this place. GO TRY IT!
(5)David H.
Got there while the place was mostly empty. Sat at the bar and was anticipating the margaritas. The $5 basic was better than the higher priced mixology inspired hibiscus one, at least for my taste. Lack of taste in the artsy one. Got a seat while still about 1/3 full on the tables, if that. One big party was in the back of about 15-18 people, they came and went so hard to count. Placed order for Queso w/chorizo, Chile Rellenos and Grouper Diablo(?). The queso and a $7 sangria came in a normal time frame and we pretty much were on our third serving of chips. I told my partner to stop eating anymore as we were going to fill up before we eat....it took at least 45 minutes and maybe longer before we finally got the entrees. Our waitress was apologetic numerous times and it did start getting old. They weren't that busy at the time of our order. The rellenos were stuffed w/cheese and chicken, not a traditional way but I'm game. Not enough cheese though and a little smallish on the peppers. Lacked enough sauce, too, made for a dry dish. The grouper dish was really good w/sauce in the rice and on top of the grouper. I'm open to all food but with a small menu and claims of traditional styles being spoken about in all the publicity and reviews I expected better, especially the Rellenos. It's the classic test of any good Mexican restaurant along with Mole sauces. While it wasn't bad it wasn't a standout either. I was surprised at the amount of kids in the place since it's priced a little higher than some for the genre and no kids menu. I feel they are a capable bunch and they will get the bugs worked out, although this was two weeks after opening and like I said pretty empty when we got there. They are gonna be successful and might try again when I feel confident from more reviews.
(2)ford j.
Still on "soft" opening (I believe "grand opening" is sometime around July 4th) so as others have suggested, there are some kinks, but none as to significantly impact the overall appeal of this place. Well executed decor, extremely friendly, attentive and energetic staff and menu items that take this place beyond your typical (american) mexican food experience. Quite busy on the nights I have been, with a crowd ranging from families, to hipsters. Intelligently thought out margaritas to boot. I have been twice now, and will go back again...and probably again, to dive deeper into the menu. Salsa, as others have said is flavorful, complex and a bit of smokiness...good start. Will review the food after I have been back a few times and they have moved past their "opening" weekend, as it will probably be a better read of what the food will be like in the long run. One note of caution for the owners should they read this- lot of space, lot of tables, small kitchen. Expand it a bit if you can....when this place hits its stride it would be a shame if execution on the food suffers for the lack of kitchen space.
(4)Kate Y.
While I realize this is still a fairly new reastaurant, our experience will most likely keep us from returning. We ate at the bar after being told that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table (even though almost half of them were empty). Bartenders were very friendly and drinks were reasonable (although they were out of Corona Light draft). I found it repulsive however, that every drink was made in the same unwashed shaker throughout the entire 2hours we were there. That's right- 2 hours as it took 1hour and 15 minutes to get our food. Entrees were good but the queso appetizer was ridiculous. Even tough it was still hot, it was one big lump of cheese that you had to literally cut with a knife and fork. Halfway through our dinner, the roof started leaking on us. The bartender said not to worry as it was just the a/c .... Ummm okay. Bartender also pointed out the owners that were sitting and drinking, unaware that their kitchen was such a disaster. They had 8 servers standing and waiting for food to come out while the poor guys in the kitchen had a hard time keeping up. Seems like the owner (who we were told was also the chef) would have stepped in to help at some point. The ladies room was out of toilet paper and the men's room apparently has the urinal in the handicapped stall (?!). Decor was nice, entrees were good and reasonably priced, but the rest needs a lot of work.
(2)Trace W.
Underwhelming and grossly over priced. The first appetizer on the menu is "chips & salsa", your first clue to bolt. The entrees are a la carte, meaning rice and choice of beans are extra, second clue to bolt. When the always free chips and salsa arrive, they are straight out of a Sysco bag and the salsa is flavorless, third clue to bolt. The highly boasted about carnitas arrives with the extra retried beans and rice and it wasn't nuked long enough, cold and seriously lacking any expected Mexican bam, fourth clue to bolt. I stuck it out because I had a Creative Loathing deal, though highly doubt I will return.
(2)Chris H.
A few disclaimers before I write this: 1: I am super picky about Mexican food (or as the case may american/mexican) 2:I I don't want to write this review because I don't want to ever not be able to get a table 3: I'm writing it anyway because I know that in order to stay open they have to have customers Now...this was the second time I've been here and I totally meant to write a review after the first time, but completely spaced on that. It's slightly off the beaten path of downtown St. Petersburg, but totally worth seeking out. First impression is that it looks like a remodeled shanty from the outside, as soon as you enter though, you are greeted with some fantastic wall murals/art. Their salsa has an applaudable kick to it in terms of heat, and a nice roasted flavor. their chips are thin, crispy, and well seasoned. For an appetizer I had the queso Blanco the first time...not a fan, it has a bit too much parmigiano flavor, which clashes against the Mexican palette. This time however I had the queso fundido fully loaded, and that was excellent. Without question they have the best red enchilada sauce I've had, possibly ever. First time I had "the El Rey" basically a meat stuffed Chili Relleno wrapped in an overstuffed burrito covered in either the red enchilada sauce, or salsa Verde and it is quite tasty, and 2 meals for a guy that's 6'5". This time around I had the Pollo con mole. The flavors of the mole sauce were spot on, it was, however, a bit over seasoned. Refried beans are particularly excellent here, seasoned well, and topped with queso fresco. Prices here are in line with my expectations, service is excellent, and they have a couple local craft brews on tap which is always a big perk in my book...overall I'd recommend this, absolutely every day, to everyone...the small complaints I had don't detract from the overall dining experience, and honestly they're just nitpicking trying to find something negative so that this doesn't seem like a "too good to be a real review" type thing. I've been a chef for several years, and an avid food dork, I know the good from the bad, and this is the real deal good.
(5)Kelleigh M.
This place has a lot going for it. Wonderful decor, great good and friendly servers. What it's lacking is location. It's pretty much in the hood. We visited at lunch time and were 1 of I or 2 tables. The chips and salsa were brought immediately and were good but nothing great. The salsa was sort of runny with not a ton of flavor. But the grilled fish tacos were wonderful. The fresh cheese, pico and aioli made them top notch and would bring me back for more. Sadly I do not know of this location can sustain this business and they may do better if they relocate elsewhere.
(4)Mike M.
Great atmosphere Great food splendid soft shell tacos with cilantro, onions and radishes gratifying guacamole exceptional enchiladas sapid salsa Good service Pricier than other mexican restaurants but worth it
(5)Michael F.
Waiter was really nice and the food was just ok. I guess eating real Mexican food in Mexico kind of spoiled me, but I just wasn't impressed. It wasn't terrible, just wasn't great. Just don't get the desert, I was very disappointed by it. The flan was bad, the chocolate cake was even worse. Stale and just seemed like it was store bought at publix and had been sitting out for a couple of days.
(3)Mark P.
El Gallo Grande has the best decor that I've ever seen in a Mexican restaurant and one of the best of any restaurant in Tampa Bay. The outside artwork draws you in with a finger pointing to That Mexican Place and a painting of El Gallo Grande (Eng: The Large...Rooster) and the interior was inspired by Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Kudos to whoever was in charge of that! However, that is where the compliments stop. The service was really slow, even though there were two waiters attending to us. The food was even slower. Over a half hour wait for our food and there were only two other tables occupied. But that gave us time to look around at the cool decor. Right before we were about to walk out, our order arrived. We just ordered your standard tacos with rice and beans; however, the food did not live up to my expectations as it was all pretty bland. It was evident that this is not an authentic Mexican restaurant when I asked the non-Mexican waitress if they had horchata and she gave me a puzzled look not knowing what it was. Would I go back again? Most likely not unless I was with a friend who really wanted to see the interior.
(2)Amy A.
I really, really, really like this place. Best Mexican I have had in this area. Great lunch prices, vibrant decor, and great bar area. I plan on going back just to sit at the bar and try more specials. I was here with a group of coworkers celebrating a retirement for lunch. I would not say we are the easiest group to please and every single person had their drink refilled to their liking, which is not always a given with a big group in a busy restaurant, and also loved their lunch. The prices are very reasonable and the food is as authentic Mexican as I have had in Florida. Our group consisted of people from five different countries and every one of us (there were 12) said they would be back on their own time with family or friends. I would recommend the ceviche, tacos, chili rellenos, and try the specials!
(4)Dorene M.
So I reviewed El Gallo Grande during their soft opening and waited 3 months to go back. On this visit the service was much better but the food is just ok. When we dined there the first time, the salsa was delicious so go we decided when we go back we each would get a container to take home. The salsa was nothing like the first time, now it's soupy and lacks flavor, a serious disappointment. I ordered the tamale special with chicken and red sauce and black beans. The tamales were dry , not soft , moist or tender but at least they were hot. The flavor was ok. As for the beans, they had good flavor but they weren't hot, the inconsistency seems to still be an issue. My friends enchilada's were good and hot, very flavorfull and not over cooked. The rice nothing too interesting, yellow rice with some peas and carrots thrown, not much creativity there. I probably won't be back, very underwhelming.
(3)Yuri K.
The menu is not crazy expensive, but it is completely overpriced for what it is. I couldn't tell if they were going for a family-style restaurant or a cantina-style hangout. Ample seating and decent service. The booth seats have this strange, buffalo-textured backing, which freaked me out when I felt it on my sleeveless arm. As for the food, the carne asada tacos were OK. And I wasn't questioning what kind of meat was in the chicken taco or anything. There are better places in town to get tacos, but the ones I tried here weren't bad. Everything seemed kind of sweet to me. My friends and I joked that the "table side" guacamole was not actually table side. We missed out on the theatrical aspect. But it was non-offensive in flavor with lots of lime, salt, cilantro. Beware: off-menu margaritas = double the price of regular margaritas and not worth it (only because the regular margarita is pretty good as is)
(2)Marinda H.
2nd visit The pace of the meal was much better this visit however the food didn't wow me as much. The guacamole didn't seem homemade and was not made table side as the menu indicated. And the red sauce which smothered our enchiladas and burrito had way way way too much chipotle in it resulting in a sauce that tasted like a wet band aid vs. the smooth smoky flavor from our last visit - needed to be cut with sour cream to be edible - bummer. Their chips and salsa are wonderful and glad the server mentioned we could try more than the red - the verde salsa is awesome. We also tried some happy hour drinks - the cucumber & cilantro margarita was so light and refreshing, however the Fire & Ice margarita was like eating a raw hot pepper and undrinkable - only for those with an iron stomach/palate. Our server had obviously never tried it when he said it was not hot - a $10 lie that we paid for. I love the restaurant conceptually so I hope they continue to iron out the issues. This should be a 3 star rating but it's a 4 because I haven't thrown in the towel yet.
(4)Peter S.
Very, very happy I tried this wonderful cantina. It seems they have a new chef and my first meal here was amazing. If you are a connoisseur of Mexican cuisine please try this place. I had veggie enchiladas w green sauce and it was flavorful and complex and not watery like most other Mexican veggie dishes around town. Im so impressed and happy to find this gem. My partner had chicken enchiladas with red sauce and refried beans. The red sauce reminded me of the sauce an immigrant woman I worked with used to make for potlucks. I know I am shamelessly gushing but if you read my other reviews then you will know that it's not typical. The bartender Iris is very helpful and was a great server. Also one more thing, I want to mention the spicy margarita. It is now my new favorite drink in town. It has cilantro jalapeño and (I believe) cucumber and it is amazing.
(5)Kansas R.
Great food, great decor, salsa is fresh, portions are in the smaller side. Service always good.
(4)Jenn C.
Pros: clean restaurant, friendly staff, good food, interesting decor/atmosphere Cons: limited menu, watered down margaritas, a bit pricey
(3)Jennifer N.
So good! Every time I go I leave stuffed and with leftovers. Love this place!
(5)Patrick L.
It pains me update my review negatively, but it needs to be said: El Gallo Grande, you desperately need to replace your floor manager. This was my 5th visit and this time we brought our neighboring family, so we had a party of 10. But, only 5 adults and no bar drinks. Even then, it took 30 minutes -- literally -- for the guacamole to come out. When the dinner was finally served about another 20 minutes later, it came out in 3 sets, the last being 10 minutes behind the 2nd set. My sweet 11 year old daughter patiently waited and waited for her steak taquitos, which was the same thing 2 of my other kids ordered, save for different meat. Additionally, all the children's orders came out like apps, completely missing the beans and rice. So those had to be rushed. Was the food good? Yeah sure, but the service and the kitchen timing were both train wrecks. Consequently, there's no way I'm going there again with any more than 2 people. Even then, I'll ask for Cody, who was our wonderful server when I introduced my wife to the restaurant and its owner. Carlina, please fix the mess ASAP or else it's going to destroy something I know can be much better.
(3)Virginia G.
I'm rating on the high side as it's more of a 3.5 but... Fellow Yelper Scott H and P.E.M. and I ventured here in a Saturday evening to check out the new digs. We expected it to be a full house given the parking challenges but the place was quite empty. I ordered a cactus pear margarita, scott got the traditional version and PEM a beer. My margarita was delicious but as others have stated very weak and very sweet. Ordered some chips and salsa as they are not complimentary. The salsa was a nice fire roasted salsa with a touch of heat. Decided to get some queso as well and it was a very weak example of queso. Made with mozzarella so it was very stringy and although tasted eh ok belonged more on a pizza than a tortilla chip. For dinner scott ordered the tinga tacos. ..spicy chicken 3 per order. PeM had the churassco ..served with rice and beans and an odd folded tortilla with green salsa on it... and I had the enchiladas with red green and white sauce. Although everything was ok...nothing wowed and the portions for the guys seemed awfully small. My portion was fine though. Ordered a second margarita which came out even more cloyingly sweet than the first so that was enough of that. Would we go back? Well the place is awfully cute...the servers were nice...probably go back for beers and snacks...not sure about the rest though.
(4)James S.
Wow...!!!! What a awesome place to enjoy a great Mexican dinner and drinks. The wife and I love the queso funido... And the wet burrito . This is our third time here and will keep coming back for more.
(5)Mandy M.
Been wanting to try this place for a while and waited just a little too long. Night I was there things seemed discombobulated and the menu didn't have the items I'd read about in reviews. Overhead a waiter telling another table that the chef had recently quit, when those diners asked why the menu was so small and different. Enchiladas were fine, but nothing to write home about. Guacamole was huge chunks of avocado and tomato, so more of a avocado salad. Salsas were great, wish the rest was also. I predict they'll be gone within six months; it's just too out-of-the-way to be anything less that extraordinary.
(2)Kristy S.
If you've written this place off, now is the time to reevaluate this gem and give it a second, third, or even fourth chance...We have been going here since they first opened. It has definitely had its ups and downs, menu changes, cook changes and etc. We were to the point of writing this place off completely and did for several months. However, we saw some updated recent reviews and decided to give it ONE LAST CHANCE... So glad we did! The chef/cook is really on key now and the menu, while we hear will change again, is quite good. The Carne Asada has always been my favorite and it has been a disappointment in the past but is back to being delicious! My husband gets the 3 tacos and they were very fresh and flavorful. The margaritas are good again as the chips and salsa which have gone back to being complimentary. Then there's Amy... She is one dedicated server who has been there since the restaurant opened and is very attentive. She has such belief in the place and it's good to see someone who believes in their product. I'm back to having high hopes for this place and hope the momentum continues.
(5)Alex P.
The vibe on this place is "current" and they are busy which speaks volumes for a Mexican / TexMex restaurant. The fresh salsa and chips set the tone for the rest of the meal. Li recommend this as a destination location worth repeating
(5)Amy G.
Wow, a hidden gem. Food is delicious, prices are reasonable and drinks are freshly made. Don't forget to ask for the fish of the day! There are also items available not on the menu, such as ceviche. Love that they make Guacamole table side.
(5)sean h.
I recommend the shrimp Diablo & guacamole ! The margarita's have always been pretty good. Enjoy looking at the art on the walls reminds me of back home in CA. But, FL still needs some work on their Mexican food.
(4)Christina C.
I'm not an expert on Mexican food, but I seriously enjoyed this place! First of all I was surprised how clean and full this place was given its location. It was about 6 on a Saturday and it was pretty busy. They have parking in the front and in the back, so you never have to worry about getting a spot. Inside, the place is really cute! There is great artwork on the wall and the place is pretty bright. I really enjoyed the chips and salsa they give every table. Our server was really on point and came to check on us a good amount of time. I ended up getting the chicken enchilada. At first when it came out I thought there wasn't a lot of food, but boy was I wrong. The beans and rice really fills you up and the three enchiladas, although not large, are filling. I really loved the corn tortillas. They don't give you a ridiculous amount of food, but it is a good amount for the prices. Although I didn't try it, I may have to come back for their $5 margaritas! Seriously check this place out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Joseph S.
Have been 2x now and both were excellent for veg heads and carnivores alike. The veggie tacos were a great balance to the "way too much chips and salsa" I consumed upon arrival....Wrapped in lettuce they were quite flavorful. Next time I think I will ask if they could add some fresh diced Jalapeños to turn up the heat a bit. The guacamole also very good. I would toss in some fresh diced poblano and serrano chilies to introduce some warmth, as well as more cilantro....but that is just my taste as it good "as is" Veggie enchiladas with the green sauce were also delicious the fresh red onions were a nice addition vs a white or yellow. The Salsas: House was VERY tasty, enjoyed the smokey aspect but too mild. The green also had a super flavor too mild. The mild was okay would prefer a more chunky consistency it was a bit like Tomato sauce. The "hot" with arbol chilies was not and had an odd "metal" taste. The Habanero was also "not hot" but did have a good flavor. The perfect combo would be the "house salsa" with the habanero heat AND the green salsa with added Serrano chilies. I think next visit I will try mixing the habanero salsa with the "house salsa" in search on some smokey heat. Hmmmm The cocktails are a whole other story and too long for this review.... but a good one and all that I tried are worth a repeat! We will be back for more AND love the location!!!
(4)Maci P.
My favorite Mexican place in Tampa bay. I would definitely recommend the margaritas or the sangritas. The taste is fresh and you can tell it's not the premade stuff. Also, the burritos. The best burrito I think I've ever had. It tasted so clean and the veggies were fresh and the burrito itself was not greasy whatsoever. The prices are great for the portion sizes. The salsa and guac are soooooo good too!! Must try.
(5)Julianna J.
Great Green sauce! Nice flavor to their Spanish rice, Shredded chicken, & their Mole was the most authentic this Texas Gal has found in Florida, nice and Smokey, not too sweet! Everything we ordered had beautiful presentation too. Their custom margaritas have very intriguing flavors and coordinating rimmers! Yes, it is a little pricy, but I'm okay keeping excellent places in our neighborhood special.
(4)Chago R.
Disclaimer: my first visit here was with about 20 other people for my bday, so we kinda dropped a big load onto this very new restaurant. That said... This visit was a big disappointment. Our waitresses seemed like they weren't sure what to do the whole time. Orders were taken at what seemed like a totally random pattern. I got my food when other friends were getting their checks. Seemed like most of my fellow guests didn't enjoy the meals once they got them. I got grouper and both it and the rice it sat on were way too crunchy. I'd like to return maybe sometime later and see if anything has improved buuut I'm worried it will just be a waste of money and time.
(1)Casey C.
Excellent chicken tortilla soup! You can tell it's made from scratch (and it is!), the flavors are amazing! The salsa us also outstanding, it's got enough heat to keep me happy but not light me on fire. I will be a regular here!
(5)Leni H.
Folks, we've got a winner... this place is awesome! Went there for the first time today and it exceeded my expectations. We arrived just after they opened on a Saturday (they are currently running limited hours, 3-10pm since they just officially opened several days ago). Its location is not ideal, but I understand this is probably an 'up-and-coming' neighborhood and I'm assuming these guys are pioneers with great insight. Ian, our server, was a joy. He greeted us at the front door with a smile and took great care of us without skipping a beat throughout the entire visit. We explained the three various types of craft margaritas they were featuring - all incredibly delicious (yes, we tried all three ;) - especially the Diablo, which was a sweet & spicy margarita that included muddled pineapple and jalepenos. It was unlike anything I've ever tasted and it was phenomenal! On to the food: house-made chips and salsa were bountiful. The staff always made sure we had enough. My husband ordered the Tampiquena Steak and I had the Carnitas entree. Both were fresh, had great flavor and were generously portioned (without being excessive). This is authentic and delicious mexican food! They have homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, and several different salsas to choose from. I appreciate their attention to quality ingredients and flavor (even the re-fried beans were perfectly seasoned). I would highly recommend this place to anyone. We plan to go back again soon! Great job and welcome to the 'Burg!
(5)Steve P.
Great new place. Very friendly owner he made a quick kids meal for my kid. I had the mole enchiladas good good. The chips and guacamole were great. So far all the food looks great and this seems to be a gem in the rough. Much better than Taco Bus Roach motel.... And I didn't even find a zip tie in my food here, like the Roach coach.
(5)Dave D.
Reheated food is not what I expected. The ambiance was cool, service good, but my food sucked. I ordered the enchiladas and they were very dry. The refried beans and rice became permanent fixtures to my plate before my first bite. I think I'll skip this place next time and head to VIPs. When a restaurant changes menus 8 times and owners twice in one year, this is what you get.
(1)Jay T.
I was tempted to try this restaurant after several Facebook friends checked in there. I guess the greatest advertising is word of mouth. The location is a bit out of the way so I was hoping the food was good enough to make it a destination. The outside is inviting and the decor is fun and invites conversation. However the mark of restaurant is the food not the decor. The chips and salsa were delicious. The chips were obviously fresh and not greasy. The salsa isn't chunky but is full of flavor. It didn't need heat to build it's profile. The queso was a bit difficult to enjoy but definitely spot on Both my dining companion and myself chose the taquitos. I opted for the potato and chorizo while she went with chicken. I will admit the portions are a bit small but all in all they were tasty. To address other concerns, the menu is small but that is so the staff can concentrate on a new opening. Apparently the menu will be expanding. The servers were extremely friendly and attentive. Only criticism....while the blood orange margarita was delicious, the portion was way too small for the price. All in all....with an expanded menu and larger portion sizes this could be a home run. It's worth a revisit in the next couple of months.
(4)Kurtis K.
A CL Deal brought me from South Tampa over to south St Pete and the first thing you notice when you pull up is the decor...and it's loud and fantastic! That decor doesn't stop outside, the inside matches perfectly and I hope they compensated the painter very well because the work is exquisitely funky. When we sat, I mentioned I had a CL Deal and pulled it up on my phone. The waiter told me that it had to be printed out. Knowing that wasn't the case and that since the restaurant was new and unfamiliar with CL Deals, I asked for the manager to come out. After a few minutes of discussing it, it resulted in me e-mailing so they could print. I did explain there was directions on the CL Deal with a phone number to call and validate. Oh well. The manager/owner, however, was very professional and super nice...and recommended dishes for us to try. I had the enchiladas and personally I wasn't wowed by the taste...BUT, everyone at my table loved their entree so maybe I was just a little off that night. The fresh margarita was on point and made up for the distaste in my meal. Overall, I'll give this place benefit of doubt and 4 stars and would certainly make the drive to try again. While we were there, the credit card systems shut down...which was interesting because I thought I'd get to see one of those old school "shhhik...shhiick" sliding credit card devices! Moments later, power came back on so I will have to wait another day to experience the nostalgia of that device.
(4)Jessica S.
Upon first arriving you notice the fantastic murals everywhere. Decor is great...candles burning, rusty tin ceiling. It was totally packed inside and a little chaotic. There were a few tables leaving but no one to bus them so it took a little time to get seated. The hostess felt bad and finally bussed a table herself for us. Waitress was right over to offer drinks, chips and salsa. Menu is small but looks interesting. I ordered the quarter chicken mole for $12.99. My wife ordered 3 pork tacos for $8.99. I checked out the dessert options, only chocolate cake and flan. Bummer. Food takes forever but they just opened so I'm guessing they are still working out the kinks. While we are waiting we notice the customers. I think we are the only people here (other than service) with tattoos. The restaurant is artistic and funky but the customers remind me of my childhood in south Tampa. Definitely a yuppie/bro vibe overall. Update. We've been waiting on food exactly one hour. The manager just came out and told us our ticket was lost so they are trying to get our food soon. Dinner came out. The pork tacos were simple but tasty. The chicken mole sauce was very good but the tiny bit of chicken, with a pile of mushy skin, left much to be desired. Next time I'm getting tacos and will just ask for some mole on the side. Rice and beans were ok. I would come back for the mole sauce...but I think I need to let some time go by for them to get things organized. Also, no toilet paper in the bathrooms. Lol this place is chaos.
(2)Jennifer V.
Second time here and so far it has been as good as the last. This chips are good but thierr homemade salsas are fabulous. Ordered the chilies rellanos and ceviche tostadas. The tosdatas were awesome the first time so its a favorite, good again too. Rellano was tasty but very little chicken, manager over heard me say something to hubby but I wasn't complaining offered to buy my meal but it wasn't like I didn't eat it. So a dessert will be great. My margarita isn't as strong this time but I guess depends on the bartender. Love the decor and the food, l we will be back and its right in the neighborhood. Always a plus because there is not much on the south side of town.
(4)Lisa P.
Excellent flavors. Great atmosphere. My new favorite in the Burg. The cheese dip is the best.
(5)Wayne S.
I'm tough on Mexican food. I grew up on it in Southern California. Our waiter attempted to "school" me on the topic, which was privately amusing. Grande's version is supposedly authentic, so you won't find burritos or fajitas. I'm okay with that, but the basic dishes they do offer are fairly plain and uninspired. The guacamole was pretty good. The best thing about this place from what I can tell is the bar. The mixed and frozen drinks are impressive. The decor is quite fun and entertaining. Other than some work on the menu, my only suggestion is that they improve the lighting in a few of the main dining areas. It's stark and a little harsh. Fun pendant lights (a cheap fix) would do wonders to make for a more inviting and intimate dining experience. Definitely a great happy hour venue.
(2)Arturo R.
I saw this place a few times and finally went and tried it. It is overwhelming how noisy it is in there, you can't even hear yourself thinking. And I guess neither can the waitresses cause they messed up our orders, and they also took forever to bring it out. Very disappointing. The food is alright nothing special to make me wanna deal with any of this again. Plus it's overpriced. I don't think I'll be coming back.
(1)Donna B.
We've been regular customers to El Gallo Grande and have brought friends and coworkers to the restaurant. Last night we found out that management has decided to penalize all customers because of a few bad apples. Our waiter cheerfully informed us (after we'd asked him why we weren't served tortilla chips and salsa, as in the past) that there are people who come in, order a glass of water and eat several helpings of the (formerly) free chips and salsa and don't order anything else and leave. Apparently, it hasn't occurred to management to take orders first and then serve chips and salsa, so they've decided that loyal, frequent customers should be treated with suspicion and duly penalized. Oddly enough, our waiter did tell us that several customers had complained about the no-more-free-tortilla-chips-and-salsa policy. Ring, ring management, pick up the clue phone. The other interesting justification for the new policy, according to our waiter, is that tomatoes are really expensive. Really? Note to management: one-third of the nation's tomatoes are grown in FL. The gringas which we've had before, lacked flavor and the portions had been downsized, as were my chicken enchiladas. The good news is that we have a plethora of really good Mexican restaurants. The bad news is that our desire to patronize this local business is over.
(1)Antony D.
On the plus side the Chili Releno was quite good and my wife enjoyed her chicken quesadia. On the down side I thought the margarita was terrible. Too sweet. Service was excellent. We will be back. I'll just stick with the Negro Modelo on draft!
(3)Dominique C.
The decor in this restaurant is cool and fresh. I love the murals and the sugar skulls. Even though it's a new restaurant, it has a lived in feel. This restaurant has been open for only a few days, and I visited on day two. Like in any new restaurant, the staff is still getting into its rhythm, and they have had to contend with huge crowds - the place has been packed! Some previous reviewers have been quick to criticize, but give it a week or two for them to work out the kinks. The food is yummy (get the enchiladas mole) and the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. The guacamole is among the best I've had, and can be customized to suit your taste (don't love cilantro? no problem!). We needed a fun, fresh Mexican restaurant in this city, and now we have one!
(5)T G.
Love everything!! Food is amazing atmosphere is like no other. I have never had better Mexican food and I have been to Mexico numerous times. Server was wonderful Elijiah he was super friendly and helpful. Even though food was a little bit slow ready not bad at all for a brand new place, when it came it was perfect. They said everything was made from scratch and they were not lying. Beautiful dishes. Manager was super friendly stopped by all of the tables to thank us for coming in. I will be back often and bring friends. Finally a great restaurant in the middle of the South Side.
(5)Pauline G.
First time at this place, and I must say I was very impressed. Went on a last minute lunch with a girlfriend and we both agreed that the food was wonderful. Our server initially was amazing but as the place started filling up we noticed a decline in service level and attention, which is to be expected I suppose so I'm not sure if that's a mark against them. I was surprised to find that most like Mexican restaurants they did NOT serve rice / beans with your meal - I ordered tacos and just got tacos. Server claims it's "how they do things in Mexico" I wonder if he knew we were in the US? They were absolutely delicious however. We also got an appetizer of guac and all I can say is holy guacamole!! It was so good, I can't even explain it. And the portion was huge. That along with the wonderful authentic salsa made up for the lack of side options. The menu was small and limited to a few selections, but they do it well. Oh, if you like spicy (and not your typical "yeah, this is really hot be careful" and then you get it and its as bland as lettuce) try the Habanero salsa, but just mix a little in your regular salsa - don't say you weren't warned! We didn't get drinks so I'm not sure how they are, according to the other yelpers not so hot but my water glass was always full if that justifies anything. Overall, I will certainly be back and will be bringing my hubby next time.
(4)Fred T.
Wow. We had a fantastic experience here. There were so many diverse choices on the menu. All of the things we tried were super fresh. The wait staff was very attentive and our food arrived quickly. We will definitely go back!
(5)Annie M.
Ordered take out and the food was killer. We'll definitely be going back. Portions were perfect and everything was cooked to order. Staff was friendly. Haven't had authentic Mexican since moving to Florida, that is until now.
(5)Tracey W.
Just returned from a trip to San Diego and finally got why so many people said there was no good Mexican food in St. Pete. Well -- there's a great Mexican place now. Really surprised about some of the reviews based on the service that we got. It's obvious that they are taking those reviews to heart. The hostess was super friendly, our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and the manager checked on us more than once. My date and I had margaritas (the first ones on the menu) and they were good. The food. Wow. The food. I had the chile rellenos and my date had the pork carnitas. I had two generous rellenos, one batter dipped. Fresh black beans and rice were the accompaniments. My date had the pork carnitas. As much as I loved my dinner, his was even better. The pork was incredibly tender and well flavored. The server encouraged us to come back, seemed apologetic regarding the small menu, and let us know they would be expanding and opening up for lunch soon. That they were working out the kinks. I don't see any need to expand the menu when the items that you have are this good, but I know some people would prefer a larger selection. Give this place a shot. There were no "kinks" to work out on this visit. I will definitely return.
(5)Mark M.
Nice little neighborhood jewel! Great design and great food. The guac is not to be missed.
(4)Rafael R.
I will never come back to this restaurant ever again. I decided to take my family out to dinner on 2-13-2015. When I arrived at the restaurant, the hostess told us it was going to be 30 minutes. We told her we would wait. In the 30 minutes that we waited, more customers showed up. Some told the hostess they will wait and some left. After the 30 minutes had passed, a Spanish family walks in. The hostess tells them it was going to take about forty minutes. The gentleman walks right in and spoke with the owner who graciously sits them down at a table. I asked the hostess what that was all about and she replied, "They are friends with the owner". The hostess went to the owner and told him that I had questioned the couple that just walked in. The owner comes over and tells me that they will have a table ready for us. Mind you, I have a baby waiting patiently for a seat. As we wait another couple gets seated before us and the hostess tell us they are not eating they are drinking. So lets sit the ones drinking and not the ones eating?!! I was so upset I told the hostess that we were not going to wait any more and I told her that this was BS and I was going to let everyone I know about the crappiest experience I've ever had. The owner comes over again after he heard me talking to the hostess. He tells me that my dinner is on him. That the kitchen was backed up and that they will not be able to have food ready for about an hour or two. I did not take my family out to a ridiculously failing place to get free food. All I wanted was to get a table and order my food, eat and pay. While we are outside, apparently some lady got fired because all the lady was screaming about was how they hired illegals to work in the kitchen and how she was going to call Immigration on them. I will never go back nor would I ever recommend anyone to this restaurant. The owner was such an A-HOLE that I am going to review and warn others of this crappy place
(1)Bud M.
Portions were small, prices were high, better flavor at Taco Bell. Not going to waste my time writing a lengthy bad review. I would recommend Red Mesa if your into upscale Mexican, but for the best food you still can't beat Mexico Lindo.
(1)Tim D.
We went there about month after they opened to allow the kinks to be worked out. The atmosphere was great, as well as the service. I got the chicken enchiladas, they flavorful and portioned appropriately. My wife got the mole and loved it. We have not been back, but will be going very soon.
(5)Terri D.
I absolutely adore this place! The decor and music are fantastic and all the servers and hostesses, especially Joanna, are cheerful and amazing.
(5)Kelly S.
The service was spot on and super friendly! The decor inside was beautiful, and the enchiladas mole was uniquely mouth-watering. Top it all off with unlimited salsa and a margarita and it's five stars!
(5)Megan C.
I just had amazing take out from El Gallo!The ceviche was so fresh and the zest of lime is the perfect addition! Definitely try the gringa tacos, tons of flavor!
(5)Mandy M.
Been wanting to try this place for a while and waited just a little too long. Night I was there things seemed discombobulated and the menu didn't have the items I'd read about in reviews. Overhead a waiter telling another table that the chef had recently quit, when those diners asked why the menu was so small and different. Enchiladas were fine, but nothing to write home about. Guacamole was huge chunks of avocado and tomato, so more of a avocado salad. Salsas were great, wish the rest was also. I predict they'll be gone within six months; it's just too out-of-the-way to be anything less that extraordinary.
(2)Chris H.
A few disclaimers before I write this: 1: I am super picky about Mexican food (or as the case may american/mexican) 2:I I don't want to write this review because I don't want to ever not be able to get a table 3: I'm writing it anyway because I know that in order to stay open they have to have customers Now...this was the second time I've been here and I totally meant to write a review after the first time, but completely spaced on that. It's slightly off the beaten path of downtown St. Petersburg, but totally worth seeking out. First impression is that it looks like a remodeled shanty from the outside, as soon as you enter though, you are greeted with some fantastic wall murals/art. Their salsa has an applaudable kick to it in terms of heat, and a nice roasted flavor. their chips are thin, crispy, and well seasoned. For an appetizer I had the queso Blanco the first time...not a fan, it has a bit too much parmigiano flavor, which clashes against the Mexican palette. This time however I had the queso fundido fully loaded, and that was excellent. Without question they have the best red enchilada sauce I've had, possibly ever. First time I had "the El Rey" basically a meat stuffed Chili Relleno wrapped in an overstuffed burrito covered in either the red enchilada sauce, or salsa Verde and it is quite tasty, and 2 meals for a guy that's 6'5". This time around I had the Pollo con mole. The flavors of the mole sauce were spot on, it was, however, a bit over seasoned. Refried beans are particularly excellent here, seasoned well, and topped with queso fresco. Prices here are in line with my expectations, service is excellent, and they have a couple local craft brews on tap which is always a big perk in my book...overall I'd recommend this, absolutely every day, to everyone...the small complaints I had don't detract from the overall dining experience, and honestly they're just nitpicking trying to find something negative so that this doesn't seem like a "too good to be a real review" type thing. I've been a chef for several years, and an avid food dork, I know the good from the bad, and this is the real deal good.
(5)Kelleigh M.
This place has a lot going for it. Wonderful decor, great good and friendly servers. What it's lacking is location. It's pretty much in the hood. We visited at lunch time and were 1 of I or 2 tables. The chips and salsa were brought immediately and were good but nothing great. The salsa was sort of runny with not a ton of flavor. But the grilled fish tacos were wonderful. The fresh cheese, pico and aioli made them top notch and would bring me back for more. Sadly I do not know of this location can sustain this business and they may do better if they relocate elsewhere.
(4)Mike M.
Great atmosphere Great food splendid soft shell tacos with cilantro, onions and radishes gratifying guacamole exceptional enchiladas sapid salsa Good service Pricier than other mexican restaurants but worth it
(5)Mark P.
El Gallo Grande has the best decor that I've ever seen in a Mexican restaurant and one of the best of any restaurant in Tampa Bay. The outside artwork draws you in with a finger pointing to That Mexican Place and a painting of El Gallo Grande (Eng: The Large...Rooster) and the interior was inspired by Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Kudos to whoever was in charge of that! However, that is where the compliments stop. The service was really slow, even though there were two waiters attending to us. The food was even slower. Over a half hour wait for our food and there were only two other tables occupied. But that gave us time to look around at the cool decor. Right before we were about to walk out, our order arrived. We just ordered your standard tacos with rice and beans; however, the food did not live up to my expectations as it was all pretty bland. It was evident that this is not an authentic Mexican restaurant when I asked the non-Mexican waitress if they had horchata and she gave me a puzzled look not knowing what it was. Would I go back again? Most likely not unless I was with a friend who really wanted to see the interior.
(2)Amy A.
I really, really, really like this place. Best Mexican I have had in this area. Great lunch prices, vibrant decor, and great bar area. I plan on going back just to sit at the bar and try more specials. I was here with a group of coworkers celebrating a retirement for lunch. I would not say we are the easiest group to please and every single person had their drink refilled to their liking, which is not always a given with a big group in a busy restaurant, and also loved their lunch. The prices are very reasonable and the food is as authentic Mexican as I have had in Florida. Our group consisted of people from five different countries and every one of us (there were 12) said they would be back on their own time with family or friends. I would recommend the ceviche, tacos, chili rellenos, and try the specials!
(4)Dorene M.
So I reviewed El Gallo Grande during their soft opening and waited 3 months to go back. On this visit the service was much better but the food is just ok. When we dined there the first time, the salsa was delicious so go we decided when we go back we each would get a container to take home. The salsa was nothing like the first time, now it's soupy and lacks flavor, a serious disappointment. I ordered the tamale special with chicken and red sauce and black beans. The tamales were dry , not soft , moist or tender but at least they were hot. The flavor was ok. As for the beans, they had good flavor but they weren't hot, the inconsistency seems to still be an issue. My friends enchilada's were good and hot, very flavorfull and not over cooked. The rice nothing too interesting, yellow rice with some peas and carrots thrown, not much creativity there. I probably won't be back, very underwhelming.
(3)Marinda H.
2nd visit The pace of the meal was much better this visit however the food didn't wow me as much. The guacamole didn't seem homemade and was not made table side as the menu indicated. And the red sauce which smothered our enchiladas and burrito had way way way too much chipotle in it resulting in a sauce that tasted like a wet band aid vs. the smooth smoky flavor from our last visit - needed to be cut with sour cream to be edible - bummer. Their chips and salsa are wonderful and glad the server mentioned we could try more than the red - the verde salsa is awesome. We also tried some happy hour drinks - the cucumber & cilantro margarita was so light and refreshing, however the Fire & Ice margarita was like eating a raw hot pepper and undrinkable - only for those with an iron stomach/palate. Our server had obviously never tried it when he said it was not hot - a $10 lie that we paid for. I love the restaurant conceptually so I hope they continue to iron out the issues. This should be a 3 star rating but it's a 4 because I haven't thrown in the towel yet.
(4)Yuri K.
The menu is not crazy expensive, but it is completely overpriced for what it is. I couldn't tell if they were going for a family-style restaurant or a cantina-style hangout. Ample seating and decent service. The booth seats have this strange, buffalo-textured backing, which freaked me out when I felt it on my sleeveless arm. As for the food, the carne asada tacos were OK. And I wasn't questioning what kind of meat was in the chicken taco or anything. There are better places in town to get tacos, but the ones I tried here weren't bad. Everything seemed kind of sweet to me. My friends and I joked that the "table side" guacamole was not actually table side. We missed out on the theatrical aspect. But it was non-offensive in flavor with lots of lime, salt, cilantro. Beware: off-menu margaritas = double the price of regular margaritas and not worth it (only because the regular margarita is pretty good as is)
(2)Peter S.
Very, very happy I tried this wonderful cantina. It seems they have a new chef and my first meal here was amazing. If you are a connoisseur of Mexican cuisine please try this place. I had veggie enchiladas w green sauce and it was flavorful and complex and not watery like most other Mexican veggie dishes around town. Im so impressed and happy to find this gem. My partner had chicken enchiladas with red sauce and refried beans. The red sauce reminded me of the sauce an immigrant woman I worked with used to make for potlucks. I know I am shamelessly gushing but if you read my other reviews then you will know that it's not typical. The bartender Iris is very helpful and was a great server. Also one more thing, I want to mention the spicy margarita. It is now my new favorite drink in town. It has cilantro jalapeño and (I believe) cucumber and it is amazing.
(5)Kansas R.
Great food, great decor, salsa is fresh, portions are in the smaller side. Service always good.
(4)Jenn C.
Pros: clean restaurant, friendly staff, good food, interesting decor/atmosphere Cons: limited menu, watered down margaritas, a bit pricey
(3)Jennifer N.
So good! Every time I go I leave stuffed and with leftovers. Love this place!
(5)Patrick L.
It pains me update my review negatively, but it needs to be said: El Gallo Grande, you desperately need to replace your floor manager. This was my 5th visit and this time we brought our neighboring family, so we had a party of 10. But, only 5 adults and no bar drinks. Even then, it took 30 minutes -- literally -- for the guacamole to come out. When the dinner was finally served about another 20 minutes later, it came out in 3 sets, the last being 10 minutes behind the 2nd set. My sweet 11 year old daughter patiently waited and waited for her steak taquitos, which was the same thing 2 of my other kids ordered, save for different meat. Additionally, all the children's orders came out like apps, completely missing the beans and rice. So those had to be rushed. Was the food good? Yeah sure, but the service and the kitchen timing were both train wrecks. Consequently, there's no way I'm going there again with any more than 2 people. Even then, I'll ask for Cody, who was our wonderful server when I introduced my wife to the restaurant and its owner. Carlina, please fix the mess ASAP or else it's going to destroy something I know can be much better.
(3)Michael F.
Waiter was really nice and the food was just ok. I guess eating real Mexican food in Mexico kind of spoiled me, but I just wasn't impressed. It wasn't terrible, just wasn't great. Just don't get the desert, I was very disappointed by it. The flan was bad, the chocolate cake was even worse. Stale and just seemed like it was store bought at publix and had been sitting out for a couple of days.
(3)Virginia G.
I'm rating on the high side as it's more of a 3.5 but... Fellow Yelper Scott H and P.E.M. and I ventured here in a Saturday evening to check out the new digs. We expected it to be a full house given the parking challenges but the place was quite empty. I ordered a cactus pear margarita, scott got the traditional version and PEM a beer. My margarita was delicious but as others have stated very weak and very sweet. Ordered some chips and salsa as they are not complimentary. The salsa was a nice fire roasted salsa with a touch of heat. Decided to get some queso as well and it was a very weak example of queso. Made with mozzarella so it was very stringy and although tasted eh ok belonged more on a pizza than a tortilla chip. For dinner scott ordered the tinga tacos. ..spicy chicken 3 per order. PeM had the churassco ..served with rice and beans and an odd folded tortilla with green salsa on it... and I had the enchiladas with red green and white sauce. Although everything was ok...nothing wowed and the portions for the guys seemed awfully small. My portion was fine though. Ordered a second margarita which came out even more cloyingly sweet than the first so that was enough of that. Would we go back? Well the place is awfully cute...the servers were nice...probably go back for beers and snacks...not sure about the rest though.
(4)James S.
Wow...!!!! What a awesome place to enjoy a great Mexican dinner and drinks. The wife and I love the queso funido... And the wet burrito . This is our third time here and will keep coming back for more.
(5)Kristy S.
If you've written this place off, now is the time to reevaluate this gem and give it a second, third, or even fourth chance...We have been going here since they first opened. It has definitely had its ups and downs, menu changes, cook changes and etc. We were to the point of writing this place off completely and did for several months. However, we saw some updated recent reviews and decided to give it ONE LAST CHANCE... So glad we did! The chef/cook is really on key now and the menu, while we hear will change again, is quite good. The Carne Asada has always been my favorite and it has been a disappointment in the past but is back to being delicious! My husband gets the 3 tacos and they were very fresh and flavorful. The margaritas are good again as the chips and salsa which have gone back to being complimentary. Then there's Amy... She is one dedicated server who has been there since the restaurant opened and is very attentive. She has such belief in the place and it's good to see someone who believes in their product. I'm back to having high hopes for this place and hope the momentum continues.
(5)Alex P.
The vibe on this place is "current" and they are busy which speaks volumes for a Mexican / TexMex restaurant. The fresh salsa and chips set the tone for the rest of the meal. Li recommend this as a destination location worth repeating
(5)Amy G.
Wow, a hidden gem. Food is delicious, prices are reasonable and drinks are freshly made. Don't forget to ask for the fish of the day! There are also items available not on the menu, such as ceviche. Love that they make Guacamole table side.
(5)sean h.
I recommend the shrimp Diablo & guacamole ! The margarita's have always been pretty good. Enjoy looking at the art on the walls reminds me of back home in CA. But, FL still needs some work on their Mexican food.
(4)Christina C.
I'm not an expert on Mexican food, but I seriously enjoyed this place! First of all I was surprised how clean and full this place was given its location. It was about 6 on a Saturday and it was pretty busy. They have parking in the front and in the back, so you never have to worry about getting a spot. Inside, the place is really cute! There is great artwork on the wall and the place is pretty bright. I really enjoyed the chips and salsa they give every table. Our server was really on point and came to check on us a good amount of time. I ended up getting the chicken enchilada. At first when it came out I thought there wasn't a lot of food, but boy was I wrong. The beans and rice really fills you up and the three enchiladas, although not large, are filling. I really loved the corn tortillas. They don't give you a ridiculous amount of food, but it is a good amount for the prices. Although I didn't try it, I may have to come back for their $5 margaritas! Seriously check this place out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Joseph S.
Have been 2x now and both were excellent for veg heads and carnivores alike. The veggie tacos were a great balance to the "way too much chips and salsa" I consumed upon arrival....Wrapped in lettuce they were quite flavorful. Next time I think I will ask if they could add some fresh diced Jalapeños to turn up the heat a bit. The guacamole also very good. I would toss in some fresh diced poblano and serrano chilies to introduce some warmth, as well as more cilantro....but that is just my taste as it good "as is" Veggie enchiladas with the green sauce were also delicious the fresh red onions were a nice addition vs a white or yellow. The Salsas: House was VERY tasty, enjoyed the smokey aspect but too mild. The green also had a super flavor too mild. The mild was okay would prefer a more chunky consistency it was a bit like Tomato sauce. The "hot" with arbol chilies was not and had an odd "metal" taste. The Habanero was also "not hot" but did have a good flavor. The perfect combo would be the "house salsa" with the habanero heat AND the green salsa with added Serrano chilies. I think next visit I will try mixing the habanero salsa with the "house salsa" in search on some smokey heat. Hmmmm The cocktails are a whole other story and too long for this review.... but a good one and all that I tried are worth a repeat! We will be back for more AND love the location!!!
(4)Maci P.
My favorite Mexican place in Tampa bay. I would definitely recommend the margaritas or the sangritas. The taste is fresh and you can tell it's not the premade stuff. Also, the burritos. The best burrito I think I've ever had. It tasted so clean and the veggies were fresh and the burrito itself was not greasy whatsoever. The prices are great for the portion sizes. The salsa and guac are soooooo good too!! Must try.
(5)Julianna J.
Great Green sauce! Nice flavor to their Spanish rice, Shredded chicken, & their Mole was the most authentic this Texas Gal has found in Florida, nice and Smokey, not too sweet! Everything we ordered had beautiful presentation too. Their custom margaritas have very intriguing flavors and coordinating rimmers! Yes, it is a little pricy, but I'm okay keeping excellent places in our neighborhood special.
(4)Trace W.
Underwhelming and grossly over priced. The first appetizer on the menu is "chips & salsa", your first clue to bolt. The entrees are a la carte, meaning rice and choice of beans are extra, second clue to bolt. When the always free chips and salsa arrive, they are straight out of a Sysco bag and the salsa is flavorless, third clue to bolt. The highly boasted about carnitas arrives with the extra retried beans and rice and it wasn't nuked long enough, cold and seriously lacking any expected Mexican bam, fourth clue to bolt. I stuck it out because I had a Creative Loathing deal, though highly doubt I will return.
(2)Leni H.
Folks, we've got a winner... this place is awesome! Went there for the first time today and it exceeded my expectations. We arrived just after they opened on a Saturday (they are currently running limited hours, 3-10pm since they just officially opened several days ago). Its location is not ideal, but I understand this is probably an 'up-and-coming' neighborhood and I'm assuming these guys are pioneers with great insight. Ian, our server, was a joy. He greeted us at the front door with a smile and took great care of us without skipping a beat throughout the entire visit. We explained the three various types of craft margaritas they were featuring - all incredibly delicious (yes, we tried all three ;) - especially the Diablo, which was a sweet & spicy margarita that included muddled pineapple and jalepenos. It was unlike anything I've ever tasted and it was phenomenal! On to the food: house-made chips and salsa were bountiful. The staff always made sure we had enough. My husband ordered the Tampiquena Steak and I had the Carnitas entree. Both were fresh, had great flavor and were generously portioned (without being excessive). This is authentic and delicious mexican food! They have homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, and several different salsas to choose from. I appreciate their attention to quality ingredients and flavor (even the re-fried beans were perfectly seasoned). I would highly recommend this place to anyone. We plan to go back again soon! Great job and welcome to the 'Burg!
(5)Steve P.
Great new place. Very friendly owner he made a quick kids meal for my kid. I had the mole enchiladas good good. The chips and guacamole were great. So far all the food looks great and this seems to be a gem in the rough. Much better than Taco Bus Roach motel.... And I didn't even find a zip tie in my food here, like the Roach coach.
(5)Dave D.
Reheated food is not what I expected. The ambiance was cool, service good, but my food sucked. I ordered the enchiladas and they were very dry. The refried beans and rice became permanent fixtures to my plate before my first bite. I think I'll skip this place next time and head to VIPs. When a restaurant changes menus 8 times and owners twice in one year, this is what you get.
(1)Jay T.
I was tempted to try this restaurant after several Facebook friends checked in there. I guess the greatest advertising is word of mouth. The location is a bit out of the way so I was hoping the food was good enough to make it a destination. The outside is inviting and the decor is fun and invites conversation. However the mark of restaurant is the food not the decor. The chips and salsa were delicious. The chips were obviously fresh and not greasy. The salsa isn't chunky but is full of flavor. It didn't need heat to build it's profile. The queso was a bit difficult to enjoy but definitely spot on Both my dining companion and myself chose the taquitos. I opted for the potato and chorizo while she went with chicken. I will admit the portions are a bit small but all in all they were tasty. To address other concerns, the menu is small but that is so the staff can concentrate on a new opening. Apparently the menu will be expanding. The servers were extremely friendly and attentive. Only criticism....while the blood orange margarita was delicious, the portion was way too small for the price. All in all....with an expanded menu and larger portion sizes this could be a home run. It's worth a revisit in the next couple of months.
(4)Kurtis K.
A CL Deal brought me from South Tampa over to south St Pete and the first thing you notice when you pull up is the decor...and it's loud and fantastic! That decor doesn't stop outside, the inside matches perfectly and I hope they compensated the painter very well because the work is exquisitely funky. When we sat, I mentioned I had a CL Deal and pulled it up on my phone. The waiter told me that it had to be printed out. Knowing that wasn't the case and that since the restaurant was new and unfamiliar with CL Deals, I asked for the manager to come out. After a few minutes of discussing it, it resulted in me e-mailing so they could print. I did explain there was directions on the CL Deal with a phone number to call and validate. Oh well. The manager/owner, however, was very professional and super nice...and recommended dishes for us to try. I had the enchiladas and personally I wasn't wowed by the taste...BUT, everyone at my table loved their entree so maybe I was just a little off that night. The fresh margarita was on point and made up for the distaste in my meal. Overall, I'll give this place benefit of doubt and 4 stars and would certainly make the drive to try again. While we were there, the credit card systems shut down...which was interesting because I thought I'd get to see one of those old school "shhhik...shhiick" sliding credit card devices! Moments later, power came back on so I will have to wait another day to experience the nostalgia of that device.
(4)Jessica S.
Upon first arriving you notice the fantastic murals everywhere. Decor is great...candles burning, rusty tin ceiling. It was totally packed inside and a little chaotic. There were a few tables leaving but no one to bus them so it took a little time to get seated. The hostess felt bad and finally bussed a table herself for us. Waitress was right over to offer drinks, chips and salsa. Menu is small but looks interesting. I ordered the quarter chicken mole for $12.99. My wife ordered 3 pork tacos for $8.99. I checked out the dessert options, only chocolate cake and flan. Bummer. Food takes forever but they just opened so I'm guessing they are still working out the kinks. While we are waiting we notice the customers. I think we are the only people here (other than service) with tattoos. The restaurant is artistic and funky but the customers remind me of my childhood in south Tampa. Definitely a yuppie/bro vibe overall. Update. We've been waiting on food exactly one hour. The manager just came out and told us our ticket was lost so they are trying to get our food soon. Dinner came out. The pork tacos were simple but tasty. The chicken mole sauce was very good but the tiny bit of chicken, with a pile of mushy skin, left much to be desired. Next time I'm getting tacos and will just ask for some mole on the side. Rice and beans were ok. I would come back for the mole sauce...but I think I need to let some time go by for them to get things organized. Also, no toilet paper in the bathrooms. Lol this place is chaos.
(2)Jennifer V.
Second time here and so far it has been as good as the last. This chips are good but thierr homemade salsas are fabulous. Ordered the chilies rellanos and ceviche tostadas. The tosdatas were awesome the first time so its a favorite, good again too. Rellano was tasty but very little chicken, manager over heard me say something to hubby but I wasn't complaining offered to buy my meal but it wasn't like I didn't eat it. So a dessert will be great. My margarita isn't as strong this time but I guess depends on the bartender. Love the decor and the food, l we will be back and its right in the neighborhood. Always a plus because there is not much on the south side of town.
(4)Lisa P.
Excellent flavors. Great atmosphere. My new favorite in the Burg. The cheese dip is the best.
(5)Wayne S.
I'm tough on Mexican food. I grew up on it in Southern California. Our waiter attempted to "school" me on the topic, which was privately amusing. Grande's version is supposedly authentic, so you won't find burritos or fajitas. I'm okay with that, but the basic dishes they do offer are fairly plain and uninspired. The guacamole was pretty good. The best thing about this place from what I can tell is the bar. The mixed and frozen drinks are impressive. The decor is quite fun and entertaining. Other than some work on the menu, my only suggestion is that they improve the lighting in a few of the main dining areas. It's stark and a little harsh. Fun pendant lights (a cheap fix) would do wonders to make for a more inviting and intimate dining experience. Definitely a great happy hour venue.
(2)Arturo R.
I saw this place a few times and finally went and tried it. It is overwhelming how noisy it is in there, you can't even hear yourself thinking. And I guess neither can the waitresses cause they messed up our orders, and they also took forever to bring it out. Very disappointing. The food is alright nothing special to make me wanna deal with any of this again. Plus it's overpriced. I don't think I'll be coming back.
(1)R. D.
Third time here, each time has been great. This trip I had some very specific requests due to diet. My waiter Derrick went to the kitchen and they came up with an excellent salad dressing that fit the bill. Piece of grilled grouper was a 10! Service was a 10 as well.
(5)Kath M.
Wickedly good . Had no idea place existed. Variety of veggie, meat, and fish dishes at great prices. Friendly, helpful service. Will recommend to friends. And will go back again.
(5)Brelan E.
Great little Mexican place. Great environment and nice staff. Good comes out pretty quick, looks and taste great. Hidden jewel of St.Pete
(5)TJ R.
Don't go on Sundays. I want to like this place but they won't let me. Tonight was the third time after two "eh" trips. The food is good. The presentation is very bad. The taste of the house margaritas is a selling point, however, you get 4 oz of ice and probably 3 oz of actual margarita if you're lucky. The service is not good. There is no accountability from management or servers. I was told "It's not my fault, guys." tonight (8/24/14) that I had to wait over an hour for food. I never received my refried beans and rice so that made it sting a little more to be overpaying for a mediocre experience. I wanted this place to open and be awesome but it seems like all they did was open. More classic dishes need to be added, prices need to be evaluated and customer service and staffing needs some serious attention. I may give it a shot after some time has passed when the kinks may be worked out. I have no intention of going back until I hear something different. Even then it's going to be hard to drag me in there. Again, this is a bummer because I want to like this place and give them my money AND feel good about it.
(1)James W.
Was an ok experience. The guacamole was great while the salsa was not. If you're a dull white guy, order the Chili Relleno. Very bland with very little chicken. Came with Black Bland Beans and a fishy tasting tomato rice? Lauren, our server, was very pleasant and accommodating. Might give it another try, just to be sure, but not in the forceable future.
(3)Paulie V.
I suppose I've been taking most restaurants for granted. I expected servers to know what comes with my meal, to actually show up more than once to take the order and have someone else deliver the food. El gallo grande seems more like el gallo with it's head cut off. Not organized, food was okay but they brought my rice and beans at the end with my bill when I asked if it came with rice when my food was originally brought to me. No drink menu, so I had no idea of their selection on anything like soda, juices, specialty drinks or beer on tap. Amateur hour is from open to close. Seems like everyone reviewing really wants to like this place and el gallo is not making it very easy. I give it 6 months unless they want to lose even more money. Oh yea, watch out for the paintings on the wall, lawsuit waiting to happen. One fell off the wall and onto someone's table.
(1)Ragon R.
It's "that" Mexican place! The food is great, always hot and fresh. I love the chicken taquitos and the salsa. The decor is amazing, painted by St. Pete's own Vitale Brothers.
(4)Todd C.
Wonderful surprise real authentic Tex-mex. food. Beautiful orginal Mexican decor w a flare of orginallity design. Great margaritas and excellent guacamole and salsa. Order the carnitas you won't be disappointed. Such a nice surprise for ST. PETE. ENJOY
(4)Tami F.
Atmosphere is great. Awesome waitress. Food was not that good. Queso was way To thick and meat in taco tasted odd. Had a serious stomach ache that evening. Won't be going back.
(2)Chago R.
Disclaimer: my first visit here was with about 20 other people for my bday, so we kinda dropped a big load onto this very new restaurant. That said... This visit was a big disappointment. Our waitresses seemed like they weren't sure what to do the whole time. Orders were taken at what seemed like a totally random pattern. I got my food when other friends were getting their checks. Seemed like most of my fellow guests didn't enjoy the meals once they got them. I got grouper and both it and the rice it sat on were way too crunchy. I'd like to return maybe sometime later and see if anything has improved buuut I'm worried it will just be a waste of money and time.
(1)Casey C.
Excellent chicken tortilla soup! You can tell it's made from scratch (and it is!), the flavors are amazing! The salsa us also outstanding, it's got enough heat to keep me happy but not light me on fire. I will be a regular here!
(5)C A.
So good to find Miguel Espinoza (chef) again. I'd call his dishes gourmet Mexican food, quality not quantity. My margarita mostly ice yet tasty. The fish ceviche was loaded with tomatoes avocado and fish. Eaten with chips and I was satiated. Dining partner ordered queso fundido with poblano and 3 tacos. These tacos are basically meat and tortilla which is the way they should be, in my humble opinion. So happy to find Miguel again but too far to go on a regular basis
(4)Ashley J.
Just visited tonight at 6pm for the first time. It was a terrible experience. And here is why: -we got there at 6pm and didn't get our food till about 7:20pm. -one plate came out about 15mins before the rest of our party got their order. It was a plate of nachos so there was no reason to even plate that order till the rest was ready. -we had to sit at a "high top" table in the middle (we were a party of four) and had random couples next to us. The seats are very small and uncomfortable. Not conducive to sitting forever for your meal Service was terrible. It seems the servers are all brand new to being a server. Took forever to get a refill on waters and they ran out of coke before 730pm. Won't be back again.
(1)Julie M.
Bad service, okay food. Bar was slow and they were out of many wines/beers and no clean wine glasses?? This was a Wednesday! Limited menu. Only one salad on the menu and it was a Ceasar - horrible! I will not go back...
(1)Keith N.
Finally authentic Mexican. Haven't found a really good Mexican joint since I moved from New York. Now I have. Excellent food and great decor. Gotta try the Margaritas. Little pricey but worth every penny.
(5)Andrew W.
WAY overpriced for Mexican food. It'll be funny when the new taco bell opens one block away. Lower cost Mexican fast food and about the same quality.
(1)Clifton F.
We ordered enchiladas, carnitas, chips, salsa and guacamole. All of the food was excellent. The server, host & hostess were very friendly. Tried 3 margaritas and the Rosa Sabrosa was her favorite. The Desperado was deliciously hot as well. I would recommend tou stop by and give them a try.
(4)Jen P.
We've been here twice now. They have made their menu smaller and still don't have all their margarita or beer choices on the menu (had to ask the waiter for a list and he handed me a folded-up typewritten list from his pocket). For the portion size, I think the prices are a tad on the high side, especially the $9.50 margarita I had that came out in a tumbler. The beer you ask? It was almost room temperature. That's not the way I want to drink my Dos Equis Amber or my Negro Modelo. While the ambiance is spectacular and the wait staff friendly and attentive, there just weren't enough menu choices and ground beef isn't even an option. Our (soft-only) tacos came out with shredded meat and lettuce only - no cheese or other veggies. The taquitos were delicious, but really small and the ones on the bottom were soggy by the time I ate the ones stacked on top. I will say the salsa is great, as are the chips but you have to pay extra if you want the spicy salsa. Really? So you can get your mild stuff for free, but because I like a little heat, I have to pay extra? Lame. I've never been to another Mexican joint that did this. All-in-all, a little too pricey, a tad to froo-froo for the area, and the ambiance doesn't make up for it the way you wish it could after you get the tab. Since this place is in my neck of the woods, I was REALLY hoping for more.
(2)Dawn D.
Great food. Awesome handcrafted margaritas. They need to NOT allow electric cigs at BAR when employees friends are taking up all bar seats...
(3)Hassan S.
This place has gone downhill. It is such a shame because my boyfriend and I were looking forward to some authentic Mexican food within the downtown area. We have been here a few times and the initial visits were really promising. They had a few things to work out from a service perspective, but I felt the food was on par and very fresh. Since those initial visits, my experience here has not been favorable. It seems that the operations of this place has some constraints which has now impacted the food quality. They have completely dumb down their menu. The mole dish is gone. The pescado was not printed on the menu but the server said it was still available although it did not taste like the original. The tacos were lacking flavor. We tried the carne, chicken and ground beef tacos and felt the meat was lacking seasoning. We did enjoy the salsa verde which accompanied the tacos and added some much needed flavor. When I asked the server what was going on, she mentioned that they were transitioning menus. This seems to be the theme of this place, specifically since they had a closure and reopening within the course of this year. Oh and I must mention that on a prior occasion we were turned away because apparently the kitchen had crashed. I wish they would have stayed true to their original concept and worked on the service and their cocktail program, which needs an overhaul. Unfortunately, I do not think they will last.
(3)Rep D.
We really love El Gallo Grande. The food is excellent and a great value. I love the skirt steak and my wife likes the vegetarian options. The margaritas are excellent and freshly prepared - no terrible "sour mix" here. A good happy hour with cheap Three Daughters on tap. The atmosphere is great as well - not overdone and with a good layout. The service has always been good, even with large groups. All in all, a great addition to St. Pete and one of our favorite restaurants.
(4)Curt S.
This place has a "Jeckle and Hyde" personality.... and until they get their act together I'm not going back. Had a great experience for lunch just after new chef and boss took over then went back a couple days later in the evening and the service was crappy and no employees cared about anything ... including the cook... and calling that person a cook is being EXTREMELY generous! Everyone at our table that had ground beef (and one who never asked fro ground beef) got some over cooked / crusty / cool meat product. The waitress screwed up the drink orders big time. The menu is small... not much of a selection and too expensive for what you get.. Decor is "fun" but that's all I've got to say for this last trip
(2)Lisa M.
My husband and I have been there twice together and he has been there a few times alone. This place is a gem off the beaten path in St. Petersburg. Both times I was pleasantly surprised by not only the excellent service (three cheers for Virginia behind the bar) but the rest of the staff is VERY attentive and polite. We always sit at the bar to dine and I can't say enough nice things about this place. It is new and so they are going thru the newbie stage but as a foodie from way back, I believe they are trying their best. The food is delicious and fresh. Someone complained below about the chips and salsa not being free. So what? They are freshly made and the salsa is delicious! What you don't finish, they box up and send you home with. Made a great snack the next day. Portions are large and plenty to split if you are on a budget. I highly recommend this place and we will certainly be back. Keep up the good work!
(4)Susan D.
I was looking forward to this place because restaurants in the south end are lacking. I honestly can't say the food was all that great. Not much kick or flavor. There are too many Nexican places in the area, so there's competition. I suggest revamping the menu.
(2)Jared R.
WORST Service WOW small portions the atmosphere is great! Drinks expensive. Just not a good experience. Daniel is the worst waiter. Very disappointing situation.
(1)Chuck R.
Only giving it 3 stars due to service. The food was good, but service took the experience way down. With only about 5 tables of people, we ordered our food only to receive it not complete. We had to actually show the waiter their menu to show what the entrée came with. Twice we were given the excuse that it was a new menu and the kitchen wasn't used to it. Sorry, but that's a lame excuse. If you're running a restaurant - my first intuition is that you get your staff to know and possibly memorize the menu. Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but being a major foodie I have high expectations. I may or may not try this place again - we'll see.
(3)Tom M.
Not sure what happened to cause the shakeup where they were closed for two weeks but the changes they decided to make made things worse not better. Food quality is way down, prices are higher, menu was pretty ghetto, and service was a hot mess. Really disappointed as I really wanted this place to work but won't likely be back anytime soon. Oh yeah and last time I checked tableside prepared guacamole is supposed be prepared tableside not taste like came out of a package.
(1)Kia G.
This is the first time I tried this place and I was really impressed, the food was very tasty...I wouldn't say authentic. ..but still good. Service was great (a smidge sugary sweet) but it's better than having some angry b as a waitress. The only thing is that the restaurant is in the hood. I grew up in this neighborhood and would never come here at night lol. Happy dining
(5)Tracy A.
Been back and it seems to be going down. The service and value have both declined. We will still go back because the food is pretty decent. Cool ambiance. Great margaritas, but they are literally two gulps for $13.
(3)Tony R.
Cool Place. I love the decor inside and the people are great. I met the manager and owner who were both fabulous. The chips and salsa were tasty and the carnitas tacos were great. The order consists of 3 tacos with corn tortillas. A perfect meal for lunch that is not to filling. I want to go back to try the Chile Rellenos for dinner as that was not on the lunch menu. Bueno.
(4)Alex E.
Very much enjoyed my torta for lunch. Love the art inside.
(4)Renee K.
Second time in was Soooooo much better! Kinks definitely getting worked out. Very customer friendly owners that really want to please everyone. Guacamole is a must try!
(4)Ziya K.
I really wanted to like this place. As said before it is definitely over priced, perhaps for a reason. I sat at the bar for literally 15 minutes before I had to ask the manager for assistance. Finally when the manager came to me, at the exact same time, the bartender asked me if my friend and I have been helped. Yeah we had a round of beers comped, even though I asked for margaritas. They got our order wrong; nachos and a quesadilla turned into nachos and enchiladas. However, on the plus side, the food was very good despite everything.
(2)Barbara D.
This was our first visit to El Gallo Grande. The service was excellent, starting when we walked in the door. We ordered the house Margaritas, which were good, if a little on the small side. My husband ordered the carnitas and I had the chicken enchiladas. Both were excellent. Only mine came with a side of black beans and rice, but it was more than enough to share. Some of the reviews I read complained about the lack of free chips and salsa, but we actually enjoyed our dinners more because we had not filled up on chips beforehand. All in all it was a great dinner. We will be back
(5)Eddie B.
I'm surprised by some of the bad reviews. I think people need to cut some slack for a brand new restaurant! Our server (Desiree) was extremely attentive, water glasses and chips and salsa refilled without even asking. Food was hot and fresh and timed just right!! I had the Chile Rellenos and they may have been the best I've ever had. Will definitely be back.
(4)Sylvester M.
I like this place, great ambience, great food, and reasonable prices. They make everything in house but the tortillas for the nachos. The interior is done really well, almost like an artist owns the place. The staff was excellent as well the service top notch. The only hang up I have with this place is really not the restaurant's fault. I went there for lunch and I pulled into the parking lot while talking on my cell phone on a business call(I know I shouldn't do that). While still on the phone I got out of the car and was greeted by someone wanting money. Since I didn't get off my phone and ignored him, he cursed at me so loudly the person on the phone asked where I was at. I made sure to sit inside where I could see my car out the glass block windows. I mentioned it to the staff. Then as I was leaving someone else came up looking for money. I just jumped in my car and drove off while receiving a glare because I didn't stick around to hear what I am sure was a great story of tragedy and need. This place is in a very rough side of town, which doesn't bother me. I would never let my girlfriend go here by herself, especially at night.
(4)Rodney R.
Great food! Nice staff, friendly people. Atmosphere is awesome true mexican with a flare.
(5)Brian L.
We are mexican food snobs and we love it here. We ate here twice during a 24 hour trip. Service, food and prices are great. The queso fundido and carnitas are wondeful as are the margaritas and salsa. We will certainly be back on our next visit.
(5)Winter R.
Not a bad place. My family actually thought the food was wonderful (some other reviews have posted about the food not being good). My family loves Mexican food and although this wasn't the traditional hole in the wall place, it was still good. Our waiter was attentive, our food came quickly and everything tasted fresh and wonderful. The portions were smaller than we expected but we filled up on yummy chips and salsa. The menus left a little to be desired but we all found something. This place is not one of those authentic mom and pop Mexican places, but the food is still good.
(4)Eric S.
Friendly staff. Good food. The bar leaves a lot to be desired, but it's decent. This place is one of the best Mexican restaurants in St Pete.
(5)Michele M.
What a fantastic surprise! This Mexican restaurant far surpasses what others have written. Authentic tastes from an actual Mexican chef. No ground beef tacos for those expecting the Mex-American usual. This place has the best fish tacos I have ever tried and pulled pork carnitas are to die for... if you dare. Wait staff knowledgable and prices are reasonable. This was the first of many visits to come. Left too full to adventure into deserts but heard they are as good as the rest of the menu.
(5)Brian D.
I've been looking forward to the opening of this new Mexican place since a photo of their mural first ran in the paper as it was being developed. I went last night with a friend to celebrate our birthdays. It was a weeknight and around 6pm. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and immediately seated in a comfortable booth near the door. The booths have charging stations for your digital gadgets, and the striped leather covering them is supple and reminds me of a race car. The visual excitement in the decor hit me immediately. Murals, painted architectural elements, great lighting... Sugar skulls and a giant luchador in purple, black, aqua, red and white... it led to a fun ambiance without a lot of noise. Speaking of noise, the music I remember was Shakira singing in Spanish -- always fun! Our server was courteous and smiley. He brought us chips and salsa with our menus. He suggested a watermelon sangria, but it turned out they didn't have it that night, so he brought us the white sangria to try in a shot glass. It was full of fruit flavors, light and refreshing. We each had a glass. I asked about their margarita menu, and it was typed up on plain paper and not quite finalized. I ordered the enchiladas. The menu said it comes with 3 and there were 3 sauces to choose from. I asked if I could try all 3, and the server said I could but asked if I knew what mole was because some customers had ordered it without knowing what it was, and it is "an acquired taste". Then my friend ordered the chile rellenos stuffed with marinated chicken and cheese, and I mentioned that was my second choice. The server said I should go for that instead because "you can get enchiladas anywhere." I agreed, and changed my order. The chile rellenos were delicious! The 2 peppers had sauce between them, so from the top they were green but every bite still had yummy sauce. It was served with flavored rice and black beans. The plates were hefty and square, white china. We checked out the ladies room just to view it. I smiled when I saw the inside of the door was painted deep aqua while the walls were purple. Like a teenage girls' dream bedroom! Other than that, it was a pretty basic bathroom but I didn't see soap. All in all, I spent just over $20 for a light, refreshing drink and yummy meal that I would never make at home, and loved the environment I was in. The place was hopping but not stuffed full, and all age ranges were present - families with children as well as a group of women in their 50s filling the bar to celebrate 3 birthdays. I recommend it, and can't wait to try more items on their menu. I hear the ceviche is awesome and was told to try the El Rey margarita next time too.
(4)Ginger R.
The atmosphere, food and service are excellent. Love it!
(4)Kathy G.
The atmosphere is loud. The food is pretty good. The margaritas are tiny. My husband order steak tacos and got chicken. He ordered rice but didn't get it until he asked again. We like crispy tacos and these are soft. I orders pinto beans and got refried beans. I ordered a side salad of shredded lettuce, tomato and avocado. I got two tablespoons of lettuce and the avocado was guacamole. All in all, meh.
(3)Laura R.
It was ok. Not really impressed by anything we got. We got the Salsa, guacamole, and chile rellenos. Great service though! Thanks Lauren!!
(3)Mary V A.
Great Mexican food and on the side of the bldg That Mexican Place!!! Service was fast and gracious, answered all questions quickly. Only drawback the other servers always wanted to know if you were done with your plate if you paused a few seconds. Will go back again and again
(4)Adam E.
I really enjoyed the ambience and decor of this place. The hostesses were nice and our waitress, wish I could remember her name, was delightful and thoroughly helpful. I started off with the ceviche. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. I think it was the addition of the green olives mixed with the nice citrus flavors that really made the dish for me. I am picky about my mole and I do not like it to be too bitter. I asked for a sample before ordering the quarter chicken mole dish. Our waitress happily brought me a sample and assured me it was really good. She was not lying! It was delicious! It had a rich and sweet flavor with a small bit of spice and the after taste was slightly bitter which is to be expected with this dish. The experience is like a good red wine. Anyway, being from the southwest I have had some bad mole and great mole. I would rank this as great! I will definitely order it again. However it is an acquired taste. My second favorite dish at a Mexican restaurant is chille rellones. I was fortunate that my date ordered this. I sampled it and we both agreed that is was a stellar relleno! I'm glad to see that they had some locally brewed beers on tap. Date ordered the three sisters blonde pale ale and I ordered a Paloma which was prepared nicely! This is one of my new favorite places to eat in St. Pete! Well done chef Espinoza!
(5)Laura S.
Visited twice during opening week. Yes, there are some kinks to work out as with any new popular restaurant. However, the food is delicious (I've had the grouper and the shrimp dish, the fundito and the guacamole) the service is super friendly, and the atmosphere is lively and fun. This is the place to go for good Mexican food.
(5)Hannah W.
Very cool atmosphere, enchiladas were amazing and service was great. Homemade chips and salsa were very good. The only downfall is the menu is very limited.
(4)K T.
Ordered margaritas from the bar while waiting for a table - So bad we couldn't even drink them. Finally seated in a near empty dining room 45 minutes later, but weren't seen by a server for another 20 minutes. Ordered queso as an appetizer - didn't get chips to go with it until it was literally rock hard. Had skirt steak that was so fatty and tough nearly 1/2 was inedible. Asked to speak with a manager at the end of the meal and were met by a young kid who made excuse after excuse as to why we had so many problems. Terrible food and even worse service. Won't be back.
(1)Coleman M.
Food that I actually got to eat was decent, but worst service I've had in 15 years. It being new isn't an excuse, sorry.
(1)Donald N.
OMG the service was so BAD. Our server asked for our drink order and suggested Margaritas but didn't mention they were $12 each. Brought the drinks and chips, took our food order, writing down nothing,and disappeared. 25 minutes later he showed up to ask what we had ordered, not good... asked if he had lost our order he gave us attitude about how busy he was and problems in the kitchen blah blah blah. He again took our order and said he be right back with more chips and salsa, that took another 10 minutes and all the tables around us were being served. We called the Manager and explained that we now had been waiting an hour for food and we had had enough, thank you, we were leaving. We had never left like that before, food may have been great but will not tolerate poor service. Not going back.
(1)Marcie B.
The pescado tampeno was the most delicious piece of fish I've had at a restaurant in a long time. It was amazingly fresh and reasonably priced. I loved the decor and friendliness of the staff. The chips and homemade salsa are the BEST I've ever had!!! Eating "south of the border" is turning into the place to be and be seen!!!
(5)CL R.
I have no idea what some of these reviews are about. Went there for the first time tonight and was greeted promptly at the door by the hostess. She welcomed me warmly and sat us at a table. Jenn was our server and she was FANTASTIC! The margarita selection was unreal and very unique. The food was exceptional and came out so hot that we had a few extra minutes to chat so it could cool down just a bit. The guacamole was so good and the chips were warm. I can't say enough good things about this place. GO TRY IT!
(5)David H.
Got there while the place was mostly empty. Sat at the bar and was anticipating the margaritas. The $5 basic was better than the higher priced mixology inspired hibiscus one, at least for my taste. Lack of taste in the artsy one. Got a seat while still about 1/3 full on the tables, if that. One big party was in the back of about 15-18 people, they came and went so hard to count. Placed order for Queso w/chorizo, Chile Rellenos and Grouper Diablo(?). The queso and a $7 sangria came in a normal time frame and we pretty much were on our third serving of chips. I told my partner to stop eating anymore as we were going to fill up before we eat....it took at least 45 minutes and maybe longer before we finally got the entrees. Our waitress was apologetic numerous times and it did start getting old. They weren't that busy at the time of our order. The rellenos were stuffed w/cheese and chicken, not a traditional way but I'm game. Not enough cheese though and a little smallish on the peppers. Lacked enough sauce, too, made for a dry dish. The grouper dish was really good w/sauce in the rice and on top of the grouper. I'm open to all food but with a small menu and claims of traditional styles being spoken about in all the publicity and reviews I expected better, especially the Rellenos. It's the classic test of any good Mexican restaurant along with Mole sauces. While it wasn't bad it wasn't a standout either. I was surprised at the amount of kids in the place since it's priced a little higher than some for the genre and no kids menu. I feel they are a capable bunch and they will get the bugs worked out, although this was two weeks after opening and like I said pretty empty when we got there. They are gonna be successful and might try again when I feel confident from more reviews.
(2)ford j.
Still on "soft" opening (I believe "grand opening" is sometime around July 4th) so as others have suggested, there are some kinks, but none as to significantly impact the overall appeal of this place. Well executed decor, extremely friendly, attentive and energetic staff and menu items that take this place beyond your typical (american) mexican food experience. Quite busy on the nights I have been, with a crowd ranging from families, to hipsters. Intelligently thought out margaritas to boot. I have been twice now, and will go back again...and probably again, to dive deeper into the menu. Salsa, as others have said is flavorful, complex and a bit of smokiness...good start. Will review the food after I have been back a few times and they have moved past their "opening" weekend, as it will probably be a better read of what the food will be like in the long run. One note of caution for the owners should they read this- lot of space, lot of tables, small kitchen. Expand it a bit if you can....when this place hits its stride it would be a shame if execution on the food suffers for the lack of kitchen space.
(4)Kate Y.
While I realize this is still a fairly new reastaurant, our experience will most likely keep us from returning. We ate at the bar after being told that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table (even though almost half of them were empty). Bartenders were very friendly and drinks were reasonable (although they were out of Corona Light draft). I found it repulsive however, that every drink was made in the same unwashed shaker throughout the entire 2hours we were there. That's right- 2 hours as it took 1hour and 15 minutes to get our food. Entrees were good but the queso appetizer was ridiculous. Even tough it was still hot, it was one big lump of cheese that you had to literally cut with a knife and fork. Halfway through our dinner, the roof started leaking on us. The bartender said not to worry as it was just the a/c .... Ummm okay. Bartender also pointed out the owners that were sitting and drinking, unaware that their kitchen was such a disaster. They had 8 servers standing and waiting for food to come out while the poor guys in the kitchen had a hard time keeping up. Seems like the owner (who we were told was also the chef) would have stepped in to help at some point. The ladies room was out of toilet paper and the men's room apparently has the urinal in the handicapped stall (?!). Decor was nice, entrees were good and reasonably priced, but the rest needs a lot of work.
(2)