Brisket burrito add cilantro and roasted garlic. Friends, this is joy in a tortilla.
(5)
Amanda K.
I'm always looking for really yummy, healthy, large salads and Tomatillos had a great one. I'm talking, HUGE. And it's only $7 (includes beans) before adding on any extra cost for meat. It's truly great. I also really love their empanadas, and their tacos are pretty fine. They have a nice, small patio that's at street-level - and it's dog friendly. The service has always been friendly, and the restaurant has a casual, but not hole in the wall, feel.
I've been coming here semi-regularly for about a year. The service has been up and down, but it's a casual atmosphere and I don't expect five star service at a place like this. Previously customers ordered at the counter before taking a seat, and now they offer full service. Honestly, I thought it was fine before. I'm here for the food and drinks anyways. The food is usually delicious. Occasionally the guac has been less than fresh, or they'll forget something in my takeout order. It hasn't been a big deal. It's a place I'll continue to grab last minute dinners at or come to just to leave the house on Sunday. Mostly for the convenient location and chill atmosphere. Thanks Tomatillos, and I'll probably see you tomorrow.
(3)
Itai H.
The guacamole was dark and sour, the shrimp were tiny and sad (served with onions in tacos), black beans were salty, and chips were saturated in oil. The waiter was friendly, though.
(2)
Michael S.
Used to be better. I am a huge burrito fan and have tried really hard to keep up hope on this place, since I live in the neighborhood. Counter service was changed to table service, which takes the main reason away for me to go, quick lunch. The food has been up and down, but it's been way on the down side for a long time now, along with the table service.
(2)
Alex C.
Not that good. I had high hopes, but in general there are better options. I had shrimp tacos this time around and they were just okay. It seems they were blanched and then finished on the grill. Not the best texture compared to actually grilled shrimp, but thats why they're only getting 3 stars. On top of that, there were 4 tiny shrimp to the taco. So overall, unimpressive. I also was able to try the fish taco, which was actually pretty decent. I'd get that next time if I were to come back, likely not though.
(3)
Mark H.
I have been going once a week for a month now, trying different tacos. My favorite is the fried catfish, then grilled shrimp, pulled pork, steak. The habanero sauce is the bomb, spicy hot, but it goes away after about 5 minutes. The staff is always friendly and service is quick.
(5)
Julio R.
Sadist excuse for Mexican food I've seem. Felt very uncomfortable as soon I walked into the place. The customer service was horrible. My father has food allergies and they wouldn't change or alter the way make the food at all. Seriously this place is the only part about my trip that left me feeling disrespected and discriminate.
(1)
Andy H.
We're done with Tomatillos. We've gone here many times over the last couple of years, mainly out of convenience, but last week we decided no more. Pros: Great patio The queso Kate Cons: Food is always iffy. You might get half-frozen avocado, they may forget part of your order, the food may be too cold, the chips stale, they forget to pick all the bones from your meat, and so on They cooking staff seems to change too often, which isn't a good sign to me The wine they serve sometimes tastes old Our most recent visit had me being served my food missing several ingredients and her receiving a half glass of wine that tasted as if it had been opened a week earlier. Also, the guy behind the counter (the owner?) was rude as soon as we walked in. Despite this, Kate, our server, got a good tip because she's always been good to us and I bet she's just as frustrated as we are.
(2)
Robert F.
On my first visit I had the Chicken Crack Empanada plate and a glass of Malbec. Now I have never tried "crack" cocaine, but one would assume that this dish would be addictive (based on the name) right??? Well its safe to say that I will not need an intervention anytime soon...The pastry was nicely prepared, however, there was nothing special about the chicken filling. Also, the Malbec tasted like a plain Merlot. My lady had 2 steak tacos and a shrimp taco. She also thought that they were just "Ok". Undeterred, I wanted to give them another chance so I returned for lunch the next day. I tried the house wings. They had a tad bit more flavor, but not enough to warrant a third visit. I can't say that the food is terrible, but with so many Mexican food options in the city, the bland taste of most dishes at Tomatillos doesn't justify making your way to EAV unless you just live in the neighborhood.
(1)
Stephen T.
This is my favorite local mid-priced burrito place. Don't miss the habanero sauce. It is the best, and nobody else has anything like it. It goes perfectly with the tofu burrito. I eat there all the time, and it is always good.
(5)
Patrick G.
Rude staff seems like they hate their jobs. The tacos had no flavor, none. The salsa was nothing special. So many better options in this area, look elsewhere.
(1)
Stephen L.
I've struggled for a better way to say it, but i think "if hospitals made tacos" pretty much sums it up. The catfish taco wasn't bad, but the brisket and the pork were flavorless and seemed to have nothing but meat inside them.
(2)
Vanitha S.
We stumbled upon Tomatillos, starving and stopping for food when we should have just gone home! But it was a great decision because we had such delicious food at Tomatillos. We are big fans of Moe's, Willie's and No Mas Cantina so were eager to see how it measured up. The inside was cute and trendy and a very friendly waitress greeted us at the door. We sat down and immediately liked the menu--simple and very customizable to what you want. My hubby got a chicken quesadilla and I got a shrimp bowl. The bowl was really good and felt so healthy--brown rice, pinto beans, shrimp, and salsa fresca. A couple of chips ringed the bowl. I requested to hold the cheese. The quesadilla, however was really a homerun. It was tasty and crunchy and stuffed with good ingredients. Our waitress continued to be very friendly and attentive through the meal. At the end we ordered a dessert of peanut butter-chocolate churros which were not your amusement-park churros...they were really great smothered in a delicious homemade whipped cream topping. What a great find in East Atlanta! We would come here again, especially for the chicken crack empanada plate which looked delicious as I was eying some other customers as I was walking out. The thing I knocked a star off of is for the lack of free chips and salsa. That's really a staple at any Mexican restaurant. Also my shrimp bowl said it came with a "garnish of chips and sour cream" and it really was a garnish. I could count less than 10 chips that came with my plate. Sad! Glad that the taste of the rest of the meal made up for it.
(4)
Arthur W.
The food was ok the beer was ok just a nice chill spot. People watching at it finest. The staff is super nice. Try the special it's where you get the most for your money.
(4)
Sven N.
I love this place. Sometimes I go for a pork burrito with all the hotness, and sometimes I just go for a simple quesadilla. Always hits the spot, and not the typical Mexican flavor and different than the chain burrito shops. Did I mention the margaritas? Order one with a friend and you might be on your way to a crazy night. Perfect serving. Bike friendly too!
(5)
Jon W.
Chicken empanadas FTW! Staff is nice too. Chill place in East Atlanta that is kind of like a Moe's/Willies. You can get something quick to go to eat or can stay for a while and enjoy some drinks on the patio outside. Nothing too special, but a much needed Mexican restaurant option in the EAV.
(4)
Sarah P.
I love the Tomatillos omelet with chorizo added. The cheese grits are good with it if you eat them. I don't but I tasted my husband's just o see and they were pretty good. I love how they are waiting on you now (no more line at the counter) and the drink counter in the back is gone now. Much cleaner looking!
(4)
Igna T.
First time at this restaurant and it was very disappointing. We had the brisket and BBQ pork tacos. The taco pretty much consists out of dry meat and a flour tortilla. No sauce, cheese or anything. It was seriously the most bland meal I have ever had. The waiter did not ask us once how our meal was. Waiter brought our kids water with their kids meals (which comes with a fountain drink) and still charged us the same as a drink. All and all it was a below average experience and we will never go back again.
(1)
Donny F.
I've visited this place sporadically over the last couple of years, probably 4-5 times in total. It's always been hit or miss, and this last time out was a mix of the two. It's cute inside, with some roomy wooden booths and a light and airy feel from all the windows. The patio is where it's at though, especially once the night progresses, as you're set up for some prime people watching with all the bars across Glenwood and the comings and goings of varied and colorful personalities. The food has been OKAY in the past--I especially liked the brisket quesadilla my first trip--but the steak tacos were a letdown this time. They were way too salty, probably to mask that the "steak" was an obviously inferior cut--very tough and kinda stringy. These are the worst examples of the style I've had recently. Even though I generally despise Buckhead, a few weeks ago I had the best carne asada tacos in the history of my life at Rock n' Taco off of Roswell Rd.--really put these little shit pouches to shame. As a bonus, they also played some vintage Rod Stewart videos that almost made me laugh-spit said tacos right back onto the table. Anyway... On the bright side, the chips and salsa were very good, though they did take an inordinately long time to arrive. The wife liked the guac alright, but they didn't mix it up well enough, and there were some pretty huge avocado chunks just hanging out. She also enjoyed her burrito, so hers was an altogether better food experience. Another high point this time was the pitcher of margaritas. They haven't always been good, or even decent, but this go around the mix was right on--very fresh lime, not too sweet, and the booze was all there. Worth it. Our order taker and waitron was pleasant, attentive, and had a kind pep in the step that made me feel good about the place. At one point during ordering a manager type stepped in to clarify something on the computer, and then proceeded to bitch about how he was supposed to be off over two hours ago and that his superiors were basically silly twats, so that was a little off-putting. On the whole though I've had pretty good service. With all the other solid food choices in the area Tomatillos is not high on the list for a return visit. I thought the same thing about a year ago when I last rolled the dice though, and here I am having had 3/5ths of a good time, so perhaps I'll find my way back onto their patio in due course.
(3)
Janet P.
My first visit, and my last. The only thing I liked was my server! she was so nice, great smile! I dont remember her name, but she has short hair, and beautiful caramel skin! A great server! We sat outside because the fan/air system inside was loud, and smelled greasy & burnt (seriously). I couldnt believe the small amount of guacamole we got for $6.75,it was just ok, couldnt eat the chips, they were hard, and my brisket tacos were so greasy, and just ok. The beans were somewhat dry, but they smelled better than they taste, and I swear the rice was dry, and half of it had dried out so bad that I had to spit it out, they were like rice grains that had not been cooked, wait, raw rice has a crunch, this rice didnt, so that lead me to believe this rice had been sitting all day,some pieces were hard as glass. we should have went to chipotle for almost half the price, and fresh!
(2)
Sharon M.
Okay. So Saturday after eating at arygosy and visiting I-Too, we sat at Tomatillos for some more hanging out fun. Not sure why we ordered more food, but this time we decided we were going to split the famous crack empanadas while filling up on some tasty beverages. I like an idiot ordered the sangria. I actually don't like sangrias, but I just thought it was because I drank a bad concoction the first few times. This visit confirmed that they are just not that good to me, BUT after drinking 1/4 of the glass, I decided that it wasn't toooo bad and I can manage through it. I ended up getting another. Lol! BTW, we didn't touch the empanadas while we were there. I took them home for dinner. The filling was pretty good. The pastry was as it should've been. It was served with rice and beans, pretty standard. I'd go back to hang out.
(4)
K S.
First timer and had high hopes based on the look of the place and the fact that the owner was so nice but that turned out to be only highlight. Wasn't that busy but took forever to get waited on and waiter was not goood. He had no idea what the special was on the board and didn't bother to find out. Forgot our order of chips which is so basic for a mex place. Chips were horrible greasyyyy and crumbled up. House marg was ok. Brisket taco was meat and tons of big chucks of onions ,nastyyy! as well as the Cold beef taco . My friends food was just as bad. Over priced bad food!
(1)
Ryan R.
Love this place. It comes to the top of mind about once a week in those "where should we go eat" discussions. It is an East Atlanta staple. The Chicken Empanada's are great. I've been on "Empanada Tours" in South America (which consisted of me forcing my friends who live there to drive me to all the empanada spots they liked to let me try and compare). Although the empanada's at Tomatillos aren't as authentic as those I've had in South America, they are every bit as tasty. I've also had the burritos when I'm looking for a change and they are a step above chipotle/moes/willys to me. They also just added wings to the menu and although I was a bit skeptical of a tex/mex place serving wings, they are actually some of the best I've ever had. They are very smokey, flavorful and juicy. Definitely worth getting a few as an appetizer or as a snack if you are just going in to drink.
(5)
Josh D.
Great food! Great food!
(4)
Daniel S.
If you frequent this place your tongue must be missing taste buds. No Flavor, Overpriced, and left Hungry.
(1)
Daryl G.
Friendly service and tasty food. The empanadas are killer and taco was good. Healthy, non-greasy fast food alternative in fun atmosphere. Only went for lunch but it looks like a good place for drinks too.
(3)
M D.
Cash.... Horrible server. Could not hide her disdain for us. She made it clear that she never wants us to visit again.
(1)
Matthew V.
I got the grill chicken tacos... Food was ok. I had better tho. Tacos was turnt upside down and I had to struggle to fix them back up and all the juices and stuff was running over.. SMH! Imma come back and try something else.
(2)
Nicole G.
We went to Tomatillos today as we were in East Atlanta and had been meaning to go. We went in and my boyfriend ordered a taco and I ordered nachos for us to share. There weren't many people in the restaurant, so we thought we would be in and out pretty quickly. My boyfriend got his taco promptly. They said my nachos would be out in a few minutes. Well, 30 minutes later we were still without nachos. My boyfriend went up to ask what was taking so long. A cook or someone informed him that they were out of cheese and that we could wait a few more minutes. My boyfriend asked for our money back. It was pretty ridiculous that no one bothered to tell us that they didn't have any cheese. Granted, we could have went up earlier to ask what was going on but we shouldn't have to do that. They could have easily told us about the situation and I could have ordered something else. I definitely will not be back.
(1)
Kat V.
It gets three stars because I will go back but only because it's walking distance to my house. The fish in my catfish tacos was cut into little pieces and the margaritas were the worse that I have ever had in Atlanta. Skip the rice and beans. I will give the empanadas a try for sure next time (maybe I'm just ordering the wrong things?). Still, fish tacos and margaritas should always be a safe bet. My suggestion is to relax on the lime juice (margaritas should be sweet, not sour) and cut up the fish before it gets fried if the pieces are too big. Cutting it up after just makes for a messy taco. And who wants a messy taco?
(3)
Ashley F.
I'm a vegetarian and had the pinto bean and cheese taco and the potato and green chile taco. Nothing about them was bad but nothing about them stood out either. The lady who took our order behind the counter was very friendly and helpful. :) I'm giving the place two stars because I'm pretty sure that hubby and I wouldn't go back based on the quality of the food.
(2)
Pete S.
The BEST Mexican food on the east side. Service is always friendly and the food comes through. It has become our weekend go to place for guacamole, burritos and beer.
(5)
Chelsea M.
OMG...Chicken Crack Empanadas for the win. Yummy margaritas, decent priced beers, and generally available on Loaf Deals (seriously, keep an eye out, you'll save 50%). Love this spot. Good people watching, too!
(4)
Julea T.
Was not impressed with the chicken tacos, but the catfish tacos are perfect. Salsa is perfect. I used to feel like they took a reeeeally long time to bring you your food, but it seems like that has improved with the last few times I've been there. I live right down the road and I eat here pretty often. If you like catfish tacos, you've got to try theirs.
(4)
Chris B.
I recently went to a catered event by Tomatillos and I have to say that it was fantastic food. Everything tasted fresh from the guac to the salsa to their delicious brisket. Next time I am in EAV, I am going to check out this place. Fantastic food and it a catered affair, I imagine its even better inside the restaurant. Try the brisket
(4)
Mike B.
When they started off good, now the food is extremely average
(2)
Cynthia N.
I ordered takeout last Friday night and based on that one experience, I will not be going back. I ordered a steak burrito and an order of chips and queso. When I arrived to pick up my food, the line was long with 9 people in front of me. Only 1 person was at the counter taking orders and he was going pretty slow. So by the time I got to the counter, my food had been sitting for a good while. I actually thought, "Gee, I wish they had kept my burrito under a heat lamp." But alas, they did not. So I paid and drove home to discover that I didn't have queso, I had salsa. Really, folks? You only serve a few things and you couldn't get this right??? Well, I really wanted queso so I went back for it and although I only live about 5 minutes from this restaurant, my poor burrito just wasn't built to wait and so by the time I returned with my queso, my burrito was cold. But not only was my burrito cold, it was filled with mushy yet very dry beans and very little steak. I tried pouring the red sauce on it, then the green sauce and then finally the queso and it was still unpalatable. I threw it away at that point because I believe in my motto that "Only good food is worth getting fat over." As for the sauces and queso, I tossed those too because they just didn't taste good. How can melted cheese not taste good? I have no idea because it's so rare that I'm not in love with cheese of any kind but I threw most of this batch away. And the chips were extra greasy - tortilla chips always have oil, but these were slippery gross and possibly contributed to the queso's horrible taste. The restaurant itself is fine - small but doable with a tiny bar. They also serve margaritas - which I didn't even want to try after having a sample of the food. And I luuuuuurrrrrve margaritas. I'm sad to say all this because this is my neighborhood and I really want to like at least one of the restaurants in it, but God help me, this isn't the one. I will never come back here again. It's sad to say but I could have gone to Chipotle and gotten food that tasted better and was cheaper and warm when I got it home (there was a time when I lived 5 minutes form Chipotle so I know this is true). And I want to support local, non-corporate establishments, but if this is what I'm gonna get, I'm selling out to Da Man. Because if I'm ever in the mood for a quick burrito, I'll take a detour to Chipotle instead of Tomatillos. Yelp 52 #3
(1)
Travy T.
Three stars seems like a perfect score for this place. Not great, not terrible. The staff is always pleasant. The prices are reasonable. The food is...good. Three stars good. I'll be back and ordering the brisket tacos!
(3)
Andrea M.
I had a great lunch @ Tomatillo's today. The chicken quesadilla was delicious! The Margarita was even better. The service was fast and the server was very pleasant. This will be added to my go to spots. It was clean, calm, and convenient.
(4)
Paul S.
Tomatillos has a very specific place in my heart. East Atlanta lacks any quick go to south of the border establishmentes. When tomatillos caught my radar I was excited to go and have actually returned a hand full of times. After a few visits I've decided you go to tomatillos for two reasons. The fried chicken tacos, and the chips. The chips are perfect! Light, flavorful, and there seems to be a surplus of them when they give you a five guys size portion to go. After those two items though, unfortunately I'm stuck finding other real reasons to go. The staff is nice sure, but I can go mostly anywhere to get that. They say the brisket tacos are also great, but I just wasn't impressed, try it for yourself...
(3)
Ivan S.
Moons ago, before we were peppered with Chipotle, before Moe's WELCOMED YOU and before you were able to legally touch a man's thick Willy in public, there was a place called Tortilla's. It was unimpressive by any stretch of the imagination. It was kind of dingy, the service was slow, and the menu was pretty limited. I loved it. I wasn't the only one. Tortilla's had a crazy cult following, of students and stoners (not mutually exclusive of course), of urban pioneers and Poncey-Highlanders that time forgot. We all mourned Tortilla's passing. Sure, a Chipotle would soon open a block over and a Moe's had already opened where that janky-ass pawn shop used to be, but there was only one Tortilla's. But now there's two. Sort of. Bell Street was the first to try to recreate the experience. I've now eaten several of their burritos. It's close to Tortilla's; not quite there, but close enough. Now Tomatillos is the second to try that difficult feat. The verdict? Um, ok, but not nearly as close as Bell's. The building is very pretty in its sparseness and since this used to be an old Wachovia, parking hasn't been an issue for me the few times I've been. The service is friendly and prompt. It takes longer to get a burrito here than at the corporate joints, but it's not the glacial, stoner pace that Tortilla's maintained. The prices are a little higher than those corporate joints but there's a little more variety. As far as the taste, it's not bad taken in and of itself. And, honestly, I've only really had the steak burrito, but in my defense, I've had it like four different times so I think I'm qualified to talk about it. So, yeah, it's a good enough burrito that I've had it four different times, but does it take me back to the days of presidential BJs, 88 cent gas and the inexplicable popularity of Chumbawamba? Nope. It doesn't. Bell's does. Still, it's a solid burrito and a good addition to the East Atlanta Village. Three and a half stars, rounded down.
(3)
Luis G.
Originally wanted to visit The Earl, then I got lost, then I accidentally drove by Tomatillos. When I decided that The Earl just wasn't in the stars **parking there was like trying to find parking right before walking over to Knott's Berry Farm during October** I instead went to Tomatillos. This place looked like Chipotle but it turned out to be way better. I tried to steak bowl and it was superb! The kind gentleman working there offered me a hot hot sauce. Despite it being somewhat hot, I really liked it with the bowl. Definitely a place to return. If Tomatillos ever decided to expand westward to LA...look out Chipotle!
(5)
Mat M.
Tomatillos. Wow. You have the start of something great, but you need to turn the corner. You have a great location, in a neighborhood that promotes local business and isn't going to let a Chipotle or Qdoba move in. If there was a Chipotle, I'd probably go there instead. Tomatillos, why don't you season your meat? It's a Mexican joint, but your food is bland bland bland. The chicken on a quesadilla should be boiled, shredded chicken with nothing done to it. Eating your quesadilla was like eating something with no flavor. The presentation nice, the price on par, and the place really nice. If you'd just season your meat, then you might have something going. I'll come back next time I'm in town, but please start seasoning your meat. PS: The Guacamole was delicious!
(3)
Robert M.
After having eaten two or three times at Bell Street Burritos, I decided I had better try Tomatillos in order to do a fair and thorough compare / contrast type of review. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the place was the pleasant aromas and the clean and eclectic (though somewhat sanitized) interior. Like with Bell Street Burritos, you order at the counter at Tomatillos and wait at a table for your name to be called. I like how Tomatillos sells beer and wine; not sure if Bell street does that. My chicken burrito, Miller High Life Tall Boy, and guacamole with chips came out to around 17 bucks and change; a bit pricey and I was bummed that chips don't come with the burrito. That having been said, I will say that the chicken burrito is HUGE; perhaps not quite as tasty as the one they serve at Bell Street Burritos, but certainly tasty none-the-less. The Red and Green sauces here are excellent; perhaps Tomatillos does better salsas than BSB. I have not tried the guacamole and chips at Bell Street Burritos; however, Tomatillos rendition was very good and (like the burrito) generously portioned. Tomatillos gives you a huge order of chips to scarf the guacamole down with; easily enough to split between two or three people. With Tomatillos, I walked away stuffed and confident I would not be hungry later. I'm not sure I can say the same thing for Bell Street Burritos; however, I am pretty sure I have not had to spend almost 18 bucks for a meal there (yet) either.
(3)
Andria C.
I'm not sure why people are bagging on this place - I actually really liked it. We stopped by last Saturday night about an hour before they closed. The place wasn't very busy. We grabbed some menus and looked them over. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't think the menu was confusing at all. Sure, there's a lot of information to take in, but it seemed pretty straight forward to me. The guy at the counter was very nice and answered all my questions. I ended up ordering a couple of tacos and they were quite delicious. The meat was cooked and seasoned very well and the option of changing to a corn tortilla was a bonus. Chips were super fresh and still warm and the salsa was decent as well. I can't comment on the drink selection as I only drank sweet tea, but my first impression of this place is good. Being that it's super close, I'm sure I'll be stopping by again. But so far so good!
(3)
Davie C.
The food was good. The service was good. They were not busy when two friends and I stopped by around 4pm on a Tuesday. Their AC is on the fritz and repairs are forthcoming so it was a very authentic experience. HAHA The first thing I noticed was that the food was not over salted and the brisket had great flavor. This tells me they use quality beef. The saltier the meat usually is the hallmark of lower quality. I enjoyed. The queso was very good too.
(4)
Shu C.
How long does it take to make a burrito and two tacos? At Tomatillos, 40 minutes, apparently. That's right, it took over 40 minutes to place and receive my to-go order. At the 25 minute mark, I contemplated a request for a refund, but thought,"how much longer could it possibly be?" After I opened up the packaging and saw the sorry excuse for tacos they gave me, and especially after my first bite, I wished I asked for a refund. Given the great food in the area, there's no chance I will ever set foot in Tomatillos again.
(1)
Ian W.
My wife and I went to Tomatillos tonight for dinner because of the Scoutmob deal... To start, this "experience" of eating at Tomatillos took an hour and a half. They were probably busier because of Scoutmob, but we waited around 45 minutes to an hour for our food. For a burrito. Take into consideration that there were plenty of open tables, so they were not anywhere close to being busy for a competent business establishment. Looking around the restaurant was almost comical - angry patrons everywhere. No one had food and no one was happy. My wife asked the cashier (who takes your order) what went well with sweet potatoes in a burrito. He answered with a, "Well, not the beef or pork because we're out of those." Helpful. Thank you. We also ordered chips, guac, and queso. The guac was in the beginning stages of turning brown and the queso was so thick and cold it would break the chip. It was more in the solid stage than liquid. We did ask for a new queso, so they microwaved it for us. The sweet potato burrito had... wait for it... 4 small cubes of potato in it. 98% of it was beans. My wife ended up opening the burrito to search for any sign of a sweet potato. Upon opening it she found that two of the four pieces of potato were a little too black for comfort. Not a burnt black... Like a moldy or old vegetable black (picture uploaded). I ended up getting the shrimp quesadilla, which was mediocre and unseasoned. Even with the 50% off, we ended up wasting $14 dollars and an hour and a half of our time. We will not be going back.
(1)
Michael B.
Simply put, you can get better Mexican food at several other Atlanta restaurants. Lost 4 stars - Bad food; mediocre service; not worth the money I ordered three tacos. The ones that I wanted were not available because they'd run out of brisket, I think. What I received were three of the soggiest, saddest tacos I've seen, and I've seen terrible tacos (hello, Zapata in Norcross?). I would love to tell you about service, but it consisted of... 1. "What do you want?" 2. "We're out of that." 3. "Here's your food." I was out $12 after the aforementioned tacos plus splitting some queso and chips. Speaking of queso, I meant to say mortar -- as in that which you place between bricks to build walls. Basically, I get more love at a Chipotle for $8 and a little English on the staff to do double meat in lieu of beans on a burrito bowl. By the way -- to whomever said this is the taco joint you've been waiting on -- go see a doctor. You may be suffering from ageusia -- the inability to taste.
(1)
Shawn M.
Typically, I don't go out and eat at 4pm, but after picking my son up from school and hearing him talk about the great field trip he had that day working in the park and going to Tomatillos afterwards, I thought I'd try it too. What a nice experience it was! The staff was friendly and the service was terrific. I was impressed by the cleanliness and the attention to detail. It's a much hipper version of Tortillas, for you older folks who remember that place, on Ponce without the bad attitude. The catfish tacos rocked and the salsa is tasty fresh and not overrun with cilantro (my kids call it the "soap" spice). Very family friendly!
(5)
Denise O.
I've been here a couple of times and each time the food, drinks and service was good! The menu items are reasonably price. I'll be back.
(4)
Julia S.
Seems like since I was here the last time they took my advice. They had the lunch special available again (burrito + chips + drink for $8.50), so I immediately jumped on that. I was predictible and got the same potato and green chile burrito (can't help myself! it's soooo good!), but this time I got sour cream and mushrooms in addition. Granted, you still have to pay for some of the extras, but I felt like the changes they made otherwise really made up for it. I actually ended up here again because I wanted to see a friend before I left Atlanta for good, and unfortunately because I had plans that ran long before meeting him, we couldn't go to Spoon because I wasn't able to leave my house until after 3. So we hopped onto scoutmob and saw that Tomatillo's had a scoutmob going on. So we figured we could at least get a discount. Soooo glad we ended up going back here. The other things I feel like they changed for the better was the woman who was taking the orders was much more conscientious about taking the food off the line and immediately to the person who had ordered - that was not necessarily the case the previous two times I'd been here, and a guy was taking the orders. I also obviously tried their salsas again and they were AWESOME! The last time I'd had chips there, the salsas were essentially tasteless to me. This time they were spicy and really flavorful. I kind of wanted to stick the green salsa bottle into my purse and walk off with it - it was that good. I didn't get any alcohol, but my friend got some white sangria, and I had a taste, and it was DELICIOUS. Hmmm. I want white sangria now. Now I want another burrito but I am a 12 hour drive away. Sigh. :(
(4)
Roz R B.
I love this place! It used to be a biker, hard rock kinda place and I was scared to come in but I did anyway because the food and drinks were so dang good! But now it's totally family friendly with new staff and great attitudes! I love it! And will come at least once a week! Support local businesses ya'll because they support our neighborhoods. :-) - Rozzie
(5)
Tim D.
I'm a very simple eater - plain is better and I can always make my tummy happy here with a bean and cheese burrito, a tofu burrito and a chicken taco to de-bland my order. The house margarita is good enough that I don't mind spending more on my booze than my food. The staff is always helpful and friendly although there's definitely a sense that speedy gonzales will never be more than a whimsically named menu item. The building is probably what makes this place such a draw (great building, great location). I was once a bank teller and can appreciate them keeping around a few reminders of the previous occupant. The outdoor seating is cozy but carving off a few of those parking spaces to make the patio bigger would be muy bueno. Points added for yummy simple mexican food, refreshing margaritas, cool building and potential for icon status as the only mexican place in EAV now that Blue Frog was kissed by a princess and turned into an Irish pub (I don't like Holy Taco very much so I don't count it as an option). Points deducted for slow (but friendly) service, sometimes the burrito is awesome, sometimes it needs a slap with the authentic stick and it can be a bit pricey for what you get when you start checking all of the option boxes. Let's see a margarita special (Matador does $3 margaritas every wednesday), cheap taco/burrito night and spool up the tacometer in the kitchen. I can only echo what others have said - this could be a village mainstay but it's going to take some tweaking to keep it from washing out with the tides. Thank you for not being a Willy's/Moes/Chipotle.
(3)
Al F.
I love you, Tomatillos. I know there have been a lot of less-than-favorable reviews of this place, but all those haters seem a bit petty to me. Yes, there were kinks to work out when Tomatillos first opened up. No, they are not licensed to seel beer yet. (But I hear that is coming Real Soon.) Yes, some of their pricing for Add-ons seems kind of weird. But those first two complaints are really to be expected for a brand new restaurant that is not being managed by a corporation. And the pricing issue is really minor. Maybe they will look at their menu at some point. This kind of thing happens with new restaurants. All I know is that when you buy a Tomatillos burrito, you are getting something unique. Tomatillos uses the freshest ingredients. All those Add-ons are not just thrown on top, they are sauteed on the grill with the rest of the food in your burrito (or taco or quesadilla). So when you add Mushrooms to your Burrito, your burrito tastes like mushrooms. When you add Roasted Corn and Spinach to your quesadilla, the flavors of corn and spinach permeate your quesadilla. I honestly have not ordered too much of their meat fillings in my burritos. I am not a vegetarian, but I tend to order their Potato and Green Chile Burritos. I add extra veggies in - because they are so tasty. My meal is wholesome, more than fills me up, and always puts a smile on my face. I love the food they make. I love that they are an independantly owned burrito joint in East Atlanta. There is so much to love about this place. They offer fresh, wholesome food and friendly sevice at a fair price. And I haven't even mentioned their fresh sauces yet. RED SAUCE and GREEN SAUCE! Their homemade sauces add all of the flavor that you need. They are both great. Me, personally, I am a RED SAUCE fanatic. It's the best flavorful salsa I would want to put on my burritos, quesadillas, or tacos. If you don't want any, fine - go save a buck and go to Willy's. Willy's is pretty good. But I'll keep going to Tomatillos. In fact, I need to wrap this up because it's past dinner time. See you soon!
(5)
Kamara M.
Heaven is a place on Earth and it's located at Tomatillos. As a frequent eater of Mexican cuisine, I must say I have tried my share of places in the metro area... Tomatillos is definitely at the top tier of the list. From fresh ingredients to great drink specials, I make the 20-mile trek to this side of town just for Tomatillos at least once a week. Aside from the food, the staff is stellar and hardworking as well. I love coming here!
(5)
Kris O.
I took a group of 10 people to Tomatillos last night. Word on the street is that they have finally perfected their menu and really worked hard on the flavor of the food, and they have. It was fantastic! We decided to try a variety of items and share. The customer service was great, the food was delicious and atmosphere was laid back. I read that they cater, so I would love to have them cater a party for here in the near future.
(4)
Sara A.
Minimalist menu... Didnt knock my socks off...But tasty and a fun location. Staff are very friendly! Would come back.
(3)
Travis W.
The food was very bland and came out cold. The service wasn't much better. If they can't get their act together, they might as well do us all a favor and close the doors for good.
(1)
Kara M.
Queso was a serious Mess-Oh. :( Went here on Labor Day, very excited about a new Mexican place in the area because I could eat it everyday!!!! Unfortunately, not so great. I ordered a pork burrito. Pork was tender and juicy definitely the highlight of my meal, but the rice, beans, etc were all very underseasoned and I ended up just picking out the meat. What saved the day?!?!? The red hot sauce stuff they have in squirty bottles near the drink counter... do not attempt to eat anything without it! Boyfriend ordered a steak quesadilla... it was pretty good. Again meat was good but overall just kinda eh.... What was the real tragedy was the queso. I love cheese, and especially queso, this was a disgrace! Pretty sure I saw the cook dumping a half a box of corn starch into the pot to thicken up the weak nasty that was presented. It was grainy and flavorless. Work on this now or you may go out of business before you get started! I'd give it another try, but won't waste $4++ on the cheese dip. On another note, I loved the renovation, but crank up that A/C!!!! It was HOTT!
(2)
John G.
Not really bad, but not good. Seems cheap, until you decide to add anything extra. And I mean anything. Tacos were ok. Salsa was tasteless and too spicy at the same time.
(2)
Katy G.
I want so much to love this place--but they fall just short of what I'm looking for in burritos. On my second visit I was less impressed than my first, and I thought they would have improved. Sigh. My food was kind of bland. The service wasn't great. I had a scout mob deal this time, thankfully--the prices are high. I will pay the big bucks at Raging Burrito because they have great food. Here--not so much. Scout mob sent me another 25% off deal, so I might try again . . . but they really need to bring it or I'm done!!
(2)
Allison D.
So glad we went for a second visit. Burritos were steamy, fresh, juicy and tasty. Salsa was bright and packed a punch. To compare this place to Moe's or Chipotle is a mistake. Its peers are Raging Burrito, El Myr and the ghost of Tortillas that still haunts us all. Compared to those standard-bearers in Atlanta, we think it stacks up great! Yum.
(5)
Dan A.
Pretty good overall. I liked the shrimp taco better than the brisquit. I'd go again.
(3)
Scott K.
Disappointing. Burrito stuffed full of rice and (burned?) beans. Where's the chicken??? Pico? Cilantro? Anything??? Cheese dip was ok. Chips were old.
(1)
Wendy F.
Awesome fried chicken tacos & tasty brisket tacos...Neighborhood folks should get out and try this place. A great asset to EAV--what you see is what you get, and you get good food! Can't wait til the weather is warm enough to sit outside with a margarita.
(5)
Shane B.
So just had lunch for the first time and even though the place is cool the food is not so awesome. The fact that I spent $50 for two people and had to clear my own table and waited too long for food, not so cool. I definitely think the potential is there, but right now you can go to Moes for the same experience better food at a cheaper price.
(1)
Garrin H.
Service here is AWFUL. I'm surprised they're still in business. Maybe they're understaffed, maybe they just don't hire the right people....whatever the cause, their service is terrible.
(2)
John B.
Only been once so far but Hot Damn! Tacos were great, relaxed airy and refreshing atmosphere with bar and patio space, large drinks available. I will be going again, and perhaps will provide more details then. Not sure they have a full bar, but they do have the makings for margaritas and sangria. **I must RETRACT some of the above.** I went in there for a second time Sunday night around 8. They were fairly busy, but not packed. I went to the counter and ordered one single brisket burrito to go. It took them FORTY MINUTES. During which time, I was sitting directly next to the register AT the bar, and it took THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES of me waiting there, before ANYONE on staff spoke to me. No one ever asked me or offered me, something to drink, or chips and salsa. When they finally did say anything to me, I think they hadn't even started my burrito, and 5min later I was walking out the door with it. After the girl at the register asked the cook about my burrito he looks at me and says "Sorry bro." Now, if this were a sit-down restaurant a 40min wait for food wouldn't necessarily be crazy, but the 35min without anyone saying a word to you while you're right in front of them would be crazy at any restaurant. I still enjoy the food (which is why I'm still giving it two stars instead of one) but seriously, what the heck people?!
(2)
Ashley S.
Here's the gist: Strolled on in to this pad and really liked the lay out of the place. It's no utopia of tacos but hey, the joint has some rad catfish tacos with nifty gas station white whine hah. The employees were friendly which is an extra perk. I went on a Tuesday night with some pals and there was a sign for trivia and bam, no trivia. Balls.
(3)
Randall C.
Just moved to the neighborhood and found an excellent place for Mexican food. Great food, Great service and plenty of parking. I had the Pork Burrito and it had a freshness to it that you don't find in most restaurants of this type. I didn't mention how reasonable it was. You get a lot of food for the money! Thanks, I'll be back tomorrow!!
(5)
Tom S.
I ordered a couple drinks and some chips and salsa. It took ten minutes. Not sure why but there was only one lady taking orders and delivering food. The tardiness came with an apology. The chips were overly greasy. I will try them again because they have been great before. Everyone needs a 15th 2nd chance.
(2)
Heather B.
The tacos are great. My new favorite tacos in Atlanta. But I went on a day when the computers were down and the girl that worked the front had a complete mind melt over it. My tacos came out quick, but I never got my chips, salsa or queso. Or, my importantly, my beer. They were out of ice the entire time as well, even though several people told her. Great tacos but don't expect your whole order or even an apology 1/2 your meal was forgotten if math is required.
(3)
David M.
Holy hades, it's hot in this place. I mean really... A/C IS a necessity in Atlanta during the Summer. The owners would be wise to consider how their guest feel. That they do not want to dine in a place that is so hot you sweat (and it's not from the spicy food). I hate this for a local/non-chain restaurant, but... It seems that this place isn't as good as I previously thought. We dined there, recently on a week day. When walking up to the entrance, we were greeted by a neon green sign on the glass front door that asked patrons to get your Scoutmob ready. I'm thinking the bulk of customers are using this deal (full disclosure: I love, and frequently use Scoutmob). This was further reiterated by the somewhat unpleasant woman behind the counter, who snarked, "Ah... Scoutmob people". Now, that's friendly, right? My guess is sign on the outside door is also a preemptive action in preparation of the complete blackout you'll get if you try to use a cellphone with internet. There's no signal, no really, none... you really don't get reception or internet in this place. The order came to the table wrong and the expediter didn't ask if we needed anything before swiftly turning to head back to the loud music and party that was going on in the kitchen area. Maybe that's where they keep the one vent that has cool air? If so, I can't blame her at all.
(2)
philip j.
I don't really understand all the reviews saying the menu is difficult to understand. You pick a burrito and what you want in it, doesn't seem so complicated. What concerns me more is that you start with a base price of $7 for a burrito filled with white rice, pinto beans, bland salsa, and unseasoned chicken. Then you tack on things that are free (japalenos, corn, etc) at other (better) burrito places like Willy's and you end up spending $9-10 for a fairly lackluster meal. The chips and salsa are decent, my friends said the margarita was good...I don't know, I just don't see the point of this place when there are better, cheaper alternatives near by. There were two other people eating at 8 o'clock and they still managed to mess up two of our three orders, not impressed.
(2)
Lydia T.
What I failed to mention in my review that if you live in the vicinity then there is no need to go to Bell Street. The flavor and quality is just as good if not better. I recently sent some friends there and they couldn't how great everything was.
(5)
Jon P.
Great location, great renovation, missed it on the food - Ordered a chicken burrito and pulled pork taco - both were under seasoned, the extras on the burrito had no flavor. Great to have a Burrito joint on this side of town, but if you are looking for flavor head up the street to Holy Taco.
(1)
Mary C.
Cute atmosphere and nice patio but the food is just average. The tacos are boring and the chips are greasy. The kicker is there's a sign out front that says something about being voted best tacos in ATL. HA! Maybe if the owner was in charge of voting. Skip this place, Holy Taco is only like 100 more yards.
(2)
Matthew S.
Best Mexican in SE Atlanta. Super friendly fast at great prices and in East Atlanta Village to boot. get in here and check it out.
(5)
Anisha K.
Today was our (collective) third and hopefully final visit to Tomatillos. The BF has been thrice and I twice. I wanted to like this place, I really did, but after today, I just can't do it. The first time I went, I had one of their specials, some stacked mexican lasagna type thing. It was ok - had some flavor but nothing that special and was overly covered in goopy cheese and sauces. Took away the crunch and just looked a mess. Today, I tried two tacos. One pork, one chicken. The chicken was bland - no seasoning whatsoever. Even applying the tomatillo salsa they provided didn't help. the pork had some flavor but not enough to satisfy. Also, the tacos are TINY. I'll be hungry in about an hour. BF had a chicken quesadilla and a tofu taco. He was "meh" about both as well. As a barometer, he asked me, "would you have preferred Taco Bell?" I said, yes. That sums it up right there. The other reviewers mentioned the nickel and diming issue, with which I agree. Every little thing you add (other than cilantro or romaine) will cost you. Apparently they have lowered the cost for each item other than avocado, but still, seems a little lame. I know they have to cover their costs and all, but annoying your customers won't lead to much success. All in all, I definitely won't be going again. Which sucks, because I love Mexican food and they are in my 'hood.
(2)
Matt V.
I stopped in today to grab a burrito. It's been a while since I have been in. They had a decent crowd, but the food came out quickly. Good fresh food. Such a breath of fresh air compared to the "burrito chains." I'm glad I stopped in. I'll be back.
(5)
Bobbin W.
For me, jalapeños have become a second salt. I find myself sprinkling them on a lot of things - pickled jalapeños on my poached eggs, diced fresh ones on my salad. I believe I have a high heat tolerance. But the EAV Burrito at Tomatillos is a scorcher - beware! Last night the chalkboard claimed the burrito contains rice, pinto beans, pumpkin puree, chopped fresh jalapeños and pepper jack cheese. It failed to mention the pork, or was it chicken? Either way, I'm luckily not a vegetarian. Vegetarian or not, that burrito burned my face! Moving on, my boyfriend ordered the chicken crack empanadas, topped with a creamy chipotle sauce reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing. Watch out for the EAV Burrito! The pumpkin puree pumped me up for Turkey Day, and the jalapeños fulfilled my spice quotient for the next several days.
(4)
Erin G.
Tomatillos is DELISH. I've been there two times. The first time I ordered a bean/cheese/chicken quesadilla that was bursting with flavors and ooey gooey cheese. Today I had two tacos, one steak (had a little kick to it!) and pork, which was juicy and flavorful. Their namesake tomatillo sauce is the perfect accompaniment to their tacos. I vote this place has better stuff than Moe's and Willy's. Much more flavor and seasoning to their meats. **update** their "crack chicken empanadas" are AMAZING and worth going for!
(4)
Brooke N.
tl;dr Bad service, too expensive, lack-luster food. Just go El Myr or at least Willies. My boyfriend and I gave Tomatillos two chances because we live in EAV and only want the best for the businesses - especially businesses that have so much potential! The first time we went they didn't have their liquor liscence yet, which wasn't neccesarily their fault, but really took the wind out of our sail when the sign says "Burritos and Beer". Not only that, they charge for their chips - which apparently are made fresh every day, but they taste horribly stale and cold. I ordered two tacos, both which were lack-luster and they cost almost $10. Not to mention they forgot my avocado, but charged me anyway. Additionally, my boyfriend got a chicken burrito and they forgot the chicken! We had already complained about the chips being stale and the chef looked pissed so we didn't say anything about our meals. We just went home unhappy. Not to mention, we couldn't sit out on the patio because there were bees everywhere. The second time my boyfriend went got the chicken burrito again and he finally got the chicken, but it was only one huge chuck of water-boiled chicken. Yuck. Very disappointing. Plus, he didn't get chips - and it still cost him over $10. I hope for them they get their shit together (get a new cook? new menu?), however we will not be trying this place again.
(1)
S. D.
I drive by Tomatillo's every evening from my job and it is a great place to stop and grab something to take home for dinner. I love all of the vegetarian choices they have and the prices are good. I went in on a Saturday and sat at the bar which I seldom do and I really enjoyed myself. A very friendly guy came up very quickly even though it was busy and took care of me. I love it to go but it always tastes better right off the stove:) Love this place.
(5)
Joshua R.
Sub-par at best, which pains me to say because beer and burritos are two of my favorite things. I agree with Rich E.'s review - I too was beyond excited at the thought of a burrito spot in EAV, and I was completely disappointed 10 minutes after I walked through the door. The sign says "burritos and beer" so naturally that's what we ordered. I guess I just assumed that their burritos would be amazing but that was not the case. They have a good spot, parking isn't bad, the restaurant looks nice, but the staff lacks proficiency and their food has almost no taste. Upon departing we agreed never to return and we all felt that Tomatillos wouldn't last long, which is unfortunate considering what has happened recently in EAV. I wish them the best of luck, but if they will have to serve better food if they want my business again.
(2)
Kelly S.
Apparently their prices change frequently. The items I mentioned in my previous review as being added at no cost are no longer. Most of them are now 50 cents each! Eeek! It'd be better if the previously free items were 25 cents each or something, because going from $0 to $3 (for example, if I wanted 6 of them) for toppings is a tough pill to swallow. Cilantro's still free, though (hallelujah!). I'd have to say, though, that my burrito last night was fabulous - better than the first time. And the young guy behind the counter was very friendly. I won't dare try the cheese dip again unless I get to look at it first - but if they're reading Yelp, hopefully it'll either change, or it already has (because I didn't ask about it last night).
(3)
Marcus W.
I will not be coming back. Aside from the clueless guy taking orders, the food is WAY WAY WAY overpriced. Most restaurants give away their chips and salsa but here it's $3. Burritos are base $5, unless you want potatoes, for $6 or any unseasoned flavorless meat burrito for $7. Want cilantro? 75¢. Would you like onion? 75¢ Mushrooms? 75¢ Garlic? 50¢ Peppers? 75¢ Spinach? 75¢ The list goes on for days. They nickel and dime you and tho the food was a LOT of quantity, the quality was lacking and bland overall. Don't get the pork, stick with bean, chicken, or steak -- the pork is really oddly flavored for a Mexican taste. Sour cream? 50¢ Guacamole? $1.00 A side of rice? $1.50 Don't bother coming here especially since they don't have their liquor license yet. Change your prices and I'll be back. Food was plentiful but bland and expensive.
(1)
Megan S.
I REALLY want to love Tomatillos. In fact, the first couple of times I ate there I proclaimed it the best burrito spot ever. BUT then I came back again and again and each time has been filled with dissapointment. 1) their food takes un-proporionately too long to make considering the concept 2) it is not consistent enough ie.cold food, hard tortillas, stale chips. I think they may be under-staffed or something because while their food is good in terms of quality ingredients their issues lie in their employee's execution
(2)
Melody P.
They offer lots of options for vegans! The food is FRESH. We ordered the tofu tacos (added grilled garlic), black/beans rice, chips/salsa and guac combo. Chips are excellent - light and crispy. Salsa has just the right amount of heat. Corn tortillas are soft and give the tacos extra flavor. Generous hunks of tofu. A couple of minor improvements would improve the experience: 1.) The music was turned up too loud. Why do restaurants in Atlanta think it is necessary to blast the music? The restaurant was not busy when we were there so there was no reason to have the music up that loud. 2.) The roasted garlic was not cooked long enough. It was still firm to the touch -- ideally it would be soft and buttery. Overall, I really like the place and will go back! I am looking forward to seeing what beer they will offer once they have the bar open.
(4)
O K.
First! Went in tonight and it was really good! For being so new you expect some kinks but it could have been so much worse. Mainly just issues with credit card machine and new register system. The food was quick and fresh. I ordered a quesadilla with shrimp, spinach and cilantro. It was pretty much right on (they forgot cilantro, but that would be an easy fix if I had paid attention). You get what you expect. They did a great job on the building renovation too. It was a bank and now it is a shiny new restaurant with food reminiscent of Tortillas that used to be on Ponce. The employees look was cleaner than tortillas employees were though. Friendly faces, fresh food. That's all I wanted. Thanks!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
tl;dr: Very good food. Confusing menu, bad service. Went Saturday night at 9:45; they close at 11. The menu was hard to figure out - was it build-your own? What did the prices include? The menu design included random tables, and lists in paragraphs, and the front of the menu was oriented upside-down from the back. Also, PLURALS DO NOT (generally) USE APOSTROPHES - "Add-on's" is a horrifying typo. Fix that, people. Once we figured out what we wanted, we went up to order. But... they were out of steak (!), AND out of queso (!). I ended up getting chicken nachos, and my partner ordered a pork quesadilla on a spinach tortilla. Then we waited over 10 minutes for our food, although it really wasn't busy at all. A couple parties were out front on the patio, and two groups inside were already eating. I have no idea why it took that long. The food, though, I have to say, was very good. Perfect ratio of toppings to chips on my nachos, and the ingredients tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned. They provided 2 squeeze bottles of sauce - I tried the green and it was excellent - bright and spicy. Partner devoured his quesadilla, and ordered another... which became a 15 minute wait this time, while we watched the sole cook talk on the phone before he even looked at our order slip. Then the food arrived, and it was a burrito instead of a quesadilla. The second attempt arrived quickly, but on a plain tortilla, instead of spinach. And it was missing the side of sour cream. Whatever, he ate it, and it was delicious. So... we'll probably try it again, but order ahead of time, or go earlier in the day. It seemed clean, the space was generically pleasant - I want to give it the benefit of the doubt.
(3)
texas in a.
I'm a homesick, displaced Texan and was very excited when a trendy burrito joint opened not too far from my home in Atlanta. After reading reviews on Yelp, I was skeptical, but decided to give it a try today. I won't be back. Tomatillos is overpriced and the food is terrible. I actually threw away the second half of my burrito because it was so inedible. Tomatillo's prices are insane considering their target market and the location. As most reviewers here have noted, they nickel and dime you for things like corn, sour cream, and other toppings that are standard fare at most burrito joints, and the prices are high (50 cents/extra as of today). This might be understandable if the base prices were reasonable, but they aren't. I didn't get any add-ons for my steak and still paid $8 plus tax. This was for a standard-sized burrito; nothing large or special about it. The food itself was so bad, so much so that I almost can't believe people were eating it without comment. The rice was overcooked, as were the pinto beans, making the burrito more of a mushy mess than a collection of distinct textures. The steak was a nasty grey color and only seemed to have been seasoned with a little bit of lime. The red sauce was awful, not spicy at all. When I first saw it, I thought they'd given me ketchup by mistake. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but there's just not much good to say about Tomatillo's. The service is slow (it took 10 minutes to get a plain burrito with only one customer ahead of me in line at a slow period), the food is truly awful, and the prices are insane. Back to making my own burritos and being homesick for Freebird's.
(1)
Animal L.
really yummy potato and chili burrito, great yummy chips and salsa...love eating here, really nice service too
(5)
Shannon M.
There have been a lot of bad reviews on here, but after my visit, I don't understand why. I went in on a Sunday afternoon around noon with a large group of people. This place is great for groups since you order individually but still get great service from the staff. I ordered a steak burrito with mushrooms and lettuce (both are add-ons) and the queso and chips. The chips were a bit stale, but they weren't bad. The queso was a mix of white and yellow cheeses - different from your standard Mexican joint, but it was delicious. What was best was the burrito. It was perfect; juicy, cheesy, well-seasoned and delicious. The only reason that I'm giving this 4-stars is because of the price. While it was probably the best burrito I've ever had (and I'm definitely a burrito connoisseur), it was a bit expensive. For the whole kit-and-kaboodle, it was just over $13 including the chips and a drink. That's not bad considering how much food you get, but it's more than I thought it would be for a Sunday lunch.
(4)
Farisa B.
Disappointing and will never eat there again! I have given this place several opportunities but they always disappoint. The service has always been good but the food has not, it is very inconsistent. The last straw for me was when I ordered their special of the day, that was a breakfast burrito. I asked for no meat since I am a vegetarian. When I got the burrito home I toke a huge bite into chorizo! I was so disgusted. I called and the gentlemen who answered was the person who took my order. He said he knew he put no meat on the ticket and was very kind and apologetic since he too is a vegetarian. He then said he would call the owner because they don't have a manager. When I spoke to the owner, Margaret Kaiser, she was rude, unapologetic and said what do want me to do about it. I wasn't looking for anything but some sort of acknowledgment that there was a mistake, maybe even an apology. I will never eat there again and will never give her my business again.
(1)
Nikki K.
I usually hate this kind of food, but they had some special going so I tried it. Was seriously some of the best food I've ever eaten in a casual restraunt. Plus the place is cheap and fast. I can just run in and grab a burrito to go on my way to work. It's also non-smoking which is a nice change from all those smokey bars in the EAV. Also super strong affordable margaritas! Yummy.
(5)
Señor E.
I hate to give neighborhood restaurants a bad grade - but i've been here three times so far. Not once has my order been correct. I've had burritos with more flavor from my job's Aramark cafeteria. management really needs to step it up in here. I would say Willy's or Moes is the Mendoza line for fastfood burritos. Tomatillos is not only worse in taste but also about 150% more expensive.
(2)
Rich E.
How excited I was to see a new burrito place open up in a closed bank close to our house. How disappointed I was after I actually visited and tried the food. The other reviews are spot-on: long lines, slow service, bland food, and an a la carte pricing structure which means two people can't have a decent lunch for under $20. I'm not sure the person who took our order had ever used a cash register before. We didn't have complicated orders and I had to repeat everything twice. The food took over 15 minutes to get to our table, and once it arrived, it had no flavor whatsoever. Neither the chicken or steak had any seasoning and the steak was gray and chewy. I won't be back.
(2)
Phillip Andrew J.
In a couple of times so far, will come back. Good flavor combos; wish they had a smoky sauce, chipotle or something. Food seemed very fresh. Basic bean burrito w/ onions, cilantro, & cheese + drink, better than most others around. Cheerful service, clean bright space. The kids love it. And close by, in East Atlanta, who can beat it???
(5)
Betty B.
Not quite Tortillas yet but they will get there. No burrito place in town has matched them quite yet but this place has the best potential to. I have gone here 3 times, and it has gotten better every time. They have some growing pains, but this is not your run of the mill chain burrito place and a great addition to the neighborhood. A little bit expensive but it was worth it as the ingredients were fresh. Cheese dip was good, salads are good, but go for the burrito. Just went back for try number 4....lunch special puts it over the top.
(5)
Tracey L.
I went there two nights ago, and had a steak and a chicken taco. They both were absolutely delish! I can't wait to try the green chili and potato burrito, and the quesadilla. I'll be back very soon!
(5)
Lori S.
CHEAP. FAST. FRESH. HOT CHEESE DIP. That is all.
(4)
Robert W.
Tried this place when it first opened and was disappointed, but gave them the benefit of the doubt and went back a few months later and saw that nothing had changed. On the first trip I picked up a menu studied over it because it wasn't organized very well. I placed my order and was thrown off by the price. It seemed higher than what I thought I ordered. I let it go and waited for my food. It wasn't busy at all. Two tables were seated and already eating and one person had just placed an order before me, yet it still took 8-10 minutes to get my food. Not a long time for most places, but burritos don't take long to assemble since all the ingredients are cooked ahead of time. I grabbed a menu to take home so I could call ahead next time. That's when I noticed it was different than the menu I had looked at when I placed my order. Apparently they weren't charging for many of the toppings originally, but had changed that policy and failed to gather up all the old menus. This explained why I'd been charged more than I'd expected. I took the food home and was astonished at how bland it was. The tortilla was like cardboard and ingredients weren't distributed evenly throughout so each bite was dominated by one flavor at a time. The second trip was about the same although I knew what to expect as far as price. I tried a different group of toppings hoping to hit a magic combination that would be tasty. It didn't happen. I was happy to see spinach as an option because I often use it instead of lettuce on my burritos at home. Instead of adding a nice crunchy bite to the food it was a slimy gross over cooked mess. It reminded me of getting greens in a school cafeteria. It seems they are taking the same approach to burritos as they do with their pizza at Grant Central, but I don't know many places that charge per topping on burritos. I feel like it's overpriced for what you get and not very tasty. I can't say that I felt the service was bad because the people were all very nice, but it does seem slow due to the system they've come up with to prepare the food. Burritos are a simple food that can easily be ruined by over thinking them.
(2)
Nelscine e.
Great spot, friendly staff, good food, especially the chicken nachos- my co-workers have had that burrito everyone talks about, they all thought it was huge and they wouldn't finish it- HA! they all ate the whole thing, saying, I just couldn't stop. If I ever get past those great chicken nachos, I will try the burrito! And BTW, I have to go after work one day to try the "Double Margarita".
(4)
Colleen B.
I thought this place had a great vibe, the food was excellent! We got the tacos (which were a little small for 2.50, but super yummy!). My husband got a burritto that was HUGE! We got the chips and queso as an appetizer. Amazing queso! We went because there was a scout mob and we were bummed to see that when we got there we couldn't use it on a Saturday. So, we ended up spending 25$... but we should have read it a little more. They are really child friendly and the patio is nice too.
(4)
Scot L.
The negative reviews are all correct unfortunately in my opinion. Nickel and Dmied for everything, bland food, over priced. It is a real shame because they did a great job with the renovation I think. I really hope they turn things around because it would be nice to have a decent taco/burrito option walking distance from our house. But until the reviews make a sharp turn around our money will be going elsewhere.
(1)
alyson l.
this is the taco joint that Atlanta has been needing. straight forward build your own tacos and burritos. better quality and atmosphere than willys, but similar fast casual service. kind of a california twist on toppings, green chiles and potatoes. easy to eat veg. open airy seating area with outdoor patio. no beer yet, may extend hours past 10 (11 on weekend) when they get it. typical challenges for a new resturaunt...girl at cash register is a little flakey, could barely take my 2 taco order correctly, but the cooks (in the open kitchen) made up for it by overloading my corn tortillas-had to eat it down with a fork before i could pick it up in my hand. I see myself going back here often, a) great location, b) fast service, c) no smoke - I love you el myr but when i want food fat and not to kill my health entirely, I will choose tomatillos. can't wait to see how they develop, specials maybe? better neighborhood outreach? there was zero press or parties as far as i can tell.
(4)
Sandra G.
Quality Not Priced Right Positive Feedback: (1) Great idea to keep the banks theme after taking over the building. (2) Great architecture and design. (2) Lots of variety of seating. (3) Well prepared chicken and pork (no fat). (4) They make your tacos from scratch right after they are ordered. (5) Great, firm corn tortillas. Negative Feedback: (1) Paid 50 cents for a pinch of cilantro in each taco (comment: Taco Mac and Delia's Chicken Sausage are examples of places that provide a list of free toppings). (2) Meats had lack of seasoning. (3) There was lack of communication and training of the person who took our order. We asked if they kept the sign they had from the bank and he was not sure. We asked for a side of gauc which he didn't not know existed. Since they are a new company, they should train their employees to give a good first impression by being knowledgeable about the restaurant. Servers or anyone taking orders should memorize the menu before being put to work with employees...especially (4) They are competing against Blue Frog and Holy Taco, being in East Atlanta Village, but do not offer anything that these two don't already have. You have Blue Frog that offers cheaper tacos and the loud environment, and Holy Taco that provides an upper scale environment with tacos priced for great taste. Tomatillos can not just lie in between without something else to offer if they plan on succeeding. (5) They opened without having an alcohol license even though the sign says "Burritos and Beer". Overall is was pretty good and new, but I feel I didn't get the experience, quantity, and food worth the prices I paid compared to what else is offered within the same block. They have a lot of competition and they need to try new things.
(3)
Aaron G.
I was really hoping this place would be great: it's real close to home, has a great look, and I read a review that said they put potatoes in the burritos. Well they do - for any extra fifty cents, on top of an already $6-8 burrito. $8 burrito...still can't believe I went through with it after seeing the price. But, I was hoping it'd be super-awesome and worth it. Nope. Not even Chuck Testa could make this burrito seem more lively. I'll admit, it was a sizable burrito. I was way-full afterwards. But there just wasn't anything flavor-wise that wowed me. Didn't try to tacos, obviously. But c'mon - we don't need yet another taco place. We need a burrito place. Finally, what is up with having "Burritos and Beer" plastered all over your building and only coming through on half that promise? Are liquor laws so harsh in this county that they haven't been able to secure a license yet? Bottom line Tomatillos: lower your prices and refry those pintos, and maybe we can be on speaking terms again. Also, stop slouching.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Oliver B.
Brisket burrito add cilantro and roasted garlic. Friends, this is joy in a tortilla.
(5)Amanda K.
I'm always looking for really yummy, healthy, large salads and Tomatillos had a great one. I'm talking, HUGE. And it's only $7 (includes beans) before adding on any extra cost for meat. It's truly great. I also really love their empanadas, and their tacos are pretty fine. They have a nice, small patio that's at street-level - and it's dog friendly. The service has always been friendly, and the restaurant has a casual, but not hole in the wall, feel.
(4)Christina W.
I'm giving this place two stars bc the margarita was decent and gave me a nice little buzz. But I ordered the shrimp taco plate and omg I didn't know people could ruin a freakin shrimp taco to the extent that these people did. I can't even believe this is even on the menu. The shrimp taco consisted of tiny previously frozen shrimp that had been sautéed in butter and salt. They threw these weak little shrimp into a tortilla and garnished it with onion and I swear 1/6th of one tiny cilantro leaf. There was nothing Mexican about this taco. In fact, the only reason you could call it a "taco" is because the onion and shrimp were wrapped in a tortilla. So there's that. But I felt like I went out to eat shrimp randomly sautéed in butter. I also got the chicken empanada which redeemed the meal sort of. But seriously the shrimp "taco" was so terrible I couldn't really get past that.
(2)Ashton W.
I've been coming here semi-regularly for about a year. The service has been up and down, but it's a casual atmosphere and I don't expect five star service at a place like this. Previously customers ordered at the counter before taking a seat, and now they offer full service. Honestly, I thought it was fine before. I'm here for the food and drinks anyways. The food is usually delicious. Occasionally the guac has been less than fresh, or they'll forget something in my takeout order. It hasn't been a big deal. It's a place I'll continue to grab last minute dinners at or come to just to leave the house on Sunday. Mostly for the convenient location and chill atmosphere. Thanks Tomatillos, and I'll probably see you tomorrow.
(3)Itai H.
The guacamole was dark and sour, the shrimp were tiny and sad (served with onions in tacos), black beans were salty, and chips were saturated in oil. The waiter was friendly, though.
(2)Michael S.
Used to be better. I am a huge burrito fan and have tried really hard to keep up hope on this place, since I live in the neighborhood. Counter service was changed to table service, which takes the main reason away for me to go, quick lunch. The food has been up and down, but it's been way on the down side for a long time now, along with the table service.
(2)Alex C.
Not that good. I had high hopes, but in general there are better options. I had shrimp tacos this time around and they were just okay. It seems they were blanched and then finished on the grill. Not the best texture compared to actually grilled shrimp, but thats why they're only getting 3 stars. On top of that, there were 4 tiny shrimp to the taco. So overall, unimpressive. I also was able to try the fish taco, which was actually pretty decent. I'd get that next time if I were to come back, likely not though.
(3)Mark H.
I have been going once a week for a month now, trying different tacos. My favorite is the fried catfish, then grilled shrimp, pulled pork, steak. The habanero sauce is the bomb, spicy hot, but it goes away after about 5 minutes. The staff is always friendly and service is quick.
(5)Julio R.
Sadist excuse for Mexican food I've seem. Felt very uncomfortable as soon I walked into the place. The customer service was horrible. My father has food allergies and they wouldn't change or alter the way make the food at all. Seriously this place is the only part about my trip that left me feeling disrespected and discriminate.
(1)Andy H.
We're done with Tomatillos. We've gone here many times over the last couple of years, mainly out of convenience, but last week we decided no more. Pros: Great patio The queso Kate Cons: Food is always iffy. You might get half-frozen avocado, they may forget part of your order, the food may be too cold, the chips stale, they forget to pick all the bones from your meat, and so on They cooking staff seems to change too often, which isn't a good sign to me The wine they serve sometimes tastes old Our most recent visit had me being served my food missing several ingredients and her receiving a half glass of wine that tasted as if it had been opened a week earlier. Also, the guy behind the counter (the owner?) was rude as soon as we walked in. Despite this, Kate, our server, got a good tip because she's always been good to us and I bet she's just as frustrated as we are.
(2)Robert F.
On my first visit I had the Chicken Crack Empanada plate and a glass of Malbec. Now I have never tried "crack" cocaine, but one would assume that this dish would be addictive (based on the name) right??? Well its safe to say that I will not need an intervention anytime soon...The pastry was nicely prepared, however, there was nothing special about the chicken filling. Also, the Malbec tasted like a plain Merlot. My lady had 2 steak tacos and a shrimp taco. She also thought that they were just "Ok". Undeterred, I wanted to give them another chance so I returned for lunch the next day. I tried the house wings. They had a tad bit more flavor, but not enough to warrant a third visit. I can't say that the food is terrible, but with so many Mexican food options in the city, the bland taste of most dishes at Tomatillos doesn't justify making your way to EAV unless you just live in the neighborhood.
(1)Stephen T.
This is my favorite local mid-priced burrito place. Don't miss the habanero sauce. It is the best, and nobody else has anything like it. It goes perfectly with the tofu burrito. I eat there all the time, and it is always good.
(5)Patrick G.
Rude staff seems like they hate their jobs. The tacos had no flavor, none. The salsa was nothing special. So many better options in this area, look elsewhere.
(1)Stephen L.
I've struggled for a better way to say it, but i think "if hospitals made tacos" pretty much sums it up. The catfish taco wasn't bad, but the brisket and the pork were flavorless and seemed to have nothing but meat inside them.
(2)Vanitha S.
We stumbled upon Tomatillos, starving and stopping for food when we should have just gone home! But it was a great decision because we had such delicious food at Tomatillos. We are big fans of Moe's, Willie's and No Mas Cantina so were eager to see how it measured up. The inside was cute and trendy and a very friendly waitress greeted us at the door. We sat down and immediately liked the menu--simple and very customizable to what you want. My hubby got a chicken quesadilla and I got a shrimp bowl. The bowl was really good and felt so healthy--brown rice, pinto beans, shrimp, and salsa fresca. A couple of chips ringed the bowl. I requested to hold the cheese. The quesadilla, however was really a homerun. It was tasty and crunchy and stuffed with good ingredients. Our waitress continued to be very friendly and attentive through the meal. At the end we ordered a dessert of peanut butter-chocolate churros which were not your amusement-park churros...they were really great smothered in a delicious homemade whipped cream topping. What a great find in East Atlanta! We would come here again, especially for the chicken crack empanada plate which looked delicious as I was eying some other customers as I was walking out. The thing I knocked a star off of is for the lack of free chips and salsa. That's really a staple at any Mexican restaurant. Also my shrimp bowl said it came with a "garnish of chips and sour cream" and it really was a garnish. I could count less than 10 chips that came with my plate. Sad! Glad that the taste of the rest of the meal made up for it.
(4)Arthur W.
The food was ok the beer was ok just a nice chill spot. People watching at it finest. The staff is super nice. Try the special it's where you get the most for your money.
(4)Sven N.
I love this place. Sometimes I go for a pork burrito with all the hotness, and sometimes I just go for a simple quesadilla. Always hits the spot, and not the typical Mexican flavor and different than the chain burrito shops. Did I mention the margaritas? Order one with a friend and you might be on your way to a crazy night. Perfect serving. Bike friendly too!
(5)Jon W.
Chicken empanadas FTW! Staff is nice too. Chill place in East Atlanta that is kind of like a Moe's/Willies. You can get something quick to go to eat or can stay for a while and enjoy some drinks on the patio outside. Nothing too special, but a much needed Mexican restaurant option in the EAV.
(4)Sarah P.
I love the Tomatillos omelet with chorizo added. The cheese grits are good with it if you eat them. I don't but I tasted my husband's just o see and they were pretty good. I love how they are waiting on you now (no more line at the counter) and the drink counter in the back is gone now. Much cleaner looking!
(4)Igna T.
First time at this restaurant and it was very disappointing. We had the brisket and BBQ pork tacos. The taco pretty much consists out of dry meat and a flour tortilla. No sauce, cheese or anything. It was seriously the most bland meal I have ever had. The waiter did not ask us once how our meal was. Waiter brought our kids water with their kids meals (which comes with a fountain drink) and still charged us the same as a drink. All and all it was a below average experience and we will never go back again.
(1)Donny F.
I've visited this place sporadically over the last couple of years, probably 4-5 times in total. It's always been hit or miss, and this last time out was a mix of the two. It's cute inside, with some roomy wooden booths and a light and airy feel from all the windows. The patio is where it's at though, especially once the night progresses, as you're set up for some prime people watching with all the bars across Glenwood and the comings and goings of varied and colorful personalities. The food has been OKAY in the past--I especially liked the brisket quesadilla my first trip--but the steak tacos were a letdown this time. They were way too salty, probably to mask that the "steak" was an obviously inferior cut--very tough and kinda stringy. These are the worst examples of the style I've had recently. Even though I generally despise Buckhead, a few weeks ago I had the best carne asada tacos in the history of my life at Rock n' Taco off of Roswell Rd.--really put these little shit pouches to shame. As a bonus, they also played some vintage Rod Stewart videos that almost made me laugh-spit said tacos right back onto the table. Anyway... On the bright side, the chips and salsa were very good, though they did take an inordinately long time to arrive. The wife liked the guac alright, but they didn't mix it up well enough, and there were some pretty huge avocado chunks just hanging out. She also enjoyed her burrito, so hers was an altogether better food experience. Another high point this time was the pitcher of margaritas. They haven't always been good, or even decent, but this go around the mix was right on--very fresh lime, not too sweet, and the booze was all there. Worth it. Our order taker and waitron was pleasant, attentive, and had a kind pep in the step that made me feel good about the place. At one point during ordering a manager type stepped in to clarify something on the computer, and then proceeded to bitch about how he was supposed to be off over two hours ago and that his superiors were basically silly twats, so that was a little off-putting. On the whole though I've had pretty good service. With all the other solid food choices in the area Tomatillos is not high on the list for a return visit. I thought the same thing about a year ago when I last rolled the dice though, and here I am having had 3/5ths of a good time, so perhaps I'll find my way back onto their patio in due course.
(3)Janet P.
My first visit, and my last. The only thing I liked was my server! she was so nice, great smile! I dont remember her name, but she has short hair, and beautiful caramel skin! A great server! We sat outside because the fan/air system inside was loud, and smelled greasy & burnt (seriously). I couldnt believe the small amount of guacamole we got for $6.75,it was just ok, couldnt eat the chips, they were hard, and my brisket tacos were so greasy, and just ok. The beans were somewhat dry, but they smelled better than they taste, and I swear the rice was dry, and half of it had dried out so bad that I had to spit it out, they were like rice grains that had not been cooked, wait, raw rice has a crunch, this rice didnt, so that lead me to believe this rice had been sitting all day,some pieces were hard as glass. we should have went to chipotle for almost half the price, and fresh!
(2)Sharon M.
Okay. So Saturday after eating at arygosy and visiting I-Too, we sat at Tomatillos for some more hanging out fun. Not sure why we ordered more food, but this time we decided we were going to split the famous crack empanadas while filling up on some tasty beverages. I like an idiot ordered the sangria. I actually don't like sangrias, but I just thought it was because I drank a bad concoction the first few times. This visit confirmed that they are just not that good to me, BUT after drinking 1/4 of the glass, I decided that it wasn't toooo bad and I can manage through it. I ended up getting another. Lol! BTW, we didn't touch the empanadas while we were there. I took them home for dinner. The filling was pretty good. The pastry was as it should've been. It was served with rice and beans, pretty standard. I'd go back to hang out.
(4)K S.
First timer and had high hopes based on the look of the place and the fact that the owner was so nice but that turned out to be only highlight. Wasn't that busy but took forever to get waited on and waiter was not goood. He had no idea what the special was on the board and didn't bother to find out. Forgot our order of chips which is so basic for a mex place. Chips were horrible greasyyyy and crumbled up. House marg was ok. Brisket taco was meat and tons of big chucks of onions ,nastyyy! as well as the Cold beef taco . My friends food was just as bad. Over priced bad food!
(1)Ryan R.
Love this place. It comes to the top of mind about once a week in those "where should we go eat" discussions. It is an East Atlanta staple. The Chicken Empanada's are great. I've been on "Empanada Tours" in South America (which consisted of me forcing my friends who live there to drive me to all the empanada spots they liked to let me try and compare). Although the empanada's at Tomatillos aren't as authentic as those I've had in South America, they are every bit as tasty. I've also had the burritos when I'm looking for a change and they are a step above chipotle/moes/willys to me. They also just added wings to the menu and although I was a bit skeptical of a tex/mex place serving wings, they are actually some of the best I've ever had. They are very smokey, flavorful and juicy. Definitely worth getting a few as an appetizer or as a snack if you are just going in to drink.
(5)Josh D.
Great food! Great food!
(4)Daniel S.
If you frequent this place your tongue must be missing taste buds. No Flavor, Overpriced, and left Hungry.
(1)Daryl G.
Friendly service and tasty food. The empanadas are killer and taco was good. Healthy, non-greasy fast food alternative in fun atmosphere. Only went for lunch but it looks like a good place for drinks too.
(3)M D.
Cash.... Horrible server. Could not hide her disdain for us. She made it clear that she never wants us to visit again.
(1)Matthew V.
I got the grill chicken tacos... Food was ok. I had better tho. Tacos was turnt upside down and I had to struggle to fix them back up and all the juices and stuff was running over.. SMH! Imma come back and try something else.
(2)Nicole G.
We went to Tomatillos today as we were in East Atlanta and had been meaning to go. We went in and my boyfriend ordered a taco and I ordered nachos for us to share. There weren't many people in the restaurant, so we thought we would be in and out pretty quickly. My boyfriend got his taco promptly. They said my nachos would be out in a few minutes. Well, 30 minutes later we were still without nachos. My boyfriend went up to ask what was taking so long. A cook or someone informed him that they were out of cheese and that we could wait a few more minutes. My boyfriend asked for our money back. It was pretty ridiculous that no one bothered to tell us that they didn't have any cheese. Granted, we could have went up earlier to ask what was going on but we shouldn't have to do that. They could have easily told us about the situation and I could have ordered something else. I definitely will not be back.
(1)Kat V.
It gets three stars because I will go back but only because it's walking distance to my house. The fish in my catfish tacos was cut into little pieces and the margaritas were the worse that I have ever had in Atlanta. Skip the rice and beans. I will give the empanadas a try for sure next time (maybe I'm just ordering the wrong things?). Still, fish tacos and margaritas should always be a safe bet. My suggestion is to relax on the lime juice (margaritas should be sweet, not sour) and cut up the fish before it gets fried if the pieces are too big. Cutting it up after just makes for a messy taco. And who wants a messy taco?
(3)Ashley F.
I'm a vegetarian and had the pinto bean and cheese taco and the potato and green chile taco. Nothing about them was bad but nothing about them stood out either. The lady who took our order behind the counter was very friendly and helpful. :) I'm giving the place two stars because I'm pretty sure that hubby and I wouldn't go back based on the quality of the food.
(2)Pete S.
The BEST Mexican food on the east side. Service is always friendly and the food comes through. It has become our weekend go to place for guacamole, burritos and beer.
(5)Chelsea M.
OMG...Chicken Crack Empanadas for the win. Yummy margaritas, decent priced beers, and generally available on Loaf Deals (seriously, keep an eye out, you'll save 50%). Love this spot. Good people watching, too!
(4)Julea T.
Was not impressed with the chicken tacos, but the catfish tacos are perfect. Salsa is perfect. I used to feel like they took a reeeeally long time to bring you your food, but it seems like that has improved with the last few times I've been there. I live right down the road and I eat here pretty often. If you like catfish tacos, you've got to try theirs.
(4)Chris B.
I recently went to a catered event by Tomatillos and I have to say that it was fantastic food. Everything tasted fresh from the guac to the salsa to their delicious brisket. Next time I am in EAV, I am going to check out this place. Fantastic food and it a catered affair, I imagine its even better inside the restaurant. Try the brisket
(4)Mike B.
When they started off good, now the food is extremely average
(2)Cynthia N.
I ordered takeout last Friday night and based on that one experience, I will not be going back. I ordered a steak burrito and an order of chips and queso. When I arrived to pick up my food, the line was long with 9 people in front of me. Only 1 person was at the counter taking orders and he was going pretty slow. So by the time I got to the counter, my food had been sitting for a good while. I actually thought, "Gee, I wish they had kept my burrito under a heat lamp." But alas, they did not. So I paid and drove home to discover that I didn't have queso, I had salsa. Really, folks? You only serve a few things and you couldn't get this right??? Well, I really wanted queso so I went back for it and although I only live about 5 minutes from this restaurant, my poor burrito just wasn't built to wait and so by the time I returned with my queso, my burrito was cold. But not only was my burrito cold, it was filled with mushy yet very dry beans and very little steak. I tried pouring the red sauce on it, then the green sauce and then finally the queso and it was still unpalatable. I threw it away at that point because I believe in my motto that "Only good food is worth getting fat over." As for the sauces and queso, I tossed those too because they just didn't taste good. How can melted cheese not taste good? I have no idea because it's so rare that I'm not in love with cheese of any kind but I threw most of this batch away. And the chips were extra greasy - tortilla chips always have oil, but these were slippery gross and possibly contributed to the queso's horrible taste. The restaurant itself is fine - small but doable with a tiny bar. They also serve margaritas - which I didn't even want to try after having a sample of the food. And I luuuuuurrrrrve margaritas. I'm sad to say all this because this is my neighborhood and I really want to like at least one of the restaurants in it, but God help me, this isn't the one. I will never come back here again. It's sad to say but I could have gone to Chipotle and gotten food that tasted better and was cheaper and warm when I got it home (there was a time when I lived 5 minutes form Chipotle so I know this is true). And I want to support local, non-corporate establishments, but if this is what I'm gonna get, I'm selling out to Da Man. Because if I'm ever in the mood for a quick burrito, I'll take a detour to Chipotle instead of Tomatillos. Yelp 52 #3
(1)Travy T.
Three stars seems like a perfect score for this place. Not great, not terrible. The staff is always pleasant. The prices are reasonable. The food is...good. Three stars good. I'll be back and ordering the brisket tacos!
(3)Andrea M.
I had a great lunch @ Tomatillo's today. The chicken quesadilla was delicious! The Margarita was even better. The service was fast and the server was very pleasant. This will be added to my go to spots. It was clean, calm, and convenient.
(4)Paul S.
Tomatillos has a very specific place in my heart. East Atlanta lacks any quick go to south of the border establishmentes. When tomatillos caught my radar I was excited to go and have actually returned a hand full of times. After a few visits I've decided you go to tomatillos for two reasons. The fried chicken tacos, and the chips. The chips are perfect! Light, flavorful, and there seems to be a surplus of them when they give you a five guys size portion to go. After those two items though, unfortunately I'm stuck finding other real reasons to go. The staff is nice sure, but I can go mostly anywhere to get that. They say the brisket tacos are also great, but I just wasn't impressed, try it for yourself...
(3)Ivan S.
Moons ago, before we were peppered with Chipotle, before Moe's WELCOMED YOU and before you were able to legally touch a man's thick Willy in public, there was a place called Tortilla's. It was unimpressive by any stretch of the imagination. It was kind of dingy, the service was slow, and the menu was pretty limited. I loved it. I wasn't the only one. Tortilla's had a crazy cult following, of students and stoners (not mutually exclusive of course), of urban pioneers and Poncey-Highlanders that time forgot. We all mourned Tortilla's passing. Sure, a Chipotle would soon open a block over and a Moe's had already opened where that janky-ass pawn shop used to be, but there was only one Tortilla's. But now there's two. Sort of. Bell Street was the first to try to recreate the experience. I've now eaten several of their burritos. It's close to Tortilla's; not quite there, but close enough. Now Tomatillos is the second to try that difficult feat. The verdict? Um, ok, but not nearly as close as Bell's. The building is very pretty in its sparseness and since this used to be an old Wachovia, parking hasn't been an issue for me the few times I've been. The service is friendly and prompt. It takes longer to get a burrito here than at the corporate joints, but it's not the glacial, stoner pace that Tortilla's maintained. The prices are a little higher than those corporate joints but there's a little more variety. As far as the taste, it's not bad taken in and of itself. And, honestly, I've only really had the steak burrito, but in my defense, I've had it like four different times so I think I'm qualified to talk about it. So, yeah, it's a good enough burrito that I've had it four different times, but does it take me back to the days of presidential BJs, 88 cent gas and the inexplicable popularity of Chumbawamba? Nope. It doesn't. Bell's does. Still, it's a solid burrito and a good addition to the East Atlanta Village. Three and a half stars, rounded down.
(3)Luis G.
Originally wanted to visit The Earl, then I got lost, then I accidentally drove by Tomatillos. When I decided that The Earl just wasn't in the stars **parking there was like trying to find parking right before walking over to Knott's Berry Farm during October** I instead went to Tomatillos. This place looked like Chipotle but it turned out to be way better. I tried to steak bowl and it was superb! The kind gentleman working there offered me a hot hot sauce. Despite it being somewhat hot, I really liked it with the bowl. Definitely a place to return. If Tomatillos ever decided to expand westward to LA...look out Chipotle!
(5)Mat M.
Tomatillos. Wow. You have the start of something great, but you need to turn the corner. You have a great location, in a neighborhood that promotes local business and isn't going to let a Chipotle or Qdoba move in. If there was a Chipotle, I'd probably go there instead. Tomatillos, why don't you season your meat? It's a Mexican joint, but your food is bland bland bland. The chicken on a quesadilla should be boiled, shredded chicken with nothing done to it. Eating your quesadilla was like eating something with no flavor. The presentation nice, the price on par, and the place really nice. If you'd just season your meat, then you might have something going. I'll come back next time I'm in town, but please start seasoning your meat. PS: The Guacamole was delicious!
(3)Robert M.
After having eaten two or three times at Bell Street Burritos, I decided I had better try Tomatillos in order to do a fair and thorough compare / contrast type of review. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the place was the pleasant aromas and the clean and eclectic (though somewhat sanitized) interior. Like with Bell Street Burritos, you order at the counter at Tomatillos and wait at a table for your name to be called. I like how Tomatillos sells beer and wine; not sure if Bell street does that. My chicken burrito, Miller High Life Tall Boy, and guacamole with chips came out to around 17 bucks and change; a bit pricey and I was bummed that chips don't come with the burrito. That having been said, I will say that the chicken burrito is HUGE; perhaps not quite as tasty as the one they serve at Bell Street Burritos, but certainly tasty none-the-less. The Red and Green sauces here are excellent; perhaps Tomatillos does better salsas than BSB. I have not tried the guacamole and chips at Bell Street Burritos; however, Tomatillos rendition was very good and (like the burrito) generously portioned. Tomatillos gives you a huge order of chips to scarf the guacamole down with; easily enough to split between two or three people. With Tomatillos, I walked away stuffed and confident I would not be hungry later. I'm not sure I can say the same thing for Bell Street Burritos; however, I am pretty sure I have not had to spend almost 18 bucks for a meal there (yet) either.
(3)Andria C.
I'm not sure why people are bagging on this place - I actually really liked it. We stopped by last Saturday night about an hour before they closed. The place wasn't very busy. We grabbed some menus and looked them over. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't think the menu was confusing at all. Sure, there's a lot of information to take in, but it seemed pretty straight forward to me. The guy at the counter was very nice and answered all my questions. I ended up ordering a couple of tacos and they were quite delicious. The meat was cooked and seasoned very well and the option of changing to a corn tortilla was a bonus. Chips were super fresh and still warm and the salsa was decent as well. I can't comment on the drink selection as I only drank sweet tea, but my first impression of this place is good. Being that it's super close, I'm sure I'll be stopping by again. But so far so good!
(3)Davie C.
The food was good. The service was good. They were not busy when two friends and I stopped by around 4pm on a Tuesday. Their AC is on the fritz and repairs are forthcoming so it was a very authentic experience. HAHA The first thing I noticed was that the food was not over salted and the brisket had great flavor. This tells me they use quality beef. The saltier the meat usually is the hallmark of lower quality. I enjoyed. The queso was very good too.
(4)Shu C.
How long does it take to make a burrito and two tacos? At Tomatillos, 40 minutes, apparently. That's right, it took over 40 minutes to place and receive my to-go order. At the 25 minute mark, I contemplated a request for a refund, but thought,"how much longer could it possibly be?" After I opened up the packaging and saw the sorry excuse for tacos they gave me, and especially after my first bite, I wished I asked for a refund. Given the great food in the area, there's no chance I will ever set foot in Tomatillos again.
(1)Ian W.
My wife and I went to Tomatillos tonight for dinner because of the Scoutmob deal... To start, this "experience" of eating at Tomatillos took an hour and a half. They were probably busier because of Scoutmob, but we waited around 45 minutes to an hour for our food. For a burrito. Take into consideration that there were plenty of open tables, so they were not anywhere close to being busy for a competent business establishment. Looking around the restaurant was almost comical - angry patrons everywhere. No one had food and no one was happy. My wife asked the cashier (who takes your order) what went well with sweet potatoes in a burrito. He answered with a, "Well, not the beef or pork because we're out of those." Helpful. Thank you. We also ordered chips, guac, and queso. The guac was in the beginning stages of turning brown and the queso was so thick and cold it would break the chip. It was more in the solid stage than liquid. We did ask for a new queso, so they microwaved it for us. The sweet potato burrito had... wait for it... 4 small cubes of potato in it. 98% of it was beans. My wife ended up opening the burrito to search for any sign of a sweet potato. Upon opening it she found that two of the four pieces of potato were a little too black for comfort. Not a burnt black... Like a moldy or old vegetable black (picture uploaded). I ended up getting the shrimp quesadilla, which was mediocre and unseasoned. Even with the 50% off, we ended up wasting $14 dollars and an hour and a half of our time. We will not be going back.
(1)Michael B.
Simply put, you can get better Mexican food at several other Atlanta restaurants. Lost 4 stars - Bad food; mediocre service; not worth the money I ordered three tacos. The ones that I wanted were not available because they'd run out of brisket, I think. What I received were three of the soggiest, saddest tacos I've seen, and I've seen terrible tacos (hello, Zapata in Norcross?). I would love to tell you about service, but it consisted of... 1. "What do you want?" 2. "We're out of that." 3. "Here's your food." I was out $12 after the aforementioned tacos plus splitting some queso and chips. Speaking of queso, I meant to say mortar -- as in that which you place between bricks to build walls. Basically, I get more love at a Chipotle for $8 and a little English on the staff to do double meat in lieu of beans on a burrito bowl. By the way -- to whomever said this is the taco joint you've been waiting on -- go see a doctor. You may be suffering from ageusia -- the inability to taste.
(1)Shawn M.
Typically, I don't go out and eat at 4pm, but after picking my son up from school and hearing him talk about the great field trip he had that day working in the park and going to Tomatillos afterwards, I thought I'd try it too. What a nice experience it was! The staff was friendly and the service was terrific. I was impressed by the cleanliness and the attention to detail. It's a much hipper version of Tortillas, for you older folks who remember that place, on Ponce without the bad attitude. The catfish tacos rocked and the salsa is tasty fresh and not overrun with cilantro (my kids call it the "soap" spice). Very family friendly!
(5)Denise O.
I've been here a couple of times and each time the food, drinks and service was good! The menu items are reasonably price. I'll be back.
(4)Julia S.
Seems like since I was here the last time they took my advice. They had the lunch special available again (burrito + chips + drink for $8.50), so I immediately jumped on that. I was predictible and got the same potato and green chile burrito (can't help myself! it's soooo good!), but this time I got sour cream and mushrooms in addition. Granted, you still have to pay for some of the extras, but I felt like the changes they made otherwise really made up for it. I actually ended up here again because I wanted to see a friend before I left Atlanta for good, and unfortunately because I had plans that ran long before meeting him, we couldn't go to Spoon because I wasn't able to leave my house until after 3. So we hopped onto scoutmob and saw that Tomatillo's had a scoutmob going on. So we figured we could at least get a discount. Soooo glad we ended up going back here. The other things I feel like they changed for the better was the woman who was taking the orders was much more conscientious about taking the food off the line and immediately to the person who had ordered - that was not necessarily the case the previous two times I'd been here, and a guy was taking the orders. I also obviously tried their salsas again and they were AWESOME! The last time I'd had chips there, the salsas were essentially tasteless to me. This time they were spicy and really flavorful. I kind of wanted to stick the green salsa bottle into my purse and walk off with it - it was that good. I didn't get any alcohol, but my friend got some white sangria, and I had a taste, and it was DELICIOUS. Hmmm. I want white sangria now. Now I want another burrito but I am a 12 hour drive away. Sigh. :(
(4)Roz R B.
I love this place! It used to be a biker, hard rock kinda place and I was scared to come in but I did anyway because the food and drinks were so dang good! But now it's totally family friendly with new staff and great attitudes! I love it! And will come at least once a week! Support local businesses ya'll because they support our neighborhoods. :-) - Rozzie
(5)Tim D.
I'm a very simple eater - plain is better and I can always make my tummy happy here with a bean and cheese burrito, a tofu burrito and a chicken taco to de-bland my order. The house margarita is good enough that I don't mind spending more on my booze than my food. The staff is always helpful and friendly although there's definitely a sense that speedy gonzales will never be more than a whimsically named menu item. The building is probably what makes this place such a draw (great building, great location). I was once a bank teller and can appreciate them keeping around a few reminders of the previous occupant. The outdoor seating is cozy but carving off a few of those parking spaces to make the patio bigger would be muy bueno. Points added for yummy simple mexican food, refreshing margaritas, cool building and potential for icon status as the only mexican place in EAV now that Blue Frog was kissed by a princess and turned into an Irish pub (I don't like Holy Taco very much so I don't count it as an option). Points deducted for slow (but friendly) service, sometimes the burrito is awesome, sometimes it needs a slap with the authentic stick and it can be a bit pricey for what you get when you start checking all of the option boxes. Let's see a margarita special (Matador does $3 margaritas every wednesday), cheap taco/burrito night and spool up the tacometer in the kitchen. I can only echo what others have said - this could be a village mainstay but it's going to take some tweaking to keep it from washing out with the tides. Thank you for not being a Willy's/Moes/Chipotle.
(3)Al F.
I love you, Tomatillos. I know there have been a lot of less-than-favorable reviews of this place, but all those haters seem a bit petty to me. Yes, there were kinks to work out when Tomatillos first opened up. No, they are not licensed to seel beer yet. (But I hear that is coming Real Soon.) Yes, some of their pricing for Add-ons seems kind of weird. But those first two complaints are really to be expected for a brand new restaurant that is not being managed by a corporation. And the pricing issue is really minor. Maybe they will look at their menu at some point. This kind of thing happens with new restaurants. All I know is that when you buy a Tomatillos burrito, you are getting something unique. Tomatillos uses the freshest ingredients. All those Add-ons are not just thrown on top, they are sauteed on the grill with the rest of the food in your burrito (or taco or quesadilla). So when you add Mushrooms to your Burrito, your burrito tastes like mushrooms. When you add Roasted Corn and Spinach to your quesadilla, the flavors of corn and spinach permeate your quesadilla. I honestly have not ordered too much of their meat fillings in my burritos. I am not a vegetarian, but I tend to order their Potato and Green Chile Burritos. I add extra veggies in - because they are so tasty. My meal is wholesome, more than fills me up, and always puts a smile on my face. I love the food they make. I love that they are an independantly owned burrito joint in East Atlanta. There is so much to love about this place. They offer fresh, wholesome food and friendly sevice at a fair price. And I haven't even mentioned their fresh sauces yet. RED SAUCE and GREEN SAUCE! Their homemade sauces add all of the flavor that you need. They are both great. Me, personally, I am a RED SAUCE fanatic. It's the best flavorful salsa I would want to put on my burritos, quesadillas, or tacos. If you don't want any, fine - go save a buck and go to Willy's. Willy's is pretty good. But I'll keep going to Tomatillos. In fact, I need to wrap this up because it's past dinner time. See you soon!
(5)Kamara M.
Heaven is a place on Earth and it's located at Tomatillos. As a frequent eater of Mexican cuisine, I must say I have tried my share of places in the metro area... Tomatillos is definitely at the top tier of the list. From fresh ingredients to great drink specials, I make the 20-mile trek to this side of town just for Tomatillos at least once a week. Aside from the food, the staff is stellar and hardworking as well. I love coming here!
(5)Kris O.
I took a group of 10 people to Tomatillos last night. Word on the street is that they have finally perfected their menu and really worked hard on the flavor of the food, and they have. It was fantastic! We decided to try a variety of items and share. The customer service was great, the food was delicious and atmosphere was laid back. I read that they cater, so I would love to have them cater a party for here in the near future.
(4)Sara A.
Minimalist menu... Didnt knock my socks off...But tasty and a fun location. Staff are very friendly! Would come back.
(3)Travis W.
The food was very bland and came out cold. The service wasn't much better. If they can't get their act together, they might as well do us all a favor and close the doors for good.
(1)Kara M.
Queso was a serious Mess-Oh. :( Went here on Labor Day, very excited about a new Mexican place in the area because I could eat it everyday!!!! Unfortunately, not so great. I ordered a pork burrito. Pork was tender and juicy definitely the highlight of my meal, but the rice, beans, etc were all very underseasoned and I ended up just picking out the meat. What saved the day?!?!? The red hot sauce stuff they have in squirty bottles near the drink counter... do not attempt to eat anything without it! Boyfriend ordered a steak quesadilla... it was pretty good. Again meat was good but overall just kinda eh.... What was the real tragedy was the queso. I love cheese, and especially queso, this was a disgrace! Pretty sure I saw the cook dumping a half a box of corn starch into the pot to thicken up the weak nasty that was presented. It was grainy and flavorless. Work on this now or you may go out of business before you get started! I'd give it another try, but won't waste $4++ on the cheese dip. On another note, I loved the renovation, but crank up that A/C!!!! It was HOTT!
(2)John G.
Not really bad, but not good. Seems cheap, until you decide to add anything extra. And I mean anything. Tacos were ok. Salsa was tasteless and too spicy at the same time.
(2)Katy G.
I want so much to love this place--but they fall just short of what I'm looking for in burritos. On my second visit I was less impressed than my first, and I thought they would have improved. Sigh. My food was kind of bland. The service wasn't great. I had a scout mob deal this time, thankfully--the prices are high. I will pay the big bucks at Raging Burrito because they have great food. Here--not so much. Scout mob sent me another 25% off deal, so I might try again . . . but they really need to bring it or I'm done!!
(2)Allison D.
So glad we went for a second visit. Burritos were steamy, fresh, juicy and tasty. Salsa was bright and packed a punch. To compare this place to Moe's or Chipotle is a mistake. Its peers are Raging Burrito, El Myr and the ghost of Tortillas that still haunts us all. Compared to those standard-bearers in Atlanta, we think it stacks up great! Yum.
(5)Dan A.
Pretty good overall. I liked the shrimp taco better than the brisquit. I'd go again.
(3)Scott K.
Disappointing. Burrito stuffed full of rice and (burned?) beans. Where's the chicken??? Pico? Cilantro? Anything??? Cheese dip was ok. Chips were old.
(1)Wendy F.
Awesome fried chicken tacos & tasty brisket tacos...Neighborhood folks should get out and try this place. A great asset to EAV--what you see is what you get, and you get good food! Can't wait til the weather is warm enough to sit outside with a margarita.
(5)Shane B.
So just had lunch for the first time and even though the place is cool the food is not so awesome. The fact that I spent $50 for two people and had to clear my own table and waited too long for food, not so cool. I definitely think the potential is there, but right now you can go to Moes for the same experience better food at a cheaper price.
(1)Garrin H.
Service here is AWFUL. I'm surprised they're still in business. Maybe they're understaffed, maybe they just don't hire the right people....whatever the cause, their service is terrible.
(2)John B.
Only been once so far but Hot Damn! Tacos were great, relaxed airy and refreshing atmosphere with bar and patio space, large drinks available. I will be going again, and perhaps will provide more details then. Not sure they have a full bar, but they do have the makings for margaritas and sangria. **I must RETRACT some of the above.** I went in there for a second time Sunday night around 8. They were fairly busy, but not packed. I went to the counter and ordered one single brisket burrito to go. It took them FORTY MINUTES. During which time, I was sitting directly next to the register AT the bar, and it took THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES of me waiting there, before ANYONE on staff spoke to me. No one ever asked me or offered me, something to drink, or chips and salsa. When they finally did say anything to me, I think they hadn't even started my burrito, and 5min later I was walking out the door with it. After the girl at the register asked the cook about my burrito he looks at me and says "Sorry bro." Now, if this were a sit-down restaurant a 40min wait for food wouldn't necessarily be crazy, but the 35min without anyone saying a word to you while you're right in front of them would be crazy at any restaurant. I still enjoy the food (which is why I'm still giving it two stars instead of one) but seriously, what the heck people?!
(2)Ashley S.
Here's the gist: Strolled on in to this pad and really liked the lay out of the place. It's no utopia of tacos but hey, the joint has some rad catfish tacos with nifty gas station white whine hah. The employees were friendly which is an extra perk. I went on a Tuesday night with some pals and there was a sign for trivia and bam, no trivia. Balls.
(3)Randall C.
Just moved to the neighborhood and found an excellent place for Mexican food. Great food, Great service and plenty of parking. I had the Pork Burrito and it had a freshness to it that you don't find in most restaurants of this type. I didn't mention how reasonable it was. You get a lot of food for the money! Thanks, I'll be back tomorrow!!
(5)Tom S.
I ordered a couple drinks and some chips and salsa. It took ten minutes. Not sure why but there was only one lady taking orders and delivering food. The tardiness came with an apology. The chips were overly greasy. I will try them again because they have been great before. Everyone needs a 15th 2nd chance.
(2)Heather B.
The tacos are great. My new favorite tacos in Atlanta. But I went on a day when the computers were down and the girl that worked the front had a complete mind melt over it. My tacos came out quick, but I never got my chips, salsa or queso. Or, my importantly, my beer. They were out of ice the entire time as well, even though several people told her. Great tacos but don't expect your whole order or even an apology 1/2 your meal was forgotten if math is required.
(3)David M.
Holy hades, it's hot in this place. I mean really... A/C IS a necessity in Atlanta during the Summer. The owners would be wise to consider how their guest feel. That they do not want to dine in a place that is so hot you sweat (and it's not from the spicy food). I hate this for a local/non-chain restaurant, but... It seems that this place isn't as good as I previously thought. We dined there, recently on a week day. When walking up to the entrance, we were greeted by a neon green sign on the glass front door that asked patrons to get your Scoutmob ready. I'm thinking the bulk of customers are using this deal (full disclosure: I love, and frequently use Scoutmob). This was further reiterated by the somewhat unpleasant woman behind the counter, who snarked, "Ah... Scoutmob people". Now, that's friendly, right? My guess is sign on the outside door is also a preemptive action in preparation of the complete blackout you'll get if you try to use a cellphone with internet. There's no signal, no really, none... you really don't get reception or internet in this place. The order came to the table wrong and the expediter didn't ask if we needed anything before swiftly turning to head back to the loud music and party that was going on in the kitchen area. Maybe that's where they keep the one vent that has cool air? If so, I can't blame her at all.
(2)philip j.
I don't really understand all the reviews saying the menu is difficult to understand. You pick a burrito and what you want in it, doesn't seem so complicated. What concerns me more is that you start with a base price of $7 for a burrito filled with white rice, pinto beans, bland salsa, and unseasoned chicken. Then you tack on things that are free (japalenos, corn, etc) at other (better) burrito places like Willy's and you end up spending $9-10 for a fairly lackluster meal. The chips and salsa are decent, my friends said the margarita was good...I don't know, I just don't see the point of this place when there are better, cheaper alternatives near by. There were two other people eating at 8 o'clock and they still managed to mess up two of our three orders, not impressed.
(2)Lydia T.
What I failed to mention in my review that if you live in the vicinity then there is no need to go to Bell Street. The flavor and quality is just as good if not better. I recently sent some friends there and they couldn't how great everything was.
(5)Jon P.
Great location, great renovation, missed it on the food - Ordered a chicken burrito and pulled pork taco - both were under seasoned, the extras on the burrito had no flavor. Great to have a Burrito joint on this side of town, but if you are looking for flavor head up the street to Holy Taco.
(1)Mary C.
Cute atmosphere and nice patio but the food is just average. The tacos are boring and the chips are greasy. The kicker is there's a sign out front that says something about being voted best tacos in ATL. HA! Maybe if the owner was in charge of voting. Skip this place, Holy Taco is only like 100 more yards.
(2)Matthew S.
Best Mexican in SE Atlanta. Super friendly fast at great prices and in East Atlanta Village to boot. get in here and check it out.
(5)Anisha K.
Today was our (collective) third and hopefully final visit to Tomatillos. The BF has been thrice and I twice. I wanted to like this place, I really did, but after today, I just can't do it. The first time I went, I had one of their specials, some stacked mexican lasagna type thing. It was ok - had some flavor but nothing that special and was overly covered in goopy cheese and sauces. Took away the crunch and just looked a mess. Today, I tried two tacos. One pork, one chicken. The chicken was bland - no seasoning whatsoever. Even applying the tomatillo salsa they provided didn't help. the pork had some flavor but not enough to satisfy. Also, the tacos are TINY. I'll be hungry in about an hour. BF had a chicken quesadilla and a tofu taco. He was "meh" about both as well. As a barometer, he asked me, "would you have preferred Taco Bell?" I said, yes. That sums it up right there. The other reviewers mentioned the nickel and diming issue, with which I agree. Every little thing you add (other than cilantro or romaine) will cost you. Apparently they have lowered the cost for each item other than avocado, but still, seems a little lame. I know they have to cover their costs and all, but annoying your customers won't lead to much success. All in all, I definitely won't be going again. Which sucks, because I love Mexican food and they are in my 'hood.
(2)Matt V.
I stopped in today to grab a burrito. It's been a while since I have been in. They had a decent crowd, but the food came out quickly. Good fresh food. Such a breath of fresh air compared to the "burrito chains." I'm glad I stopped in. I'll be back.
(5)Bobbin W.
For me, jalapeños have become a second salt. I find myself sprinkling them on a lot of things - pickled jalapeños on my poached eggs, diced fresh ones on my salad. I believe I have a high heat tolerance. But the EAV Burrito at Tomatillos is a scorcher - beware! Last night the chalkboard claimed the burrito contains rice, pinto beans, pumpkin puree, chopped fresh jalapeños and pepper jack cheese. It failed to mention the pork, or was it chicken? Either way, I'm luckily not a vegetarian. Vegetarian or not, that burrito burned my face! Moving on, my boyfriend ordered the chicken crack empanadas, topped with a creamy chipotle sauce reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing. Watch out for the EAV Burrito! The pumpkin puree pumped me up for Turkey Day, and the jalapeños fulfilled my spice quotient for the next several days.
(4)Erin G.
Tomatillos is DELISH. I've been there two times. The first time I ordered a bean/cheese/chicken quesadilla that was bursting with flavors and ooey gooey cheese. Today I had two tacos, one steak (had a little kick to it!) and pork, which was juicy and flavorful. Their namesake tomatillo sauce is the perfect accompaniment to their tacos. I vote this place has better stuff than Moe's and Willy's. Much more flavor and seasoning to their meats. **update** their "crack chicken empanadas" are AMAZING and worth going for!
(4)Brooke N.
tl;dr Bad service, too expensive, lack-luster food. Just go El Myr or at least Willies. My boyfriend and I gave Tomatillos two chances because we live in EAV and only want the best for the businesses - especially businesses that have so much potential! The first time we went they didn't have their liquor liscence yet, which wasn't neccesarily their fault, but really took the wind out of our sail when the sign says "Burritos and Beer". Not only that, they charge for their chips - which apparently are made fresh every day, but they taste horribly stale and cold. I ordered two tacos, both which were lack-luster and they cost almost $10. Not to mention they forgot my avocado, but charged me anyway. Additionally, my boyfriend got a chicken burrito and they forgot the chicken! We had already complained about the chips being stale and the chef looked pissed so we didn't say anything about our meals. We just went home unhappy. Not to mention, we couldn't sit out on the patio because there were bees everywhere. The second time my boyfriend went got the chicken burrito again and he finally got the chicken, but it was only one huge chuck of water-boiled chicken. Yuck. Very disappointing. Plus, he didn't get chips - and it still cost him over $10. I hope for them they get their shit together (get a new cook? new menu?), however we will not be trying this place again.
(1)S. D.
I drive by Tomatillo's every evening from my job and it is a great place to stop and grab something to take home for dinner. I love all of the vegetarian choices they have and the prices are good. I went in on a Saturday and sat at the bar which I seldom do and I really enjoyed myself. A very friendly guy came up very quickly even though it was busy and took care of me. I love it to go but it always tastes better right off the stove:) Love this place.
(5)Joshua R.
Sub-par at best, which pains me to say because beer and burritos are two of my favorite things. I agree with Rich E.'s review - I too was beyond excited at the thought of a burrito spot in EAV, and I was completely disappointed 10 minutes after I walked through the door. The sign says "burritos and beer" so naturally that's what we ordered. I guess I just assumed that their burritos would be amazing but that was not the case. They have a good spot, parking isn't bad, the restaurant looks nice, but the staff lacks proficiency and their food has almost no taste. Upon departing we agreed never to return and we all felt that Tomatillos wouldn't last long, which is unfortunate considering what has happened recently in EAV. I wish them the best of luck, but if they will have to serve better food if they want my business again.
(2)Kelly S.
Apparently their prices change frequently. The items I mentioned in my previous review as being added at no cost are no longer. Most of them are now 50 cents each! Eeek! It'd be better if the previously free items were 25 cents each or something, because going from $0 to $3 (for example, if I wanted 6 of them) for toppings is a tough pill to swallow. Cilantro's still free, though (hallelujah!). I'd have to say, though, that my burrito last night was fabulous - better than the first time. And the young guy behind the counter was very friendly. I won't dare try the cheese dip again unless I get to look at it first - but if they're reading Yelp, hopefully it'll either change, or it already has (because I didn't ask about it last night).
(3)Marcus W.
I will not be coming back. Aside from the clueless guy taking orders, the food is WAY WAY WAY overpriced. Most restaurants give away their chips and salsa but here it's $3. Burritos are base $5, unless you want potatoes, for $6 or any unseasoned flavorless meat burrito for $7. Want cilantro? 75¢. Would you like onion? 75¢ Mushrooms? 75¢ Garlic? 50¢ Peppers? 75¢ Spinach? 75¢ The list goes on for days. They nickel and dime you and tho the food was a LOT of quantity, the quality was lacking and bland overall. Don't get the pork, stick with bean, chicken, or steak -- the pork is really oddly flavored for a Mexican taste. Sour cream? 50¢ Guacamole? $1.00 A side of rice? $1.50 Don't bother coming here especially since they don't have their liquor license yet. Change your prices and I'll be back. Food was plentiful but bland and expensive.
(1)Megan S.
I REALLY want to love Tomatillos. In fact, the first couple of times I ate there I proclaimed it the best burrito spot ever. BUT then I came back again and again and each time has been filled with dissapointment. 1) their food takes un-proporionately too long to make considering the concept 2) it is not consistent enough ie.cold food, hard tortillas, stale chips. I think they may be under-staffed or something because while their food is good in terms of quality ingredients their issues lie in their employee's execution
(2)Melody P.
They offer lots of options for vegans! The food is FRESH. We ordered the tofu tacos (added grilled garlic), black/beans rice, chips/salsa and guac combo. Chips are excellent - light and crispy. Salsa has just the right amount of heat. Corn tortillas are soft and give the tacos extra flavor. Generous hunks of tofu. A couple of minor improvements would improve the experience: 1.) The music was turned up too loud. Why do restaurants in Atlanta think it is necessary to blast the music? The restaurant was not busy when we were there so there was no reason to have the music up that loud. 2.) The roasted garlic was not cooked long enough. It was still firm to the touch -- ideally it would be soft and buttery. Overall, I really like the place and will go back! I am looking forward to seeing what beer they will offer once they have the bar open.
(4)O K.
First! Went in tonight and it was really good! For being so new you expect some kinks but it could have been so much worse. Mainly just issues with credit card machine and new register system. The food was quick and fresh. I ordered a quesadilla with shrimp, spinach and cilantro. It was pretty much right on (they forgot cilantro, but that would be an easy fix if I had paid attention). You get what you expect. They did a great job on the building renovation too. It was a bank and now it is a shiny new restaurant with food reminiscent of Tortillas that used to be on Ponce. The employees look was cleaner than tortillas employees were though. Friendly faces, fresh food. That's all I wanted. Thanks!
(4)Elizabeth M.
tl;dr: Very good food. Confusing menu, bad service. Went Saturday night at 9:45; they close at 11. The menu was hard to figure out - was it build-your own? What did the prices include? The menu design included random tables, and lists in paragraphs, and the front of the menu was oriented upside-down from the back. Also, PLURALS DO NOT (generally) USE APOSTROPHES - "Add-on's" is a horrifying typo. Fix that, people. Once we figured out what we wanted, we went up to order. But... they were out of steak (!), AND out of queso (!). I ended up getting chicken nachos, and my partner ordered a pork quesadilla on a spinach tortilla. Then we waited over 10 minutes for our food, although it really wasn't busy at all. A couple parties were out front on the patio, and two groups inside were already eating. I have no idea why it took that long. The food, though, I have to say, was very good. Perfect ratio of toppings to chips on my nachos, and the ingredients tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned. They provided 2 squeeze bottles of sauce - I tried the green and it was excellent - bright and spicy. Partner devoured his quesadilla, and ordered another... which became a 15 minute wait this time, while we watched the sole cook talk on the phone before he even looked at our order slip. Then the food arrived, and it was a burrito instead of a quesadilla. The second attempt arrived quickly, but on a plain tortilla, instead of spinach. And it was missing the side of sour cream. Whatever, he ate it, and it was delicious. So... we'll probably try it again, but order ahead of time, or go earlier in the day. It seemed clean, the space was generically pleasant - I want to give it the benefit of the doubt.
(3)texas in a.
I'm a homesick, displaced Texan and was very excited when a trendy burrito joint opened not too far from my home in Atlanta. After reading reviews on Yelp, I was skeptical, but decided to give it a try today. I won't be back. Tomatillos is overpriced and the food is terrible. I actually threw away the second half of my burrito because it was so inedible. Tomatillo's prices are insane considering their target market and the location. As most reviewers here have noted, they nickel and dime you for things like corn, sour cream, and other toppings that are standard fare at most burrito joints, and the prices are high (50 cents/extra as of today). This might be understandable if the base prices were reasonable, but they aren't. I didn't get any add-ons for my steak and still paid $8 plus tax. This was for a standard-sized burrito; nothing large or special about it. The food itself was so bad, so much so that I almost can't believe people were eating it without comment. The rice was overcooked, as were the pinto beans, making the burrito more of a mushy mess than a collection of distinct textures. The steak was a nasty grey color and only seemed to have been seasoned with a little bit of lime. The red sauce was awful, not spicy at all. When I first saw it, I thought they'd given me ketchup by mistake. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but there's just not much good to say about Tomatillo's. The service is slow (it took 10 minutes to get a plain burrito with only one customer ahead of me in line at a slow period), the food is truly awful, and the prices are insane. Back to making my own burritos and being homesick for Freebird's.
(1)Animal L.
really yummy potato and chili burrito, great yummy chips and salsa...love eating here, really nice service too
(5)Shannon M.
There have been a lot of bad reviews on here, but after my visit, I don't understand why. I went in on a Sunday afternoon around noon with a large group of people. This place is great for groups since you order individually but still get great service from the staff. I ordered a steak burrito with mushrooms and lettuce (both are add-ons) and the queso and chips. The chips were a bit stale, but they weren't bad. The queso was a mix of white and yellow cheeses - different from your standard Mexican joint, but it was delicious. What was best was the burrito. It was perfect; juicy, cheesy, well-seasoned and delicious. The only reason that I'm giving this 4-stars is because of the price. While it was probably the best burrito I've ever had (and I'm definitely a burrito connoisseur), it was a bit expensive. For the whole kit-and-kaboodle, it was just over $13 including the chips and a drink. That's not bad considering how much food you get, but it's more than I thought it would be for a Sunday lunch.
(4)Farisa B.
Disappointing and will never eat there again! I have given this place several opportunities but they always disappoint. The service has always been good but the food has not, it is very inconsistent. The last straw for me was when I ordered their special of the day, that was a breakfast burrito. I asked for no meat since I am a vegetarian. When I got the burrito home I toke a huge bite into chorizo! I was so disgusted. I called and the gentlemen who answered was the person who took my order. He said he knew he put no meat on the ticket and was very kind and apologetic since he too is a vegetarian. He then said he would call the owner because they don't have a manager. When I spoke to the owner, Margaret Kaiser, she was rude, unapologetic and said what do want me to do about it. I wasn't looking for anything but some sort of acknowledgment that there was a mistake, maybe even an apology. I will never eat there again and will never give her my business again.
(1)Nikki K.
I usually hate this kind of food, but they had some special going so I tried it. Was seriously some of the best food I've ever eaten in a casual restraunt. Plus the place is cheap and fast. I can just run in and grab a burrito to go on my way to work. It's also non-smoking which is a nice change from all those smokey bars in the EAV. Also super strong affordable margaritas! Yummy.
(5)Señor E.
I hate to give neighborhood restaurants a bad grade - but i've been here three times so far. Not once has my order been correct. I've had burritos with more flavor from my job's Aramark cafeteria. management really needs to step it up in here. I would say Willy's or Moes is the Mendoza line for fastfood burritos. Tomatillos is not only worse in taste but also about 150% more expensive.
(2)Rich E.
How excited I was to see a new burrito place open up in a closed bank close to our house. How disappointed I was after I actually visited and tried the food. The other reviews are spot-on: long lines, slow service, bland food, and an a la carte pricing structure which means two people can't have a decent lunch for under $20. I'm not sure the person who took our order had ever used a cash register before. We didn't have complicated orders and I had to repeat everything twice. The food took over 15 minutes to get to our table, and once it arrived, it had no flavor whatsoever. Neither the chicken or steak had any seasoning and the steak was gray and chewy. I won't be back.
(2)Phillip Andrew J.
In a couple of times so far, will come back. Good flavor combos; wish they had a smoky sauce, chipotle or something. Food seemed very fresh. Basic bean burrito w/ onions, cilantro, & cheese + drink, better than most others around. Cheerful service, clean bright space. The kids love it. And close by, in East Atlanta, who can beat it???
(5)Betty B.
Not quite Tortillas yet but they will get there. No burrito place in town has matched them quite yet but this place has the best potential to. I have gone here 3 times, and it has gotten better every time. They have some growing pains, but this is not your run of the mill chain burrito place and a great addition to the neighborhood. A little bit expensive but it was worth it as the ingredients were fresh. Cheese dip was good, salads are good, but go for the burrito. Just went back for try number 4....lunch special puts it over the top.
(5)Tracey L.
I went there two nights ago, and had a steak and a chicken taco. They both were absolutely delish! I can't wait to try the green chili and potato burrito, and the quesadilla. I'll be back very soon!
(5)Lori S.
CHEAP. FAST. FRESH. HOT CHEESE DIP. That is all.
(4)Robert W.
Tried this place when it first opened and was disappointed, but gave them the benefit of the doubt and went back a few months later and saw that nothing had changed. On the first trip I picked up a menu studied over it because it wasn't organized very well. I placed my order and was thrown off by the price. It seemed higher than what I thought I ordered. I let it go and waited for my food. It wasn't busy at all. Two tables were seated and already eating and one person had just placed an order before me, yet it still took 8-10 minutes to get my food. Not a long time for most places, but burritos don't take long to assemble since all the ingredients are cooked ahead of time. I grabbed a menu to take home so I could call ahead next time. That's when I noticed it was different than the menu I had looked at when I placed my order. Apparently they weren't charging for many of the toppings originally, but had changed that policy and failed to gather up all the old menus. This explained why I'd been charged more than I'd expected. I took the food home and was astonished at how bland it was. The tortilla was like cardboard and ingredients weren't distributed evenly throughout so each bite was dominated by one flavor at a time. The second trip was about the same although I knew what to expect as far as price. I tried a different group of toppings hoping to hit a magic combination that would be tasty. It didn't happen. I was happy to see spinach as an option because I often use it instead of lettuce on my burritos at home. Instead of adding a nice crunchy bite to the food it was a slimy gross over cooked mess. It reminded me of getting greens in a school cafeteria. It seems they are taking the same approach to burritos as they do with their pizza at Grant Central, but I don't know many places that charge per topping on burritos. I feel like it's overpriced for what you get and not very tasty. I can't say that I felt the service was bad because the people were all very nice, but it does seem slow due to the system they've come up with to prepare the food. Burritos are a simple food that can easily be ruined by over thinking them.
(2)Nelscine e.
Great spot, friendly staff, good food, especially the chicken nachos- my co-workers have had that burrito everyone talks about, they all thought it was huge and they wouldn't finish it- HA! they all ate the whole thing, saying, I just couldn't stop. If I ever get past those great chicken nachos, I will try the burrito! And BTW, I have to go after work one day to try the "Double Margarita".
(4)Colleen B.
I thought this place had a great vibe, the food was excellent! We got the tacos (which were a little small for 2.50, but super yummy!). My husband got a burritto that was HUGE! We got the chips and queso as an appetizer. Amazing queso! We went because there was a scout mob and we were bummed to see that when we got there we couldn't use it on a Saturday. So, we ended up spending 25$... but we should have read it a little more. They are really child friendly and the patio is nice too.
(4)Scot L.
The negative reviews are all correct unfortunately in my opinion. Nickel and Dmied for everything, bland food, over priced. It is a real shame because they did a great job with the renovation I think. I really hope they turn things around because it would be nice to have a decent taco/burrito option walking distance from our house. But until the reviews make a sharp turn around our money will be going elsewhere.
(1)alyson l.
this is the taco joint that Atlanta has been needing. straight forward build your own tacos and burritos. better quality and atmosphere than willys, but similar fast casual service. kind of a california twist on toppings, green chiles and potatoes. easy to eat veg. open airy seating area with outdoor patio. no beer yet, may extend hours past 10 (11 on weekend) when they get it. typical challenges for a new resturaunt...girl at cash register is a little flakey, could barely take my 2 taco order correctly, but the cooks (in the open kitchen) made up for it by overloading my corn tortillas-had to eat it down with a fork before i could pick it up in my hand. I see myself going back here often, a) great location, b) fast service, c) no smoke - I love you el myr but when i want food fat and not to kill my health entirely, I will choose tomatillos. can't wait to see how they develop, specials maybe? better neighborhood outreach? there was zero press or parties as far as i can tell.
(4)Sandra G.
Quality Not Priced Right Positive Feedback: (1) Great idea to keep the banks theme after taking over the building. (2) Great architecture and design. (2) Lots of variety of seating. (3) Well prepared chicken and pork (no fat). (4) They make your tacos from scratch right after they are ordered. (5) Great, firm corn tortillas. Negative Feedback: (1) Paid 50 cents for a pinch of cilantro in each taco (comment: Taco Mac and Delia's Chicken Sausage are examples of places that provide a list of free toppings). (2) Meats had lack of seasoning. (3) There was lack of communication and training of the person who took our order. We asked if they kept the sign they had from the bank and he was not sure. We asked for a side of gauc which he didn't not know existed. Since they are a new company, they should train their employees to give a good first impression by being knowledgeable about the restaurant. Servers or anyone taking orders should memorize the menu before being put to work with employees...especially (4) They are competing against Blue Frog and Holy Taco, being in East Atlanta Village, but do not offer anything that these two don't already have. You have Blue Frog that offers cheaper tacos and the loud environment, and Holy Taco that provides an upper scale environment with tacos priced for great taste. Tomatillos can not just lie in between without something else to offer if they plan on succeeding. (5) They opened without having an alcohol license even though the sign says "Burritos and Beer". Overall is was pretty good and new, but I feel I didn't get the experience, quantity, and food worth the prices I paid compared to what else is offered within the same block. They have a lot of competition and they need to try new things.
(3)Aaron G.
I was really hoping this place would be great: it's real close to home, has a great look, and I read a review that said they put potatoes in the burritos. Well they do - for any extra fifty cents, on top of an already $6-8 burrito. $8 burrito...still can't believe I went through with it after seeing the price. But, I was hoping it'd be super-awesome and worth it. Nope. Not even Chuck Testa could make this burrito seem more lively. I'll admit, it was a sizable burrito. I was way-full afterwards. But there just wasn't anything flavor-wise that wowed me. Didn't try to tacos, obviously. But c'mon - we don't need yet another taco place. We need a burrito place. Finally, what is up with having "Burritos and Beer" plastered all over your building and only coming through on half that promise? Are liquor laws so harsh in this county that they haven't been able to secure a license yet? Bottom line Tomatillos: lower your prices and refry those pintos, and maybe we can be on speaking terms again. Also, stop slouching.
(2)