I don't know where to start with this place. I guess I'm a little biased-I really, really hate it when restaurateurs blow a massive wad of cash on the building and all new equipment-"flare"- and then don't train the staff properly or use quality ingredients. To me it's not having the right priorities at heart. I also absolutely hated Blue, which this group also owns. Maybe the food is good, but when we walked in, sat down, looked around and read the menu, we got up and went to Sushi Japan. But I digress. There isn't much to say about the food. It was borderline inedible. I mean, Mexican is one of the most vibrant cuisines in the world. You have to really try to make it as flavorless as the Chiles Rellanos I got this night. The overpriced margaritas were weak and the consistency of fabric softener. The service was terrible and it took 45 minutes to get our lukewarm entrees. I could go on about this place-the noise, the crowd-but my point has been made. I will never, ever go back.
(1)
Melissa W.
I've had such mixed experiences at Roja... I really do enjoy their happy hour, wish they offered soft shell tacos though and not just hard shells but anways, try the green nachos, they great and different. Since happy hour is only in their bar area, it's sometimes hard to find a seat so come early and be ready to wait. This Roja also has a great meeting room for private parties which I've used twice and it's always worked out great. I've heard horror stories about bad service at Roja but I've never had any problems. They are slow sometimes when they're really busy but that's expected. My only real cons about Roja is the food... it's not always consistant and it's really not close to real Mexican. I really enjoy their salsa but the chips are always a little undercooked and I don't know what the deal is but they always make my stomach hurt. The food that I do love there is the fajitas (try Fajita Fenzy on Wednesdays, buy one get one free!) and the grango burrito with shredded chicken,yum. Also their margaritas are quite wonderful, the traditional lime and sangria are my favorites!
(4)
Leslie H.
I've been Roja'd and that is NOT a good thing. My friends and I went to experience "the best margarita selection" and walked away paying for an overpriced margarita mix. When you pay $18 for a margarita, they better knock you off your feet. But, when you leave this place on an empty stomach, because they couldnt get an order correct, and drink what is suppose to be a Cabo Wabo or Petron margarita as sober as you were walking in... there is a problem. Service... flat out sucks! the Manager was avoiding us as much as our waiter, sad sad sad excuse for a 'Mexican Grill" This place is sham.
(1)
Jason M.
It's okay, but not worth the price. Best part of the experience is the margaritas. The food is just above average, the service is average. Restrooms were clean, music wasn't too loud. This would be good for a date, but less so for kids or a special occasion. They do have a covered patio with roll up door walls. We paid about $65 plus tip for a kidd meal, two dinners and two drinks.
(3)
Connie O.
Upon entering, I wasn't very impressed with the lack of greeting we received from the hostess, but as she looked like she had just graduated from middle school, I didn't expect too much. Luckily, the visit got a lot better after that. Very busy location but we were seated quickly. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. They have a very good variety on their menu, including an extensive list of tequilas. Oh, the margaritas! They were enormous and very tasty. There wasn't a member of my party that didn't rave about how good their food was. I had the beef fajitas and I was absolutely happy with my order. The portions were large but not too expensive. Definitely will be back if I find myself doing business in the area again.
(4)
Adrienne S.
I like this place. They have a huuuge selection of margaritas and a decent menu. Chips and salsa are complimentary. Flour tortillas are homeade. There was nothing about this place that disappointed me. Even our server was great. We came here because it was less expensive than another place. Good choice.
(5)
Kaite S.
Best place to unwind with appetizers and margaritas! Their grilled shrimp tacos are fantastic, as well.
(4)
Nick M.
Another fantastic visit to Roja this evening! Food was delicious and margaritas were spot on as usual...can't beat the happy hour prices either! Every time we go we sit in Rachel's section, we always prefer to be seated in her section because she knows us by name and knows our order...she always provides very personable service! Kudos to Rachel, hopefully someone from Roja sees this review and can commend her for her great service.
(5)
Robert L.
I don't quite understand the reviews. This place is impeccably clean, very modern and inviting with a spectacular outdoor space. I don't think it's the best salsa and chips though but they were good. Service was efficient, prompt and friendly. My wife had the fish tacos and raved about them. I had the Beef and Turf Fajitas. Tender beef, nicely seasoned, green and red peppers, onions, cheese, sour cream and guac. Good diced shrimp, with a slice of jalapeño and wrapped in bacon. My arteries were clogging in anticipation! No up charges. The refried beans and rice had a nice sauciness to them...saffron maybe? But good and not your typical. We were pleasantly surprised and will be back.
(4)
Alan B.
The facility is quite beautiful with a metallic new-wave feel. I generally prefer something that looks more rustic in a Mexican restaurant, but I thought the "feel" here was very cool. They have a stylish patio with a fireplace and large windows that can open when the weather is nice, but it's difficult to appreciate this feature during the icy cold winter. Omaha magazine says they have the best chips and salsa in town, and they're probably right. The chips and salsa are both homemade and so are the corn and flour tortillas - a very rare find in Omaha. My favorite item on the menu is the beef fajitas which are cooked on a grill and not in a skillet. (Most fajitas in the Midwest are cooked "stir fry" style which ruins them in my opinion, rather than "Texas style" on a grill.) The fajitas come with beans and rice AND guacamole, cheese, sour cream, & pico. I don't know if any of the fajita elements were particularly outstanding by themselves, but the combination of an actual homemade tortilla, grilled meat, and homemade salsa made this probably the best fajitas I've had North of Oklahoma City.
(4)
Cory S.
Not sure why the average rating here. We had a great midday experience and good food. The server was friendly to get us start and brought a huge mess of chicken nachos... They hit the spot and were more than enough, they'd definitely feed a table of four. I had a few tacos, shredded beef and pork if I remember correctly. They were flavored well and a good size. Rice and beans were on the side... The rice, was amazing. Normally I don't care much about the sides, but these were solid. No complaints, service was good and kept us filled on drinks and salsa. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Sean S.
Really any place that this restaurant group owns is off the charts! So that being said try The Blatt, Rojas, Blue Sushi, and the Parliment Bar. Any location will do as they all have great food as well as good looking and friendly staff. I love the fish tacos and margaritas during happy hour. If you do plan on going during happy hour you'd better get there early to get a seat. If you feel like a big spender go for the top shelf liquor and you won't regret it.
(5)
Nhi T.
So this review is solely based off my experiences during Happy Hour. I have dined here several times, but nothing beats their happy hour specials and deals. They have the most outstanding margaritas! I love all three flavors that they offer. My favorite has to be the strawberry, but the lime flavor over the rocks is superb.. Can't go wrong. With each dining experience, you get a portion of chips and salsa. Their guacamole is also delicious, but it'll cost you a few extra. And.. their happy hour food specials are also amazing. I just love their nachos off the menu! So delicious.. Definitely a recommended happy hour to sit down and have conversation with some friends.
(5)
Sam P.
I'd give this restaurant zero (0.00) stars if Yelp would let me... Here's why: Working in Omaha and requested lunch ideas from people I'm working with. They all glow when it comes to Roja, so I make the drive over. The place is relatively sparse for a weekday lunch, but no problem as I figure I'll get in/out. I get seated by the host and it takes 10-minutes for a waiter to come over. I know I wasn't hidden in the restaurant, because I was seated right by the kitchen where all the wait staff had to enter in/out. He takes my drink order only (even though I tell him I'm ready to order), then disappears again for another 5-minutes. I order the chicken gringo burrito, and it comes out really fast (so fast that it's delivered with chips and salsa-finally!) I ask if I can get some fresh sliced jalapeños, and the waiter miraculously gets these in under a minute (that's good, right?) The burrito is great! I finish eating the burrito and the waiter swings by to see how everything is going - too late, I'm already done! I tell him I'll take the check as I finish eating the chips and salsa (really fresh I might add!) but no... The waiter clears everything from the table! Not certain if he wasn't listening or what, but we obviously had a communication problem... Then the kicker... Something that I've referred to as my "Big D!ck Move of the Week"... I get the bill and he's charged me $0.59 for the jalapeños! Way to go... I'll never go back and I'll encourage you not to either! All this for $0.59... I hope the manager is proud!!!
(1)
Cindy H.
Great Food and Margarita! Ash W provided great service, food came to table quickly and the manager was attentive. Will be back.
(5)
Michael M.
Came here last weekend, and would say it is solid for a non authentic Mexican place. Roja is a lot like going to a place like On the Border. If you are looking for margaritas, chips and salsa and some average food, then this the place. The staff was nice, and our waitress was great.
(3)
Ali L.
Good drinks, good happy hour, that's about it. Every time I eat the food, I'm let down. The fajitas are incredibly mediocre, as are the rice and beans. This place is also incredibly overpriced, yet people flock here, and I don't understand why. In my opinion, I just don't think this place is anything special.
(2)
Charles C.
Started off rough. Dirty bar, no one wiped it down. Presumably a shift change. Either way the new staff was much better. Pricing was a bit high but offset by specials. Still reasonable for the area. Food was was ok. Wasn't bad but didn't make me impress me. (I know it's Mexican and there are only so many ways you can do it.) On a side note, bartender had no clue what a mint juleps was, which made me sad.
(3)
Michelle G.
I adored the fajitas and the nice couple at the table next to me had them they confided they come in once a week because they too love them so I was able to enjoy the eau de fajitas. I decided to order one of the combo plates with a beef enchilada and a cheese chile relleno. both were DELICOUS. the enchilada and especially its sauce was one of the best I've had I think like EVER as was the chile relleno. salsa and chips were outstanding and the server was awesome no waiting for food at Roja. had fresh and HOT chips and salsa on my table before I sat down. I know I just got back to Nebraska and minus one exception that I won't be yelping- I haven't had a bad experience. but Roja is quickly becoming a " i'm going back because its just that delicious" new favorite. love this place.. had to Yelp about it.
(5)
James M.
I recommend staying away from the food in general (although the free chips and salsa are passable). It has to be considered the worst Mexican food in Omaha. I can really only recommend the bottled beer here, as the margaritas I order are so inconsistent. First round is decent, second round is just a sugar crush as if the bartender forgot how to make it. I am genuinely perplexed by the success of this place over the years considering the food is that bad. I think the restaurant strives because West Omaha yuppies have proven to be more interested in being seen in places with modern interiors and a young, hip-looking staff than actually being served good food. If you want good Mexican food out west, and you don't care who sees you, head to Cilantros on F Street.
(1)
Cheryle H.
Love their margaritas. Huge outdoor patio seating with fire heat. Love the ambiance and atmosphere that comes with that. Since it's covered nicely it's open in spring and fall. Full menu of appetizers. Very full flavored guacamole that we always order no matter what season. Chips and salsa kept filled at your table. Upscale mod place with full service bar
(5)
Dorene G.
Ok place if there is no other ace to go. Our waitress was super nice and checked on us A LOT to make sure we were good to go. The ambiance was ok if you like the industrial Spanish style. My hubby and I were trying to figure out were the big wooden cobras came In to the theme because neither Mexico or Spain really have them. The food was ok. We ordered the queso for the appetizer and it was just like the rotel and velveeta. My husband order the burrito grande. He liked the rice a lot but said the burrito was like every other one he's ever had. I had the soup and salad. I ordered the the casa ensalada (house salad) with jalapeño ranch dressing that was mighty tasty and the green chili pork soup which was essentially just a thick chili. I was expecting a more broth based soup instead I received an actual thick chili. It was ok but definitely not what I anticipated :(. We also had tea but it tasted kinda funny but not bad. I would definitely stick with water or something alcoholic. I would probably not really go here again but the people were very nice.
(2)
Krista S.
My husband, daughter and I arrived at Roja early evening around 5:30pm. I asked how long the wait was (after calling ahead to see if I could put my name in, which they refused.) the girl at the front told me 45 minutes. They just told me on the phone it would be a 10 minute wait. When I was told it was 45 minutes she told me "well obviously we are busy!" The other girl who was working front with her wouldn't even look up at us and told us to check the bar there might be something there. If she would have looked up and saw I had a three year old she would have known that would not have been practical. They didn't even offer to take our name and they were so rude! Honestly I love Roja but I am unsure if we will make the trip to eat there again.
(1)
TA C.
Great happy hour, Monday margarita specials 1.99 . Reasonable happy hour menu, limited but the price is right. You can order from the regular menu also. Service was great. Very responsive.
(4)
Liz J.
Great happy hour spot. I was on my way to the airport but wanted to grab a quick bite. They were quick and served us 10 in less than an hour. We eat vegan so I was happy that they accommodated for my dietary needs. They also made me a "healthier" version of a margarita so that was really great too. Next time we are in town we will definitely come back.
(5)
David D.
Wanted to give -stars. This place is filthy, look up. The grease on fixtures is so thick and has attracted so much dust and filth it has to be 1" thick! Haven't even gotten to the food, which is right up there with the cleanliness of establishment. Takes a special kitchen to make bland Mexican food. Then again, our fault for thinking we could get decent Mexican food in west Omaha. First time I was here in a few years, will not be back.
(1)
Matthew D.
Everytime I go to Roja, it's the same for me... not bad, but not good. If you're wanting Mexican, I'd check out somewhere else. A lot of people like their Margaritas and they have a pretty good deal on Mondays, but other than that, I'd say pass on it.
These strawberry Margs are really thick, but who doesn't like thick , know what I mean ? Follow up comment on the Margs . The sugar rim makes me want to lick your glassware. You canny reasonably tell me that's weird or the sugar wouldn't be there, baby
(4)
Jamie B.
Great chips and salsa. The chimichangas had a nice mole sauce on them that could have been a bit sweeter. The number 10 combo was ok- was expecting the seafood enchilada to be more moist, somehow this was very dry and could have used some more sauce. It would be nice to have the choice between pinto beans and black beans also. Overall meal was average tex-mex fare and I do appreciate that it seems to be healthier with less cheese and grease than other places.
(3)
Omar R.
This place is NOT Mexican food. Not even the least bit. The food tasted microwaved, and even the rice was screwed up. I was extremely disappointed by this establishment. The drinks were decent but definitely overpriced. Do not fall victim to their cool and hip atmosphere, it is simply to overcompensate for their poor excuse of Mexican food. Overpriced and overhyped.
(1)
Todd H.
First time visit. Came from out of town for work and stopped in during happy hour. Sat at the bar and the service was quick and attentive. Had the house margarita and chips and queso deluxe. Both were fantastic and just enough to tide me over. Would definitely recommend this place and plan on visiting again the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Katie T.
Good atmosphere I thought the main course was delicious! However I asked for spicier salsa and she brought "habanero" sauce that was tasteless and charged me for it. The free salsa was tomatoes with cilantro then the habanero pure you had to mix yourself. The waitstaff was awful, slow and knew nothing about the food. It could be a great place with some adjustments.
(3)
Eileen W.
The food was kind of a bummer, but I'll write that off to the kitchen being busy or something (it was margarita Monday). We sat at the bar and Taka and Nick (?) were awesome. Taka made the best margarita I've ever had at Roja (an el traditionel). I wish the food has been better. Oh well. Maybe next time.
(4)
Alex B.
Taka was an awesome bartender as usual. He takes his time preparing the drinks instead of rushing to sling them out like most. It was packed on a Margarita Monday but he always found time to make sure we had everything we needed.
(5)
Sean Q.
Not sure how reviews for this restaurant can average anything less than 4. My guess is the negative reviews stem from people impatiently waiting for a table because this place is always slammed during dinner hours! The food is outstanding and the dining experience is even better. I personally love the chicken enchiladas (with a house marg of course).
(5)
Samantha J.
It was our second time coming in and though our first time we were impressed, truly disappointed by the second time. Our server took our orders and refilled our drinks fine, but we asked for an extra side of salsa from a couple of staff members, we were forgotten. Then our server wasn't to be found a bit longer than excepted. Asked if we wanted to dessert but we were kept waiting so long for our meals and any effort to attention to detail, we just wanted to go. Just disappointed by the dramatic change to one day pretty good to next day lackluster service.
(2)
Tom C.
I'm so tired of people recommending Roja for dinner or lunch that I'm going to offer my review. In so many words, I think Roja offers some of the worst Mexican food in all of Omaha. Friends of mine are always wanting to go to Roja for happy hour or dinner and I have TRIED and TRIED and TRIED and have given it soooo many chances. Every single time I think the food is just terrible. I'm done with Roja. If you are a friend of mine it will be an insult for you to invite me to Roja. Carlos OKelleys offers some of the same crap. Food: Terrible Service: Average Atmosphere: Super Loud If the chips and salsa are unlimited then why do you insist on serving the salsa in a dish the size of a soup ladle? I don't get it! And why would anyone wait 20-45 minutes for a table to open up?? That is crazy, save your time and money. Margarita Mondays: $1.99 margaritas on Mondays all day. You certainly get what you pay for. These are a pre made mix that taste like Squirt. I'd rather pay $5 for a shot of real alcohol and then leave. One star would just be mean. Since it is unlimited chips and salsa I'll give you two stars. BTW, your bar area is cold and your televisions are tiny.
(2)
Jessie B.
This one's easy. The concept is great, the execution is weak, at best. The menu attracts with what appears to be an exciting twist on traditional Mexican, the reality is, the food is a boring attempt to equal that of traditional Mexican. The service is worse than traditional Mexican as well. Sunday afternoon and I was seated in the bar area. Unattentive is a compliment.
(2)
Henry M.
For starters, we mostly only ever come in here to drink, so I can't really comment on the food (except the one time we got shrimp, they were excellent). The margaritas here are great, the free chips and salsa is definitely a bonus, since we can sit here for hours just off of drinks and chips and salsa. Roja loses a star because the the wait staff at the bar can be unattentive - we came in the other day and sat way too long, without anyone coming around the help us. We ended up walking out, and the waitress had no idea what was even going on. She looked busy though, so I could argue that the place was understaffed, but there seemed to be hardly anyone in there anyway.
(4)
Ron K.
This restaurant was O.K. I doubt that I would tell any of my friends to go there. I'm not entirely sure that I would go back myself. Food was O.K. Service was O.K. and the place looked O.K. But for the price I know I can do much better.
(3)
Dan R.
Ok.. I think I've read some others talk about the backslide that has gone on at Roja. I have to say I totally agree. And let me say... I'm not sure if it's actually gone down hill or if they had just tricked me in the beginning. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Even from the outside it looks like a destination. One would just have to assume that they are in for a real treat once inside. Maybe I was just hoodwinked by all the shiny objects?? ;-p However for me the magic is over at this place. I just have not enjoyed the meals that I have had the last 3 times I have gone there. The food is not bad per se... but it seems like it desperately struggles to set itself apart from standard mexican fare. This leads to some attempts at bold flavors, unique recipes, and creative presentation. To me though it just comes across as sloppy, perhaps amateur even. I've had some decent meals, but I've left thinking that things could have been fresher, perhaps the flavor more refined. The service has been suspect as well, slow I decided to go with the two star rating not because the food is actually that bad, but because I believe they set the expectation so high with the, pricey entrees, trendy industrial decor and, selection of Tequila's.. it's clear they are setting the bar very high. They should be hitting a 4 star easy, but they just aren't close in my opinion, especially for the $$.
(2)
Nathan M.
One small guac, one lunch entree and kids meal ran $30. Seems a bit steep. Friendly staff, but not too willingly to make substitutions or accommodate special requests. Tough choice with so many other restaurants in proximity.
(2)
Reed N.
Well... some of the horrible reviews here surprise me. Of course... I base my reviews on food mostly. The service has to be REALLY bad for me to downgrade a place. And if the service really sucks I say something about it... kindly. Things usually get corrected. I sat at the end of the bar alone on this visit and that is usually good for service. It was. So we have removed that obstacle. : ) The free chips and salsa should never be the basis for any review... they are FREE. Geeez. Anyway, the salsa is good enough to receive mention. It has great flavor and a good cilantro note... which I love. I had a stacked seafood enchilada with a fried egg, avocado, and chili verde cream sauce. Damn... the plate came out so hot it was insane. I waited and then consumed. haha The enchilada creation was okay... but it was surprisingly a little bland. The sides were not. Tasty Spanish rice is usually an afterthought, but this was very good. And the beans were ranchera style pintos that had tons of flavor. So the sides kind of saved the dish. Some might think they are a bit salty. Not I. I think the atmosphere is nice here.. but it could get loud.
(3)
Brittany T.
I have been to Roja about 5 times since I moved to Omaha in late July. I have to say that unfortunately each visit has been tainted in one way or another, and after my last dining experience (about a week ago), I will not be returning. I work and live in the Legacy Commons Shopping area so one of the few reasons that I have continued to visit Roja, as well as why it's so frustrating that I've had such a poor experience, is purely because of it's convenient location when considering my every day life. Throughout my past experiences I have continuously received poor and/or lack thereof customer service. On two occasions I was not happy with the general flavor of my order and when confronted, my waiter/waitress removed my meal without even offering to bring me another entre. Tip: If you are dining and not just there for drinks, I would suggest asking for your tab as soon as you receive your meal. Each time I have been I have had a good response time for my drink order and delivery of my meal, then I wind up eating (or not eating) my meal without another visit from my server. On one occasion I even wound up waiting 20 minutes for my check to be delivered when the restaurant had few guests. I would have flagged down an employee but no one was to be seen on the floor and when my server finally emerged, it was obvious they had taken their own lunch break as they were chewing aggressively as they approached my table. My final straw was last week when I went for Sunday lunch. I sat at the bar and wanted to order a margarita. I was greeted immediately and since their drink menu is so detailed for me to care to read and rule out items, I simply asked the bartender if I could just tell her what I would like in my margarita (patron, cointreau, and grand marnier) and she could pick the best fitted option. BIG MISTAKE. I received my margarita and it was extremely bitter, and overloaded with sour. However I chose not to complain because I was aware that I had let her make the choice and I'm not a picky person so although it wasn't the best I'd ever had, I knew I would finish it. No point in wasting good liquor, right? :) Anyways, I finished my meal and my margarita and once again wound up waiting around for my check. When it finally arrived I opened the book and found out that I was being charged $18.50 for my medium margarita! They have 3 sizes so I immediately thought that there had been a mistake and she had charged me for a large but upon questioning the bartender she simply shrugged and stated, "Welp, that's what Patron costs." As I passed her my card, I told her that two nights earlier I had visited another local restaurant and had ordered the exact same margarita and they had only charged me $9, and that if this establishment charged so much that I really wish she would have mentioned it so that I would have had the opportunity to select something else. Her response, "Oh.".. then she turned and ran my debit card. To wrap this all up, I would have given this restaurant a 1 star rating, however you can't deny that they have a very trendy atmosphere and the one time I did receive excellent service, it was by the bartender pictured above.. good job guy.. I should've remembered your name and maybe my next visits wouldn't have left such a bad taste in my mouth.. literally.
(2)
Ross C.
We've been here probably 15 times since it opened. About 10 times for happy hour and 5 times for a full meal. (estimation) As many others have mentioned, the food has a tendency to be somewhat bland. I've had a variety of things and I can the same about all of it. We've been here for happy hour more than anything. The margaritas are not great; very weak (taste no tequila) and are most definitely made with a mix; taste very artificial. Serving the margarita consists of 2 steps: put ice in glass, pour completely premixed liquid from canister. Also, I can have 3 of these and feel no effect from them? However they ARE cheap during happy hour. Making a very delicious margarita is not difficult (not trying to be snarky); it can be done with presqueezed juices and such. The commercially available mixes are just not the way to do it. As reference, Stokes does it well....scratch sweet and sour mix, real juices, etc. Free chips and salsa are ok. Chips are good, but salsa is (again) pretty bland. The upside is that you can sit here all night and they'll keep bringing more no questions asked (I'm sure as long as you're ordering drinks). Service is usually good in the bar area (where we almost always sit). This being said, you might ask "why do you continue to go here periodically?". It's so damn convenient. We live out west and it's a good spot to meet friends for a reverse happy hour. Tthe atmosphere is definitely the best part about this place. All in all, there are lots of Mexican/tex-mex places I would try before this place.
(3)
Steve T.
Great Happy Hour.
(4)
Priscilla R.
Love the carne asada. As a former Texan and Mexican food enthusiast. (Don't hold the Texan thing against me, please) this place was really good. Nice waiter, huge tequila menu, good salsa (1st sign of good mexican food) nice variety of food options. It is modern Mexican that is fresh and tasty. Just go eat there. It's good and totally worth it.
(5)
Jon K.
I was in Omaha this past weekend and my family and I went to Roja Mexican Grill + Margarita Bar West. The atmosphere was perfect, they must have had an interior decorator come in and design this place because the authenticity of it all was spot on. It was great, the food was scrumptious. I had the Grilled Fish Tacos and they were very authentic. Also, I wanted to remind all my peeps that if you use your yelp check in they will give you a free guacamole. The guacamole was absolutely fantastic as well. The staff was fantastic, very nice people - especially the manager Bubba Dalton. We had a rather large party of over twenty people and he made sure everything went well. The drinks were very good and the Margaritas were fantastic. I highly recommend this place for any outing.
(5)
Joanna L.
This is four stars, but only for the tacos. Drinks/apps/sides are nothing special, and in fact usually I just order my tacos a la carte. But the street tacos here are pretty good, especially for a yuppie joint not in South O. Steak and shrimp tacos are small but tasty, and the fish tacos are decent, although the pickled relish is a little overwhelming if they put too much. Not a huge fan of the service or the long wait every time we're there, but glad this place exists both downtown and west O.
(4)
Christine B.
A few of my friends really like this place, especially at happy hour. Since happy hour prices are decent, I'm not feeling too disappointed by the mediocre Mexican food. I've also gone for dinner a few times (they do have a nice patio, albeit loud) with inconsistent results. I kept returning, giving this place another chance, trying to figure out why it's so popular. I never figured it out. When the service is bad, it's been really bad. Twice my guacamole had some sort of foreign object in it (a metal wire and some plastic), so no more guac for this girl. Regular prices are a bit high for what you're getting, but people seem to like the place since it's usually pretty busy.
(2)
DeVante D.
I was in town for work and stopped into Roja for dinner. The servers were all awesome!! Quick to take your food and drink order, and very friendly. I ordered the Carnitas burrito and it may have been the best burrito I've ever tasted. Ask for extra red onions because they give the burrito so much more flavor. Had a great experience here and will definitely be back.
(4)
Mike B.
tried this place twice giving it the benefit of the doubt because we liked the environment. To make this sweet and short, we wont be back a 3rd time .
(1)
Ben K.
Pros: Not a bad margarita Cons: Bad food, faux cool environment, too loud and too expensive Roja is to Mexican food what McDonald's is to cheeseburgers. I have no idea in the world why this place is popular. The food sucks. The design is the run-of-the-mill "flashy to be cool" schtick that this ownership group has done before at Blue and Bianco. The prices aren't very cheap and the overall experience just isn't worth it. If you need your Mexican fix in Omaha, go to Cali Taco, El Bee's or one of the many places in South Omaha.
(1)
Sarah G.
I feel the same way about Roja that I feel about Blue... Except that my friends are never there to meet me. For dinner, I'd skip it and go to an authentic mexican restaurant. I will, however, give them props for their excellent collection of tequila and they make a good margarita. But they think pretty highly of them and charge accordingly.
(2)
River G.
Extremely disappointed. New to town stopped by today after a local suggested this. First impression douche bag, probably regular customer, jumped in front of me as though to open the door but brushed past to enter without holding the door for me. Waited at front desk forever during the post lunch lull. Nobody other than a freak in his gym outfit looking high and tipsy approached me. "Oh hi did you want to eat? I don't work here. No, just kidding I do". Proceeded to follow this guy to a table ironically occupied by the earlier rude guy at the door who was sitting by another guy that looked like an extra for Jersey Shores. High dude turned to look at me an said, "Oh shit, I was joking. I really don't work here." At least two staff members were within earshot caring for a minimal number of customers and no one offered assistance. I promptly left and headed next door to Firehouse Subs. Amazingly I received excellent speedy service from every employee at this chain restaurant. Will NEVER try Roja again nor suggest it to my worst enemy. Evidently I can't post negative 5 stars, so this will have to do.
(1)
Fly_Gu Y.
Similar to River G, I am also new to Omaha and tried Roja Mexican Grill last month based on a coworker recommendation. We were greeted by a rude lady who hastily showed us to our seats. We asked to sit outside and she sat us at a table close enough to the outside but not actually OUTSIDE and yes there were tables available. I remember she was wearing a black dress and her arm (left arm I think) was in a sling. She definitely had an attitude and didn't mind showing it. Once rude sling lady was out of sight, we asked another lady who from afar seemed to give a damn if we could have one of the unoccupied tables outside and we were promptly moved. When rude sling lady walked by and saw that we had moved, she couldn't resist providing another snarly look. Our experience was poor, the food was decent, but considering we passed a million and one mexican restaurants on the way to Roja Mexican Grill, I don't see us going out of our way to return anytime soon. Perhaps Roja Mexican Grill should understand that having the shiniest most glitziest building on the block is no substitute for good customer service!
(1)
Robert B.
This used to be my favorite place in town for higher-end south of the border fare. If asked two years ago, I'd have given it four or five stars. However, something has happened since then that I can't quite put my finger on. Food: 1. Tacos were swimming in oil. I had to squeeze them to drain it. Seriously, my dinner looked like it was prepared by BP. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else. 2. Kitchen completely ignored my partner's requests for changes to her salad. The only request was: dressing on the side, please. What we received was a salad floating in dressing. 3. Salsa was still up to standards, but the chips were stale and soft. Facilities: 1. Bathrooms were filthy! Someone used the counter top as a place to spit their chew. That's right, there was chewing tobacco spat all over the sink area. There was evidence of dried *something* on the floors and mirror. 2. Bathrooms need functioning sinks. One of the motion-sensing sinks were "offline". Dry as a bone. It had clearly been off for some time. 3. Somehow, despite the broken sink, the floor was splattered with water and who-knows-what-else. Dirty wet shoe prints were tracked all over the place and lead out into the hallway. 4. Automatic paper towel dispensers and manual tower dispensers were completely out of towels. Patrons had been using toilet paper to dry their hands. 5. Waste bins overflowing with wads of toilet paper and, seriously, a partially eaten fajita. I will never, ever go back to Roja unless I hear that the situation has been straightened out. It is sad because this used to be such a nice place.
(1)
Wendy C.
Love that they have free chips and salsa. That almost puts them to three stars. I went there for a quick drink and appetizer. We had the crab and shrimp tostada which were fine. I had a mojito which was terrible. It was overly sweet and tasted like it came from a mix. We went there again for Cinco de Mayo and I had the green nachos at the servers recommendation and they were terrible. The chips were completely soggy by the time they came out. We had the flauta appetizer which was ok.
(2)
Laura K.
Great for happy hour, but it's pretty packed. We just had the quick quesadilla and it wasn't bad. I was happy to find it not greasy and overstuffed with chesse. I always drive by this place and see it packed on the evenings. May have to try it for dinner one day.
(3)
Margaret L.
Pros: the Interior decorators rocked. Cons: Bad food, expensive food. If you want Mexican food, do not go here. It was a cute place to sit, and if it wasn't expensive I'd probably go back and drink (hooray tequila!). I had enchiladas and nibbled on my friends' dinner. Terribly bland, almost paste-like. I took the leftovers home to be polite, but would not have fed them to my dog. Our waiter was great, though. Very attentive, very kind. It just wasn't worth the price we paid for it.
(1)
Bo R.
Went for lunch Cinco de Mayo. There was staff EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately, the young college age kids were more interested in socializing than in providing good service. Ok, so a toddler could use the margarita glass as a baby pool, but we still needed water glasses filled. Food was marginal. Ordered the Tex-Mex Combo. Beans; too salty. Rice was light and fluffy, but good. Ground beef taco was good and the onion cheese enchilada made me yearn for something more. For 8 bucks a plate, there better be some machaca going on, or chicken enchilada. Something. Overall; Food was a 4-5, service was a 2, and it was over-priced.
(2)
Patrick W.
Dropped by here for dinner on the patio last night. I've heard or read somewhere that Roja has revamped its menu. While its been over a year since I was last here, I couldn't really tell a difference simply from looking at the menu. I ordered the nachos and they were different from what I remember. They had a lot of lettuce, cheese, guac, sour cream, ground sirloin, pico de gallo. Pretty much the standard for a plate of nachos. My wife ordered a couple of crispy tacos a la carte. To be honest, I didn't notice much of a difference in taste, quality, or price. It still seems to be overpriced. My opinion hasn't changed. It's a better place to drink and socialize than it is for a nice dinner. Not to say that the food is bad but it isn't anything special.
(3)
T J.
Horrible food, and even worse service. Came here for dinner while in town. Was my first time, and will certainly be my last. Probably the worst Mexican food I've ever had, which is saying something considering the overwhelming number of mediocre "Mexican" dining options. The food was far too salty (this coming from someone who rarely has a problem with salty foods), mushy, muddled flavors.....just one of those dining experiences that leaves you baffled how and why anyone would ever have to pay for this, and what sort of chef/owner would have any pride in offering this to the public. About the service: fairly non-existent. server would simply disappear for ages. and when she did mosey over to the table.....she was completely un-attentive and seemed like she'd rather be laying on her couch with a bag of cheetos in her cleanest sweatsuit than actually having any resemblance of professionalism. Couldn't even get basics such as refills throughout the entire dinner. The happiest moment I had during the experience was walking out the door, knowing I would never enter again.
(1)
Kevin B.
I really liked it. Atmosphere is nice, clean and pretty. The host stand was good, there was someone there, they gave me different seating options. Wait staff (Deidre) was awesome, friendly, helpful. I always like when you're deciding if the person can offer suggestions or let you know about the dishes. My food ended up being really good, so I'm glad I followed her advice. I saw other reviews mention kitchen staff ignoring special instructions, my order came out with the wrong side dish, (I'd made a special request) but this was taken care of promptly, so not a big deal. Every thing was cooked properly, all the vegetables looked fresh and nice. Taste was very good. I also tried a Mojito, again I was given a recommendation and it turned out really good. The drink was delicious. I was really happy with my experience there and will definitely go back. Aces 10.
(4)
Oscar G.
This isn't my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant, but it is one that I patronize often. I think the food is great for West Omaha-Mexican Cuisine standards, and the authenticity is fairly spot-on. The service has never been an issue to me, and is usually pretty decent. I happen to love the complimentary chips and salsa. The tacos al carbon are very tasty, albeit a little small-ish. Their guacamole is always good and fresh. Their shrimp alambres (bacon-wrapped shrimp) are an awesome appetizer, and their corn tortillas are very good as well. I will agree with those that mention its fairly expensive menu, but what West Omaha restaurant is "inexpensive?"
(4)
Lars W.
This is not Mexican. It's Tex Mex. And not a good one at that. The margaritas are also not good. Rather watery. The only good thing about the place is that is has ample space for company after work gatherings. That's what we did there.
(2)
Lina A.
Always delicious! Best Mexican food in Omaha.
(5)
Laura M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ROJAS!!! We've only visited Rojas in Lakeside Hills at Shops of Legacy, 17010 Wright Plaza but as travellers looking for a friendly place to grab a drink after a hectic day at the office this is the BEST! Bartenders Wesley, Brittany and Dan take great care of us and always make us feel like family. We love their knowledge of tequila and love trying their newest find. Wesley always makes the best margaritas with fresh OJ and lime juice and our fave Don Julio Anejo tequila and Brittany is adorable and always gives us great service. The manager, Bubba is always making sure we are happy and goes out of the way to make sure we are happy. Oh, and did I mention the food? Always fresh and delicious. The entire staff at Rojas treats us like old friends and that's always a good find when you are on the road all the time like we are.
(5)
Michelle N.
Came here for a drink after having dinner at Baby Blue. Sat at the bar and it took awhile for someone to come up to us although plenty of wait staff was behind the bar. I had a mojito and I didn't think I ordered a virgin mojito but it certainly tasted like one...Walked away feeling like I paid 8.00 for mango juice...
(2)
Claire B.
The food here is decent, and the chips and salsa are very good. The ambiance is just killer - the decor distinctively reminds me of Diego at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lately I've had pretty slow service, particularly at the bar. I usually only hit Roja when I'm shopping around the Legacy area, because I've got a La Mesa closer to my house. I've taken out-of-town guests here and they have been really impressed. I think it would be a nice date night or special occasion restaurant, but not an "I'm craving mexican on a random weeknight" place.
(3)
Derek E.
How hard is it to make Mexican food? Especially when your kitchen staff is comprised mostly of Mexicans. Nothing was horrible, but nothing was really good enough to make me want to come back. We've been to Roja before and didn't really care for their food the first time, but their parking lot is always packed. We thought maybe we were wrong. We weren't. The taco - bland and boring. The nachos - I just don't understand the point of nachos and these were greasy and unappetizing. Now the Achoite Chicken & Spinach Flautas - those were good, but only because the serrano ranch sauce carried them. I'd imagine the food tastes a whole lot better with a Margarita in hand, but you really shouldn't need a drink to enjoy the food your eating. There are too many restaurants in Omaha, and too many good Mexican restaurants to waste my time eating here. gastronomicfightclub.com…
(2)
S A.
I checked out RoJa last night with a couple girlfriends for the $1.99 margarita night. The margaritias were great - plus one star. I ordered one of the specials - they were out. Down a star. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. No change in stars. The service was not so good - down a star. I did love the atmosphere though - high ceilings, kitchen you can see into, full bar - up one star. Overall - 3 stars, I suppose. I'd go back, but with more reasonable expectations next time.
(3)
Ryan t.
RoJa is a good example of how you can have a really fancy building with modern decor, and mediocre food can ruin the entire experience. They get three stars because they serve pretty decent margaritas, and because the server gave us some double secret habanero sauce when I told him that the food wasn't spicy. There is not any good reason that Mexican food has to be both expensive and bland. There are much better places in Omaha to get less expensive and better Mexican food. If you like decor more than you like food, RoJa is perfect for you.
(3)
Kristen R.
GREAT service, though I was disappointed at how high the prices are- Not student budget-friendly. I never ended up tasting the food because I couldn't afford the dishes that sounded the best and everything else still seemed over-priced for what you were getting.
(3)
Amanda P.
good menu choices and decent mojitos. prices are affordable and the service is great. i wish this place was closer to where i live but i would still come back again.
(4)
Sarah M.
I only eat here for the Fried Ice Cream. I love the Fried Ice Cream! It is big enough to share with 4 people. The vanilla ice cream is encased in with a crunchy layer then a yellow-cake layer. Also, the Mohitos are really good. They are served with fresh mint and coarse sugar. And you have to love a bar with over 100 selections of tequila. Otherwise, the food is bland. The salsa is ok. I can't remember any entrees that I have had here that were outstanding. Update 3/4/14 - Yes, I have had some outstanding entrees. The Surf'n'Turf Fajitas are worth the extra $$. The ground sirloin Chimichanga is also very good.
(4)
Dave H.
Nice mexican place, not so great mexican food. complimentary chips and salsa got tiredsome due to the chips being salty and the salsa making it more salty. The pork tacos had chunks of pork that came in their bbq sauce but was dry on the inside. The tacos were lacking b/c they ONLY had the pork in it..no additional hot sauce, lettuce or anything to add to it.
(2)
Pukar R.
This place is nice but the food I had (pork tacos) were ok. If I do go back, I won't be ordering the same thing. The service was good and the complementary chips and salsa was tasty (not as good as La Mesa though).
(2)
Ellen B.
This rating is for happy hour only. Love the food and drinks. Prices are reasonable. I would never go there outside of happy hour because the other food is over priced and not as good.
(5)
Dieter J.
I've always really enjoyed the food here. I think it is very well priced for the upscale atmosphere. It has always been clean and tasteful. People have told me they had bad experiences, but this has not happened to me. They make the mexican classics, and they do it really well. The food can be rich, but I think it is a lot lighter than most mexican restaurants. I have not had a bad experience here or disliked anything I ordered. My friend thought they were not innovative enough. But, I was just thrilled because I had just not had a tostada done so well and fresh before. Great atmosphere; great and upscale food. It is inexpensive without making you feel as if you are slumming around. Maybe I cannot give it 5 stars because there is some trully wonderful Mexican food in Mexico. But, this is a great way for it to exist in Omaha.
(4)
Johanna R.
When this place first opened, it was awesome. I am not a fish person, but their fish tacos and seafood enchiladas were awesome. The reel deal, lol. But they have since substituted everything with white fish and lesser ingredients. Too bad. The dessert I used to crave was the fried chocolate chip cookie dough chimichunga. The other bad move...is the service. It so sucks and they don't care. We actually asked for the manager when my parent's chicken enchilada had three pieces of chicken.....she showed up with receipts in her hand and a bored look on her face. Too bad.
(2)
Kevin C.
Believe the other reviews... I didn't and wished I had. Food's pretty bad, drink was from a "mix", and $12 for a tiny "Fajita" salad... we won't be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Russ C.
I don't know where to start with this place. I guess I'm a little biased-I really, really hate it when restaurateurs blow a massive wad of cash on the building and all new equipment-"flare"- and then don't train the staff properly or use quality ingredients. To me it's not having the right priorities at heart. I also absolutely hated Blue, which this group also owns. Maybe the food is good, but when we walked in, sat down, looked around and read the menu, we got up and went to Sushi Japan. But I digress. There isn't much to say about the food. It was borderline inedible. I mean, Mexican is one of the most vibrant cuisines in the world. You have to really try to make it as flavorless as the Chiles Rellanos I got this night. The overpriced margaritas were weak and the consistency of fabric softener. The service was terrible and it took 45 minutes to get our lukewarm entrees. I could go on about this place-the noise, the crowd-but my point has been made. I will never, ever go back.
(1)Melissa W.
I've had such mixed experiences at Roja... I really do enjoy their happy hour, wish they offered soft shell tacos though and not just hard shells but anways, try the green nachos, they great and different. Since happy hour is only in their bar area, it's sometimes hard to find a seat so come early and be ready to wait. This Roja also has a great meeting room for private parties which I've used twice and it's always worked out great. I've heard horror stories about bad service at Roja but I've never had any problems. They are slow sometimes when they're really busy but that's expected. My only real cons about Roja is the food... it's not always consistant and it's really not close to real Mexican. I really enjoy their salsa but the chips are always a little undercooked and I don't know what the deal is but they always make my stomach hurt. The food that I do love there is the fajitas (try Fajita Fenzy on Wednesdays, buy one get one free!) and the grango burrito with shredded chicken,yum. Also their margaritas are quite wonderful, the traditional lime and sangria are my favorites!
(4)Leslie H.
I've been Roja'd and that is NOT a good thing. My friends and I went to experience "the best margarita selection" and walked away paying for an overpriced margarita mix. When you pay $18 for a margarita, they better knock you off your feet. But, when you leave this place on an empty stomach, because they couldnt get an order correct, and drink what is suppose to be a Cabo Wabo or Petron margarita as sober as you were walking in... there is a problem. Service... flat out sucks! the Manager was avoiding us as much as our waiter, sad sad sad excuse for a 'Mexican Grill" This place is sham.
(1)Jason M.
It's okay, but not worth the price. Best part of the experience is the margaritas. The food is just above average, the service is average. Restrooms were clean, music wasn't too loud. This would be good for a date, but less so for kids or a special occasion. They do have a covered patio with roll up door walls. We paid about $65 plus tip for a kidd meal, two dinners and two drinks.
(3)Connie O.
Upon entering, I wasn't very impressed with the lack of greeting we received from the hostess, but as she looked like she had just graduated from middle school, I didn't expect too much. Luckily, the visit got a lot better after that. Very busy location but we were seated quickly. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. They have a very good variety on their menu, including an extensive list of tequilas. Oh, the margaritas! They were enormous and very tasty. There wasn't a member of my party that didn't rave about how good their food was. I had the beef fajitas and I was absolutely happy with my order. The portions were large but not too expensive. Definitely will be back if I find myself doing business in the area again.
(4)Adrienne S.
I like this place. They have a huuuge selection of margaritas and a decent menu. Chips and salsa are complimentary. Flour tortillas are homeade. There was nothing about this place that disappointed me. Even our server was great. We came here because it was less expensive than another place. Good choice.
(5)Kaite S.
Best place to unwind with appetizers and margaritas! Their grilled shrimp tacos are fantastic, as well.
(4)Nick M.
Another fantastic visit to Roja this evening! Food was delicious and margaritas were spot on as usual...can't beat the happy hour prices either! Every time we go we sit in Rachel's section, we always prefer to be seated in her section because she knows us by name and knows our order...she always provides very personable service! Kudos to Rachel, hopefully someone from Roja sees this review and can commend her for her great service.
(5)Robert L.
I don't quite understand the reviews. This place is impeccably clean, very modern and inviting with a spectacular outdoor space. I don't think it's the best salsa and chips though but they were good. Service was efficient, prompt and friendly. My wife had the fish tacos and raved about them. I had the Beef and Turf Fajitas. Tender beef, nicely seasoned, green and red peppers, onions, cheese, sour cream and guac. Good diced shrimp, with a slice of jalapeño and wrapped in bacon. My arteries were clogging in anticipation! No up charges. The refried beans and rice had a nice sauciness to them...saffron maybe? But good and not your typical. We were pleasantly surprised and will be back.
(4)Alan B.
The facility is quite beautiful with a metallic new-wave feel. I generally prefer something that looks more rustic in a Mexican restaurant, but I thought the "feel" here was very cool. They have a stylish patio with a fireplace and large windows that can open when the weather is nice, but it's difficult to appreciate this feature during the icy cold winter. Omaha magazine says they have the best chips and salsa in town, and they're probably right. The chips and salsa are both homemade and so are the corn and flour tortillas - a very rare find in Omaha. My favorite item on the menu is the beef fajitas which are cooked on a grill and not in a skillet. (Most fajitas in the Midwest are cooked "stir fry" style which ruins them in my opinion, rather than "Texas style" on a grill.) The fajitas come with beans and rice AND guacamole, cheese, sour cream, & pico. I don't know if any of the fajita elements were particularly outstanding by themselves, but the combination of an actual homemade tortilla, grilled meat, and homemade salsa made this probably the best fajitas I've had North of Oklahoma City.
(4)Cory S.
Not sure why the average rating here. We had a great midday experience and good food. The server was friendly to get us start and brought a huge mess of chicken nachos... They hit the spot and were more than enough, they'd definitely feed a table of four. I had a few tacos, shredded beef and pork if I remember correctly. They were flavored well and a good size. Rice and beans were on the side... The rice, was amazing. Normally I don't care much about the sides, but these were solid. No complaints, service was good and kept us filled on drinks and salsa. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.
(4)Sean S.
Really any place that this restaurant group owns is off the charts! So that being said try The Blatt, Rojas, Blue Sushi, and the Parliment Bar. Any location will do as they all have great food as well as good looking and friendly staff. I love the fish tacos and margaritas during happy hour. If you do plan on going during happy hour you'd better get there early to get a seat. If you feel like a big spender go for the top shelf liquor and you won't regret it.
(5)Nhi T.
So this review is solely based off my experiences during Happy Hour. I have dined here several times, but nothing beats their happy hour specials and deals. They have the most outstanding margaritas! I love all three flavors that they offer. My favorite has to be the strawberry, but the lime flavor over the rocks is superb.. Can't go wrong. With each dining experience, you get a portion of chips and salsa. Their guacamole is also delicious, but it'll cost you a few extra. And.. their happy hour food specials are also amazing. I just love their nachos off the menu! So delicious.. Definitely a recommended happy hour to sit down and have conversation with some friends.
(5)Sam P.
I'd give this restaurant zero (0.00) stars if Yelp would let me... Here's why: Working in Omaha and requested lunch ideas from people I'm working with. They all glow when it comes to Roja, so I make the drive over. The place is relatively sparse for a weekday lunch, but no problem as I figure I'll get in/out. I get seated by the host and it takes 10-minutes for a waiter to come over. I know I wasn't hidden in the restaurant, because I was seated right by the kitchen where all the wait staff had to enter in/out. He takes my drink order only (even though I tell him I'm ready to order), then disappears again for another 5-minutes. I order the chicken gringo burrito, and it comes out really fast (so fast that it's delivered with chips and salsa-finally!) I ask if I can get some fresh sliced jalapeños, and the waiter miraculously gets these in under a minute (that's good, right?) The burrito is great! I finish eating the burrito and the waiter swings by to see how everything is going - too late, I'm already done! I tell him I'll take the check as I finish eating the chips and salsa (really fresh I might add!) but no... The waiter clears everything from the table! Not certain if he wasn't listening or what, but we obviously had a communication problem... Then the kicker... Something that I've referred to as my "Big D!ck Move of the Week"... I get the bill and he's charged me $0.59 for the jalapeños! Way to go... I'll never go back and I'll encourage you not to either! All this for $0.59... I hope the manager is proud!!!
(1)Cindy H.
Great Food and Margarita! Ash W provided great service, food came to table quickly and the manager was attentive. Will be back.
(5)Michael M.
Came here last weekend, and would say it is solid for a non authentic Mexican place. Roja is a lot like going to a place like On the Border. If you are looking for margaritas, chips and salsa and some average food, then this the place. The staff was nice, and our waitress was great.
(3)Ali L.
Good drinks, good happy hour, that's about it. Every time I eat the food, I'm let down. The fajitas are incredibly mediocre, as are the rice and beans. This place is also incredibly overpriced, yet people flock here, and I don't understand why. In my opinion, I just don't think this place is anything special.
(2)Charles C.
Started off rough. Dirty bar, no one wiped it down. Presumably a shift change. Either way the new staff was much better. Pricing was a bit high but offset by specials. Still reasonable for the area. Food was was ok. Wasn't bad but didn't make me impress me. (I know it's Mexican and there are only so many ways you can do it.) On a side note, bartender had no clue what a mint juleps was, which made me sad.
(3)Michelle G.
I adored the fajitas and the nice couple at the table next to me had them they confided they come in once a week because they too love them so I was able to enjoy the eau de fajitas. I decided to order one of the combo plates with a beef enchilada and a cheese chile relleno. both were DELICOUS. the enchilada and especially its sauce was one of the best I've had I think like EVER as was the chile relleno. salsa and chips were outstanding and the server was awesome no waiting for food at Roja. had fresh and HOT chips and salsa on my table before I sat down. I know I just got back to Nebraska and minus one exception that I won't be yelping- I haven't had a bad experience. but Roja is quickly becoming a " i'm going back because its just that delicious" new favorite. love this place.. had to Yelp about it.
(5)James M.
I recommend staying away from the food in general (although the free chips and salsa are passable). It has to be considered the worst Mexican food in Omaha. I can really only recommend the bottled beer here, as the margaritas I order are so inconsistent. First round is decent, second round is just a sugar crush as if the bartender forgot how to make it. I am genuinely perplexed by the success of this place over the years considering the food is that bad. I think the restaurant strives because West Omaha yuppies have proven to be more interested in being seen in places with modern interiors and a young, hip-looking staff than actually being served good food. If you want good Mexican food out west, and you don't care who sees you, head to Cilantros on F Street.
(1)Cheryle H.
Love their margaritas. Huge outdoor patio seating with fire heat. Love the ambiance and atmosphere that comes with that. Since it's covered nicely it's open in spring and fall. Full menu of appetizers. Very full flavored guacamole that we always order no matter what season. Chips and salsa kept filled at your table. Upscale mod place with full service bar
(5)Dorene G.
Ok place if there is no other ace to go. Our waitress was super nice and checked on us A LOT to make sure we were good to go. The ambiance was ok if you like the industrial Spanish style. My hubby and I were trying to figure out were the big wooden cobras came In to the theme because neither Mexico or Spain really have them. The food was ok. We ordered the queso for the appetizer and it was just like the rotel and velveeta. My husband order the burrito grande. He liked the rice a lot but said the burrito was like every other one he's ever had. I had the soup and salad. I ordered the the casa ensalada (house salad) with jalapeño ranch dressing that was mighty tasty and the green chili pork soup which was essentially just a thick chili. I was expecting a more broth based soup instead I received an actual thick chili. It was ok but definitely not what I anticipated :(. We also had tea but it tasted kinda funny but not bad. I would definitely stick with water or something alcoholic. I would probably not really go here again but the people were very nice.
(2)Krista S.
My husband, daughter and I arrived at Roja early evening around 5:30pm. I asked how long the wait was (after calling ahead to see if I could put my name in, which they refused.) the girl at the front told me 45 minutes. They just told me on the phone it would be a 10 minute wait. When I was told it was 45 minutes she told me "well obviously we are busy!" The other girl who was working front with her wouldn't even look up at us and told us to check the bar there might be something there. If she would have looked up and saw I had a three year old she would have known that would not have been practical. They didn't even offer to take our name and they were so rude! Honestly I love Roja but I am unsure if we will make the trip to eat there again.
(1)TA C.
Great happy hour, Monday margarita specials 1.99 . Reasonable happy hour menu, limited but the price is right. You can order from the regular menu also. Service was great. Very responsive.
(4)Liz J.
Great happy hour spot. I was on my way to the airport but wanted to grab a quick bite. They were quick and served us 10 in less than an hour. We eat vegan so I was happy that they accommodated for my dietary needs. They also made me a "healthier" version of a margarita so that was really great too. Next time we are in town we will definitely come back.
(5)David D.
Wanted to give -stars. This place is filthy, look up. The grease on fixtures is so thick and has attracted so much dust and filth it has to be 1" thick! Haven't even gotten to the food, which is right up there with the cleanliness of establishment. Takes a special kitchen to make bland Mexican food. Then again, our fault for thinking we could get decent Mexican food in west Omaha. First time I was here in a few years, will not be back.
(1)Matthew D.
Everytime I go to Roja, it's the same for me... not bad, but not good. If you're wanting Mexican, I'd check out somewhere else. A lot of people like their Margaritas and they have a pretty good deal on Mondays, but other than that, I'd say pass on it.
(3)Sydney M.
The help was very rude and they brought me the wrong drink and wrong food. The top shelf margarita i ordered was with salt and didn't come with any, and was in a half size glass. The $3 margaritas were triple the size. Salsa was like tomato purée with no flavor. Overall, very disorganized. 6 people working behind the bar and no one person was responsible for any specific party.
(1)Alexandria S.
These strawberry Margs are really thick, but who doesn't like thick , know what I mean ? Follow up comment on the Margs . The sugar rim makes me want to lick your glassware. You canny reasonably tell me that's weird or the sugar wouldn't be there, baby
(4)Jamie B.
Great chips and salsa. The chimichangas had a nice mole sauce on them that could have been a bit sweeter. The number 10 combo was ok- was expecting the seafood enchilada to be more moist, somehow this was very dry and could have used some more sauce. It would be nice to have the choice between pinto beans and black beans also. Overall meal was average tex-mex fare and I do appreciate that it seems to be healthier with less cheese and grease than other places.
(3)Omar R.
This place is NOT Mexican food. Not even the least bit. The food tasted microwaved, and even the rice was screwed up. I was extremely disappointed by this establishment. The drinks were decent but definitely overpriced. Do not fall victim to their cool and hip atmosphere, it is simply to overcompensate for their poor excuse of Mexican food. Overpriced and overhyped.
(1)Todd H.
First time visit. Came from out of town for work and stopped in during happy hour. Sat at the bar and the service was quick and attentive. Had the house margarita and chips and queso deluxe. Both were fantastic and just enough to tide me over. Would definitely recommend this place and plan on visiting again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Katie T.
Good atmosphere I thought the main course was delicious! However I asked for spicier salsa and she brought "habanero" sauce that was tasteless and charged me for it. The free salsa was tomatoes with cilantro then the habanero pure you had to mix yourself. The waitstaff was awful, slow and knew nothing about the food. It could be a great place with some adjustments.
(3)Eileen W.
The food was kind of a bummer, but I'll write that off to the kitchen being busy or something (it was margarita Monday). We sat at the bar and Taka and Nick (?) were awesome. Taka made the best margarita I've ever had at Roja (an el traditionel). I wish the food has been better. Oh well. Maybe next time.
(4)Alex B.
Taka was an awesome bartender as usual. He takes his time preparing the drinks instead of rushing to sling them out like most. It was packed on a Margarita Monday but he always found time to make sure we had everything we needed.
(5)Sean Q.
Not sure how reviews for this restaurant can average anything less than 4. My guess is the negative reviews stem from people impatiently waiting for a table because this place is always slammed during dinner hours! The food is outstanding and the dining experience is even better. I personally love the chicken enchiladas (with a house marg of course).
(5)Samantha J.
It was our second time coming in and though our first time we were impressed, truly disappointed by the second time. Our server took our orders and refilled our drinks fine, but we asked for an extra side of salsa from a couple of staff members, we were forgotten. Then our server wasn't to be found a bit longer than excepted. Asked if we wanted to dessert but we were kept waiting so long for our meals and any effort to attention to detail, we just wanted to go. Just disappointed by the dramatic change to one day pretty good to next day lackluster service.
(2)Tom C.
I'm so tired of people recommending Roja for dinner or lunch that I'm going to offer my review. In so many words, I think Roja offers some of the worst Mexican food in all of Omaha. Friends of mine are always wanting to go to Roja for happy hour or dinner and I have TRIED and TRIED and TRIED and have given it soooo many chances. Every single time I think the food is just terrible. I'm done with Roja. If you are a friend of mine it will be an insult for you to invite me to Roja. Carlos OKelleys offers some of the same crap. Food: Terrible Service: Average Atmosphere: Super Loud If the chips and salsa are unlimited then why do you insist on serving the salsa in a dish the size of a soup ladle? I don't get it! And why would anyone wait 20-45 minutes for a table to open up?? That is crazy, save your time and money. Margarita Mondays: $1.99 margaritas on Mondays all day. You certainly get what you pay for. These are a pre made mix that taste like Squirt. I'd rather pay $5 for a shot of real alcohol and then leave. One star would just be mean. Since it is unlimited chips and salsa I'll give you two stars. BTW, your bar area is cold and your televisions are tiny.
(2)Jessie B.
This one's easy. The concept is great, the execution is weak, at best. The menu attracts with what appears to be an exciting twist on traditional Mexican, the reality is, the food is a boring attempt to equal that of traditional Mexican. The service is worse than traditional Mexican as well. Sunday afternoon and I was seated in the bar area. Unattentive is a compliment.
(2)Henry M.
For starters, we mostly only ever come in here to drink, so I can't really comment on the food (except the one time we got shrimp, they were excellent). The margaritas here are great, the free chips and salsa is definitely a bonus, since we can sit here for hours just off of drinks and chips and salsa. Roja loses a star because the the wait staff at the bar can be unattentive - we came in the other day and sat way too long, without anyone coming around the help us. We ended up walking out, and the waitress had no idea what was even going on. She looked busy though, so I could argue that the place was understaffed, but there seemed to be hardly anyone in there anyway.
(4)Ron K.
This restaurant was O.K. I doubt that I would tell any of my friends to go there. I'm not entirely sure that I would go back myself. Food was O.K. Service was O.K. and the place looked O.K. But for the price I know I can do much better.
(3)Dan R.
Ok.. I think I've read some others talk about the backslide that has gone on at Roja. I have to say I totally agree. And let me say... I'm not sure if it's actually gone down hill or if they had just tricked me in the beginning. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Even from the outside it looks like a destination. One would just have to assume that they are in for a real treat once inside. Maybe I was just hoodwinked by all the shiny objects?? ;-p However for me the magic is over at this place. I just have not enjoyed the meals that I have had the last 3 times I have gone there. The food is not bad per se... but it seems like it desperately struggles to set itself apart from standard mexican fare. This leads to some attempts at bold flavors, unique recipes, and creative presentation. To me though it just comes across as sloppy, perhaps amateur even. I've had some decent meals, but I've left thinking that things could have been fresher, perhaps the flavor more refined. The service has been suspect as well, slow I decided to go with the two star rating not because the food is actually that bad, but because I believe they set the expectation so high with the, pricey entrees, trendy industrial decor and, selection of Tequila's.. it's clear they are setting the bar very high. They should be hitting a 4 star easy, but they just aren't close in my opinion, especially for the $$.
(2)Nathan M.
One small guac, one lunch entree and kids meal ran $30. Seems a bit steep. Friendly staff, but not too willingly to make substitutions or accommodate special requests. Tough choice with so many other restaurants in proximity.
(2)Reed N.
Well... some of the horrible reviews here surprise me. Of course... I base my reviews on food mostly. The service has to be REALLY bad for me to downgrade a place. And if the service really sucks I say something about it... kindly. Things usually get corrected. I sat at the end of the bar alone on this visit and that is usually good for service. It was. So we have removed that obstacle. : ) The free chips and salsa should never be the basis for any review... they are FREE. Geeez. Anyway, the salsa is good enough to receive mention. It has great flavor and a good cilantro note... which I love. I had a stacked seafood enchilada with a fried egg, avocado, and chili verde cream sauce. Damn... the plate came out so hot it was insane. I waited and then consumed. haha The enchilada creation was okay... but it was surprisingly a little bland. The sides were not. Tasty Spanish rice is usually an afterthought, but this was very good. And the beans were ranchera style pintos that had tons of flavor. So the sides kind of saved the dish. Some might think they are a bit salty. Not I. I think the atmosphere is nice here.. but it could get loud.
(3)Brittany T.
I have been to Roja about 5 times since I moved to Omaha in late July. I have to say that unfortunately each visit has been tainted in one way or another, and after my last dining experience (about a week ago), I will not be returning. I work and live in the Legacy Commons Shopping area so one of the few reasons that I have continued to visit Roja, as well as why it's so frustrating that I've had such a poor experience, is purely because of it's convenient location when considering my every day life. Throughout my past experiences I have continuously received poor and/or lack thereof customer service. On two occasions I was not happy with the general flavor of my order and when confronted, my waiter/waitress removed my meal without even offering to bring me another entre. Tip: If you are dining and not just there for drinks, I would suggest asking for your tab as soon as you receive your meal. Each time I have been I have had a good response time for my drink order and delivery of my meal, then I wind up eating (or not eating) my meal without another visit from my server. On one occasion I even wound up waiting 20 minutes for my check to be delivered when the restaurant had few guests. I would have flagged down an employee but no one was to be seen on the floor and when my server finally emerged, it was obvious they had taken their own lunch break as they were chewing aggressively as they approached my table. My final straw was last week when I went for Sunday lunch. I sat at the bar and wanted to order a margarita. I was greeted immediately and since their drink menu is so detailed for me to care to read and rule out items, I simply asked the bartender if I could just tell her what I would like in my margarita (patron, cointreau, and grand marnier) and she could pick the best fitted option. BIG MISTAKE. I received my margarita and it was extremely bitter, and overloaded with sour. However I chose not to complain because I was aware that I had let her make the choice and I'm not a picky person so although it wasn't the best I'd ever had, I knew I would finish it. No point in wasting good liquor, right? :) Anyways, I finished my meal and my margarita and once again wound up waiting around for my check. When it finally arrived I opened the book and found out that I was being charged $18.50 for my medium margarita! They have 3 sizes so I immediately thought that there had been a mistake and she had charged me for a large but upon questioning the bartender she simply shrugged and stated, "Welp, that's what Patron costs." As I passed her my card, I told her that two nights earlier I had visited another local restaurant and had ordered the exact same margarita and they had only charged me $9, and that if this establishment charged so much that I really wish she would have mentioned it so that I would have had the opportunity to select something else. Her response, "Oh.".. then she turned and ran my debit card. To wrap this all up, I would have given this restaurant a 1 star rating, however you can't deny that they have a very trendy atmosphere and the one time I did receive excellent service, it was by the bartender pictured above.. good job guy.. I should've remembered your name and maybe my next visits wouldn't have left such a bad taste in my mouth.. literally.
(2)Ross C.
We've been here probably 15 times since it opened. About 10 times for happy hour and 5 times for a full meal. (estimation) As many others have mentioned, the food has a tendency to be somewhat bland. I've had a variety of things and I can the same about all of it. We've been here for happy hour more than anything. The margaritas are not great; very weak (taste no tequila) and are most definitely made with a mix; taste very artificial. Serving the margarita consists of 2 steps: put ice in glass, pour completely premixed liquid from canister. Also, I can have 3 of these and feel no effect from them? However they ARE cheap during happy hour. Making a very delicious margarita is not difficult (not trying to be snarky); it can be done with presqueezed juices and such. The commercially available mixes are just not the way to do it. As reference, Stokes does it well....scratch sweet and sour mix, real juices, etc. Free chips and salsa are ok. Chips are good, but salsa is (again) pretty bland. The upside is that you can sit here all night and they'll keep bringing more no questions asked (I'm sure as long as you're ordering drinks). Service is usually good in the bar area (where we almost always sit). This being said, you might ask "why do you continue to go here periodically?". It's so damn convenient. We live out west and it's a good spot to meet friends for a reverse happy hour. Tthe atmosphere is definitely the best part about this place. All in all, there are lots of Mexican/tex-mex places I would try before this place.
(3)Steve T.
Great Happy Hour.
(4)Priscilla R.
Love the carne asada. As a former Texan and Mexican food enthusiast. (Don't hold the Texan thing against me, please) this place was really good. Nice waiter, huge tequila menu, good salsa (1st sign of good mexican food) nice variety of food options. It is modern Mexican that is fresh and tasty. Just go eat there. It's good and totally worth it.
(5)Jon K.
I was in Omaha this past weekend and my family and I went to Roja Mexican Grill + Margarita Bar West. The atmosphere was perfect, they must have had an interior decorator come in and design this place because the authenticity of it all was spot on. It was great, the food was scrumptious. I had the Grilled Fish Tacos and they were very authentic. Also, I wanted to remind all my peeps that if you use your yelp check in they will give you a free guacamole. The guacamole was absolutely fantastic as well. The staff was fantastic, very nice people - especially the manager Bubba Dalton. We had a rather large party of over twenty people and he made sure everything went well. The drinks were very good and the Margaritas were fantastic. I highly recommend this place for any outing.
(5)Joanna L.
This is four stars, but only for the tacos. Drinks/apps/sides are nothing special, and in fact usually I just order my tacos a la carte. But the street tacos here are pretty good, especially for a yuppie joint not in South O. Steak and shrimp tacos are small but tasty, and the fish tacos are decent, although the pickled relish is a little overwhelming if they put too much. Not a huge fan of the service or the long wait every time we're there, but glad this place exists both downtown and west O.
(4)Christine B.
A few of my friends really like this place, especially at happy hour. Since happy hour prices are decent, I'm not feeling too disappointed by the mediocre Mexican food. I've also gone for dinner a few times (they do have a nice patio, albeit loud) with inconsistent results. I kept returning, giving this place another chance, trying to figure out why it's so popular. I never figured it out. When the service is bad, it's been really bad. Twice my guacamole had some sort of foreign object in it (a metal wire and some plastic), so no more guac for this girl. Regular prices are a bit high for what you're getting, but people seem to like the place since it's usually pretty busy.
(2)DeVante D.
I was in town for work and stopped into Roja for dinner. The servers were all awesome!! Quick to take your food and drink order, and very friendly. I ordered the Carnitas burrito and it may have been the best burrito I've ever tasted. Ask for extra red onions because they give the burrito so much more flavor. Had a great experience here and will definitely be back.
(4)Mike B.
tried this place twice giving it the benefit of the doubt because we liked the environment. To make this sweet and short, we wont be back a 3rd time .
(1)Ben K.
Pros: Not a bad margarita Cons: Bad food, faux cool environment, too loud and too expensive Roja is to Mexican food what McDonald's is to cheeseburgers. I have no idea in the world why this place is popular. The food sucks. The design is the run-of-the-mill "flashy to be cool" schtick that this ownership group has done before at Blue and Bianco. The prices aren't very cheap and the overall experience just isn't worth it. If you need your Mexican fix in Omaha, go to Cali Taco, El Bee's or one of the many places in South Omaha.
(1)Sarah G.
I feel the same way about Roja that I feel about Blue... Except that my friends are never there to meet me. For dinner, I'd skip it and go to an authentic mexican restaurant. I will, however, give them props for their excellent collection of tequila and they make a good margarita. But they think pretty highly of them and charge accordingly.
(2)River G.
Extremely disappointed. New to town stopped by today after a local suggested this. First impression douche bag, probably regular customer, jumped in front of me as though to open the door but brushed past to enter without holding the door for me. Waited at front desk forever during the post lunch lull. Nobody other than a freak in his gym outfit looking high and tipsy approached me. "Oh hi did you want to eat? I don't work here. No, just kidding I do". Proceeded to follow this guy to a table ironically occupied by the earlier rude guy at the door who was sitting by another guy that looked like an extra for Jersey Shores. High dude turned to look at me an said, "Oh shit, I was joking. I really don't work here." At least two staff members were within earshot caring for a minimal number of customers and no one offered assistance. I promptly left and headed next door to Firehouse Subs. Amazingly I received excellent speedy service from every employee at this chain restaurant. Will NEVER try Roja again nor suggest it to my worst enemy. Evidently I can't post negative 5 stars, so this will have to do.
(1)Fly_Gu Y.
Similar to River G, I am also new to Omaha and tried Roja Mexican Grill last month based on a coworker recommendation. We were greeted by a rude lady who hastily showed us to our seats. We asked to sit outside and she sat us at a table close enough to the outside but not actually OUTSIDE and yes there were tables available. I remember she was wearing a black dress and her arm (left arm I think) was in a sling. She definitely had an attitude and didn't mind showing it. Once rude sling lady was out of sight, we asked another lady who from afar seemed to give a damn if we could have one of the unoccupied tables outside and we were promptly moved. When rude sling lady walked by and saw that we had moved, she couldn't resist providing another snarly look. Our experience was poor, the food was decent, but considering we passed a million and one mexican restaurants on the way to Roja Mexican Grill, I don't see us going out of our way to return anytime soon. Perhaps Roja Mexican Grill should understand that having the shiniest most glitziest building on the block is no substitute for good customer service!
(1)Robert B.
This used to be my favorite place in town for higher-end south of the border fare. If asked two years ago, I'd have given it four or five stars. However, something has happened since then that I can't quite put my finger on. Food: 1. Tacos were swimming in oil. I had to squeeze them to drain it. Seriously, my dinner looked like it was prepared by BP. I've never seen anything like this anywhere else. 2. Kitchen completely ignored my partner's requests for changes to her salad. The only request was: dressing on the side, please. What we received was a salad floating in dressing. 3. Salsa was still up to standards, but the chips were stale and soft. Facilities: 1. Bathrooms were filthy! Someone used the counter top as a place to spit their chew. That's right, there was chewing tobacco spat all over the sink area. There was evidence of dried *something* on the floors and mirror. 2. Bathrooms need functioning sinks. One of the motion-sensing sinks were "offline". Dry as a bone. It had clearly been off for some time. 3. Somehow, despite the broken sink, the floor was splattered with water and who-knows-what-else. Dirty wet shoe prints were tracked all over the place and lead out into the hallway. 4. Automatic paper towel dispensers and manual tower dispensers were completely out of towels. Patrons had been using toilet paper to dry their hands. 5. Waste bins overflowing with wads of toilet paper and, seriously, a partially eaten fajita. I will never, ever go back to Roja unless I hear that the situation has been straightened out. It is sad because this used to be such a nice place.
(1)Wendy C.
Love that they have free chips and salsa. That almost puts them to three stars. I went there for a quick drink and appetizer. We had the crab and shrimp tostada which were fine. I had a mojito which was terrible. It was overly sweet and tasted like it came from a mix. We went there again for Cinco de Mayo and I had the green nachos at the servers recommendation and they were terrible. The chips were completely soggy by the time they came out. We had the flauta appetizer which was ok.
(2)Laura K.
Great for happy hour, but it's pretty packed. We just had the quick quesadilla and it wasn't bad. I was happy to find it not greasy and overstuffed with chesse. I always drive by this place and see it packed on the evenings. May have to try it for dinner one day.
(3)Margaret L.
Pros: the Interior decorators rocked. Cons: Bad food, expensive food. If you want Mexican food, do not go here. It was a cute place to sit, and if it wasn't expensive I'd probably go back and drink (hooray tequila!). I had enchiladas and nibbled on my friends' dinner. Terribly bland, almost paste-like. I took the leftovers home to be polite, but would not have fed them to my dog. Our waiter was great, though. Very attentive, very kind. It just wasn't worth the price we paid for it.
(1)Bo R.
Went for lunch Cinco de Mayo. There was staff EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately, the young college age kids were more interested in socializing than in providing good service. Ok, so a toddler could use the margarita glass as a baby pool, but we still needed water glasses filled. Food was marginal. Ordered the Tex-Mex Combo. Beans; too salty. Rice was light and fluffy, but good. Ground beef taco was good and the onion cheese enchilada made me yearn for something more. For 8 bucks a plate, there better be some machaca going on, or chicken enchilada. Something. Overall; Food was a 4-5, service was a 2, and it was over-priced.
(2)Patrick W.
Dropped by here for dinner on the patio last night. I've heard or read somewhere that Roja has revamped its menu. While its been over a year since I was last here, I couldn't really tell a difference simply from looking at the menu. I ordered the nachos and they were different from what I remember. They had a lot of lettuce, cheese, guac, sour cream, ground sirloin, pico de gallo. Pretty much the standard for a plate of nachos. My wife ordered a couple of crispy tacos a la carte. To be honest, I didn't notice much of a difference in taste, quality, or price. It still seems to be overpriced. My opinion hasn't changed. It's a better place to drink and socialize than it is for a nice dinner. Not to say that the food is bad but it isn't anything special.
(3)T J.
Horrible food, and even worse service. Came here for dinner while in town. Was my first time, and will certainly be my last. Probably the worst Mexican food I've ever had, which is saying something considering the overwhelming number of mediocre "Mexican" dining options. The food was far too salty (this coming from someone who rarely has a problem with salty foods), mushy, muddled flavors.....just one of those dining experiences that leaves you baffled how and why anyone would ever have to pay for this, and what sort of chef/owner would have any pride in offering this to the public. About the service: fairly non-existent. server would simply disappear for ages. and when she did mosey over to the table.....she was completely un-attentive and seemed like she'd rather be laying on her couch with a bag of cheetos in her cleanest sweatsuit than actually having any resemblance of professionalism. Couldn't even get basics such as refills throughout the entire dinner. The happiest moment I had during the experience was walking out the door, knowing I would never enter again.
(1)Kevin B.
I really liked it. Atmosphere is nice, clean and pretty. The host stand was good, there was someone there, they gave me different seating options. Wait staff (Deidre) was awesome, friendly, helpful. I always like when you're deciding if the person can offer suggestions or let you know about the dishes. My food ended up being really good, so I'm glad I followed her advice. I saw other reviews mention kitchen staff ignoring special instructions, my order came out with the wrong side dish, (I'd made a special request) but this was taken care of promptly, so not a big deal. Every thing was cooked properly, all the vegetables looked fresh and nice. Taste was very good. I also tried a Mojito, again I was given a recommendation and it turned out really good. The drink was delicious. I was really happy with my experience there and will definitely go back. Aces 10.
(4)Oscar G.
This isn't my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant, but it is one that I patronize often. I think the food is great for West Omaha-Mexican Cuisine standards, and the authenticity is fairly spot-on. The service has never been an issue to me, and is usually pretty decent. I happen to love the complimentary chips and salsa. The tacos al carbon are very tasty, albeit a little small-ish. Their guacamole is always good and fresh. Their shrimp alambres (bacon-wrapped shrimp) are an awesome appetizer, and their corn tortillas are very good as well. I will agree with those that mention its fairly expensive menu, but what West Omaha restaurant is "inexpensive?"
(4)Lars W.
This is not Mexican. It's Tex Mex. And not a good one at that. The margaritas are also not good. Rather watery. The only good thing about the place is that is has ample space for company after work gatherings. That's what we did there.
(2)Lina A.
Always delicious! Best Mexican food in Omaha.
(5)Laura M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ROJAS!!! We've only visited Rojas in Lakeside Hills at Shops of Legacy, 17010 Wright Plaza but as travellers looking for a friendly place to grab a drink after a hectic day at the office this is the BEST! Bartenders Wesley, Brittany and Dan take great care of us and always make us feel like family. We love their knowledge of tequila and love trying their newest find. Wesley always makes the best margaritas with fresh OJ and lime juice and our fave Don Julio Anejo tequila and Brittany is adorable and always gives us great service. The manager, Bubba is always making sure we are happy and goes out of the way to make sure we are happy. Oh, and did I mention the food? Always fresh and delicious. The entire staff at Rojas treats us like old friends and that's always a good find when you are on the road all the time like we are.
(5)Michelle N.
Came here for a drink after having dinner at Baby Blue. Sat at the bar and it took awhile for someone to come up to us although plenty of wait staff was behind the bar. I had a mojito and I didn't think I ordered a virgin mojito but it certainly tasted like one...Walked away feeling like I paid 8.00 for mango juice...
(2)Claire B.
The food here is decent, and the chips and salsa are very good. The ambiance is just killer - the decor distinctively reminds me of Diego at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lately I've had pretty slow service, particularly at the bar. I usually only hit Roja when I'm shopping around the Legacy area, because I've got a La Mesa closer to my house. I've taken out-of-town guests here and they have been really impressed. I think it would be a nice date night or special occasion restaurant, but not an "I'm craving mexican on a random weeknight" place.
(3)Derek E.
How hard is it to make Mexican food? Especially when your kitchen staff is comprised mostly of Mexicans. Nothing was horrible, but nothing was really good enough to make me want to come back. We've been to Roja before and didn't really care for their food the first time, but their parking lot is always packed. We thought maybe we were wrong. We weren't. The taco - bland and boring. The nachos - I just don't understand the point of nachos and these were greasy and unappetizing. Now the Achoite Chicken & Spinach Flautas - those were good, but only because the serrano ranch sauce carried them. I'd imagine the food tastes a whole lot better with a Margarita in hand, but you really shouldn't need a drink to enjoy the food your eating. There are too many restaurants in Omaha, and too many good Mexican restaurants to waste my time eating here. gastronomicfightclub.com…
(2)S A.
I checked out RoJa last night with a couple girlfriends for the $1.99 margarita night. The margaritias were great - plus one star. I ordered one of the specials - they were out. Down a star. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. No change in stars. The service was not so good - down a star. I did love the atmosphere though - high ceilings, kitchen you can see into, full bar - up one star. Overall - 3 stars, I suppose. I'd go back, but with more reasonable expectations next time.
(3)Ryan t.
RoJa is a good example of how you can have a really fancy building with modern decor, and mediocre food can ruin the entire experience. They get three stars because they serve pretty decent margaritas, and because the server gave us some double secret habanero sauce when I told him that the food wasn't spicy. There is not any good reason that Mexican food has to be both expensive and bland. There are much better places in Omaha to get less expensive and better Mexican food. If you like decor more than you like food, RoJa is perfect for you.
(3)Kristen R.
GREAT service, though I was disappointed at how high the prices are- Not student budget-friendly. I never ended up tasting the food because I couldn't afford the dishes that sounded the best and everything else still seemed over-priced for what you were getting.
(3)Amanda P.
good menu choices and decent mojitos. prices are affordable and the service is great. i wish this place was closer to where i live but i would still come back again.
(4)Sarah M.
I only eat here for the Fried Ice Cream. I love the Fried Ice Cream! It is big enough to share with 4 people. The vanilla ice cream is encased in with a crunchy layer then a yellow-cake layer. Also, the Mohitos are really good. They are served with fresh mint and coarse sugar. And you have to love a bar with over 100 selections of tequila. Otherwise, the food is bland. The salsa is ok. I can't remember any entrees that I have had here that were outstanding. Update 3/4/14 - Yes, I have had some outstanding entrees. The Surf'n'Turf Fajitas are worth the extra $$. The ground sirloin Chimichanga is also very good.
(4)Dave H.
Nice mexican place, not so great mexican food. complimentary chips and salsa got tiredsome due to the chips being salty and the salsa making it more salty. The pork tacos had chunks of pork that came in their bbq sauce but was dry on the inside. The tacos were lacking b/c they ONLY had the pork in it..no additional hot sauce, lettuce or anything to add to it.
(2)Pukar R.
This place is nice but the food I had (pork tacos) were ok. If I do go back, I won't be ordering the same thing. The service was good and the complementary chips and salsa was tasty (not as good as La Mesa though).
(2)Ellen B.
This rating is for happy hour only. Love the food and drinks. Prices are reasonable. I would never go there outside of happy hour because the other food is over priced and not as good.
(5)Dieter J.
I've always really enjoyed the food here. I think it is very well priced for the upscale atmosphere. It has always been clean and tasteful. People have told me they had bad experiences, but this has not happened to me. They make the mexican classics, and they do it really well. The food can be rich, but I think it is a lot lighter than most mexican restaurants. I have not had a bad experience here or disliked anything I ordered. My friend thought they were not innovative enough. But, I was just thrilled because I had just not had a tostada done so well and fresh before. Great atmosphere; great and upscale food. It is inexpensive without making you feel as if you are slumming around. Maybe I cannot give it 5 stars because there is some trully wonderful Mexican food in Mexico. But, this is a great way for it to exist in Omaha.
(4)Johanna R.
When this place first opened, it was awesome. I am not a fish person, but their fish tacos and seafood enchiladas were awesome. The reel deal, lol. But they have since substituted everything with white fish and lesser ingredients. Too bad. The dessert I used to crave was the fried chocolate chip cookie dough chimichunga. The other bad move...is the service. It so sucks and they don't care. We actually asked for the manager when my parent's chicken enchilada had three pieces of chicken.....she showed up with receipts in her hand and a bored look on her face. Too bad.
(2)Kevin C.
Believe the other reviews... I didn't and wished I had. Food's pretty bad, drink was from a "mix", and $12 for a tiny "Fajita" salad... we won't be back.
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