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Acitrón Cocina Mexicana
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
473 Massachusetts AveArlington, MA 02474
Neighborhood: Arlington Center
(781) 777-2839
- Nearest Transit:
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Massachusetts Ave @ Medford St (350, 77, 79)
Medford St @ Mass Ave (350, 80)
Massachusetts Ave @ Broadway (350, 77, 79)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Kathy C. said: "Gigantic portions of food. Server was very attentive. Lively environment with a bar in the middle and TVs. Typical Mexican chain restaurant - I had the asada burrito (shredded beef) which was deeeeeelicious. Typing this and reminiscing…" read more »
74 reviews for Acitrón Cocina Mexicana
Review Highlights
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"...dessert we shared the Tamal de Chocolate, warm chocolate..." In 4 reviews -
"...and then, followed by the pollo relleno en mole verde." In 3 reviews -
"...an appetizer we shared the fried avocado, which is absolute..." In 4 reviews
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74 reviews in English
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Review from Frank W.
Cambridge, MA
5/11/2012
Bottom line: For Arlington, this is good Mexican food, though, for Arlington, the prices are outrageous.
My partner and I went to Acitron on a Groupon because we're suckers for those kinds of things (ok, at least I am). We made a reservation but our table was being held up by a couple women who really were sipping on their Margs. So we ended up sitting at the bar (always a good decision if you are a friendly person and like to talk to people. We are. Go figure) and chatting up Stephanie. This was the makings for a great night.
We both started out with one of their Margaritas (it had pineapple juice.. that's all I remember) which was good, not overly strong, but good. Since I had to drive, that was my only drink, but my partner decided to go on a Tequila adventure, guided by our Bartender. Fun.
We got an appetizer that was melted cheese and some meat with tortillas. Pretty good, but completely unnecessary considering the size of our incoming entrees.
I got a type of shredded pork entree with the eola (spiced corn on the cob) and rice. The corn took getting used to (spices were strong.. very acidic) but it grew on me and I ended up enjoying it. The shredded pork was good, but not quite what I was anticipating. Essentially it was a mound of pork that had been sauteed in a sort of brine.. ok. The other got the chicken mole which was spot on, according to them. There's something about chocolate and chicken that I don't quite agree with, but that's just me.
We didn't stick around for dessert.
Probably the highlight was the staff. The hostess chatted us up while we were at the bar and she wasn't busy, talking Mexico to us. Stephanie was fun to talk with (from Brazil). We could come back simply for this company.
But tears, I can't afford to come here that often. I don't think it was worth the triple figure dinner tab. -
Review from Bryna C.
Middlesex, MA
5/22/2012
$10 for guacamole!! this place is way overpriced!!
If we hadn't had the groupon, I would have been very, very disappointed. The groupon took the edge off the price, but not the meal. I've had much better mexican locally at Jose's and Ole (both of which I find acceptable, not knock-your-socks-off though) for better prices. This food was bland! It felt to me like a safe place for unadventurous, old people palates - in fact the 70 year old sitting next to us kept commenting about how good the food was - so there you go. I had to ask for a spicy salsa, and the waitress looked at me with a question, and was like "spicy? ok, I can bring you real spicy" yes please!! apparently people who come here don't expect spicy mexican food. and the "cilantro" rice looked like it was uncle ben's.
the one good point was the portions were very large, and presented nicely on white plates.
this just isn't enough to get us back however. -
Review from Lisa M.
Arlington, MA
4/27/2012
Best Mexican we've had in Arlington. Specifically -
I had the enchiladas. They were great. I recommend asking for one green and one red, if they're willing to do it. I felt they complimented each other well.
As far as sides, get the corn instead of the veggies. The corn was really unique and the sweetness of the corn was awesome with the savory cheese it was rolled in. The veggies were ho-hum and mainly mushrooms.
The beans and rice were fine but I do generally think enchiladas are best with black beans and a more "Spanish" rice (tomatoey, and with a less-wet texture - this was very moist and with cilantro or something green).
I don't know why you'd ever order anything other than enchiladas at any Mexican restaurant, but if you're curious my husband tried the pork and it was very good in terms of tenderness and flavor. However, take note that it was literally just a mound of pulled pork. The other ingredients mentioned must have just been worked into the sauce. Not sure if this was some kind of error since we did takeout or what. I am not factoring it into my rating because I'm mainly concerned with enchiladas and the corn was great.
** I will say though that their salsa could have been better. It needs more cilantro, way less onion, and is too runny. I would love to see them fix this because the salsa, chips, and soda are KEY when we get Mexican! -
Review from Brian D.
Arlington, MA
5/14/2012
From the outside this place looks great. Menu seems to be a little expensive but the place was packed so it seemed worth the try. What we discovered was a this place was packed because the service is incredibly slow. We ended up just doing appetizers because once we were seated we realized the error of our ways - lots of couples staring at empty plates & needing drink refills. Food ended up being decent but two appetizers & two beers took almost an hour.
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Review from Tammy R.
Arlington, MA
Updated - 4/16/2012
We returned to Acitron last Thursday. It was packed, but we managed to snag the last available table for two. They appeared to be short staffed, so, understandably, things went a bit slowly. The staff was very polite and as attentive as they could be.
The chips and salsa are mediocre; I never quite understand refrigerated salsa. In my opinion, salsa should be room temperature. But that could just be my picky nature. We ordered the queso, the sopes appetizer and the chicken mole. The queso arrived first, with soft tortillas. She removed the remainder of our tortilla chips, which I had hoped to dip in the queso; however, the queso in the soft tortillas was good, albeit dripping with grease. The chorizo was spicy for me, but the little bit I had was yummy.
Next, the sopes. Cactus salad, potato and chorizo, and pulled chicken. All were delicious, and the presentation was beautiful. Generous heaping of the toppings!
Our entree arrived quickly, and I was a bit taken aback by the generous mole sauce; it completely covered the chicken. I can understand why; a naked chicken breast on a plate is hardly an appealing item to behold. I scraped a lot of the mole to the side, since it's a very rich sauce for me. The chicken was pounded thin and broiled perfectly. Incredibly moist, and a wonderful canvas for the deep, rich mole sauce.
(is it just me, or does mole always have a slightly gritty texture? it's distracting, really....)
The sides, beans and rice, were ordinary but good. A very pleasant meal in all, but I still think they are a bit overpriced. I am hoping to try their Sunday Brunch at some point, though!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/7/2011 First to Review
Acitron opened in Arlington Center on 5 April 2011. We were the second table of customers seated!… Read more »
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Review from Aaron K.
We loved our experience at Acitron, the best mexican food we have had in the area. Warning : When looking at the menu I did notice the online prices are outdated and the updated menu in restaurant is a couple dollars more per entree (for most). We came here with a groupon expiring within a few days and everyone else in the restaurant also had one. We were seated while a few tables were still empty and it took about 20-25minutes for our entrees to come (a reasonable wait). The restaurant filled up shortly after we were seated. We were held over by the chips and salsa during our wait. Server while busy was friendly and professional, something we never found at Zocalo down the street.
The food here is high quality and delicious. You can tell the kitchen is putting a lot of effort into these dishes. Everything is plated beautifully and looks appetizing when it comes out. I had been craving fish tacos for a while and this place nails it. 4 good sized fish tacos with fresh tilapia inside. They use a Jalapeno beer batter on the fish which is just as delicious as it sounds. The chipolte aioli on top is the perfect pink sauce to go with the fish taco. For sides I had beans of the day which were an almost stew like texture and delicious with some grated cheese on top. The elote (grilled corn, rubbed with spices and cheese) is another side available with your meal and is amazing. Comes with a stick out of each end so you won't get your hands dirty. Just try not to squirt corn juice on your date as my fiance did to me. My fiance had the enchilada de tinga with roja sauce. The roja sauce was lacking punch, in hindsight she should have had the salsa verde. The stewed chicken inside the enchilada was flavorful and tender. She had the rice of the day which had a really good flavor as well, it was poblano pepper rice. The sides have almost as much care as the entrees and really standout on their own. These are not your typical rice and beans sides you can get at any Mexican restaurant. We ended our meal with Tres Leches (cake). If you like milk and cake (and you should), this is a must order. This is a great version of the tres leches cake and is plated nicely with strawberries whipped cream and a milk cream sauce pool underneath the cake.
Truly a great experience in Arlington Center and a must try. Fish Tacos, Elote, Tres Leches highly recommended.
*update* They have updated their website and now include the current prices, so I wouldn't expect any surprises price wise as of 05/10/12. -
Review from Caroline R.
Arlington, MA
Updated - 4/16/2012
Third try the bomb. It was awful. I asked for soda water with a splash of cranberry. You could barely see that juice was added. Slow service. Blah salsa. Chips nothing special - I would doubt they were made there. Lots of wating. Appetizer of queso fundido was okay, not great. Would have been better with chips than the flour tortillas.
Entrees were poor at best. I wanted to try fish tacos as I have never had them. They were awful. Fish was mushy and inedible. Crust was not crispy at all so I tried to eat the fish with out the crust and I really couldn't. The cabbage and sauce were okay. My husband had enchiladas with red sauce - that tasted like italian tomato sauce. They never asked if we wanted a second drink. They only gave us additional water - even though my husband's glass was empty for a good 20 minutes - until we were done eating. This was our third visit for dinner. We will not return. We did try brunch once and it was relatively good. We may return for brunch sometime but won't be rushing back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/5/2012
My chicken mole had too much sauce and not enough chicken. My friends food was moderate to say the… Read more »
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Review from Meredith P.
Medford, MA
3/14/2012
Last night, my husband and I decided to go out for dinner, so I took the pile of vouchers I've accumulated off the fridge, and thumbed through which ones might be expiring soon. I came upon Acitron, a new Mexican bistro in Arlington, that we've been interested in trying for some time now. I put the voucher in my purse, and we hopped into the car for the 3-minute drive to Arlington Center. Upon walking into the new bistro, we were immediately aware that we should have made a reservation weeks ago! The place was hoppin'! Hoping for something to open up, we approached the hostess and asked for a table. To our chagrin, there was just nothing for us due to upcoming reservations, but the three elderly women at the bar were paying their bill...albeit, slowly...and we could sit at the bar if we so chose!
We've never been known to turn down a seat at the bar so we patiently waited for the women to gather their belongings. It was like watching an episode of the Golden Girls, acted out in front of us. Goodness! After about 10 minutes, they were finally bundled up and ready to go, so we took our seats at the bar, where the bartender, who later introduced himself as Mo, was shaking margaritas like it was his job...haha, wait a minute. :) We placed our order for margaritas into the queue, for my husband, a Jalapeno margarita, and for me, a Blue Sky Margarita. It contained tequila (of course), blue curacao and a splash of Amaretto DiSarono. It was delicious...but stay tuned for the best drink of the night...it's coming up soon.
While we enjoyed our cocktails, we glanced over the menu and immediately realized that this was going to be a tough decision! Everything looked SO good! There were plates being brought from the kitchen that made both of our mouths water! While perusing the options, we received a bowl of what I can only imagine was homemade salsa, as well as some tortilla chips which were still warm!
We decided on sharing the Queso Fundido Con Chorizo as our appetizer. This sizzling skillet of chorizo, poblano pepper strips and sauteed onions mixed with four different kinds of melted cheeses was to die for! It was ooey, gooey, and delicious! It came with some fresh from the oven tortillas which really complemented the dip, as well!
By the time we were almost finished with our appetizer, it was definitely time for round 2 of the cocktails. When we sit at the bar, we like to ask the bartender questions, and tonight was no different. My husband asked for something different, keeping with the bold flavors that he already experienced in the Jalapeno Margarita. Well, Mo really delivered on this request...and I got one of the same! Instead of tequila, he used Mezcal, something neither of us had much experience with. The smokiness of Mezcal is bold and delicious, and paired with his own version of a dark and stormy, this was probably one of the best drinks I've ever had! It was like...a summer's night, in a glass! Refreshing, savory and bold...only three of the MANY words I could use to describe this cocktail!
When our entrees arrived, we were excited to dig in! I ordered Camarones En Mole De Tamarindo, a shrimp dish with a tamarind-based mole sauce. The shrimp were cooked to perfection, and drenched in the sweet and savory tamarind mole, served over a piece of cornbread. Since all of the entrees come with two sides, I opted for a vegetable medley which consisted of mushrooms, cauliflower, peppers and a delicious sauce, as well as a Poblano Pepper rice which was fluffy and spiced to perfection!
My husband decided to go with Conchinita Pibil, an axiote seed, spices and fresh orange marinated pork dish, served roasted and shredded, and garnished with pickled onions and scallions. For his sides, he chose the refried pinto beans, and Elote, which is grilled corn on the cob with chipotle aioli, cotija cheese and spices on top.
We were full, but we had to order a serving of Tres Leches for when we arrived home. This dessert was rich, delectable, and definitely fresh! The perfect ending to a delicious meal!
The plates were aesthetically pleasing, the food was delicious, the staff were extremely friendly, and I don't think I've had such good Mexican cuisine since the last time I was in Mexico, and that was a long time ago! Everything about this meal was awesome, and I can't believe it took us this long to give it a try! If you want authentic, fresh Mexican cuisine, definitely give Acitron a try...but don't forget to make a reservation!
Acitron is candied nopales, which are the fleshy, oval leaves of a prickly pear cactus. -
Review from Paul M.
Somerville, MA
4/7/2012
Three of us came to this restaurant for brunch a few weeks ago, and I can say that I won't be going back.
Upon entering, we were pointed to a table (literally, the waitress pointed to a table across the room). We sat down, and then proceeded to wait approximately fifteen minutes for someone to take our drink order. When we finally got service, we ordered a couple of mimosas, one tequila cocktail, and, because we had waited so long, we ordered our food as well.
Now, let me explain. This was at a little after noon, and the menu they hand out for brunch includes the brunch menu as well as the regular menu, with no notation as to whether both are available for ordering or not. The waiter takes our order for food and drinks, but then comes back ten minutes later to tell us that the food we ordered off the regular menu isn't available. As this happened to us, I also heard it happening to other confused patrons around us. Why not tell us this before we order something we can't get? Oh, and it took us about fifteen minutes thereafter to receive our drinks.
We order again. More waiting. More waiting. Now we're almost a half-hour in from our second order, our drinks are gone (which no one offers to replace), and other tables that arrived later are getting their orders before us. We finally manage to flag down a waiter, who tells us some extraordinary things. First, she says she'll check on the food, but she also says that groups with children receive automatic service preference at the restaurant! I've never heard of this before (singles and childless couples beware! You will be discriminated against!), and it was also a blatant lie, as I had watched tables come in and get TURNED while we were waiting. She also tells us that they are short staffed today, which I understand in terms of table service, but does not explain the length of time we've waited for our food. From the looks of the open kitchen, it appears that no one is expediting. In fact it looks like everyone is quite leisurely about the whole situation.
We give the food five more minutes, or we pay for the drinks and walk. FINALLY, it shows up. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait. The chipotle Hollandaise sauce is a disgusting gummy mess, the eggs are hard-boiled. But we ate it because we were starving. Last thing, I ask the waitress courteously if she can make an adjustment to our bill for the wait. For the record, two drinks came off the bill, but in no way does it make up for the disastrous experience we had. In total, this meal took over two hours. I wish we had walked away an hour in.
Avoid this place. ESPECIALLY for brunch. -
Review from Jeannie B.
Cambridge, MA
3/2/2012
I came here with friends and we had a great time -- friendly service, nice-but-casual atmosphere, and really good margaritas (okay, I had to ask for an extra lime but I always do).
Grilled corn (sorry, forgot the real name for it) was amazing. I could have eaten that all night with my margarita and I would have been perfectly happy. Guacamole was also very good (though we asked for spicy and it wasn't spicy at all).
We had two different kinds of mole sauce at the table, both too sweet. Alas, the search continues for a decent mole in Boston (anyone have a suggestion?). The fish tacos were the best dish we tried.
The service was crazy-slow but we didn't care, on account of the dozen or so margaritas we inhaled. Oh -- the jalapeno margarita was awesome.
Overall, a good addition to Arlington Center, and if you skip the mole (or like it to taste like chocolate sauce over chicken) you'll probably really like the food. -
Review from Steph P.
12/18/2011 3 photos
Creative Mexican at its best. Brunch here was awesome, filled with authentic Mexican flavors taken to a new level, a new edge.
I had the chilaquiles, which were delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly and rested atop of a mountain of tortilla, tasty chicken, green sauce and queso fresco. The balance of spice, acid and creaminess was fantastic. Chilaquiles is usually a very heavy dish, but this felt lighter and fresher than the normal, none of the flavors was overwhelming.
My friend had the enchiladas, which were also delicious. The red sauce is delightfully smoky, sweet and spicy all at once.
The bar has some really neat offerings as well, I loved my super sweet Cancun margarita, which was bright green! The service was prompt, smiley and knowledgeable. The waiter knew everything there was to know about the menu and bar offerings, a big plus in my book. -
Review from Andrea M.
Sudbury, MA
10/19/2011
If you are close minded and ignorant then this is not the place for you. Some of the reviews on this place are totally out of touch.
The food menu is different; it is not your 'run of the mill' Mexican restaurant. If you can't step out of the box, and can't appreciate something different then stay in your hole and go to Taco Bell.
The margarita list is (thankfully) abit creative, and the drinks are quite good.
The avocado and shrimp salad is delicious!! The food here is really, really good.
The free chips I saw someone bitch about (on here or on another review site) is totally wrong. The salsa is not watery, it's fresh... (dah). How can you complain about something free?
My 5 year old son was treated with kindness, which for a restaurant that is abit cozy/upscale was most appreciative.
I love this place, and would return in a heartbeat! If you can't appreciate creativity and healthy fresh food, stick to your freezer and preservative infested microwave meals! -
Review from cheryl s.
Middlesex, MA
4/16/2012
Honestly, I was dissapointed with the food, service and atmosphere. I had bought a living social coupon and was excited to try somewhere new that was local but nothing was worth a return visit. The service was chaotic, we waited 50 minutes for our food and it was overcooked and the atmosphere left alot to be desired. the only thing I actually liked was the margarita.
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Review from Kristin N.
Boston, MA
12/17/2011
Some seriously good food.
The zucchini patty dish and authentic Mexican bread pudding were amazballs. Also, I was told the mole sauce was incredible. Large portions so you'll probably take something home with you. Also, this place has decent sangria (I'm always hesitant about that since many a times you just get meager Kool Aid). I'm a fan and will go back again. -
Review from Brian W.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
We needed to find a new upscale Mexican place after Zocalo (Back Bay) completely fell apart in terms of food quality. The location of this place in Arlington Center is pretty convenient and it's right next to other popular restaurants so it's rare that Acitron has a line out the door.
The decor is very basic with hardly anything up on the walls. The bar is off to the corner looking pretty small and sad, but the drink menu is pretty good with a lot of tasty unique margaritas.
The real star of the show here are the chips and salsa/guacamole. The guacamole is definitely worth getting and although they don't make it tableside like similar restaurants it is still very tasty and served in a bowl that makes it easy to dip those addicting chips into.
Service has been hit or miss depending on how busy the restaurant is. The entrees are delicious and I'll refrain from saying the same thing as every other review about how the menu is a little different from other similar restaurants. I'd highly recommend the cochinta pibil with a side of mushrooms - lots of flavor packed into that dish.
Acitron does not have a separate gluten free menu, but they are aware of the allergy and can easily accommodate. My wife likes to fill up on chips and then get the quesadilla appetizer as her entree (if you are gluten free make sure you say that so they give you a plain corn tortilla that has not been dusted with flour)
All in all it's a restaurant worth trying, but not one that I find myself craving after a few weeks. -
Review from Carl H.
Boston, MA
2/27/2012
This place was terrible, they get so much press because they Pay for it, they must? The food was blah, we ordered drinks and it took 3 rounds of selections before they had enough to make the drink, on a Friday night! I grew up working in the biz for more than 10 years, if you don't have stock on a Friday nite that is the bosses fault not the staff. But the wait staff was clueless too, as you can see from my posts I eat out a lot and this place just screamed lazy to me. Anybody can pay the globe to mention you in articles to get people to try you out (the reason we tried it) but if the food and service fall flat what the point of the ad money?
The most frustrating part is I blasted the place in an email to the owner then went in to see if anything changed and we had a worse experience....
There are plenty of legit places out there with better food, don't waste your time with these guys. -
Review from Jim M.
Arlington, MA
10/12/2011
I will admit that I can be a stickler when it comes to Mexican food. I spend a month each year in various parts of Mexico. I love street food but I also love "La Nueva Cocina Alta Mexicana," the New High Mexican Cuisine, as it is called in Mexico City. I worship at the feet of the goddess chefs Patricia Quintana in Mexico City and Zarela Martinez in NYC. And I can cook a mean almond mole myself. I entered Acitron for the first time on Saturday having heard both rave reviews and seen some less than stellar ones here on Yelp. I like the place and will go back soon. Today I had the good fortune to get a Groupon invitation for the place, which will accelerate my return.
Our server, Jose Luis, was outstanding, friendly but neither pushy nor inattentive. He answered questions directly. For example, I asked if the tamarind margarita was sweet and he said yes and steered me to the fine (and cheaper) house 'rita. It is a good sign when a server steers you to a cheaper item and not try to sell you on something that might give the house a higher profit.
I asked if the shrimp with tamarind mole was sweet, as fresh tamarind is, and he said the mole was not. I ordered it and got a half dozen perfectly grilled shrimp with a lovely mole that had a touch of sweetness, some acid flavors and a little tiny bite to it, all balanced. It does not have chocolate like mole poblano, mole negro or mole rojo. I will be replicating it at home soon. Mole, by the way, is a contraction of the word molcajete, the stone mortar and pestle used to grind spices by hand, including the creation of the dozens of moles of Mexico.
My wife had the chilis en nogada, one of her favorite dishes. She liked it very much although I would have prefered a bit more brightness and acidity in the picadillo filling. The walnut sauce was sweet, but not excessively so.
The beans are great, really great. The mushrooms were very good. The free fresh chips and salsa served at the start of the meal are a nice touch.
As I noted before, I will be returning. -
Review from Lauren E.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
I wish I had read the Yelp reviews before dropping nearly 50 bucks on a dinner here the other night. Entrees were pricey enough that you expect quality, instead they just bumped up the presentation.
I wasn't totally displeased with the meal. I got a really tasty zucchini fritter thing (kinda like a zucchini veggie burger smothered in cheese, green salsa and cactus stuff). But as good as it was, everything had kind of a vinegar-like taste, which would creep up on you every couple of bites.
The chips and salsa they served us were fair--the salsa lacked salt but we added our own, and some of our chips were too oily to be able to eat. They did bring us a second helping that were less oily when we left half of our original dish.
I was disappointed, as a vegetarian to find that their beans of the day had meat, so be sure to ask if this is an issue for you.
But the service was good, the decorations were beautiful, simple, and elegant. There was no wait. We were able to be in an out in under an hour. But I wasn't happy enough to return. -
Review from Ilene F.
Arlington, MA
11/6/2011
I really want to like this place, as an upscale Mexican restaurant is just what A-Town needs. However, this is really a 2.5 star review. Here's why.
Food was quite good, that is when it finally arrived. It was easily 20 minutes before we even got water, our drink order in and some chips. I think somebody else mentioned that their drink wasn't filled to the top. There was a good half inch between the end of the margarita and the top of the glass. I couldn't believe it. It's really a pity, because the menu is interesting, and the food is obviously fresh and well-prepared. It was the endless waiting that took the shine off this meal for me. And it's not like the drinks were flowing to pass the time. The staff rarely checked on us, our half filled water glasses were never refilled, and even if we wanted another round, I don't think we ever had the opportunity to order one.
I will probably go back at some point, but it'll take some convincing. -
Review from Tamarleigh G.
Belmont, MA
1/15/2012
I was torn between going to Zocalo, which I love, and trying this place for the first time. The ratings on Yelp each averaged 4.5 stars. I noticed that Acitron has cocktails, unlike Zocalo, so thought, naively, "Hey! It's just as good as Zocalo--but with cocktails!" I don't know why it didn't occur to me that, realistically, this means Zocalo must have better food, because it has achieved the same rating as Acitron, even without liquor! (It does have beer and some fantastic sangria.)
To give you the punchline first: we ended up going from A to Z -- having drinks and an appetizer at Acitron, and then leaving to walk in the bitter cold to Zocalo for our actual dinner. We paid more for drinks and one appetizer at A, than we did for entrees and sangria at Z.
Curious about the details?
1. The menu. The menu is so limited that if you have any strong food issues (dislikes, allergies, -isms), you might have a tough time finding something to order. My partner, who doesn't care for mushrooms, zucchini, goat cheese, or seafood, and also doesn't care for random cream sauces or nuts in his food) literally couldn't find a single thing on the menu he actually thought he'd like. If we'd stayed, I could have managed to come up with something I thought I'd enjoy, by creatively combining elements from multiple entrees on the menu, but there was no single item I wanted to order (in addition to being a 'vegequarian', I can't stand sour cream or cilantro, and also don't much care for shrimp). It sounds like we're just picky, but it's actually uncanny how the entire menu seemed to feature elements of the things we happen to dislike most. The 13 entree selections seem so few when neither of us can find even one that sounds worth the price. I considered the salmon, but I'm not a big fan of salmon or beds of spinach, and so to pay more than $20 for an entree of things I'm not all that fond of seemed crazy when Zocalo is right down the street. If I were at someone's wedding, and were served a plate of salmon on a bed of spinach, I'd eat it and wouldn't mind it. But when I'm at a restaurant and being asked to pay around $20 per entree, I want to order something I actually like.
2. The service. I found it interesting that my partner ordered a Chambord margarita and it came with salt on the rim. The waiter didn't ask whether he wanted it that way (although he had asked me how I wanted my jalapeno margarita--which I did enjoy), he just brought it that way. I learned this when I was almost finished with my margarita and noticed my partner wasn't drinking his. I asked the waiter to bring another one without salt, and I finished the one with salt. It wasn't great, but by then my glass had been empty for a bit. We did get charged for both of them, of course. Another issue is that I tried to get an app order in early. Several minutes later, the waiter arrived to take what I assumed would be the order for entrees (although by then we'd decided we were going to have the app and bail), and the first thing he said was "Ok, so you want the queso fundido appetizer to start?" and it was clear he hadn't even put the app order in that whole time! Then, when I got the fundido without the chorizo, they randomly put portobello mushrooms in it! (Recall earlier when I said my bf hates mushrooms...). The waiter also randomly tried to take things away when I wasn't finished with them, while meanwhile ignoring empty dishes from things that were blatantly finished.
The quality of the food isn't bad, but the selection is so limited and the service so random that I strongly recommend Zocalo (right down Broadway) instead. Predictably, we had a fine meal at Zocalo. And that's what I love about Zocalo--I always have a fine meal there (and their nachos are THE BEST). -
Review from Monica B.
Somerville, MA
10/30/2011
If your definition of Mexican food is Chipotle and Bolocco, this is not the place for you. Acitron is simply great Mexican food.
The host was very courteous, we were seated immediately, and the decoration is elegant (compared to a typical Mexican restaurant). We were quickly brought water, warm not-oily chips and fresh salsa. Great start.
I asked for a Michelada (spicy beer margarita). I'm Hispanic and although I'm not Mexican, micheladas are part of my culture and I've been having them for about 11 years or so. This was the best Michelada I've had, in the Boston area. Just the right amount of salt, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce. The "right" beer is Corona. My friend had a cucumber martini, great flavor and the vodka was generously poured but, there was almost half an inch short, of liquor, to the edge of the glass.
We both, started out with Aguacate relleno de ensalada de camaron. This is a salad with 2 halves avocados filled with a shrimp salad made with fresh tomato, cilantro, red bell pepper and a very light mayonnaise, garnished with Mesclun. DELICIOUS. The flavors blend so well together and there is the right amount of shrimp and vegetables in the salad.
Then we ordered Sopes surtidos - These are three small tortillas topped with Mexican chorizo (sausage) and potato (This was my favorite of the three sopes), Mexican style chicken (chicken mole-ish type of flavor) and a cactus salad one. I was happily surprised because none of these were greasy. They were perfectly seasoned and we enjoyed every bite.
We had ordered Ceviche but, unfortunately they had ran out so, we ordered Queso Fundido con chorizo. The cheese and chorizo were delicious. The sauce on top is amazing. Again, not greay (for a chorizo).
The only reason I give this place 4 stars is because although the food was great, it is a bit overpriced. Considering they have a small menu with similar ingredients, I can see the prices being lower and the business wouldn't hurt.
Also, if you are vegetarian, I wouldn't recommend you to go to Acitron. They definitely know how to cook meat and they need to master how to incorporate tasty vegetables in their menu. -
Review from Annmarie L.
Arlington, MA
8/30/2011
The food is definitely not your standard Mexican fare, nor is it authentic. Instead it is an infusion of Mexican influence on local fare, with a few curve balls to keep the palate guessing. Think cod, with a mole sauce, served with cheesy mashed potatoes and spiced corn on the cob. The drink menu looks delicious, but I have never gotten beyond the margarita choices. Made with fresh squeezed limes and nary a pre-made mix in sight, I can say by far these are my favorite.
I have been a few times now, and am quite pleased to say the quality and service has only been improving. Acitron definitely had a few newbie bumps along the road early on, and has adjusted the menu a bit (there was no guacamole when they opened!), but it seems like it is in a strong place now. The waitstaff, once a bit confused and uneven, has a solid knowledge of the menu, and will offer suggestions upon request.
Come early, come often! -
Review from Chris C.
8/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've been to Acitron twice now, and both times were just excellent. Everything you want a restaurant to be. Delicious, moderately priced food, friendly unrushed service in a comfortable setting.
Both the Aguacate Frito (Fried Avocado with a nicely spicy jalapeno sour cream) and queso fondido con chorizo (4 melted cheeses with chorizo) were great, and made my partner and i go "oh wow" out loud.
The Pollo Relleno en Mole Verde (asparagus stuffed chicken in green mole) were excellent and it's nice to have a selection of sides. For sides I suggest the elote -- corn on the cob with cheese and spices (not as amazing as Toro in the South End, but still good) and surprisingly the mushrooms.
While my partner keeps insisting that there is no such thing as gourmet Mexican ("it's street food!" he says), i still think there's a place for this kind of more-refined food.
On the first visit, it was busy, and they held a table for 4 while the one of us that was there waited for the others for about an hour, and endeared us to them for being so kind as to do that, honoring our reservation which has long since passed.
My only two minor quibbles would be the lighting is a little bright and only from pot lights in the ceiling, and there's not art on the walls, so it feels a little generic. I'm definitely NOT looking for the typical rustic Mexican crap all over, but some art and modern pendant lights would make the space feel warmer and more homey. -
Review from Lindsey O.
Arlington, MA
11/7/2011
My two stars are ONLY because the homemade tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole were so good. We were sat right away but it took almost 20 minutes for anyone to come to our table, and even then it was only to fill our water glasses. My margarita was pure tequila (which is great if you're trying to get a good buzz going but not enjoyable if you're not), and soda was served baby-sized glasses. I ordered the fish of the day- mahi mahi and the sauce it came in was EXTREMELY salty. The BF's fillet was overcooked but the rice was delicious. The restaurant is small and it's very loud.
I wouldn't go back to Acitron unless I was with a girl friend sitting at the bar with the intentions of ordering a few margaritas and only chips and guacamole. We were seriously disappointed because we really wanted to LOVE it. -
Review from Shobhit C.
Somerville, MA
2/13/2012
Great food, great ambience. Perfect date place or an outing with a small group of friends. Drinks are strong! Do try the Cadillac Martini and the Filet Mignon
-
Review from Lovan C.
Somerville, MA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a great addition to the area. If you want greasy cheese laden TexMex then this place is not for you. It's a modern take on Mexican food. The combinations where creative and tasty. It was all the familiar flavors of Mexican food but put together in a more modern way.
If you give them a try do not expect what you get at Joses, Zocalo, or Tu y Yo. These three are all good but have more traditional preparations. -
Review from Caitlin G.
Boston, MA
9/25/2011
I was slightly apprehensive after reading some of the negative reviews here about Acitron, but very pleasantly surprised and indeed wowed by the delicious meal my friends and I had here the other night! Everything was on-point: service, drinks, food, and dessert.
We all had classic margaritas for drinks, all of which were nice and strong and perfectly salted. Score!
For an appetizer we shared the fried avocado, which is absolute heaven. Just melt-in-your-mouth, yummy, creamy goodness. It comes with this zesty jalapeno sour cream sauce to dip it in, and we couldn't get enough.
Ok, I'll be honest. I was fully prepared to have our table order of salsa handy to dump over my entree to get flavor, simply because it's what I've had to do recently in several Mexican restaurants. That was not the case here at Acitron. There's so much flavor here!
For my entree, I ordered the Pollo Relleno en Mole Verde, which is chicken breast stuffed with seasoned asparagus and huitlacoche, served with a green mole sauce. It was absolutely fantastic and I have always wanted to try the huitlacoche, which I love-love-loved. I got rice and beans as sides and they were equally tasty.
For dessert we ordered two and split them: the Tamal de Chocolate, which is a chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream and a cinnamon sauce, and the Tres Leches, which is a sponge or pound cake served with three different milk sauces. It was foodie heaven, although I'm not a huge fan of chocolate in general.
I thought this place was a gem, I'd love to try their brunch as well. Really, the flavors and spices were great, and that's such an important part of Mexican food (or food in general). Five stars all the way, and I'll be back. -
Review from Victoria A.
Brookline, MA
6/12/2011
I'm pretty thrilled that Acitron is in Arlington Center.
Once in a while, I say to myself : "Self, you are a mess. Dr. Sanjay Gupta says you need to eat WAY more fresh vegetables to be healthy"
and then I mosey on down to the nearest guacamole joint, because guacamole is basically a salad, and moseying is pretty fun.
Now, Acitron has AMAZING guacamole. For $10 you get fresh tortilla chips and a bowl of made-to-order guacamole about the size of your head (okay, I'm exaggerating, maybe half the size of your head) that can be customized from mild to nuclear, to satisfy even the most oppenheimer-esque tastes.
The rest of the food and the cocktails aren't too shabby, either. They have a fully bar, but not too many house cocktails, mostly margaritas, but they're tasty and beautifully presented. The entree options are pretty diverse. Not your typical tex-mex junk you tend to get in New England. Entrees are sizable and served with a choice of tasty sides (if they have the roasted potatoes, go with the potato of the day, the mushrooms are also a good option, grilled veggies are nothing special). Appetizers are large and interesting enough to serve as a meal, and hey, then you can justify another cocktail!
The service is really good and the decor is great. It seems like a nice date place. Classy, but fun, and not wallet-breakingly expensive.
I know that some people were really skeptical about the place at first, but I've enjoyed everything I've tried there. After one meal, the manager noticed that we'd sent back a lot of food to be wrapped and made a point of coming out to ask us if everything was okay (it was portions, not flavor). I got the impression that the management is really concerned about making sure that people enjoy their experience, and it seemed like they'd taken a lot of early criticism seriously, so I don't doubt that they they will just keep getting better. -
Review from Robo t.
Rough and Ready, CA
7/24/2011
Had the chiles en nogada but with salsa roja instead of the sweet cream sauce.... AMAZING. The sides of rice and seasonal veggies were perfectly prepared. For appetizers, the ceviche and sopes surtidos were also delicious.
Please note: I love spicy food however none of these dishes were spicy. Yes this was a suprise. However this allowed an array of seasonings and flavors to shine through to the pallet without being drowned out by the heat. There is nothing worse than dishes loaded up with heat in an attempt to distract you from the fact there is no flavor.
The service was amazingly attentive and informative. They offered recommendations and checked in with us during the meal in very appropriate intervals.
This isnt an L.A. taco truck. This yuppified upscale mexican may be expensive but its absolutely worth it. -
Review from Acacia M.
Arlington, MA
11/6/2011
This is a terrific addition to Arlington Center. If you are looking for rice and beans type Mexican, this is not your place. Whether the food is "authentic" is a ridiculous way to think of it - keep in mind that Mexico has very different cultural regions, all with very different food. It is also not American- Mexican.
I have been here for brunch twice and dinner this weekend. The food is inventive, complex and delicious. Highly recommend the ceviche and also the zucchini dish. The margaritas are also fantastic.
Cons: The space doesn't leave much elbow room when packed to the gills, and the small staff is stressed. Service was really slow this weekend, and not particularly attentive. But the food made up for it. -
Review from Robert R.
Arlington, MA
6/4/2011
I come from San Diego, where the Mexican food is made properly, so I am disappointed by the bogus "Mexican" restaurants in the Boston area. A common blunder in some of these northern places is the so-called "salsa" that is mainly liquid. I have noticed this in other Mexican restaurants in the Arlington area too. Acitron serves the most watered down salsa I have ever seen. The red liquid served in a small bowl barely had two pieces of diced tomato in it, total. On top of that, they served round Tostitas tortilla chips, the kind from the grocery store. Mexican food usually features the tortilla prominently in native dishes. How can you not serve homemade tortilla chips? How can you serve obviously store-bought, factory manufactured fluff? Why not just plop down a bag of Fritos?
The chicken enchiladas were nicely constructed, but they lacked seasoning. I could tell the chicken had not been seasoned when it was cooked and you noticed how bland it was immediately.
The taco appetizers were odd. They were supposed to be pork tacos, but one had mushrooms instead of pork. They actually tasted pretty good. However, I ordered a different taco dish as my entree and it was the same pork taco they had as the appetizer. The waiter might have mentioned that. Perhaps the cook just wasn't thinking. The pork tacos were nicely seasoned. They were served with a side garnish of pickled onion slices, which I found strange. Overall they were good to eat, but nothing to write home about. Mexican tacos are usually served with fresh cilantro garnish and lime wedges.
The service was friendly. The refried beans were excellent. The side request of habanero chile sauce had nice heat. The rice was white and bland. It lacked the traditional onions, carrots, and tomato paste in the background. It was just dull. The Mexican music that was playing was actually the most authentic aspect of the experience. I am still looking for a really good Mexican restaurant in the Boston area. Whenever a restaurant describes itself as "fusion," it seems anything goes. I have been to a Mexican/Cajun fusion restaurant the was off the mark too. I am not sure what the strategy of this restaurant is.
The name of this one, "Mexican Bistro," should have been a tip off. Who ever heard of a Mexican Bistro anyway? Cafe--yes, restaurante--yes, bistro--no. Not Mexican. I live very near this restaurant. I had high hopes that I might be able to find a good local fix for Mexican food. This is not it. Lo siento, muchachos. (Sorry, guys.) -
Review from Christine C.
Millis, MA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
First let me say, if you're looking for what you think of as "traditional" mexican-american burritos and tacos. This is NOT it!!!
This place has a small, but elegantly prepared real mexican menu. The chef is from Mexico City. He beatifully blends so many flavors. I love that they do not make anything too spicy. I personally believe that you need to make things relatively mild and then allow the patron to add the amount of spice they would like. My husband got a homemade hot sauce to kick up his salsa and loved it. I kept mine mild. I loved the homemade guacomole app. I could really taste the cilantro and the chunks of tomatoes were fresh and plump. Then the sopas with the catus on it was amazing. I could have eaten a whole bowl of that alone! I had the shredded pork (forgive me but i can't remember the actual name of the entree) and the flavor and spice blended so well with the side of rice.
I need to emphasize again that this is NOT your typical mexican. There are no chimichangas, burritos, or tacos and especially no dump of refried beans! This is a BISTRO with beautiful flavors and spices of Mexico. There are no sombreros for your birthday song either. If you want an elegant meal, come here!!!! -
Review from Greg N.
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sluggo took me here tonight for dinner. I'll be the first to admit, I'm not super crazy about this whole high-end Mexican food craze that seems to be going on. I like my Mexican food cheese-slathered, and with various incantations of tortillas. So when we got here, I was fully expecting to give this place one star and just move on.
The appetizers really are what sold me on this place. We ordered the queso fundido and also some of the fried avocado. yes. fried. avocado.
i'll slow that down for you.
fried.
avocado.
it was creamy.. melty... spicy... just about everything i could possibly want in a bite of food and a whole lot more i didn't know i wanted.
the reason I'm giving this three stars and not more is that i was disappointed in my entree. it was pork. it was textureless and just kinda bland. also. they ran out of margarita mix for the pomegranate margarita.
otherwise. it was pretty good. Sluggo's chicken was excellent.
i won't say that I'd rush back there for more Mexican, but if i'm in the hood, I would stop.Listed in: Latin Rundown!
-
Review from valerie d.
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2011
Admittedly salty. Just what my boyfriend loves. He likes his food crunchy with salt.
I don't, but the food was still delicious.
Reading the reviews, it seems like they read these and have specifically fixed what people have complained about. My margarita was overflowing, for example.
The best thing I had was a mushroom quesadilla. I wanted a stuffed avocado but my boyfriend recently decided that avocados give him diarrhea so we can't eat them any more.
We specifically said when we sat down that we hoped we liked it there because it's close by and not too expensive and we ended up loving it. We even got dessert even thyough we were both seconds away from vomiting all over the place from fullness but we agreed that it would probably be delicious. It was flan. It was the thickest flan I've ever had. That's a neutral statement. I wouldn't say thicker is better but it wasn't bad either.
We were celebrating so we got the most expensive stuff on the dinner menu, plus a drink, an appetizer, and dessert and I think it was like 70. But we could have easily been a little smarter and had a 40 dollar dinner or even less.
Oh, and embarrassingly enough, my boyfriend ordered his filet mignon "well-done" and it was still pretty delicious. -
Review from allie a.
Arlington, MA
6/18/2011
We went on a busy Friday night.
Let's start with the positives: the thick homemade tortilla chips (except for the rogue overly oily ones), chicken tinga tostadas (with a bit of BBQ flavor), ancho chile shrimp, shredded pork entree.
Moving on to the mediocre: VERY strong margaritas and sangria. Underseasoned guacamole, and although we asked for medium spice it was quite bland. The server was nice, friendly but seemingly absent.
The salsa tasted almost like a tomato sauce though others in my party seemed to enjoy it.
Now, the not so good: the portion size seems small for the price. The chiles en nogada were too sweet. The mole lacked the depth of flavor that is common in authentic Mexican cooking. Though this is a bistro after all... -
Review from Lambert M.
East Arlington, Boston, MA
2/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The food was great, but the dinner experience was so-so. First, although we had a reservation, it took us about 1/2 an hour to get seated. And then, my wife got an incorrect order. I still love the brunch there.
-
Review from julesmary p.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
8/23/2011
The worst restaurant experience I have had in a long time.
Horrible service..our waiter disappeared and left empty margarita and water glasses..didn't check in our food (which was sub-par at best)
We also had the credit card on the table (in the check presenter) for AT LEAST 10 minutes before i finally asked another waiter to give it to our server. Lame.
Should have gone to Sweet Chili. -
Review from Maria S.
Medford, MA
4/9/2011
What can i say about this place? Just three words: great, great and... GREAT again!
Now some details. For my meal i had 2 apps:
1) Ceviche with scallops and salmon (very tasty, but too bad they don't make it with shrimps also) and
2) mussels baked with melted cheese (good combination with tomato sauce)
3) my dessert - flan - was another edible treasure that hard to forget.
Also i love the atmosphere - makes to feel you special, perfect for a romantic date.
After such a great time spent there it was pleasure to pay my bill.
Definitely will come back. -
Review from Rahul B.
East Watertown, MA
4/8/2011 1 photo
My wife and I have been waiting for a chance to try the food at Acitron. We dined there this evening and it was well worth the wait.
The menu, service and ambience were elegant and welcoming.
We tried the ceviche, a lemony tartare, a grilled salmon and the puerco cuitzeo - a spicy pulled pork. For desert we had a peach flan. Everything was delicious, but the cuitzeo and the flan were to die for.
The food overall was very different from anything we've had before. We recognized the latin ingredients and flavors, but the preparations were each a pleasant surprise.
A great addition to Arlington center and definitely a candidate for best Mexican food in the Boston area. -
Review from Steve B.
Arlington, MA
6/2/2011
We came here during the week of its grand opening because we were excited to see a new restaurant so close to us in Arlington Center.
Service, decor, and drinks were all quite good.
The food was unimpressive. I had a rather bland shredded pork entree. It had the gall to come garnished with dried peppers and then denied me any kind of memorable flavor. My wife's dish was similarly unremarkable. Given the prices I don't think we'll be heading back.
It sounds like they might have made some menu changes since we ate there, so there is hope.
