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Aunt Chilada's
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 1 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Aunt Chilada's
Review Highlights
30 reviews in English
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Review from Tricia Z.
3/14/2012
Not authentic Mexican food but nice place to go when the weather is nice. Has an outdoor patio but service was iffy. Rarely checked on but event was going on in one room between patio and rest of the restaurant. Could have easily hopped the fence and dined and dashed.
Got house margaritas first which were pretty weak for $5, Chilis does stronger ones for $3. Chips were immediately brought out when the waitress seated us. I had chimichanga and enchilada combo, got chicken in the chimichanga even though I wanted pork, but I didn't care. The queso sauce on top of it was good and spicy. I just wish they didn't automatically put salsa on my rice because I didn't need spicy rice and spicy food.
For the original price it would not have been worth it but I used a $25 http://restaurant.com certificate.Listed in: Where I like to eat in Hamden
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Review from Type D.
Hamden, CT
I couldn't even begin to imagine the type of person who would rate this as low as some have. First of all, I've never been disappointed by the service. The staff has always been courteous and efficient. Secondly, the atmosphere has always been suitable. Yes, Sunday is "family day", which means more little ones running around than I'd normally care for, but when my girl and I came on a Friday night, there was barely a soul here and we were doted upon without feeling intruded. The food comes out lightning quick, and it was utterly delicious. Habañero chicken burrito was spicy as hell without being incapacitating, and my girl could barely finish her soft taco after a healthy empañada. I left fat, full, and filled with anticipation for the next time I return. $2 taco Tuesdays should be reason enough for you to make your way here. Free wi-fi too.
Hate on the haters; Aunt Chilada's rocks. -
Review from Bridget N.
Bristol, CT
1/14/2012
I can't believe how many bad reviews I have read of this place! I have never had a bad meal or drink here! I think the Mexican food is fresh and always delicious. I always get the veggie chimichanga and it is always stuffed with fresh veggies. The queso here is really good too. A good place to go for lunch or dinner, or just to get drinks and apps.
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Review from Shiloh K.
9/8/2011
Beautiful location, pretty terrible food.
Let's start with the good. This cool little place is set right next to the Sleeping Giant Country Club in Hamden. They have a great patio with a view of the golfers, a nice place to have drinks with friends.
However, a restaurant is for food is it not? Their website claims that "Aunt Childa" took a road trip to Mexico to "find the secrets of her culinary ancestors", unfortunately she must have gotten lost. All of our 6 diners left the majority of the food on their plate.
Their version of chicken tortilla soup = bland chicken noodle soup without the noodles, absolutely no spices, cilantro, or any other mexican seasonings, with crazy red strips of tortillas on the top. Someone needs a lesson in "kicking it up a notch", people. Same for their black bean soup. It literally tasted like they poured a can of black beans into hot water and served it as such. The people at my table who ordered it could not take more than 2 bites.
My entree, a chicken taco. Hard to screw up right? The shredded chicken was dry, but soaked in some tomato saucy stuff that reminded me more of marinara than salsa. Shredded cheddar to top it off inside of a flour tortilla. Please, at least warm the tortilla next time so that it doesn't break apart as soon as I pick it up.
Oh, wait. There won't be a next time. I'm sorry Aunt Chilada, I hate giving negative reviews but your cook could really benefit from having some Mexican chefs, heck maybe just the Mexican auntie next door come over and give you a few pointers on what Mexican food is all about.
To end on a nice thought, the wait staff were very nice, professional and catered to our needs doing the best they could with what was coming out of the kitchen. The location, pretty and great for outdoor drinks on the patio...just don't order the food unless you feel like leaving disappointed. -
Review from Anastasia O.
New Haven, CT
2/14/2012
i was told this place was hit or miss, so i went to check it out myself... definitely a miss. wont be coming back.
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Review from Matthew R.
Studio City, Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
I had seen this place several times and finally decided to stop in...The staff was friendly and helpful when asked to suggest a margarita..but the margarita sucked and the food was pretty bad as well..wont be back
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Review from Gavin R.
Branford, CT
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
If time is short as are your expectations the food was really sub-par... but the server was nice and the view of Sleeping Giant S.P is good.
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Review from Matt D.
3/12/2011
I'm really surprised by how poorly rated this place is on here. We went on another http://Restaurant.com food adventure out to the far ends of Hamden. This place is way up Whitney Ave.
The fireplace was on, the waitress was very friendly, attentive and fast. Now, the food was not authentic, but it was good. The southwestern egg rolls blew Chili's out of the water. They were huge and half price. Very flaky and plenty of spice. The burrito was good, and my enchiladas were good as well. We were both really happy with this one, and it was ridiculously inexpensive.
After reading the other reviews, we are going to go back and try it again to see if we caught them on a really good night. I'll update this after we judge their consistency. -
Review from Katie K.
Warrington, PA
12/10/2007
After hearing this place was great, I went. In short: NOT great.
Everything was bland. I definitely felt the "American" aspect of their cuisine, because I feel like they strangled the life out of anything Mexican-y that could have possibly been redeeming about their mexican menu items. It was edible, but totally not worth the money or the time or the space in my stomach that it filled. Ick. -
Review from Elizabeth R.
Houston, TX
12/11/2007
UPDATE: After being a customer since they opened , I haven't been here in over a year and don't plan on it again.
Our long time waiter, whom we thought was a nice guy (we leave in excess of 20% tip and are easy customers-he refused, on a slow nearly empty Sunday afternoon @ 3pm, to lower the blasting rock music. Mom is a senior and has a hearing problem), After 3 requests to turn it down, we were told that the owner wouldn't allow them to lower it!!!! It is not a dance club!
It's a freakin' restaurant!
We walked out and won't return.
Called the owner, could care less.
I don't know what the others are complaining about...I've been eating here for 15 years and have had consistently good grub. The salsa is entirely made fresh ( tomatoes and all) and very spicy. The salads and entrees are also better than decent-dressings are all made here-not prepackaged.
No it's not haute cuisine, but it is my go-to place for a quick bite without a hassle.
There are too many chain resto's in Hamden and many mediocre bar & grills and pizza joints. Thanks to Aunt Chiladas you can actually have food with some semblance of spice,fresh veggies and grilled seafood-very tough to come by in these parts.
The seafood is always fresh-tuna,salmon, shrimp and scallops dishes all have been hearty, tasty and consistent.
The service is also better than average -always accommodating special requests. -
Review from Desiree D.
Hamden, CT
3/7/2010
Wow, I really hate this place. It USED to be decent about 5 years ago, when they cared about the service their customers recieved, and the food and how it tasted.
On my latest trip, I was with my sister and my best friend and we sat at the deck area. We wanted a cute lunch date with some decent margaritas, and some good food. What we got instead was some bimbo waitress who took 15 minutes just to get to the table, just to bring back water 10 minutes AFTER that. So finally we order, and she completely messed it up. My friend asked for a side of sour cream, and she never told her it costs an extra $1.00 for it!!!
Then, we are sitting and waiting for 20 minnutes to get our check, were never checked up on, and I was forced to get up to ask for our bill. She then appeared like she was "put out" for having to give me my bill, and this was the manager I got my bill from!
So I get the bill and we use 3 cards, split amount on each one. Then she overcharged me, and put almost the entire bill on my card, messed up my sisters, and my best firend was only charged a few bucks.
I had to then tell the manager, who was then already pissed, and had to fix it, which she never did, so I was on the phoen w my bank for about an HOUR just to fix it.
Horrible service, nasty food, flies all over landing in your dish, overall just disgusting and I would never spend another DIME there. -
Review from Amy K.
Hamden, CT
10/15/2008
Every time I've been to Aunt Chilada's, I've had a problem with the service. Slow, unfriendly, denying us drink specials, and unwilling to split checks for some friends and I on a double date are just a few problems. Most of them happen in one visit. Once a waitress even complained that we didn't tip 15%! We did the math on the car ride home, and we most certainly tipped her far more generously than we should have. Unintelligent, money-hungry waitresses does not a quality dinner make.
I've stopped going there because I'm tired of the dining room smelling like a college dorm party complete with piss and beer everywhere, and a table that's barely clean enough to sit on, much less eat off of. The flies really the only authentic thing about this place. Their food isn't bad, but isn't worth the price, plus it's usually cold or cooling by the time it gets to you.
There is a better choice for Mexican. -
Review from rachel w.
New Haven, CT
9/13/2009
This is what I have told all of my friends about this "Mexican" restaurant:
This place is serving you Taco Bell at inflated prices in a restaurant setting. Maybe I'm spoiled because I came from Tucson, AZ...but this is not Mexican food. My husband ordered a chimichanga and nothing in it was seasoned almost at all! And on the menu it said had cheese on top...they poured like a vat of NACHO CHEESE on it! Like Taco Bell nacho cheese. So gross. And I ordered a chicken quesadilla. Again there was no seasoning, no spice, it was just blah. I thought a quesadilla would be can't-miss kind of food but this place found a way to fail.
The only reason this restaurant gets 2 stars instead of one is because the patio outside is a great seating area, and the chips and salsa were endless. Unless you're going to Quinnipiac and have no other place to eat, do not go out of way to drive here. Not worth it! -
Review from Lawrence W.
New Haven, CT
4/6/2008
The wife and I stopped by Aunt Chilada's on a Saturday afternoon, starved for lunch. We'd both been here twice before. We sat in the sun-room-esque dining area to the right of the main entrance. The decor had a homey, but old, feel to it. The walls featured not-so-interesting posters about chiles and tamales.
Service was friendly but somewhat slow (there was a birthday party going on upstairs, and only one waitress for the entire dining room). The food was pretty satisfying, not amazing. Lunch is served with a bowl of tortilla chips and a pretty good salsa. I had the Spinaca Chicken quesadilla (spinach, grilled chicken, jack cheese) which wasn't as flavorful as I expected. The wife had the Beef Laredo quesadilla (shredded beef, peppers, and cheese), which was much more tasty. We both had side salads, which were appropriately prepared (veggies were fresh and crisp).
I wouldn't compare AC's to an authentic Mexican restaurant -- it would lose every time in every respect. But compared to the typical US chain restaurant (e.g., Applebee's, Chili's), it comes out on top. -
Review from Stewina S.
Hamden, CT
9/18/2010
The husband and I have been to this place a few times in the past six months because it so close to home...That being said...it has a cool vibe to it... The service has been quick and friendly...
I always have the Spinaca Chicken. My husband always opts for the Big Butt Burrito (much to my dismay because of how the name sounds).... We have not tried dessert because we are always too full...If you are looking for a quick bite....stop by.... -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/24/2010
One
Dollar
Millers in
Fancy glasses
Does not make olives as a side ok. -
Review from Maximus Z.
Wallingford, CT
1/30/2010
I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD! Seriously, when you are the product of decades of Taco Bell, real mexican food is pure ambrosia. So I was happy when the GF suggested this restaurant. The decor is mexican styled with tiled tables and bright colors. A poster of chilis on the wall for some reason and weird cartoon fish images here and there, apparently the logo of the restaurant. A Corona box with salt, pepper, and chili sauce decorate the simplistic tables. One side of the restaurant is a few tables and a bar with a couple TVs....the other side is all tables and a "party area". Ive had the big beef burritos and quesedillas and they are good sized and very delicious. The staff are friendly and you dont wait long for you food (you get chips and salsa to snack on while you wait. Prices are very reasonable and the restaurant is family friendly....which leads me to the clown.....
Yes...the clown. Or "magician" as the restaurant advertises. On Sundays from 4-8 children eat free and a clown wanders the restaurant performing tricks and making balloon animals for the kids. I have to admit, Im biased here as I have NEVER liked clowns. This clown is the same guy every week and Im sure he is a great guy but he creeps me out the way he hovers around kids at their tables. If you dont want to be bothered by a creepy clown and want to bring the kids, dont come on Sun evenings. Otherwise, you will be happy with this restaurant. -
Review from Ashley V.
Naugatuck, CT
12/14/2010
As good as mexicain food can get. The waitstaff was friendly. The only downfall was the super annoying customer base aka college kids. Loud and obnoxious. The prices where decent. I got the portobella mushroom fajita it was good.
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Review from Jamie P.
1/5/2011
Boo! I read good reviews (somewhere) and organized a dinner with friends there. They didn't honor the drink special I read about on-line for that night, the margaritas were not strong, and the service was slow. When the food is this expensive and just tastes OK, I'll pass! Advertisements should be offered, and no one wants to eat dinner sitting at the bar to get a drink deal...
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Review from Freesia S.
Meriden, CT
12/8/2010
Aunt Chilada's is an OK place for American Mexican food. I do enjoy the $2 taco night. It's not authentic, but it's filling and fun with a group of friends. Other than that, the food is kind of pricey, so it's not really worth it to pay full price for menu items. Points for the fact that the hot sauce on the tables is sriracha.
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Review from Jeff B.
New Haven, CT
3/8/2010
We love Mexican food, therefore I would recommend that people stay far away from this place.
This place makes On the Border (a chain restaurant) look like authentic Mexican food (ok that's my poor attempt at sarcasm). Seriously - the food was probably on-par with Taco Bell, but more expensive. The service was ultra slow as well. Not worth your time and/or $ at all. -
Review from Jenny F.
North Haven, CT
9/21/2007
One of my least favorite restaurants in the area. American Mexican that is pretty bland. I think all the food here comes out of can and then is reheated and served.
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Review from Dave M.
New Haven, CT
12/24/2010
Mediocre Mexican food at best. $8.50 margaritas made with sour mix and no lime. If you are looking for decent Mexican and good margaritas try sloppy jose's in Milford or Acopolcos in Stratford. Aunt Chilada's is a disappointment.
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Review from Andrea H.
Washington, DC
4/28/2010
Disclaimer: I only went to this place because the friend I was meeting suggested it and I didn't want to be rude. I had read the reviews on Yelp and therefore had low expectations. Despite my low expectations, the restaurant did manage to disappoint me. I've had mediocre Mexican food - it's all over CT - and amazing Mexican food in Texas, California and Mexico. This place serves awful Mexican food. I sat at the bar with my friend and it smelled like a bathroom. I couldn't finish the food, nor did I want to. So find another place for a meal because this restaurant will leave you feeling sick to your stomach and yet again thinking "Where can one get a good Mexican meal around here?"
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Review from Satacelda S.
New Haven, CT
8/20/2010
They call this Mexican food? Jarred salsa. Rice-a-roni tasting rice. Stale chips. Waitress had no idea what carne asada is.
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Review from Rich G.
Milford, CT
7/5/2010
Great enchiladas and margaritas
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Review from Scott C.
Hamden, CT
4/8/2011
Decent Mexican food. Good prices
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Review from Sarah L.
New Haven, CT
10/27/2010
The restaurant isn't clean, the waitress was unpleasant and put-upon, and a creepy "magician" was going around to all the tables making balloon animals. The food is absolutely forgettable. We thought it would be a good family restaurant - the only plus there is that it's so loud, a noisy child won't bother the other diners.
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Review from Jean V.
North Haven, CT
1/30/2011
I really despise this place. The food is less than mediocre. I'm going to have to use the phrase, "Life's too short to eat crappy food." Go elsewhere. Thank you.
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Review from ronald s.
7/6/2010
not very exciting mexican food. seating outside is the only plus here, especially if you like a view of a golf driving range.
