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Category: Mexican
337 Santana RowCheck out our daily specials such as lunch deals & special drinks, plus join us on facebook & twitter and receive special offers every day!
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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After walking by this place a lot the last couple of years, I decided to try it for my birthday dinner. In hindsight it is definitely wisest to sit outside as the seating inside is minimal especially if you have a group as I did. I wish I would have looked up the menu prior to coming here - I'm not sure what I expected in regards to the food but it wasn't the traditional or close to traditional style of Mexican food I was hoping for. The decor is awesome here - lots of dark colored carved wood - reminds me of another Mexican restaurant in Palm Springs that I've visited before.
I thought it was strange that they don't have tortilla chips rather they have small handmade/homemade tortillas to dip in the salsa and guacamole. I had some sangria and it was good but a little heavy on the wine part and not so much the fruity part. We ordered the guacamole which was made at our table. I had the chile rellano and the torta de elote which was this huge crazy slice of cornbread with some house special sauce on it. The cornbread was actually my favorite part of the meal. I love chile rellanos but I was not impressed with this one.
The service was ok - a little slow but they were quite busy inside and out. I wasn't a fan of the food here but others in my group loved it.
Some friends and I met up at Consuelo's before seeing a movie at CineArts. What a disappointment. We ordered drinks which included a clump of brown sugar at the bottom of my Caprianha. The limes weren't muddled ... not a good drink. We were seated outside which was fun because there was a band playing across the street. The handmade corn tortillas were delicious. The three sauces got a third right. The green was delicious! We ordered the guacamole. Not very flavorful!
Our main course was the lamb shank and chicken mole. The lamb shank was lamb jerky and the mole was a very odd color. The chicken was extremely bad. If I'm going out to a restaurant why would I want a frozen chicken breast. You know, a perfectly shaped tear drop of poultry that you get out of a bag of other perfectly shaped frozen poultry tear drops. I mean really! The drumstick that was oddly laid on top of the butterflied tear drop chicken and was so under seasoned I had to add salt and green salsa. Which brings me to the mole sauce. Bland, bland bland AND an odd color of dirty dish water mud. We dubbed the lamb shank "lamb shank jerky" it was so over-cooked.
Not so good!
Met up with some girlfriends here for dinner. Inside was packed so we were seated at the heated, outdoor patio which was nice and toasty. We were immediately given waters, 3 dipping sauces and warm tortillas.
Here's the lo-down:
-queso chorizo & mushroom appy ($10): really oily from the cheese. You gotta eat this fast or the cheese gets cold, hard and congeals and it's not that appetizing
-mole poblano ($13): pretty good mole sauce. liked the sprinkled sesame seeds
-chile relleno ($11): bland, stuffed with vegetables. I've had better.
-carnitas ($14): standard carnitas dish.
-arroz mexicano ($4): bowl of mexican rice with peas
-arroz platanos ($5): bowl of white rice with side dish of plantains. We only wanted the plantains, but I guess the rice comes with it
-frijoles negros ($4): bowl of black beans
-tropical killer ($13): pineapple margarita which was okay. Too much and not enough drink!
-margarita partida ($12): standard margarita drink
I felt the food was mediocre and small. All the main entrees were just that. No sides of rice or beans that comes with it so we had to order additional sides. I didn't feel the price for the food was right. There are many other great Mexican places where food and price are just right.
I didn't feel there was a lot of selection on the menu. I was at Mexican restaurant so I wanted Mexican food. The only typical dishes there were what we ordered: mole, chile relleno and carnitas. The other dishes were chicken, scallops, lamb, etc.
Service was okay. Halfway through our meal, they turned off the heating lamps and then they turned off the light in the patio area so that we were sitting there in the cold AND dark. Did I feel like they were rushing us out? Yes. And I don't understand because there were other diners in the restaurant...unless they were trying to close the patio section.
If dining on the Row, I'd try somewhere else.
Consuelo's doesn't have much in the way of vegetarian options, but there are some things it does really well. The "chips & salsa" they serve at the beginning were great! They serve 3 different kinds of salsa, 1 of which was average tasting (the red) & 1 was kinda ew (the mango) & 1 was awesome (the green). Their green salsa may be one of the best I've ever had - strong flavors, slightly chunky texture, with a good kick. The chips were actually mini tortillas & there were really great - soft, pliable, warm, and they tasted incredibly fresh.
Their tableside guacamole was absolute crap. It tasted so old & even worse than the preserved supermarket kind. Disgusting. The guy added a giant heapful of cut chillis to the guac but there was no kick whatsover - the chillis were probably cut in the morning and had lost all their flavor. Basically, any place that serves tableside guacamole that tastes worse than fake stuff from the store...well...pretty pathetic.
My mom's chilli relleno was actually pretty good because I prefer light, non-eggy rellenos. The beany sauce it was served with complemented the dish nicely. However, if you are a fan of the traditional chilli relleno that's served most places, this one probably isn't for you. Everything else was pretty ehhh.
The drinks were ok. I had the tropical killer margarita, which needed more muddled fruit and more tequila. The organic margarita was ok - not a lot of flavor. The mangotini was quite delicious - very heavy on the mango and thick. Service was kinda crappy & our heating lamp wasn't really working and no one fixed it.
Located across the street from Thea, you will find an authentic Mexican bistro featuring dishes that celebrate the true flavors of Mexico. The surroundings inside were inspired by the sophisticated and vibrant décor of Mexico City's restaurants during the early 1900s. Murals and decorations exhibit the true meaning of Mexican culture and livens up the room displayed from every angle of the restaurant. Patio seating is exquisite but tight giving you a sense of family while giving you a great view of Santana Row and its surroundings.
I come to Consuelo frequently and always have a great time tasting delectable menu items and enjoying the ambiance. A must try for all: Guacamole $9; Fresh avocados and spices are mixed and served right in front of you. Chips? There aren't any chips, but you can ask for more mini tortillas that come complimentary as you are seated. The Ceviche de Pescado $10 is to die for and contains Fresh chunks of white fish, marinated in lime juice mixed with diced tomato, jalapeño chili, onion, green olives, avocado, cilantro and olive oil. If you wrap the ceviche in tortillas, it's a meal in itself. *Salivating* I like my meat. As for my entrée, I prefer to get the Carnitas $14; Michoacan style tequila-marinated tender chunks of pork, served with a chile de guajillo and arbol salsa. The pork chunks burst with flavorful spices and tantalize my taste buds creating moments of euphoria and hearty goodness. And you can't forget your side dish, Arroz blanco con plátanos fritos $5; Seasoned white rice with fried plantain slices. The plantains that I grow at home are not nearly as sweet as theirs. All these food selections have to be balanced with something else...Sangria! I like the taste of their Sangrias by the glass $6; Red wine, orange, lemon juice, fresh fruit infused with their secret ingredient. I intend to find out their secret ingredient soon. All this food and a full belly call for great recognition. I always skip the dessert and go straight for the tequila. I would usually start drinking the night away here, but on a nice summer day, I can walk next door to El Jardin (Consuelo's sibling) and sample a few tequila shots with a nicer ambiance and livelier crowd. Staff is very accommodating and work fast to fulfill your every need.
Overall, this place is not to be passed up. Definitely go for all the food and try things here and there. You'll ultimately find your favorites. With Consuelo's extensive menu and tequila varieties, what's not to like? 5 stars all across the board!
I think the food here is yummy....let me qualify that. I am a vegetarian...I can only eat about 3 things from their menu (don't cry for me I used to it lol)
The sopes (all vegetarian please) are pretty tasty. Not like my gramas, of course, and yes overpriced. Wait can you call something overpriced when it IS in Santana Row??
The Chili Relleno is good. Not the best, but good. Ok, it blan.
Again, I can't eat much here so take my food review as you wish.
Service....hmmm. Sucks. Everytime I visit Consuelo's there is something new and annoying about the staff. It's usually the airheaded arrogant girl that seats you, but more often than not your guaranteed to find something that annoys you....and you have every right to be annoyed when you are paying what you are paying for Santana Row Mexican Food.
The wait staff:
-has no problem complaining to you about their work load.
-could care less if your water is low but would LOVE to get you another overpriced margarita as soon as possible.
-don't understand why YOU don't speak Spanish.
-never know the agua fresca for the day.
-like to grab the asses of one another in front of patrons, and also sit on each others laps while pretending to grind like we are at the exotic erotic ball or something.(can I get a discount for this public display of soft porn please? I just threw up in my mouth a lil bit)
After a day of window shopping this is a good spot, but I'll admit, I am always am shocked at the bill ...and soft porn.
o - I hate tapas menus...just give me my food with rice and beans. I am at a Mexican restaurant aren't I???
Third time wasn't a charm for Consuelo's. This past weekend was our 3rd attempt at Consuelo's, and honestly, it was horrible.
We ordered the guacamole and sopes, since it was so good last time. However, this time it fell short. The guacamole was bland, and the sopes were soggy and stale. We also ordered a side of carnitas, since I like meat...and the waiter listed all these sides to choose from. We thought it was part of the meal but looking at the bill they charged us $4 for it.
We also ordered chips, cuz seriously, what's up with the nasty corn tortillas they give out? $3 for a small basket of chips.
Total for our bill was $50. This was for 2 appetizers, 1 side of meat, and a beer. Lucky we used our http://restaurant.com coupon, but we won't be coming back here again.
Ok, I take it back....last time I gave them 1 star, and the food was disgusting, and I never ever… Read more »
NOTE: The reasons this place is getting a 4 are as follows:
1) My meal was paid for my rich uncle (so I didn't have to worry about the exorbitant prices). Go ahead and knock off a star if you're the one left with the check.
2) My service was good. Yes, the restaurant was relatively empty and yes, my aunt speaks fluent Spanish, but the service was good.
Instead of serving you chips, Consuelo's offers fresh corn tortillas, served with Salsa Verde, Roasted Tomato Salsa, and what tasted like a Habanero-Mango sauce. By my third tortilla, I was feelin' pretty good about this place.
The family ordered guacamole and sopes for the table, which were very good. A few things: make sure to order chips with your guacamole as they don't come together. Also, consider placing two orders of sopes if you're in a large group; they're fairly small.
I ordered the shrimp in mole sauce as my entree and boy was that delicious! My shrimp were perfectly cooked, and their mole sauce had me licking the plate. No, it's not the most authentic mole in the world, but it sure is yummy.
We finished our meal with an order of chocolate cake and churros for the table. The cake was forgettable, and frankly tasted like it had been microwaved. The churros were cooked theme-park style with a coating of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top. What set these apart was (a) the dough, which gave them a delicious, custardy consistency on the inside while maintaining the cripiness on the outside and (b) the dulce con leche ice cream ('nuff said).
In short, definitely try this place out if you find yourself window-shopping in Santana Row with my uncle's credit card in your back-pocket.
I don't even know what's up with everyone on Yelp being so unfair to Santana Row. It's food for Christ's sake, what do you want it to do, make you come in your pants? Granted, in full disclosure, I didn't pay for my lunch; maybe I would have enjoyed it less if I had.
I tried the mole, and I thought it was good, I don't even like mole! The really awesome part of the meal (for me) was the callos de hacha, the scallops. They were in a nice buttery cream sauce and they were good! I enjoyed it.
Was it authentic Mexican? I'm going to say no, but it tasted pretty good to this gringo.
The food was bad, the service was worse (if possible) and everything was way over priced.
First we get an appetizer and it is swimming in grease, we reject it and opt for the guacamole. The waitress took for ever to bring it out, then we realize there are no chips. Not sure how you're supposed eat guacamole as an appetizer without chips. So I then flag the waitress down and ask her for the chips. When I recieve the bill it is 9 dollars for guacamole, which is pricey but ok, then they charge you an extra 3 dollars for chips! Why must you nickle and dime people, just charge 12 bucks for your guacamole!
No drink refills, no one asking if our meal was good, just food and the bill.
and on the bill, I was charged for the greasy appetizer we rejected...
Thanks for nothing consuelo's, I'll never come here again!
75 bucks for a bad 3:30 lunch.
It's not "real" Mexican food, probably more like fusion, but I gotta say it's not bad, especially if you're on an expense account. Went here for a company-sponsored dinner, and we had some folks visiting from Canada who wanted some Mexican food, so I initially wanted to take them someplace more authentic. However we also had a couple people who didn't like Mexican food so this was our compromise. since they had some food that would appeal to a larger audience (can't go wrong with filet mignon or scallops). This place does have better ambiance than your local taqueria, so at least it looks nice for a business dinner, and the Santana Row location was very convenient.
Their drinks were pretty good. I had a "Pink Cadillac" which is similar to most "Cadillac" margaritas I've had at other Mexican restaurants...pretty much a top shelf margarita with some Grand Marnier, but they do a twist here and use grapefruit juice (I think) so it's pink. Pretty, and tasty too. 4* for drinks.
We started off with some guacamole and some chips. One of the highlights of this place is they make it in front of you so you can say how much of each ingredient you like, but I was pretty disappointed that they wouldn't do it for our large party. Boo. The fresh tortillas and the salsas were good, but most of us still prefer chips for guac so we ordered some on the side. I know they are trying to be "fancy" since they're in Santana row, but $3 for a small, non-bottomless basket of chips is just ridiculous. We went through 4 baskets for $12 for something that probably cost less than a dollar to make...double Boo. Good thing I wasn't paying. We also ordered some quesadillas and ceviche which were both pretty tasty. For the main course, I had the mole poblano, which was decent but needed more of a kick, IMO.
I think this place is ok as long as you set your expectations accordingly. Just don't expect this to be your typical Mexican restaurant, and be prepared to pay Santana Row prices.
I would give this a negative star if I could.
My friends and I wanted to go to Maggiano's but we were not going to wait 4 hours to have dinner at 9pm, so we decided to try something new.
We walked in to be seated and some couple cut in front of us. We saw the hostess and had made eye contact with her, but she ignored us and helped the other couple instead when she knew we were waiting first. When the hostess finally came to us, she acted as if nothing had happened and seated us to our table.
Looking at the menu, we noticed everything was overpriced, especially for its low-quality. In fact, our food came to our table in about 5-minutes, which shows that they have prepared food in the back. Are the cooks really cooking or just popping these dishes in the microwave?
The waitress was not tentative at all. After we got our food she never came back to check on us until she gave us the check. We gave her a low-tip... perhaps we shouldn't of tipped her at all.
Horrible services. Horrible food. Not worth your time and money. Would definitely NOT GO BACK. One of the worst experiences at a restaurant.
Maggiano's was a 4-hr wait as usual, so we decided to try Consuelo and boy, do I regret it. First, when we were waiting to be seated, another couple bluntly cut in front of us and the hostess basically ignored us even though it was obvious we were there first. When we finally got a table, service was extremely inattentive and the waitress made us feel as if we were a burden.
The menu certainly seemed unique and was not your typical fare at your everyday Mexican restaurant, which was fine since we are pretty adventurous eaters. However, the food was mediocre at best and portions seemed a bit small.
It was definitely not up to the standards for what we were paying to eat here, and it was obvious they wanted us out when they handed us the check while we were only about 1/3 through our meal. Looks like they'll get what they asked for, as we for sure won't be back.
Like every other restaurant on Santana Row, this place is overpriced, nothing special, and tries too hard to be unique without having any true talent for good food or service.
We had a mix of dishes and nothing stood out. The guacamole was just OK. The beans were good and the meat was good, but scarce. The blue tortillas were just OK.
Long story short, it was not horrible, but seriously, in the South Bay you need to save your money and steer clear of this place and just go to your favorite local Mexican dive, where the staff is friendly and the food is somewhat greasy but is more like comfort food rather than a corporate-owned "restaurant venture" (business venture).
Ok, I ONLY eat here when I am a guest now. 5 years ago I gave it a rockin' review but now a days it has a lot to be desired. In my opinion for the price you pay for the food, you could get better food at a taco truck at any corner you see one. The "carnitas" is an over price plate of dried pork, the "mole" has a lot to be lacked. We went in for a birthday dinner and wanted to use the gift certificates we had received and the manager told us that they were old and outdated (there was no expiration date on them) but he would do us a favor and honor "1" gift certificate since he "fired" the manager who sold them and didn't know where the money went...ummm doesn't it go in your register or is this restaurant so bad as to not keep tabs on the managers who sell gift certificates?! The food is bad, the only thing good was the level headed waiter. Sorry you have to work at such a crappy place!
This place is a great place for Tequila and File Mignon...The morning brunch/breakfast is lacking in… Read more »
The spicy guacamole is my fav dish here but I can't believe they charge you extra for chips. "Don't they know that even Chevy's gives you chips for free?"
My mole lamb chops were tender but I wasn't a huge fan of their thick mole sauce. The carnitas w/ spicy sauce was pretty good but it's annoying that it doesn't come with rice and you have to order it separately. The scallops were a little overcooked but the mashed potatoes were tasty w/ bits of corn and green peas inside. Also, the capirinha's were not good!
This place has a festive atmostphere which is good for parties, but I wouldn't come solely for the food. Despite being a yelper, I'm really not that picky about where I eat normally and I'm a firm believer that the company makes the meal. I come to Consuelo with good friends for the festive atmosphere, so I really don't have too many complaints.
This was first time today and was not expecting much as am a vegetarian. However, I ordered Guacamale which came with Tortilas which was a surpise. I had to order Nacho chips which was extra 3 dollars. So I just had my Guacamle for $12 (which is too much) . Here they don't cut avocado in front of you. It turned out okay
I ordered some vege stuff (some cheese patty) which was also okay.
Service was toooooooooooooo slow inspite the place being empty.
It was my first and last time. Just wanted to try this place as it was in Santana Row.
First of all, let me tell you that if you want "authentic" Mexican cuisine, don't come looking for it at Consuelo's. Consuelo's is kind of like what Benihana is for teppan restaurants.
That said, it doesn't mean that Consuelo's is not a good restaurant.
Food - Good
Starters:
Guacamole - It's made fresh at the table and very tasty; unfortunately, for a group of 4, one serving isn't enough for everyone. You'll have to order two servings... It's quite tasty and probably my favorite dish.
Queso fundido con rajas y hongos y chorizo - I'm not typically a fan of chorizo, but I enjoyed this dish. I loved the melted cheese and the mushrooms.
Main Course:
My personal favorites are the filet and scallops. How does one go wrong with a medium rare filet mignon served with roasted garlic and goat cheese? The flavors are amazing and go together so well!
I love scallops and having them seared to perfection is bliss for your mouth and taste buds. The corn-potato puree is muy delicioso!
Dessert:
Tres leches and chocolate cake, hands down. Biting into the chocolate cake with the fudge melting is so sinful. The cake kind of tastes like a fudge brownie and when you top it with the vanilla ice cream, it's unbeatable.
I also love the tres leches because it is not as sweet as the other tres leches that I have tried. Although the texture is a bit coarse, I love the flavor.
Service - Awesome
Bartender, Daniel: One of the best bartenders I have ever encountered. I met him for the first time during the NBA finals this year and he, along with a few patrons, kept me entertained whilst I waited for my college roommate.
Today, I ordered a margarita which was too sweet for my liking. Our server, Denise, was kind enough to walk it back to the bar (three times) until it had the perfect flavor.
For the tequila lovers, they've got an awesome selection!
As someone who worked there once I can honestly say that if you are looking for what America calls "Mexican food" this is not the place for you. I have seen my fair share of customers walk out after being seated because we do not have "burritos" or "fajitas." Not to be nasty, but... the sign outside does say "traditional!" hello? There's a Chevy's and and Chilies around the corner if that's what you are looking for. When ever I'm in the Row I'm not looking to have burritos. Also, if you call ahead at ANY restaurant and ask how long the wait for a table of blank is and you do not make a reservation how would they know when you are coming in? It's a little ridiculous to think that you can call a half hour before you plan on coming in and expect there to be tables open... the Row is busy and the world does not revolve around you.
As a customer, I can honestly say the food has never disappointed me. The guacamole is THE BEST and is a reasonably priced for Santana Row. The chips are an extra $3 bucks but I do not think that is anything to grip about since they give you UNLIMITED corn tortillas with salsa to wrap the guacamole in. REMEMBER IT'S TRADITIONAL! THERE IS NOTHING TRADITIONAL ABOUT CHIPS AND SALSA PEOPLE! What they offer is unique, like most of the restaurants in Santana Row!
As for the service, I have found at any restaurant, if you are a jerk to your server, you get jerky service! The staff are very friendly even toward the most difficult of customers!
This place is absolutely horrible! I will NEVER go back to this restaurant, EVER!
Some friends and I arrived here on a Thursday night for dinner. We ordered the guacamole which wasn't that great. For $9 I could make a big, delicious batch at home. When our food came out, the waitress gave me the wrong order and walked away. When I was finally able to flag her down and tell her 'this isn't what I ordered', she had the audacity to tell me it was my order! EXCUSE ME, but I think I would know what I ordered. She was obviously irritated and finally asked for what I did order and took the plate back. When the bill finally arrived, there were charges for drinks that we did not even order. Our waitress wouldn't even come back around to our table so we finally got up and talked to the manager to have him adjust our bill.
This place has horrible service and overpriced mediocre food! Save your money and go elsewhere...this place is not worth your time!
I really should have read the yelp reviews before picking this place to eat!
I was at Santana Row for the 'Poodle Parade' and was straving! I wanted a place with outside seating and Consuelo had a few empty tables on the patio!
We asked if they accepted dogs for their outdoor seating, they said yes but the dog must stay on the floor...hmmm...
So I ordered the brunch special of huevos & chorizos. To drink, I wanted an horchata but they were out! They only had a melon drink! So I got a soda! My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish.
They brought out fresh made torillas with 3 delicious salsas!
Then our food came. I had never seen huevos & chorizos prepared that way and with a latin background, I am extremely picky on any type of latin food! I tried it & it was just okay. Nothing special! My boyfriend's chicken was topped off with a red sauce that tasted like 'chef boy r dee' pasta sauce. He was so disappointed with his food. Also, when the waiter asked him if he wanted rice, he said yes because he figured it came with his dish!
When we got the bill, we were shocked that the rice was a side dish and it was $4! We didn't even eat the rice because it was undercooked!
About 1 hour after we left this place, my boyfriend's stomache started to hurt! He was in so much pain because of the gross food!
I highly recommend that you strave instead of eating at Consuelo!
I will NEVER return again!
I can see that some people are struggling with the food because it's not falling into what they traditionally understood Mexican food to be. What you have to do is be aware that Mexican food is greatly varied by region and includes volumes more than what you're going to find on the menu at your local taqueria at 3 in the morning. I applaud Consuelo for taking its own path and getting out of the "box" that many here have obviously placed Mexican food into.
That being said, I will have to simply suggest that you try this place for yourself without any preconceived notions. Personally, there are items on the menu that I'm particularly fond of, and there are others that I won't be revisiting. Again, you're going to have to draw your own conclusions on the food.
What stands out for me though is the bar. I like to think of myself of some what of a tequila connoisseur, and as such, the bar is worth mentioning. They have one of the most extensive selections I've seen in the South Bay and in the tequila sippin world (yes, you sip it!), you make a point of it to try all establishments that specialize in your magical elixir.
I will say this though: On my last visit, after sampling several bottles through the process of educating a friend on the finer points, the bar tender offered a suggestion, "Mejor Luxury Tequila". I am always trying things with an open mind, but having a strong understanding of the processes involved with producing tequila, I had two immediate questions:
1) What makes a tequila a "luxury" tequila
2) Why is it pink?
I was referred to the flyer that accompanied the bottle, and having reviewed the literature, I still remained on my stool without the answer to either question.
My point is this: If you're going to pimp a product, have some knowledge about the ABC's and 123's of it.
In all, I would go back, and have been on several occasions. Sometimes to eat. Sometimes to drink. Definitely worth visiting and experiencing for yourself.
Oh, and another question has surfaced since my last visit:
"Why is it at COSTCO?"
Came here for a late Saturday afternoon lunch around 3. This restaurant does not have your usual Mexican food fix. It's more like High class Mexican food.
we got served free tortillas with 3 dipping sauces. They all tasted funny to us.
Torta de elote $ 5- i had better corn breads
Callos de hacha $ 15- this scallops in creamy sauce dish was yummy
Mexico Lindo $ 10- this fruit and spinach salad was very refreshing and good
I want to try their drink menu the next time i come again.
I used to really enjoy this place. Sitting outside at this place is so nice, but the food is definitely not good enough for the price.
I'm OK with a downright hefty price tags, if the food is worth it (ie. Le Bernardin NY), but $30 for three mediocre appetizers? I don't think so. Ordered the ceviche, sopes, and guacamole.
Guacamole was very well seasoned and was prepared table side. Sopes-- only liked the pork and chicken, vegetable was bland and the pork was a little heavy, but still flavorful. Ceviche was downright horrible: weird aftertaste, not fresh, not flavorful. I'll only go back if I'm conveniently there, craving guacamole.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews of this place.
I've been here twice now, and my second experience was a lot more enjoyable. As others have said, this is really more of a hybrid of "traditional" Mexican food and tapas. The first time I had the chicken mole, which seemed to have too much sweetness and not enough spice for my taste. The last time I was there, I had quesadillas with Oaxaca cheese and roasted poblano chiles, which were very good. My mom had the tortita de papa, a breaded mix of potatoes and cheese over tomato sauce with roasted poblano peppers, mushrooms and spinach, which she enjoyed very much. We also had chips and guacamole - the guac was made fresh at the table, which I loved. Combine that with the warm corn tortillas and three salsas that were also given, that was a ton of food! Our server was very attentive and very nice.
I do love the interior of this place - the bar takes up about half the space to the left when you walk in, with round booths and bench-style tables occupying the rest of the space. With the lighting and decorations, the place feels very warm and inviting.
I will definitely come back here on my next trip to San Jose!
I didn't even get a chance to eat there. My review is all about the hours and the customer service.
Went to Santana Row last night on an anniversary date with the boyfriend. Granted we were running a little later in the evening than I like, but I called ahead to Consuelos and asked if they were busy. I was assured that a table for 2 would be no problem "okay great we should be there in about 20 minutes". This was at 8:30pm. It would have been nice to have been told on the phone at that time that they close at 9pm. Get to SR, park, etc, get to the rest, they are closed.
Santana Row, 9pm are you crazy?
After reading some of the other yelp reviews, we might not ever try the food.
Food is very good - love the atmosphere. Service however, even with the number of times I have been there is lacking - from wait staff and hosting staff but somehow I keep going back.
my girl took one bite of their carne asada...30 min later she was puking. BY FAR THE WORST MEXICAN RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TOO!! Chevys has better quality than consuelos
I really enjoy coming here for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Even though I have somewhat limited options as a vegetarian, everything I've eaten here has been oustanding and they have been very accomodating. Their drinks are excellent and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. Service has always been fantastic - I can't wait to go back.
Best mojitos ever.
I only had drinks and appetizers here, all of which were lovely and pleasing.
I would just go and try all the appetizers for a meal instead of ordering an actual meal, which according to some of the reviews here, is not a terrible idea.
Parking is brutal, because it's Santana Row. Beware.
The first time I went to Consuelos, I was a fan. I had the Lamb shank and the Guacamole. It was great. But coming back a few times, I started to notice a change in the food and the service. The waiters became a little less pleasant, the food not up to par as the last visits. Then I came back after a while and it seemed like I was experiencing the greatness of this place for the first time.
It's a great place to come to and just relax and throw back a couple of coronas. The "Navon" dessert cognac is to die for. And the guac is fantastic. Even though it's been through it's ups and downs, it's still a rather special place.
I've been here several times and always just had drinks (mohitos) and the guacamole. While the guacamole is fresh (made right in front of you) and good (although I've definiately have had better)...serverd with soft corn tortillas (yum!)...I FINALLY had an entree the last time I was here. That was a mistake.
Had the pescado del dia. Very tough and not tasty. I couldn't finish it.
My friend had the Mole Poblano. He wasn't impressed either.
Not worth the money and save your tummy for a good meal. Go somewhere else for some real mexican food with the same type of lively environment.
Just okay, and for what you get, certainly overpriced.
Basically, you pay for your entree and have to pay $5 PER side, so that would be adding $10 total just to add rice and beans.
Anyway, the chicken mole was pretty uninteresting and served in a very poor manner--question, why were there sesame seeds all over the sauce?? The carnitas was basically just a bowl of shredded meat with sauce served with nothing else. I was left kind of wanting my boyfriend's chicken in garlic sauce. My aunt's mahi mahi didn't look very fresh either. The highlight of the dinner was the white rice and plantains side--the plantains were delicious and the rice nice and fluffy.
I think the best dessert item is the flan. I do not recommend the crepes at all--the crepes were swimming in an overly sweet caramel sauce with a melon baller scoop of vanilla ice-cream. The crepes tasted faintly of the oil they were fried in and was an incredibly disapppointing and decadent dish.
For a bunch of drinks, an appetizer, four entrees, two sides, and two desserts, we paid about $150. That's not that bad, but for the quality of food, definitely not worth it. We would have EASILY been better off spending $60 at Tlaquepaque. We think people end up here as rejects from the other better Santana Row joints that have an hour+ wait for dinner. Kind of like us.
This place disappointed me. Mexican restaurants are usually pretty simple to find a veggie option that can at least be slightly altered to be vegan friendly. This place was definitely NOT vegan friendly! They have two veggie options (that can not be altered) which include the tortita de papa which is a PRE-MADE breaded cheese and potato mixture over tomato sauce... and the other option of the chile relleno which is also PRE-MADE with cheese. I asked the waitress if there was anything that can be altered to be vegan friendly and she suggested white rice with fried plantains. When my order of seasoned white rice with fried plantains comes out there is sour cream all over the fried plantains. Our waitress appologized and had it fixed. I was becoming more disappointed with this restaurant as time goes on. I left the restaurant with a stomach full of rice. The plantains were alright but i can not finish a pile of them for an entire meal.
we also had the guacamole which was made in front of us. The employee that prepared the guac for us forgot to bring out the tortillas that are included with the order of guac. I wasn't impressed by it. I've had better tableside guacamole at Chevy's.
My mom had the carnitas which was literally a bowl of meat. you have to add sides $5 each if you want other stuff with it (ex. $10 extra for rice and beans). I remember her commenting during dinner that the carnitas were "alright."
waitress was not very attentive. She took forever to bring the check. She seemed very young and didn't really have a lot of restaurant experience.
In the light of all of this... i know my step dad does enjoy their tequila from previous visits.
My boyfriend and I ate dinner here the other day due to getting a gift certificate from http://restaurant.com
Here is what I ordered
Pechuga ranchera a la nata con espinacas w/ an order of rice.
It was a chicken dish with a creamy garlic sauce w/ a corn salad on the side. I really enjoyed the chicken and it was cooked well. Juicy on the insided and very crispy on the outside. The skin of the chicken was to die for. I love the sauce. The corn salad mix was awesome, the corn tasted so sweet. The rice was bland, didn't really stand out. The fresh tortilas and salsa was a nice extra.
My boyfriend's meat was tough, but I only had a bite. He's probably gonna yelp this restaurant too anyways. So he will let you know.
So we ordered the following:
2 main dishes
1 order of rice
1 soda
Free tortillas and salsa
We paid .... $17 all together (tab, tip, and tax)
Our original bill was $35, take off $25 from our coupon from restaurant and add the 18% gratuity. WA LA ... a meal that cost as much as a meal at a fast food joint.
In my opinion this is by FAR the worst restaurant on Santana Row, and possibly the worst in the whole Bay Area. I've only eaten here once, and each of the dishes ordered by those in my party had a different variety of overly strong tasting sauces. They totally ruined the dishes, and killed any hint of Mexican authenticity.
I would so much rather grab a burrito for $3.50 from a taco truck, than visit this place and empty my wallet for their interpretation of crap on a plate.
Who loves ceviche?
I do!
Ceviche served with....saltine crackers? Wha!?
Went for brunch and got my 1,000 opentable points (take advantage people!). I had the huevos poblanos which was ok...it was pretty scary looking (scrambled eggs covered in mole is not aesthetically pleasing) but I did like the black bean puree that came with it. My boyfriend said his carnitas was good (aka a big pile of pork) but we were suckered into buying what ended up being $8 worth of crappy rice and beans. My advice is if the server asks if you "want rice and beans?" you say "no!" because neither were tasty and you get charged $4 for each.
I enjoyed my 2 glasses of sangria and would come back to have some more and people watch outside. Food not so good, but I should have known when I saw the word Bistro after the word Mexican.
My Mexican includes chips, and never includes saltine crackers.
P.S. I wouldn't consider this a tapas restaurant....
Warm limp tortillas dipped in hot sauce. I'm transported back to my days in the Crown dorms at UCSC. Somehow those were always the last two food items in my mini-fridge. No, this is not an acid flashback, it's my lunch at Consuelo Mexican Bistro. Why anyone would choose to do that given other options is beyond me.
Under normal circumstances, I would applaud the inclusion of the homemade fresh tortilla. But let me tell you dipping tortillas in multiple fresh salsas is not nearly as satisfying crunching into a salty salsa-covered chip. It's not even in the same ballpark.
They also love to sell you $9.00 table-side guacamole--guacamole to awkwardly place into tortillas and eat little guaco-tacos. Similarly, the $10.00 ceviche was pretty good, except cold juice dripping out of your ceviche taco and down your sleeve. It's just very silly to take pride in making food that screams for chips, but to stubbornly decide to serve tortillas instead.
The concept of a Mexican bistro is sort of like driving the world's smallest Hummer. Sure it's aight, but is that really what a Hummer should be? The sit-down Mexican experience conjures images of large scalding hot plates filled with beans, cheese, rice, and traditional Mexican items. It's rustic, flavorful, abundant food. Not at all the vibe at Consuelo.
I guess the Bistro part means expensive and a la carte. Mexican a la carte? Really? $14.00 pile of Carnitas, $4.00 bowl of rice with carrots and peas in it, and $4.00 tasteless watery black bean bowl. $22.00 for something barely close to proper fixins for a taco. Not only was it lacking and clumsy, but was inferior in quality to numerous more reasonably-priced places.
I understand that this is "The Row," and I should be happy that I am even allowed to be around such amazing rich people, but I don't think anybody should go out of their way to waste their money at a mediocre restaurant such as this. I've yet to eat at any "Row" restaurant that was worth it.
We made a call early evening on Valentines day and we were told they were all booked and not accepting any reservations. We convinced them we could be there in roughly 30 minutes and they agreed to reserve a table for our party of six in the patio area. One star for being so accommodating.
We arrive and wannabe Mark Anthony over here proceeds to tell us we have no such reservations - we can look for ourselves and they are all booked and not taking walk ins. After a minute of arguing he finds the reservation but tells us we are late and gave the impression he could do nothing for us. We were not late and just when he was about to get bitch slapped by both me and my sister-in-law, the other hostess came up and said she remembered speaking with us and yes our table was ready and waiting. Bite me Mark Anthony...negative one star.
I must say from that point on the service was excellent. A star for our server and the rest of the staff who were on it. I also have to mention the bar because it's probably the best thing about this spot. They really have an extensive Tequila list which earns another star in my book. Oh they have a fantastic Coco Mojito as well. Seriously, that's not even my drink but I could have downed those babies all night. In fact, I would definitely go back just to hit the bar.
As far as the food goes, it was okay but certainly nothing to rave about. The stand out dishes were the two potato dishes and the cactus was good. Other than that, both my hubby and I thought the food was kind of bland and started to all taste the same. Definitely not traditional tapas so stay clear if that's what your looking for. Go for the bar but be prepared to pay!
I try not to eat in Santana Row because it's usually overpriced and not that tasty. You pretty much pay for the ambiance.
Pros:
+House margaritas are wow! You could tell they used the special tequila: strong but not nasty tasting. I only had one and I was pretty buzzed. Okay shut up, I'm a weak ass. $10
+Pozole was my favorite that I tasted. Served with diced radish and cabbage (?) on the side. If you get this, you MUST crush tortilla chips in it. It's fabulous. Too small though. $8
+Hand made corn tortillas that are warm and fresh when served to you.
Cons:
-The other dishes I tried were either decent or just meh
-I actually disliked the dessert: churro with ice cream. Too hard and they gave us a small scoop
Gosh all this complaining about how "small" things were is making me sound like a fatty. I'm not...
Anywho bottom line: I wouldn't go here again. I can find tastier food and cheaper (and still good) margaritas elsewhere. I didn't dislike this place, but no need to come back.
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