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Fajitas & 'Ritas

2.5 star rating
based on 182 reviews

Category: Tex-Mex  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Downtown
25 West St
(between Bedford St & Mason St)
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 426-1222
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Nearest Transit:

Downtown Crossing (Orange, Silver, Red)

Park Street (Green, Red)

Government Center (Blue, Green)

Hours:

Mon-Tue. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wed-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

182 reviews for Fajitas & 'Ritas

Review Highlights   

user photo
"I could probably live off the mango or raspberry frozen margaritas." (in 9 reviews)
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"you get a sheet with all the options and check off what you want." (in 6 reviews)
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"Anywhere that gives me free chips and salsa is good in my book, too." (in 11 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Kristina B.

Elite '09

65

258

Kristina B.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/30/2009

A friend of mine -- we'll call him Lukas (it just so happens to be his real name, doncha know) -- lived in Boston for a month or so and ate at F&R one afternoon. He and I took a trip to Boston back in June and of course, Lukas insisted that we eat here. Sure, why not?

FAJITAS: Meh. We got a fajita platter (there were three of us) and we were able to eat 2 fajitas a piece. Not bad, but not great. There was minimal, semi-bland meat on the hot plate. There were, however, tons of onions. Tons! We made it all work, I guess.

RITAS: Meh. I prefer them to be on the rocks but I think pitchers only came in frozen form. Psssht. Strawberry ritas, 2 pitchers. We felt pretty good. They weren't the best but definitely not the worst. Actually, come to think of it, I might have enjoyed them more as time went on. Hmmm. I wonder why... It probably had something to do with the multiple tequila shots Lukas and I took after our other friend left. Doh.

We were at this establishment for awhile and the people were really  nice. All in all, a good experience (mainly due to the company of great friends + intoxication) with food and drinks that were semi-ok to ok.

Ze end.

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Photo of D V.

 

2

121

D V.

Randolph, MA

1 star rating
10/31/2009

If there was a way to give zero stars, I would do that for Fajitas & Ritas.  The funny thing is that we never even ate the food!  How can I rate a place that I did not eat at?  Here is our story:

We went here on a Friday night because we were trying to help out a student group that was raising money for a Boston charity.  Fajitas & Ritas works with groups for fund raising, which is good, and will contribute 20% of the bill to the charity.  So, we entered around 6:30pm and found a group of people waiting to be seated.  There were no hosts around, at all.  We waited for a few minutes, then asked some of the other people if there was a list.  They told us that there was a hostess, but they did not know where she had gone.  So, we waited a few more minutes and people kept coming in, making the area more crowded, and still...there was no host in sight.  So, we gave up and left.  This restaurant lost our business, and we will instead give our money to the charity without dealing with this restaurant.  

We did eat at the Fajitas & Ritas in Quincy Center a couple of years ago (it has since closed down) and the food was really not that good.

Main point: If you want fajitas, and/or margaritas, make them yourself or go to some other restaurant where the staff will actually want to help you.  Don't waste your time on this crap hole restaurant.

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Photo of George W.

 

0

31

George W.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
10/27/2009

I agree with another reviewer here, one could probably live on the margaritas here...but the reason you could is because there is alcohol in them.  I've gotten drunker off of bug juice in summer camp when I was 10.

When you walk in, you'll swear you were magically transported to Jimmy Buffet's retarded cousin's basement.  The decor is stupid.  I was in a group of nine, who was informed that we could only sit at a table if we were ALL ordering food.  The hostess was rude, but I would probably be too if my day was spent slinging bad food and "ritas" to tools.  We sat and were told we could only have the table for a half hour-which was fine cause I was ready to leave after one sip of their pathetic "rita".  The food was on par with microwave food.  Forget it.

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Photo of Jeffrey R.

 

1

4

Jeffrey R.

Somerville, MA

2 star rating
11/18/2009

Oh God, Fajitas n Ritas.  What do you do with a place like this?  I knew a kid just like F-n-R once, named Garrett Lawer.  Kid would kill me, drive me nuts, make me weap for the future in all its dismal sadness...but I just couldn't shake him.  So goes Fajitas n Ritas.  The food is bland, you can't sit at the bar, the decor looks like Garrett's older sister Gretchen's purse exploded.  However, it is downtown, and if you're unfortunate enough to find yourself stuck there when hungry, there's just not too many places to choose from.  The other thing is that in some sort of odd way, I kind of have a soft spot in my heart for the underdog.  The place is horrible; but damnit all if F-n-R is not proud as a peacock of its horribleness.  and for that, i say, "here here....kind of"

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Photo of Tenley W.

 

4

19

Tenley W.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
10/26/2009

Never. Again.

Fajitas and Ritas, you are a coy mistress. You suck me in with the idea of a delicious greasy, mexican delight, and a frozen "rita." And then, you come back to haunt me in the middle of the night, with NO REMORSE whatsoever!

Never. Ever. Again.

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Photo of Julie A.

 

0

6

Julie A.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
11/17/2009

The three stars are for experience more than food quality, because the food isn't anything to write home about. If you want a place to drink with friends and not spend a lot of money, this will be PERFECT.

You don't come here for the food, you come here for the cheap, cheap 'ritas. They are a surefire cure for a busy day at work, and frankly, it's good to have the generally inoffensive fajitas around if only to fill you up so you can have another margarita.

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Photo of Nichole M.

 

4

5

Nichole M.

Cambridge, MA

1 star rating
Updated - 11/9/2009

I got dragged here but a group of friends. I had the fajitas and well now they have earned the single star rating. Save yourself the disappointment and avoid this place unless you think Taco Bell is good.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    7/23/2009

    Let me start by saying this should be a single star, but since I did not have their namesake… Read more »

Photo of A D.

 

26

40

A D.

Quincy, MA

4 star rating
10/4/2009

I had a good experience here. Cheap food and drinks. The bartender "accidentally" made a top-shelf margarita and the waitress gave it to ME! Woohoo!

I am not the type of person who wants the waitstaff at my table too often - I always had a drink and she refilled our chips (if I remember correctly). People seem to be disappointed with the service, but for the laid-back place that it projects itself as, the service fits the atmosphere.

The only reason I'm not giving it 5 is because it's kind of grimy inside. Like, when I first went in I felt a little weird eating there because it was dirty. BUT--I am so happy I did! Good food, especially for the prices. (I was there a while ago. Maybe they redid it? Some of the pictures look cleaner than I remember.)

Go! Even if just for an app and some margs - do it!

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Photo of Bethany T.

 

3

32

Bethany T.

Somerville, MA

2 star rating
10/15/2009

Went here with a group of 9 for a birthday tonight. When my friend called in the reservation, she was asked "do you guys plan to stay for a while".Not sure how to take that, but it didn't sit well with me. 7 of the 9 showed up before the rest and we all ordered margaritas and water. It still took 15 minutes for water and 20-25 for the margaritas (FYI, the quality of the drinks depends solely on the bartender as my first drink was terrible and my second was quite good.) I understand big tables are more complicated, but given the place was half full and their name has "'Ritas" in it, you'd think the margaritas would come faster than that.

I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas and was satisfied with my meal. One friend had the brisket plate (big mistake ordering BBQ from an mediocre fajita place, but I give him credit for trying) and my husband had the chicken fajitas. They both called their respective meals "mediocre".

Even though we were asked how long we would stay when making the reservation, the service was very slow. They could have easily gotten another drink (at least $50 total) out of most of the people at that table, if they hustled a bit more. If you feel you need to order another beverage (or anything else) when the wait staff brings your main course as a "preemptive strike" when your current drink is still half full because you don't trust they'll come back to you for anything but your payment, you know something is amiss.

The acoustics of the place are very bad. Not only could I barely hear what people sitting 2 seats away from me were saying, it was difficult to make out anything the wait staff said either. Not the worst thing in the world, but not conducive to group discussion either.

One cool thing; they put down the paper "table cloth" to cover up penned-in graffiti on some to the tables. You can find some interesting things if you take a peek under the paper.

Overall, I feel like the quality of this place depends on the combination of people who serve you, and while I would go back for, say, a couple 'Ritas and some chips and salsa with the hubby on a Saturday afternoon, I would not make it a group destination again either.

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Photo of Ellie W.

Elite '09

9

80

Ellie W.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
8/19/2009

This place is one hot mess. Horrible customer service. A group of my coworkers and I went to Fajitas once, so we were maybe a group of 6. I'd have to say, you kind of think the waitstaff are actually invisible, floating beings, mostly because THEY'RE NEVER AROUND.

I mean, any responsible waiter should check in at least once or so during your lunch in case you need another drink or something. This isn't some kind of fancy restaurant, so obviously you don't expect to be waited on hand and foot, but you also shouldn't have to hail them down like a desperate hitchhiker. When my coworker asked for more tortilla wraps, the waiter gave her attitude. Ugh.

BLACKLIST.

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Photo of Jasjot K.

 

11

38

Jasjot K.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
Updated - 9/4/2009

I think the place has not much improved dramatically since my last review.  It's the same wait staff and mostly the service is still mediocre but its not as bad as I originally set out to be.  As a vegetarian, I have enjoyed 99 percent of my food orders here.  I should also mention that I have been going to Fajitas & Ritas since 2001.  My cousin loves this place and we always come here and get the nachos! I enjoy the beer selection on tap.

Food + Drinks = 4
Service / Wait Staff = 2 (It's really hit or miss some ladies are super nice and friendly and some ladies forget you exist)

Also just a side note: The Nachos sometimes are huge and very satisfying and sometimes they look like I just got gypped for my money.  Weird.  I have also been ordering Nachos on a regular basis for about 2 years or so.

Additionally, Please Note. I have not and will not have the Fajitas here given a) I am a vegetarian, and it'll just be a waste of my money and b) given the other reviews... even if I was a meat eater, I wouldn't eat the Fajitas.  I have seen the way they are presented and the way they smell.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    6/15/2009

    So, my friends and I have been going here for the past year ... from October - present, we usually… Read more »

Photo of s d.

 

0

84

s d.

Quincy, MA

2 star rating
9/13/2009

Eh. It's okay. I've eaten here plenty before and i will almost certainly be back.

The thing is, i like their fajita chicken. It's good. I like it a lot. But that's about all i like here. The chips are boring, sometimes stale. The salsa is just jarred stuff, and sometimes has that kind of gummy texture like the jar was left open in the fridge too long? The basic margarita's are cheap, but not very good, and they get back to market price as you upgrade them to decent tequila.

Once you get a seat the service is usuallyu quick, and in that neighborhood its a relatively cheap option. Plus there aren't a lot of mexican (vaguely anyway) places downtown. It's fine but i dont really like it,

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Photo of Julie R.

Elite '09

248

343

Julie R.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
7/19/2009

I had never been to Fajitas & Ritas in my almost 5 years in Boston. So when a group of us was getting together for a movie around the corner, we picked it for dinner.

When you walk in, its pretty crazy with painted walls and stuff going on everywhere. We got a long table and started with some ritas. I got a traditional one to start. It was very stiff. Not bad so far Rita's.

We got a large order of tequila wings for the table. They were good. Spicy and almost buffalo style tasting. They were gone very fast.

Then menu was basic but oh so cheap. I decided to go with the pulled pork sandwich with cornbread on the side. It was delicious! One of the best pulled porks I've ever had. It came out on this roll that was almost like a soft bagel. The sauce was on the side. Sweet and tangy. I was really impressed cause I wasn't expecting much from the place.

Other diners got fajitas, which arrived sizzling on skillets with plenty of tortillas. There were no complaints.

The cornbread on the side was also excellent. It was muffin style. Definitely try it.

I switched to a frozen mango rita mid way my meal after tasting my friends. It was great. Another couple split a frozen strawberry rita in a liter which gave them several drinks.

Service was fine. We were not expecting fine dining and we got what we needed.

The best part of the meal was seeing the bill. For 6 people it was about $200 with gratuity, and that was even with many drinks and shots of Tres Generaciones. So fajitas I'll be a fan.

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Photo of Christopher M.

Elite '09

184

366

Christopher M.

Medford, MA

3 star rating
7/13/2009

I know I'd been here a few times, albeit years ago, but I couldn't figure out why I didn't remember anything about the restaurant.

Now I know...

Everything about this Downtown Crossing Tex-Mex joint is painfully mediocre, from the bland fajitas topped with overcooked chicken to the watered down sangria.

If I happened to be with a group of people who wanted to come here, I wouldn't hesitate to go, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way.

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Photo of Rebecca K.

Elite '09

10

82

Rebecca K.

Middlesex, MA

4 star rating
9/1/2009

I'm kinda surprised this place has such low ratings.

I was just here with a large group (~9) of friends and was very happy with our time there. We called ahead and had our table waiting when we got there. The waitstaff were not the most attentive I've ever had, but were definitely decent. The fajitas were delicious and extremely reasonably priced. Seriously, it's almost unthinkable to get steak fajitas for $11!
And did I mention the $11 liters of margaritas? Yeah, that's right, liter. True, they were served in wine carafes, which are arguably not the best serving device for frozen margaritas, but we managed.
Plus, it's located right on the Common/Downtown Crossing/Theatre District are, so if you want to head out for some fun at night after food, you're primly situated.

Ultimately, I had a great time at Fajitas and 'Ritas. Got to catch up with friends, eat some good food, drink some good drinks, and not be out tons of cash. $20 got me steak fajitas and 3 margaritas. Can't beat that. I'll be back, that's for sure.

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Photo of M W.

 

2

16

M W.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
8/12/2009

I only go here for the nachos.  The margaritas I've tried have been decent and strong.

I love nachos and I love that you can customize them here.  I love they they're always cheesy and melty.  

I think about going here for nachos perhaps more than I should.

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Photo of Ann Marie M.

 

1

61

Ann Marie M.

MA

4 star rating
10/19/2009

Ive been to this location twice. Once after going to the movies and once while in the area and looking for dinner. Its super casual... you check off what you want to order from a paper sheet.
The margaritas were good both times and reasonably prices. The waitstaff was sufficient. The food is ok. I think its a great places for drinks and maybe an app with friends or to share a meal. Not the type of place i would want to go on a date.
Parking can be really hard so both times i went it was when i was already parked in the area for other reasons. But the T is close.

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Photo of Annette M.

 

4

23

Annette M.

New Durham, NH

5 star rating
10/17/2009

I LOVE this place. Their food and drinks are fantastic and I love that you check the boxes on the menu of the items you want and pass it in. Different and adds to the fun. I also like that they give you crayons and the table cloth is a giant piece of paper that you deface with doodles!! Its great! The food and drinks are reasonably priced and the staff for the most part is friendly.

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Photo of Mike V.

 

0

24

Mike V.

Suffolk, MA

4 star rating
10/17/2009

I recently visited Fajitas and Ritas for the first time. Having heard mixed things about it, I wanted to check the place out for myself. Overall, I liked the place and will be back. The restaurant is in a good location right near the common and Downtown Crossing. It's a short walk from the Park Street and Downtown Crossing stations.

Good things:

A solid margarita selection and the prices are really good.
They will serve their margaritas in pitchers and they offer floaters which are a nice touch
The place is decorated to instill a fun atmosphere
The menu has a good selection of Mexican eats
The service was fast as our food came out pretty quickly

Bad things:

The bathroom for men is a one man job
The bartenders are slow. I had to wait several minutes while he chatted with someone about solar panels. The bar area was not even busy too.
The food was alright. Granted it was my first time, the tacos I had were not that good.

I will definitely be back to try different things on the menu. The drinks are great and worth the trip. This would be a great place to pop in, have a margarita or Mexican beer and some chips and salsa and move on.

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Photo of Dave C.

 

2

2

Dave C.

MA

1 star rating
6/24/2009

I've eaten here twice and I'm not going to come here again unless I want to strike out with a full third whammy like in Press Your Luck™ so the little cartoon things will giggle at me and I can say "I Tried". Or was it two whammys in Press Your Luck®?

The service is horrible and the food is overpriced and a joke.

Me and my friend both felt the angry pissed-off and rushed vibe the staff gave out. Our waiter ripped the check-your-own-food-adventure-paper from our table (wtf is that thing?) and a different hostess banged my drink on the table. The place was almost empty, so it's not like they were in a rush. There were maybe four other tables occupied in this 20+ table restaurant.

Almost 9 bucks for a burrito? Then you get the burrito and it is simple, dry and small. The fajitas are expensive and nothing special.

This place is ridiculous. Oh, I know the painted walls are cute. The walls fool me with their pseudo-tex-mex atmosphere. If that wasn't there, I maybe would've noticed how bad this place was the first time I was there... but then again the first time I was there I had a Corona and was with a sassy girl, so maybe not.

Possibly the truth is coming out from these reviews and less people are going there and maybe that's why the staff is so brutal? Hey, staying mad is a good way to keep away the new people that make the mistake of eating there.

Take a pic of the art in the wall and view it on your camera somewhere far away from this place. Don't waste your money or your time.

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Photo of John L.

Elite '09

143

494

John L.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
6/29/2009

I've been here a few times, and while the frozen margaritas have been a nice touch, the service has been spotty, and the food is only okay.

The waits here are long too.  Really, the only major consolation are the margaritas.  The selection of tequilla and margaritas and frozen margaritas are the best I've seen in Boston.  Where else is there an extensive menu devoted just to that?  If you want tequilla, it's here.  That gives it the 3 stars.  Otherwise, it's just a bad Mexican place in a city with a bunch of better high end (Masa) and lower end options.

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Photo of L H.

 

0

6

L H.

Somerville, MA

1 star rating
9/18/2009

Took my friends here after work for  a bday party, while we still managed to have fun with our own company - their customer service was terrible.

I made the reservation 2 days in advance - they didnt have it .  Got angry we asked for water in addition to all the drinks we were ordering.  The food was nothing to write home about.

But suggestion for the Brazilian ladies working there - you might want to be a little more careful what you say about your customers - some Americans can speak Portuguese and know what you are saying.

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Photo of Catherine D.

 

4

3

Catherine D.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
5/19/2009

If you are looking for quantity over quality, this place is for you. If you are like me and prefer good eats for your dime, stay far far away.

When I first walked in I was optimistic due to the crowded dining area, but that hope quickly faded as I was stuffed like a sardine into our little cubbyhole of a seating area.

I ordered the quesadilla and my husband ordered the fajitas. Both disappointed, which made my evening food quest doubly upsetting. The quesadillas are more like dry Mexican pizzas with cheese and a drop of indistinguishable vegetables. The fajita platter was mostly onions with some peppers and dry chicken.

The disappointment did not end with our main dish. The pico de gallo was mostly onions with a spotting of peppers and tomatoes. The sour cream was sour, and not in a good way. The refried beans are salt laden and fresh from the can. The chips and salsa are free, but they tasted stale and rotten.

I had high hopes for the guacamole, as it could have cheered me up a bit, but once again I was let down. It was smooth like hummus and had either mayo or sour cream mixed in. Either way, it was bad and very un-guacamole like.

Fajitas & 'Ritas is good for one thing; having cheap drinks with friends and diving into plates of poorly cooked food after said drinks.

I will never set foot into this place again.

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Photo of Cory H.

 

58

33

Cory H.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
8/13/2009

This is a decent place to go for a quick bite and a drink with friends after work.  They are reasonably priced and have a wide variety of food and drink choices.  Coincidentally, the things that I enjoy the most here are the fajitas and the margaritas, but when I have ventured outside of those, sometimes I have been disappointed.

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Photo of Katharine T.

Elite '09

19

216

Katharine T.

Roxbury, MA

4 star rating
4/23/2009

Fajitas and Ritas is an experience, which you have to keep in mind when you go there.  It isn't a real restaurant, and its not meant to be one.  You fill out your order (food and drink) on a piece of paper, which you then hand to the waitress.  She takes your paper to the kitchen, and ferries back with your food and drink.  She still expects a full tip.  lol.

The food is good.  Not great, but pretty good.  Chips and Salsa are unlimited but if you want more you have to ask.

The margaritas are good.  I love the raspberry, and my roommate loves the mango (frozen of course).  They aren't served in margarita glasses.  DON'T PANIC.  This does not affect the taste ;)

Also, they have a shot that is Cola, Kahlua and Tequila.  This is the strangest combination ever, but it isn't half bad.

The sangria however, is bad.  Very very bad -STOP- Do not attempt it -STOP-

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Photo of Dustin Todd R.

Elite '09

57

174

Dustin Todd R.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
Updated - 5/5/2009

Happy Cinco De Drinko, y'all

In honor or Cinco de Mayo, I am listing all of my favorite quasi Mexican based food companies.

The last time I was there they had cleaned the place up a bit and my drink was made appropriately, sans tequila in my daiquiri as it SHOULD be.  Also our waiter snuck us in in front of like twenty groups of people because we were the only twosome in that long, lonely line of fajita munchers.  

I love how you order on a long sheet of paper.  Lazy ass waiters!  Jay kays, it's really helpful because if the order is screwed, it's your fault, not theirs.

The quesadillas are so effing big I get them as a meal...aren't they supposed to be an app??

Well anyway, you're better in my book, boo.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    12/16/2008

    I gave up on this place after I was clearly given a strawberry MARGARITA, which I would NEVER order… Read more »

Photo of Sally F.

Elite '09

78

45

Sally F.

Brookline, MA

3 star rating
3/31/2009

You've just finished shopping and had shit luck: nothing fit right, nothing was on sale, etc. Wah. You need booze. Cheap booze. So you head over to Fajitas & Ritas.

This place is nothing special, let's just tell it like it is, but the location is great, their chips and salsa are gluten free (and mediocre), and their sangria isn't bad (usually) and is also gluten free. Other GF options include the frozen margaritas (these are slushies, people, face it!) in both plain and strawberry. I think they're hideous because they're super-sweet and unnaturally flavored (think 7-Eleven slushies with tequila). But, hey, they're safe for celiacs. Just choose the sangria...there's fruit in those=it's healthy!

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Photo of Meaghan W.

 

6

10

Meaghan W.

Cambridge, MA

2 star rating
4/23/2009

I have gone here before and enjoyed it. The one in quincy is MUCH better.

However I went there recently with my boyfriend and we basically got "the fear".

It was just dark, dirty, and the servers seemed kind of braindead.

We were seated, I took one bite of a chip with the salsa and it was RANCID. The tomatoes they made it with were spoiled. I hadn't even told him this yet, it must have been the look on my face because he said "Do you want to leave?" So we did hah.

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Photo of Elaine A.

 

9

18

Elaine A.

Medford, MA

4 star rating
5/28/2009

A lot of people have complained about the service here, but I've never had a problem with it.

Mango Margs: Get a carafe. They're delicious, strong, and CHEAP! Under $13 for a about 3 drinks.

I've had the chicken fajitas twice, and they were yummy! The chicken was perfectly seasoned and juicy. Their side of guacamole is a great size.

Chips and salsa are free... who's to complain about that?

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Photo of Shelly A.

Elite '09

10

92

Shelly A.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
5/28/2009

I wish I could do a three-and-a-half star rating.

I went to Fajitas and 'Ritas with ten friends for my 21st birthday. There was a lot to consider in this review so I'll just list out the pros and cons:

Pros:
-They took our reservation without a problem, only a couple of hours ahead of time, and our table was ready as soon as we walked in the door (even though we were a couple of minutes early).
-The margaritas were SO TASTY and really cheap too! (Note: the flavored ones are not real margaritas... they're just really yummy slushies with tequila in them... but who cares?) We got mango, raspberry, and 'special fruit' (guava), and mixed them all together... AWESOME!!!
-My friends got quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and fajitas, and they all really enjoyed them.
-Portions were really big! Nobody finished their food.
-After we all ordered our food, it came out pretty quickly.
-I got free pie on my birthday! (Some really delicious lemon thing, I think? I was pretty drunk at this point.) They also made me wear a sombrero while they sang, which was funny.

Neutral:
-One of their big things is their tequila wings. A friend and I split a large order and honestly, they were fine, but didn't quite live up to the hype. Without the bleu cheese (which saved them and made them pretty good), I might not have eaten them; they just didn't have a whole lot of flavor in my opinion. Kind of disappointing there.

Cons:
-The salsa they give with the chips & salsa was pretty clearly Tostitos bottled salsa.
-The chips were kinda stale.
-Service was slow. Now, to be fair, half of our party showed up really late, but even once our table was full, we had some trouble getting our waiter to come over and take our orders. We also had trouble tracking him down for the check and whatnot.
-The margaritas were impossible to pour from the carafes. I know this sounds trivial but it became kind of a problem. A frozen drink in a carafe is like a beer in the boot in Beerfest. No matter what you do, it'll suddenly lurch out and get all over the table. We were all really sticky when we left.

Overall it was really fun as a place to have a tasty bite and get drunk with a bunch of friends, and the slow service was fine because it was a party and we all wanted time to chat and whatnot anyway, but if it had just been myself and a couple of friends having lunch or something, we probably would have been pretty frustrated with the service.

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Elite '09

27

66

Hana C.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
10/11/2009

cheap yummy foodies and strawberry frozen margaritas!!! a great combo! love their chips and salsa and the chicken fijitas are awesome.

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1

52

Lisa C.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
8/27/2009

We were in downtown crossing for the day and were heading out with the idea that we wanted either Mexican or Southwestern food.  Without a specific destination, we came across Fajitas and 'Ritas which looked decently priced so we stopped in for dinner.

We ordered chicken fajitas and steak quesadillas and my boyfriend got a margarita.  We were very happy with everything.  The chicken fajitas were about average...good but not great and a whole lot of food.  The steak quesadillas were just that- 4 small tortillas making 2 sandwiched quesadillas...lots of steak filling and a whole lot of melted cheese on top.  the mango margarita was good, too.

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7

10

Stephen O.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
7/16/2009

This was one of the first restaurants I went to in Boston, and it still tickles my appetite.  

The good: the food and margaritas are cheap.  You can sneak out both full and tipsy for under $25 (under $20 if you're a smaller size person than me).  The margaritas are good if not spectacular, and they offer several different flavors and usually have a special.  The menu is simple, you just check off what you want from a sheet, and it comes out pretty quickly.  I particularly like the shrimp quesadillas, and the pulled pork platter is pretty solid too.  Also, their corn muffins are DELICIOUS.  And FREE chips and salsa, bottomless.

The not-so-good: The service is not great.  I've definitely waited a bit too long after the food is brought out for things like more carafes of margaritas, more chips and salsa, and the check.  Sometimes it gets busy enough that you have to wait, and a couple times I've gone and they've somewhat inexplicably closed early and without warning.

On the memorable side, it's the only place I've ever been drunk with my mom, and that's a special memory.  I've definitely had a good time every single time I've gone, so I entirely recommend it (especially before seeing a movie down at the AMC theater on the Common).

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1

9

Charles C.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
4/8/2009

I first discovered this place last summer living/working in boston.  I agree, the place is not fancy at all, but if you look around at the people sitting at the tables (on any given night, the place will reach capacity), everyone seems to be enjoying their food and drinks. Everyone's a happy camper at fajitas and ritas.  I used to go here about two to three times a week.  

In my opinion, I enjoy the process of filling out my order on a piece of paper with a pen, and I prefer the roll of paper towel (c'mon, we're eating fajitas with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, etc).  The waiter/waitresses are cheery and easy going most of the time (they might not be nice when you keep bugging them and asking them when your table will be ready so just be patient.  But the same goes for any restaurant right?)  

The food is fantastic, and the PRICE!  You really cannot get a better deal.  And the beers and drinks are cheap and tasty, especially the pitchers.  

My recommendation for a first timer: Get an order of chicken fajitas (steak or shrimp if you prefer).  A single order coems with three fajitas which is EXTREMELY FILLING.  And plus you get free chips and salsa when you sit down so munch on those.  

My friend and I would usually get a double order of chicken fajitas, and a pitcher of beer each.  With tip included, we would pay about 20 dollars each.  We would be pretty buzzed, full, and extremely satisfied.  

I 100% recommend this place. The staff is really friendly once you get to know them, and if that doesnt do it for you, the food will keep you coming back for more.  JUST GO EAT FAJITAS AND RITAS, EVERY DAY AND NIGHT. it's the bomb diggity.

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Photo of Milee S.

Elite '09

30

352

Milee S.

Brookline, MA

2 star rating
Updated - 4/24/2009

I think this place has gone downhill. Long time to get a server to our table, no one checking on during the meal, and they forgot several items on our order. I don't know how that is possible when you have to physically write it in for them. The servers are nice when they come around but the place seems really understaffed and like they don't even care.

Probably will only go here if I had no choice.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    2/26/2007

    I've heard about Fajitas and 'Ritas before, but had yet to try it until last week.  Service is,… Read more »

Photo of Rebecca S.

 

3

12

Rebecca S.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
5/11/2009

The secret to 'Ritas is- don't go for the food. At least until you've had a pitcher...or three...
In fairness, the fajitas ain't bad...if you're not expecting true Mexican food. They did though, inexplicably. last year remove the pork fajitas and replace them with scallop fajitas. Huh? I've been coming here for 11 years, but would never choose this as a place to eat seafood- many, many places in Boston that would be far preferable for anything that once swam. I still maintain bringing back the pork is the way to go.
The fajitas are excellent in a brain-freezing slushy way- I've probably had far too many over the years, but it's not done me any (permanent) damage- and made me some new friends along the way. Many friends whom I have initially horrified by bringing them here have become addicted to the cheap booze and fun/ sleazy atmosphere. Rock on, Rita!

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Photo of Shari G.

Elite '09

6

102

Shari G.

Newton, MA

3 star rating
8/2/2009

I used to work right around here, so I know the place is a little "sketch", but we had a large group coming in, and this worked pretty well for 12 of us on a Saturday night.  They didn't seem to mind adding extra chairs or waiting for everyone to order too.  Kudos for that.  The baskets of chips were a mixed bag -- one was totally stale (uuugh) and another was warm and delicious.  The food was pretty good -- got chicken fajitas, and the server was happy to provide extra tortillas.  I don't like spicy and this was perfect.  Margaritas were good...didn't seem strong at the time, but tequila can be dangerous like that!  And a frozen strawberry marg for under $5, you're just not going to find that anywhere else.  Good place to begin the night...

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0

34

Chris F.

Goffstown, NH

2 star rating
5/24/2009

Meh, is the feeling i left this place with.

The chips and salsa sucked (isnt that a must for a mexican joint)

The drinks were okay, didnt try the margarittas though.

The chicken fahita was fairly decent, and decently priced.

The service was nothing to write home about as well.

there are many places in boston that i would go to over this place.

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8

60

Paolo D.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
7/3/2009

They took down my other review of this place, so here is part deux.  This place sucks.  Service is non-existent and it serves as the personal cafeteria of nearby suffolk university students  The quality of the food is terrible, I would never go back.  if you want good Mexican, go to Border Cafe in Harvard Square.

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0

9

Jack P.

Jamaica Plain, MA

1 star rating
6/4/2009

Well, my last review was taken down b/c it "appears to lack a specific first-hand experience."  Sounds more like the owner complained.

I can assure you, I have first hand experience.  I went there on May 22nd, and was met with a dingy atmosphere, abysmal service and a sad excuse for Mexican food.  

As I said in my previous post, this place is a craphole, and I would not serve my dog the stuff they try to pass off as Mexican food.

Check out the Boston Inspectional Services Review on them; doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence:

http://www.cityofbosto...

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