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Holy Frijoles
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
908 W 36th StBaltimore, MD 21211
Neighborhood: Medfield
(410) 235-2326
- 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
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
125 reviews for Holy Frijoles
Review Highlights
"...are seriously some of the best fish tacos I've ever had."
(in 5 reviews)
"The Cucumber Margarita went very well with it."
(in 4 reviews)
"Some serious "kick" in the salsa- as in tons of garlic."
(in 38 reviews)
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125 reviews in English
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Review from Nichole B.
Baltimore, MD
Omg is all I can say of this delicious Mexican spot in Hampden. Well for staters it was my birthday weekend and we were on our way to a hip hop shoe and wanted to grab a quick bite to eat. I was accompanied by two of my other female friends. When we got there the wait was roughly 45 minutes considering Saturday night was a busy night.
So we grabbed three seats at the bar and they served us complimentary salsa and chips. This is by far the best salsa I have ever tasted. Not only did holy frijoles use the freshest ingredients, but it had the right amount of heat. So we ordered some drinks, I got the Hendricks and cucumber martini and my friend Alyssa ordered a margarita. This place is known for their margaritas. So for dinner I ordered the fish tacos, which was served in a warm flour tortilla. They use cod which was prepared very nicely. Unfortunately the cod is not grilled, it is breaded lightly. Luckily the fish was not greasy and they have a nice crunchy slaw. I did not get the platter because I am not a fan of beans. My friend Kelly jo ordered the veggie burrito, since she is a vegan, she said the burrito was delicious and Alyssa ordered the taquitos, which she absolutley loved. I would honestly come back if I am ever in the Hampden area which may be real soon. Considering i found a few consignment shops as well. -
Review from Gerry S.
1/20/2012
I ordered the chicken enchiladas last night.
Everything...EVERYTHING on the plate was the same reddish-brown color. The beans. The rice. The enchiladas themselves.
Everything also tasted exactly the same. As if the same thick reddish sauce had been used to make everything on the plate.
Finally, everything was almost exactly the same consistency. Thick and mushy.
Imagine, if you will, a large oval plate filled with reddish-brown, thick and mushy.
I don't need to spell that out any further, do I? -
Review from Ada G.
12/28/2011
We showed up on a Sunday for lunch. They don't serve margaritas on Sunday AND they only have one server, so it's extremely slow. Also, they run out of almost all things on the menu.
Ended up ordering fried fish tacos. Pretty hard to mess it up, but they managed to do it. One tiny piece of fish the size of my pinky, over-friend and chopped up to take up the whole taco, drowned in nasty chipotle mayo. Having spent most of my life in the company of incredible Mexican friends, family, food and culture, I think this place should lose the "mexican" title in the name. Seriously worst "mexican" food experience ever. I would choose a 7-11 microwaved burrito over this place. -
Review from Colby R.
Austin, TX
Excellent handmade chips and salsa. Good fresh food, and flavors. Might not be straight mexican, but I'd recomend it for a good margarita (except sundays).
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Review from Deon R.
Baltimore, MD
1/30/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is the second time I've come to this spot but the first time id been here at night. Its very chill do whatever atmosphere makes me feel comfy. They have great house made salsa and chips and they give it out once you are seated for free. Staff seems nice and helpful. Interesting mexican menu with the great classic stuff too. A lot of people come here at night and it made it seem pretty fun. We had picked some drinks we never had and liked them overall which kept us there talking and laughing so much we forgot about going to the movies. Nothing too impressive about the interior at all but great for informal hangouts, drinks and tacos.
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Review from Ting S.
Baltimore, MD
1/12/2012
good place even though no more 1 buck taco.
And the layout of table is a little bit too crowed.
However, i still like to eat here! -
Review from O M.
Baltimore, MD
12/30/2011 1 photo
They gave us plastic utensils. In a bag. This isn't a restaurant--it's a company picnic.
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Review from Sarah M.
Parkville, MD
1/2/2012
I think it's a requirement of Hampden food service employees to be oblivious to their customers and have an attitude.
My friend ordered a vegan burrito and was delivered one laden with cheese and sour cream. The waiter promptly disappeared for about 10 minutes and when he returned to check on us, he claimed that she must have told him the wrong order.
The food's not good enough to justify the atrocious service. -
Review from Janie P.
Waldorf, MD
11/1/2011
Was going to visit with some of my Baltimore buddies and this was the place they picked. They love it. Me, well, after reading the Yelp reviews, I was nervous and had quite low expectations.
First, the chips and salsa, tasty. The chips were warm and crisp and the salsa was fresh and had a touch of heat. The Cucumber Margarita went very well with it.
I ended up ordering the black bean chimichanga. It didn't come with rice or beans, so I got an order of beans as I was unsure of the size of the chimichanga. Well, the chimichanga was huge. Definitely could have done without the rice and been satisified, which was good for me, because the rice was nasty. Tasted like someone dumped a pack of taco seasoning into it. It was strange because everything else had been so delicious. My friends ordered the grilled veggie taco salad, the steak taco salad and some quesadillas. All nice portion sizes, so no need for beans or rice.
As long as you avoid the rice, your dinner at Holy Frijoles should be a 4 star experience. -
Review from Andy L.
Baltimore, MD
8/31/2011
Yet another place in Baltimore that used to be awesome, and now sucks complete ass.
I don't know what the hell is wrong with the waiting staff, someone needs to tell them that part of their job is being NICE to people.
I ordered a bloody mary which comes with their 'jalapeno stuffed olives' as a garnish. Now, out of the 3 times or so I've ordered this bloody mary (it's not good, i just really like bloody mary's) they have NEVER actually had the jalapeno stuffed olives in stock. On this particular occasion, they were out of stuffed olives as usual, but the waitress offers me regular olives instead. When she actually brings the drink however, there are no olives in sight. When I politely ask for the olives that were promised to me, she breaths heavy and walks away almost stomping her feet (very mature). She comes back with ONE olive on a small plate, ONE.
After this encounter, we got our food, it sucked. The waitress continued to act like we were miserable people. We left, didn't tip, and we've never been back.
My friend actually nominated Frijoles for Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare's. So look for this restaurant to get made fun of by ol' Ramsay. I personally can't wait.. -
Review from Ria S.
Washington, DC
12/25/2011
The food is pretty good for cheap eats, and the tacos aren't bad--the place seems to get dirtier with each visit, sticky floors, unkempt servers, long wait times, crowded, and just not worth it anymore...
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Review from Amy C.
8/14/2011
First of all, the name is bad enough and screams "I'm here for simple folks who don't know how to speak proper Spanish but they will think it's cute that the words rhyme." Yes, I KNOW it's pronounced Hole-lee Fri-o-lees. The CORRECT pronunciation, if you want to say it with a proper Spanish accent, is Oh-li Fri-o-lés.
The guacamole is boring and bland. It's pretty much just mashed avocado with a TON of lime juice because that was ALL I could taste. Where were the tomatoes? Cilantro? Pepper?
My cousins told me the proportions are huge so I ordered the taquitos app as my meal (and it was definitely enough for a meal). Although the tortilla was perfectly crispy, it was TOO crispy and reminded me of a Chinese egg roll stuffed with beef and cheese. -
Review from Shannon L.
Baltimore, MD
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have never before been so disappointed.
Margarita night sounds too good to be true and it is. Jugs of artificial-tasting sour mix line the back of the bar, pre-mixed in anticipation of all the orders. It tasted like a 1:9 ratio of tequila to sour, which to me is extremely filling and gross.
Carnitas were so salty they made my mouth pucker. Obviously they had been slowly cooking down way longer than they should have been. They were not juicy at all.
Chorizo wasn't chorizo. I don't know what they gave me, but it was brown and bland and sad.
Both taco portions were shameful little dollops of meat on flour tortillas, not piled-high meals in and of themselves like they should have been. Both were served with shredded iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatos and finely shredded cheese: the holy trinity of fake Mexican food. No limes for acid here. No radishes for... whatever purpose they serve other than me not ever eating them. This here is lazy Tex-Mex country, and I don't plan on revisiting anytime soon. -
Review from Rebecca Y.
Baltimore, MD
Updated - 10/17/2011
I can't go here anymore. Not sure what has happened to this place.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/13/2011
I always come here for the half off quesadilla night, and occasionally the Wednesday $1 taco night.… Read more »
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Review from Jared M.
Baltimore, MD
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice decor, cool vibe, but the food was less than authentic; enchiladas were good, but the burrito was a mushy bean mess, the chips seemed a little stale, and they don't have plantains on the menu. The management is nice. I recommend it as a cool place to hang out but don't set your expectations of the food too high.
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Review from Michelle B.
Baltimore, MD
12/1/2011
I'm always on the lookout for a good burrito. Sadly, Holy Frijoles is definitely not the place for that. In what world does a burrito not come standard with rice? The black beans were bland and boring and I honestly can make better ones at home. Maybe they have other options that are better but when I want Mexican food it means I want a burrito so I won't be going back.
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Review from Christopher M.
PA
7/11/2011
A miserable experience.
Our nearly-absent waitress was barely audible, and acknowledged our requests with monosyllabic grunts. I've never felt less cared for in a restaurant.
The complimentary salsa they brought out with chips was almost gray. I had to muster some courage to give it a try, it didn't taste like it looked, but it was not encouraging.
I got chorizo enchiladas, the chorizo was almost flavorless, the tortillas were terrible. And by the time I finished half my plate, I had lost my appetite.
The music was crazy loud, not necessarily a bad thing, but be aware. -
Review from Jonathan G.
Nottingham, MD
6/16/2011
I've been a handful of times, and tried a number of items on the menu, and I just don't like it.
The service is fine, the drink selection is acceptable, and even the location and atmosphere is fine. But the food stinks. When it comes to Mexican, I usually go for pork-based dishes, and their pork is incredibly dry and stringy. Nothing has flavor or a unique appeal. I'm really not picky when it comes to Mexican, so I don't think I have very high standards. It's just lousy food.
A good friend of mine stood up for Frijole's, and went back several times. Until he found a staple in their food. A friend of his explained that lettuce and other similar produce come stapled, and the employees tear them apart - they don't physically remove the staples. They just assume that tearing them apart lets the staples fall to the ground. -
Review from Javier A.
Baltimore, MD
5/17/2011
While Baltimore residents have some understandly low standards for Mexican food, to call Holy Frijoles even decent is an insult to real Mexican food elsewhere.
The food tastes canned and the chefs seem to think that just because you slap a tortilla onto something or deep fry it (or both) suddenly it's "authentic" Mexican. It's not.
Do yourself a favor, if you want better "Mexican" food go to Chipotle--at least the food there doesn't taste like crap. -
Review from glenn s.
Bel Air, MD
11/8/2011
I went here back over the summer I believe. I had the fish tacos and a Dogfish. The fish tacos were actually really good however the black beans that i got on the side were very dry. The waitress was ok but I see a lot of people on here talking about how bad the service was. It doesn't surprise me though, my friend went back and said it was just terrible and he's never going back...I feel like Hampden is out of good places to eat...
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Review from Shelley V.
North Hollywood, CA
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent carnitas verde enchiladas were had at this funky joint!
I definitely loved the vibe and decor of this joint. I initially got a off-putting vibe from from the young, blondish hostess who seemed in a pissy mood and sat us in a small room off the kitchen instead of the main room where there was plenty of tables open. She barely greeted us, just grunted and sat us in what seemed like never-never land near a touristy seeming family. Ah, maybe the main room is for locals only?$&@!
Luckily, she was not our server and the young hip guy who waited on us made up for her attitude.
We didn't have alcohol so i can't comment on how their drinks were and quality of them, sorry! However, my carnitas verde enchiladas was the freaken bomb! I think they must've put crack in them because I ate it all and kept saying "goddamn, this is good!"
M had a chile relleno and chicken enchilada and said they were pretty good as well. Will I ever have as good of Mexican food here as I would back in LA, the capital of Mexican food? Probably not... However, when I hit up Hampden and the antique stores - I will come back to HF!
You need beans to keep your strength up while power shopping!! -
Review from Rachael S.
San Antonio, TX
5/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is quite possibly the worst excuse or Mexican food I've ever experienced. I would avoid this joint and make another choice other than Mexican of you have to stay in the area. Everything was bland!
Oh and don't get the Michelada. It was the worst drink I've ever smelled and tasted! -
Review from Jayson H.
Baltimore, MD
9/15/2011
This is really a cool restaurant and I really wanted to like it... but, the food was not very good.
The place is fun, laid back, cool decor, great bar. Wait staff is friendly if not a little too mellow. I had an early dinner and was there with the end of the happy hour crowd. The chips were stale and greasy - would have been much better if warmed up. We asked for another basket and got exactly the same the 2nd time. Salsa tastes fresh but needs a little heat to it.
Tacos were good and a bargain ($1 on Wednesdays). Everything else was pretty marginal to boring. Portions were fair to average for the prices. -
Review from Melody C.
7/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm no Mexican food connoisseur, but HF has decent food if you're hungry and on The Avenue. IMO unless you're heading to The Dizz, you should stop in.
I've been here a total of three times; twice I had very satisfying steak quesadillas, and my boyfriend complimented the chimichangas and tacos. The other experience was an afternoon of drinking. Several shots had us feeling very nice. Thank you, bartender whom I do not remember.
They give you a nice serving of chips and salsa to start with. Mm mm.
The waiter is probably a local hipster, so service is as expected - a little slow and not super enthusiastic. Pants a little too tight, sir? Whatever. The food's good, I'll be back for sure. -
Review from Christina H.
Joppa, MD
5/24/2011
Hampden is not a place that I frequent often, but I went there for dinner Saturday night at Holy Frijoles with a friend and we were greeted by a cute hipster hostess that seated us at a high table with wobbly chairs. The waitress came over shortly after we were seated and we asked for a pitcher of cucumber margaritas, but she told us that only beers were available by the pitcher, so we just ordered one margarita each.
Our drinks came out with some chips and salsa while we were looking over our food options. This chips were nice, hot and greasy near the bottom and the salsa was made fresh. The cucumber margaritas were awesome. I loved it and wish we could have had a pitcher!
I decided to get three soft chicken tacos a la carte and my friend ordered the veggie fajitas. While we waited for our food to arrive, we did a lot of people observing and I felt a little out of place. The restaurant is dimly lit and the atmosphere is very laid back and casual while a majority of the people in the restaurant seemed to be the "hipster" type.
I am used to Mexican chain restaurants like Chevy's and Don Pablos where the servings are ridiculously large and the flavor is plentiful. While my food was good, I felt like it didn't match up to my standards of my usual Mexican dishes. -
Review from Ben M.
Baltimore, MD
Updated - 9/2/2011
Still love the food, but the last three or four times (over about a six month period) I've gone in, the service has been pretty bad. I don't ask for much and don't need waiter/waitress to be my best friend. But, lately it seems when I place an order that's the last I see of the server for long stretches of time. Hopefully new staff will rotate in and it will get better.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2010
I really like this place, and almost always stop here if I'm in Hampden. The chips and salsa are… Read more »
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Review from Jen G.
Baltimore, MD
4/6/2011
I used to love this place when I lived nearby. It's probably been at least 2-3 years since I've been in, and the other night decided to go in for dinner. Mistake.
The salsa and chips were decent, but sad to say, that's the only good thing I can offer about this experience.
My margarita was essentially margarita mix on the rocks...couldn't detect the alcohol in the drink. The waiter couldn't be bothered to refill our water glasses, which is unfortunate because they serve some rather spicy food here.
I ordered chicken enchiladas and even made sure to confirm with the waiter that the enchiladas were filled with corn and black beans. This was not the case. The enchiladas consisted of tortillas filled with a few bits of chicken and a lot of spicy sauce, covered with spicy sauce and a little cheese. I took about 3 bites and couldn't eat any more.
When the waiter came back quite a while later, I told him the meal was not good and was not what was described on the menu. He apologized and brought the check, which included no discount. When I asked him nicely to remove the enchiladas, he did, which I appreciated.
Definitely not going back to Holy Frijoles and will not recommend it to my friends. -
Review from Dan A.
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Holy Frijoles is a small neighborhood Mexican joint. The food here is okay... nothing special or great but it hits the spot when you are simply craving some Tex-Mex food and don't care so much about it tasting authentic or not (or even good for that matter). And while the actual restaurant is somewhat dingy, it still has a neighborhood charm and character that make it a decent place to visit once in a while.
So last time I went, I got some fish tacos and beef tacos.
The fish was not bad. The beer battered fish was crispy and decently seasoned. However, the sauce was a little bland. Not too big a deal though. Also happened to accidentally take a bite with some tortilla chips in the taco... what a fortunate mistake though because I actually liked it with that added crunch and saltiness. The beef taco was good too I suppose.... but only if you like Taco Bell beef tacos. The meat was vaguely reminiscent of Taco Bell's in texture and flavor. Maybe a little better quality but then again, it doesn't take much to outdo Taco Bell ;)
The chips and salsa were average. Not anything special, though the salsa tended to have a little kick to it. It also had a slight canned taste to it. But I thought it was still fine :)
We also ordered a margarita which was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've had but it wasn't the worst either. And it had a decent amount of tequila in it too. :)
Service is very laid back here so don't come here expecting otherwise.
Overall, it's an okay place to grab some Tex-Mex food. While the food isn't amazing, it's a fun neighborhood bar/restaurant that still has a charm of its own despite its shortcomings. 2.5 stars rounded to a 2. -
Review from James L.
2/12/2011 5 photos
Even though this place has a Baltimore address, the locals will tell you that Holy Frijoles is technically located in the neighborhood of Hampden, which is just northwest about 10 min from downtown Charm City. Hampden reminds me of a mix of the two Alexandria, VA neighborhoods of Old Town and Del Ray, except with a bit more gritty eclectic character which is typical of Baltimore. I had a super fun day exploring the neighborhood and eventually stopping in at Holy Frijoles for some mid-day grub on this abnormally warm February day.
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat, the Tex-Mex food at Holy Frijoles is not that great; in fact it is borderline bad. Quite frankly, it tastes like some of the pseudo-Mexican food I had back in my high school cafeteria. I wasn't terribly hungry, so I ordered the Potato burrito which consisted of potatoes and melted cheese with chopped onions and their "homemade picante'. Hmm, the overstuffed burrito arrived and was quite filling in a starchy fashion, but honestly how hard is it to boil some potatoes, fry with chopped onions, and then melt some cheese on top? The complimentary chips and salsa were probably the best things my dining companions munched on; salsa was tart with lots of fresh tomatoes and onions tossed in.
The food here maybe so-so, but I do like the atmosphere. The interior is decorated to semi-resemble a restaurant along the Mexican border with paper lamps strung across the ceilings, half bottles of Patron cleverly used as lamps over the bar, and an awesome couch towards the back with a cactus and picture of Caballero adorned with a sombrero and poncho. The service is okay if you keep in mind that the wait staff are tatted up Gen-Y types who will think you are cool if you can both reference an old siouxsie and the banshees song, as well as speak authoritatively about the latest Cold War Kids album. Drink prices aren't too bad. Our draft beers were about $4, but because we were down with the bartender, she gave us a free round of Don Julio shots...nice! -
Review from Kate M.
Baltimore, MD
11/15/2011
Food is terrible...tasteless, microwaved, takes forever. Service is terrible. And the place smells terrible. I can't figure out why anyone goes here...or why it's even still open. Hampden needs a new Mexican place!! I'm routing for El Salto 3. :)
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Review from Tiffany G.
Carmel, IN
10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good cucumber margaritas.
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Review from Matt B.
Baltimore, MD
2/5/2011
We have been going to Frijoles for years now, probably almost 10 years, since it was just the little tiny hole in the wall. We have been going that long for a good reason - good food and always better than your chain Tex-Mex places, good margaritas and all at a reasonable price.
We were in last night for dinner with some friends and we were significantly less than impressed. I had a fish taco and a carnitas taco and my wife had a taco salad and neither meal was very good. Mine was cold by the time I took my second bite and the grilled veggies in my wife's taco salad were just about raw - not so grilled. Fish taco was lacking any real volume, couple small pieces of fried fish and a little bit of cabbage slaw, and the carnitas was way salty. Since our last visit (maybe about 6 months) they've changed up their salsa - we definitely liked it better before.
The service was very lacking, seemed our girl had other things on her mind and they certainly were not that busy. It took us about fifteen minutes to get napkins and silverware. I have also never waited more than about ten minutes for food here - last night we waited about twenty. I suspect our waitress's lack of attention was the reason.
Our margaritas were also not as good, at least not as good as we remember them anyways. Seemed like a lot more mix and a lot less booze.
Not sure if they've undergone some management, staff or ownership changes but something has definitely changed and we felt it was not for the better.
We will probably be back to give them another shot, but if we're disappointed again it will probably be the last time. -
Review from Eric H.
Baltimore, MD
10/26/2011
Interesting place. Not attractive but a little weird in an artistic way. Interesting clientele. Young people trying to look individual. Pricey for amount you get. Burritos from a past time, probably '80s. Not Latino owned. Service took time but I would go again.
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Review from Rachel F.
Baltimore, MD
2/11/2011
I'm pretty sure I could curl up inside of one of Holy's taco salads and die a happy girl.
'Nuff said.
(Well, one more thing said: Great happy hour specials) -
Review from Lauren M.
Baltimore, MD
3/16/2011
I normally go to Holy Frijoles on Mondays for the half price margaritas. I always get food when I'm there and I have to be honest, sometimes it's really good, and sometimes it isn't at all. On a good night (usually when it isn't busy), the carnita$ verde enchilada is delicious. I am also a quesadilla fan.
People I know find the service questionable because of the staff's laid back Hampden attitude, so don't go in expecting excellence and snappy service.
I enjoy Holy Frijoles regardless, especially on Mondays, and it will always be a part of my restaurant repertoire. -
Review from Frank N.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been coming here since it was about 12 feet wide...
The food is much better than the chain Mexican places like Don Pablos. The chips and salsa are awesome, and I always seem to migrate toward the Chicken Chimchanga with Black Beans.
I really like the new bar on the left side.... Just know that they only have a Six Day liquor license, so no watching the game and having beers on Sunday here. -
Review from Judith Priest ..
Baltimore, MD
12/10/2010
I used to eat here when I was poor, about 10 years ago. Then I ate there because it seemed fun and it was convenient. Then I realized how awful the food was, so I stopped going. Then I forgot how awful the food was, and I stopped in for lunch the other day. Big mistake.
We went in on a beautiful sunny day. Once inside the darkness, I began to realize why I stopped going. But against my better judgment, we went ahead and got a table. They had the most morose music you could imagine playing. It was horrible, and I like some pretty horrible, morose music. But this went beyond that. But I guess that's what happens when you let 21 year old art student beertenders pick out the music. There was some mid-30s men sitting at the bar, not one of them had a smile on their face. They were all staring down at their drinks looking like poor lost souls.
We got the nachos. They were terrible. IF they had been cooked through, it might have made them better. IF the chips under the top layer had any toppings on them they might have been better. IF the chips under the top layer were anything but the broken shards that remain at the bottom of the chip bag they could have been better. Alas, they were none of those things. The toppings were barely there, and what was there were cold in spots, lukewarm in others.
As for the service... hahaha. What a joke. I don't think the waiter was capable of smiling. He didn't know what kinds of beer they had. The server who plopped our plate of food down in front of us did so without a smile, a nod, or even eye contact.
I get it that this place is an old hipster hangout. I get it that these are art students who would rather be doing anything else. But I guess at this point in my life, I have no need for piss poor food served with piss poor attitudes. -
Review from Sean B.
Baltimore, MD
12/12/2010
Food is hit or miss, kitchen folks always look sketchy when the walk through the diningroom. Staff is often more fabulous/bored/over it or busy chatting to provide good service. somewhat worried about hygiene of servers and lots of wet rags to wipe surfaces down. That said, great chips and salsa.
Ate lunch twice a week there for almost a year. No one remembered my name or what I drank....don't expect fine dining service but an acknowledgement of a 'regular' would have been appreciated. -
Review from Adam J. K.
Baltimore, MD
1/24/2011
Holy Frijoles is okay. It is not bad. It is not an "amazing mexican restaurant."
Frijoles is a nice little place, small enough to be cozy, but large enough to not be claustrophobic (though the additional side eating area can be a bit on the tight side). The food is pretty good and cheap, but it can definitely vary. If you need a perfect meal to impress someone, it might not be the best option. But if you want solid food, on the cheaper end of the spectrum, and a couple drinks, they've got you covered.
Various weekly specials provide extra incentive, like Wednesdays' Dollar tacos (beef, refried, or black bean), and it's such an easy place that I find myself there pretty often for the dollar deal. Get there before 7pm for the tail end of happy hour and you can catch a half-price house margarita or two (or splurge for the awesome cucumber one).
I glanced at a comment below about the chips and salsa, and I think it's worth mentioning that the chips and salsa both vary by visit. Sometimes both are awesome, sometimes one or the other is a little lackluster. Once the chips were particularly greasy, but honestly, it's never truly terrible.
Finally, the service. I will agree that the service isn't always the fastest but I think everyone's doing the best they can, and the casual nature is part of what I find so appealing.
Ultimately, while I don't go explicitly because of the awesome food or world-class service, it's still a solid option. -
Review from Kenny M.
Baltimore, MD
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Seems like every time we come back here, the food is less appealing. :(
