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Pacifico Mexican Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
21 reviews for Pacifico Mexican Restaurant
While the place was mostly empty (being a Thursday and all..and being before harvest AND crush, the whole Napa Valley is more or less empty); I had a pleasant dining experience here...and I'll tell you why...
As I said, it was almost empty, so I sat at the bar where everyone (all 3) were eating. The Bartender was very quick to ask if I wanted anything...I said "an Iced Tea and a menu" which he promptly brought. First thing I noticed...there is really no lunch choices...it's appetizer, salads, burritos or you are at a dinner portion (they need to work on that) but I decided on the Mole Poblamo ($14.95)... and a glass of Merlot, Rodney Stong Merlot ($8.00)...
I was brought some chips and salsa to nibble on while I waited. Not too long after my food was brought out. 2 leg/thigh combos covered in a rich mole, with rice, beans and a corn fritter ball. It's a lot of food. I took a bite of the chicken, tasty, but lukewarm, to the edge of cool. Now I'm always one to say, things go afoul, everything is not always perfect, it's how they handle the misstep that counts. In this case it was handled beautifully. My plate was promptly taken back to the kitchen, shortly after they brought it back with one of the leg/thighs and my sides, "They are making a new one for the one you started on" he explained, "you start on this and I will bring it out when it is ready". THANK YOU. You get an extra star for that.
LindySez: It's not cheap, and they should have more lunch choices (perhaps half portions?) but it was good eats.
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Evil has a name and apparently he owns a shitty Mexican restaurant in Calistoga too.
My girlfriend was craving Mexican and we were doing some wine tasting so this seemed like a good enough place. Despite being in what would normally be a lunch rush, this place was almost empty. That should have set off some bells, but we were a little wine drunk. Looking back on it I think our server may have been drunk. Getting him to drag himself the 12 feet from the bar over to our table was pulling teeth. The food (when it finally came) was awful.
Hey Pacifico, up yours!
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Typically I don't write 2 great reviews for one location, but after my most recent experience at Pacifico, I really, really think they deserve another one.
We usually dine here at a later hour Saturday nights- around 8:30/9...never ever packed.
We walked in last Saturday, the joint was PACKED. Some wedding party in one rooom (probably party of 40-50), another huge party of 20 in another, and for the first time ever in 10+ years, we had to wait for a table.
The hostess was extremely apologetic and repeatedly checked on us during the 5 minutes it took for a table to clear.
Our waitress immediately approached us and apologized again about the wait, took our drink order, and had our margaritas and beer back in record time.
After ordering, the waitress returned every few minutes to let us know that unfortunately our food was going to take a bit longer than usual due to the massively large parties being served before us- extremely apologetic and told us that if we wanted more drinks, she would comp...
We did not need any more to drink and waited happily with chips/salsa and Pacifcos huge strong margaritas.
Food came was fresh, tasty as usual- Tacos Huachinangos (fish tacos-grilled!), smokin shrimp fajita, and nachos have never tasted so good.
Really exceptional service- I am all about the communication in a restaurant when I have to wait- I don't like to feel forgotten and have to flag down for my food.
Well done Pacifico, yet again!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/7/2009
I am shocked at these horrible reviews. I have been coming to Pacifico for at least the past 5-10… Read more »
Pluses: open tables without a reservation on a Saturday night, and I was there with friends who had kids, and it was plenty kid friendly. Also good service. Minuses: It's a little pricey, but you're paying for the location in central Calistoga. Seems to me like the food at pretty much most Mexican restaurants tastes the same, so nothing too notable here. Got the mole, not bad, nothing special.
Everyone's experience is different and each day's a new chance to excel or screw up; our party of three dined at Pacifico last Sunday night. The bartender at Susie's recommended this place and must have called them because they were looking for us when we walked in. We started with ceviche and guacamole and both were excellent.
The entrees were similarly satisfying. Prices were very good, especially the beverages.
The reviews from two years ago must have been previous management or something because it was an excellent dinner we had, and Pacifico topped off our birthday celebrations in Calistoga.
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This place rocks. We stayed in Napa for our first anniversary, and drove up CA-29 enjoying the various winery's along the way until we found ourselves in Calistoga. After checking out Old Faithful and the local bookstore, Pacifico seemed like the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat.
We were greeted and quickly seated. There were plenty of people there, but plenty of room for our stroller and baby. They brought out the typical chips and salsa and took our orders. I was hot and parched from all the sun and wine of the day, and the waitress happily kept coming with copious amounts of water.
I enjoyed the occasion with a Pacifico beer, it just made sense and the wife had a margarita. I had the Tres Marias, at least I think that's what it was called; three corn tortillas, one with beef, one with chicken, and one with guacamole and salsa. This plate was incredible.
It was the perfect place to wind down, and I'd be happy to return.
this is one of the worst Mexican restaurants ive dined in. this is from a vegetarian point of view...mexican food can be pretty amazing with fresh corn tortilla, rice, beans, and guac. its hard to think it can be messed up but this place was a HUGE disappointment.
we had both a man and woman serve us and take down certain elements of our order, and back and forth, so we were unsure who to flag down when we needed something. which we needed to do, because for chunks of time they were extremely inattentive and forgot that we were there.
we ordered guacamole only to find out it had dairy in it (big props to our waiter for telling me, because i wouldn't have thought to ask)
the vegetarian burrito, without queso, was a bland hunk of soggy rice and lifeless beans. the veggies were most definitely from a frozen block - you know, the broccoli cauliflower carrot trio. i know this because i recognize it from my childhood.
the ceviche was halfway decent, and i did appreciate them bringing me plain avocado.
thank goodness i had a margarita in me.
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Came here on my recent visit to Callisto and was not disappointed. We were quickly seated on the bar side of the restaurant and was promptly met with chips and salsa and ice waters. Our server came and took our orders, we both tried the fajitas one steak and one chicken. The food came out not super fast or slow but we didn't mind much because we had champagne to keep us busy! Our server was great and opened our champagne and brought us flutes and a bucket. Our fajitas arrived and they were HUGE! One order I think its enough for two people. Needless to say we had fajitas for breakfast and they were still yummy the next day. Pacifico was great and so was the service. I'd come back next time I'm in the area.
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I happened to really like my dish. I forgot what it was called but the menu said something like, "Back by request, chef's hometown recipe". It was a type of chile relleno with peanuts, raisins, spinach, white sauce and oaxacan cheese. It was a very interesting dish to say the least but it was delicious. I love trying new things and there aren't many Mexican dishes I haven't tried.
The place was clean, very well decorated and had it's own bar. I was on vacation celebrating my two year anniversary with my husband and of all the restaurants in Calistoga we chose Pacifico--we love Mexican food! Chips and salsa, a large hot plate of rice and beans with enchiladas or a wet burrito and we're set.
The service was great. Our server was very friendly, prompt and efficient. The prices were not as high as everyone made them seem. The ingredients were fresh and you could tell the cook made each dish with pride. The portions were huge too.
Everything was great, the only thing that could have been better was their salsa. It was that weird gringo stuff (tomato sauce-based.) I want to come back and try the margaritas.
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A bit pricey, but its Calistoga ...
Chicken Fajitas were awesome ... so was the pitcher of Margaritas ...
Sister got the tiger prawns, and broke out in hives, but that's not their fault ... is it ? LOL !!!
The restaurant wasn't packed (maybe 4 other tables filled), and service was wayyyyy slowwww ...
Yummy chips-n-salsa !!
Wow, Pacifico on Yelp is home to some of the most pathetic reviews I've seen! No wonder so many business owners hate yelp.
Here's a helpful one from Ahna P.: "Nasty!"
That's very constructive. I'm sure the owners of Pacifico will take your criticism into consideration.
Let's try to be fair and actually REVIEW the place in some useful form, rather than just farting out whatever twaddle comes to mind, people! Try to remember there are actual IRL people involved in these businesses, some of whom have poured their heart & soul into their businesses. Too bad we can't review the reviewers.
So, here's my 2 cents:
An awesome mariachi band with no less than 7 members greeted us when we entered the place, instantly transporting us to old Mexico. Even though we only live a few miles away, we felt like we were on vacation. The music was great ambiance, but the lighting in there needs some serious help.
I had the Chile Rellanos Pacifico. They were decadent, to say the least. At first I was put off by the $17 price, but when I got my plate, I realized it was a relative bargain in the N.V. Definitely the best chile rellanos I've had in a good long time. My wife had the chicken mole enchilada and DAMN that mole sauce was good! It was richer and fruitier than most I've had, with just the right amount of spice and a sort of roasted banana flavor.
Other than that, the food was mostly predictable and on previous visits I have been neither impressed nor disappointed. The prices are somewhat steep, but only by a couple bucks and this is N.V. after all. The margaritas are 16oz, and decent. Our total bill came to $42, with 2 entrees & 2 drinks. Not bad for quick evening in Mexico!
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Let's put it this way if I could pick Dog or Cat food or go back
to Pacifico Mexican Restaurant I would just have the water lol.
Yes the food is that bad. The beef and pork could have been dog.
Plus you are looking at $15-$20 price range. The cocktail's was bad as well. People of Yelp Don't go to Pacifico and if you do I may know
a good ER Dr.
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Pricey for the food being served. Reminded me of a typical beer/alcohol themed restaurant (IE: Cabo wabo, bear republic, third street aleworks, etc), I can buy pacifico at any gas station really...what makes this place worth the drive? almost nothing except for saying you have been there.
If we are driving near Calistoga, we always stop at Pacifico. The chips and salsa are great. I usually get the chicken enchiladas & he gets tacos. We had the shrimp ceviche to start, which was very tasty. Great sauces, flavors... I have no complaints. Coming from San Francisco, the prices are completely reasonable for a ton of food. Service has always been friendly. Great place to grab some mexican food before you go to some wineries.
I have mexican about once a week... and think this place is pretty decent. I'm confused by some of the other reviews.
Went there for a late New Year's Eve lunch. I was just about ready to leave before the food came - I think it took nearly 1/2 hour to be served the prawn taco salad (what I had) and the combo plate (what he had) . Finally the food came after I asked the hostess to investigate. The place was nearly empty because we were there at an odd time - a bit late for lunch and way too early for dinner. But there is no "lunch menu" anyway - just the dinner menu. If you're like me, you don't love paying dinner prices to each lunch. While we waited all that time we weren't offered a second basket of chips either. My water glass wasn't refilled, nothing. And the prices were high. Higher prices should be expected in a tourist town,but the food was fresh and completely edible - tasty even. But the service problems left me feeling disappointed for a New Year's Eve-day dining experience.
My wife and I are staying in Calistoga for our honeymoon and went to Pacifico for dinner. It's Cinco de Mayo so they had a mariachi band playing which was pretty loud, but very festive. We got our chips, salsa and water quickly and it was delicious. I had chicken fajitas and it was a good portion and very good. My wife got the red snapper tacos and said it was the best fish tacos she ever had. The only thing that kept me from a 5 star review was the margarita was sub-par. It wasn't blended very well, and tasted like straight tequila. Neither of us finished ours. But all in all, i would recommend Pacifico for good mexican food.
Nasty!
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I'm going to totally agree with the other review. This is mexican food you'd expect to find in a cafeteria for the very old... In Idaho. We ordered the Beef Fajitas and the Pollo Verdi. I think they could not been more bland. You'd be better off getting nachos at 7/11 or if you're in the mood to splurge go to Taco Bell, but what ever you do, run away from the boarder that separates Pacifico from the rest of Calistoga. Also the service? The place was slow yet they still seemed to totally forget us.
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For the food we got, I feel like it was a bit overpriced. For the carne asada and ice tea for lunch, it was $21 with tip. The sweet corn cake wasn't really that sweet. The meat was well seasoned. The service was leisurely, even though we told them we were on a time schedule. One of the people in our party got a quesidilla that did not have any cheese in it....ummmm, what???? Since it was a working lunch, we did not try any of the booze, but they do have a happy hour......
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Yes this is a very touristy place and the price was a bit expensive for the food it serves... but the chicken tortilla soup was pretty good. And the ceviche was okay. They do mix all kinds of drinks but I do find them to be watery...
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Yowsa! I'm shocked! Our chicken fajitas were delicious ...
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