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Senor Neros - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
3601 Grand Ave(between Davidson Way & Weldon Ave)
Oakland, CA 94610
Neighborhoods: Grand Lake, Lower Hills
(510) 444-4471
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
37 reviews for Senor Neros
Review Highlights
"The tortilla soup was fresh and tasty."
(in 10 reviews)
"...service is good, the food is very good and the margaritas..."
(in 3 reviews)
"The roasted salsa was addictive."
(in 11 reviews)
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie T.
Oakland, CA
1/23/2009
Senor Neros is closing!! Last day is Feb 15th.
Im soooo sad. I love this place and it has been a staple in my life since I moved to Oakland 3 years ago.
Their homemade mole salsa is the best salsa I have ever had. I have been known to eat the salsa by the spoonful. Its really that good.
My boyfriend swears their carnitas is the best he has ever had. And by the smell of it, it smells magical.
I love love LOVE their green chicken enchiladas. Seriously the best you have ever had.
Rice, not the best and I could do with out the refried beans.
Margaritas by the pint glass and as delicious as can be. I usually put away at least a couple while we are there.
Im the saddest girl in the world right now, knowing that my fave Mexican dining spot is closing. Im crying tears of sadness right now, I may never have that delicious salsa again!!! -
Review from Ernie L.
Oakland, CA
5/7/2007
Chips: greasy but fresh. Liked 'em. (But I like the chips at Chevy's too, which others seem to find repulsive.)
The tortilla soup: not bad, though I don't know about "from scratch" -- seemed kinda Knorr Tomato Bullion-y.
Entree: bland. Good green chile has flavor and heat, mine had neither.
Atmosphere: dictated by the loudest table in the joint, which in our case was loud indeed. Not just loud-for-a-restaurant loud, but loud-for-a-bar-with-a-live-band loud. We literally couldn't hear each other across the table, thanks to the eight apparent-regulars (when they came in they made it very clear to the entire place that they were Great Friends Of The Owner) who dominated the room with their top-volume discussion of friends' abortions, etc. -- and this was *after* guests at another table talked them into quieting down a bit.
Color me unimpressed. -
Review from Ella c.
Oakland, CA
3/21/2007
I used to love this place, but last time I was here it was really dirty -- like unbussed empty tables everywhere and stickiness on my chair and the food was really blaaaah unremarkable. : (
I'm sorry, Senor. -
Review from Theresa N.
Oakland, CA
12/27/2008
I have been here twice and the first time was not too bad but the second time really sealed the deal. I will not go to this restaurant again.
The first strike against them was that they were out of avocado. The waiter did not mention this to my friend when she ordered a taco salad and asked for extra guacamole. And he did not mention it to me when I ordered the veggie burrito, (without guacamole, what is a veggie burrito???). In fact, we did not find out they were out until we were served our food. At that point we were told that they were out of avocados AND tomatoes. We were completely incredulous. How can a Mexican restaurant be out of these staples? And why didn't someone make an emergency run to a grocery store for heaven's sake!
The evening ended with the order of 1 flan, (it was their last one). When the flan came out, it looked like it had been sitting around for days, and tasted like it as well. The final blow was when the check came and we were given no discounts for the missing food. Definitely DO NOT recommend. -
Review from Jessica A.
Oakland, CA
4/26/2007
I overlooked Senor Neros for over a year; nobody I knew had been there, and, after several mediocre meals at neighborhood Mexican restaurants, I was reluctant to give it a chance. When some friends, new to the area, announced that they had been there for margaritas and had been won over by the atmosphere and appetizers, I decided to give Senor Neros a try.
The place is darling. Housed in an old craftsman on Grand Ave, the interior is warm, welcoming, and colorful. When we arrived at 8:00 on a Tuesday night, there were a handful of other tables occupied, but by the time we left, it was empty. I certainly hope this isn't the norm, because I have a soft-spot for family-run restaurants, and like to see them thrive.
The food was very good. Nothing outstanding, but flavorful and fresh. Lots of red sauce and cheese, exactly what I was looking for. The margarita, served in a pint glass, was strong and delicious. I will definitely go back, and you should, too. -
Review from Jordan R.
Oakland, CA
1/2/2008
I love this place... My girl and I come here when we're waiting for our laundry to dry down the street.
Excellent tortilla chips (fresh baked) and reasonable prices. Try to go there on Mondays for Fajita night, they are served sizzling hot and greasy as hell. -
Review from Garfield J.
Oakland, CA
11/18/2007
Good i hate writing reviews like this. You see, I like little family run places located in places other than strip malls. , BUT, when you drop hard earned cash for totally bland, mediocre food, you gotta tell it like it is.
This place is a prime candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares.....place has been here since 1989, was pretty much empty this afternoon, ..oh and the food......
Why is it so damn hard to make good tasting Mexican food?????
Had the Mexico City prawns, ...funny, I had cooked shrimp at home the night before and was pissed as they didn't turn out right.....Sadly, my failure at home tasted better and was cooked better than the stuff I was served at Senor Neros...the Shrimp were overcooked and absolutley tasteless. The sauce was tasteless and to add insult to injury was creamy and fattening. ...the rice was OK, the beans were surrounded by a ring of oil.
My dining guests had the Beef Enchildas and while they were warned of the hot hot plate, the food was actually lukewarm.
the salsa was the best part of the meal, the chunky one, yet it looked like it was made days before and lacked the clarity and freshness in the vegs which were in it....
the chips were homemade, and while I tend not to like house made chips, were OK, but they were totally coated in oil.
The Service however was Excellent, the waiter came over at least 4 times, but granted he was only tending to us and 1 other table.
My dish was $15.75 and all I could think about was how much better LaCumbre does the same dish over at 16th/Valencia for $9.
I would guess that perhaps Senor Nero's has reached a spot where they have lost their inspiration and fire....someone Call Gordon! -
Review from Jon D.
Nashville, TN
4/8/2007
Ordered: combination #4: beef burrito and beef enchilada.
The food is bland and inoffensive. The fillings have no spices, the enchilada sauce is very mild, the beans were soupy (definitely prefer refried beans that do not contain whole beans - this seems to be prevalent in the East Bay mex restaurants), and the rice was mushy.
The chips were greasy, thick, and hard. The salsas were okay - JUST okay. The dressing on the salad is a mild mayonaisse base (would have preferred some other choices.)
The restaurant is unique in one way: the offer of soup or salad. Generally Mexican restaurants serve everything at once, but the soup/salad is actually served as a "course".
The restaurant is a converted Victorian. Nice idea, lots of windows... could use a coat of paint on the walls. The tables are topped with tiles, not those beautiful Mexican tiles by Mexican artists, just plain ole black and white. The table was not very clean and wobbled.
The conversation at another table was loud and overwhelming - one of the individuals appeared to be the owner (or manager.) We sat in the "front" room. The "dining" room was inundated with music from the back (a little too loud.)
Since there's no real definition of what the star ratings mean let me say that I didn't experience bugs, botulism, or bad service, but I also didn't enjoy the meal; therefore, one star. -
Review from Lil B.
Oakland, CA
6/29/2008
Before I went to this place, I had read the reviews here. I couldn't stop thinking about the recycled salsa, which is completely foul to me. But I went anyway, since my friend chose this place and wanted to try it.
When they put the salsa on the table, I found myself looking at it with horror. It sat there in the middle of the table next to the blue plastic bowl overflowing with chips. I gagged a little, but took a sip of my Pacifico and tried to forget about it.
I like the idea of this place: a homestyle mexican restaurant, in an actual house, brightly decorated. The atmosphere was very relaxed and informal. Dig it.
The food was ok. The chips were tastey and warm, although really greasy. I ordered a vegetarian burrito which consisted of black beans wrapped in a flour tortilla with a dollop of guacamole on the side, along with some rice and more black beans. This meal was uneventful, but the wait staff was courteous and attentive.
I probably won't return to this restaurant again. -
Review from Aim B.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2009
I'm at a 1.5, but I think when you are below a two on yelp, you should round down.
I think the place is cute, and I appreciate the homey feeling and the interior. The service was pretty good and the salad they served actually had spinach in it, so that made me happy (not a big fan of iceberg lettuce).
So, I give one star because my carne asada tacos were greasy, gross and flavorless. The meat was grey and had an "old meat" taste to it that was pretty strong--lack of seasoning made it very obvious how unfresh the meat was. The tacos were topped with an immense amount of bland cheddar cheese, but somehow kept a distinct flavor apart from the meat. Not a good thing, either way.
The tortilla chips served were way over cooked, and a lot of the food was just super greasy.
I always want to give local restaurants my business, but I can't really see myself ever going back here. -
Review from alexa c.
Oakland, CA
10/20/2008
This place has potential but lacks on several levels.
It's super cool to enter a restaurant that is situated in a house, such a nice homey feeling. The colors were nice and the decor was that of a typical Mexican establishment. It was very quiet, too quiet in fact. I felt this place lacked some ambiance, perhaps a little music. Unfortunately the radio coming from the kitchen wasn't quite gonna cut it. So it left this place feeling somewhat empty in that sense. Not to mention that there was only one other occupied table in the restaurant which meant everyone could hear each other's conversations.
The food was fine, nothing spectacular. The service was very nice and the prices were somewhat reasonable. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this joint but I wouldn't completely dismiss it either. It was perfect for a low-key lazy Sunday evening fiesta. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Oakland, CA
6/20/2008
Well, I didn't read all of the review here but the one I did read about the recycled salsa, well, I am thoroughly disgusted. I was actually coming on to write a not so good review and that took it down a couple notches. I wanted to like this place. I had heard it wasn't bad. The interior is so adorable with fresh flowers on all the tables and vibrant paint. I was craving Mexican food and carnitas especially. Then it came. I was having Dona Tomas expectations and was so disappointed. The rice and beans had no flavor. The beans were drenched in shredded cheddar cheese. The carnitas were dry in a soft taco that was also dry. I thought, what a waste of calories.
This place is not really worth trying unfortunately. -
Review from Kathy M.
Oakland, CA
10/13/2008
New to the neighborhood, my boyfriend and I tried Senor Neros on Friday night, and while I did find the ambiance unique and parts of the meal quite good, overall I'd have to say that it was overpriced and fairly underwhelming.
The restaurant sits in a a renovated house on Grand Avenue and is broken up into small colorful rooms. While its certainly not screaming class and elegance, character goes a long way with me and I found it pretty cozy with plenty to look at should the conversation lull.
As others have said before, the chips WERE too greasy, although they came with two different salsas, a pico de gallo which was spicy and fresh and a smokier, blended salsa which was also pretty good. The side of guac that we ordered to cool down the salsas was also good, although could have used some cilantro.
I found the tortilla soup that came with our meal to be very boring and lacking the notes of lime and cilantro that I think are essential to the dish. The version served at Senor Neros was basically campbell's tomato soup with lots of cheese and some fried tortilla strips. No spices to be found, shredded chicken, roasted corn, or plump little black beans. Disappointing. That said, our entree was pretty awesome. We shared the Colorado burritos which came unassembled with rice, beans, and the flavorful juicy beef swimming in a spicy red sauce. The meat was VERY tasty: tender and well seasoned.
Altogether, our meal, consisting of two beers, a side of guac, and one entre came to $23, which I do think is a bit expensive. The entre was pretty large and sharing was definitely the way to go. I probably won't go to Senor Neros again. It was OK but think I'll try Tina's Cantina just down the street. -
Review from stacy r.
Concord, CA
8/31/2008
I think Senor Neros is a hidden gem. The food is not your typical "Mexican Food". It is full of yummy garlic and other flavorful spices.
The fajitas are screaming...full of flavor and the best margarittas I have had in a long time.
The Caesar salad dressing was so good and unique, we inquired about how it was made and Mr. Nero himself brought us a large jug of it to bring home to enjoy.
The atmosphere is casual and the place is decorated so fun and colorful. The staff is very friendly.
Overall I think this place is great. The only downfall, as others have said, are the tortilla chips...but hey they are free and you can send them away if you don't care for them. -
Review from Julienne G.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2007
Gasp! I think they might make everything from scratch! The tortilla soup is super deelish! The margaritas are just right but beware the pint glass they serve them in though - I kept thinking it was lemonade slurp slurp. I had the tostada compuesta (beef and chicken) and it was so right on! Tender simmered meat and not skimpy on the guac. The only thing that is not so fabulous are the chips - which are a bit oily for me. The house made salsas are great though.
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Review from Lisa K.
Portland, OR
8/4/2005
Have you been to Senior Neros? If not - go! The food is great -homemade tasting...and if you're lucky, Senior Nero himself will come out and grace your pitcher of tasty margaritas with some additional splashes of tequila. Senior Neros atmosphere rocks, too. It's located in this old craftsman house on Grand and decorated like you're in a friend's sitting room. You really can't go wrong.
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Review from Max V.
San Clemente, CA
4/14/2006
Oh, how I wish more restaurants could be more like Senor Neros. It's in a house, which gives it a really cosy feel. The food very good. Plus, what really sold me on it, when i ordered a veggie burrito the guy was like "just so you know, we use soy oil, not lard. and our complimentary tortilla soup is vegetarian too." And man, it's some good tortilla soup. The only problem is that by the time the food comes i'm full from the chips and soup.
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Review from Clarence B.
Tucson, AZ
7/11/2006
as a general rule of thumb, i don't do any Yelps unless i have been at least a few times, but here is a quick note for vegans going to Senor Neros:
- tortilla soup is vegetarian, but not vegan. it has cheese.
- salad comes with creamy, non-vegan dressing. ask for something else.
- rice is chicken broth free
- black beans are the default for the veggie burro, but the refried are veggie friendly... so ask if you want the refried instead.
- sit INSIDE, the patio is nowhere near as RAD as the indoor.
Full review will be forthcoming, but only after more visits. But: best tortilla chips! -
Review from Christian R.
Berkeley, CA
4/8/2007
Well, I really can't see how this place has such high ratings. As a Mexican who was raised in Mexico I not only know that the food in this restaurants is not authentic, but I even came to the conclusion that it's not even among the better Americanized cuisine you see out there. Heck, at least the SOMA fusion food tries to be different.
The dish I had was just bland, and apparently adding cheese to everything is a solution to compensate for such blandness. They also added a "out of the can" tomato sauce to my carne asada, which is the equivalent of pouring sugar to a sugar free beverage.
Also, I have to complain about the behavior of the owner and some of his guests. I am sure they had a great time discussing relevant political issues, but was it necessary to be so loud?
Suffice to say, I will not return to this place. -
Review from leena k.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2007
This is a nice and homey restaurant with a very friendly staff. I was excited to try the tortilla soup because of all the Yelp comments, and can corroborate that it is truly the bomb, with a lovely home-cooked feel to it. Entree portionings are generous (I had cheese enchiladas) and include a soup or salad. Great for a group dinner.
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Review from Kate B.
Albany, CA
8/9/2006
I tried this place out last weekend and was pretty impressed. It is a really cute house and the waitstaff is friendly. The salsa was great. They had 2 kinds and one was a chipoltle/mole kind of thing that was awesome. Also, their chips are the thick homemade kind and were really good. The margaritas were okay but nothing special (they used some sort of sugary mix). When we got our entrees we were really pleased. The food was good, the portions large enough to take another meal home and the bill was small. Give it a try if only for the chips and salsa.
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Review from Tracy A.
Oakland, CA
4/15/2006
The vegetarian tortilla soup is what keeps my husband and I coming back to Senor Neros. The carnitas (when available- Friday's and Saturday's I think) never lets me down. I recently had the shrimp tacos and they were wildly beyond my expectations. I can't wait to have them again.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Emily H.
Castro Valley, CA
10/27/2006
Feel the heat!
The salsa is a rarity at a Mexican restaurant; it's actually spicy. And delicious. A wide vegetarian selection; the super burrito is almost embarrassingly large. The tortilla soup is fabulous. A good ambiance in a house with an outdoor patio for al fresco dining. Have a top-shelf margarita, sit back and enjoy the friendly service. -
Review from Joseph W.
Oakland, CA
7/1/2007
This restaurant got 4.5 stars? How?!?!?
I went there tonight with a friend and here's what happened...
My friend and I walked into the restaurant and noticed only 6 tables were occupied, yet not a staff person in sight. We walked back to the bar, but still couldn't find anyone to seat us. So, we finally we sat ourselves. A few minutes later someone hands us menus. No greeting - no nothing. Finally, our waiter comes around to take our order.
Mt friend orders a margarita with no salt. I order a Mojito (BIG MISTAKE!) What I'm served is a margarita (they use margarita mix for their mojitos) without tequila, but with dark rum and a few sorry mint leaves chopped up. It was beyond REPULSIVE! Sorry, but I am a mojito snob (try Somerset in Oakland on College Ave - FABULOUS mojitos!!!) I ask if I can at least have a glass of club soda (mojitos should have a splash of club soda) to dilute it down. The waiter comes back and says, "Sorry, we don't have any soda...the machine isn't working." Ironically, there's a Safeway a few doors down where they could've bought some club soda. My friend (being a good friend) asks the waiter to take the "mojito" back and to replace it with a margarita just like hers WITHOUT salt. The waiter looks at me to confirm, "Do you want salt?" "No, salt," I said. What do you think I get? A Margarita WITH salt. Go figure.
The meal...
My friend orders the beef (rare) fajita caesar salad. What does she get? WELL DONE beef. I ordered the two green chicken enchiladas dinner plate that was actually pretty decent. However, when the waiter comes by to ask the perfunctory, "How is everything," I tell him: "The margarita had salt and I asked for no salt. My friend asked for the meat to be cooked rare...look at it...does that look rare to you?" "Well, I told the cook," says the waiter. Again, go figure.
The food on a scale of 1-10 is a 6.5-7.0. The service? A 3.0 at best. I'll go Chevy's before Senor Nero again. At least there you know what to expect. -
Review from Benji T.
Oakland, CA
4/2/2007
There is nothing like eating food in a restaurant that looks like it used to be someone's house. Homes turned restaurants are awesome and so is this place. The service is good, the food is very good and the margaritas are fantastic. For awhile I was coming here about once every few weeks for burritos and margaritas and I always left very happy and satisfied with a strong, healthy buzz.. I stoped by yesterday and had these great nachos and again, margaritas, and had the same experience. The staff here is friendly and on-the-ball when it comes to bringing you fresh food. Also, it's never too busy so you don't have to deal with large, rude crowds and weirdos. Keep up the good work, Senor, see you soon!
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Review from Erin M.
New York, NY
5/18/2008
This place was a pleasant surprise.
My roommate told me a year ago that he disliked Senor Neros and so I never bothered to go there. Today I just happened by it and Im so glad I found out for myself what a cool spot this is. The chips were warm, crispy, and delicious. The roasted salsa was addictive. I was drizzling it all over my food. The tortilla soup was fresh and tasty. The tamales were not the best I've ever had- but the sauce and rice and beans were good. The cadillac margarita was a liiiiittle too sweet, but definitely drinkable and STRONG. It was so nice to sit (drunk) in a warm, cosy home-like atmosphere, admiring all the art on the walls, chatting with my friend, enjoying the breeze by the window and the way the afternoon sun streamed in all around us.
The place was pretty empty, which is a damn shame. Walking home by the ever bland and disappointing Milano and seeing all my Oakland neighbors packing the place made me wonder what the hell is going on over here in Lake Merritt. I'm going to stick with the hearty, pretty good food in a casual and interesting atmosphere and skip the pretentious, glossy uppity neighboring restaurants that fall far short when it comes to delivering delicious food and personality. -
Review from anjou k.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2007
This place is so cute and cozy. Everyone that works here is super friendly and accommodating. The food tastes very homemade. I'll definitely be back! You can find better Mexican food, but this is just a fun place to kick back with friends.
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Review from Ross T.
Oakland, CA
7/15/2008
Can't recommend it. Everything was below par. I can't abide a place that scoops tortilla chips out of a 55-gallon drum. Everything about this place screams "cheap". The food was very mediocre. Eh.
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Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
8/7/2007
I had a great lunch here with friends the other day - we were the only ones there. We got great service - the food was very tasty, and the pitcher of margaritas was definitely STRONG and gave all 4 adults at the table a full pint of margarita and then some for $25 bucks. I had a chicken green enchilada, which was very tasty. Great rice and beans as well. I am actually a fan of lard, so not all that happy with the hydrogenated soy oil - and though the chips were homemade - they were overly greasy for my taste. The atmosphere is great - full of art - Kahlo, Dominguez, etc. . .and it was cool and enjoyable on a hot day. I enjoyed the whole experience (my one and only. . ) and would recommend it for authentic tasty mexican food at a reasonable price.
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Review from rob c.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2006
great place...like an old house..great service...even though they are a bit under staffed when they have a full house...the staff was great with the reunion we had there. There were 4 kids making a messa nd being demanding and Neros took it down.
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Review from Skal Z.
Oakland, CA
3/26/2007
Prior to my review, Senor Nero's was listed as 4.5 stars. Are you serious?
I haven't been there in a while, but there is nothing I really like about the place. The salsa is not good. the chips are alright, but a bit too thick and aren't crispy.
The meals are unspectacular. -
Review from Renee R.
Oakland, CA
8/12/2008
We'd go to this place when in the mood to have some pretty okay Mexican food (of the smashed beans and rice variety) but I can no longer go here after reading about the recycled salsa! What is up with that??!!!
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Review from Val G.
Belmont, CA
6/10/2007
I was, as usual, searching for hot plate mexican food, all melty and cheesy with rice and beans on the side, and luckily uncovered Senor Nero's. Since I was on the Southside of Oakland and had to get back up North, I decided to take the surface streets and drove around the Lakeshore area until I found a hot plate hot spot in Senor Neros. Nero, the chef and owner stopped me to find out if we'd enjoyed the meal and encouraged us to come back for more. I think I will definitely. The plates were cheesy and melty and delicious. I had the cheese enchilada and taco dorado (shredded beef deep fried) which was exactly what I had hoped and large enough to save for a second meal. We went for lunch which was nice but almost empty. I'd have preferred the dinner hour with dimmer light so I wouldn't have noticed the fine but pretty expected decor of Frida Kahlo posters and toreador paintings and not exactly white glove cleanliness of the place. I don't know what they use to mop the bathroom tile but i was in wedges and felt like I was ice skating across the room to wash my hands. Despite my issues with the decor, I'll definitely go back for the food and because I like it when small family places like Senor Nero's succeed. Oh, and the salsa is crazy hot too.
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Review from jen d.
5/15/2007
yet another example of bad mexican food in the bay area. its super pricey and the food is bland and tasteless. they charge 8 dollars for a margarita!! wtf?!?! take me back to chicago!!! you can get a pitcher of margaritas at tecalitlan on chicago avenue for 10 dollars on wed through fridays, plus their food is good. dont even get me started on the tastiness that is taco veloz! why doesnt the bay area have more good mexican food?! instead of this i would go to tacqueria cancun on 6th and market in the city or to la parilla on 29th and international in oakland. or i would just visit your trusty local taco truck for a good deal. you just cant trust the overpriced tacquerias around here, sheesh.
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Review from Crazy M.
Oakland, CA
1/13/2007
I just love the feel of this place. The vegetarian tortilla soup is great. I can walk there. The staff are really friendly and attentive.
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Review from Shiraz S.
Mountain House, CA
7/15/2008
awesome cadillac margaritas, you MUST order it, great service, and sitting outside in the back definitely makes you feel at home
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Review from ron v.
Oakland, CA
1/23/2008
great mexican resturant has a history in oakland, owner - nero -is at the resturant, does the cooking most of the time, comes out an talk to guests- great food, parking is usually not a problem, food is wonderful, on the first floor of an older house ,he is often there early in the morning until closing, also has brunch, we go there several times a month, open until 9 or 9.30 if you like mexican food you'll love senor nero's!! great margaritas -fantastic rice!!
