Lafonda Restaurant & Lounge

I have been going to Lafonda's in Baton Rouge for 30 years now. That alone should tell you something. You get complimentary chips and bean dip when you arrive and I could fill up on the bean dip, it's that good. And their beef burritos are my total fave. They are not like any I've had at any other mexican restaurant. They take a flour tortilla and make it into a cup with toothpicks in the corners. Then they fill it with their own ground beef recipe, add onions (I hold the onions) and top it off with real cheddar cheese, then toast it in the oven where the cheese is hot and bubbly on top. It melts in your mouth. And what speaks volumes for the owners or management is that they have had some of the same waitresses since I first went there over 30 years ago. It's packed on Friday and Saturday nights with their loyal customers. If you are looking for a modern new mexican restaurant, this ain't the place. They have old stuff hanging on the walls that may be older than I am, nothing ever changes, which is part of it's charm. The one thing I would give a negative rating, others including my sister, would give it an A+, and that's their margaritas. I say they taste like kerosine and my sister absolutley loves them. (come to think of it, she does like the smell of gas fumes too.....) Anyway, I order the burritos to go anytime I'm in town and headed home. Someone told me the other day that you can get the burritos half baked and then finish cooking them at home, haven't tried it yet though. Oh and they also have a seperate bar in the back where you can eat too, and a private room for groups.

I have been going to this place my whole life, starting in a baby carrier and now as an adult. I still have yet to find a bean dip that tops Lafonda's. I have heard that the original owners were of Greek descent, so in effect the food is 'Greexican,' don't quote me on it, some fact checking is in order, but I think this could explain its unique flavors...

The place is pretty unassuming on Airline Highway, the area has seen its ups and certainly more downs, but the place still looks the same as I remember it as a child. The lights are dim, the crowd is generally quiet, and the service is wonderful if a bit informal. If either myself or my sister is visiting, we will call the other to inform them that we are eating there to make the other jealous. I also, think they have some of the best margaritas in town, they are not sweet, but just right, like a margarita should be.

I've been coming here since I was 12 and now I'm 47. One thing that stands out about Lafonda's is the taste of the ground meat, it has a special taste that I haven't experienced anywhere else and it is truly delicious. My favorite dish here has been the Mexican dinner #3 for many years. My wife and I also love the tacos. This is the place I first introduced my wife and kids to guacamole, they didn't want anything to do with it for a long time. I finally got them to try it and they fill in love with it. For me and my family, we still and always will love Lafonda's!!!

I came in with high hopes for this place and was sorely disappointed. The food was nothing special. They waitress brought out bean dip and chips and for the longest type I couldn't place the flavor of the bean dip. After a while I realized it tasted exactly like Frito Lay Bean Dip but it was much less solid than what you get in the can. My taco reminded me of a Taco Bueno taco but with way more grease and old lettuce. My burrito was more of a meat quiche which was interesting, but not the burrito I was looking forward too. My rice had no real flavor and was an odd orange color which I've never really seen in rice. The tortillas were cold and thin and not fit for anything. As a lover of dive restaurants I can't recommend this place and as a lover of Mexican food I really can't recommend this place.

This place inspired me to create a yelp account. The word has got to be put out there to AVOID at all costs. From the first moment we walked into this place, I knew I had to offer a rebuttal to the other review.
I would normally rate a restaurant on the following metrics:
1. Cleanliness - the place smelled of mothballs and had very low lighting which I can only guess is to hide the overall disgustingness that is the restaurant.
2. Service - Our waitress was the age of my grandma who would press us with questions, ask why we didn't like something much like my grandma would, and try to guilt us into eating more. She also brought us the wrong drink order. Speaking of which...
3. Drinks - this is the only thing in which the other reviewer and I are agreed upon. The margaritas are just plain awful. They claim it was made with real lime juice. It tasted like it was made with my own piss after eating a pound of asparagus.
4. Food - Worse than taco bell.
5. Friendliness of staff - upon sending the drinks back, we were accosted by the manager who gave us evil eyes the rest of the time we were there. The only redeeming quality about this place was the young male waiter who seemed to know exactly what we were going through.

To sum up, La Fonda in Lafayette is actually very good. La Fonda in Baton Rouge however, is not.

Come here at your own risk.

Well after reading all the reviews, the good and the bad, I was actually looking forward to some good ol' Mexican dive food.... The outside and neighborhood looked like I was in luck. Sadly there was not a good thing about the entire meal. We got there at 7 and there was only 1 other table, so there was no reason it took so long to be greeted, if you stretch to call it a greeting. The free "bean dip" was really more of thinned down sams club generic bean sauce. Bad and cold. The salsa tasted like ketchup. I ordered The Matador, their special margarita, it was supposed to be frozen. I ordered the chicken fajitas and a side of white queso.
All the food arrived before the drink, and it was not a frozen drink, you could tell it started out on the rocks but had been sitting so long the ice had all but melted and watered down the drink. There was a lot of food, but they definitely believe in quantity over quality. The tortillas were plain old generic store-bought for both the flour and corn types. The lettuce and guacamole were old and brown. The veggies of the fajitas consisted of a couple pieces of onion and green pepper. The "queso" was more of a cold cheese spread that was totally solid by the time it got to the table.
The only way I could have enjoyed a single part of our meal is if I was in my late 60s or older and didn't like my food to have flavor. Everything was nursing home bland. I know this sounds harsh, but I never waste food and I didn't make it through even a quarter of the meal, despite arriving ravenous.
I was terribly terribly disappointed by this restaurant.

I had to write a review in response to the one star that was given by JS. This place is not for him, and that's okay. I am from Seattle, WA and demand a trip to Lafonda's every time I come to BR. I am from the land of dive bars, so this place suits me just fine. I love that it's not your typical mexi place (Thanks Cheryl for the pic that's a must try for my visit next week!) The nachos are served with a topping on each chip instead of a giant mound which makes each bite a perfect one. And who can complain about endless bean dip? I love Lafonda's!