El Meson

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3450 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

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(612) 822-8062
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Reviews
( 22 )
( 6 )
( 1 )
( 5 )
( 5 )

Best

My husband and I went there early summer and loved it. The server was polite and friendly and did a great job with serving us. The food was great!

Worst

My husband wanted to go for his BD luncgh, which we did. I found the food to be mediocore and bland. I expected the food the be more flavorful. However, the salad greens w...

Worst Restaurant Experience EVER 2/24/2012

I have been a patron since over 20 years ago. I loved it then and even celebrated my law school graduation there. I haven't been recently after having a mediocre experience about a year ago. I knew it had changed hands but thought I should give it another chance. Well, my kids surprised me for my birthday yesterday and.....I am not exaggerating to say it was the worst! The food was horrid (not even a shadow of its former self), the service was extremely slow, and to make things even worse, the waiter was not only incompetent, he became belligerent! I had expressed my complete disappointment (given my history with the place) and his response was to tell me I was wrong and it was My fault. For a moment, I thought we were being ""Punk'd."" What a waste of $76!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I would STRONGLY discourage anyone from patronizing this restaurant for its food, value and service. (and yes, I intend to inform management....as she was not there at the time) P.S. The only shame is I can't rate it a ""0."" more
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Wonderful place for a date night out 9/4/2011

My husband and I went there early summer and loved it. The server was polite and friendly and did a great job with serving us. The food was great! more
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Just Mediocore 2/15/2011

My husband wanted to go for his BD luncgh, which we did. I found the food to be mediocore and bland. I expected the food the be more flavorful. However, the salad greens were very fresh and the home made chips were great. more
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absolutely unremarkable, again 1/10/2011

3rd time there. I wanna like it. It's cute. Comfy. Romantic, even. Alas, the food is boring if not wrong. Two of our four dishes were SO SALTY that I feel dehydrated. My tongue is terry cloth. Why did I eat it? Why didn't I send it back? I had already sent back the absolutely inedible, over-salted greens. And I love my salt! It's expensive. Expensive enough to expect good if not great or inspiring food. Take the Arroz. It had no flavor (except salt--lots and lots of salt)...nothing to set it apart from the Spanish rice that I get at school at lunch. Shouldn't there be a delicate saffron flavor...any flavor? Though, the had piled it into a ramekin and turned it over on the plate to make a nicely shaped Arroz cake. The Pescado was decent -- nice coconut rice...but nothing to write home about, I don't mean to be mean, but the garlic bread was the highlight of the meal. more
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Interesting food, not great service 6/26/2010

We had been to El Meson before, but not for a long time. We found the food as we remembered it--full of flavors and ingredients we don't find regularly, and prepared well. The prices seemed reasonable, and we enjoyed the house-made sangria on a warm evening. The downside was the service. We would sit for a long time before being attended to--before our order, after appetizers, when we were ready to go. If they could upgrade their service, we would return more often. Pros: Food more creative than average Mexican Cons: Service not attentive more
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Nice atmosphere, mediocre food 3/1/2010

My wife and I tried El Meson last night for the first time. We were both excited as it seemed like a unique menu. The food however was pretty run of the mill. We tried two tapas, the Serrano, and the Quesillo. Both dishes were bland and undersized for the price. For our entrees, my wife had a shrimp dish with a spicy pepper sauce and plantains, the sauce was extremely tasty. I had the ""Spanish Pot Roast"". The beef was fatty and stringy, and the sauce tasted like canned tomato sauce. For 75 bucks, I expected a lot more than what we got. I might go back some day, but for now El Meson makes the ""not worth the price"" list. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: Food is boring, overpriced more
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Mismatch between food and service 8/2/2009

The menu was sufficiently interesting and the food was good enough to warrant a second visit. However, the service was not. The waiter seemed quite indifferent to our presence. As just some examples, we were not asked for drink or appetizer orders, he watched our food be plated by the chef and THEN went to take an order for another table, we were not acknowledged on our way out by anyone. And this was NOT a busy time: only 4-5 tables seated. We do appreciate good food but also expect the service to match when dining out. There was a clear mismatch at El Meson and given the many other choices in the neighborhood, we won't be back. more
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our favorite! 4/25/2009

Great atmosphere, great tapas menu. They have great nightly specials - if you love something you might never see it again. We love the sangria, too! Pros: jambalaya Cons: they don't always serve the jambalaya more
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Fantastic fusion 3/5/2009

A delightful combination of traditional spanish entrees, like paella, with contemporary caribbean flavors. El meson also offers an impressive wine list to complement the exotic flavors. Start with the peras, they're the bomb. more
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Great Tapas and Vino! 1/5/2009

El Meson is one of my favorite spots in town. The food is always great as well as the service, they are so personable. I love the tapa menu and there great wine list, with some really wonderful Spanish and South American wines and you can't beat the 1/2 price bottles Sun-Thurs. Try and go on a saturday night when they have the Flamenco music. You feel like you have stepped out of Minneapolis and into a cozy little restaurant in Spain! more
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the place to be! 1/3/2009

I spent my New Year's Eve in the company of good friends at El Meson. I had a such a fantastic experience from the attentive service to the excellent food to the live flamenco music. They had a special holiday menu which featured an imaginative variety of entrees, salads and appetizers. The ""Borrego"" - lamb - caught my eye as it was marinated in cinnamon and paprika and served with roasted red pepper mashed potatoes and asparagus. Every bite was so savory and rich, it was disappointing when my plate was empty. more
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Great food! 12/22/2008

I would strongly recommend El Meson. I've been going there for years, and is one of my favorites. The arroz con pollo is especially good! Pros: Great food Cons: Some items can be spendy more
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Great Upsale Mexican Restaurant 12/2/2008

This place is wonderful!! I've never been to an upsale Mexican restaurant but this one takes the cake as far as service, presentation and ambience it offers. Pros: Elegant place to have a romantic dinner more
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Fabulous food in a warm and romantic atmosphere 11/18/2008

El Meson has an ambiance perfect for dining with a sweetheart or visiting with a group of good friends. The servers are pleasant and accomodating. The food is absolutely delicious--from the bread, to the tapas, to the entrees. The paella is absolutely wonderful and worth the wait. The scallops are fabulous; the rice dishes consistently delicious and flavorful. El Meson's lunch buffet is an incredible value with a fantastic variety of delicious entrees, fruits, salads and desserts (and delectable ribs!) It's obvious that great care is given in choosing wines. The superb sangria on a warm summer night coupled with a fresh and flavorful seafood entree is a divine South Minneapolis dining experience. The fabulous white chocolate bread pudding or above-average key lime pie may encourage you to follow dinner with a walk around Lake Harriet. Pros: Ambiance, Menu choices, Sangria, Desserts Cons: Can be rather popular--make a reservation on Fridays and Saturdays more
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My Favorite Place to eat! 11/18/2008

I used to go to El Meson years ago and I thought the food was pretty good. But when it was bought by Erin Ungerman and Hector Ruiz it suddenly became my favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities. A average decor was transformed into a beautifully simple yet elegant atmosphere where you can lose yourself in the bold, vibrant colors. Of course the best thing is the food. I love the lunch buffet! There are the succulent pork ribs and the wonderful wings. The fresh rice pudding is always my favorite way of ending a delicious lunch. At dinner time I love the Arroz Con Camarones and the mouthwatering Arroz Con Mariscos. You will not regret your visit there, I promise. I'll be back again and again! Pros: The food and the atmosphere Cons: No breakfast more
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Half-price wine??? Stop talking dirty to me... 10/21/2008

In my dining experience at El Meson, I encountered a unique yet brilliant marriage of cultural integrity and culinary delight. True to Spanish and Caribbean mores, warmth was not limited to the charming ambiance or the piping hot food, but was also genuinely personified as ?afectuoso? by the restaurant staff. I plan to return to El Meson again and would positively become a regular if I lived closer, but I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an experience with authentic and robust appeal to all five senses! (Not to mention appeal to the pocketbook: meals are very reasonably priced and you won't want to miss out on the half-price bottles of wine Sun-Thu!) more
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Great Deals on Wine 10/12/2008

I have been going to El Meson for over three years. With half-priced bottles of wine (mostly Spanish wines) and $5 off carafes of sangria on Sunday-Thursday, the price points can't be beat. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to offer any advice if needed. Not that advice is needed, all the food is delicious. The flavors are bold and unique, unlike any other restaurants that I have been to. The cozy booths are perfect for an intimate dinner or lively conversation. If you let them know that you will be celebrating a special occasion, they are more than happy to do their best to accommodate you. I highly recommend this place to anyone that wants something out of the norm. more
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Great food and service. 10/8/2008

I have been to El Meson numerous times in the past few years and have always had very positive experiences. My family enjoyed it so much that my husband and I have invited different groups of friends to join us for dinner there. It is refreshing to have unique menu selections and wines that you can't find at other restaurants. We especially enjoy the selection of tapas and my favorite main course is definitely the scallops. They have always been prepared to perfection and come with very tasty julienne vegetables along with a pineapple salsa garnish. Incredibly good!!!! They also have a great wine selection -- with many reasonably priced. We've always had excellent service at the restaurant and it has a very warm atmosphere. One of our favorite places to go! Pros: ambience, unique menu more
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We LOVE it!!! 10/7/2008

Our family has been going to El Meson for a few years now and it has always been considered one of our ""go-to"" restaurants. The 4 of us can get exactly what we want...my husband and kids can get their spicy food, while I can keep mine milder. It is a great compromise. Pros: Great food and wine selection, very affordable, ambiance second to none! Cons: None. more
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warm and cozy atmosphere and delicious food 10/6/2008

The new decor lightens everything up. The food is still as wonderful. Our favorites include the scallops and the paella. Love the tapas menu for a lighter option, especially the queso frito. Delicious brulee. Fantastic wine list. One of our neighborhood favorites. more
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Menu for El Meson


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Dinner here is a cultural as well as culinary experience--an eye-opener to anyone who thinks Spanish and Mexican fare are the same thing. Rice and meat are staples: Order...

  • 5/3/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 11am-10pm Sun 4pm-8:30pm
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Carag, Calhoun Isles
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