El Tapatia

I've been going to El Tapatio for about 4 years now only because people that I know like it. I think what you think of this place depends on your experience with Mexican cuisine. El Tapatio is pretty much chain-quality. If you are expecting more than that you might be disappointed. If you have been to some mexican restaurants in the Boston area such as Ole, then you'll know what I mean. Their carnitas is not like carnitas I've had at countless other mexican restaurants. It is surprisingly dry and their mole is too sweet. The best thing I've had their is their salsa. I'm not sure how authentic it is, but it tastes great and their chips are nice. Their refried beans taste canned and their guacamole is rather strange. I make my own guacamole frequently and I cannot figure out exactly what they put in theirs to attain its rather slimy texture. Perhaps it's canned. Don Jose Tequila's in Federal Hill is definitely a step up. Although I'm not a fan, I know a lot of people who love it there. If I'm in the mood for Mexican I head to Don Jose Tequila's or Chipotle in Warwick (I know it's a chain but they make excellent carnitas!). All this said, the service is usually good though once I was served by an older gentleman who isn't very friendly. The atmosphere is very nice also. Overall it's decent but forgettable. Pros: Big, lots of tables, great atmosphere, easy parking Cons: Food more

If you avoid chain mexican restaurants like the plague, give El Tapatia a try. The food tastes very fresh and the waiter we had was very friendly and helpful ( I wanted to try something new and wasn't disappointed). This place gets crazy busy, so try going on an off night. I think they have mariachi music on Mondays. Some food was standard (though tasty) so I held it back from a 5 - but really this place is good. Pros: huge menu, fair prices, easy parking, food is good Cons: noisy and crowded more

I'm going to blaspheme, if you don't mind. For me, the best Tex-Mex I had ever had at a restaurant I had at a major chain restaurant called Chevy's. Well, Chevy's made some really dumb moves and was forced to close much of their recent expansion. This included my beloved location. For years I wandered, lost in a sea of mediocre, so-called ""Mexican"" restaurants. Ha! If any Mexican walked into these places and sampled what they called Mexican food they'd k ill the cook. I can barely describe how happy I was to find El Tapatio. A gem of traditional cooking hidden in Cranston. When you enter, you're struck by the color of the dining area. Not really Mexico, but close enough for a silly New Englander. The highlight are the hand-carved and painted chairs which give more color to the room than if a gay-pride parade exploded. And if you find yourself loving them, you can buy some. They're pricey, though. You are immediately served some of the best tortilla chips I've ever had. Crisp, warm, and just a little bit salty, they are pure delight. The salsa is just a little sweet and very tasty. Their chile con queso is FANTASTIC. If you go, you must get. Their menu is enormous. I've gone about a dozen times and still haven't sampled everything. Tradtional cooking is combined with some imagination and masterful skill. The chile con carne is dreamy, and their chimichangas are so good I get one almost every time. For dessert, they have the best fried ice cream in the solar system, and an apple chimichanga that's like deep-fried apple pie. So good it has to be illegal. I hesitate in giving it five stars because nothing on the menu made me stop and say ""Wow. This is truly amazing."" The desserts come close. Still, combined with cheap prices, perfect preparation, inventive atmosphere, desserts to die for, and prompt service, El Tapatio should get 4.5 stars, but Citysearch doesn't support that. El Tapatio: They built it. You should go. I sure do. At least once a month. more