Maya Palenque Restaurant

We stopped by last week to check out their happy hour that is from 2-7pm.They have a great selection of new drinks and bar bites. I hadn't been here for quite awhile so was delighted to see many positive changes. I loved the white corn tortilla chips with green and red salsas. Their guacamole is the best too. They also have daily specials now that are quite a deal. I really like the change in decor - the place has a much warmer open feel. I came with friends and we will be coming back... more

This is one of those places where the patrons ruin the entire atmosphere by getting way to drunk and the bar tender could care less.\r \r My girlfriend and I came here last night around 6 to have a margarita. We decided to play a game of pool and requested the next game by writing my name on the chalkboard. Standard at any bar when people don't get off the pool table. 3 day laborers decided they did not want to give up the table and started to disrespect my 100lb white girlfriend by making lewd gestures and telling her to go away.\r \r I kindly went over to them to discuss proper manners and they continued to try to take me outside and fight me in front of the bar/restaurant for one game of pool. I notified the bar tender that these 3 were harassing myself and my girlfriend and to remove them immediately. The bar tender began sticking up for the 3 men until other patrons started to side with us and complain as well. The bar tender waited until i got upset and demanded them to leave. more

This is one of those places where the patrons ruin the entire atmosphere by getting way to drunk and the bar tender could care less. My girlfriend and I came here last night around 6 to have a margarita. We decided to play a game of pool and requested the next game by writing my name on the chalkboard. Standard at any bar when people don't get off the pool table. 3 day laborers decided they did not want to give up the table and started to disrespect my 100lb white girlfriend by making lewd gestures and telling her to go away. I kindly went over to them to discuss proper manners and they continued to try to take me outside and fight me in front of the bar/restaurant for one game of pool. I notified the bar tender that these 3 were harassing myself and my girlfriend and to remove them immediately. The bar tender began sticking up for the 3 men until other patrons started to side with us and complain as well. The bar tender waited until i got upset and demanded them to leave. He eventually told them to leave when it was more of an issue then he wanted to hear about. As the men were leaving the bar tender shook down with them and told them to come back later. The men began flicking us off and making sexual gestures until they left. Minutes later the bar tender told us to leave with no good reason. I have left there manager/owner a complaint and they refuse any kind of apology. This place is bad news with a very bad bartender. He is short and pudgy with a goatee, light skin, and doesn't care about this business. I will never spend my money on a place that doesn't appreciate their customers and try to bring a safe atmosphere in what they call a restaurant. more

I don't know what all these people are talking about - I suspect the restaurant is planting these great reviews, because everyone I talk to hates the place. Cons: Everything more

I love this restaurant. The food is always good and plentiful. The atmosphere is fun. When I worked in Novato, we would go here all the time after work. It was a great place to hang out. I've also been here on dates -- it's not romantic, per se, but it's lots of fun. And the margaritas are really good. Plus, you can often find one of the members of Metallica here. I wish we had one of these in Minnesota! more

I have been here with my swim team after meets before. The food is pretty good, and there is lots of it per serving. The atmosphere is great for group events. Prices are reasonable as well. Parking is a little tough though. Definitely a better alternative to a place like Chevys. more

Firstly, you get an insane amount of food for not a whole lot of money. This isn't a place for a romantic first date, but it is a great place to go if you're with a group. more

They are so fun here! They are doing a recession special-2 crispy tacos & a margarita! So great and perfect for the times! I love that this place has a million plasma tv's and how they are always doing specials. Just talking to the bartender, they are have a ""March Madness"" deal with $2 Buds and wings/appetizer specials! It's great, cuz I love in Novato, and there is nothing going on. It's nice to see that I have a place to go, were everyone from the staff to the regulars are nice, the food is always so good, and cheap! Pros: food,strong drinks, plasma tvs, patio,great jukebox Cons: parking more

I ordered the biggest burrito Maya?s had to offer and to no surprise it was worth the investment. It was more than enough food to eat and every bite was splendid. The wait staff was pretty attentive as well and the ambiance of the restaurant was pretty cool too. Pros: more than enough food Cons: this place is not closer to SF more

There are SO many delicious dishes at the Maya Palenque! The dining room is family friendly with an awesome wait staff. Great food! Great drinks! The patio is wonderful on a warm summer night. Pros: Best ever top shelf margarita! more

I love going to Maya for some delicious Mexican food whenever I'm in Novato. The Fajitas and Margaritas are my favorites. Great portions at great affordable prices. The outdoor patio is great and the staff is very friendly. You have to try this place, you can't beat it. Pros: Food, Drinks, Service, Good for Familys and Gatherings Cons: Not enough parking space more

Has a great bar with more tequilas than usual and delicious margaritas. The food is very tasty and the service is fun and fast. I have enjoyed this restaurant for many years and plan to for the coming years. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. more

Maya's is one the friendliest restuarants I've been to. The staff is wonderful and so is the food. They are great for dinner, drinks and for parties they couldn't be better. My favorite dinner is the ""Unhealthy Marta"", you can't be healthy all the time. Give it try and you will be coming back for more. Pros: Service, Food and Margaritas Cons: Parking on a busy night more

Their airconditioning in this novato heat really helps this week! I love their mole sauce- deep choc, great texture. The cadiallac margaritas are just perfect- the cute bartender told me the secret is fresh lime and lemon juice. They even brought out a dog dish of water and gave me a pet menu! So fun! Pros: food-service-location! Cons: the blender for a house margarita isnt working all the time?!? more

I am so happy we moved to this area. Coming from SF, it's hard to find good mexican food. We really enjoyed the fajitas for 2- $20 and the mango margaritas. lots of tortillas- great home made rice. thank god they don't use lard like so many other places. we started with the chipolte chicken quesadilla- sooooo tasty. too much food though. really really liked the service too! very friendly! Pros: good food, good drinks Cons: so loud, very bright more

I got to choose the place of dining on this particular night and I didn't want to disappoint anyone. We were celebrating a co-workers birthday. And I'm very happy to say that no one was disappointed. The waiter brought over thier ""cazuela""...big punchbowl of alchohol with giant straws. That really set the mood. The margaritas were excellent (the Herradura tequila is wonderful) and the food was better than any mexican I've had in awhile. It was fun. No embarassing sombreros or stupid songs. We had really great service, our waiter was very attentive but not pushy in any way. Overall, it was a nice experience and I am definitely going back. Nextime we'll book it in the bar- it seemed more fun there & less family. more

The menu is authentically Mexican. Everything was sharable. ""Santos spicy pork tacos"" come close to what I had in Cozumel off the beach. I will have to say their mole is really tasty. Thick chocolatey-but layered with the chili & spices is quite nice. My kids always order off the kids menu, which is nice. They have american food. The kids are happy, we're happy having good tequila & their topshelf is fantastic. I think the large topshelf (even though its $3 more) isn't worth it. Too much lime juice then. Pros: open late &7days, outside deck-kid frie, ton of good tequila Cons: very bright & loud, parking is terrible, park around corner ok more

On our way home to Napa- we stopped and found this late night gem. Spicy filling chicken rice soup- had combo meal- uninspiring but obviously made there. Huge big screen- able to watch the playoffs in high def-nice touch. Hubby had the ""joes"" steak & mushroom quesadilla- good with chipolte. Had the ""lori's-low carb-steak/shrimp cheese fajitas. His was better than mine. Will be stopping back whenever we're on 101. Real easy on/off hwy. Seemed like ""regulars"" were the bulk of diners- waitress/waiters knew everyone by name- reall homey/comfortable. Pros: no wait, late night-weekends, big screen Cons: loud, neon more

I have lived in marin since the early 70's, and have been to this restaurant since it was a shack. I have seen this place morph into a really great restaurant. The additions on the menu are creative, tasty and affordable. With so many taquerias/restaurants/chains.... this is by far the standard by which other places should be judged. It's kitschy without being sickening. The family who owns it, makes you feel welcome. Service is spot on, and the food is terrific. The outdoor patio is great to enjoy a margarita & the summer. Pros: portions & price, tequila-selection, good staff Cons: family oriented, no reservations more

i love the fact that you can order more food other than a taco. they seem to have regional fare from the coast, a lot of seafood and steak and pork. the loud fun atmosphere was fun. my coworkers & i had a great time. the sampler platter ($13?) was huge for 3 people, and the ""lola's prawns"" are my new favorite. my friend got the ""sharon"" ($8steak & cheese enchiladas with salad) and really liked it. my other friend got the ""robert"" ($?-chorizo & cheese enchiladas with wings) with the $2 heineken- good deal. had a great time- so easy to get to from the highway. the parking is terrrible though! Pros: a lot of menu items, all inexpensive, -also american food Cons: parking more