I was introduced to El Maguey by my girlfriend about a year and a half ago and absolutely love it. We've eaten at numerous locations, and other than a few sub-par meals here and there the food is absolutely awesome. My personal favorite is the Chicken Quesadilla Fajita - the creamy cheese is delicious and the vegetables are cooked exactly as I like them. The chicken is also seasoned very well.\r
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I'm also a huge fan of their chips and salsa. For those looking for a ""chunky"" salsa it may not be for you, but I prefer the thinner varieties and to me it has just the right amount of heat to it. \r
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I suppose it would be nice if the rice had a little more ""kick"" but I do think it's quite good as-is. \r
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Another reviewer's comment about the seating at the O'Fallon, MO location is true; we've always been fortunate to be seated at a booth but we dread getting stuck at one of the tables in the middle of the dining room, and the ones at the front are very close to the doors and the checkout counter. The smoking section is completely separate from the non-smoking section though, which is a huge added bonus. The restaurant is always packed with a wide range of diners, from couples like my girlfriend and me to families with young children. \r
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The service is generally very good, although we have found the St. Charles location to be a little friendlier (that's not to say the O'Fallon servers are unfriendly or rude, but there is a difference). The food is ready amazingly fast, which is good as I tend to stuff myself with chips and salsa until it arrives.\r
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I'm not a huge expert on Mexican food, and I have a fairly limited pallet for Mexican foods that I like, but El Maguey has made me try new things which, to me, says a lot about the quality of food they serve.
Pros: Great food, fast service, well separated smoking area
Cons: O'Fallon location has crowded table seating.
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