Tastefully redone. Poor to average sonoran style mexican food. Exceptionally bland dishes. Woefully understaffed in the dining room. Terrible service, waited on everything. Even the chips and salsa lacked flavor. Great potential if they changed the recipies. The one highlight was the bartender, I believe her name is Harper. Delightful, accomodating and knows how to serve up a cocktail
(2)
Katherine H.
This was my first visit along with my husband and another couple. We came for Happy Hour, though we told the greeter that we may like dinner as well. She must have been having a bad day...very non-conversant, complained that the tables weren't clean as she had been off for 4 days. She gave us a nice booth after cleaning it and resetting it, and seemed generally disgruntled. The waitperson was, however, very friendly. We asked her about Happy Hour and she recited the beer, margaritas and house wines...she didn't mention the cost until asked. She did not discuss the Happy Hour food options, but the greeter walked by and gave us those menus. We decided to order from the regular menu...the Happy Hour menu looked good, but to order two items would have been almost as much as a dinner, so we went that route. One person ordered the special, chicken enchiladas in a white sauce and she said it was delicious. The men ordered carne seca chimichangas and said they were excellent. I ordered a vegetarian burro with black beans. I received a seafood burrito, which was fine, but not what I ordered and bland. When the waitperson returned, I told her about the mistake and she said it was a computer problem. I said it was okay. When we received our bill, we were charged the $16.95 for a seafood burro rather than the $9.95 for what I had ordered, as well as $2 more for each of the two beers ordered than the Happy Hour charge she had told us it would cost. When told about the error, she was very nice about fixing the mistake. Overall: good food, nice ambiance, but the management seems to be having some issues with organization and followup.
(2)
Roxanna S.
Really disappointing. Food was just decent, there was a bone in my taco salad, and the service was just slow and terrible. Worst part is that management didn't seem to care in the least when I complained. Won't be back, which is too bad since they're so convenient to my office.
(2)
Jose F.
I live near by and finally decided to give this place a try. The staff is very friendly which was good and why I give it 2 stars. The food was not so good. I had the mole Oaxaceño. The mole sauce was decent but the chicken was very rubbery and dry, as if it had been boiled for too long. My friend had fajitas and he struggles to cut through the steak as it was also very tough. I was hoping it would be good since it it is so close to my home.
(2)
miles c.
I'm an avid Yelper and normally won't try a restaurant that has less than 4 stars but a friend said some very good things about El Cisne so my wife and I decided to give it a try. To set the stage, my wife is Mexican (born in Mexico) and I have traveled extensively in Mexico and Central and South America; we both know our way around Mexican and Latino food/cuisine. We had brunch at El Cisne this morning. On first impression, the restaurant is very nicely appointed, quiet environment, pleasing Mexican music playing, and we were greeted by the hostess (Nancy). I ordered their chili relleno (always my test dish when trying a new Mexican restaurant). The chili relleno was absolutely excellent! A flavorful Anaheim chili stuffed with queso fresco, lightly battered, and fried with a light tomatillo sauce on top. This chili relleno was very comparable to those made by my 94 year old Mexican mother-in-law; definitely one of the best I have had and absolutely the best that I have had in Tucson. I followed the chili relleno with a house margarita, which was made from scratch--also difficult to find in Tucson. Many bartenders seem to want to use sweet and sour mix instead of keeping it simple and sticking to the original margarita recipe--it was delicious. My wife had the omellete espinaca, which she raved about. We topped off the breakfast with the coconut flan which was also delicious. I don't have a negative comment re: our experience. We'll definitely be back and we highly recommend El Cisne!!
(5)
Fiona S.
One word: fantastic. The mole sauce is one of the best I've ever had. All the ingredients are fresh and the flavors are terrific. The only negatives I use to be objective are the cocktail sauce for the shrimp cocktail could use some horseradish for a kick and the chips are a little flat.
(5)
Brenda L.
Went on a casual date with my husband and found this place to have a nice modern atmosphere for a Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Salsa and chips were brought immediately and the salsa was quite good. Then, things fell apart. I ordered the carne asada tacos.... the menu reads "diced Angus Sirloin" but what I received looked like dry leftover diced steak from the day before. Yuck. Husband ordered the Camarones Culiche . 6 medium shrimp and not filling. The best thing about this place is they have "Day of the Dead" porter which is FANTASTIC!
(3)
Karen D.
Delicious food and very strong margaritas. Their bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer and their chile rellenos are a must try. I love their chips and salsa as well. Use yelp coupon and go for happy hour!!
(5)
Lindi L.
Cinco de Mayo. Margarita and beer. Good food and the best salsa and beans anywhere! Having a fun evening with Frank.
(4)
Nancy C.
Hidden gem in strip mall. Very nice atmosphere in both restaurant and bar. You can actually carry on a conversation. Ok so that's the bones. Now the drinks. Oh marvelously mixed and shaken...super fresh mixes that are made from fresh squeezed fruits. The food. Did I already say fresh?? Oh so delicious salsa, light crispy corn chips, fresh lettuce, chiles, sauces.... Just the right amount of everything! How did I ever miss this place??? I recommend you check it out as soon as you can!
(5)
Jordi L.
Everything about my dinner here was amazing. The service was very friendly and fast. and the food was outstanding. I liked the romantic atmosphere, nice decorations and good ambiance. The food: For starters, my bf and I ordered the rellenos jalapenos. They were very good,on a nice bed of lettuce, tomato and side of tasty white sauce. I ordered the Mole chicken, which was outstanding. Very juicy and tender breast with incredibly flavorful mole sauce. Came with choice of beans, side tortilla and some lettuce and tomato. BF got a chimi, shredded beef, with red sauce and cheese on top. IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I kept stealing bites from his plate! We will definitely be back next time we visit Tuscon to try more dishes!
(5)
Robert C.
I went with a large group and the first thing was the staff which was incredibly friendly and attentive. Secondly, the food was served quickly and tasted great. We all had a fantastic time. They have quite a variety of dishes including seafood. I feel comfortable recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(4)
V F T.
Very good full service Sonaran Mexican restaurant. Very good service, fresh food and we'll presented. Seriously good salsas and fresh chips are always a winner. Good steaks and seafood too and ice cold beer. They also have a nice bar as well. Will definitely go back again.
(5)
Hank S.
When El Cisne first opened the food was ok, but now, in 2014, this Mexican Food joint has become a big rip off. Beware, when ordering, your waiter ask "do you want green or red sauce with that?".. he will follow with "and do you want sour cream and guacamole with that?". Well of course you do, thinking a small portion of each will be put on your plate at no extra cost. What the waiter doesn't say is that the sour cream and guac. are side dishes that'll will set you back an extra $5.50 for each "yes". Pure dishonesty! As for the food, it is just OK and will come to you warm, not hot, so that before you have a chance to finish your enchiladas, you'll be looking at cold cheese stuffed between and on top of a cold tortilla. Not a pleasant sight. Why not start with a really HOT food and a HOT plate? Oh, and did I mention that we sat waiting 45 minutes for our food to arrive?. The waiter was nice, but was waiting way too many tables at the same time. Even the woman helping him that came around while we were waiting, asking if we wanted more chips but then never brought them, was way over her head. Finally, be warned, the place a really quite talkie noisy; so if you have trouble hearing or just want a quiet meal, forget it! We will not eat here again.
(2)
Adrian G.
Well the food was decent right up until I opened my sons "to go cup drink with lid". When I looked inside there was a huge bug! OMG I am sick.
(1)
Mildred Kitty R.
We come here often and are never ever disappointed !!! There is wonderful music in the evenings!! Sangria is awesome
(5)
Tommy T.
Not impressed! High prices for below average food quality? owner I'm told is a gringo?
(1)
Jim D.
We went on a very crowded holiday evening so your experience may be different, but this is a restaurant trying very hard but missing something. We sat outside on the patio, which feels a bit like eating in a shopping center parking lot-needs more screening from the lot. At first we were ignored by the wait staff, but they tried hard to compensate and be attentive. The menu is very interesting but something's lacking. The food came out warm not hot. My strawberry mojito was very strong with little mojito flavoring. I'm thinking this place has the right intentions but the wrong execution.
(3)
Colin R.
I really tried to like this place because I heard it's the same owners of La Placita Cafe but El Cisne leaves you wanting. For starters, the ambiance is lacking. The tables are assembled in a large room without dividers. I personally prefer not to have other customers in full view while I'm trying to have an intimate dinner. This could be easily changed by rearranging things a bit. The "fresh" guacamole that came out had that smell of left over food with a slight souring that said "I'm old-don't eat me!" The highlight was the tortilla soup but you must ask for a side of pico de gallo and throw it in the soup to make it tasty. Otherwise, it was a bit bland. This was the second time I tried El Cisne-not sure there will be a third
(2)
Maria D.
Delicious! Good, authentic Mexican food. Best chile relleno I have ever had, not like most restaurants, this place actually takes their time and removes all the seeds.
(4)
Steve R.
Had the Carne Seca Tacos. Delish! Was just back again for the Cheese Enchiladas...yum!
(4)
Sheri K.
Tonight we both had the Enchiladas. John had the chicken and I had the beef. The beef enchilada had a nice smoky barbecue flavor, with very tender beef. It was served with rice and beans cooked to perfection along with some very fresh salad. The flavors worked very well together and I thought that I had hit the dinning jackpot of the evening until I tried John's chicken enchilada. Our original plan was to each order a different dish and share. Once I tasted the chicken enchilada, I knew John would not be sharing his. The chicken was tender with the seasoning just perfect. It seemed to melt in my mouth. I have not had an enchilada this good in over 20 years. Don't get me wrong the beef enchilada was fantastic, its just that the Chef managed to make the chicken enchilada even better. We have also tried the Carne Con Chili/Beef Burrito both Red and Green with and with out beans. All versions were wonderful. The Topopo Salad which is a meal in itself. In my experience you either get a great Topopo Salad or never order it again. El Cisne makes a wonderful Topopo Salad. The Carne Con Chili De Vaquero Sonora is a go to dish for John. The only desert that we have tried were the Sopaillas which were just perfect. They never seem to have a problem leaving the cheese off a dish or telling us that a dish can not be made dairy free.
(5)
Rick F.
Great dinner and service! All of our meals were authentic, fresh and well prepared. The atmosphere was great with live music but not the typical guy with sombrero walking around singing... just good Latino tunes. We could still carry on a nice conversation. The price we paid for dinner was appropriate. Good sized portions and because the food was so good we ate too much! Would definitely recommend and will return!
(4)
David R.
Have only been here once, but loved the food and service. Typical entree price is about $10-15 range. Perhaps a bit expensive for parts of Tucson, but not for the foothills. The food was delicious and came out fast. Really hit the spot.
(4)
Denise B.
We live nearby and really like this place. The ingredients are very fresh and flavors good. The atmosphere is relaxed and the owners very personable. They catered our wedding reception too and they did a great job. It is our neighborhood go to place!
(5)
Rowan O.
Delicious food. Amazing service, they make you feel like you are the only one there while there is still an exciting electric feel around you. Very authentic with lots of live music.
(5)
Captain M.
Been here twice and I love it! One of my favorite dishes are tamales and so when I try a new Mexican restaurant this is what I usually order. This restaurant serves the best tamale I ever had! They were light and fluffy and full of flavor. I got one corn and one beef and each were delicious. Best part, I didn't feel like I just ate a heart attack. They do not taste heavy with oil. The beans were great. They are not over salted so some might find them bland but i like that I can actually taste the real bean flavor. We will returning frequently.
(4)
Sandy M.
I grew up in Tucson and Mi Nidito has been our favorite family restaurant for decades. I was very impressed with El Cisne. It's becoming difficult to find a Mexican restaurant that serves real cotija cheese, rather than grated cheddar/monterey jack (ugh). So that is a definite plus. On a recent lunch (I was visiting from out of town) I had the ceviche, which was delicious. My friend had the chicken flautas, which were totally delicious. The chips/salsa were tasty. Service was attentive, altho we were there for a late lunch, and few patrons were there. I will definitely add this to my "go to" places for authentic Mexican food when I visit Tucson.
(4)
Amy P.
Love the food, they use authentic Mexican cheeses and this us a must for me. Love the chilireleno and enchiladas great rice pudding and flan staff very accommodate thank you for a great meal
(5)
Helen C.
OMG- the best and freshest seafood! The Seabass is a winner. The Chrizo stuffed mushrooms appetizer was delicious. Nice light Mexican menue. Come, you will enjoy!
(5)
Chris S.
Wonderful food, hot salsa and live guitar. Service was friendly and professional. Ambiance semi-formal but relaxed,
(4)
Betsy B.
I was with a group of people and most said their food was cold. I thought the staff tried to accommodate our group and be attentive but things didn't work as well as it should have done. I thought the chips and salsa were good. My dish wasn't cold and was decently tasteful. It could be difficult to find since it is in a shopping mall with an Ace Hardware, McDonalds and Bank of America. Parking is in the shopping mall lot. I think the inside is laid out nicely but some things need work.
(3)
Ashley M.
El Cisne has a lot going for them...but then again...maybe not...I actually think the food was the best thing about this place. I walked in and immediately commented on how beautiful it was. Leaps and Bounds above the Papagayo it used to be. We were greeted by the manager who showed us to our table. I thought that was a nice touch. Then the trouble started....took about 10 to 15 minutes for the server to arrive to the table. The service was "eh". Less server, more order taker (anyone in the restaurant industry knows the difference). We got the best service from our busser/food runner and a neighboring server (who I think also tends bar on occasion) than we did our own server. I ordered a house margarita, which was satisfactory, but could have been better. It came time to order. My father ordered an appetizer of jalapeno rellenos and tortilla soup, I ordered the chile rellenos, my toddler a quesadilla and my husband got Shrimp Chuchie (spelling?). We waited....and waited...and waited....my husband and I sat with empty drinks for quite some time before I summoned the busser and asked if she could have our server come back. We finally got our drinks refilled, then waited...and waited...and waited. The restaurant was only a quarter full so we couldn't understand the hold up. Finally after about 30 min and a fussy toddler, my father flagged the manager down. The manager didn't ask what we needed, just said "Ill go check on your food." I cant decide if that was a good move or not, but shortly thereafter the service staff came out with our food. The server waited to tell me until my plate was in front of me that they had only one chile relleno left instead of the 2 I ordered, so she decided to plate my dish with one regular chile relleno and one seafood chile relleno at the price of just one chile relleno. My first thought was, sweet free seafood. My second thought was, well good thing I don't have a seafood allergy, because otherwise I would be waiting a lot longer for them to remake the plate. Luckily the food was fantastic. Perhaps slightly gringo, but still delicious. Everything I ate I enjoyed immensely. Finally the manager appears and apologizes for the long wait, and explains there was a large party who ordered right before us (kind of an excuse but not really). He did inform us the would be buying us dessert. So at the end of the meal, well almost, I was still eating, the service staff came out with three beautiful desserts: Homemade milk cake and two types of flan. They were amazing. Because I enjoyed the food sooo much is the only reason I'll be giving El Cisne another try.
(3)
Chris W.
We had a very good meal here - the scallops and ceviche apps, the culiche shrimp, and the marinated pork tenderloin were all excellently prepared and presented. We will be returning for more!
(4)
Erik L.
Came here tonight with some friends. We were seated very fast. The service was quick and our waiter was very nice. They brought out complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is amazing! I got the pork tenderloin, which was very tender with great flavor. My friends got a chimichunga and the chicken in mushroom sauce. Both really liked the meals. Unfortunately we we all too full to try any of the desserts, but we will definitely be back.
(5)
Richard K.
We were referred there by the DeGracia Museum, and three of us ate and all three found it to be very good and actually so delicious and ambiance very very nice as well and service could not have been better
(5)
Tim G.
In a town brimming with delicious Mexican food, El Cisne doesn't make a strong argument for its existence. Its atmosphere is perfectly pleasant, its staff are nice, the live music enhances the experience ... but the center of it all, the food, is just okay. It's safe, unadventurous. It's Mexican cuisine with the edges smoothed to suit the tastes of upper-middle-class suburbia. And there's no question that you could do better, being 50 miles from the border. Portions and pricing are 'meh'. The taco dinners are ridiculously tiny: two itty-bitty tacos with some rice and beans on the side. Chips at the center of the table are nice, and the staff is very attentive about making sure everything stays topped off. I don't know - I want to like this place, but given the options out there in a town like this, I can't see myself going back.
(3)
Monica M.
We ordered ceviche, chicken mole, and the beef fajitas. The food was excellent and came out exceptionally fast. The tortillas tasted like they were homemade. This is an upscale Mexican restaurant and the prices reflect it. The mole was $16.95 and the beef fajitas were $13.95. They have quite a number of seafood specialties that I would like to try on another visit. The decor/ambience is modern and welcoming. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was the portion size. Granted many Mexican restaurants give you an over abundance of food, but for the price, the portion size left me a little disappointed.
(4)
Christopher R.
I really like this restaurant because it gives good food and the environment awesome! The interior is classy decor, and there is a small patio out front. The lunch menu is reasonably priced too, though out doesn't include some of the more interesting things on the dinner menu such as Mexican fish soup. Salsa is spicy and fresh!
(5)
Bob B.
We went here for Mother's Day as everywhere else we tried was booked. Restaurant was nearly empty. Service was extremely slow as if still suffering from opening and learning jitters. Food was nearly excellent. All requests were promptly fulfilled. Children tolerated very well. Prices were extremely reasonable. Best salsa culiche (poblano based cooking sauce) I have ever had in a restaurant here. Only complaint was "real crab" stuffed jalapenos had "krab," were cold in the center and volcanically spicy (take out the seeds and veins!). I would rate the restaurant 4 except for the service. Improve! Advertise!
(3)
maud r.
Food is OK, chips and salsa ARE good. Service was terrible. There was a wedding party in half the restaurant and evidently owner or son didn't hire enough staff. We waited at least 20 min. for our check, I finally got up and went to the bar where the wait person was and asked for the check. Still waited at least ten more minutes and then asked the hostess for our check. Another 5 minute wait. Finally got the bill and waited and waited for the credit card to be returned. It felt like ALL of the staff did not care from the owners son down to the wait persons. Will not return. Too bad because the restaurant is laid out well with a pleasant interior yet with uncaring people running it what good does the pleasant interior do?
(1)
Anne W.
I have been so looking forward to this restaurant since they put up their sign months ago. With Nicos closing in the area, there is no place to grab a taco or some salsa. I knew it would be upscale given the name, area and how long they spent redoing it. But, still I was excited. Now, I am terribly disappointed. First, as soon as I walked in I was over powered by the smell of fish. Most of the fish restaurants I've been to smell less like fish than this place. The interior of the place is drab and unremarkable given how long they spent working on it. But worst of all, the food is awful and so is the service. Their one redeeming quality is their salsa which I really liked so they got 2 stars instead of 1. I ordered the tortilla soup (they only have bowls of soup not cups which is annoying) and beef tacos. They arrived at the same time. The waitress commented that the taco plate was very hot so I should take my time eating the soup. Given the prices on the menu and the ambiance of the place, I had planned on taking my time eating my soup without my tacos staring at me. But, there I was. The soup was okay. Just broth, cheese and a bunch of soggy fried tortilla strips. I prefer my fried tortilla strips to not be soggy in my soup. It made me wonder how long it had been sitting in the kitchen waiting for someone to order it. There was no chicken in the soup which is the first time I've ever had tortilla soup with no chicken in it. Before I even finished my soup, my waitress came back and asked if I needed anything else. I said no. So, she put my check on the table and said she would be my cashier. What?! Was I in a Denny's? No, I probably would have gotten better service there. I was actually in a high-end restaurant and they apparently wanted to get rid of me. Perhaps that left a sour taste in my mouth but the tacos were nothing special; the meat was bland and, like the soup, the taco shell was soggy. The chips tasted like they came out of a bag. I hate that in Mexican restaurants. It's not hard to make our own chips. The tortilla holding the taco was very yummy even though it was soggy so they do have the ability to make yummy tortillas. Why not use them for chips? I also ordered a margarita. One of the worst I've had in Tucson and served in a water glass. Seriously? They couldn't find a better glass than a water glass? The waitress never came by again until I put my credit card out. A girl came by after I finished my soup and took the bowl away. But that was it. No water refill, no one asking if I wanted another margarita, nothing. There were only a few other tables and she wasn't waiting on them so I don't know where she was. So, sadly, there is still no place for me to get tacos in this part of the Foothills because I will not be back to this restaurant.
(2)
Amber K.
Delicious food and wonderful service! Entire wait staff was attentive - refilling soda, chips and salsa. They even surprised us with complementary dessert! We will be back!!
(5)
Kim P.
Not good....just boil a chicken breast and pour packaged sauce over....the flour tortillas were the high point....also rice was good. Server was nice. It was sort of late, and I was the only one there....should have had room service!
(1)
Mattie M.
Arrived at 6 and was seated right away. Would recommend reservations. Service was very slow. Food was good but not great. For the price I didn't think it was worth it.
(3)
Marie J.
We followed a food truck to this location and while we were waiting for our food we saw this restaurant. We decided next time we wanted mexican we would try it. About a week later we came back and had the most mediocre mexican food I have had in a long time. It seemed fresh and well cooked but it lacked flavor. We had a cheese crisp topped with carne seca. The carne seca was a good quality meat but totally lacked any flavor. It could have been served in a hospital. We tried the red chile chimi next. It had a rich red sauce you could see but it also lacked flavor. The salsa was the only thing that had any sort of taste but was heavy on the garlic I prefer my mexican food to have a little kick so I do not think I will be coming back. If you know people who like mild flavors, this is your place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Bob B.
Tastefully redone. Poor to average sonoran style mexican food. Exceptionally bland dishes. Woefully understaffed in the dining room. Terrible service, waited on everything. Even the chips and salsa lacked flavor. Great potential if they changed the recipies. The one highlight was the bartender, I believe her name is Harper. Delightful, accomodating and knows how to serve up a cocktail
(2)Katherine H.
This was my first visit along with my husband and another couple. We came for Happy Hour, though we told the greeter that we may like dinner as well. She must have been having a bad day...very non-conversant, complained that the tables weren't clean as she had been off for 4 days. She gave us a nice booth after cleaning it and resetting it, and seemed generally disgruntled. The waitperson was, however, very friendly. We asked her about Happy Hour and she recited the beer, margaritas and house wines...she didn't mention the cost until asked. She did not discuss the Happy Hour food options, but the greeter walked by and gave us those menus. We decided to order from the regular menu...the Happy Hour menu looked good, but to order two items would have been almost as much as a dinner, so we went that route. One person ordered the special, chicken enchiladas in a white sauce and she said it was delicious. The men ordered carne seca chimichangas and said they were excellent. I ordered a vegetarian burro with black beans. I received a seafood burrito, which was fine, but not what I ordered and bland. When the waitperson returned, I told her about the mistake and she said it was a computer problem. I said it was okay. When we received our bill, we were charged the $16.95 for a seafood burro rather than the $9.95 for what I had ordered, as well as $2 more for each of the two beers ordered than the Happy Hour charge she had told us it would cost. When told about the error, she was very nice about fixing the mistake. Overall: good food, nice ambiance, but the management seems to be having some issues with organization and followup.
(2)Roxanna S.
Really disappointing. Food was just decent, there was a bone in my taco salad, and the service was just slow and terrible. Worst part is that management didn't seem to care in the least when I complained. Won't be back, which is too bad since they're so convenient to my office.
(2)Jose F.
I live near by and finally decided to give this place a try. The staff is very friendly which was good and why I give it 2 stars. The food was not so good. I had the mole Oaxaceño. The mole sauce was decent but the chicken was very rubbery and dry, as if it had been boiled for too long. My friend had fajitas and he struggles to cut through the steak as it was also very tough. I was hoping it would be good since it it is so close to my home.
(2)miles c.
I'm an avid Yelper and normally won't try a restaurant that has less than 4 stars but a friend said some very good things about El Cisne so my wife and I decided to give it a try. To set the stage, my wife is Mexican (born in Mexico) and I have traveled extensively in Mexico and Central and South America; we both know our way around Mexican and Latino food/cuisine. We had brunch at El Cisne this morning. On first impression, the restaurant is very nicely appointed, quiet environment, pleasing Mexican music playing, and we were greeted by the hostess (Nancy). I ordered their chili relleno (always my test dish when trying a new Mexican restaurant). The chili relleno was absolutely excellent! A flavorful Anaheim chili stuffed with queso fresco, lightly battered, and fried with a light tomatillo sauce on top. This chili relleno was very comparable to those made by my 94 year old Mexican mother-in-law; definitely one of the best I have had and absolutely the best that I have had in Tucson. I followed the chili relleno with a house margarita, which was made from scratch--also difficult to find in Tucson. Many bartenders seem to want to use sweet and sour mix instead of keeping it simple and sticking to the original margarita recipe--it was delicious. My wife had the omellete espinaca, which she raved about. We topped off the breakfast with the coconut flan which was also delicious. I don't have a negative comment re: our experience. We'll definitely be back and we highly recommend El Cisne!!
(5)Fiona S.
One word: fantastic. The mole sauce is one of the best I've ever had. All the ingredients are fresh and the flavors are terrific. The only negatives I use to be objective are the cocktail sauce for the shrimp cocktail could use some horseradish for a kick and the chips are a little flat.
(5)Brenda L.
Went on a casual date with my husband and found this place to have a nice modern atmosphere for a Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Salsa and chips were brought immediately and the salsa was quite good. Then, things fell apart. I ordered the carne asada tacos.... the menu reads "diced Angus Sirloin" but what I received looked like dry leftover diced steak from the day before. Yuck. Husband ordered the Camarones Culiche . 6 medium shrimp and not filling. The best thing about this place is they have "Day of the Dead" porter which is FANTASTIC!
(3)Karen D.
Delicious food and very strong margaritas. Their bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer and their chile rellenos are a must try. I love their chips and salsa as well. Use yelp coupon and go for happy hour!!
(5)Lindi L.
Cinco de Mayo. Margarita and beer. Good food and the best salsa and beans anywhere! Having a fun evening with Frank.
(4)Nancy C.
Hidden gem in strip mall. Very nice atmosphere in both restaurant and bar. You can actually carry on a conversation. Ok so that's the bones. Now the drinks. Oh marvelously mixed and shaken...super fresh mixes that are made from fresh squeezed fruits. The food. Did I already say fresh?? Oh so delicious salsa, light crispy corn chips, fresh lettuce, chiles, sauces.... Just the right amount of everything! How did I ever miss this place??? I recommend you check it out as soon as you can!
(5)Jordi L.
Everything about my dinner here was amazing. The service was very friendly and fast. and the food was outstanding. I liked the romantic atmosphere, nice decorations and good ambiance. The food: For starters, my bf and I ordered the rellenos jalapenos. They were very good,on a nice bed of lettuce, tomato and side of tasty white sauce. I ordered the Mole chicken, which was outstanding. Very juicy and tender breast with incredibly flavorful mole sauce. Came with choice of beans, side tortilla and some lettuce and tomato. BF got a chimi, shredded beef, with red sauce and cheese on top. IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I kept stealing bites from his plate! We will definitely be back next time we visit Tuscon to try more dishes!
(5)Robert C.
I went with a large group and the first thing was the staff which was incredibly friendly and attentive. Secondly, the food was served quickly and tasted great. We all had a fantastic time. They have quite a variety of dishes including seafood. I feel comfortable recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(4)V F T.
Very good full service Sonaran Mexican restaurant. Very good service, fresh food and we'll presented. Seriously good salsas and fresh chips are always a winner. Good steaks and seafood too and ice cold beer. They also have a nice bar as well. Will definitely go back again.
(5)Hank S.
When El Cisne first opened the food was ok, but now, in 2014, this Mexican Food joint has become a big rip off. Beware, when ordering, your waiter ask "do you want green or red sauce with that?".. he will follow with "and do you want sour cream and guacamole with that?". Well of course you do, thinking a small portion of each will be put on your plate at no extra cost. What the waiter doesn't say is that the sour cream and guac. are side dishes that'll will set you back an extra $5.50 for each "yes". Pure dishonesty! As for the food, it is just OK and will come to you warm, not hot, so that before you have a chance to finish your enchiladas, you'll be looking at cold cheese stuffed between and on top of a cold tortilla. Not a pleasant sight. Why not start with a really HOT food and a HOT plate? Oh, and did I mention that we sat waiting 45 minutes for our food to arrive?. The waiter was nice, but was waiting way too many tables at the same time. Even the woman helping him that came around while we were waiting, asking if we wanted more chips but then never brought them, was way over her head. Finally, be warned, the place a really quite talkie noisy; so if you have trouble hearing or just want a quiet meal, forget it! We will not eat here again.
(2)Adrian G.
Well the food was decent right up until I opened my sons "to go cup drink with lid". When I looked inside there was a huge bug! OMG I am sick.
(1)Mildred Kitty R.
We come here often and are never ever disappointed !!! There is wonderful music in the evenings!! Sangria is awesome
(5)Tommy T.
Not impressed! High prices for below average food quality? owner I'm told is a gringo?
(1)Jim D.
We went on a very crowded holiday evening so your experience may be different, but this is a restaurant trying very hard but missing something. We sat outside on the patio, which feels a bit like eating in a shopping center parking lot-needs more screening from the lot. At first we were ignored by the wait staff, but they tried hard to compensate and be attentive. The menu is very interesting but something's lacking. The food came out warm not hot. My strawberry mojito was very strong with little mojito flavoring. I'm thinking this place has the right intentions but the wrong execution.
(3)Colin R.
I really tried to like this place because I heard it's the same owners of La Placita Cafe but El Cisne leaves you wanting. For starters, the ambiance is lacking. The tables are assembled in a large room without dividers. I personally prefer not to have other customers in full view while I'm trying to have an intimate dinner. This could be easily changed by rearranging things a bit. The "fresh" guacamole that came out had that smell of left over food with a slight souring that said "I'm old-don't eat me!" The highlight was the tortilla soup but you must ask for a side of pico de gallo and throw it in the soup to make it tasty. Otherwise, it was a bit bland. This was the second time I tried El Cisne-not sure there will be a third
(2)Maria D.
Delicious! Good, authentic Mexican food. Best chile relleno I have ever had, not like most restaurants, this place actually takes their time and removes all the seeds.
(4)Steve R.
Had the Carne Seca Tacos. Delish! Was just back again for the Cheese Enchiladas...yum!
(4)Sheri K.
Tonight we both had the Enchiladas. John had the chicken and I had the beef. The beef enchilada had a nice smoky barbecue flavor, with very tender beef. It was served with rice and beans cooked to perfection along with some very fresh salad. The flavors worked very well together and I thought that I had hit the dinning jackpot of the evening until I tried John's chicken enchilada. Our original plan was to each order a different dish and share. Once I tasted the chicken enchilada, I knew John would not be sharing his. The chicken was tender with the seasoning just perfect. It seemed to melt in my mouth. I have not had an enchilada this good in over 20 years. Don't get me wrong the beef enchilada was fantastic, its just that the Chef managed to make the chicken enchilada even better. We have also tried the Carne Con Chili/Beef Burrito both Red and Green with and with out beans. All versions were wonderful. The Topopo Salad which is a meal in itself. In my experience you either get a great Topopo Salad or never order it again. El Cisne makes a wonderful Topopo Salad. The Carne Con Chili De Vaquero Sonora is a go to dish for John. The only desert that we have tried were the Sopaillas which were just perfect. They never seem to have a problem leaving the cheese off a dish or telling us that a dish can not be made dairy free.
(5)Rick F.
Great dinner and service! All of our meals were authentic, fresh and well prepared. The atmosphere was great with live music but not the typical guy with sombrero walking around singing... just good Latino tunes. We could still carry on a nice conversation. The price we paid for dinner was appropriate. Good sized portions and because the food was so good we ate too much! Would definitely recommend and will return!
(4)David R.
Have only been here once, but loved the food and service. Typical entree price is about $10-15 range. Perhaps a bit expensive for parts of Tucson, but not for the foothills. The food was delicious and came out fast. Really hit the spot.
(4)Denise B.
We live nearby and really like this place. The ingredients are very fresh and flavors good. The atmosphere is relaxed and the owners very personable. They catered our wedding reception too and they did a great job. It is our neighborhood go to place!
(5)Rowan O.
Delicious food. Amazing service, they make you feel like you are the only one there while there is still an exciting electric feel around you. Very authentic with lots of live music.
(5)Captain M.
Been here twice and I love it! One of my favorite dishes are tamales and so when I try a new Mexican restaurant this is what I usually order. This restaurant serves the best tamale I ever had! They were light and fluffy and full of flavor. I got one corn and one beef and each were delicious. Best part, I didn't feel like I just ate a heart attack. They do not taste heavy with oil. The beans were great. They are not over salted so some might find them bland but i like that I can actually taste the real bean flavor. We will returning frequently.
(4)Sandy M.
I grew up in Tucson and Mi Nidito has been our favorite family restaurant for decades. I was very impressed with El Cisne. It's becoming difficult to find a Mexican restaurant that serves real cotija cheese, rather than grated cheddar/monterey jack (ugh). So that is a definite plus. On a recent lunch (I was visiting from out of town) I had the ceviche, which was delicious. My friend had the chicken flautas, which were totally delicious. The chips/salsa were tasty. Service was attentive, altho we were there for a late lunch, and few patrons were there. I will definitely add this to my "go to" places for authentic Mexican food when I visit Tucson.
(4)Amy P.
Love the food, they use authentic Mexican cheeses and this us a must for me. Love the chilireleno and enchiladas great rice pudding and flan staff very accommodate thank you for a great meal
(5)Helen C.
OMG- the best and freshest seafood! The Seabass is a winner. The Chrizo stuffed mushrooms appetizer was delicious. Nice light Mexican menue. Come, you will enjoy!
(5)Chris S.
Wonderful food, hot salsa and live guitar. Service was friendly and professional. Ambiance semi-formal but relaxed,
(4)Betsy B.
I was with a group of people and most said their food was cold. I thought the staff tried to accommodate our group and be attentive but things didn't work as well as it should have done. I thought the chips and salsa were good. My dish wasn't cold and was decently tasteful. It could be difficult to find since it is in a shopping mall with an Ace Hardware, McDonalds and Bank of America. Parking is in the shopping mall lot. I think the inside is laid out nicely but some things need work.
(3)Ashley M.
El Cisne has a lot going for them...but then again...maybe not...I actually think the food was the best thing about this place. I walked in and immediately commented on how beautiful it was. Leaps and Bounds above the Papagayo it used to be. We were greeted by the manager who showed us to our table. I thought that was a nice touch. Then the trouble started....took about 10 to 15 minutes for the server to arrive to the table. The service was "eh". Less server, more order taker (anyone in the restaurant industry knows the difference). We got the best service from our busser/food runner and a neighboring server (who I think also tends bar on occasion) than we did our own server. I ordered a house margarita, which was satisfactory, but could have been better. It came time to order. My father ordered an appetizer of jalapeno rellenos and tortilla soup, I ordered the chile rellenos, my toddler a quesadilla and my husband got Shrimp Chuchie (spelling?). We waited....and waited...and waited....my husband and I sat with empty drinks for quite some time before I summoned the busser and asked if she could have our server come back. We finally got our drinks refilled, then waited...and waited...and waited. The restaurant was only a quarter full so we couldn't understand the hold up. Finally after about 30 min and a fussy toddler, my father flagged the manager down. The manager didn't ask what we needed, just said "Ill go check on your food." I cant decide if that was a good move or not, but shortly thereafter the service staff came out with our food. The server waited to tell me until my plate was in front of me that they had only one chile relleno left instead of the 2 I ordered, so she decided to plate my dish with one regular chile relleno and one seafood chile relleno at the price of just one chile relleno. My first thought was, sweet free seafood. My second thought was, well good thing I don't have a seafood allergy, because otherwise I would be waiting a lot longer for them to remake the plate. Luckily the food was fantastic. Perhaps slightly gringo, but still delicious. Everything I ate I enjoyed immensely. Finally the manager appears and apologizes for the long wait, and explains there was a large party who ordered right before us (kind of an excuse but not really). He did inform us the would be buying us dessert. So at the end of the meal, well almost, I was still eating, the service staff came out with three beautiful desserts: Homemade milk cake and two types of flan. They were amazing. Because I enjoyed the food sooo much is the only reason I'll be giving El Cisne another try.
(3)Chris W.
We had a very good meal here - the scallops and ceviche apps, the culiche shrimp, and the marinated pork tenderloin were all excellently prepared and presented. We will be returning for more!
(4)Erik L.
Came here tonight with some friends. We were seated very fast. The service was quick and our waiter was very nice. They brought out complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is amazing! I got the pork tenderloin, which was very tender with great flavor. My friends got a chimichunga and the chicken in mushroom sauce. Both really liked the meals. Unfortunately we we all too full to try any of the desserts, but we will definitely be back.
(5)Richard K.
We were referred there by the DeGracia Museum, and three of us ate and all three found it to be very good and actually so delicious and ambiance very very nice as well and service could not have been better
(5)Tim G.
In a town brimming with delicious Mexican food, El Cisne doesn't make a strong argument for its existence. Its atmosphere is perfectly pleasant, its staff are nice, the live music enhances the experience ... but the center of it all, the food, is just okay. It's safe, unadventurous. It's Mexican cuisine with the edges smoothed to suit the tastes of upper-middle-class suburbia. And there's no question that you could do better, being 50 miles from the border. Portions and pricing are 'meh'. The taco dinners are ridiculously tiny: two itty-bitty tacos with some rice and beans on the side. Chips at the center of the table are nice, and the staff is very attentive about making sure everything stays topped off. I don't know - I want to like this place, but given the options out there in a town like this, I can't see myself going back.
(3)Monica M.
We ordered ceviche, chicken mole, and the beef fajitas. The food was excellent and came out exceptionally fast. The tortillas tasted like they were homemade. This is an upscale Mexican restaurant and the prices reflect it. The mole was $16.95 and the beef fajitas were $13.95. They have quite a number of seafood specialties that I would like to try on another visit. The decor/ambience is modern and welcoming. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was the portion size. Granted many Mexican restaurants give you an over abundance of food, but for the price, the portion size left me a little disappointed.
(4)Christopher R.
I really like this restaurant because it gives good food and the environment awesome! The interior is classy decor, and there is a small patio out front. The lunch menu is reasonably priced too, though out doesn't include some of the more interesting things on the dinner menu such as Mexican fish soup. Salsa is spicy and fresh!
(5)Bob B.
We went here for Mother's Day as everywhere else we tried was booked. Restaurant was nearly empty. Service was extremely slow as if still suffering from opening and learning jitters. Food was nearly excellent. All requests were promptly fulfilled. Children tolerated very well. Prices were extremely reasonable. Best salsa culiche (poblano based cooking sauce) I have ever had in a restaurant here. Only complaint was "real crab" stuffed jalapenos had "krab," were cold in the center and volcanically spicy (take out the seeds and veins!). I would rate the restaurant 4 except for the service. Improve! Advertise!
(3)maud r.
Food is OK, chips and salsa ARE good. Service was terrible. There was a wedding party in half the restaurant and evidently owner or son didn't hire enough staff. We waited at least 20 min. for our check, I finally got up and went to the bar where the wait person was and asked for the check. Still waited at least ten more minutes and then asked the hostess for our check. Another 5 minute wait. Finally got the bill and waited and waited for the credit card to be returned. It felt like ALL of the staff did not care from the owners son down to the wait persons. Will not return. Too bad because the restaurant is laid out well with a pleasant interior yet with uncaring people running it what good does the pleasant interior do?
(1)Anne W.
I have been so looking forward to this restaurant since they put up their sign months ago. With Nicos closing in the area, there is no place to grab a taco or some salsa. I knew it would be upscale given the name, area and how long they spent redoing it. But, still I was excited. Now, I am terribly disappointed. First, as soon as I walked in I was over powered by the smell of fish. Most of the fish restaurants I've been to smell less like fish than this place. The interior of the place is drab and unremarkable given how long they spent working on it. But worst of all, the food is awful and so is the service. Their one redeeming quality is their salsa which I really liked so they got 2 stars instead of 1. I ordered the tortilla soup (they only have bowls of soup not cups which is annoying) and beef tacos. They arrived at the same time. The waitress commented that the taco plate was very hot so I should take my time eating the soup. Given the prices on the menu and the ambiance of the place, I had planned on taking my time eating my soup without my tacos staring at me. But, there I was. The soup was okay. Just broth, cheese and a bunch of soggy fried tortilla strips. I prefer my fried tortilla strips to not be soggy in my soup. It made me wonder how long it had been sitting in the kitchen waiting for someone to order it. There was no chicken in the soup which is the first time I've ever had tortilla soup with no chicken in it. Before I even finished my soup, my waitress came back and asked if I needed anything else. I said no. So, she put my check on the table and said she would be my cashier. What?! Was I in a Denny's? No, I probably would have gotten better service there. I was actually in a high-end restaurant and they apparently wanted to get rid of me. Perhaps that left a sour taste in my mouth but the tacos were nothing special; the meat was bland and, like the soup, the taco shell was soggy. The chips tasted like they came out of a bag. I hate that in Mexican restaurants. It's not hard to make our own chips. The tortilla holding the taco was very yummy even though it was soggy so they do have the ability to make yummy tortillas. Why not use them for chips? I also ordered a margarita. One of the worst I've had in Tucson and served in a water glass. Seriously? They couldn't find a better glass than a water glass? The waitress never came by again until I put my credit card out. A girl came by after I finished my soup and took the bowl away. But that was it. No water refill, no one asking if I wanted another margarita, nothing. There were only a few other tables and she wasn't waiting on them so I don't know where she was. So, sadly, there is still no place for me to get tacos in this part of the Foothills because I will not be back to this restaurant.
(2)Amber K.
Delicious food and wonderful service! Entire wait staff was attentive - refilling soda, chips and salsa. They even surprised us with complementary dessert! We will be back!!
(5)Kim P.
Not good....just boil a chicken breast and pour packaged sauce over....the flour tortillas were the high point....also rice was good. Server was nice. It was sort of late, and I was the only one there....should have had room service!
(1)Mattie M.
Arrived at 6 and was seated right away. Would recommend reservations. Service was very slow. Food was good but not great. For the price I didn't think it was worth it.
(3)Marie J.
We followed a food truck to this location and while we were waiting for our food we saw this restaurant. We decided next time we wanted mexican we would try it. About a week later we came back and had the most mediocre mexican food I have had in a long time. It seemed fresh and well cooked but it lacked flavor. We had a cheese crisp topped with carne seca. The carne seca was a good quality meat but totally lacked any flavor. It could have been served in a hospital. We tried the red chile chimi next. It had a rich red sauce you could see but it also lacked flavor. The salsa was the only thing that had any sort of taste but was heavy on the garlic I prefer my mexican food to have a little kick so I do not think I will be coming back. If you know people who like mild flavors, this is your place.
(2)