Lupita is so amazing and sweet. We love her! She always takes the best care of us! I love the guacamole. I would come here just for the drinks and guacamole. The patio is awesome for nice days.
(5)
Brian F.
LaSandia has the BEST guacamole!!! Love their Happy Hour. :) $5,00 unlimited guacamole for 2. :)
(5)
Dan W.
This place was pretty good. I took a date there, good margs, good food, service was good too!
(4)
Derrick S.
Food and service was good as usual. The only issue I had was the giant bone I bit down on in my tacos on my last visit. Informed the staff but they acted like it wasn't a big deal..
(3)
Darby V.
Still great, but REALLY disappointed the Tres Leche is gone. Was best thing on the menu.
(4)
Cyndi J.
I liked the Park Meadows La Sandia, so I decided to try Northfield, since I had to shop. It started out rocky ... I was eating by myself, which for some reason makes people uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to do it for every meal, but sometimes it is peaceful! I sat at the bar for several minutes before even being greeted. I borrowed a menu from my kind bar neighbors. I ordered the Sandia margarita, which was a delightful concoction with watermelon and citrus. I restrained myself and had just one. It was lunchtime, after all. I had the steak fajitas - again - because I love them, and because it is hard for them to put cheese or sour creme or crema on them. They were quite delicious. My bartender/server did pay more attention to me after the initial rocky start, and for that, I am happy.
(4)
A N.
I tried the house poblano (all veggie). It was perfect. With black beans and cheese as well. Great flavor. I also tried the table side guac which was very good, fresh and bonus it was free with Yelp check in. Server was very attentive and let me try the habanero salsa in addition to the one that came with chips. Pretty loud inside, but lively not obnoxious. Outside seating available as well as upholstered low table seating in the bar area.
(5)
Kelli H.
La Sandia is a nice place for an after work happy hour - which is exactly what has brought me here the past two times. There is plenty of seating in their bar area that is comfortable and good for large groups. Their happy hour specials are pretty good. $3 beer and wine and $5-6 margaritas. My favorite is the prickly pear margarita. It comes out neon pink and with a rim of sugar. We also always order the spicy guacamole. It's prepared table-side, which is fun to watch and you can't beat the freshness.
(3)
Koda L.
I love the salsa, and the food is pretty good. I have tried a few different things and never been dissatisfied. I love, love, love the tres leches though. I think it is a little pricey but that is just an opinion.
(3)
Emily P.
Can't really even give this any stars. We went after work one evening & the 3 ladies at the hostess stand told us the wait would be 25-35 minutes but we had to give them our phone number for them to text us because they do not use pagers. We waited 40 minutes before losing patience & inquiring on the status of our table. They told us probably another 45 minutes! We asked to talk to the manager & the best they'd do was give us their card. We walked out. Not even any apologies. We'll never go again.
(1)
Shannon K.
I'm only giving this restaurant 1 star because I have to put something down. Probably the worst Mexican lunch I have ever had. Was wary when yelpers had collectively rated at 3 stars but figured I would give it a chance anyway... The fish in the fish tacos was puny and tasteless. The grilled chicken fajita plate had almost no vegetables with it- isn't that what fajitas are supposed to have? They were very thin pieces of peppers, nearly burned anyways. Huge disappointment
(1)
Morgan B.
Great guacamole. Made tableside, very flavorful. I would come back here for guac and drinks. However, the rest of the food was just meh. I had enchiladas, I can't remember what my husband had. Neither of us were blown away - it wasn't bad, but wasn't great. The service was slow. And I mean truly slow (with no "sorry about the wait" or anything). We sat there with empty drinks (and no food) for 15 minutes before she came to ask if we wanted more drinks - and then it took at least another ten to get them. Our food was lukewarm when it arrived - maybe because it also took a while. The waitress came by at some point and took my husband's empty water glass and didn't bring him any water for ten minutes so he went his whole meal without a water (the only drink he had by this point). I gave them three stars because I hope that the service is usually better than this and the guac was great but there's too many other good restaurants around for me to go back here unless I'm in the area.
(3)
James L.
Stopped in around brunch time. Fully suggest passing. Bartender asked I wanted a bottomless bloody marry. I groaned as I said "absolutely not." Which I think most people would understand as no. The bloody marry tasted like water. So imagine how pissed I was that I paid $15 for one, that I didn't finish. The chicken fajitas were just plain gross. The chicken reminded me something microwaved from a frozen bag. Visually it appeared to be seasoned. After tasting it, I think it was food coloring. So I got over charged and bad food. Please don't make the mistake I did.
(1)
Jamie S.
We had a wonderful lunch experience here this afternoon. It was a late lunch (3pm), so the restaurant wasn't busy, but we like it like that when we have our toddler in tow. We were greeted by the assistant manager who was so friendly. He asked if it was our first time there, and when we said that it was, he offered us some guacamole that they came to make table side (on him!). It was very fresh, and we really enjoyed it. Since I'm pregnant, we couldn't enjoy any alcohol, but their watermelon agua fresca was delicious! My son enjoyed some of it as well. For our main dishes, I got the cheese enchiladas, but substituted the red sauce instead of the usual green sauce that comes on it. It was SO good. It wasn't at all your typical, greasy enchilada dish. My husband got a signature chicken dish that the waitress suggested, and was thoroughly pleased. His rice was different than a traditional Mexican rice...it was a cheesy, almost risotto, type of rice that was delicious. The chicken was seasoned great, too. We will definitely come back, it was GREAT!
(5)
Ashley S.
This place is bomb!!! I have gone here a few times and have never been disappointed. The service is great along with the amazing food. Their marg's are delicious and so are the nachos, enchiladas and sliders to name a few of my fav's.
(5)
Lara W.
Great weight loss option....food poisoning at its finest. Hubby and I both got sick - could have been the guacamole or shrimp fajitas. This is not Mexican food, it's reheated, well-packaged poser crap. We won't be back.
(1)
Annie R.
Love the prickly pear margaritas and tableside quacamole!! Extended happy Hour is awesome and you can get drinks for $4-$6 and discounted food. Our server, Damon, was extremely helpful and made great recommendations. This is a good place for larger groups or to meet friends after work. However, if you're looking for a quiet place, this isn't the best. You can still find a few quieter corners.
(4)
Lorraine P.
The hotel we stayed at recommended this place. Nice ambiance, good margarita, but served in a plastic glass. Food not authentic at all! I would not eat here again except for maybe happy hour with a large group. Oh! On a positive note. The guacamole was homemade at our table!
(2)
Linda R.
We loved the atmosphere, drinks and food at La Sandia!
(5)
Andrea H.
Not as impressed as I thought I should have been. Heard recommendations and good reviews, sadly, the food didn't live up to my expectations. The drinks were small and weak, tasty however, the infused margaritas were refreshing. The happy hour tacos were tiny, I prefer my favorite 24 hour taco place for a tasty, hefty taco. Other than that, the service was friendly and attentive, really the only selling feature. The joint was clean, bathrooms decent and has a large seating area, lounge and bar.
(3)
Heather B.
The food was far from Mexican and my carnitas were so greasy and crunchy that could barely eat them. The rice was dry and the guac needed salt.
(2)
Paula H.
Thanks to Lori at the UCH Cancer Center for recommending La Sandia! Only a short walk from the Staybridge Suites so I hoofed it over to enjoy classic margaritas with a generous pour and even a small sample of their house-made horchata. Delicious fresh guacamole and chips were prepared at our table. The mushroom tacos were okay -- definitely not the best thing ever -- and my only gripe is that there were no other vegetarian options on the menu. Despite that, we enjoyed it!
(4)
James H.
Great happy hour! The guacamole is awesome despite the difficulty at which it is to screw it up. The salsa is tasty and the chips are nice and salty. Enjoy
(4)
Linda C.
Lovely decor, poor service, boring and completely average to below average food. Delicious mango margaritas.
(3)
Nancy A.
Wonderful happy hour! La Sandia offers a variety of food and drink specials. They even have pitchers of margarita and sangria for $19.95 - $21.85. Beautiful restaurant and they have a wonderful bar. We always sit in the bar area and order a couple of drinks and a few food items. The bartenders here are great also. Some food items they offer are: Tacos (choice of al pastor/beef barbocoa/chicken tinga/carnitas) $3 each or $5 for 10 Skillet Nachos $6 Quesadilla $5 Cantina Sampler (quesadillas, wings, taquitos, guacamole, chimichangas and green chili dip) $ 11 The Cantina Sampler is perfect to share with the table. It offers a variety of items for everyone to try!
(4)
Alexis R.
Was really excited to bring my boyfriend here for the first time, and the food was alright but I can no longer call it one of my favorites
(3)
Tracy S.
What the hell happened to La Sandia? I remember when the menu used to have more choices than just the basics. Where's the mole and variety of salsas with the chips? Menu is now lackluster and over priced when you can get authentic Mexican food for less price. Had a mojito that used sour mix which made it overly sour and gross. Everything served in plastic cups. Husband had a Mexican hefeweizen served lukewarm and didn't have the courtesy to provide a frosty mug. Guacamole is good and salsa is good. Beyond that don't waste your time or money. It's obvious this place is now cutting corners on all fronts. Waitress was nice hostesses very poor. The whole place looks unorganized. Probably should just give up and let something better take your spot in Park Meadows who is actually trying.
(2)
Juline H.
Hope our server was amazing, very attentive. The Mango margarita was amazing. I will definitely be back
(5)
Sarah V.
Alright, we made another trip to La Sandia, with a bit of hesitation. It was fantastic! It was everything that I have come to expect from a Richard Sandoval restaurant, which is a lot. We had a couple of their special offerings which included a coconut mojito, a pomegranate margarita and their house specialty the Cabo La Sandia. Now, I am not a fan of alcohol at all, I generally put it out there that I hate it but these drinks were insanely good! I drank a good part of each of them and enjoyed every single sip, I wish it was alcohol free so that I could have had 1,000 of them. I genuinely loved them. For an appetizer we had the La Sandia skillet nachos with steak on them, you could easily have this as a dinner entree and next time, I intend to. They were incredible and the serving size was so big that we couldn't even finish it because we knew we would be too full for dinner, and that was sad. For dinner I had the pulled chicken burrito but instead of chicken I had the carne asada. Can I tell you? It was so freaking delicious. I also got it with the additional cheese that is optional, because... well... cheese. I would get this again hands down. My husband got the Rellenos sampler, and he thought the veggie one was the very best, but they were all good. For dinner he got the carne asada steak which he loved (I thought it was a bit chewy), he thought it was great. The flavor was awesome. For dessert we got a bit of everything; a little bit of flan, a bit of tres-leches cake and some churros (my usual fave at other places). Flan and I have a spotted past, but this was really good, like... I would order it another time kind of good. The tres-leches, another dessert that I have had a rough time with, was delicious too! It wasn't dripping with milk, it was perfectly moist. The churros were fine, pretty good but not as good as the other two desserts. All-in-all, this experience has made me "believe in" La Sandia again. We will be back, soon! The manager Jason, was really helpful and great to deal with! He told us that they have a nacho night, I think on Monday, so we will be in for that :) It was lovely tonight!
(4)
CA T.
I took a friend because the food before was really good. What a disappointment, the service was horrible (they were out of Patron), the food was tasteless and the women's bathroom looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in weeks - it was nasty.
(1)
Matt W.
We have been searching for GOOD Mexican food ever since we moved to Denver from So Cal a few years ago. This place solves my picky wife's palette and mine. Both times we've gone we have done it sans kiddos. We're going to keep it that way. Friendly staff each time we go. Waiters and hosts all cover each other's tables so you never have to wait too long if you need something. All of the bars' drinks are made with fresh ingredients (the happy hour mojito puts the happy back into that hour). The specialty salmon, fresh chips, salsa and guac, and shredded beef enchiladas are pretty darn awesome.
(5)
Heather H.
My family loves this place! The guacamole is delicious! The watermelon mojito is yummy! Little pricy, but we'll worth the food. My favorite is the salmon with the masa corn.
(4)
Jesse Y.
Glad to find such a great restaurant in Stapleton. Delicious guacamole options--they have a "guac fest" going on this month which was fun. All of the staff were smiling and friendly, service was too notch. My family loved the appetizers and the variety offered in the trio entrees. I had fish tacos & they were tasty, but I added salsa to give them a kick. The sides of black beans and rice were amazing, I haven't had black beans like that since I was in Guatemala. Will definitely return, I am a big fan of the other Richard Sandoval restaurants in town and it's nice to see a more affordable option.
(4)
Paul F.
Fancy decor but there are much better places to eat, in Northfield. The best part, was the Flan. Tables have a horrible big center support post. Very uncomfortable seating. Drinks were mostly ice. The rest of the food, bland.
(2)
Jamie O.
Normally one of my favorite places. Ordered take out today, my food is on the back of the bar, wait Ober 10 minutes before I see a bartender. Needless to say, my food is cold and I'm late getting back to work. Not happy with lunch services at all!
(4)
Tammy O.
Excellent service and food!!! Would come back her if I'm in the area again. We had fish tacos, fajitas and the guacamole.
(5)
Abigail D.
The food is amazing! The prices are reasonable. The happy hour is, like, the best ever. BUT! The service is awful. I've been here about 5 times and every visits involves waiting around for far too long to even be greeted. The servers work so hard, I'm not bashing them, but they always seem understaffed. I see these servers running around all over trying to keep up when 3 tables don't have water yet. I mean, I'll keep going back, but I wish they had more servers on the floor.
(3)
Michelle G.
Every time I've visited, my server has been wonderful and knowledgeable. I love their guacamole, but even better are the cocktails. It's definitely not your traditional Mexican restaurant, and the atmosphere is trendy.
(5)
Stuart P.
This place has the bomb guacamole. Very impressed with the service and quality of food. The atmosphere is fun and festive. I had the chicken burrito and it was also very delicious. I will definitely be returning in the future.
(5)
Ramon G.
I've been back a few times since my first review. Unfortunately not much has changed. Service is really hit or miss. Super friendly or big time cold shoulder. The girl that made our guacamole didn't say a single word to us. Another waiter was super friendly and attentive. So hit or miss. And for some reason there is always some awkwardness being seated. Hard to describe. Now to the food- My favorite is the chefs family recipe item, chicken with a chipotle sauce and cheesy rice. Super flavorful and the right amount of heat. The salmon with achiote is probably my second favorite item. I will be back for brunch one day after eying the brunch menu. One last thing--what's up with the yellow strobe lights that blind you every time you look down at your plate? Depending where you get seated I feel like i'm eating dinner in a suntan booth.
(3)
Carlos P.
I liked this place a bit. The attention was good and the food was also good. They make guacamole on the spot, which I think it's awesome and it's really delicious. The ambience is good but sometimes it gets crowded and noise level goes up as well. Would recommend this site to people.
(4)
Kevin S.
Kim at the bar rocks! She always takes incredible care of us - ready with our drinks and amazingly great service. Thanks Kim!
(5)
Rob A.
We did the Stapleton Crawl for Halloween this year and Sandia's in North Field was the last stop. Our table host, Lupita, was awesome! She was able to discern exactly what would be the best dining experience for us, and delivered it with flawless expertise. Her knowledge and understanding of every item on the menu, was unmatched anywhere else. Bravo Lupita! And Bravo Sandia's North Field.
(5)
Megan B.
I work near the airport and it is really difficult to find a good place to eat around here! La Sandia has an amazing HH menu (thank you again Richard Sandoval...You got this whole HH thing DOWN)! I think their food is great! Some of my co-workers aren't huge fans...But I love it! I usually get their mixed fajitas and their guacamole is amazing! I've only been here for lunch and HH but it's a great little spot for those who work in the area!
(4)
Polly T.
Fantastic experience. Loved the table side Guac and Cadillac margarita!! Also the creamy corona corn and fajitas we're excellent. Service was perfect. I'd definitely go back!
(5)
Vincent V.
We have been here at least four times now and every time we have a great experience. The staff is friendly and helpful and very fast at getting things done. Tonight we had the chile relleno and the tinga burrito. Both were excellent in flavor, presentation and consistency. The chile wasn't an overly large portion and I kind of missed having chicken in it, but it was so delicious that it was easy to understand why the dish was prepared in the way they did. The atmosphere was very lively for a Wednesday evening. We were greeted promptly and were offered a choice of happy hour or regular menu. The inside decor has very warm red and brown tones and overall a very homey feel to it in a way. La Sandia is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the east Denver area. Highly recommended.
(4)
Katherine V.
This was our first time here but we are sure coming back. Excellent service,food, and the beverages are great. I had the mango mojito and it was yummy... my husband had the michelada and it has to be one of the best we have had. I recommend this place!!
(4)
Fruzsina B.
Service was extremely slow and not friendly. Food was ok but my husband didn't like his at all. They serve American-Mexican food meaning no flavor. Not recommended!
(2)
Evelyn C.
Sad to say but I have to seriously stop going there, it use to be one of my favorite spots to go for happy hour but been truly disappointed these past few times. Their waiters are very rude, and the food just keeps getting worse every single time. Last week My coworkers and I decided to go and have a nice lunch together we ordered nachos jst something smAll and simple we were mainly there for the mojitos, well our nachos were Soggy and lame, the chicken was cold and some part felt like it was not all the way cooked, the sour cream on the side was disgusting like Gone bad and our mojitos never made it to us. We all got sick like throwing up and stomach pains. Please don't go there. This place was already rated an F on Fox 31 news... Avoid it!!!
(1)
Billy W.
Excellent food for our party of 6 after the National Western Stock Show. Caught the tamales festival. Samuels service was superb. Only slightly issue was the food got cold quickly.
(5)
Malia M.
Very comfortable setting. The food was phenomenal. But the service was mediocre from our particular server. The fake smile and the lack of her presence was unpleasant. Her eye rolls did not go unnoticed. For coming in at noon when it was slow her life should've been easy. But the four stars are for the food and the rest of the employees.
(4)
Vic M.
Ok Mexican food however not great. Thanks to Yelp who had a coupon we received their fresh gaucamole (normally $9.50) for free. That was the best item that we had there. It was fresh avocado prepared at our table. Nice. The chipotle chicken wings were very dry and so bad that I couldn't eat them. Quesidillas were ok, nothing great. Chili relleno was different than we've ever had and not bad. Margarita was average. Our server cared and was nice. Front receptionist seemed not well trained. We won't be back.
(3)
Brittany V.
I had such a good margarita here! Oh man! I don't drink very often, so when I do, I usually like something that tastes a little more refined. I had an absolutely fabulous margarita. The food was good too, but it's the margarita that would make me come back.
(4)
Christina R.
The late night happy hour at the bar is awesome. I usually go here whole waiting to go to a movie. $4 margaritas that are perfectly mixed an the bar apps are cheap and delicious. Bartenders are always nice. Can't beat it for the price :)
(5)
Brittany L.
Amazing food, great service, great drinks. Know my favorite Mexican restaurant in Colorado!
(5)
Sara H.
Five stars. Last several visits have been phenomenal...food is continuously fresh and delicious. Happy hour from 4-close is a must. The service gets better every time. This is our go to place about 1-2 a month. Try the queso fundido with chorizo as an app... Heaven.
(5)
Alex A.
Not impressed. Came here on a Friday night for dinner for the first time and probably the last time. The restaurant it self is very nice. But the food has an identity crisis. They're trying to be fancy, and some dishes do look nice, but the taste just isn't there. From the table side guacamole to the tacos, everything just tasted average. The tortillas for the tacos were so poor that they fell apart from the meat. The manger did take the tacos off the tab because he has had many of complaints about the new tortillas doing that. This place really just needs a new chef that tastes their food and has some creativity and I think it would be good to go.
My friends and I stopped at La Sandia to eat before the airport. Here are my thoughts. 1. The tables are very small 2. Table has a huge leg center piece 2. Plates are huge. 3. I ordered the chile relleno plate and it was very bland. The waiter was very nice but everything else was below average. I do not recommend this place especially if you are over 5"8".
(2)
Crystal C.
Just had dinner here with my coworkers. It was the Mole Festival so I took a chance and tried the mole negro. I had the Mole Negro with the chicken. The rice/risotto-ish mixture tasted pretty good even though some of the rice wasn't cook thoroughly. The chicken wasn't dry and the flavors of the mole was pretty good. The masa cup and the beans, however, was seriously lacking. Even though the server said the the masa cup is edible, yes it was edible in the sense that it is food but it was tough and tasteless... so close to inedible as food can get. And the beans were gross.
(3)
J M.
Loved it! Portion sizes great, blueberry margarita with house infused tequila was amazing, food was delicious. Highly recommend.
(5)
Regina Y.
So, I went here with a group of maybe around 12 people. The ambiance is nice, not too loud or too eerily quiet. There's a bar but they have nothing on tap. The food is just so-so in my opinion. I ordered the bbq chicken salad which almost never disappoints anywhere, but I felt theirs was just mediocre at best. The salad was shredded lettuce, kind of like a cole slaw but not, mixed with a bunch of tortilla strips and a grilled chicken + bbq sauce on top. The biggest let down was the problem they had with our bill. They charged the wrong amount on the wrong cards, which I mean, I understand since we had 12 people there... but it took an entire hour to fix. It was finally fixed when the manager came and sorted everything out. All in all, the food is okay (although I think they try a bit to hard to make beans and rice look fancy) but the service can do with some work, it's too slow :(
(3)
Kristen H.
Chicken Zarape and Pork Carnitas are the best things on the menu. The tableside guacamole is lovely. Even the chips and salsa stands out! The atmosphere is fun and lively in the evenings and the staff is usually really good. The pricing is a bit higher than your average mexican place but so is the food. This is not a "cover everything in cheese" mexican restaurant but rather a "fresh ingredients taste good" mexican restaurant. The few things that I usually avoid are the chicken tinga (bit too wet and bland compared to most chicken tings recipes I have tasted) and the ceviche is too sweet (why ruin good ceviche with honey!?!) But overall, this is a great choice for a night out or a lunch.
(4)
Melinda P.
Because of its location, I was a little hesitant, but it was surprisingly great! Carnitas and chicken tinga were delicious. Great kids' menu -- included drink and dessert plus a wide range of entree options for about $6. The tableside guac (use your Yelp deal to get it free while it lasts!) was excellent -- got it spicy. Loved the decor and the service was good, too. My only complaints were that the size of the tables was rather small, especially because the food came on very large plates, and, oddly, our waitress appears to have filled out her own comment card very positively without consulting us. But since she, the food, the restaurant was good, I guess that's not so bad. I totally recommend La Sandia before or after a movie at Harkins or in the middle of a shopping trip. Easy to get to from Stapleton, Park Hill, etc.
(4)
Beth P.
All I have to say is ... Love it. The service, the ambiance, and most of all the food and drinks are all good. The chips and salsa are amazing because to me that can really make or break a Mexican Restaurant! Everything I've had off the menu, which is quite a few things, has been great.
(5)
Neenrn C.
Went there last night the service was good. I didn't care for the food... I had the grilled chicken tacos. The tacos were dripping some sort of orangish oil that had an overwhelming flavor. Later that night I was quite sick and guess what came up... Yuck. I don't think I'll be back
(1)
Joshua F.
I've tried quite a few of Richard Sandoval's restaurants around the U.S., and this one is right on par. I'm a HUGE fan of Mexican food and have spent a lot of years seeking out the perfect carnitas, and La Sandia comes close. The menu is diverse and has some very interesting items. The price points are a little high, but that is to be expected for the items on the menu. The tequila selection is excellent and definitely well-priced. Their margaritas are strong and tart and overall very good. The service can be a bit slow, but good food takes time. Their Happy Hour is 4-close and fantastic. Great deals on tacos, quesadillitas and sliders. Also, they are all $2 on Tuesdays as well. I have been here a few times now, and found that the best plan is to sit at the bar and make a meal of small plates and tequila. The entrees are delicious, but by trying the appetizers and taco menu you get the opportunity to sample more diversity.
(4)
Adam T.
I would seriously pass on this place. Not the most knowledgable staff, and rude hostess. Kept me and my party waiting for over an hour because she was too lazy to walk 8 feet to the bar to tell us a table was ready. Even after speaking to her multiple times trying to get seated. Probably a good thing due to the food looking sub par for Mexican.
(1)
Jessica H.
$20 pitchers of Margarita with a splash of Grand Marnier for a $1 more. Can't beat it. Great place for drinks before a show at the Improv. Food leaves much to be desired, but decent tequila list.
(3)
Merrill H.
We had some time to kill before our flight out of Denver left, so we checked out the Northfield shopping mall. La Sandia has the best looking menu, so we stopped by for a quick lunch. I love how it is decorated inside-- dark wooden furniture with rich colored windows. I had a cheese/mushroom quesadilla, tortilla soup and a small salad. The food was plated nicely, but everything was just standard. I could have gotten a better quesadilla at a regular mom and pop Mexican restaurant. I've eaten at "fancy" Mexican restaurants before and La Sandia is trying to fill in the gap between the fancy and the mom and pop restaurants. I think they do an OK job, but I'd rather go to a local joint.
(3)
Roberto S.
My wife and I came here for dinner today and had an amazing dining experience. The guacamole is hand mixed in front of you at the table and it's by far the freshest, most delicious guacamole I've had in Denver. (Get the habanero salsa mixed in there) The staff was courteous and our waitress Macarena, despite being busy, was always on the ball. Our drinks were refilled before they were gone and our food/ drink order was taken and delivered promptly. We used I go to Lola's in The Highlands but I think we've found our new Mexican 'spot'.
(5)
Jeri S.
Had a wonderful birthday dinner here! The table side guacamole is a must! The combinations were fantastic and if you check in with yelp you get a free margarita!!! The manager came around to ensure everything was going well (it was). Definitely will be back soon!
(4)
Jon S.
I go here time to time for the tequila and the tacos. The selection and quality of both of those two things is very good. The environment is nice, but I do wish they stayed open a bit later. I keep going back and I keep having a good experience. 5 stars
(5)
Lynn W.
Party of six ate here on a Saturday night. As others have posted great guacamole, chips and salsa but the other food was ok and overpriced. My husband and I choose to share fajitas because at most places they serve a lot of meat not so at La Sandia. We ordered shrimp and chicken combo and barely had enough for two each. Tortillas are very tiny 1/2 normal fajita size. Drinks were not that great. sangria and margaritas just ok. Service was ok, drinks took long time. Mesa Verde at DIA was ten times better.
(3)
Monica C.
Went here for brunch & a mimosa. My server, Levi, was very sweet. It's nice when you get great food & great service. Had the chicken enchiladas which were SO GOOD. They were more filling than it looked. Like a ditz, I even spilt my water all over the floor, but caught the glass before it fell. The manager was sweet to clean it up & didn't make me feel embarrassed. Maybe 'cause my 7 mo old was with me, I could tell that they wanted me to feel welcomed & comfortable. I'll definitely come here again on a Sunday. I'll try to come here again & this time take advantage of their bottomless mimosa's (which were very good!). Of course, not with baby. ;-) The only unsatisfaction? The hostess seemed kinda bitchy @ first. Didn't seem friendly at all. Afterward tho', she opened the door for me when I went out 'cause I had my big ass stroller. So she made up for it. Hehe. Come here. You'll leave happy. :-)
(5)
Gabriella B.
Had been holding onto a restaurant.com gc for here. Went after the movies and loved the food and great service. Salsa and everything was super fresh. I got chicken enchiladas and loved both the red and green sauce. Almost stole my fiances rice. Shrimp Ceviche enough for one but we split just to try spicy and so good. Will go back soon to try some other things .
(4)
J B.
I've been going to this place for years, and I always came here if I ever wanted good Mexican food. I gotta say I'm very disappointed on the new menu change and the chips. They use to have the best chips in Colorado. I'm not to sure why they change their menu and took away the best dishes, the thing is I didn't mind paying for over price Mexican food especially if it's the best. But for being average I won't pay the price. If the prices were lower or the food was back to what it use to be I would give it a four an half but for the way it is right now 2......
(2)
Kristina J.
I have been to La Sandia-Northfield with the hubby for dinner and drinks before a movie and had a 5 star experience...food, service, the works! I wish I could have said the same thing about their brunch. So during our last dinner experience, the waiter kept raving about the Brunch they started. I love brunch, so I put La Sandia on the list. Well, a group of 8 of us went there today. We had a reservation, which was not really needed, as at noon they weren't all that packed but I made one since it was a bigger group. We waited a few minutes for them to set up the table, as they weren't sure if we wanted inside or on the patio, which was totally fine. We sit down, take a look at the menu and i see bottomless mimosas...score!! Although, $15 a person is one of the priciest I have seen, not including the Dom Perigon Brunch at The Brown Palace. Regardless, I want bottomless mimosas. I ordered, and then our waiter came back to tell me that I couldn't have bottomless mimosas because our entire table didn't order bottomless mimosas. In order to fulfill my order of bottomless mimosas, all 8 of us would have to order bottomless mimosas. I am sorry, but that is ridiculous. I am being restricted of something on the menu because others have different beverage preferences than me. That made me upset, but I can't do anything and neither can the waiter...not going to shoot the messenger. After that, everything kinda went down hill. My veggie breakfast tacos were nothing to rave about. I could have made them at home. My hubby's dish was the same. So, for the time being, if you want to brunch at La Sandia and have a bottomless mimosas, make sure you bring people to want to toss a few back with you.
(2)
Mayra R.
My husband and I went to a out a week ago with some friends. Now we are Mexican and have a deep understanding of authentic Mexican food and the one that caters to the American palate. We didn't know what to expect at La Sandia. We arrived for Happy Hour and ordered off that menu. I have to say that the blueberry margarita was not bad, but watered down--which I tend to like since I like my drinks to not taste like the liquor they are made with. The food however, is another story. I ordered the al pastor, barbacoa and carnitas tacos along with the habanero bbq sauce wings while the hubby had some, barbacoa and tinga tacos. We all had the unlimited guacamole and chips. My server got my order ,but it came out wrong. Also, I have never had tacos served to me on cold tortillas. The different meats were flavorless as well as the wings--I had expected some spicy kick because of the habaneros but it simply wasn't there. My husband didn't even finish his food and neither did the rest of our table. We were told that the "big manager" was in the restaurant, which seems odd as our food sucked. Really I have had better "Mexican." Skip this place.
(1)
victoria j.
They have really good guacamole dip that the server makes at the table! The mango lemonade is really good too! The pork carnita was a little too salty for my taste and I think there are much better hot sauces than the habanero sauce that was served with the pork. Very good decor and outdoor seating area.
(3)
LisaB I.
What a great experience! The usual Mexican food is so salty and heavy that I'd quit eating it. This however is quite nice. We got fresh chips that aren't laden with salt, fresh guacamole that isn't drowned in salty salsa, and an excellent vegetable fajita platter that isn't just veggies pushed around on a greasy grill. We brought out-of-town family with us because it's only 15 minutes from the airport where they were staying. Everyone was impressed with their food. The salsa is excellent, by the way (and not salty). The staff was friendly, helpful and we got just the right amount of service, as we were busy catching up with family. The only "bad" thing I can say is the music was a bit loud for us, since we wanted to chat, and we were in a "quiet" corner area. We will definitely go back, and more importantly, we will take others there with us.
(4)
Sherri K.
The service was awful, and even though we were apologized to (too frequently) about how swamped our waiter was, it just wasn't that busy, sorry. The food was better than average and my relleno was actually really good. But I was so f'n hungry by the time the food came, a big mac would have tasted like Steak Oscar. The chips were warm and the salsa was flavorful. Food alone 4 stars - ambiance and service 2 stars. Thus the mediocre review. If you happen to be in stapleton and need Mexican (and Wahoos just isn't your thing), then I guess this is a decent place to sit your arse. Otherwise, mosey further south or west. And although I wasn't tasting - the tequila selection is off the hook~ Bonus point for Cabo Wabo.
(3)
G P.
Tried this place for lunch on a Wednesday and was underwhelmed. The starter chips were pretty decent, though the salsa fresca was pretty bland. The fish tacos were okay, tasted a too fishy, like maybe we were finishing out the weekends tilapia? Otherwise almost no seasoning on the fish tacos at all. The beans (a real test for any mexican place) were pretty bland as well, tasted like they had pulsed a can of black beans in a food processor and added maybe a teaspoon of salsa. I was told the three slider combo was good, though I can't confirm. For being a celebrity chef place, it was pretty unispiring.
(2)
Julie S.
Fabulous food. Fresh and tons of vegetables. Really delicious table side guac. Service was amazing: prompt and friendly, anticipated our needs before we had them. Would highly recommend.
(5)
Meep P.
This place has terrible service! I sat for twenty minutes, complained to the manager, and was finally able to order. We ordered the bottomless guacamole and do far after several failed attempts to refill our first tiny bowl, I'm still waiting thirty minutes later.
(1)
Michael W.
Lots of good things to say about this place but what sticks out for me initially are two things: the delicious Sangria and the weird clumsy waiter. The Sangria was spot on, sweet but not packed to the brim with sugars. The waiter was friendly an attentive. But he also gave off a weird emo kinda vibe. He dropped silverware on the floor a couple of times, had to go get clean stuff. Almost broke my wine glass when he was bringing me my food. I was starting to fear for my life. There take on Mexican cuisine is refreshing. The pork carnitas was great and my wife's beef fajitas looked good too. Definitely not my last time eating there, I'll just hope for a more graceful waiter next time.
(4)
Lefty J.
Officially my favorite Stapleton restaurant. Good margaritas, chips and salsa were great, and my carnitas were pretty good too. Wife got fajitas and liked those a lot. Atmosphere is pleasant, if a little on the loud side, and service was pretty good, although it seemed a bit disorganized and a touch (although just a touch) slow. I would highly recommend this place for those who enjoy mexican or just a night out, it's a good spot and doesn't have nearly the "chain-feel" that many other Stapleton restaurants have.
(5)
Debbie H.
Went today for the first time. Guacamole was fresh and the chips were great. Had a Crimini Quesadilla and it was pretty good. I agree with the other reviewer that the tortilla soup wasn't great. I added some of the salsa (quite good) and much better. Worth a try!
(3)
Helen Y.
Nice ambience & good service. However, food is just so-so. The guacamole presentation in a stone bowl is unique but I'd tasted better. Tacos is just okay, I didn't finish rice & beans.
(2)
Frank T.
Good food (but not outstanding). Good service (quick too!). Portions are right sized instead of the heaping platters you get at some Mexican restaurants.
(4)
Joel D.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. The place was pretty empty for it being a weekend. I'd say the food was the best part. The tacos al pastor were real good and very close to the real Mexican tacos in Mexico City. Our first server peaced out without letting us know so another waitress came and told us she'd be our next server for the night. She was ok but not very friendly. Just doing her job I guess. still an ok place to check out.
(3)
Charles B.
The guacamole is table side and sumptuous (I like it SPICY!) One of my personal measures of a restaurant is the lemonade - that's right, lemonade. If it's the powdered 'County Time' variety, look out. Luckily, La Sandia has good lemonade. The decor is fresh and the crowd was family oriented. The Tamales were a bit sweet but nothing more guacamole couldn't fix. The taquitos were awesome and the warm, roasted-chile flavors of La Sandia's salsas are fabulous. I wish they had the cozy, pillow like Sopapilla's at Little Anita's but all in all the deserts were skippable. A must for the serious Mexican foodie.
(4)
Mary G.
I haven't Yelped in quite a few and had meant to write about this restaurant for awhile now. I went with a friend who had suggested it for happy hour one Friday and decided to check it out. We were seated right away next to the bar. My first thought about the place that even though pack was quite charming. I really loved the decor and the ambiance. We quickly ordered the bottomless guacamole and I think it was pretty good, the chips were warm and crispy. The only thing I would recommend is that the guac be a bit more spicy! Next on to the drinks I decided to go with the SPICY ORANGE MARGARITA which was alright, not something I will order again but it wasn't horrible. My friend ended up getting the PRICKLY PEAR-BLUEBERRY MARGARITA which I will have to say was MUCH better than mine. I think I will order this next time for sure! For the entree I got the CHEESE ENCHILADAS which had oaxaca, chihuahua and monterrey cheeses / tomatillo sauce / crema fresca / mexican rice / refried black beans. AMAZING!!!! I loved everything about this dish! I even crave it to this day. Unfortunately I can't recall what my friend had but she said it was really good as well! I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Kristen V.
I love this place. Their table side guac is amazing as are their drinks. The salsa was better before but still one of my favorite places to eat . Great atmosphere!
(5)
Tiffany S.
My husband and I really enjoyed this place. It was the best place we've dined at in that area. We usually have to head downtown for good food. Tasting different Tequila's was awesome. I learned to appreciate a good Tequila. We sat at the bar. The service was great. Loved the knowledgeable bartender. The food was pretty dang tasty. Not Mexican so I can't vouche for authenticity. But we will definitely be returning there soon. Oh and the Margaritas were delish as well. Great place to meet up with friends and celebrate whatever.
(4)
Mary Fran O.
We were meeting relatives for dinner in Denver and Yelp didn't steer me wrong. We were a party of 9 with three kids, ages 11, 8 and 6. I made reservations through Open Table and we were seated in our own little alcove, so while the restaurant is a little loud, we had no trouble having a nice conversation. Our service was excellent and attentive. We loved the guacamole made fresh at the table, mild for the kids end, medium for the adults. Three of us had the Tacos Baja and they were light and tasty. The location was very convenient for meeting people coming in or going to the airport. I would recommend!
(4)
good e.
Last night I had a mojito and the molcajete for two. Everything was delicious. I have been here a number of times and the service is hit or miss. Last night was good. I love their happy hour specials.
(3)
John F.
Dinner with friends. Nice decor, nice staff, good menu, upscale Mexican. We went at a neighbors suggesstion and were very please. It is easy to see how you might think it is a little over priced, the portions were just fine, not huge, but eveything was exceptional and the food was fresh and prepared with care. Marguaritas were good (not super sweet) and the sangria was tasty. The desserts were SMALL, but at only $3 a pop, still a decent price. We'll go again.
(4)
Lee C.
I used the Yelp app to provide directions from my house and ended up in a warehouse district off Havana Way vs. in Northfield. Just a note to others who may try the same thing. When we finally got there it took about 15 minutes to seat us despite having reservations. Took about that long to wait for drinks at the bar, they had only two bartenders to serve a full bar plus get drinks for the servers. Despite other empty tables in well lit areas, they sat us in a dark cave of a room where were there was no light what so ever. Not even candles on the damn tables, we literally had to use our cell phones to read the menu while the servers commented "yeah others have had issues too" Well if so why don't you do something about it? Why sit people in the dark, that's not ambiance that's just stupid. On top of it all it was so loud in there that we had to literally be on top of one another, yelling to hear and being close to see each other. Again, that's not ambiance in my book. We were then peppered with two servers who would appear within minutes of each other reciting the same thing and asking the same questions. The drinks were so so, I've had better and they made no attempt to sell us any special margaritas which we would have enjoyed. Our group of four ordered fajitas, carne asada and a burrito. The food was decent, although sparse. I had the carne asada, about $17, and it was a small piece of meat with corn tamale on the largest plate they could find. Seemed empty or like where was the rest of the meal? My wife had the burritto which was small too and soaked in whatever sauce they thought would go with it. Prices weren't too bad but like I said the portions were lacking and I could have gotten as good or better of a meal with lesser prices and light in many other places. Light up that room La Sandia, I might have been able to give you another star.
(2)
Kate G.
I've liked everything I've tried here! My favorites are the fish tacos, tamales and ahi tuna. The queso fundido, tableside guac, chips and salsa, margaritas, sangria and ceviche are also awesome. Delicious drinks and consistently great service! I think the prices here are actually more reasonable than the other modern mexican spots. Love the happy hour and big open patio :)
(4)
Ernest L.
Don't waste your time at this place! My girlfriend and I wanted to have a nice dinner as it was our last night in Colorado after a week of snowboarding so we settled on having Mexican at a restaurant close to our hotel. What a mistake! We waited to be seated for what seemed to be an eternity. The hostess did not acknowledge us even though she clearly saw we were waiting for a table. When we were finally attended to, we were advised that it would take a while to have a table ready even though the restaurant was mostly empty! So we waited and waited. Again, the hostess could care less about helping us. It was not until a waitress saw us from across the restaurant that we were helped. By that time it was too late -- we had enough and decided to leave. For real customer service and better food go to Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q!
(1)
Bobbi T.
Used to go to La Sandia a lot, but haven't been in a while due to moving out of the area. Recently got an email from them about a revamped menu and thought we would stop by before a movie. Nothing on the menu really seemed that different - other than now it's laminated in plastic where it used to be in a leather bound book. Same with the drink menus - those are now on parchment-type paper on cheesy clipboards...not a good sign. We ordered the table-side guacamole - it was fine. I ordered fish tacos & he ordered pork burrito w/chile verde. When my order arrived, I was surprised to see what used to be three fish tacos on a plate, using smaller taco-sized tortillas, has now been transformed into 3 mini-tacos in a little silver tray with a side of rice & beans...however the price is still $11.95. His burrito was just OK - really big, but looked like they could have gotten it from Chipotle and just poured some chunky green chile over the top. All in all, $75 later (dinner & a couple rounds of drinks), left feeling very unsatisfied with the changes. We didn't use to mind paying a little more because the food was always good with reasonable portions. However, won't likely go there for more than drinks/appetizers from now on.
(2)
smoov b.
Everything my family and I have ordered has been delicious. The ribs are my favorite. Drinks are little pricey and the service, while generally good in our experience, could be a little more consistent but overall we always enjoy it.
(4)
Rob D.
Watermelon mojito and gaucamole made tableside, nuff said. I also had a carnitas slider and a el pastor taco, both were outstanding. I honestly have no clue why this place is only 3 stars. I was super impressed.
(5)
Kim S.
It is the best place to go in Denver for Carnitas. I really haven't had much else there. It is NOT taco bell. This place is far from cheap but it is great and worth the money every time.
(5)
Rachel G.
We came here on a friday evening for dinner and sat on the patio, perfect for people watching and enjoying the last beautiful days eating outside. Understandably the patio was fairly busy and the staff were trying to help one another out. They were staffed, perhaps a little too much, I was unable to tell who was our server (this might have also had been because of the 3 drinks I had). The food was good, I had the shrimp fajitas and they were not drenched in oil as they are in many other restaurants. I liked the salsa because it was very different but I wanted something with a *kick* for my main dish. I would come back here for happy hour with a few girlfriends.
(3)
Meghan C.
Initially, the hostess was quite rude while we figured out where to sit. The happy hour offerings are great but only if you're sitting at the bar or the very small adjoining "lounge." However--our waitress was fantastic, the atmosphere is beautiful-both modern and warm, and my cheese enchiladas and mango mojitos were delightful. Fresh with fantastic presentation, and you do pay for it. Not your run of the mill, melted mess of a plate for less than 10$ mexi joint- this is too hip for that.
(4)
Katie H.
My boyfriend and I came here for the first time awhile ago. I had been given a gift card for the Sandoval chain of restaurants and we had already gone to Zengo for 5280 because my sister is OBSESSED with that place. I used to work next to Tamayo at UCD. Both are pretty good. And the boyfriend lives in Stapleton, so we thought we'd give La Sandia a try. It was alright. We were told that a table in the bar area would open up shortly and we decided to wait for it. Well... I don't think 35 minutes is shortly, but that's not really the restaurant's fault. I think the folks that were sitting there were hangers-on. Anyhow, the food was pretty good. We had the fresh guacamole which was delicious and both our entrees were quite good. We also experimented with the various drinks they offered - the chile-orange margarita is tasty but pretty sweet. I also went last night with my coworkers. Apparently they have changed their chips and one of my colleagues (a Stapletonite?) was pretty peeved about it. The manager mentioned that they'd had lots of complaints but that the change was a corporate choice and that they wouldn't be changing back. While I understand his honesty, saying to a customer that their complaint is legitimate and shared by others but that the business is not going to change anything is not great. I guess I want you let me know you'll lodge a complaint with the corporate office, not bend over and take it from them. It's your business, after all. The freshly made guac was again tasty, tasty, as was the salsa, even on the subpar chips. I had the shrimp and avocado salad. It had two giant avocado halves on it. Maybe this is just my pet peeve but I don't like it when I have to "assemble" my salad. I want you to slice the avocado. I know this may sound silly but after a truly horrendous violation of this idea in Estes, I've become rather sensitive about it. Also, the entree salads came out about 10-15 minutes before the hot entrees. Apparently they're considered appetizers, according to our waiter. A $10+ salad with protein on it is just not an appetizer in my mind. That said, the salad was tasty, including a delicious cilantro pesto dressing. (I had both dressings on the side, and didn't try the chipotle aioli.) I'll probably be here again - the food has been consistently good (besides the chip change).
(3)
Theresa B.
happy hour bottomless guac with chips and salsa. need i say more? the carnitas entree that comes on the hot plate...it is simply to die for. go easy on the habanero sauce though! that junk will kick you in your privates!
(4)
Davian H.
Love the decor! Perfect stop for happy hour drinks and snacks (as I did today with a friend) if you are shopping at Stapleton. Haven't had a full meal here, but my plantains were great, and the chips and salsa plentiful and tasty. My mojito with watermelon juice was just right. Service was eh...had to ask for salt and a salsa refill twice before the waitress remembered it. Fun atmosphere and good food!
(4)
Dawn W.
Hi you cute little fish tacos you! My god....YUM!!!! Tonight was my first visit to La Sandia, and we had the guacamole (made right at your table), chips, and I had Tacos Baja (I think that was the name). That is fish tacos with some amazing sauce, some sort of Mexican coleslaw, rice and black beans. So, so delicious. The tacos are probably 3 mouthfuls each (that is if you don't have a giant mouth and not like to have food squishing out your mouth). They are perfectly sized. I left full, but not sickeningly stuffed. I actually felt like I had a healthy meal (minus the Shirley Temple drink). Mmm! I'm pretty sure I'm going to crave this on a regular basis. I love fish tacos. It's funny, because 3 years ago the thought of fish on a taco made me want to projectile vomit. Now I love them. These don't even compare to Yahoo's fish tacos (also good). Whatever sauce on they have on them is to die for. The customer service was excellent. Our waiter was fabulous and very attentive, and always made sure my water (with lemon) was full. He was also very helpful describing everything we had questions about on the menu. One complaint - no waiting area. I stood waiting for about 15 minutes for the people in my party. No seating area. Kinda strange. If they did have a seating area the hostess didn't let me know. Also, I tried to "check in" tonight from the restaurant, but it kept saying "business too far to check in". Impossible, as I was standing in the darn business.
(4)
heather s.
For the suburbs I was impressed. I will admit that I am a tequila (and therefore a margarita) snob. I do love their margs even when I asked them to tweak their recipe a bit for me. The service is very friendly and prompt. I haven't experienced alot of their menu choices, but what I have I enjoyed. Their happy hour menu is good and extends later than most places (maybe until 8?) I have been back a few times and will continue to go back.
(4)
Susan J.
had a conference at the renaissance and the group selected this place for dinner on a monday night. atmosphere looked great. love the dark wood look. the food was mediocre. i had the skirt steak fajitas and they served the onions, peppers and steak in a 1/2 of what looks like a pie iron. it was good and reasonably priced at around $15. i mean i was impressed when they asked how well done i wanted the steak. however, after the guacamole (really really good, but at $8 a bit pricey) and chips and salsa, i couldn't truly appreciate the fajitas. not bad...
(3)
Lizz G.
Last Friday we went to this restaurant with a large group of people. We sat in the outdoor eating area and I must say, I've never experienced service this bad in my life. It took forever to order food or drinks. Finally, people just started going inside to fetch their own drinks. Once our food arrived, we had to ask 3 different people for silverware. By the time we finally got the silverware, our food was cold.The wait staff was absolutely horrid, our table was piled end to end with empty glasses and dirty plates. One of the people in our group got so frustrated she started clearing the table herself. The most astounding thing was that a waiter walked by, acted like he didn't see her clearing dishes and didn't offer to help! The end to this absolutely horrid experience was having to wait an eternity for our bill which was of course, wrong. Never again.
(1)
Shannon M.
I give this place 3 stars because it can be really good, but sometimes it lacks a little. The Generally Good Things: ~I 'm a fan of Richard Sandoval's take on Mexican at his various restaurants. La Sandia is the right combination of traditional favorites, authentic dishes and street-food interpretations. ~ I love the dishes that use carnitas, which always seem to moist and hearty. ~ Happy Hour at La Sandia is well-executed. The menu has a good variety of both drinks and food (note the food is by the individual piece - single taco, single slider, etc.). The options work perfectly when ordering a variety for the table to munch from family style. ~ They have a nice patio and the music from Northfield Mainstreet carries in providing a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The Occasional Misses: ~ I've had great guacamole here, and I've had really bad guacamole here. And not just because of bad avocados, more because it's not consistently made with the same amount of ingredients (too much lime, no jalepeno, etc.) But when it's good, it's REALLY good. In the future, I think I'll take a leap and ask for a new batch if I don't like it, because I know it's possible. ~ Service is spotty. Never rude, but not always firing on all cylinders. One visit our server was quick to offer us the Happy Hour menu, offer suggestions and ensured we had a properly set table before we even ordered. Another time our server (who I've seen there regularly) seemed surprised that we wanted the Happy Hour menu, didn't bring utensils even after bringing our food and was unfamiliar with two of the items I ordered off the menu -- as in, she questioned whether I was correct in what I called them. ~ Sometimes the food seems like it's sat for a bit. Again, when the food is fresh and hot, it's really good and full of flavor. But every now and then I get something that is tepid and a little dried out making it seem more bland. So what's the verdict? Take a chance on La Sandia, plan to go more than once, and be prepared to roll with it. But don't risk it if you want to be sure everything is "just right".
(3)
Carrie R.
Billed as "Modern Mexican," this new restaurant in Northfield Stapleton sounded better than it really is. It's got a fun colorful interior design and a menu listing authentic dishes not found at typical mainstream Mexican restaurants. My expectations rose at the descriptions: could this place really approximate my favorite restaurant in Guadalajara?! But alas, no. They have seemingly tried to improve on one of the world's most complex and rich cuisines by "modernizing" it into bland weirdness. If you've ever had a real Mexico City taco, don't even bother with this place 'cause you'll be so sad. Something is wrong with the meat seasonings (or lack thereof) and salsas. If they hadn't called it Mexico City style, then I wouldn't have been quite so perturbed at its strange taste, but I still wouldn't have liked it.
(2)
Marci M.
I really liked this place. The decor is really colorful and fun. The salsa was not too great, but the chips were good. I had the steak fajitas. They were $17, bu the best fajitas I've ever eaten. The steak was made to order and in bigger pieces than the usual small strips. The service was very friendly and quick to meet our needs. I would go here again!
(4)
Brandt S.
I love the design of La Sandia, which is why I keep going back. I've been 4 or so times and each time the food has been pretty good, though a little inconsistent at times. Sometimes their steak tacos are absolutely fabulous, other times i've had them they've been a bit meh. One thing that you can't go wrong with is one of their fancy mixed drinks. Those are always tasty. OK, another good thing: their tres leches dessert is good enough to warrant a visit just for that. Service has been just as inconsistent. The first couple of times it's been great. The last time I went the waiter was really over the top trying to up-sell us like we were a bunch of tourists from Oklahoma or something (my apologies if you are from Oklahoma). That annoyed me. Still, I'd go back and hope this place gets better instead of worse.
(3)
David S.
Still two stars, but the happy hour menu has the place improving - a great selection of small plates that could be a meal in themselves, and all the favorite margs on special. I'm more likely to be going back!
(2)
Jessica P.
For a chain mexican resturaunt this place is pretty authentic. Their guacamole is custom prepped for you at your table. They use real mexican cheese (not the orange chedder thats meleted on top of most american mexican food) and delche cake is to die for. The wait staff is helpful and proffesional. I also liked the colorful modern ambiance as well I just wasnt wowed with their food. Maybe I will have to go back and try
(3)
Bob R.
I'm in Denver on business looking for Mexican food and looked up the best Yelp spot. La Sandia Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar looked nice but did not have many customers. We were offered the dining room or the bar and lounge but only the bar and lounge had happy hour. Great! We sat at the bar, Ordered margaritas and bar food. Guacamole, chips, tacos all were decent. We elected to have call liquor, Herradura reposado and Patron Anejo, not the happy hour margaritas. House margarita mix was just ok. In my second I opted for lime juice. Just ok. Our first order was one single and one double. Couldn't taste the tequila so I asked if they used 1 oz shots. It was 1.5 oz shots. We both upgraded to a double and triple. We had one more. $150.00. Before tip. Happy hour food and 4 margaritas $150.00. This is not a tequila lovers bar. I won't be back
(1)
Steph G.
While the food tasted good, I felt the serving sizes were a bit small for the money. If you're willing to make the trek north of I-70, it's worth a try.
(3)
Jessica K.
We LOVE La Sandia! We go out of our way to eat there. It's fresh, good quality ingredients, 3 steps above most ordinary Mexican restaurants. My husband thinks the chili rellenos are the best. I could eat just the chipotle salsa and chips and be happy. The place looks trendy but is rarely difficult to get into. You might be disappointed if you prefer the standard refried beans and heavy, salty dishes most places serve but GO THERE if you want good quality Mexican food in Denver.
(5)
The EF C.
Right in the heart of the behemoth Northfield Shopping center at Stapleton, sits La Sandia Mexican restaurant. Walking into the pre-fab, yet colorful, interior, the ambiance is almost generic. Nolan mentioned that we could be in an Asian, Italian, American, or just about any restaurant in any mall anywhere in America. But it was Mexican we were after and that was what was on the large menu. Offering everything from make your own guac to chicken mole, the food seemed to be standard Mexican fare, but the prices were certainly not- 14 bucks for 3 tacos?!?! Erin mentioned that the flavors were not what you'd expect, having experienced rather bland Mexican in the past, she thinks La Sandia offers pleasant surprises for a sophisticated palate. I was unimpressed. But, the beauty of the EFC is we are here to offer 4 opinions rather than just one, so don't take my word for it! Take Erin's! Or Nolan's! Or even Jeff's! OK, here's what we ate: Nolan had the fish tacos, Jeff- the chicken Enchiladas, and Erin and I had the Mexican Cobb salad. When I asked Nolan what he thought of his tacos, all he could say was, "They were good." When prodded for a little more for our readers, he mentioned the sauce was quite nice. Jeff enjoyed his enchiladas, which surprised him as he is not an enchilada fan. He said the chicken was quite tasty and not overpowering in the dish. Erin was in love with the mushrooms in her salad, said it really made it much more enjoyable for her. As I am allergic to mushrooms, I had given all of mine to her, and that could be why my salad didn't do much for me. The guacamole ranch dressing was original and tasty, which is really what gave the salad all its flavor. We ordered a couple sides of fried plantains for the table, which were partially enjoyed by all. They were hit or miss in size, level of heat, quality of plantain and taste in general. One bite would be delicious, the next disappointing. Quite a few were left untouched. The saving grace of this mediocre experience was the vast selection of tequila available. Erin was the only one at the table who ordered any of it, but it was shared and enjoyed. La Sandia offers occasional tequila tasting nights, and for a mere fifteen dollars, you can enjoy a selection of their finest. We wouldn't suggest bringing a date here, unless it is a blind date or a date you don't anticipate going well. That way either one of you could get soused and forget the whole thing, or get soused and enjoy the company even more. The tequila is the only lay factor at this place, and you have to make sure it's the poison of choice for your potential mate before you lock it in as a sure thing. Over all, it was 3 stars out of 5. I know I probably won't go back again, but that's mainly because I avoid malls like the plague if I can. But if you work in the area and are looking for a healthy, fairly quick meal, La Sandia could be an option for ya.
(3)
matt h.
Very cool atmosphere and decor, though sometimes its loud. I think the food is really good, especially the guac. The prices are high, and I wouldn't make this a regular place, but its a solid choice for classy mexican food in this part of town. They have gift certificates on restaurant.com that make this a very good deal if you can pick one up before they sell out for the month.
(3)
Daniel R.
This place has that modern feel that all those restaurants and stores have in the new shopping centers like the one in Northfield. The way I would describe this modern atmosphere could be mainly trendy, because of the music, smooth, and urban. This is why the interior really catches my attention because it completely goes against the way you would picture the inside of a Mexican restaurant. Because of this distinct aspect some might argue that this place lacks that authentic feel. However, the authenticity shouldn't be defined by the layout, instead it should be critiqued by the food it provides. This place definitely meets my standards of traditional Mexican cuisine because the guacamole given felt so natural the way it was served in the lava stone container known as a Molcajete. Also, the enchiladas, which are usually covered with American cheese, were covered in the powdery shredded Mexican cheese that you see on the enchiladas in Puerto Vallarta. The other great part of my meal were the refried black beans with rice. It was finally good to see these staple parts of the meal prepared differently through their taste. Like any other restaurant I visit, I cannot leave without desert. Usually, all restaurants have cheesecake or the fudge brownie with ice cream, and this restaurant did too. Not my point. My point is that they had these deserts, but one of the options on the menu was to order a small portion of each desert they had. They were good.
(4)
Erica B.
Another Richard Sandoval Restaurant (along with Tamayo in Denver and Zengo in D.C.), the fresh take on Mexican was a great break from the wanna be mediocre "mexican" restaurants that I have come to accept by living in the D.C. area. We started with the fresh, make at your table guac, and we chose which (and how much) of different ingredients we wanted (chile serrano, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro). I also ordered a mango margarita - a bit strong for my taste, but still quite delicious! My tacos al pastor (adobo marinated pork with grilled pineapple and salsa verde) was a slightly sweet take on tacos. I can't wait until the location opens in Tysons Corner, VA.
(4)
Alee W.
We went on a Sunday evening, the place had steady diners but wasn't very busy. Overall, portions are too small for how much they charge, service was horrible and flavors were bland. To begin with my husband ordered the fajitas which were served with 3 small tortillas, he asked the waitress for more, was told they were coming, 10 minutes later still no tortillas, we asked another waiter who walked by, they said they'd sendout more, another long wait and still no tortillas, the waitress came back and we asked again to which she replied "I'm sorry, they're still not out? I'll have to get them myself" (excuse me but, isn't that what a waitress is supposed to do?), then, when they finally came after another wait, his fajitas were ice cold. I felt the food was bland, especially for a mexican restaurant. I ended up asking for something to add a little heat and they offered to bring their extra spicy habanero sauce that they use in the kitchen for seasoning but not as a condiment. I mixed the entire condiment cup of it into my food, got a tiny kick but it still wasn't enough. If that's what they use to season the food no wonder it's bland to begin with. We won't be going there again. I've had better food at La Fogata and Hacienda... heck, I'll even take Qdoba or Chipotle over this place, it's too La Blandia
(2)
L B.
I just cannot figure out the draw of this place! It is always packed on weekend nights. Yes the decor is nice and the chips and salsa are tasty but thats about it. I have dined there twice, once for lunch and second time for dinner. The lunch food was ok but the service wasnt good. I thought I might try it again considering its so close to my house - I really wanted it to be good! I was seated at a table and it took a long time for our server to come and take our order - but hey we had our margs from the bar already so we werent too upset. When the server finally came we placed our meal order. We watched all the tables around us get their chips and salsa and then get refills and refills and refills while we sat with none. Then no more then 7 minutes after placing our order, our food shows up. I asked the food runner if he was sure this was ours since we just ordered and never even had our chips and salsa and he said yes it was. He also said he could bring us chips and salsa. I had an empty margarita and he said he would have the server come by so I could order another. The server came by and i ordered my margarita. By the time I finished the meal, it still hadnt showed up. The server comes by finally again to clear the plates and I remind him of the margarita and he says he forgot and he will get it. A few other bad things happened during the meal also including not getting the correct sides ordered, not getting the sour cream etc. I think the server could tell we were upset bc the manager shows up at the table and we indicate to him that the service was just very poor and it looked like the server was just to busy to get to everyone's needs (we saw him running around like a maniac all night). The manager sneered at us and said well he is our best server so I dont see how the service could be poor - OK JERK! What happened to the customer is always right. Needless to say I was appalled and will NEVER go back. I must say that we are pretty easy customers - I worked in restaurants all through college and grad school so I understand servers have bad nights but that management style/the way the manager treated us is unexcusable.
(1)
Deya Z.
I LOVE La Sandia! My hubs and I are, at this point, regulars...or quickly on our way to becoming regulars! The guacamole is fresh and delicious, something that I hold high. It's made at your table and, what? If you check in on Yelp it's free?! YES! Coming from Texas, the capital of Tex-Mex, I hold my queso fundido close to my heart. So coming to Colorado was a bit of a culture shock when I noticed that most Mexican food places don't have it. La Sandia, however, knocks it out of the park. Try it with Chorizo...but beware, its a $3 add-on (ouch!). The tortillas they give you are handsize, and they only give you about 4 so buyer beware. I've had their Mexican Corn in the past and disagree with a previous reviewer that it's not "authentic" , because this corn was great. (Also, Tabasco isn't Mexican...it's Cajun...but I digress). Compared to Tamayo, this is definitely casual. Biggest downside...it's out in Stapleton. Not too far from the house, but still it has a "suburbs" feel. Parking is awkward since there is street parking, but it's metered (that doesn't make sense).
(4)
Allyson K.
What a fun place! During happy hour times, you have the option to be seated at a regular table but you cannot partake in happy hour. If you choose to sit in the happy hour section, you are seated at low chairs and a small table (more of a social atmosphere) and you can order from the happy hour and regular menus! I had the sangria and yumm yumm!! It wasn't too sweet and not too dry - I really enjoyed it! The margaritas were also great! Tasted like they used fresh lime juice instead of the icky sweet and sour mix! I got the tacos al pastor and it was surprisingly a great amount of food! The flavors were delicious and the presentation was very nice. The happy hour specials were great deals and I would definitely come back if I was looking for a place in the Stapleton shopping area again.
(4)
Cinthia S.
Excellent food. Excellent service - our server was attentive and anticipated our needs before we could even ask. The Mojito and La Sandia Margarita are delish. Guac to die for. Seriously. I would have taken a picture but we decimated it. Table side preparation. That alone is worth the trip. We sat outside with the kids in the glorious gorgeous Denver dusk. The kids were happy and the menu has something for everyone. Yum!
(5)
Ken K.
Party of five, got one order wrong but fairly quickly recovered. Problem is the air-conditioning was blowing so strong and cold on our table, I couldn't really taste any of my food. I did get a bite of my chile rellanos and it was pretty bad, thick skinned, waxy, undercooked or uncooked chile and a very dried out filling. Three in the party got the street tacos and said they were delicious. I forgot the exact name but the blood orange margarita, and friendly service made everything that was not so great, not so important. :-)
(4)
Monica L.
Great experience here! I hosted a work event for 15 people and went through their "party planner" to reserve a semi private space. Very easy process to reserve, everything was ready for us when we arrived, and great staff and management to make sure we had everything we needed. Of course the food was amazing! We had guac and cheese dip for appetizers, many entrees. The donut, flan, and crepes for dessert. The donut was the winner of the desserts. I will be back!!!
(5)
Luis R.
Recommended A++++
(5)
James E.
We enjoyed La Sandia. The server was funny, friendly and very attentive. Guacamole appetizer is freshly prepped on your table and it proved to be very good. We got the barbacoa enchilada and chicken fajitas. Only downside, in my opinion, is the location. It's within Northfield mall with some inconvenient parking (the meters are enforced and don't take proper change). Had to move my car mid-dinner to avoid being ticketed. This is more an issue with the mall and not the restaurant but still a side effect of its location.
(4)
Tosha C.
I HATE restaurants that don't honor happy hour in the regular dinning area! Especially when there is no place to sit I the bar section! Also, the hostesses were awful and completely scatterbrained. When they figured out where to seat us we waited another 30 min before I had to go ask if we had a server. I don't think the hostess even told anyone we were in that section. Our waiter was very good though. Margaritas were a little watered down but not bad. The crispy shrimp tacos were good except the shrimp were tiny and all crisp. Rice was blah and beans super salty. I wish Northfield had another Mexican place but I won't be visiting this one again.
(2)
Jason W.
The family (me, wife, and teenage daughter and son) was staying at a hotel nearby before catching an early flight home. We had just spent 5 days at a lacrosse tournament in Vail and were exhausted, so we looked on Yelp and found this Richard Sandoval restaurant nearby. It was short ride (less than a mile, but not really walkable due to highway) from the Courtyard Marriott Stapleton, which was a nice, relatively inexpensive hotel, but not very close to the airport (20 minute drive). I saw on Yelp that I could get a free tableside guacamole (normally around $10) for my first Yelp checkin there, so I asked our server, Samantha, about the coupon, and she put in an order. I ordered a house margarita (about $7-$8) and my wife had a beer. The margarita was very good, and it was followed by chips and salsa (also very good), and then the tableside guacamole, which looked like it had three or four halves of avocado, onions, tomatoes, and spices (we ordered it medium). The server chopped up the avocados and mixed everything with two spoons, and then the family dug in. The guacamole was excellent, and just the right amount for a family of four who had ordered entrees. For dinner, both my daughter and I had chicken enchiladas ($12.50 apiece I think), and we enjoyed them, although I think they could use a little more sauce on top. I finished mine, and my daughter ate two of hers and took the third one home. My wife ordered the trio of fish tacos, and she said they were very good, although she could only eat two after filling up on chips and guacamole. My son had the beef fajitas, and he liked them, although I found them to be a little chewy. The total bill was a little over $80 (after the discount for the Yelp coupon for guacamole). All-in-all, we enjoyed our dinner, the service was good, and if we make it back to the area, we will dine here again.
(3)
Allie H.
Our first time here, we're sitting at the bar getting super fresh and tasty table-side guacamole free with the yelp check in!! The salsa and margaritas are also amazing and Lupita, our bartender, is awesome and very friendly! I love this place!!
(5)
Kitty77 A.
This place is one of my favorite place to go!! great authentic Mexican food, with a little authentic touch from Chef Richard Sandoval. Love this place
(5)
Cynthia D.
I highly recommend the table side guac! Especially during their happy hour. Great place to meet friends and co-workers after the 9-5 grind.
(5)
Carolyn D.
My friends and I came here for lunch. The atomesphere is great. Nice restaurant. The food was well seasoned and the portions spot on. Pricing for lunch was very reasonable. The chips and salsa are fabulous. We asked for a cup of the green chile and it was just ok.....I've had better. Our server was good and very accommodating. I asked her for a suggestion and she was eager to help. Great choice as well. It's not your traditional Mexican restaurant which was a nice change. We will be back.
(4)
Carly P.
I have been to La Sandia several times and several different locations. I have to say that I LOVE their chips and salsa!! That being said... We ordered chicken nachos, queso, and guacamole for our group of 6. The queso seemed like a cheese sauce that had been re heated and kept developing a layer on top that make me think it was. The guac was alright, It really didn't have much flavor. The chicken nachos seemed very small, probably would have been perfect if just one person maybe two were sharing. I would've liked it better had we been able to sit out on the patio. but they only had two umbrellas and they were already claimed. Sad day! I had previously come here with another group of friends less than a year ago and I had such a different experience. I just feel things have changed quite a bit. Perhaps it was an off day. Meh. I will be back this summer at some point, because it's convenient and close to home. Hopefully this was just a one off experience.
(2)
Robert E.
The food gets better each time I come here. The service is awesome and the atmosphere is wonderful.
(5)
Felicia M.
Great place for a good Happy Hour with friends! 4-close! And sit in Antonio's section, he's on point and makes awesome recommendations! Two thumbs up!
(5)
Eric G.
To me this place is just "ok". I sat at the bar with my son - bartenders were very nice and attentive and the margarita I had was pretty good. The atmosphere is modern and inviting. The food to me was pretty average - not very original and bordering on bland. Glad I tried it but if I go back it will probably just be for drinks and apps.
(3)
Bruce W.
My friends and I, party of nearly 20, were seated quickly and the menu had the variety to meet everyone's needs and budget. Being there during the Gaucamole Fest was the bomb! Look forward to this happening again one day.
(5)
Dan N.
[Update: I received an email from the manager apologizing for our experience. We will give La Sandia Northfield another chance if we are in the area.] The Northfield outlet of La Sandia pales in comparison to its Park Meadows cousin. It started with a wobbly table, continued with a confused serving crew. Two waiters/waitresses greeted us, one taking our drink order, the other our appetizer. Neither delivered our drinks, requiring me to check in with the bartender, who had the drinks waiting at the service bar. We needed the help of the bartender to get our order started as well. On a quiet Labor Day, I expected better service.
(2)
Abby Z.
Nice, upscale Mexican food. Love the black refried beans. The salsas are a real treat too!
(4)
M A.
I'd give this place a better review if the service was better. The server rushed us the entire time as though she wanted us out of here. She was also condescending to me after I reminded her I ordered a beer that took 10 minutes to deliver even though the place was not busy at all.
(3)
Kellie-Jean L.
After flying in from the east coast this is exactly what I needed! The lounge and restaurant both have a great feel. The staff was very friendly, especially our waiter who claimed to be new. To start off, you get chips and salsa- both were awesome, the salsa had a great smoky taste and I brought the leftover chips home and devoured them later. I ordered shrimp tacos- absolutely the best tacos I've had. The entree comes with three tacos and not only did I finish those as well as my rice I even ate half of a cheese quesadilla. The rice could have been better though... I think it is rice from a box (preseasoned). While you are here don't forget to try a margarita (or two, or three) the yucatan was delicious! Definitely will be going here again.
(5)
Cesar C.
Great food and service. Sat at the bar and had an excellent happy hour menu. Kids loved being able to sit at the bar. Loved the carnitas tacos!! Will come again.
(5)
Scott H.
We stopped for lunch and boy was it good. Fresh guacamole with a check in at yelp always helps! I had the fajitas and they were tasty.
(4)
Katie R.
UPDATE: I stopped in for brunch and drinks with friends a few weeks ago and had the pleasure of sitting on their patio! here's the short & sweet of it: 1. It's perfectly shaded, lots of seats and service is decently quick out there. Grab a seat! 2. They offer a $15 all you can drink special for bloodys, mimosa's or margs of your choice, for only 2 hours, but you can share! 3. The food continually gets better and so does the service :)
(4)
Tommy D.
Amazing food. Th fish tacos are so flavorful and the wait staff is on point. They make the guacamole in front of you so it's super fresh and their prices are cheap for the quality of food. Nom Nom Nom!
(5)
Dwayne O.
Came here on a Thursday during Happy Hour while on a business trip. Was told this is where the old Stapleton Airport use to be which has been transformed into an open shopping and dining area. It is developed very nice with street parking and a real inviting feel. The happy hour is awesome, had the special which had 5 street tacos for $10, the torta happy hour special also looked good. Ended up ordering the fresh guacamole also, of the 5, had 3 carna Asado and 2 barbacoa in a tortillas. They were very good and the guacamole was mixed fresh in front of us. Service was very good, the restaurant decor is very modern and dark. Looks like a place to be seen Overall the happy hour menu can not beat. Will be back or recommend this place
(4)
Kylie L.
Good food and drinks in a convenient location! It's really nice that they offer healthy options. And the table side guacamole is delicious!!
(4)
Pablo J.
Wow!!! Unbelievable service and amazing food!!! But the drinks were superb. I was greeted by our bartender Lupita who was customer oriented, happy, energetic and very knowledgeable. My experience could have not been better. I will return, thanks again. Make sure you try the pepino margarita, mango margarita and steak tacos!!!!
(5)
Rosio W.
Have made it a few times for Happy Hour. Their apps are good, I like their wings (they have a kick at the end) and the guac, which they mix in front of you. I like that, granted I always have to add salt to it. Have had a few of their entrees amd they were okay, not awesome but not bad. The service is good. Rarely did I feel that I needed something and had to wait more than a few minutes. Parking is easy, they have street meters and lots within a block, very helpful.
(3)
Paul A.
Love this place. I stop in every time I'm in Denver. Great takes on Mexican favorites.
(4)
Paul S.
Drinks here are great, taste good and made right also check out their happy hour. Guacamole is good as it always is at any Richard Sandoval restaurant. I had the chicken fried street tacos which were light and fresh chicken was not the best I've had as far as fried chicken but still definitely a good taste my date had the chile rellenos which gluten free as well and love it the manager and server were attentive but not intrusive it was efficient but not impressive. All in all I would go back check out the patio cool summer night it's perfect.
(3)
John R.
The salsa is awesome & the table side guac is also very good. The hanger steak fajitas were very good & my wife enjoyed her cheese enchilada & crispy taco but noted she has had better tortilla soup. Very attentive waitstaff & nice atmosphere.
(4)
Matt P.
This place offers very good food with an excellent view- particularly if you are upstairs. I was there as part of a wedding rehearsal dinner, so I didn't get the chance to order off the normal menu, but I really liked my steak fajitas and really enjoyed their salsa with chips and salsa. La Sandia is definitely a place I would want to visit again on my next trip to Denver.
(4)
Liz F.
Ohhh gosh, where do I begin. First off I will start this review by saying this place is only okay for fruity drinks, margs and anything tequila and the guac. Other than that I would have to agree with some of the posts. The food seems reheated and not authentic Mexican at all. When I ordered some tabasco for my bloody mary they said they didn't carry tabasco... what kind of Mexican place doesn't carry tabasco or other hot sauces? Idk I just didn't have the best food here. I love the other RS restaurants though.
(1)
Vanessa M.
This is a perfect dinner spot before catching a movie at Harkins. Pop in for a margarita or two, chips and salsa and a yummy spicy dinner. The food is always tasty and the service is friendly. The only negative is the big dinner plates for the cafe size tables, you are juggling and shifting to accommodate especially with a four top. You cannot go wrong with a Richard Sandoval Restaurant.
(4)
Chris S.
There's many restaurants in this area to choose from. Therefore, if you were new to the area and have never heard of La Sandia, you might choose one of the restaurants you're more familiar with, rather than giving this a try for the first time. Why should you give it a try? We did and weren't disappointed. La Sandia is a hip, upbeat place to grab a bite of Mexican or simply come in, grab a drink and hang out with friends. While the value is average (you are paying a little for the atmosphere) the food is slightly better than average. You may be better off coming here for an extended dinner with lots of drinks, as there's plenty of alcohol to go around. Just remember, you aren't coming here for value. The taco plates are pretty good, however. We've tried the pork and chicken and while the portions are small, you'll fill up with black beans and rice, don't worry. Start with tableside guacamole to ensure you'll be full. In short, this is a great place for a date, or when people are in from out of town and want to extend the meal longer than at a normal restaurant, while enjoying drinks. While kids are more than welcome here, if it's a family dinner with kids you're after, there's might be better places fit for that.
(3)
Ashlee H.
I went to La Sandia with my bestie on a Saturday; I love the rooftop patio! I thoroughly enjoyed the pork grilled pineapple tacos and the margarita. Delish! Chips and salad were OK, nothing special. Server was super funny, but toward the end he disappeared to flirt with the table of young girls sitting next to us. Would've ordered another marg if he asked. I'll go back for the great rooftop, yummy margs and tacos!
(4)
georgio s.
Wow, is this restaurant horrible! Canned Spanish rice with those little peas and carrots. You know the kind. Canned pieces of rubbery chicken; Canned black beans which appear to have been run through a blender before serving, and bland (if not canned), beef chips oozing with grease. Drinks in plastic cups?! Really? There is something about a margarita in a plastic cup which just screams - "cheap!" There are soooo many decent Mexican restaurants in the area. La Sandia is the worst we have ever experienced. Even Del Taco and Taco Bell are better and, cost a whole lot less. La Sandia is expensive to boot.
(1)
Brenda G.
Enjoy coming here. The service is great and Kristen is amazing!!! She really knows how to treat her customers!! Kristen, if you get a chance to read this my family, friends and I know you are amazing. Thank you for all that you have done for us.!!
(5)
Kristin M.
Great happy hour prices and extended hours (4 to close), below average food. We went in to have a full dinner, but couldn't pass up the great happy hour deal. Taco Tuesday where tacos and torta sliders are all 2 dollars (all other days they are $3 each). We tried one of each taco and torta with each of their meat choices: fish, carnitas, and chicken. Fish was the winner, followed by the chicken. Nothing to knock your socks off, just your average street taco. The carnitas were dry and flavorless, however. I would skip the tortas and go with the tacos. The bread we were served was half Hawaiian sweet roll and half regular white bun. Nothing close to authentic. And the bread was huge in comparison to the meat portion, giving it no balance and drowning the meat. Lastly, the dessert. Not happy hour priced but we wanted something sweet to end the meal. Seven dollar crepes were a rip off and not worth the calories. Large crepe with just a light drizzle of caramel sauce and a few slivers of candied orange peel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Boring, bland, and expensive. Crepes should be shown more love. The margaritas were great and a good price too, $5 for happy hour. I had the prickly pear infused tequila for my margaritas. Yum! Service was slow, unattentive, and not too knowledgeable. I might go back and in hopes that the regular menu has more flavor and flair than the happy hour menu. And I'll likely skip dessert.
(3)
Raj S.
We were attracted to this place by its charming decor, rooftop patio and interesting menu. My 10 yr old daughter likely had one of her best kids meals ever (strangely but refreshingly, they print calories on kids menu) and my shrimp quesadillas were well cooked and dressed. If only our waiter could remember serving us after a mind boggling disappearing act.
(4)
Kit W.
This was my first time at the restaurant, and we went there because it was close to the movie theatre... I was pleasantly surprised at how good the place is! The decor and ambience are good and fitting for a Mexican meal. It's perfect for any occasion, whether going out with friends, a large group or on a date. Servers are helpful and friendly. The variety of drinks was pretty impressive. The food menu was also large. As soon as we sat down, the server recommended their house special table guacamole, freshly prepared in front of you in a stone bowl with the server mashing avocados and mixing with tomatoes, onions, cilantro. This was no doubt my favorite dish. I ordered the Healthy Trio, which was good. The chef also came out to greet us, which was a nice touch. The place was packed by 6:30pm on a Saturday, but still not overly noisy. I will definitely come back again! This is now one of fav Mexcian restaurants!
(4)
Annette M.
We have been here many many times over the years and always enjoy it. Great place for Sunday Happy Hour Drinks and $2 tacos on the patio during the summer! It's very cute and trendy inside. Check online for the daily specials. Even weekend brunch! We stopped in yesterday and I realized I had never written a review. Make sure you check in on Yelp for the free guac. It's very good. Chips and salsa great as well. I ordered the special of the day, 4 different tamales. All were very tasty. Husband ordered the spicy chicken with the cheese rice that he is still talking about! Service was great as always. Mojitos are always good here too! I'm getting thirsty just writing this review.
(4)
Dale Z.
I had been to the Park Meadows location a couple times, and wanted to try out the Northfield location. I met a couple fellow Yelpers here for drinks before the last Secret Supper. We sat in the "indoor patio" area, with the doors open. There was a nice breeze, and you could get some AC, as well as some fresh air. Unfortunately, we also had more than our fair share of flies. Seating in the bar area (which you have to do to enjoy happy hour specials) can be a bit limited. My beer was nice and cold and served in a frosted glass. The happy hour prices were decent. I really enjoy the bottomless guacamole, but I think they need to improve their recipe. It really could use a touch of red onion, garlic, cumin, cilantro, jalapeno and lime (and salt). Their guac is basically mashed avocados. You can get three heat levels, but they just drizzle a little minced peppers (Serranos for medium and Habaneros for hot) on top. This is gone after the first couple bites,and you are left with bland avocado mash.
(3)
Jason J.
This is a decent place for Mexican and the chicken mole is one of the better that I have had recently. It's served with fried plantains, which is a nice touch. It's not cheap though, so if you're looking for divey Mexican, you should go somewhere else. I like the atmosphere and the service is really good as well. I had my iced tea refilled half a dozen times.
(3)
Steven S.
Boss and I went to lunch here one afternoon, neither of us having been before. At 12:00 noon, the place was nearly empty so we were a little worried. It turned out that we worried in vain. I was really pleasantly surprised by this place. Service was impeccable and we were greeted by management upon entering. You have your choice of indoor and outdoor seating, both of which are nicely apportioned. There is also a classy looking bar. We chose to dine indoors and I ordered the Tinga Chicken Burrito. It was outstanding in every respect. And I've eaten me some burritos during my 42 years upon the earth. This certainly ranks as one of my top five. Ever. It is a little on the pricey side, but I liked it enough to come back. I still don't understand why it wasn't packed. Definitely check it out. I think you'll be pleased.
(4)
Allie H.
Last minute choice and thankfully even though it was late they were open. Nice atmosphere and quick service. The tortilla soup with shredded chicken was amazing!! We (or our kids so to say) weren't too thrilled with their menu choices, although I'm pretty sure they had already filled up on the awesome chips and fresh made at your table guacamole. I don't think the server much cared for our crazy boys, which showed in her attitude, and why I'm giving 4 stars. Overall a yummy place to grub!!
(4)
Jordan P.
I don't know how or why it took us so long to go here considering how close it is and I love tequila. The menu has everything a lacto-pesco-ovo-vegetarian could ask for!! Seriously they have at least 6 things I can eat on the menu which rarely happens to me!! As we sat waiting to order I was already planning our next 5 trips back :) The food was absolutely delicious. The tequila menu is almost overwhelming while being utterly amazing at the same time! You can do flights and try different ones out. The decor from ceiling to floor is perfectly thought out, kudos to the designer! I have zero complaints about this place, only compliments.
(5)
Katie S.
Overall, I really liked this place. My friend and I stopped in for the brunch menu, where you get endless brunch beverages for $15 with the purchase of an entree. We ended up having 4 mimosas each, but they were pretty weak. I could've had twice that many...but our waiter was pretty good at keeping them coming. While the chips were pretty standard, the salsa is delicious. It's really smokey, but not very spicy. I ordered the verde burrito and I really enjoyed the amount of pork inside. It was really tasty and cooked well. The burrito was giant, and I think it could have used a bit more green chile on top. Food and atmosphere wise, I liked it here. But, I kind of felt like the staff was kind of rude. Our waiter (I don't remember his name, unfortunately) was great, and we tipped him well for his attention. The hostess, though, seemed less than thrilled to see us when we walked in. It was almost enough to make me regret coming in and turn around. She wasn't very friendly at all, nor were a couple other female employees that interacted with us during our visit. I'm not sure what the deal is with that, but they all seemed snotty. No one really wants to be working Sunday morning--but I wasn't a fan of the cold shoulders we got from the staff. Anyway, I liked it here and I liked the location. There's a great patio which was perfect for brunching, and I'll probably come here again. I'm curious to try the rellenos. I would give it another star if people had made us feel more welcome.
(3)
Christina K.
30 minutes before closing, and the hostess did not want to give us a table. I have worked on many restaurants, and that I'd completely unacceptable. You NEVER turn away customers who come in BEFORE closing. The hostess needs to be retrained. Very disappointed that we could not get a table, but I will be sure to tell everyone I know not to come to this establishment. Tisk, tisk.
(1)
Stacy G.
Awful service @ bar. Totally bummed, craving sangria. Beef up your staffing on a Friday!!!! Teach your staff to acknowledge customer when sitting there for 10 minutes. :(
(1)
George R.
I love this place. It is seriously the best Mexican in Denver. However the best part is the service... We had Samuel today and he is a rockstar. Took great care of us. Also, the Margs are perfect!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Kearsley R.
Love the food here. I just wish the service would be better. We had to wait for drinks, never got water, had to chase down service, and honestly for the price what's the point in coming here anymore. I'm a great cook and will just develop my own Mexican menu which will be just as good and better serviced by myself. Thanks for the great food, but this will be my last experience at this place. Cheers all!
(2)
Andy S.
The host said 45-60 minute wait so we left, but then he texted me 7 minutes later that a table was ready. That's bad for business - I could've already been at another place. We sat at the bar anyway. Man those people are stressed! They need another bartender or maybe they should just smile and slow down! If everyone gets their drink 30 seconds later, it'll be okay. Maybe they like the stress. The food took a while to come out, but eventually it tasted real good - especially for $2/taco. There's a huge open space in the front that has random pieces of furniture. They should turn that into something useful or add some decorations. It's awkward.
(4)
Allison F.
Jacob and I needed food after settling into our hotel room (around 8pm) and we didn't want to venture to the "bad" neighborhoods (as told by you Yelpers.) so we settled on La Sandia. We were seated promptly at what I'd consider the worst table in the house. It was a small two-seater next to a glass-block wall illuminated with bright yellow lights. The far chair was practically in the walkway used by patrons and employees. We had to move the table back a bit to feel comfortable. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable but left us hanging several times during our visit. He suggested a few things on the menu then disappeared for 10 minutes. When you check in on the Yelp app, there's an offer for free tableside guacamole! We definitely took advantage of that. We also really enjoyed the house salsa. It was fresh and spicy. I went with a grilled chicken with creamy sauce recommended by our server. Jacob got fajitas. My chicken meal was extremely disappointing. The chicken was overcooked and wasn't seasoned in the least bit. The sauce it was smothered in didn't taste like anything at all. The dish was served with a creamy/cheesy rice which was excellent. Otherwise, it was a huge waste of money. Jacob really enjoyed his fajitas, although they used the same chicken as my meal, so it also wasn't seasoned. His veggies made up for the lack of flavor. We were left without refills for more than a reasonable time. We also weren't given silverware and had to ask for some from a different server passing by since our server never showed up with any after asking. I'm sure there are good food options to be had here, but the service was not up to par and the prices didn't match the experience.
(3)
Jon T.
Great Mexican food with a healthy menu! We had Damon as our server tonight and he always kept our glasses full even though we drained them several times (thirsty night). There was also a huge party going on in the center area that was very loud, but our orders came out perfectly cooked and accurate. I always order the salmon and my wife usually gets something off the light menu, so it's a great fit for us. I substituted some plantains and rice for the usual sides and they were cooked perfectly. There have been a few times that the plantains came out overcooked to the point of being like chips, but the salmon has always been cooked perfectly and that was what mattered most to me. Definitely planning on more meals here because of the light menu that still has great Mexican food tastes.
(5)
Amy A.
Horrible service. Was there on a Tuesday night and they had one server who was working his *ss off. Waited 10 for anyone to seat me., 10 for the waiter to come to the table. Got my family style tamales which were good but never saw the waiter again. No more drinks nothing. Had to find the host to get the bill.
(3)
Smidgie W.
Came here with a friend that had a layover at DIA. The tequila selection is great! We [she] really enjoyed the tequila flight! We had the carnitas with mole poblano. They were delicious! I also really like the chips and salsa. The beans were also good. My only complaint is please, please, please get better corn tortillas!!! They are bad at both this and the Park Meadows location. The tortillas are too dry and fall apart or break when trying to make a taco. Either they are not being heated correctly, or they are too dry of a recipe.
Another hipster/trendy place that does nothing much for me. Average food, typical hipster atmosphere and whack club music in the background. No thanks
(2)
Correy H.
Whether you are looking for a drink at the bar, a sit down dinner or a 'to-go' order, La Sandia does a great job. This location has an attentive staff and nice meal portions. I will say that the steak tacos are a bit on the smaller side, so if you are hungry I would tackle the enchiladas instead.
(4)
Sarah F.
My favorite mexican restaurant on the south side of Denver. The patio views are incredible during the summer. The drinks are incredible. The BBQ salad is the best item on the menu. It's too bad the GM left, I do have to say.. that is my only complaint. Henry was an awesome contribution to the staff and he will be greatly missed.
(5)
Linda M.
Service FAIL!!! Friday evening - we were told it would be about a 25 minute wait and they would text us. I gave them my husband's phone #, then we found a table to stand at, since all the bar tables/chairs were full. We hung out and had a cocktail and chips - the bar waiter was running his butt off. After about 50 minutes we went to check on our table, since he hadn't ever gotten a text. (His phone was out on the table the whole time.) Instead of "oh, there's been a mistake, let me get you the very next table... I am so sorry, let me comp something..." we got a "our policy is to not hold the table after 15 minutes." We were in the bar for goodness sake!!! Of course we would have immediately gone to the hostess had we received the text! She never even bothered to apologize or find out we were in the restaurant the whole time. So - end of us going to La Sandia. The hostess should be fired. Interestingly enough, we ended up at the Bistro at Stapleton. We ordered our food and after about 50 minutes (again!!), and the person who took our order realized we never received our food. When we got our food, it wasn't what we had ordered. The waiter (who happened to be the GM) totally apologized, took ownership, and told us everything was comped, including our drinks. We ended up paying for our drinks, since the service was great (and they tasted great too) and will be back at that restaurant! He was a "stand up guy" and turned a bad situation into a pleasant one.
(1)
Stephanie S.
In Denver for a conference and my colleagues and I came to La Sandia! The (free) chips were AMAZING, as are the margaritas and the black beans. They also have a light menu, which is nice if you're trying to keep healthy in the healthiest state in the country. Lupita was our waitress, and she was wonderful! Thank you for a great experience!
(4)
Erica S.
Will was an amazing waiter. He was very knowledgable of the menu and offered many suggestions. Their bottomless brunch bar was fabulous! Their drinks were made from fresh ingredients and their food was flavorful, unique, true to tradition but with a twist. Even tho their patio was closed, it was such a nice day they let us sit out anyways. Thanks Mr Sandoval for another great restaurant.
(5)
Kim N.
Yum for the spicy orange margarita! Definitely recommend this place for cocktails! They had good salsa, and I had the Baja tacos - which was decent but lacked an abundance of flavor. Prices were reasonable.
(3)
Michael Y.
Had a great experience at la sandia. Kim at the bar made it special, the food was great, and the energy was high. Best chips and salsa in town and the guac cant be beat.
(5)
Angie M.
The service was good. The food was 3 stars but how quick the food came out bumped it up. Chicken was dry but the chips and salsa was excellent. A solid 3.5 stars.
(4)
Bryan S.
I like happy hour here a lot. $4 margs, $5 'bottomless' guac, actually only 3 though. BUT, service is close to appalling. 40 minutes for the app though. Nice waitress but forgetful and not fully 'present.'
(3)
Mike A.
Excellent entree options: chicken and steak fajitas, beef barbacoa enchiladas, fish tacos and pork carnitas are all superb. Salsa and chips (unlimited and gratis) are excellent; the tableside guacamole is phenomenal. Not all appetizers are created equal: the chicken flautas and nachos are mediocre. For those who like spice: the house habanero sauce may be requested (it it is not served by default.) The habenero sauce appears to be prepared by the kitchen (it comes in a bowl the size of a shot glass, not in a bottle), but lacks the delectable flavor of habanero sauces to which I am accustomed. The location and interior of the restaurant are very nice and well maintained. When the weather is cooperating, the outdoor seating is great - it is one of my favorite outdoor patios in the Stapleton area. Wait staff can be hit-or-miss. The lack of consistent, professional and attentive service is the salient reason I cannot rate this restaurant with five stars. I don't recommend sitting at the bar - relax in the lounge instead (and enjoy the same happy hour specials.)
(4)
Michael R.
This place only gets 1 star because our waiter in the cantina was nice, but that was the only positive experience we had. We came in for dinner on a Friday night and put our names in for a seat on the patio then headed to the cantina for a drink while we waited. Not only was the hostess unfriendly and cold when we showed up, but he also sat the couple that showed up after us on the patio first despite not having a reservation. After waiting for about an hour we finally got a table and ordered the queso dip as an appetizer which came out cold, had more beans than cheese in it and tasted like a bean dip. Trying to stay positive we ordered the chicken tinga tacos and a combination plate with a salad, tortilla soup and cheese quesadilla. Both plates came with a side of rice and beans. Everything came out cold and had little to no flavor. The beans were the same as in the queso dip and the rice looked it had been prepared a week ago; rice-a-roni would have been better. Less than 2 minutes after getting our plates our waiter asked if we would like some boxes to take the food home as if he was encouraging us to leave. After choking down a little more we finally packed up the leftovers and hit the road. I would recommend going to Ling and Louie's next door or any other restaurant in Northfield for a better experience.
(1)
Lydia M.
I have been coming here for about 2 years now. At first we started by sitting out on the patio, which is great to watch people go by on their way to the movies or shopping. The staff is always above accommodating to us and pay attention to what we ask. We love the food (esp the fajitas and the moles) and that the staff always takes time to explain the menu items to us. I highly recommend the spicy orange margarita , made by their expert bartender(s) (Ramon). I enjoy the atmosphere and the fact that just about anybody would feel welcomed here, just as they are.
(4)
Matt F.
Really enjoyed this place. The staff was friendly. The food was good and quick. They have happy hour specials with both food and drinks ($4-$6). It was clean and had a nice feeling to it. It's a little more expensive than your average restaurant but not by much. The one and only complaint I can think of is they didn't put nearly enough onions or cilantro on my steak tacos (street tacos). Portions aren't huge but they are enough to do the trick.
Came here for dinner last Saturday with a group of 4 friends, around 530pm. The restaurant was very quiet and we were quickly seated at a round table in the back of the restaurant. Service was very friendly and as our party arrived one by one, our server introduced herself to each person and gave them a brief overview of the restaurant. We ordered the mole sampler quesadilla to start, for the table. It arrived and consisted of four super thin slices of a cheese quesadilla with a different mole sauce on each. Considering the price of $10, the value was not there in the dish. If we didn't have the menu still with us, we wouldn't have known what each sauce was, or what was in it. It was a bit disappointing. The chips and salsa brought to our table were very good though, and we really enjoyed the taste of the salsa. For entrees, I had the baja tacos. The tilapia was very nicely cooked and I liked the cabbage slaw on each taco. The black beans were cooked perfectly and not too salty, which was a pleasant surprise. The rice was cheapened by the frozen peas and corn that had been tossed in there. The vegetables looked old and really weren't necessary. Overall, everyone enjoyed their meals though weren't blown away. The price point is good, as most entrees were around $10-12. Service got a bit slow as the restaurant got busier and it took a while to pay our bill. I would return to try the shrimp and avocado salad, as a friend ordered it and it looked super delicious.
(4)
Molly V.
Amazing! Food and service! Service was very prompt and friendly. Food was delicious :) you can't go wrong with the fajitas, they are yummy :)
(5)
Heather B.
I've been interested in visiting the location at Park Meadows for a long time, so when I found myself in Stapleton looking at this location, my mother and I decided to try it out. We chose La Sandia over Toby Keith's Bar and Grill, and, sadly, I think we would have had a better experience there. I'm not sure how they get away with such awful seating options. The only booths are in the "Happy Hour" location and are too low to dine at. The only other seating option are rickety tables with very uncomfortable wooden chairs. I have fibromyalgia and sitting in a chair like this for too long can cause the pain in my body to flare; I was disappointed that I had no other option, but hoped we wouldn't be there long enough to do any harm. After stopping by to get our drink order and setting us up with tea, our server disappeared for over 10 minutes. That's 10 extra minutes in the seat of pain. I ordered one of the guacamole specials; I didn't want a large meal and figured snacking on chips and guac would work. At $11;95, I wasn't expecting six chips with an inch tall pile of guac. I was expecting a bowl of guac and chips. Fortunately, this wound up being a perfect size for what I wanted, but NOT for the price. $12? Six chips? Really? It took another 20 - 25 minutes after we were finished eating to get our check and leave. Our server walked past us numerous times, empty plates on the table, and never thought to drop off our check (or clear the plates.) She didn't get much of a tip, and we won't be back. Frankly, I don't understand why anyone would go to this uncomfortable, over-priced establishment.
(1)
Harusami H.
I've been whining about the lack of decent Mexican food in Denver for ages... then I found La Sandia! The first time I visited was during their tamale festival, and they may have spoiled me. Until then I had to go to Taos for a decent tamale! Love their thin, crispy chips and fire-roasted salsa and love that there are so many selections for a gluten-free lifestyle. High-quality ingredients, delicious recipes, friendly staff and all day happy hours... what's not to love?
(4)
Mike C.
The food was really really fresh. However, I did find myself kind of wishing for a little more flavor. Had the guacamole (which was free if you checked in on yelp when I was there) and fish tacos. Fresh yes. Wanted a boost. Even a salt shaker on the table would have helped. Sat at a table that didn't have the large center post. Goodness! glad I didn't have one of those tables.
(3)
Amanda N.
Came here again, this time for happy hour. We sat in the 'designated' happy hour seating, which, if you're not 4'11" is mildly uncomfortable, as the chairs/benches are too high for the tables provided. I kept hitting my knees. The server was nice enough, but definitely busy and as such, was a little lacking. I noticed the manager, or who I assume was the manager, just standing there watching. In my restaurant experience, the management helps out, but this guy just stood there like a bad bouncer and watched everyone. It made me uncomfortable. Food was still solid, and the prickly pear blueberry margarita was delicious. Unfortunately, this time the service and atmosphere was still lacking.
(3)
Amanda M.
I enjoyed my first visit to La Sandia. The wait was about 20 minutes on a friday night at 7pm. As others have said, there is no waiting area aside from the bar which was full, so we waited outside on a bench. We sat on the patio, and happy hour was going on, so we ordered a quesadilla to start. It was larger and fancier than expected for $3. Later when the bill arrived we noticed our server billed us for a regular quesadilla at $8.50. We brought it to his attention, and a manager came over and apologized and changed the price to $3 even though we received the regular menu chicken quesadilla (which would not have been worth $8.50). The patio itself was really nice, with comfortable seating and good people watching. For my entree I ordered the chile relleno which was excellent. I was really surprised at how nice the presentation was. The flavors were spot on and it had just the right amount of heat. Our server was a bit aloof, and never refilled our water glasses, and he disappeared for a good 30 minutes in the middle of our meal... good thing he has nice co-workers who refilled our water, and tracked him down for our check. This is a nice spot to get dinner or drinks before a movie if you're in Stapleton.
(4)
Alex L.
Met some friends here who I haven't seen in many years. Margaritas and beer were good. Service was OK. Food was OK too. Everything was just OK. Sometimes our waiter would drop by super quick and other times we were wondering where he went. Not that many people were there on a Friday at 5:30. They might have been at the bar. I ordered the grilled steak tacos. That was the only good thing on my plate. The rice and beans that were on the plate were cold and really tasted like something out of a can. For the price of my plate ($12.50), I really rather go to Del Taco and then run by the store and pick up a 6-pack of Dos XX w/ lime. Even the cheese enchilada on my friend's plate came out colder than my rice and beans! The only thing that came out decent were my other friend's fajitas and that's it. I will probably come back again and try another dish but it's definitely not at the top of my list for Mexican food.
(3)
Chris D.
The food was good and the mojito was amazing, but I thought the place was a little to hip and trendy. The servers seemed a little too self-righteous for my taste and it was pretty pricy for Mexican food. The whole place just seemed to have a club feel to it, not really what I wanted when I just wanted a good meal.
(3)
John W.
Another great meal at La Sandia. I don't understand why their is any negative reviews about this place. Service and food was superb. The Manager Kris was really nice and helpful. My Carne Asada, and my wife's salmon were done to perfection. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
John M.
Much better than we thought/anticipated. We usually eat Mexican food in the Alameda Federal, Morrison Rd. neighborhood. Had the Cadillac Margarita, Portobello mushroom fajita and cheese enchiladas. Excellent service, and will return if in the Park Meadows direction, a bit far otherwise. A fancy gringo spot, high rent neighborhood.
(4)
Dean S.
I live in Stapleton so have dined here many times over the past several years. I have never been thrilled with the food like I have with other Mexican places, but it was always good enough, given its proximity to my house. However, the last two times I have dined there (one just last weekend), I was very disappointed. The service has never been good, but that is more a function of poor training and supervision than anything else and I can live with it. The food, on the other hand, is now over-cooked and very bland. This is Mexican food so it should have some level of spice and flavor, but, seriously, it has none. So, upon requesting a side of jalapeno pepper, I was told that they only have "picked" jalapeno -- and believe me, it was pretty pickled with no other discernible taste. A Mexican restaurant that does not have, at the very least, fresh jalapeno peppers? No kidding??!? That explains the lack of spice and taste. On top of that, it is not an inexpensive restaurant. The drinks are still good so all is not lost, but I doubt I would stop in for just drinks. Too bad, I remember when Tamayo and its sister restaurants where good. Not any more.
(2)
Jeremy P.
Nice atmosphere, excellent service - I really enjoyed this dining experience. The table side guacamole is delicious. Quite possibly one of the best mojito's I've had in Colorado. The Baja Fish taco dish hit the spot!
(5)
Megan S.
Traffic bad on i70?! GO TO LA SANDIA! Northfield is far, yes. But you can park right outside the door and you never have to worry about waiting for a table. The happy hour here is better than decent. I have been back multiple times and once summer hits will definitely lounge on their patio when I find myself pulling my hair out on the drive home $4-6 fruit margaritas, mojitos, and other fun mixes $3 beers $11 sampler plate that was more than enough to feed my 3 friends and I $10 for 5 tacos -- and not the baby, trendy tacos you see at other Denver establishments Wednesdays are by far my favorite day. $5 HUGE bowls of guacamole that they make up fresh at the table to suit your spiciness level. Like I said, it's far for most but a diamond in the rough if you ask me.
(4)
Amie G.
the hubby and i went here for date night and were blown away by how delicious it was! The guacamole is mixed table side and is super fresh! Our server, David, was very knowledgable and got us to step out of our box and try something new. My husbands chicken dish was delicious and the cheesy rice was it came with was to die for. Thank you David! This will be a frequent date night spot for us!
(5)
Julia S.
I've been here 4-5 times now, and I've tried and tried to like this place. The service is subpar and the food is remarkably average. Even last night, there were dirty tables all over the restaurant, and it took forever to get our food and drinks. The one thing I did like was the guac, but it's not cheap. Also, If you're over 5'5", know the tables and chairs are incredibly uncomfortable! Also, keep in mind that happy hour is only in the bar area.
(2)
Elena L.
My husband & I came here last night after having a bad experience at Toby Keith's. We sat at the bar & was immediately greeted by Tara with a sincere & friendly smile. She gave us a happy hour menu which was really impressive at 8:30 on a Saturday evening. Tara informed us of the happy hour shot special when we asked about them. We ordered the artichoke wings and they came out fast, fresh & hot. The bar, restaurant & bathrooms are clean. We will definitely be returning again soon!
(5)
Sina G.
Great spot for lunch, dinner or just drinks at the bar. We started off with the chips and roasted salsa which was very delicious. I took advantage of the free "guac at your table" coupon from yelp which was amazing. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and my friend ordered the chicken tacos. We were both stuffed and happy. Honestly, I loaded up on the chips and guac and barely had any room for my entree. I would recommend to wait for your food to come and use the guac with your food too because they didn't give us any on our entrees which is always sad when food doesn't have "green gold".
(5)
Cindy F.
Fresh tasting sauces, comfortable atmosphere, smallish but sensible sized portions. I had the trio with soup, salad and baked chili relleno for 450 calories. All very good!
(5)
April H.
One of my favorite places to eat! I am a huge fan of the sangria, table made guacamole and cheese enchiladas! The only downfall is the seating is very uncomfortable, especially if you are tall. But it is worth it. They also have a great happy hour. Don't eat out much, but when I do its La Sandia!
(4)
George T.
Great service and food. I've tried most of their menu and nothing disappoints. Great decor too. Great service and food. I've tried most of their menu and nothing disappoints. Great decor too.
(5)
Too S.
Best restaurant in Northfield Stapleton. We really love La Sandia, so much that we had to cut ourselves off for a while because we were going ALL THE TIME. The food is consistently good and we never leave disappointed. I love the steak fajitas. The steak is marinated and tender and full of flavor. I've also had their Mole Chicken which is amazing. Guacamole is made to order and you can specify spicy-ness. Service can be slow and bar slow to get drinks when they're busy. I always make reservations through OpenTable to get the points. Sometimes you need reservations, sometimes you don't. Around the weekends and holidays, this place can get pretty busy so without reservations you will have to wait but they have a full service lobby/lounge in addition to the bar with ample seating. It's a very loud and lively place, even when it's empty so La Sandia is great for kids because the music and noise.
(4)
L W.
I have to say.. We LOVED this place. The service was outstanding. Food was delicious. The chicken tinga and the mushroom lettuce wraps were great. The portion size was good. We loved that the guacamole was made fresh at your your table and it was fantastic. Will be returning as soon as we go back to Denver.
(5)
Anne F.
I've been a regular at La Sandia for the last few years, since we moved to the greater Stapleton area. The service /food several months ago was pretty shady and we'd stopped going. Over the summer we decided to give them another try, it'd been a while and maybe things were better. The new all day happy hour is awesome (I don't think they do it Friday and Saturday evenings). The portions are perfect, the bottomless guacamole is good, it does come in a small bowl, and it's bottomless so it totally doesn't matter, I'd like another round my good man! and it's on the house! the chips and salsa are good. The service is much improved, we only sit in the bar though and skip the dining room. I am a fan of the chicken nachos. The pulled pork torta sliders are also good, the bread is a little sweet. Overall good experiences the last three or so months.
(4)
Thomas H.
i agree with Shannon K......cool temperature food at best. the bartender was disinterested in waiting on us. I guess she didn't want to sell us more alcohol. I sent basic quesadillas back twice and finally said enough. The manager, about as professional as a high school junior student only wanted to comp our bill, not fix the problem of the food being cold. I would not recommend this place and did not want to give it any stars. I never criticize any restaurant as every place can be off once in a while, but i feel I should warn anyone considering going there. additionally, i just joined yelp to place this review. sorry to be so critical...........
(1)
E M.
Very odd flavors. Too salty. Not a fan. The table side guacamole tasted very strange. Not sure what they put in it but I love guacamole and I couldn't each much of it. The cheese enchiladas were salty and rubbery. The staff was attentive- almost overly so- but that's better then the nonexistent service you get at some places these days. Just blah food and not inspiring at all. Will go somewhere else for Mexican food in the future.
(2)
Steven M.
We tried a good variety of the menu. The chips and salsa are free and bottomless, and while nothing special among Mexican restaurants, they are very good when the service gets slow around 6pm. Don't really care for the Chicken Enchiladas.. Don't taste like they should. Go for the Beef/Steak Fajitas if you're hungry. The steak is done to order, and its always very moist and tender. Don't be fooled, either, by the doormen who are very formally dressed - it's a very casual place with a moderately loud ambiance. Great for kids. Would definitely come back.
(4)
Chong I.
This was my first visit here. I'm not a big Mexican food fan, so I always play it safe and order the fajitas. The meal I received was not very good. Maybe I'm being picky, but this was the first time I've ordered fajitas, where it didn't come out sizzling on the pan. The food was warm, not hot. I had to ask for sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes, etc., you know, the stuff that normally comes with fajitas. I ordered the shrimp and steak combo, and I gotta say, I was disappointed. I was dining with 9 others, they too were not impressed.
(2)
Florence S.
We just had a party of 10 people at La Sandia for lunch and we had horrible service. We had to constantly ask for drink refills, but that was only when we actually saw our server. She also did not seem to be happy to be working and took our order from one end of a very long table. She definitely did not have any sort of customer service and it was quite apparent. I wish I had disputed the automatic 20% gratuity because we did not have service anywhere near that caliber. She even claimed that we didn't pay one of our checks, when in actuality, she never brought it out in the first place. La Sandia was my choice for my co workers and unfortunately, I regret it.
(1)
Debbie D.
My family and I love this place. We discovered it three years ago when in Denver for the Colorado Sparkler softball tournament. Each year we make it a point to go back, and usually we visit more than once during our 10-day trip. The table side fresh guacamole is delicious (we like the spicy version best) and we have yet to get something we don't like. The worst part is the salsa is also delicious, so we find ourselves full from the chips, salsa and guacamole before we even get our meals! Margaritas are also yummy and our daughter loves the strawberry lemonade. It's not cheap, but it is good.
(5)
Adrian C.
Went in the other night, and it's just alright. They really push the guacamole hardcore. Our waitress kept asking even after we said no. The food tasted a little bland, or at least the chicken enchiladas. The salsa was amazing though.
(2)
Van H.
I loooove to come here I love the margs and apps.... Harsh for 3 stars???? Service! Why is there only one bartender on EVER? For a long bartop I don't understand how they never have a second bartender on shift and everyone in the restaurant suffers because it is not practical to expect a single person to hold down the fort.... Hopefully they'll get the hint soon because I truly enjoy dining at la Sandia
(3)
Jeff B.
I usually never review unless I'm happy. Delivered salad w/o dressing then 15 min to get it delivered after requesting not to mention the time it took to get waiter attention. Done bother especially during lunch time!!!!
(2)
Sara A.
Have eaten here twice. The drinks are great (the coconut mojito, which is a special and not served all the time, was probably the best drink I've ever had). The food, it's ok. I think they're trying to be fancy, but some of their food just doesn't taste right. I had their guacamole both times and it was good--but too spicy. The first time I came with a friend who said they used to make the guac table-side, and you could tell them how spicy/not spicy you wanted it and if you wanted anything left out. I think they should bring that back. I know I'll be back (I live close by), I just wished that their food tasted more like a traditional Mexican restaurant.
(3)
Marla M.
After looking forward to going to La Sandia for sometime, we finally made a reservation during Denver Restaurant Week. We arrived 10 minutes early for a 7:00 reservation. The restaurant seemed busy but not packed. The hostess said they would get the table ready, we went to the bar, tried to order a specialty Margarita, they were out if that particular Marg. I ask for a specific beer which is listed on the menu, they were also out of that. Not a great start, right? We sat at the bar for sometime, I finally go back up to the hostess, ask if our table is ready. The hostess says "we can seat you anytime". I'm thinking to myself"what the heck?" We get or table, we did have a GREAT waiter. Our service from him was good. The kitchen was having problems. Our appetizer took FOREVER, then our meal came right after our app. My chicken was cold, my Posole was overdone and mushy. My husband had the chili rellano, his was good. Long story short, DISAPPOINTED and NEVER RETURNING!!!!
(2)
Gavin D.
A former Coloradan recommended I eat here during my business trip to Denver. Based on her advice I came in. I sat at the bar to watch Monday night football. Steve the bartender immediately made me feel welcome and said he would take care of me and he sure did. The table side guacamole was amazing. The carne asade was moist and tender and the corn tamale was decadent. Sure the food was great, but it means little to nothing if the service isn't great either, and between the food at La Sandia and Steve the bartender, this is definitely a 5 star joint.
(5)
Larry R.
The guacamole, prepared fresh at your table is worth the visit alone. If traditional Mexican food is what your craving then this is not the place, with that being said the food was flavorful and fresh the portions were enough to satisfy. the staff was friendly and attentive, the Decor was not what i expected very colorful with Spanish accessories but a very high class feel . Over all for the price, quite reasonable, I would recommend
(3)
Kimberly B.
Great culinary experience at a reasonable price. Very impressed with the bottomless brunch, the margs were made from scratch and delicious!! Great attentive service, Will our server was amazing and the hostess was equally great, both let us sit outside even though the patio was closed.
(5)
Jacob S.
Bland. Bland. Bland. I really expect more out of a Mexican restaurant. The chips tasted store bought and apparently saved on cost by having no salt. The salsa had no flavor. It was basically tomato sauce. I ordered a house specialty, the chicken tinga tacos. The chicken had no flavor but still managed to drop something all over the plate. Same case for the rice and beans; could have come from a can. The price wasn't bad and I'm sure their mixed drinks are great. The service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere was tasteful and warm. Might give it a second chance someday but probably not.
(2)
Tyler M.
The Spicy guac is the best in town! Great place to take a date, have her try the watermelon margarita.
First time eating here and it wasn't bad. The salsa is very good!
(3)
Ralph H.
Sickening food and really expensive....what more could you ask for? Rellenos came filled with an undescribable brown sludge, the enchiladas were so small, I could have hidden them under my wristwatch. And then the bill...I almost died of shock. This place is trying to be some nouvelle cuisine scene. They should focus on just being a good, reasonably priced mexican restaurant instead.
(1)
Shannon C.
Took the finace here with a LivingSocial, which was supposed to be for a tamale tasting, but we missed that event, so we ended up with $60 to spend and the manager was very sweet to us. Here's what we had on our gluttonous night out: -Spicy margarita: a must try. Great margarita, each sip is followed by just a little bit of heat. -Guacamole and chipotle wings: The guacamole was decent, but I would skip it next time because the avocados were not ripe enough. But, the chipotle wings were AMAZING. I'm not usually a big fan of chicken wings, but these were crispy and had this delicious chipotle glaze on them, with a really tasty cream sauce for dipping. -Chicken mole poblano: This was good, but a little decieving as the poblano was in the mole sauce, and I was expecting it to be a whole chile on the plate... still delish. -Chicken Zarape: I could seriously just live on their creamy white rice. So good. -Tres Leches cake: I've teased my fiance for years for eating cake in a bowl so that he can pour milk on it... Now he won't stop raving about this amazing dessert. Thanks for a great date night! We'll be back.
(4)
Jayme J.
I was very happy with my experience here. The service was pretty good (except waiting awhile to receive our check) and the food was as well. We started off with the Queso Fundido which was delicious even though I'm sure it is horrible for you. We expected more of a Chile con Queso type dish but it is more of a skillet of melted cheese. Their complimentary chips and salsa were the highlight of the meal. I loved both and filled up on them. For the entrees, my wife had the salmon and I had the chile verde pork burrito. Neither was exceptional but the salmon was definitely the better of the two in my opinion. My burrito was strangely sweet... I couldn't isolate what was causing the sweetness but in the end I just pulled it apart and ate the pork from it (I was so full from all of the chips and salsa that it really wasn't a big deal.) We also split the tres leches for dessert which is something we'd never had before so we weren't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised and would probably order it again given the chance. Overall, the food was good, the chips and salsa were amazing and we will definitely be back since it is so close to our home.
(4)
Michael L.
Another great Richard Sandoval restaurant, only more affordable than his others. Very interesting take on mexican food. Table side guac is great. Also the cheese enchiladas are very unique and definitely worth a try. They also have great margs, chips and salsa, and monthly specials. Definitely worth checking this place out!!!
(5)
Leonard E.
Great environment and friendly staff. I'm a not a guacamole eater, but I could not stop eating the guacamole, salsa, and chips here. They taste great. I was not impressed with the margaritas though. The rest of the food taste great too. I would recommend this as a fun place to eat and hang out.
(4)
Joe C.
Went there for lunch yesterday. Wife had the Al Pastor Tacos (marinated pork), I had the Carne Asada. The tacos were perfect, the tortilla not to thick, just right. The Carne Asada was cooked perfectly, juicy, tender, perfect seasoning. It came with this corn tamale... oh man... delicious! The Salsa is excellent... could use some heat, but so tasty. I added some Habenaro sauce to it... mmmmm. The service was excellent. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food, and checked on us regularly. When he asked us if we wanted desert, my wife murmured that she loves sopapillas... The waiter then told us that they could make them off menu for us. They were the bombeezy! With Vanilla Ice Cream and caramel sauce. Definately going back. I think it's the only place to get a great taco in Denver. yeah yeah... I tried Pinche Taco... it's alright.
(5)
Paul A.
Classy Mexican. This is a great place if you have to wait for somebody. The restaurant is split in two: one for their all day & night happy hour (except until 7p on Fri & Sat) with lounge seating ($3 coronas, $4-5 margs/mojitos/sangrias, $5 finger foods) and another side for normal dining. Free chips & salsa - and I was a fan of the salsa. We filled up on chips & salsa and split a meal to come out under $30 with drinks. This place worked out great to meet up with my parents who had just flown in - it's half way from downtown & DIA, and it was quiet enough to catch up.
(5)
Chris R.
Don't live in Denver, but have been to La Sandia a handful of times now over the years. For us, it's been kind of a hit and miss place. The "misses" have tended to be related to service. But the food has been consistently good. On our most recent visit, both the food and the service were quite good. As a few others have mentioned, their chips are fantastic. Great way to start the meal. We also had tacos and a barbacoa enchilada. (The meat in the enchilada was as tender as any I've had at a Mexican restaurant.) We topped off the experience with the Churros y Chocolate, as well as the Tres Leches. Both outstanding. Good location for us, as our friends live in the Stapleton area. Also convenient if you're passing through on I-70.
(4)
Karen M.
The guacamole, salsa and chips were fantastic. I had the shrimp avocado salad, dynamite. My dining partner had the pork carnitas , melt in your mouth good!!!
(4)
Larry N.
Best Mexican food I ever had!
(5)
Sue M.
Based strictly on the food, I would have rated the restaurant higher. Ordered the veggie fajitas and they were amazing; everyone at our table enjoyed their entree. On the downside, it was ridiculous to expect four adults to comfortably enjoy a meal at the dollhouse-sized table we were seated at. The table couldn't even accommodate the four entree plates that were brought out, without the square plates extending two inches beyond the table edges. Had it not put a major damper on the whole experience, it would have been comical to watch everyone trying to find a place to set their plate, water, and bar drink. We resorted to placing the tortilla warmer lids and empty glasses and bottles on the floor next to us (wait staff seemed oblivious to the serious lack of space). Would have liked to linger and converse over after-dinner drinks, but the table space was too claustrophobic.
(3)
Annie B.
In the past week, I have eaten here twice. Once for lunch, and once for dinner. Both experiences were very similar. It seems as if La Sandia is slipping a bit. For lunch, my friend and I tried La Sandia's "Mix & Match Lunch" for $6.95 and we got an order of "Bottomless Guacamole", extra spicy. I had a "Skirt Steak Taco" and a "Beef Barbacoa Enchilada." Both the taco and the enchilada were very flavorful and I enjoyed them a lot! However, the accompanying beans and rice were bland and tasted pre-manufactured as if the beans were canned and the veggies in the rice came from a mix instead of from scratch. I didn't enjoy the beans and rice so much. The guacamole was somewhat bland and wasn't spicy at all. To make it spicy, they just put some orange stuff on top which I can only assume was a habanero puree (this is a guess) that you have to mix in yourself. It wasn't horrible, it was just lacking in flavor. The salsa was also a little in need of some salt. The service was close to outstanding! My only issue was I had to flag the waiter down for one iced tea refill. Overall, the experience was pretty good. My dinner experience was a little more lackluster. Upon grabbing a seat in the lounge, I ordered some "Bottomless Guacamole", extra spicy. Our guac, salsa and chips were brought to the table quickly and I dug in! To my disappointment, the guac was similar to the guac I had when I visited La Sandia for lunch. Not spicy, somewhat bland and it even had a little strange aftertaste. The salsa was also a little lacking in seasoning. For an appetizer, we shared the "Queso Fundido" which I must say was pretty greasy, but really tasty! We opted for the $1 extra cost to get chorizo on top. A worthwhile investment! After a few servings of bottomless guac and the queso, we opted to just get a few more things from the happy hour menu instead of ordering entree's. I ordered the "Mini Chili Verde Pork Chimichangas" and my friend ordered the "Chicken Taquitos." Both dishes were very bland, with the exception of the " Chile Morita" sauce. My friend shared her sauce with me which added a nice kick and some great flavor to both dishes. I only ate one of my chimichangas. I decided to box up the other two and take them home to my boyfriend. After a while, the manager came by and asked us how everything was. I was honest. I politely told him that my meal was very bland and he quickly took charge and offered to rectify the situation. I told him there was no need. I was full and did not want anything else and I was just planning on boxing them up and taking them home anyway. He offered to take care of my dinner (just the chimi's, not the entire ticket). I thanked him and he brought us boxes. The service during this experience was just OK. Our waitress was very nice, but it appeared that she was too busy to notice us at times. My water glass did however remain filled at all times, which if you read any of my other reviews is a big deal to me. Overall, it seems as though La Sandia has deteriorated since some of the better experiences I've had here. I don't know if they're under new management or if they have a new chef or what the case is, but I know they can do better than this. I have eaten some amazing food here and it is truly disappointing to see this place go down hill. To anyone at La Sandia that reads this, salt and seasonings are your friends. They bring life too food. Please add another server to your dinner shift so your tables get more attention. I truly hope you can turn it back around. I believe you are capable of much greater things than what I witnessed in the past week. I gave La Sandia 3 stars as it wasn't bad, it just wasn't amazing. It was OK.
(3)
Bob M.
Omg, the chocolate waffles were awesome. They were so light and fluffy, it was like cake. The fajitas were equally tasty as well. The Ghurro's however were a tad over fried. All in all, we will come back. The hostess seated us quickly, but it took a bit before our waiter came over, but once he did he was attentive.
(4)
Rachel S.
La Sandia Margs = amazing. Try the Prickly Pear or the strawberry or mango margaritas. They are best (I think) served on the rocks, and they don't have that yucky, high-calorie sour mix in them - these are the real thing. My friends who are into food/drinks with some kick also really like the spicy orange margarita. Their happy hour is bomb (check out the menu here: richardsandoval.com/lasa… ). The margaritas are from $4 - $6 and they also have $3 tacos, $5 quesadillas, etc. That being said, If you're really feeling hungry, you're probably just better off ordering from the dinner menu... Math example: three tacos on happy hour = $9; three tacos + rice & beans (off of the dinner menu) = $9.50. I might not be a math whiz, but I'm pretty sure that cost/benefit analysis is clear. Finally, the best part of the happy hour: BOTTOMLESS GUACAMOLE. Yes, you read that right. For FIVE DOLLARS you and a friend can eat as much guacamole as your little hearts desire until happy hour ends at 7.
(5)
Cleo X.
4.5 stars for customer service alone. An impromptu dinner at La Sandia one Thursday evening left the following impressions: friendly, efficient, and accommodating staff .. quick and impressive service .. minimal wait times .. good food .. nice atmosphere. Pleasantly surprised! Would return and hope for a similar outstanding vibe.
(4)
Kim S.
Visited La Sandia on a Friday for Happy Hour. Not impressed. Not even a little. I was excited to see they offered bottomless gauc for $5 for tables of 4 or less. Who wouldnt be excited about that? Well, the bowl it's served in probably holds less than a cup of liquid and you get MAYBE 1/2 of an avocado with each serving. Oh, and if you ask your server for another..be prepared for the "oh jesus really" annoyed stare. Don't offer it if it's just going to piss your servers off when people ask for more...OR...serve a decent helping of gauc so that people may not ask for more. Just a thought. This place makes AMAZING Prickly Pear margaritas - $5 during happy hour. I got one - 15 minutes after ording it - I would have ordered another had our server ever been seen again. We had to flag people down to order stuff. We ended up walking around and finding a manager and asking for our ticket so we could pay and get the h out of there. He didnt care either. Our server showed up with a huge smile and our ticket. Whatever. Not worth it. 1st Star is for the great margarita 2nd Star is for the yumminess of the food. Apparently the nice people work in the kitchen.
(2)
Richard G.
I liked my meal here very much. Not sure I'm into "compartmentalized" plates, but the food was good. The guac and salsa is as good as everyone before me has said. Attentive service too...
(4)
Christy D.
I love their food -- especially the pork tacos. Also, they have a great happy hour with a ton of choices. Also, they have some interesting flavored margaritas -- including spicey orange. We'll definitely return.
(4)
amanda b.
We stumbled upon this place during our first movie date in Denver. We usually catch movies first thing Sunday morning, but had too much to do this past weekend so we didn't make it out of the house until 3:30. I was having a huge avocado craving so we stopped in for some boozy drinks and Mexican food before our show. We were there for happy hour (on a Sunday- random but I went with it) so my mojitos were $5 each. Well-made, not too sweet and a good amount of mint. I had the shrimp quesadilla, and it was amazing. Slightly smokey, not too cheesy and the shrimp was not overcooked. Corey got some oysters. They were just OK. We'll probably go back for lunch for the future. Unrelated- DO NOT go see "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.' Terrible movie, even after two mojitos.
(4)
JD F.
Restaurant.com got us in the door. Kate and I had a long Saturday- her doing some work in our house and attending a social function, and me doing some serious yard work. We were looking for a place where we could share some interesting food, have a good conversation and a few drinks, and not drive too far. Which meant it had to be close to our house. Because we had a restaurant.com gift card, we perused the options until we found what seemed like the perfect place, and we bought a certificate. The food was...fine. I asked Kate what I should write, her response "It's Mexican food... more or less." Our guacamole was guacamole, nothing less, nothing more. My tortilla soup was...fine. Kate's chicken soup was...fine. The waitress was confused when we ordered appetizer (guac), soups, and entree. When we explained that we would like them served as three separate courses, the idea seemed foreign to her. Which explains why our entrees were served two minutes after our soup. Kate ordered steak fajitas, and that's what she got. There was nothing unique about them, and very little to report. I ordered the chiles relleno because our waitress promised me they were "the best EVER." They were decidedly not the best ever. My reward for following her advice was that every two minutes she stopped by to ask "aren't those awesome?" "No, dear, they aren't, and you're interrupting our conversation." If you're getting the feeling that La Sandia is nothing special, you're right. The cuisine is serviceable. The staff is untrained and mediocre. But would I go back? ABSOLUTELY. Because Kate and I have discovered that La Sandia is where aging, cruising, sadly pathetic ex-frat boys go to meet much too young girls with little self esteem and even less clothing. The people watching is extraordinary. We watched suave, and considerably less suave, pickup artists ply their craft. We prayed to turn into flies in order to eavesdrop. And we hoped that some old Tri-Lam would come by to tell us war stories about the "babe that got away." It didn't happen for us on Saturday night. But like most of the people at La Sandia, we'll be back another Saturday, eating bland nachos and hoping, hoping against hope, really, to get lucky.
(2)
Greg D.
Super fresh ingredients, excellent fresh gaucamole, awesome margaritas and great Rick Bayless-style mexican food. I love this place, highly recommend.
(5)
Pilar D.
GREAT happy hour apps and drinks selection. I came here for a mini high school reunion and we basically took over the bar area. The bartender was great, quickly taking and producing drink orders. The waitstaff who brought the food were also pretty fast. They have an extensive list of appetizers for happy hour. I would recommend trying the carnita sliders and banana empanada with ice cream with caramel. For drinks, I would highly recommend their regular mojito, which is also their specialty. Great place for large groups.
(4)
Brenda H.
I really enjoyed this place. I had the cobb salad (less egg, bacon and cheese) and it was wonderful. Unfortunately i did load up on the yummy guacomole, chips and salsa...which was amazing. That plus 2 large servings of watermelon agua fresca...and i was more full and was still full by the morning. haha! I especially loved how informative our server was regarding vegan items on their menu...and how to veganize non-vegan dishes too!!
(4)
Kat O.
OMG WTH? We went in with reservations and the place was not even half full and we had to wait. The hostess said it was her 2nd day on the job. Fine. Understandable. People kept coming in and asking to be seated and she was telling everyone (even groups of 2) that there was a 20 minute wait. Many of the people were wandering around the restaurant and coming back to ask the hostess why in the world they were waiting 20 minutes if the restaurant was more than half empty? We finally got seated, every server seemed slow and hungover. They were all young. One of the waitresses was texting in the bathroom and said to me- "I have to hide in here from my boss to text. I dare him to come find me in here". Really? Also- they advertise a 6.95 lunch special and happy hour specials but then we were told they cannot do happy hour unless we sit at certain tables. WHAT? And apparently the lunch special is some kind of joke? They even have signs outside about the lunch special, but we couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. The one plus, which gives this 2 stars instead of one, is that after I finally found the manager and asked him to honor the happy hour menu for us even though we weren't sitting in the lounge or on the patio, he said he would. We ordered bottomless guacamole which was hardly bottomless. It was really hard to get the server to bring anything out when asked for it- and he seemed irritated every time we asked. We would ask for more guacamole and he said "ITS COMING". We asked for a refill of salsa and he said "ITS COMING". Seriously? He was really rude. Service was extremely slow and unfriendly. The whole thing is a shame because the food is great, but the lack of care and concern from the waitstaff really ruined the experience. The manager seems like a good guy who got stuck with a bunch of slacker workers. Would love to go back here, but the service was just icky.
(2)
Sandra D.
I visited Colorado with my sister in law last week and we met some of her family for dinner here. What a great pick! The food was wonderful, and the service was excellent! I had the Fajita's, steak and chicken, along with black beans, rice, and corn tortilla's. The guacamole was wonderful, also the salsa was fresh. Next time I'm in town I will be back. Also everyone at the table, there was 10 adults and 3 kids, said there meal was good too!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes 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 Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Hilary T.
Lupita is so amazing and sweet. We love her! She always takes the best care of us! I love the guacamole. I would come here just for the drinks and guacamole. The patio is awesome for nice days.
(5)Brian F.
LaSandia has the BEST guacamole!!! Love their Happy Hour. :) $5,00 unlimited guacamole for 2. :)
(5)Dan W.
This place was pretty good. I took a date there, good margs, good food, service was good too!
(4)Derrick S.
Food and service was good as usual. The only issue I had was the giant bone I bit down on in my tacos on my last visit. Informed the staff but they acted like it wasn't a big deal..
(3)Darby V.
Still great, but REALLY disappointed the Tres Leche is gone. Was best thing on the menu.
(4)Cyndi J.
I liked the Park Meadows La Sandia, so I decided to try Northfield, since I had to shop. It started out rocky ... I was eating by myself, which for some reason makes people uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to do it for every meal, but sometimes it is peaceful! I sat at the bar for several minutes before even being greeted. I borrowed a menu from my kind bar neighbors. I ordered the Sandia margarita, which was a delightful concoction with watermelon and citrus. I restrained myself and had just one. It was lunchtime, after all. I had the steak fajitas - again - because I love them, and because it is hard for them to put cheese or sour creme or crema on them. They were quite delicious. My bartender/server did pay more attention to me after the initial rocky start, and for that, I am happy.
(4)A N.
I tried the house poblano (all veggie). It was perfect. With black beans and cheese as well. Great flavor. I also tried the table side guac which was very good, fresh and bonus it was free with Yelp check in. Server was very attentive and let me try the habanero salsa in addition to the one that came with chips. Pretty loud inside, but lively not obnoxious. Outside seating available as well as upholstered low table seating in the bar area.
(5)Kelli H.
La Sandia is a nice place for an after work happy hour - which is exactly what has brought me here the past two times. There is plenty of seating in their bar area that is comfortable and good for large groups. Their happy hour specials are pretty good. $3 beer and wine and $5-6 margaritas. My favorite is the prickly pear margarita. It comes out neon pink and with a rim of sugar. We also always order the spicy guacamole. It's prepared table-side, which is fun to watch and you can't beat the freshness.
(3)Koda L.
I love the salsa, and the food is pretty good. I have tried a few different things and never been dissatisfied. I love, love, love the tres leches though. I think it is a little pricey but that is just an opinion.
(3)Emily P.
Can't really even give this any stars. We went after work one evening & the 3 ladies at the hostess stand told us the wait would be 25-35 minutes but we had to give them our phone number for them to text us because they do not use pagers. We waited 40 minutes before losing patience & inquiring on the status of our table. They told us probably another 45 minutes! We asked to talk to the manager & the best they'd do was give us their card. We walked out. Not even any apologies. We'll never go again.
(1)Shannon K.
I'm only giving this restaurant 1 star because I have to put something down. Probably the worst Mexican lunch I have ever had. Was wary when yelpers had collectively rated at 3 stars but figured I would give it a chance anyway... The fish in the fish tacos was puny and tasteless. The grilled chicken fajita plate had almost no vegetables with it- isn't that what fajitas are supposed to have? They were very thin pieces of peppers, nearly burned anyways. Huge disappointment
(1)Morgan B.
Great guacamole. Made tableside, very flavorful. I would come back here for guac and drinks. However, the rest of the food was just meh. I had enchiladas, I can't remember what my husband had. Neither of us were blown away - it wasn't bad, but wasn't great. The service was slow. And I mean truly slow (with no "sorry about the wait" or anything). We sat there with empty drinks (and no food) for 15 minutes before she came to ask if we wanted more drinks - and then it took at least another ten to get them. Our food was lukewarm when it arrived - maybe because it also took a while. The waitress came by at some point and took my husband's empty water glass and didn't bring him any water for ten minutes so he went his whole meal without a water (the only drink he had by this point). I gave them three stars because I hope that the service is usually better than this and the guac was great but there's too many other good restaurants around for me to go back here unless I'm in the area.
(3)James L.
Stopped in around brunch time. Fully suggest passing. Bartender asked I wanted a bottomless bloody marry. I groaned as I said "absolutely not." Which I think most people would understand as no. The bloody marry tasted like water. So imagine how pissed I was that I paid $15 for one, that I didn't finish. The chicken fajitas were just plain gross. The chicken reminded me something microwaved from a frozen bag. Visually it appeared to be seasoned. After tasting it, I think it was food coloring. So I got over charged and bad food. Please don't make the mistake I did.
(1)Jamie S.
We had a wonderful lunch experience here this afternoon. It was a late lunch (3pm), so the restaurant wasn't busy, but we like it like that when we have our toddler in tow. We were greeted by the assistant manager who was so friendly. He asked if it was our first time there, and when we said that it was, he offered us some guacamole that they came to make table side (on him!). It was very fresh, and we really enjoyed it. Since I'm pregnant, we couldn't enjoy any alcohol, but their watermelon agua fresca was delicious! My son enjoyed some of it as well. For our main dishes, I got the cheese enchiladas, but substituted the red sauce instead of the usual green sauce that comes on it. It was SO good. It wasn't at all your typical, greasy enchilada dish. My husband got a signature chicken dish that the waitress suggested, and was thoroughly pleased. His rice was different than a traditional Mexican rice...it was a cheesy, almost risotto, type of rice that was delicious. The chicken was seasoned great, too. We will definitely come back, it was GREAT!
(5)Ashley S.
This place is bomb!!! I have gone here a few times and have never been disappointed. The service is great along with the amazing food. Their marg's are delicious and so are the nachos, enchiladas and sliders to name a few of my fav's.
(5)Lara W.
Great weight loss option....food poisoning at its finest. Hubby and I both got sick - could have been the guacamole or shrimp fajitas. This is not Mexican food, it's reheated, well-packaged poser crap. We won't be back.
(1)Annie R.
Love the prickly pear margaritas and tableside quacamole!! Extended happy Hour is awesome and you can get drinks for $4-$6 and discounted food. Our server, Damon, was extremely helpful and made great recommendations. This is a good place for larger groups or to meet friends after work. However, if you're looking for a quiet place, this isn't the best. You can still find a few quieter corners.
(4)Lorraine P.
The hotel we stayed at recommended this place. Nice ambiance, good margarita, but served in a plastic glass. Food not authentic at all! I would not eat here again except for maybe happy hour with a large group. Oh! On a positive note. The guacamole was homemade at our table!
(2)Linda R.
We loved the atmosphere, drinks and food at La Sandia!
(5)Andrea H.
Not as impressed as I thought I should have been. Heard recommendations and good reviews, sadly, the food didn't live up to my expectations. The drinks were small and weak, tasty however, the infused margaritas were refreshing. The happy hour tacos were tiny, I prefer my favorite 24 hour taco place for a tasty, hefty taco. Other than that, the service was friendly and attentive, really the only selling feature. The joint was clean, bathrooms decent and has a large seating area, lounge and bar.
(3)Heather B.
The food was far from Mexican and my carnitas were so greasy and crunchy that could barely eat them. The rice was dry and the guac needed salt.
(2)Paula H.
Thanks to Lori at the UCH Cancer Center for recommending La Sandia! Only a short walk from the Staybridge Suites so I hoofed it over to enjoy classic margaritas with a generous pour and even a small sample of their house-made horchata. Delicious fresh guacamole and chips were prepared at our table. The mushroom tacos were okay -- definitely not the best thing ever -- and my only gripe is that there were no other vegetarian options on the menu. Despite that, we enjoyed it!
(4)James H.
Great happy hour! The guacamole is awesome despite the difficulty at which it is to screw it up. The salsa is tasty and the chips are nice and salty. Enjoy
(4)Linda C.
Lovely decor, poor service, boring and completely average to below average food. Delicious mango margaritas.
(3)Nancy A.
Wonderful happy hour! La Sandia offers a variety of food and drink specials. They even have pitchers of margarita and sangria for $19.95 - $21.85. Beautiful restaurant and they have a wonderful bar. We always sit in the bar area and order a couple of drinks and a few food items. The bartenders here are great also. Some food items they offer are: Tacos (choice of al pastor/beef barbocoa/chicken tinga/carnitas) $3 each or $5 for 10 Skillet Nachos $6 Quesadilla $5 Cantina Sampler (quesadillas, wings, taquitos, guacamole, chimichangas and green chili dip) $ 11 The Cantina Sampler is perfect to share with the table. It offers a variety of items for everyone to try!
(4)Alexis R.
Was really excited to bring my boyfriend here for the first time, and the food was alright but I can no longer call it one of my favorites
(3)Tracy S.
What the hell happened to La Sandia? I remember when the menu used to have more choices than just the basics. Where's the mole and variety of salsas with the chips? Menu is now lackluster and over priced when you can get authentic Mexican food for less price. Had a mojito that used sour mix which made it overly sour and gross. Everything served in plastic cups. Husband had a Mexican hefeweizen served lukewarm and didn't have the courtesy to provide a frosty mug. Guacamole is good and salsa is good. Beyond that don't waste your time or money. It's obvious this place is now cutting corners on all fronts. Waitress was nice hostesses very poor. The whole place looks unorganized. Probably should just give up and let something better take your spot in Park Meadows who is actually trying.
(2)Juline H.
Hope our server was amazing, very attentive. The Mango margarita was amazing. I will definitely be back
(5)Sarah V.
Alright, we made another trip to La Sandia, with a bit of hesitation. It was fantastic! It was everything that I have come to expect from a Richard Sandoval restaurant, which is a lot. We had a couple of their special offerings which included a coconut mojito, a pomegranate margarita and their house specialty the Cabo La Sandia. Now, I am not a fan of alcohol at all, I generally put it out there that I hate it but these drinks were insanely good! I drank a good part of each of them and enjoyed every single sip, I wish it was alcohol free so that I could have had 1,000 of them. I genuinely loved them. For an appetizer we had the La Sandia skillet nachos with steak on them, you could easily have this as a dinner entree and next time, I intend to. They were incredible and the serving size was so big that we couldn't even finish it because we knew we would be too full for dinner, and that was sad. For dinner I had the pulled chicken burrito but instead of chicken I had the carne asada. Can I tell you? It was so freaking delicious. I also got it with the additional cheese that is optional, because... well... cheese. I would get this again hands down. My husband got the Rellenos sampler, and he thought the veggie one was the very best, but they were all good. For dinner he got the carne asada steak which he loved (I thought it was a bit chewy), he thought it was great. The flavor was awesome. For dessert we got a bit of everything; a little bit of flan, a bit of tres-leches cake and some churros (my usual fave at other places). Flan and I have a spotted past, but this was really good, like... I would order it another time kind of good. The tres-leches, another dessert that I have had a rough time with, was delicious too! It wasn't dripping with milk, it was perfectly moist. The churros were fine, pretty good but not as good as the other two desserts. All-in-all, this experience has made me "believe in" La Sandia again. We will be back, soon! The manager Jason, was really helpful and great to deal with! He told us that they have a nacho night, I think on Monday, so we will be in for that :) It was lovely tonight!
(4)CA T.
I took a friend because the food before was really good. What a disappointment, the service was horrible (they were out of Patron), the food was tasteless and the women's bathroom looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in weeks - it was nasty.
(1)Matt W.
We have been searching for GOOD Mexican food ever since we moved to Denver from So Cal a few years ago. This place solves my picky wife's palette and mine. Both times we've gone we have done it sans kiddos. We're going to keep it that way. Friendly staff each time we go. Waiters and hosts all cover each other's tables so you never have to wait too long if you need something. All of the bars' drinks are made with fresh ingredients (the happy hour mojito puts the happy back into that hour). The specialty salmon, fresh chips, salsa and guac, and shredded beef enchiladas are pretty darn awesome.
(5)Heather H.
My family loves this place! The guacamole is delicious! The watermelon mojito is yummy! Little pricy, but we'll worth the food. My favorite is the salmon with the masa corn.
(4)Jesse Y.
Glad to find such a great restaurant in Stapleton. Delicious guacamole options--they have a "guac fest" going on this month which was fun. All of the staff were smiling and friendly, service was too notch. My family loved the appetizers and the variety offered in the trio entrees. I had fish tacos & they were tasty, but I added salsa to give them a kick. The sides of black beans and rice were amazing, I haven't had black beans like that since I was in Guatemala. Will definitely return, I am a big fan of the other Richard Sandoval restaurants in town and it's nice to see a more affordable option.
(4)Paul F.
Fancy decor but there are much better places to eat, in Northfield. The best part, was the Flan. Tables have a horrible big center support post. Very uncomfortable seating. Drinks were mostly ice. The rest of the food, bland.
(2)Jamie O.
Normally one of my favorite places. Ordered take out today, my food is on the back of the bar, wait Ober 10 minutes before I see a bartender. Needless to say, my food is cold and I'm late getting back to work. Not happy with lunch services at all!
(4)Tammy O.
Excellent service and food!!! Would come back her if I'm in the area again. We had fish tacos, fajitas and the guacamole.
(5)Abigail D.
The food is amazing! The prices are reasonable. The happy hour is, like, the best ever. BUT! The service is awful. I've been here about 5 times and every visits involves waiting around for far too long to even be greeted. The servers work so hard, I'm not bashing them, but they always seem understaffed. I see these servers running around all over trying to keep up when 3 tables don't have water yet. I mean, I'll keep going back, but I wish they had more servers on the floor.
(3)Michelle G.
Every time I've visited, my server has been wonderful and knowledgeable. I love their guacamole, but even better are the cocktails. It's definitely not your traditional Mexican restaurant, and the atmosphere is trendy.
(5)Stuart P.
This place has the bomb guacamole. Very impressed with the service and quality of food. The atmosphere is fun and festive. I had the chicken burrito and it was also very delicious. I will definitely be returning in the future.
(5)Ramon G.
I've been back a few times since my first review. Unfortunately not much has changed. Service is really hit or miss. Super friendly or big time cold shoulder. The girl that made our guacamole didn't say a single word to us. Another waiter was super friendly and attentive. So hit or miss. And for some reason there is always some awkwardness being seated. Hard to describe. Now to the food- My favorite is the chefs family recipe item, chicken with a chipotle sauce and cheesy rice. Super flavorful and the right amount of heat. The salmon with achiote is probably my second favorite item. I will be back for brunch one day after eying the brunch menu. One last thing--what's up with the yellow strobe lights that blind you every time you look down at your plate? Depending where you get seated I feel like i'm eating dinner in a suntan booth.
(3)Carlos P.
I liked this place a bit. The attention was good and the food was also good. They make guacamole on the spot, which I think it's awesome and it's really delicious. The ambience is good but sometimes it gets crowded and noise level goes up as well. Would recommend this site to people.
(4)Kevin S.
Kim at the bar rocks! She always takes incredible care of us - ready with our drinks and amazingly great service. Thanks Kim!
(5)Rob A.
We did the Stapleton Crawl for Halloween this year and Sandia's in North Field was the last stop. Our table host, Lupita, was awesome! She was able to discern exactly what would be the best dining experience for us, and delivered it with flawless expertise. Her knowledge and understanding of every item on the menu, was unmatched anywhere else. Bravo Lupita! And Bravo Sandia's North Field.
(5)Megan B.
I work near the airport and it is really difficult to find a good place to eat around here! La Sandia has an amazing HH menu (thank you again Richard Sandoval...You got this whole HH thing DOWN)! I think their food is great! Some of my co-workers aren't huge fans...But I love it! I usually get their mixed fajitas and their guacamole is amazing! I've only been here for lunch and HH but it's a great little spot for those who work in the area!
(4)Polly T.
Fantastic experience. Loved the table side Guac and Cadillac margarita!! Also the creamy corona corn and fajitas we're excellent. Service was perfect. I'd definitely go back!
(5)Vincent V.
We have been here at least four times now and every time we have a great experience. The staff is friendly and helpful and very fast at getting things done. Tonight we had the chile relleno and the tinga burrito. Both were excellent in flavor, presentation and consistency. The chile wasn't an overly large portion and I kind of missed having chicken in it, but it was so delicious that it was easy to understand why the dish was prepared in the way they did. The atmosphere was very lively for a Wednesday evening. We were greeted promptly and were offered a choice of happy hour or regular menu. The inside decor has very warm red and brown tones and overall a very homey feel to it in a way. La Sandia is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the east Denver area. Highly recommended.
(4)Katherine V.
This was our first time here but we are sure coming back. Excellent service,food, and the beverages are great. I had the mango mojito and it was yummy... my husband had the michelada and it has to be one of the best we have had. I recommend this place!!
(4)Fruzsina B.
Service was extremely slow and not friendly. Food was ok but my husband didn't like his at all. They serve American-Mexican food meaning no flavor. Not recommended!
(2)Evelyn C.
Sad to say but I have to seriously stop going there, it use to be one of my favorite spots to go for happy hour but been truly disappointed these past few times. Their waiters are very rude, and the food just keeps getting worse every single time. Last week My coworkers and I decided to go and have a nice lunch together we ordered nachos jst something smAll and simple we were mainly there for the mojitos, well our nachos were Soggy and lame, the chicken was cold and some part felt like it was not all the way cooked, the sour cream on the side was disgusting like Gone bad and our mojitos never made it to us. We all got sick like throwing up and stomach pains. Please don't go there. This place was already rated an F on Fox 31 news... Avoid it!!!
(1)Billy W.
Excellent food for our party of 6 after the National Western Stock Show. Caught the tamales festival. Samuels service was superb. Only slightly issue was the food got cold quickly.
(5)Malia M.
Very comfortable setting. The food was phenomenal. But the service was mediocre from our particular server. The fake smile and the lack of her presence was unpleasant. Her eye rolls did not go unnoticed. For coming in at noon when it was slow her life should've been easy. But the four stars are for the food and the rest of the employees.
(4)Vic M.
Ok Mexican food however not great. Thanks to Yelp who had a coupon we received their fresh gaucamole (normally $9.50) for free. That was the best item that we had there. It was fresh avocado prepared at our table. Nice. The chipotle chicken wings were very dry and so bad that I couldn't eat them. Quesidillas were ok, nothing great. Chili relleno was different than we've ever had and not bad. Margarita was average. Our server cared and was nice. Front receptionist seemed not well trained. We won't be back.
(3)Brittany V.
I had such a good margarita here! Oh man! I don't drink very often, so when I do, I usually like something that tastes a little more refined. I had an absolutely fabulous margarita. The food was good too, but it's the margarita that would make me come back.
(4)Christina R.
The late night happy hour at the bar is awesome. I usually go here whole waiting to go to a movie. $4 margaritas that are perfectly mixed an the bar apps are cheap and delicious. Bartenders are always nice. Can't beat it for the price :)
(5)Brittany L.
Amazing food, great service, great drinks. Know my favorite Mexican restaurant in Colorado!
(5)Sara H.
Five stars. Last several visits have been phenomenal...food is continuously fresh and delicious. Happy hour from 4-close is a must. The service gets better every time. This is our go to place about 1-2 a month. Try the queso fundido with chorizo as an app... Heaven.
(5)Alex A.
Not impressed. Came here on a Friday night for dinner for the first time and probably the last time. The restaurant it self is very nice. But the food has an identity crisis. They're trying to be fancy, and some dishes do look nice, but the taste just isn't there. From the table side guacamole to the tacos, everything just tasted average. The tortillas for the tacos were so poor that they fell apart from the meat. The manger did take the tacos off the tab because he has had many of complaints about the new tortillas doing that. This place really just needs a new chef that tastes their food and has some creativity and I think it would be good to go.
(2)Kynton C.
My wife and I went to La Sandia on a whim. We happened to be shopping in the area. It just so happened to be their Chili Relleno Festival menu, which is probably my favorite Mexican dish. First of all, La Sandia does not fry its chili rellenos, which is great for those who happen to be gluten free. In fact, our waitress informed us that everything on the menu except the burritos and the mole is gluten free. I got the relleno stuffed with bacon and chorizo and topped off with a crème fresche. Amazing. Great portion size, even for a big eater like me. We also got a free table-side guacamole since I checked in through Yelp. We asked for medium, but in retrospect, I think we would have been okay asking for the hot version. But it was delicious. Probably the second best guacamole I've had behind the guac at Lola. The ambiance was a little weird. There was a soft yellow light in the wall next to our table, but at ground level. The color of the light was great for the room in general, but it pointed straight up at my face and was a little annoying. Around the perimeter of the main dining area, there were much brighter fluorescent lights, which were in stark contrast to the gentle mood lighting of the main dining area. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the service by Nadia. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She didn't hesitate to answer any of our questions about the gluten content of various dishes. The service was not too slow and it was also not too fast. I thought Nadia did a great job of giving us time to enjoy our drinks, chips and salsa, appetizer, and our entrée. She didn't interrupt our conversation too often, but we also did not feel neglected. The menu, especially regarding the tacos, enchiladas, and burritos was surprisingly affordable. We will definitely be back soon.
(5)Ricardo M.
My friends and I stopped at La Sandia to eat before the airport. Here are my thoughts. 1. The tables are very small 2. Table has a huge leg center piece 2. Plates are huge. 3. I ordered the chile relleno plate and it was very bland. The waiter was very nice but everything else was below average. I do not recommend this place especially if you are over 5"8".
(2)Crystal C.
Just had dinner here with my coworkers. It was the Mole Festival so I took a chance and tried the mole negro. I had the Mole Negro with the chicken. The rice/risotto-ish mixture tasted pretty good even though some of the rice wasn't cook thoroughly. The chicken wasn't dry and the flavors of the mole was pretty good. The masa cup and the beans, however, was seriously lacking. Even though the server said the the masa cup is edible, yes it was edible in the sense that it is food but it was tough and tasteless... so close to inedible as food can get. And the beans were gross.
(3)J M.
Loved it! Portion sizes great, blueberry margarita with house infused tequila was amazing, food was delicious. Highly recommend.
(5)Regina Y.
So, I went here with a group of maybe around 12 people. The ambiance is nice, not too loud or too eerily quiet. There's a bar but they have nothing on tap. The food is just so-so in my opinion. I ordered the bbq chicken salad which almost never disappoints anywhere, but I felt theirs was just mediocre at best. The salad was shredded lettuce, kind of like a cole slaw but not, mixed with a bunch of tortilla strips and a grilled chicken + bbq sauce on top. The biggest let down was the problem they had with our bill. They charged the wrong amount on the wrong cards, which I mean, I understand since we had 12 people there... but it took an entire hour to fix. It was finally fixed when the manager came and sorted everything out. All in all, the food is okay (although I think they try a bit to hard to make beans and rice look fancy) but the service can do with some work, it's too slow :(
(3)Kristen H.
Chicken Zarape and Pork Carnitas are the best things on the menu. The tableside guacamole is lovely. Even the chips and salsa stands out! The atmosphere is fun and lively in the evenings and the staff is usually really good. The pricing is a bit higher than your average mexican place but so is the food. This is not a "cover everything in cheese" mexican restaurant but rather a "fresh ingredients taste good" mexican restaurant. The few things that I usually avoid are the chicken tinga (bit too wet and bland compared to most chicken tings recipes I have tasted) and the ceviche is too sweet (why ruin good ceviche with honey!?!) But overall, this is a great choice for a night out or a lunch.
(4)Melinda P.
Because of its location, I was a little hesitant, but it was surprisingly great! Carnitas and chicken tinga were delicious. Great kids' menu -- included drink and dessert plus a wide range of entree options for about $6. The tableside guac (use your Yelp deal to get it free while it lasts!) was excellent -- got it spicy. Loved the decor and the service was good, too. My only complaints were that the size of the tables was rather small, especially because the food came on very large plates, and, oddly, our waitress appears to have filled out her own comment card very positively without consulting us. But since she, the food, the restaurant was good, I guess that's not so bad. I totally recommend La Sandia before or after a movie at Harkins or in the middle of a shopping trip. Easy to get to from Stapleton, Park Hill, etc.
(4)Beth P.
All I have to say is ... Love it. The service, the ambiance, and most of all the food and drinks are all good. The chips and salsa are amazing because to me that can really make or break a Mexican Restaurant! Everything I've had off the menu, which is quite a few things, has been great.
(5)Neenrn C.
Went there last night the service was good. I didn't care for the food... I had the grilled chicken tacos. The tacos were dripping some sort of orangish oil that had an overwhelming flavor. Later that night I was quite sick and guess what came up... Yuck. I don't think I'll be back
(1)Joshua F.
I've tried quite a few of Richard Sandoval's restaurants around the U.S., and this one is right on par. I'm a HUGE fan of Mexican food and have spent a lot of years seeking out the perfect carnitas, and La Sandia comes close. The menu is diverse and has some very interesting items. The price points are a little high, but that is to be expected for the items on the menu. The tequila selection is excellent and definitely well-priced. Their margaritas are strong and tart and overall very good. The service can be a bit slow, but good food takes time. Their Happy Hour is 4-close and fantastic. Great deals on tacos, quesadillitas and sliders. Also, they are all $2 on Tuesdays as well. I have been here a few times now, and found that the best plan is to sit at the bar and make a meal of small plates and tequila. The entrees are delicious, but by trying the appetizers and taco menu you get the opportunity to sample more diversity.
(4)Adam T.
I would seriously pass on this place. Not the most knowledgable staff, and rude hostess. Kept me and my party waiting for over an hour because she was too lazy to walk 8 feet to the bar to tell us a table was ready. Even after speaking to her multiple times trying to get seated. Probably a good thing due to the food looking sub par for Mexican.
(1)Jessica H.
$20 pitchers of Margarita with a splash of Grand Marnier for a $1 more. Can't beat it. Great place for drinks before a show at the Improv. Food leaves much to be desired, but decent tequila list.
(3)Merrill H.
We had some time to kill before our flight out of Denver left, so we checked out the Northfield shopping mall. La Sandia has the best looking menu, so we stopped by for a quick lunch. I love how it is decorated inside-- dark wooden furniture with rich colored windows. I had a cheese/mushroom quesadilla, tortilla soup and a small salad. The food was plated nicely, but everything was just standard. I could have gotten a better quesadilla at a regular mom and pop Mexican restaurant. I've eaten at "fancy" Mexican restaurants before and La Sandia is trying to fill in the gap between the fancy and the mom and pop restaurants. I think they do an OK job, but I'd rather go to a local joint.
(3)Roberto S.
My wife and I came here for dinner today and had an amazing dining experience. The guacamole is hand mixed in front of you at the table and it's by far the freshest, most delicious guacamole I've had in Denver. (Get the habanero salsa mixed in there) The staff was courteous and our waitress Macarena, despite being busy, was always on the ball. Our drinks were refilled before they were gone and our food/ drink order was taken and delivered promptly. We used I go to Lola's in The Highlands but I think we've found our new Mexican 'spot'.
(5)Jeri S.
Had a wonderful birthday dinner here! The table side guacamole is a must! The combinations were fantastic and if you check in with yelp you get a free margarita!!! The manager came around to ensure everything was going well (it was). Definitely will be back soon!
(4)Jon S.
I go here time to time for the tequila and the tacos. The selection and quality of both of those two things is very good. The environment is nice, but I do wish they stayed open a bit later. I keep going back and I keep having a good experience. 5 stars
(5)Lynn W.
Party of six ate here on a Saturday night. As others have posted great guacamole, chips and salsa but the other food was ok and overpriced. My husband and I choose to share fajitas because at most places they serve a lot of meat not so at La Sandia. We ordered shrimp and chicken combo and barely had enough for two each. Tortillas are very tiny 1/2 normal fajita size. Drinks were not that great. sangria and margaritas just ok. Service was ok, drinks took long time. Mesa Verde at DIA was ten times better.
(3)Monica C.
Went here for brunch & a mimosa. My server, Levi, was very sweet. It's nice when you get great food & great service. Had the chicken enchiladas which were SO GOOD. They were more filling than it looked. Like a ditz, I even spilt my water all over the floor, but caught the glass before it fell. The manager was sweet to clean it up & didn't make me feel embarrassed. Maybe 'cause my 7 mo old was with me, I could tell that they wanted me to feel welcomed & comfortable. I'll definitely come here again on a Sunday. I'll try to come here again & this time take advantage of their bottomless mimosa's (which were very good!). Of course, not with baby. ;-) The only unsatisfaction? The hostess seemed kinda bitchy @ first. Didn't seem friendly at all. Afterward tho', she opened the door for me when I went out 'cause I had my big ass stroller. So she made up for it. Hehe. Come here. You'll leave happy. :-)
(5)Gabriella B.
Had been holding onto a restaurant.com gc for here. Went after the movies and loved the food and great service. Salsa and everything was super fresh. I got chicken enchiladas and loved both the red and green sauce. Almost stole my fiances rice. Shrimp Ceviche enough for one but we split just to try spicy and so good. Will go back soon to try some other things .
(4)J B.
I've been going to this place for years, and I always came here if I ever wanted good Mexican food. I gotta say I'm very disappointed on the new menu change and the chips. They use to have the best chips in Colorado. I'm not to sure why they change their menu and took away the best dishes, the thing is I didn't mind paying for over price Mexican food especially if it's the best. But for being average I won't pay the price. If the prices were lower or the food was back to what it use to be I would give it a four an half but for the way it is right now 2......
(2)Kristina J.
I have been to La Sandia-Northfield with the hubby for dinner and drinks before a movie and had a 5 star experience...food, service, the works! I wish I could have said the same thing about their brunch. So during our last dinner experience, the waiter kept raving about the Brunch they started. I love brunch, so I put La Sandia on the list. Well, a group of 8 of us went there today. We had a reservation, which was not really needed, as at noon they weren't all that packed but I made one since it was a bigger group. We waited a few minutes for them to set up the table, as they weren't sure if we wanted inside or on the patio, which was totally fine. We sit down, take a look at the menu and i see bottomless mimosas...score!! Although, $15 a person is one of the priciest I have seen, not including the Dom Perigon Brunch at The Brown Palace. Regardless, I want bottomless mimosas. I ordered, and then our waiter came back to tell me that I couldn't have bottomless mimosas because our entire table didn't order bottomless mimosas. In order to fulfill my order of bottomless mimosas, all 8 of us would have to order bottomless mimosas. I am sorry, but that is ridiculous. I am being restricted of something on the menu because others have different beverage preferences than me. That made me upset, but I can't do anything and neither can the waiter...not going to shoot the messenger. After that, everything kinda went down hill. My veggie breakfast tacos were nothing to rave about. I could have made them at home. My hubby's dish was the same. So, for the time being, if you want to brunch at La Sandia and have a bottomless mimosas, make sure you bring people to want to toss a few back with you.
(2)Mayra R.
My husband and I went to a out a week ago with some friends. Now we are Mexican and have a deep understanding of authentic Mexican food and the one that caters to the American palate. We didn't know what to expect at La Sandia. We arrived for Happy Hour and ordered off that menu. I have to say that the blueberry margarita was not bad, but watered down--which I tend to like since I like my drinks to not taste like the liquor they are made with. The food however, is another story. I ordered the al pastor, barbacoa and carnitas tacos along with the habanero bbq sauce wings while the hubby had some, barbacoa and tinga tacos. We all had the unlimited guacamole and chips. My server got my order ,but it came out wrong. Also, I have never had tacos served to me on cold tortillas. The different meats were flavorless as well as the wings--I had expected some spicy kick because of the habaneros but it simply wasn't there. My husband didn't even finish his food and neither did the rest of our table. We were told that the "big manager" was in the restaurant, which seems odd as our food sucked. Really I have had better "Mexican." Skip this place.
(1)victoria j.
They have really good guacamole dip that the server makes at the table! The mango lemonade is really good too! The pork carnita was a little too salty for my taste and I think there are much better hot sauces than the habanero sauce that was served with the pork. Very good decor and outdoor seating area.
(3)LisaB I.
What a great experience! The usual Mexican food is so salty and heavy that I'd quit eating it. This however is quite nice. We got fresh chips that aren't laden with salt, fresh guacamole that isn't drowned in salty salsa, and an excellent vegetable fajita platter that isn't just veggies pushed around on a greasy grill. We brought out-of-town family with us because it's only 15 minutes from the airport where they were staying. Everyone was impressed with their food. The salsa is excellent, by the way (and not salty). The staff was friendly, helpful and we got just the right amount of service, as we were busy catching up with family. The only "bad" thing I can say is the music was a bit loud for us, since we wanted to chat, and we were in a "quiet" corner area. We will definitely go back, and more importantly, we will take others there with us.
(4)Sherri K.
The service was awful, and even though we were apologized to (too frequently) about how swamped our waiter was, it just wasn't that busy, sorry. The food was better than average and my relleno was actually really good. But I was so f'n hungry by the time the food came, a big mac would have tasted like Steak Oscar. The chips were warm and the salsa was flavorful. Food alone 4 stars - ambiance and service 2 stars. Thus the mediocre review. If you happen to be in stapleton and need Mexican (and Wahoos just isn't your thing), then I guess this is a decent place to sit your arse. Otherwise, mosey further south or west. And although I wasn't tasting - the tequila selection is off the hook~ Bonus point for Cabo Wabo.
(3)G P.
Tried this place for lunch on a Wednesday and was underwhelmed. The starter chips were pretty decent, though the salsa fresca was pretty bland. The fish tacos were okay, tasted a too fishy, like maybe we were finishing out the weekends tilapia? Otherwise almost no seasoning on the fish tacos at all. The beans (a real test for any mexican place) were pretty bland as well, tasted like they had pulsed a can of black beans in a food processor and added maybe a teaspoon of salsa. I was told the three slider combo was good, though I can't confirm. For being a celebrity chef place, it was pretty unispiring.
(2)Julie S.
Fabulous food. Fresh and tons of vegetables. Really delicious table side guac. Service was amazing: prompt and friendly, anticipated our needs before we had them. Would highly recommend.
(5)Meep P.
This place has terrible service! I sat for twenty minutes, complained to the manager, and was finally able to order. We ordered the bottomless guacamole and do far after several failed attempts to refill our first tiny bowl, I'm still waiting thirty minutes later.
(1)Michael W.
Lots of good things to say about this place but what sticks out for me initially are two things: the delicious Sangria and the weird clumsy waiter. The Sangria was spot on, sweet but not packed to the brim with sugars. The waiter was friendly an attentive. But he also gave off a weird emo kinda vibe. He dropped silverware on the floor a couple of times, had to go get clean stuff. Almost broke my wine glass when he was bringing me my food. I was starting to fear for my life. There take on Mexican cuisine is refreshing. The pork carnitas was great and my wife's beef fajitas looked good too. Definitely not my last time eating there, I'll just hope for a more graceful waiter next time.
(4)Lefty J.
Officially my favorite Stapleton restaurant. Good margaritas, chips and salsa were great, and my carnitas were pretty good too. Wife got fajitas and liked those a lot. Atmosphere is pleasant, if a little on the loud side, and service was pretty good, although it seemed a bit disorganized and a touch (although just a touch) slow. I would highly recommend this place for those who enjoy mexican or just a night out, it's a good spot and doesn't have nearly the "chain-feel" that many other Stapleton restaurants have.
(5)Debbie H.
Went today for the first time. Guacamole was fresh and the chips were great. Had a Crimini Quesadilla and it was pretty good. I agree with the other reviewer that the tortilla soup wasn't great. I added some of the salsa (quite good) and much better. Worth a try!
(3)Helen Y.
Nice ambience & good service. However, food is just so-so. The guacamole presentation in a stone bowl is unique but I'd tasted better. Tacos is just okay, I didn't finish rice & beans.
(2)Frank T.
Good food (but not outstanding). Good service (quick too!). Portions are right sized instead of the heaping platters you get at some Mexican restaurants.
(4)Joel D.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. The place was pretty empty for it being a weekend. I'd say the food was the best part. The tacos al pastor were real good and very close to the real Mexican tacos in Mexico City. Our first server peaced out without letting us know so another waitress came and told us she'd be our next server for the night. She was ok but not very friendly. Just doing her job I guess. still an ok place to check out.
(3)Charles B.
The guacamole is table side and sumptuous (I like it SPICY!) One of my personal measures of a restaurant is the lemonade - that's right, lemonade. If it's the powdered 'County Time' variety, look out. Luckily, La Sandia has good lemonade. The decor is fresh and the crowd was family oriented. The Tamales were a bit sweet but nothing more guacamole couldn't fix. The taquitos were awesome and the warm, roasted-chile flavors of La Sandia's salsas are fabulous. I wish they had the cozy, pillow like Sopapilla's at Little Anita's but all in all the deserts were skippable. A must for the serious Mexican foodie.
(4)Mary G.
I haven't Yelped in quite a few and had meant to write about this restaurant for awhile now. I went with a friend who had suggested it for happy hour one Friday and decided to check it out. We were seated right away next to the bar. My first thought about the place that even though pack was quite charming. I really loved the decor and the ambiance. We quickly ordered the bottomless guacamole and I think it was pretty good, the chips were warm and crispy. The only thing I would recommend is that the guac be a bit more spicy! Next on to the drinks I decided to go with the SPICY ORANGE MARGARITA which was alright, not something I will order again but it wasn't horrible. My friend ended up getting the PRICKLY PEAR-BLUEBERRY MARGARITA which I will have to say was MUCH better than mine. I think I will order this next time for sure! For the entree I got the CHEESE ENCHILADAS which had oaxaca, chihuahua and monterrey cheeses / tomatillo sauce / crema fresca / mexican rice / refried black beans. AMAZING!!!! I loved everything about this dish! I even crave it to this day. Unfortunately I can't recall what my friend had but she said it was really good as well! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Kristen V.
I love this place. Their table side guac is amazing as are their drinks. The salsa was better before but still one of my favorite places to eat . Great atmosphere!
(5)Tiffany S.
My husband and I really enjoyed this place. It was the best place we've dined at in that area. We usually have to head downtown for good food. Tasting different Tequila's was awesome. I learned to appreciate a good Tequila. We sat at the bar. The service was great. Loved the knowledgeable bartender. The food was pretty dang tasty. Not Mexican so I can't vouche for authenticity. But we will definitely be returning there soon. Oh and the Margaritas were delish as well. Great place to meet up with friends and celebrate whatever.
(4)Mary Fran O.
We were meeting relatives for dinner in Denver and Yelp didn't steer me wrong. We were a party of 9 with three kids, ages 11, 8 and 6. I made reservations through Open Table and we were seated in our own little alcove, so while the restaurant is a little loud, we had no trouble having a nice conversation. Our service was excellent and attentive. We loved the guacamole made fresh at the table, mild for the kids end, medium for the adults. Three of us had the Tacos Baja and they were light and tasty. The location was very convenient for meeting people coming in or going to the airport. I would recommend!
(4)good e.
Last night I had a mojito and the molcajete for two. Everything was delicious. I have been here a number of times and the service is hit or miss. Last night was good. I love their happy hour specials.
(3)John F.
Dinner with friends. Nice decor, nice staff, good menu, upscale Mexican. We went at a neighbors suggesstion and were very please. It is easy to see how you might think it is a little over priced, the portions were just fine, not huge, but eveything was exceptional and the food was fresh and prepared with care. Marguaritas were good (not super sweet) and the sangria was tasty. The desserts were SMALL, but at only $3 a pop, still a decent price. We'll go again.
(4)Lee C.
I used the Yelp app to provide directions from my house and ended up in a warehouse district off Havana Way vs. in Northfield. Just a note to others who may try the same thing. When we finally got there it took about 15 minutes to seat us despite having reservations. Took about that long to wait for drinks at the bar, they had only two bartenders to serve a full bar plus get drinks for the servers. Despite other empty tables in well lit areas, they sat us in a dark cave of a room where were there was no light what so ever. Not even candles on the damn tables, we literally had to use our cell phones to read the menu while the servers commented "yeah others have had issues too" Well if so why don't you do something about it? Why sit people in the dark, that's not ambiance that's just stupid. On top of it all it was so loud in there that we had to literally be on top of one another, yelling to hear and being close to see each other. Again, that's not ambiance in my book. We were then peppered with two servers who would appear within minutes of each other reciting the same thing and asking the same questions. The drinks were so so, I've had better and they made no attempt to sell us any special margaritas which we would have enjoyed. Our group of four ordered fajitas, carne asada and a burrito. The food was decent, although sparse. I had the carne asada, about $17, and it was a small piece of meat with corn tamale on the largest plate they could find. Seemed empty or like where was the rest of the meal? My wife had the burritto which was small too and soaked in whatever sauce they thought would go with it. Prices weren't too bad but like I said the portions were lacking and I could have gotten as good or better of a meal with lesser prices and light in many other places. Light up that room La Sandia, I might have been able to give you another star.
(2)Kate G.
I've liked everything I've tried here! My favorites are the fish tacos, tamales and ahi tuna. The queso fundido, tableside guac, chips and salsa, margaritas, sangria and ceviche are also awesome. Delicious drinks and consistently great service! I think the prices here are actually more reasonable than the other modern mexican spots. Love the happy hour and big open patio :)
(4)Ernest L.
Don't waste your time at this place! My girlfriend and I wanted to have a nice dinner as it was our last night in Colorado after a week of snowboarding so we settled on having Mexican at a restaurant close to our hotel. What a mistake! We waited to be seated for what seemed to be an eternity. The hostess did not acknowledge us even though she clearly saw we were waiting for a table. When we were finally attended to, we were advised that it would take a while to have a table ready even though the restaurant was mostly empty! So we waited and waited. Again, the hostess could care less about helping us. It was not until a waitress saw us from across the restaurant that we were helped. By that time it was too late -- we had enough and decided to leave. For real customer service and better food go to Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q!
(1)Bobbi T.
Used to go to La Sandia a lot, but haven't been in a while due to moving out of the area. Recently got an email from them about a revamped menu and thought we would stop by before a movie. Nothing on the menu really seemed that different - other than now it's laminated in plastic where it used to be in a leather bound book. Same with the drink menus - those are now on parchment-type paper on cheesy clipboards...not a good sign. We ordered the table-side guacamole - it was fine. I ordered fish tacos & he ordered pork burrito w/chile verde. When my order arrived, I was surprised to see what used to be three fish tacos on a plate, using smaller taco-sized tortillas, has now been transformed into 3 mini-tacos in a little silver tray with a side of rice & beans...however the price is still $11.95. His burrito was just OK - really big, but looked like they could have gotten it from Chipotle and just poured some chunky green chile over the top. All in all, $75 later (dinner & a couple rounds of drinks), left feeling very unsatisfied with the changes. We didn't use to mind paying a little more because the food was always good with reasonable portions. However, won't likely go there for more than drinks/appetizers from now on.
(2)smoov b.
Everything my family and I have ordered has been delicious. The ribs are my favorite. Drinks are little pricey and the service, while generally good in our experience, could be a little more consistent but overall we always enjoy it.
(4)Rob D.
Watermelon mojito and gaucamole made tableside, nuff said. I also had a carnitas slider and a el pastor taco, both were outstanding. I honestly have no clue why this place is only 3 stars. I was super impressed.
(5)Kim S.
It is the best place to go in Denver for Carnitas. I really haven't had much else there. It is NOT taco bell. This place is far from cheap but it is great and worth the money every time.
(5)Rachel G.
We came here on a friday evening for dinner and sat on the patio, perfect for people watching and enjoying the last beautiful days eating outside. Understandably the patio was fairly busy and the staff were trying to help one another out. They were staffed, perhaps a little too much, I was unable to tell who was our server (this might have also had been because of the 3 drinks I had). The food was good, I had the shrimp fajitas and they were not drenched in oil as they are in many other restaurants. I liked the salsa because it was very different but I wanted something with a *kick* for my main dish. I would come back here for happy hour with a few girlfriends.
(3)Meghan C.
Initially, the hostess was quite rude while we figured out where to sit. The happy hour offerings are great but only if you're sitting at the bar or the very small adjoining "lounge." However--our waitress was fantastic, the atmosphere is beautiful-both modern and warm, and my cheese enchiladas and mango mojitos were delightful. Fresh with fantastic presentation, and you do pay for it. Not your run of the mill, melted mess of a plate for less than 10$ mexi joint- this is too hip for that.
(4)Katie H.
My boyfriend and I came here for the first time awhile ago. I had been given a gift card for the Sandoval chain of restaurants and we had already gone to Zengo for 5280 because my sister is OBSESSED with that place. I used to work next to Tamayo at UCD. Both are pretty good. And the boyfriend lives in Stapleton, so we thought we'd give La Sandia a try. It was alright. We were told that a table in the bar area would open up shortly and we decided to wait for it. Well... I don't think 35 minutes is shortly, but that's not really the restaurant's fault. I think the folks that were sitting there were hangers-on. Anyhow, the food was pretty good. We had the fresh guacamole which was delicious and both our entrees were quite good. We also experimented with the various drinks they offered - the chile-orange margarita is tasty but pretty sweet. I also went last night with my coworkers. Apparently they have changed their chips and one of my colleagues (a Stapletonite?) was pretty peeved about it. The manager mentioned that they'd had lots of complaints but that the change was a corporate choice and that they wouldn't be changing back. While I understand his honesty, saying to a customer that their complaint is legitimate and shared by others but that the business is not going to change anything is not great. I guess I want you let me know you'll lodge a complaint with the corporate office, not bend over and take it from them. It's your business, after all. The freshly made guac was again tasty, tasty, as was the salsa, even on the subpar chips. I had the shrimp and avocado salad. It had two giant avocado halves on it. Maybe this is just my pet peeve but I don't like it when I have to "assemble" my salad. I want you to slice the avocado. I know this may sound silly but after a truly horrendous violation of this idea in Estes, I've become rather sensitive about it. Also, the entree salads came out about 10-15 minutes before the hot entrees. Apparently they're considered appetizers, according to our waiter. A $10+ salad with protein on it is just not an appetizer in my mind. That said, the salad was tasty, including a delicious cilantro pesto dressing. (I had both dressings on the side, and didn't try the chipotle aioli.) I'll probably be here again - the food has been consistently good (besides the chip change).
(3)Theresa B.
happy hour bottomless guac with chips and salsa. need i say more? the carnitas entree that comes on the hot plate...it is simply to die for. go easy on the habanero sauce though! that junk will kick you in your privates!
(4)Davian H.
Love the decor! Perfect stop for happy hour drinks and snacks (as I did today with a friend) if you are shopping at Stapleton. Haven't had a full meal here, but my plantains were great, and the chips and salsa plentiful and tasty. My mojito with watermelon juice was just right. Service was eh...had to ask for salt and a salsa refill twice before the waitress remembered it. Fun atmosphere and good food!
(4)Dawn W.
Hi you cute little fish tacos you! My god....YUM!!!! Tonight was my first visit to La Sandia, and we had the guacamole (made right at your table), chips, and I had Tacos Baja (I think that was the name). That is fish tacos with some amazing sauce, some sort of Mexican coleslaw, rice and black beans. So, so delicious. The tacos are probably 3 mouthfuls each (that is if you don't have a giant mouth and not like to have food squishing out your mouth). They are perfectly sized. I left full, but not sickeningly stuffed. I actually felt like I had a healthy meal (minus the Shirley Temple drink). Mmm! I'm pretty sure I'm going to crave this on a regular basis. I love fish tacos. It's funny, because 3 years ago the thought of fish on a taco made me want to projectile vomit. Now I love them. These don't even compare to Yahoo's fish tacos (also good). Whatever sauce on they have on them is to die for. The customer service was excellent. Our waiter was fabulous and very attentive, and always made sure my water (with lemon) was full. He was also very helpful describing everything we had questions about on the menu. One complaint - no waiting area. I stood waiting for about 15 minutes for the people in my party. No seating area. Kinda strange. If they did have a seating area the hostess didn't let me know. Also, I tried to "check in" tonight from the restaurant, but it kept saying "business too far to check in". Impossible, as I was standing in the darn business.
(4)heather s.
For the suburbs I was impressed. I will admit that I am a tequila (and therefore a margarita) snob. I do love their margs even when I asked them to tweak their recipe a bit for me. The service is very friendly and prompt. I haven't experienced alot of their menu choices, but what I have I enjoyed. Their happy hour menu is good and extends later than most places (maybe until 8?) I have been back a few times and will continue to go back.
(4)Susan J.
had a conference at the renaissance and the group selected this place for dinner on a monday night. atmosphere looked great. love the dark wood look. the food was mediocre. i had the skirt steak fajitas and they served the onions, peppers and steak in a 1/2 of what looks like a pie iron. it was good and reasonably priced at around $15. i mean i was impressed when they asked how well done i wanted the steak. however, after the guacamole (really really good, but at $8 a bit pricey) and chips and salsa, i couldn't truly appreciate the fajitas. not bad...
(3)Lizz G.
Last Friday we went to this restaurant with a large group of people. We sat in the outdoor eating area and I must say, I've never experienced service this bad in my life. It took forever to order food or drinks. Finally, people just started going inside to fetch their own drinks. Once our food arrived, we had to ask 3 different people for silverware. By the time we finally got the silverware, our food was cold.The wait staff was absolutely horrid, our table was piled end to end with empty glasses and dirty plates. One of the people in our group got so frustrated she started clearing the table herself. The most astounding thing was that a waiter walked by, acted like he didn't see her clearing dishes and didn't offer to help! The end to this absolutely horrid experience was having to wait an eternity for our bill which was of course, wrong. Never again.
(1)Shannon M.
I give this place 3 stars because it can be really good, but sometimes it lacks a little. The Generally Good Things: ~I 'm a fan of Richard Sandoval's take on Mexican at his various restaurants. La Sandia is the right combination of traditional favorites, authentic dishes and street-food interpretations. ~ I love the dishes that use carnitas, which always seem to moist and hearty. ~ Happy Hour at La Sandia is well-executed. The menu has a good variety of both drinks and food (note the food is by the individual piece - single taco, single slider, etc.). The options work perfectly when ordering a variety for the table to munch from family style. ~ They have a nice patio and the music from Northfield Mainstreet carries in providing a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The Occasional Misses: ~ I've had great guacamole here, and I've had really bad guacamole here. And not just because of bad avocados, more because it's not consistently made with the same amount of ingredients (too much lime, no jalepeno, etc.) But when it's good, it's REALLY good. In the future, I think I'll take a leap and ask for a new batch if I don't like it, because I know it's possible. ~ Service is spotty. Never rude, but not always firing on all cylinders. One visit our server was quick to offer us the Happy Hour menu, offer suggestions and ensured we had a properly set table before we even ordered. Another time our server (who I've seen there regularly) seemed surprised that we wanted the Happy Hour menu, didn't bring utensils even after bringing our food and was unfamiliar with two of the items I ordered off the menu -- as in, she questioned whether I was correct in what I called them. ~ Sometimes the food seems like it's sat for a bit. Again, when the food is fresh and hot, it's really good and full of flavor. But every now and then I get something that is tepid and a little dried out making it seem more bland. So what's the verdict? Take a chance on La Sandia, plan to go more than once, and be prepared to roll with it. But don't risk it if you want to be sure everything is "just right".
(3)Carrie R.
Billed as "Modern Mexican," this new restaurant in Northfield Stapleton sounded better than it really is. It's got a fun colorful interior design and a menu listing authentic dishes not found at typical mainstream Mexican restaurants. My expectations rose at the descriptions: could this place really approximate my favorite restaurant in Guadalajara?! But alas, no. They have seemingly tried to improve on one of the world's most complex and rich cuisines by "modernizing" it into bland weirdness. If you've ever had a real Mexico City taco, don't even bother with this place 'cause you'll be so sad. Something is wrong with the meat seasonings (or lack thereof) and salsas. If they hadn't called it Mexico City style, then I wouldn't have been quite so perturbed at its strange taste, but I still wouldn't have liked it.
(2)Marci M.
I really liked this place. The decor is really colorful and fun. The salsa was not too great, but the chips were good. I had the steak fajitas. They were $17, bu the best fajitas I've ever eaten. The steak was made to order and in bigger pieces than the usual small strips. The service was very friendly and quick to meet our needs. I would go here again!
(4)Brandt S.
I love the design of La Sandia, which is why I keep going back. I've been 4 or so times and each time the food has been pretty good, though a little inconsistent at times. Sometimes their steak tacos are absolutely fabulous, other times i've had them they've been a bit meh. One thing that you can't go wrong with is one of their fancy mixed drinks. Those are always tasty. OK, another good thing: their tres leches dessert is good enough to warrant a visit just for that. Service has been just as inconsistent. The first couple of times it's been great. The last time I went the waiter was really over the top trying to up-sell us like we were a bunch of tourists from Oklahoma or something (my apologies if you are from Oklahoma). That annoyed me. Still, I'd go back and hope this place gets better instead of worse.
(3)David S.
Still two stars, but the happy hour menu has the place improving - a great selection of small plates that could be a meal in themselves, and all the favorite margs on special. I'm more likely to be going back!
(2)Jessica P.
For a chain mexican resturaunt this place is pretty authentic. Their guacamole is custom prepped for you at your table. They use real mexican cheese (not the orange chedder thats meleted on top of most american mexican food) and delche cake is to die for. The wait staff is helpful and proffesional. I also liked the colorful modern ambiance as well I just wasnt wowed with their food. Maybe I will have to go back and try
(3)Bob R.
I'm in Denver on business looking for Mexican food and looked up the best Yelp spot. La Sandia Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar looked nice but did not have many customers. We were offered the dining room or the bar and lounge but only the bar and lounge had happy hour. Great! We sat at the bar, Ordered margaritas and bar food. Guacamole, chips, tacos all were decent. We elected to have call liquor, Herradura reposado and Patron Anejo, not the happy hour margaritas. House margarita mix was just ok. In my second I opted for lime juice. Just ok. Our first order was one single and one double. Couldn't taste the tequila so I asked if they used 1 oz shots. It was 1.5 oz shots. We both upgraded to a double and triple. We had one more. $150.00. Before tip. Happy hour food and 4 margaritas $150.00. This is not a tequila lovers bar. I won't be back
(1)Steph G.
While the food tasted good, I felt the serving sizes were a bit small for the money. If you're willing to make the trek north of I-70, it's worth a try.
(3)Jessica K.
We LOVE La Sandia! We go out of our way to eat there. It's fresh, good quality ingredients, 3 steps above most ordinary Mexican restaurants. My husband thinks the chili rellenos are the best. I could eat just the chipotle salsa and chips and be happy. The place looks trendy but is rarely difficult to get into. You might be disappointed if you prefer the standard refried beans and heavy, salty dishes most places serve but GO THERE if you want good quality Mexican food in Denver.
(5)The EF C.
Right in the heart of the behemoth Northfield Shopping center at Stapleton, sits La Sandia Mexican restaurant. Walking into the pre-fab, yet colorful, interior, the ambiance is almost generic. Nolan mentioned that we could be in an Asian, Italian, American, or just about any restaurant in any mall anywhere in America. But it was Mexican we were after and that was what was on the large menu. Offering everything from make your own guac to chicken mole, the food seemed to be standard Mexican fare, but the prices were certainly not- 14 bucks for 3 tacos?!?! Erin mentioned that the flavors were not what you'd expect, having experienced rather bland Mexican in the past, she thinks La Sandia offers pleasant surprises for a sophisticated palate. I was unimpressed. But, the beauty of the EFC is we are here to offer 4 opinions rather than just one, so don't take my word for it! Take Erin's! Or Nolan's! Or even Jeff's! OK, here's what we ate: Nolan had the fish tacos, Jeff- the chicken Enchiladas, and Erin and I had the Mexican Cobb salad. When I asked Nolan what he thought of his tacos, all he could say was, "They were good." When prodded for a little more for our readers, he mentioned the sauce was quite nice. Jeff enjoyed his enchiladas, which surprised him as he is not an enchilada fan. He said the chicken was quite tasty and not overpowering in the dish. Erin was in love with the mushrooms in her salad, said it really made it much more enjoyable for her. As I am allergic to mushrooms, I had given all of mine to her, and that could be why my salad didn't do much for me. The guacamole ranch dressing was original and tasty, which is really what gave the salad all its flavor. We ordered a couple sides of fried plantains for the table, which were partially enjoyed by all. They were hit or miss in size, level of heat, quality of plantain and taste in general. One bite would be delicious, the next disappointing. Quite a few were left untouched. The saving grace of this mediocre experience was the vast selection of tequila available. Erin was the only one at the table who ordered any of it, but it was shared and enjoyed. La Sandia offers occasional tequila tasting nights, and for a mere fifteen dollars, you can enjoy a selection of their finest. We wouldn't suggest bringing a date here, unless it is a blind date or a date you don't anticipate going well. That way either one of you could get soused and forget the whole thing, or get soused and enjoy the company even more. The tequila is the only lay factor at this place, and you have to make sure it's the poison of choice for your potential mate before you lock it in as a sure thing. Over all, it was 3 stars out of 5. I know I probably won't go back again, but that's mainly because I avoid malls like the plague if I can. But if you work in the area and are looking for a healthy, fairly quick meal, La Sandia could be an option for ya.
(3)matt h.
Very cool atmosphere and decor, though sometimes its loud. I think the food is really good, especially the guac. The prices are high, and I wouldn't make this a regular place, but its a solid choice for classy mexican food in this part of town. They have gift certificates on restaurant.com that make this a very good deal if you can pick one up before they sell out for the month.
(3)Daniel R.
This place has that modern feel that all those restaurants and stores have in the new shopping centers like the one in Northfield. The way I would describe this modern atmosphere could be mainly trendy, because of the music, smooth, and urban. This is why the interior really catches my attention because it completely goes against the way you would picture the inside of a Mexican restaurant. Because of this distinct aspect some might argue that this place lacks that authentic feel. However, the authenticity shouldn't be defined by the layout, instead it should be critiqued by the food it provides. This place definitely meets my standards of traditional Mexican cuisine because the guacamole given felt so natural the way it was served in the lava stone container known as a Molcajete. Also, the enchiladas, which are usually covered with American cheese, were covered in the powdery shredded Mexican cheese that you see on the enchiladas in Puerto Vallarta. The other great part of my meal were the refried black beans with rice. It was finally good to see these staple parts of the meal prepared differently through their taste. Like any other restaurant I visit, I cannot leave without desert. Usually, all restaurants have cheesecake or the fudge brownie with ice cream, and this restaurant did too. Not my point. My point is that they had these deserts, but one of the options on the menu was to order a small portion of each desert they had. They were good.
(4)Erica B.
Another Richard Sandoval Restaurant (along with Tamayo in Denver and Zengo in D.C.), the fresh take on Mexican was a great break from the wanna be mediocre "mexican" restaurants that I have come to accept by living in the D.C. area. We started with the fresh, make at your table guac, and we chose which (and how much) of different ingredients we wanted (chile serrano, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro). I also ordered a mango margarita - a bit strong for my taste, but still quite delicious! My tacos al pastor (adobo marinated pork with grilled pineapple and salsa verde) was a slightly sweet take on tacos. I can't wait until the location opens in Tysons Corner, VA.
(4)Alee W.
We went on a Sunday evening, the place had steady diners but wasn't very busy. Overall, portions are too small for how much they charge, service was horrible and flavors were bland. To begin with my husband ordered the fajitas which were served with 3 small tortillas, he asked the waitress for more, was told they were coming, 10 minutes later still no tortillas, we asked another waiter who walked by, they said they'd sendout more, another long wait and still no tortillas, the waitress came back and we asked again to which she replied "I'm sorry, they're still not out? I'll have to get them myself" (excuse me but, isn't that what a waitress is supposed to do?), then, when they finally came after another wait, his fajitas were ice cold. I felt the food was bland, especially for a mexican restaurant. I ended up asking for something to add a little heat and they offered to bring their extra spicy habanero sauce that they use in the kitchen for seasoning but not as a condiment. I mixed the entire condiment cup of it into my food, got a tiny kick but it still wasn't enough. If that's what they use to season the food no wonder it's bland to begin with. We won't be going there again. I've had better food at La Fogata and Hacienda... heck, I'll even take Qdoba or Chipotle over this place, it's too La Blandia
(2)L B.
I just cannot figure out the draw of this place! It is always packed on weekend nights. Yes the decor is nice and the chips and salsa are tasty but thats about it. I have dined there twice, once for lunch and second time for dinner. The lunch food was ok but the service wasnt good. I thought I might try it again considering its so close to my house - I really wanted it to be good! I was seated at a table and it took a long time for our server to come and take our order - but hey we had our margs from the bar already so we werent too upset. When the server finally came we placed our meal order. We watched all the tables around us get their chips and salsa and then get refills and refills and refills while we sat with none. Then no more then 7 minutes after placing our order, our food shows up. I asked the food runner if he was sure this was ours since we just ordered and never even had our chips and salsa and he said yes it was. He also said he could bring us chips and salsa. I had an empty margarita and he said he would have the server come by so I could order another. The server came by and i ordered my margarita. By the time I finished the meal, it still hadnt showed up. The server comes by finally again to clear the plates and I remind him of the margarita and he says he forgot and he will get it. A few other bad things happened during the meal also including not getting the correct sides ordered, not getting the sour cream etc. I think the server could tell we were upset bc the manager shows up at the table and we indicate to him that the service was just very poor and it looked like the server was just to busy to get to everyone's needs (we saw him running around like a maniac all night). The manager sneered at us and said well he is our best server so I dont see how the service could be poor - OK JERK! What happened to the customer is always right. Needless to say I was appalled and will NEVER go back. I must say that we are pretty easy customers - I worked in restaurants all through college and grad school so I understand servers have bad nights but that management style/the way the manager treated us is unexcusable.
(1)Deya Z.
I LOVE La Sandia! My hubs and I are, at this point, regulars...or quickly on our way to becoming regulars! The guacamole is fresh and delicious, something that I hold high. It's made at your table and, what? If you check in on Yelp it's free?! YES! Coming from Texas, the capital of Tex-Mex, I hold my queso fundido close to my heart. So coming to Colorado was a bit of a culture shock when I noticed that most Mexican food places don't have it. La Sandia, however, knocks it out of the park. Try it with Chorizo...but beware, its a $3 add-on (ouch!). The tortillas they give you are handsize, and they only give you about 4 so buyer beware. I've had their Mexican Corn in the past and disagree with a previous reviewer that it's not "authentic" , because this corn was great. (Also, Tabasco isn't Mexican...it's Cajun...but I digress). Compared to Tamayo, this is definitely casual. Biggest downside...it's out in Stapleton. Not too far from the house, but still it has a "suburbs" feel. Parking is awkward since there is street parking, but it's metered (that doesn't make sense).
(4)Allyson K.
What a fun place! During happy hour times, you have the option to be seated at a regular table but you cannot partake in happy hour. If you choose to sit in the happy hour section, you are seated at low chairs and a small table (more of a social atmosphere) and you can order from the happy hour and regular menus! I had the sangria and yumm yumm!! It wasn't too sweet and not too dry - I really enjoyed it! The margaritas were also great! Tasted like they used fresh lime juice instead of the icky sweet and sour mix! I got the tacos al pastor and it was surprisingly a great amount of food! The flavors were delicious and the presentation was very nice. The happy hour specials were great deals and I would definitely come back if I was looking for a place in the Stapleton shopping area again.
(4)Cinthia S.
Excellent food. Excellent service - our server was attentive and anticipated our needs before we could even ask. The Mojito and La Sandia Margarita are delish. Guac to die for. Seriously. I would have taken a picture but we decimated it. Table side preparation. That alone is worth the trip. We sat outside with the kids in the glorious gorgeous Denver dusk. The kids were happy and the menu has something for everyone. Yum!
(5)Ken K.
Party of five, got one order wrong but fairly quickly recovered. Problem is the air-conditioning was blowing so strong and cold on our table, I couldn't really taste any of my food. I did get a bite of my chile rellanos and it was pretty bad, thick skinned, waxy, undercooked or uncooked chile and a very dried out filling. Three in the party got the street tacos and said they were delicious. I forgot the exact name but the blood orange margarita, and friendly service made everything that was not so great, not so important. :-)
(4)Monica L.
Great experience here! I hosted a work event for 15 people and went through their "party planner" to reserve a semi private space. Very easy process to reserve, everything was ready for us when we arrived, and great staff and management to make sure we had everything we needed. Of course the food was amazing! We had guac and cheese dip for appetizers, many entrees. The donut, flan, and crepes for dessert. The donut was the winner of the desserts. I will be back!!!
(5)Luis R.
Recommended A++++
(5)James E.
We enjoyed La Sandia. The server was funny, friendly and very attentive. Guacamole appetizer is freshly prepped on your table and it proved to be very good. We got the barbacoa enchilada and chicken fajitas. Only downside, in my opinion, is the location. It's within Northfield mall with some inconvenient parking (the meters are enforced and don't take proper change). Had to move my car mid-dinner to avoid being ticketed. This is more an issue with the mall and not the restaurant but still a side effect of its location.
(4)Tosha C.
I HATE restaurants that don't honor happy hour in the regular dinning area! Especially when there is no place to sit I the bar section! Also, the hostesses were awful and completely scatterbrained. When they figured out where to seat us we waited another 30 min before I had to go ask if we had a server. I don't think the hostess even told anyone we were in that section. Our waiter was very good though. Margaritas were a little watered down but not bad. The crispy shrimp tacos were good except the shrimp were tiny and all crisp. Rice was blah and beans super salty. I wish Northfield had another Mexican place but I won't be visiting this one again.
(2)Jason W.
The family (me, wife, and teenage daughter and son) was staying at a hotel nearby before catching an early flight home. We had just spent 5 days at a lacrosse tournament in Vail and were exhausted, so we looked on Yelp and found this Richard Sandoval restaurant nearby. It was short ride (less than a mile, but not really walkable due to highway) from the Courtyard Marriott Stapleton, which was a nice, relatively inexpensive hotel, but not very close to the airport (20 minute drive). I saw on Yelp that I could get a free tableside guacamole (normally around $10) for my first Yelp checkin there, so I asked our server, Samantha, about the coupon, and she put in an order. I ordered a house margarita (about $7-$8) and my wife had a beer. The margarita was very good, and it was followed by chips and salsa (also very good), and then the tableside guacamole, which looked like it had three or four halves of avocado, onions, tomatoes, and spices (we ordered it medium). The server chopped up the avocados and mixed everything with two spoons, and then the family dug in. The guacamole was excellent, and just the right amount for a family of four who had ordered entrees. For dinner, both my daughter and I had chicken enchiladas ($12.50 apiece I think), and we enjoyed them, although I think they could use a little more sauce on top. I finished mine, and my daughter ate two of hers and took the third one home. My wife ordered the trio of fish tacos, and she said they were very good, although she could only eat two after filling up on chips and guacamole. My son had the beef fajitas, and he liked them, although I found them to be a little chewy. The total bill was a little over $80 (after the discount for the Yelp coupon for guacamole). All-in-all, we enjoyed our dinner, the service was good, and if we make it back to the area, we will dine here again.
(3)Allie H.
Our first time here, we're sitting at the bar getting super fresh and tasty table-side guacamole free with the yelp check in!! The salsa and margaritas are also amazing and Lupita, our bartender, is awesome and very friendly! I love this place!!
(5)Kitty77 A.
This place is one of my favorite place to go!! great authentic Mexican food, with a little authentic touch from Chef Richard Sandoval. Love this place
(5)Cynthia D.
I highly recommend the table side guac! Especially during their happy hour. Great place to meet friends and co-workers after the 9-5 grind.
(5)Carolyn D.
My friends and I came here for lunch. The atomesphere is great. Nice restaurant. The food was well seasoned and the portions spot on. Pricing for lunch was very reasonable. The chips and salsa are fabulous. We asked for a cup of the green chile and it was just ok.....I've had better. Our server was good and very accommodating. I asked her for a suggestion and she was eager to help. Great choice as well. It's not your traditional Mexican restaurant which was a nice change. We will be back.
(4)Carly P.
I have been to La Sandia several times and several different locations. I have to say that I LOVE their chips and salsa!! That being said... We ordered chicken nachos, queso, and guacamole for our group of 6. The queso seemed like a cheese sauce that had been re heated and kept developing a layer on top that make me think it was. The guac was alright, It really didn't have much flavor. The chicken nachos seemed very small, probably would have been perfect if just one person maybe two were sharing. I would've liked it better had we been able to sit out on the patio. but they only had two umbrellas and they were already claimed. Sad day! I had previously come here with another group of friends less than a year ago and I had such a different experience. I just feel things have changed quite a bit. Perhaps it was an off day. Meh. I will be back this summer at some point, because it's convenient and close to home. Hopefully this was just a one off experience.
(2)Robert E.
The food gets better each time I come here. The service is awesome and the atmosphere is wonderful.
(5)Felicia M.
Great place for a good Happy Hour with friends! 4-close! And sit in Antonio's section, he's on point and makes awesome recommendations! Two thumbs up!
(5)Eric G.
To me this place is just "ok". I sat at the bar with my son - bartenders were very nice and attentive and the margarita I had was pretty good. The atmosphere is modern and inviting. The food to me was pretty average - not very original and bordering on bland. Glad I tried it but if I go back it will probably just be for drinks and apps.
(3)Bruce W.
My friends and I, party of nearly 20, were seated quickly and the menu had the variety to meet everyone's needs and budget. Being there during the Gaucamole Fest was the bomb! Look forward to this happening again one day.
(5)Dan N.
[Update: I received an email from the manager apologizing for our experience. We will give La Sandia Northfield another chance if we are in the area.] The Northfield outlet of La Sandia pales in comparison to its Park Meadows cousin. It started with a wobbly table, continued with a confused serving crew. Two waiters/waitresses greeted us, one taking our drink order, the other our appetizer. Neither delivered our drinks, requiring me to check in with the bartender, who had the drinks waiting at the service bar. We needed the help of the bartender to get our order started as well. On a quiet Labor Day, I expected better service.
(2)Abby Z.
Nice, upscale Mexican food. Love the black refried beans. The salsas are a real treat too!
(4)M A.
I'd give this place a better review if the service was better. The server rushed us the entire time as though she wanted us out of here. She was also condescending to me after I reminded her I ordered a beer that took 10 minutes to deliver even though the place was not busy at all.
(3)Kellie-Jean L.
After flying in from the east coast this is exactly what I needed! The lounge and restaurant both have a great feel. The staff was very friendly, especially our waiter who claimed to be new. To start off, you get chips and salsa- both were awesome, the salsa had a great smoky taste and I brought the leftover chips home and devoured them later. I ordered shrimp tacos- absolutely the best tacos I've had. The entree comes with three tacos and not only did I finish those as well as my rice I even ate half of a cheese quesadilla. The rice could have been better though... I think it is rice from a box (preseasoned). While you are here don't forget to try a margarita (or two, or three) the yucatan was delicious! Definitely will be going here again.
(5)Cesar C.
Great food and service. Sat at the bar and had an excellent happy hour menu. Kids loved being able to sit at the bar. Loved the carnitas tacos!! Will come again.
(5)Scott H.
We stopped for lunch and boy was it good. Fresh guacamole with a check in at yelp always helps! I had the fajitas and they were tasty.
(4)Katie R.
UPDATE: I stopped in for brunch and drinks with friends a few weeks ago and had the pleasure of sitting on their patio! here's the short & sweet of it: 1. It's perfectly shaded, lots of seats and service is decently quick out there. Grab a seat! 2. They offer a $15 all you can drink special for bloodys, mimosa's or margs of your choice, for only 2 hours, but you can share! 3. The food continually gets better and so does the service :)
(4)Tommy D.
Amazing food. Th fish tacos are so flavorful and the wait staff is on point. They make the guacamole in front of you so it's super fresh and their prices are cheap for the quality of food. Nom Nom Nom!
(5)Dwayne O.
Came here on a Thursday during Happy Hour while on a business trip. Was told this is where the old Stapleton Airport use to be which has been transformed into an open shopping and dining area. It is developed very nice with street parking and a real inviting feel. The happy hour is awesome, had the special which had 5 street tacos for $10, the torta happy hour special also looked good. Ended up ordering the fresh guacamole also, of the 5, had 3 carna Asado and 2 barbacoa in a tortillas. They were very good and the guacamole was mixed fresh in front of us. Service was very good, the restaurant decor is very modern and dark. Looks like a place to be seen Overall the happy hour menu can not beat. Will be back or recommend this place
(4)Kylie L.
Good food and drinks in a convenient location! It's really nice that they offer healthy options. And the table side guacamole is delicious!!
(4)Pablo J.
Wow!!! Unbelievable service and amazing food!!! But the drinks were superb. I was greeted by our bartender Lupita who was customer oriented, happy, energetic and very knowledgeable. My experience could have not been better. I will return, thanks again. Make sure you try the pepino margarita, mango margarita and steak tacos!!!!
(5)Rosio W.
Have made it a few times for Happy Hour. Their apps are good, I like their wings (they have a kick at the end) and the guac, which they mix in front of you. I like that, granted I always have to add salt to it. Have had a few of their entrees amd they were okay, not awesome but not bad. The service is good. Rarely did I feel that I needed something and had to wait more than a few minutes. Parking is easy, they have street meters and lots within a block, very helpful.
(3)Paul A.
Love this place. I stop in every time I'm in Denver. Great takes on Mexican favorites.
(4)Paul S.
Drinks here are great, taste good and made right also check out their happy hour. Guacamole is good as it always is at any Richard Sandoval restaurant. I had the chicken fried street tacos which were light and fresh chicken was not the best I've had as far as fried chicken but still definitely a good taste my date had the chile rellenos which gluten free as well and love it the manager and server were attentive but not intrusive it was efficient but not impressive. All in all I would go back check out the patio cool summer night it's perfect.
(3)John R.
The salsa is awesome & the table side guac is also very good. The hanger steak fajitas were very good & my wife enjoyed her cheese enchilada & crispy taco but noted she has had better tortilla soup. Very attentive waitstaff & nice atmosphere.
(4)Matt P.
This place offers very good food with an excellent view- particularly if you are upstairs. I was there as part of a wedding rehearsal dinner, so I didn't get the chance to order off the normal menu, but I really liked my steak fajitas and really enjoyed their salsa with chips and salsa. La Sandia is definitely a place I would want to visit again on my next trip to Denver.
(4)Liz F.
Ohhh gosh, where do I begin. First off I will start this review by saying this place is only okay for fruity drinks, margs and anything tequila and the guac. Other than that I would have to agree with some of the posts. The food seems reheated and not authentic Mexican at all. When I ordered some tabasco for my bloody mary they said they didn't carry tabasco... what kind of Mexican place doesn't carry tabasco or other hot sauces? Idk I just didn't have the best food here. I love the other RS restaurants though.
(1)Vanessa M.
This is a perfect dinner spot before catching a movie at Harkins. Pop in for a margarita or two, chips and salsa and a yummy spicy dinner. The food is always tasty and the service is friendly. The only negative is the big dinner plates for the cafe size tables, you are juggling and shifting to accommodate especially with a four top. You cannot go wrong with a Richard Sandoval Restaurant.
(4)Chris S.
There's many restaurants in this area to choose from. Therefore, if you were new to the area and have never heard of La Sandia, you might choose one of the restaurants you're more familiar with, rather than giving this a try for the first time. Why should you give it a try? We did and weren't disappointed. La Sandia is a hip, upbeat place to grab a bite of Mexican or simply come in, grab a drink and hang out with friends. While the value is average (you are paying a little for the atmosphere) the food is slightly better than average. You may be better off coming here for an extended dinner with lots of drinks, as there's plenty of alcohol to go around. Just remember, you aren't coming here for value. The taco plates are pretty good, however. We've tried the pork and chicken and while the portions are small, you'll fill up with black beans and rice, don't worry. Start with tableside guacamole to ensure you'll be full. In short, this is a great place for a date, or when people are in from out of town and want to extend the meal longer than at a normal restaurant, while enjoying drinks. While kids are more than welcome here, if it's a family dinner with kids you're after, there's might be better places fit for that.
(3)Ashlee H.
I went to La Sandia with my bestie on a Saturday; I love the rooftop patio! I thoroughly enjoyed the pork grilled pineapple tacos and the margarita. Delish! Chips and salad were OK, nothing special. Server was super funny, but toward the end he disappeared to flirt with the table of young girls sitting next to us. Would've ordered another marg if he asked. I'll go back for the great rooftop, yummy margs and tacos!
(4)georgio s.
Wow, is this restaurant horrible! Canned Spanish rice with those little peas and carrots. You know the kind. Canned pieces of rubbery chicken; Canned black beans which appear to have been run through a blender before serving, and bland (if not canned), beef chips oozing with grease. Drinks in plastic cups?! Really? There is something about a margarita in a plastic cup which just screams - "cheap!" There are soooo many decent Mexican restaurants in the area. La Sandia is the worst we have ever experienced. Even Del Taco and Taco Bell are better and, cost a whole lot less. La Sandia is expensive to boot.
(1)Brenda G.
Enjoy coming here. The service is great and Kristen is amazing!!! She really knows how to treat her customers!! Kristen, if you get a chance to read this my family, friends and I know you are amazing. Thank you for all that you have done for us.!!
(5)Kristin M.
Great happy hour prices and extended hours (4 to close), below average food. We went in to have a full dinner, but couldn't pass up the great happy hour deal. Taco Tuesday where tacos and torta sliders are all 2 dollars (all other days they are $3 each). We tried one of each taco and torta with each of their meat choices: fish, carnitas, and chicken. Fish was the winner, followed by the chicken. Nothing to knock your socks off, just your average street taco. The carnitas were dry and flavorless, however. I would skip the tortas and go with the tacos. The bread we were served was half Hawaiian sweet roll and half regular white bun. Nothing close to authentic. And the bread was huge in comparison to the meat portion, giving it no balance and drowning the meat. Lastly, the dessert. Not happy hour priced but we wanted something sweet to end the meal. Seven dollar crepes were a rip off and not worth the calories. Large crepe with just a light drizzle of caramel sauce and a few slivers of candied orange peel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Boring, bland, and expensive. Crepes should be shown more love. The margaritas were great and a good price too, $5 for happy hour. I had the prickly pear infused tequila for my margaritas. Yum! Service was slow, unattentive, and not too knowledgeable. I might go back and in hopes that the regular menu has more flavor and flair than the happy hour menu. And I'll likely skip dessert.
(3)Raj S.
We were attracted to this place by its charming decor, rooftop patio and interesting menu. My 10 yr old daughter likely had one of her best kids meals ever (strangely but refreshingly, they print calories on kids menu) and my shrimp quesadillas were well cooked and dressed. If only our waiter could remember serving us after a mind boggling disappearing act.
(4)Kit W.
This was my first time at the restaurant, and we went there because it was close to the movie theatre... I was pleasantly surprised at how good the place is! The decor and ambience are good and fitting for a Mexican meal. It's perfect for any occasion, whether going out with friends, a large group or on a date. Servers are helpful and friendly. The variety of drinks was pretty impressive. The food menu was also large. As soon as we sat down, the server recommended their house special table guacamole, freshly prepared in front of you in a stone bowl with the server mashing avocados and mixing with tomatoes, onions, cilantro. This was no doubt my favorite dish. I ordered the Healthy Trio, which was good. The chef also came out to greet us, which was a nice touch. The place was packed by 6:30pm on a Saturday, but still not overly noisy. I will definitely come back again! This is now one of fav Mexcian restaurants!
(4)Annette M.
We have been here many many times over the years and always enjoy it. Great place for Sunday Happy Hour Drinks and $2 tacos on the patio during the summer! It's very cute and trendy inside. Check online for the daily specials. Even weekend brunch! We stopped in yesterday and I realized I had never written a review. Make sure you check in on Yelp for the free guac. It's very good. Chips and salsa great as well. I ordered the special of the day, 4 different tamales. All were very tasty. Husband ordered the spicy chicken with the cheese rice that he is still talking about! Service was great as always. Mojitos are always good here too! I'm getting thirsty just writing this review.
(4)Dale Z.
I had been to the Park Meadows location a couple times, and wanted to try out the Northfield location. I met a couple fellow Yelpers here for drinks before the last Secret Supper. We sat in the "indoor patio" area, with the doors open. There was a nice breeze, and you could get some AC, as well as some fresh air. Unfortunately, we also had more than our fair share of flies. Seating in the bar area (which you have to do to enjoy happy hour specials) can be a bit limited. My beer was nice and cold and served in a frosted glass. The happy hour prices were decent. I really enjoy the bottomless guacamole, but I think they need to improve their recipe. It really could use a touch of red onion, garlic, cumin, cilantro, jalapeno and lime (and salt). Their guac is basically mashed avocados. You can get three heat levels, but they just drizzle a little minced peppers (Serranos for medium and Habaneros for hot) on top. This is gone after the first couple bites,and you are left with bland avocado mash.
(3)Jason J.
This is a decent place for Mexican and the chicken mole is one of the better that I have had recently. It's served with fried plantains, which is a nice touch. It's not cheap though, so if you're looking for divey Mexican, you should go somewhere else. I like the atmosphere and the service is really good as well. I had my iced tea refilled half a dozen times.
(3)Steven S.
Boss and I went to lunch here one afternoon, neither of us having been before. At 12:00 noon, the place was nearly empty so we were a little worried. It turned out that we worried in vain. I was really pleasantly surprised by this place. Service was impeccable and we were greeted by management upon entering. You have your choice of indoor and outdoor seating, both of which are nicely apportioned. There is also a classy looking bar. We chose to dine indoors and I ordered the Tinga Chicken Burrito. It was outstanding in every respect. And I've eaten me some burritos during my 42 years upon the earth. This certainly ranks as one of my top five. Ever. It is a little on the pricey side, but I liked it enough to come back. I still don't understand why it wasn't packed. Definitely check it out. I think you'll be pleased.
(4)Allie H.
Last minute choice and thankfully even though it was late they were open. Nice atmosphere and quick service. The tortilla soup with shredded chicken was amazing!! We (or our kids so to say) weren't too thrilled with their menu choices, although I'm pretty sure they had already filled up on the awesome chips and fresh made at your table guacamole. I don't think the server much cared for our crazy boys, which showed in her attitude, and why I'm giving 4 stars. Overall a yummy place to grub!!
(4)Jordan P.
I don't know how or why it took us so long to go here considering how close it is and I love tequila. The menu has everything a lacto-pesco-ovo-vegetarian could ask for!! Seriously they have at least 6 things I can eat on the menu which rarely happens to me!! As we sat waiting to order I was already planning our next 5 trips back :) The food was absolutely delicious. The tequila menu is almost overwhelming while being utterly amazing at the same time! You can do flights and try different ones out. The decor from ceiling to floor is perfectly thought out, kudos to the designer! I have zero complaints about this place, only compliments.
(5)Katie S.
Overall, I really liked this place. My friend and I stopped in for the brunch menu, where you get endless brunch beverages for $15 with the purchase of an entree. We ended up having 4 mimosas each, but they were pretty weak. I could've had twice that many...but our waiter was pretty good at keeping them coming. While the chips were pretty standard, the salsa is delicious. It's really smokey, but not very spicy. I ordered the verde burrito and I really enjoyed the amount of pork inside. It was really tasty and cooked well. The burrito was giant, and I think it could have used a bit more green chile on top. Food and atmosphere wise, I liked it here. But, I kind of felt like the staff was kind of rude. Our waiter (I don't remember his name, unfortunately) was great, and we tipped him well for his attention. The hostess, though, seemed less than thrilled to see us when we walked in. It was almost enough to make me regret coming in and turn around. She wasn't very friendly at all, nor were a couple other female employees that interacted with us during our visit. I'm not sure what the deal is with that, but they all seemed snotty. No one really wants to be working Sunday morning--but I wasn't a fan of the cold shoulders we got from the staff. Anyway, I liked it here and I liked the location. There's a great patio which was perfect for brunching, and I'll probably come here again. I'm curious to try the rellenos. I would give it another star if people had made us feel more welcome.
(3)Christina K.
30 minutes before closing, and the hostess did not want to give us a table. I have worked on many restaurants, and that I'd completely unacceptable. You NEVER turn away customers who come in BEFORE closing. The hostess needs to be retrained. Very disappointed that we could not get a table, but I will be sure to tell everyone I know not to come to this establishment. Tisk, tisk.
(1)Stacy G.
Awful service @ bar. Totally bummed, craving sangria. Beef up your staffing on a Friday!!!! Teach your staff to acknowledge customer when sitting there for 10 minutes. :(
(1)George R.
I love this place. It is seriously the best Mexican in Denver. However the best part is the service... We had Samuel today and he is a rockstar. Took great care of us. Also, the Margs are perfect!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Kearsley R.
Love the food here. I just wish the service would be better. We had to wait for drinks, never got water, had to chase down service, and honestly for the price what's the point in coming here anymore. I'm a great cook and will just develop my own Mexican menu which will be just as good and better serviced by myself. Thanks for the great food, but this will be my last experience at this place. Cheers all!
(2)Andy S.
The host said 45-60 minute wait so we left, but then he texted me 7 minutes later that a table was ready. That's bad for business - I could've already been at another place. We sat at the bar anyway. Man those people are stressed! They need another bartender or maybe they should just smile and slow down! If everyone gets their drink 30 seconds later, it'll be okay. Maybe they like the stress. The food took a while to come out, but eventually it tasted real good - especially for $2/taco. There's a huge open space in the front that has random pieces of furniture. They should turn that into something useful or add some decorations. It's awkward.
(4)Allison F.
Jacob and I needed food after settling into our hotel room (around 8pm) and we didn't want to venture to the "bad" neighborhoods (as told by you Yelpers.) so we settled on La Sandia. We were seated promptly at what I'd consider the worst table in the house. It was a small two-seater next to a glass-block wall illuminated with bright yellow lights. The far chair was practically in the walkway used by patrons and employees. We had to move the table back a bit to feel comfortable. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable but left us hanging several times during our visit. He suggested a few things on the menu then disappeared for 10 minutes. When you check in on the Yelp app, there's an offer for free tableside guacamole! We definitely took advantage of that. We also really enjoyed the house salsa. It was fresh and spicy. I went with a grilled chicken with creamy sauce recommended by our server. Jacob got fajitas. My chicken meal was extremely disappointing. The chicken was overcooked and wasn't seasoned in the least bit. The sauce it was smothered in didn't taste like anything at all. The dish was served with a creamy/cheesy rice which was excellent. Otherwise, it was a huge waste of money. Jacob really enjoyed his fajitas, although they used the same chicken as my meal, so it also wasn't seasoned. His veggies made up for the lack of flavor. We were left without refills for more than a reasonable time. We also weren't given silverware and had to ask for some from a different server passing by since our server never showed up with any after asking. I'm sure there are good food options to be had here, but the service was not up to par and the prices didn't match the experience.
(3)Jon T.
Great Mexican food with a healthy menu! We had Damon as our server tonight and he always kept our glasses full even though we drained them several times (thirsty night). There was also a huge party going on in the center area that was very loud, but our orders came out perfectly cooked and accurate. I always order the salmon and my wife usually gets something off the light menu, so it's a great fit for us. I substituted some plantains and rice for the usual sides and they were cooked perfectly. There have been a few times that the plantains came out overcooked to the point of being like chips, but the salmon has always been cooked perfectly and that was what mattered most to me. Definitely planning on more meals here because of the light menu that still has great Mexican food tastes.
(5)Amy A.
Horrible service. Was there on a Tuesday night and they had one server who was working his *ss off. Waited 10 for anyone to seat me., 10 for the waiter to come to the table. Got my family style tamales which were good but never saw the waiter again. No more drinks nothing. Had to find the host to get the bill.
(3)Smidgie W.
Came here with a friend that had a layover at DIA. The tequila selection is great! We [she] really enjoyed the tequila flight! We had the carnitas with mole poblano. They were delicious! I also really like the chips and salsa. The beans were also good. My only complaint is please, please, please get better corn tortillas!!! They are bad at both this and the Park Meadows location. The tortillas are too dry and fall apart or break when trying to make a taco. Either they are not being heated correctly, or they are too dry of a recipe.
(4)Frank B.
My wife and I stopped in to La Sandia at the referral of a close friend whose opinion on food I take very highly. He was confident that despite my critical nature I would enjoy my experience. While he was not wrong, for the price I might have expected a bit more. Before I get started, they make the most incredible Guacamole I have had in my 15 years in the Midwest. I could write six paragraphs on how they chop fresh avocados, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Mix it fresh in a cold stone bowl at your table, Or the home made warm chips it is served with. Its very good, nothing spectacular, but for a basic guac it is fresh and delicious. Our initial impression walking in the door was one of comfort and surprise. The décor was modern upscale yet the blue Spanish tile and woodwork held an air of authenticity without the typical tackiness you find in most Mexican restaurants. La Sandia's atmosphere rivaled some of the upscale restaurants you see in Cherry Creek and came complete with the price point, a bit expensive for average mexican fare. If anything the high price point made me hold the food at a higher standard than I would most Mexican restaurants. We were greeted promptly, our drink orders taken, and a bowl of warm chips and salsa arrived almost immediately. The server was charismatic and well spoken. He recommended the Guacamole, and I can honestly say I it was a good choice. We were very impressed. For lunch I had the Carnitas. These are the standard dish by which I judge most Mexican places because of how difficult it is to make tender and flavorful while taking care not overcook. There is a fine line between tender and mush and La Sandia hit the nail right on the head. The only problem is that the meat was rather tasteless and more akin to a dinner roast than carnitas. Probably from being held on the steam table. It was served with tortillas that were fresh and pliable with sides of Churro beans (which were very good) and an incredible Spanish rice (wasn't really a Spanish rice but I don't know what to call it). My wife had the Chicken Zarape served with white cheesy rice and black beans, it was very good but a bit overcooked and dry without the sauce it was covered in. The plating left a little to be desired and did not stand out. In conclusion La Sandia, while appearing to be an up-scaled modern mexican restaurant, seems to serve food similar to what you can find in many other places in Denver who don't have to up-charge to meet what must be an incredible overhead. If you are looking for a place with good atmosphere to take a date and just have to have mexican food, this place is decent, but if you want good authentic mexican food you would fare better trying one of the many smaller taco shops that grace the Denver area.
(3)V P.
Another hipster/trendy place that does nothing much for me. Average food, typical hipster atmosphere and whack club music in the background. No thanks
(2)Correy H.
Whether you are looking for a drink at the bar, a sit down dinner or a 'to-go' order, La Sandia does a great job. This location has an attentive staff and nice meal portions. I will say that the steak tacos are a bit on the smaller side, so if you are hungry I would tackle the enchiladas instead.
(4)Sarah F.
My favorite mexican restaurant on the south side of Denver. The patio views are incredible during the summer. The drinks are incredible. The BBQ salad is the best item on the menu. It's too bad the GM left, I do have to say.. that is my only complaint. Henry was an awesome contribution to the staff and he will be greatly missed.
(5)Linda M.
Service FAIL!!! Friday evening - we were told it would be about a 25 minute wait and they would text us. I gave them my husband's phone #, then we found a table to stand at, since all the bar tables/chairs were full. We hung out and had a cocktail and chips - the bar waiter was running his butt off. After about 50 minutes we went to check on our table, since he hadn't ever gotten a text. (His phone was out on the table the whole time.) Instead of "oh, there's been a mistake, let me get you the very next table... I am so sorry, let me comp something..." we got a "our policy is to not hold the table after 15 minutes." We were in the bar for goodness sake!!! Of course we would have immediately gone to the hostess had we received the text! She never even bothered to apologize or find out we were in the restaurant the whole time. So - end of us going to La Sandia. The hostess should be fired. Interestingly enough, we ended up at the Bistro at Stapleton. We ordered our food and after about 50 minutes (again!!), and the person who took our order realized we never received our food. When we got our food, it wasn't what we had ordered. The waiter (who happened to be the GM) totally apologized, took ownership, and told us everything was comped, including our drinks. We ended up paying for our drinks, since the service was great (and they tasted great too) and will be back at that restaurant! He was a "stand up guy" and turned a bad situation into a pleasant one.
(1)Stephanie S.
In Denver for a conference and my colleagues and I came to La Sandia! The (free) chips were AMAZING, as are the margaritas and the black beans. They also have a light menu, which is nice if you're trying to keep healthy in the healthiest state in the country. Lupita was our waitress, and she was wonderful! Thank you for a great experience!
(4)Erica S.
Will was an amazing waiter. He was very knowledgable of the menu and offered many suggestions. Their bottomless brunch bar was fabulous! Their drinks were made from fresh ingredients and their food was flavorful, unique, true to tradition but with a twist. Even tho their patio was closed, it was such a nice day they let us sit out anyways. Thanks Mr Sandoval for another great restaurant.
(5)Kim N.
Yum for the spicy orange margarita! Definitely recommend this place for cocktails! They had good salsa, and I had the Baja tacos - which was decent but lacked an abundance of flavor. Prices were reasonable.
(3)Michael Y.
Had a great experience at la sandia. Kim at the bar made it special, the food was great, and the energy was high. Best chips and salsa in town and the guac cant be beat.
(5)Angie M.
The service was good. The food was 3 stars but how quick the food came out bumped it up. Chicken was dry but the chips and salsa was excellent. A solid 3.5 stars.
(4)Bryan S.
I like happy hour here a lot. $4 margs, $5 'bottomless' guac, actually only 3 though. BUT, service is close to appalling. 40 minutes for the app though. Nice waitress but forgetful and not fully 'present.'
(3)Mike A.
Excellent entree options: chicken and steak fajitas, beef barbacoa enchiladas, fish tacos and pork carnitas are all superb. Salsa and chips (unlimited and gratis) are excellent; the tableside guacamole is phenomenal. Not all appetizers are created equal: the chicken flautas and nachos are mediocre. For those who like spice: the house habanero sauce may be requested (it it is not served by default.) The habenero sauce appears to be prepared by the kitchen (it comes in a bowl the size of a shot glass, not in a bottle), but lacks the delectable flavor of habanero sauces to which I am accustomed. The location and interior of the restaurant are very nice and well maintained. When the weather is cooperating, the outdoor seating is great - it is one of my favorite outdoor patios in the Stapleton area. Wait staff can be hit-or-miss. The lack of consistent, professional and attentive service is the salient reason I cannot rate this restaurant with five stars. I don't recommend sitting at the bar - relax in the lounge instead (and enjoy the same happy hour specials.)
(4)Michael R.
This place only gets 1 star because our waiter in the cantina was nice, but that was the only positive experience we had. We came in for dinner on a Friday night and put our names in for a seat on the patio then headed to the cantina for a drink while we waited. Not only was the hostess unfriendly and cold when we showed up, but he also sat the couple that showed up after us on the patio first despite not having a reservation. After waiting for about an hour we finally got a table and ordered the queso dip as an appetizer which came out cold, had more beans than cheese in it and tasted like a bean dip. Trying to stay positive we ordered the chicken tinga tacos and a combination plate with a salad, tortilla soup and cheese quesadilla. Both plates came with a side of rice and beans. Everything came out cold and had little to no flavor. The beans were the same as in the queso dip and the rice looked it had been prepared a week ago; rice-a-roni would have been better. Less than 2 minutes after getting our plates our waiter asked if we would like some boxes to take the food home as if he was encouraging us to leave. After choking down a little more we finally packed up the leftovers and hit the road. I would recommend going to Ling and Louie's next door or any other restaurant in Northfield for a better experience.
(1)Lydia M.
I have been coming here for about 2 years now. At first we started by sitting out on the patio, which is great to watch people go by on their way to the movies or shopping. The staff is always above accommodating to us and pay attention to what we ask. We love the food (esp the fajitas and the moles) and that the staff always takes time to explain the menu items to us. I highly recommend the spicy orange margarita , made by their expert bartender(s) (Ramon). I enjoy the atmosphere and the fact that just about anybody would feel welcomed here, just as they are.
(4)Matt F.
Really enjoyed this place. The staff was friendly. The food was good and quick. They have happy hour specials with both food and drinks ($4-$6). It was clean and had a nice feeling to it. It's a little more expensive than your average restaurant but not by much. The one and only complaint I can think of is they didn't put nearly enough onions or cilantro on my steak tacos (street tacos). Portions aren't huge but they are enough to do the trick.
(5)Karen D.
¡Qué delicioso! We took a chance on La Sandia on a tip from our hotel desk clerk, and we were, quite frankly, very surprised at how much we liked this restaurant. It is a relatively new location for chef-restauranteur Richard Sandoval, who is considered the father of modern Mexican cuisine. We visited early on Friday evening, which was a good call, because the restaurant was nearly full by the time we left. The reservation process was easy-peasy via OpenTable. Upon arrival, we were greeted quickly and courteously, then shown to a table on the lanai as requested. (When we asked to move to a nearby table out of the glare of the sun, we were immediately accommodated as well.) Next, our server, Jennay, promptly stopped at our table to take our drink order and welcome us to the restaurant as first-time guests. She was pleasant and helpful, making us feel comfortable. The atmosphere inside and out was upscale casual and very nice. Drinks were brought quickly, then we placed an order for tasty, fresh guacamole, which is on special during happy hour. The chips and salsa were also brought quickly. As we studied the menu, Jennay answered our questions and make a recommendation based on what we wanted. Good call #2. The entreé she suggested, the carne asada, was como una fiesta en la boca! The marinated hanger steak was well-seasoned and served with sautéed peppers and onions, which I appreciated. On the side were pickled sweet onion strings, frijoles charros (black beans), and una humita, a fresh, steamed corn husk filled with ground sweet corn---mmm.... Hubby got the shrimp and chicken fajitas, which he really liked as well. Throughout the meal, our drinks were kept full and Jennay checked with us often to ensure everything was simpatico. A manager even came by to tilt the patio umbrellas so the sun wasn't in our eyes. When we got the bill, we were pleased that the total price was very reasonable given the quality of the food, service, and location. La Sandia is located in The Shops at Northfield Stapleton, which is a new, upscale outdoor shopping plaza with numerous sculptures and manicured garden areas. It is a picturesque setting that helped set the tone for a terrific meal. Hours are Mon-Thurs 11:00am-9:00pm and Fri-Sat 11:00am-10:00pm. ¡Viva México! Yelp 365 Challenge 233/365
(5)Allison F.
Came here for dinner last Saturday with a group of 4 friends, around 530pm. The restaurant was very quiet and we were quickly seated at a round table in the back of the restaurant. Service was very friendly and as our party arrived one by one, our server introduced herself to each person and gave them a brief overview of the restaurant. We ordered the mole sampler quesadilla to start, for the table. It arrived and consisted of four super thin slices of a cheese quesadilla with a different mole sauce on each. Considering the price of $10, the value was not there in the dish. If we didn't have the menu still with us, we wouldn't have known what each sauce was, or what was in it. It was a bit disappointing. The chips and salsa brought to our table were very good though, and we really enjoyed the taste of the salsa. For entrees, I had the baja tacos. The tilapia was very nicely cooked and I liked the cabbage slaw on each taco. The black beans were cooked perfectly and not too salty, which was a pleasant surprise. The rice was cheapened by the frozen peas and corn that had been tossed in there. The vegetables looked old and really weren't necessary. Overall, everyone enjoyed their meals though weren't blown away. The price point is good, as most entrees were around $10-12. Service got a bit slow as the restaurant got busier and it took a while to pay our bill. I would return to try the shrimp and avocado salad, as a friend ordered it and it looked super delicious.
(4)Molly V.
Amazing! Food and service! Service was very prompt and friendly. Food was delicious :) you can't go wrong with the fajitas, they are yummy :)
(5)Heather B.
I've been interested in visiting the location at Park Meadows for a long time, so when I found myself in Stapleton looking at this location, my mother and I decided to try it out. We chose La Sandia over Toby Keith's Bar and Grill, and, sadly, I think we would have had a better experience there. I'm not sure how they get away with such awful seating options. The only booths are in the "Happy Hour" location and are too low to dine at. The only other seating option are rickety tables with very uncomfortable wooden chairs. I have fibromyalgia and sitting in a chair like this for too long can cause the pain in my body to flare; I was disappointed that I had no other option, but hoped we wouldn't be there long enough to do any harm. After stopping by to get our drink order and setting us up with tea, our server disappeared for over 10 minutes. That's 10 extra minutes in the seat of pain. I ordered one of the guacamole specials; I didn't want a large meal and figured snacking on chips and guac would work. At $11;95, I wasn't expecting six chips with an inch tall pile of guac. I was expecting a bowl of guac and chips. Fortunately, this wound up being a perfect size for what I wanted, but NOT for the price. $12? Six chips? Really? It took another 20 - 25 minutes after we were finished eating to get our check and leave. Our server walked past us numerous times, empty plates on the table, and never thought to drop off our check (or clear the plates.) She didn't get much of a tip, and we won't be back. Frankly, I don't understand why anyone would go to this uncomfortable, over-priced establishment.
(1)Harusami H.
I've been whining about the lack of decent Mexican food in Denver for ages... then I found La Sandia! The first time I visited was during their tamale festival, and they may have spoiled me. Until then I had to go to Taos for a decent tamale! Love their thin, crispy chips and fire-roasted salsa and love that there are so many selections for a gluten-free lifestyle. High-quality ingredients, delicious recipes, friendly staff and all day happy hours... what's not to love?
(4)Mike C.
The food was really really fresh. However, I did find myself kind of wishing for a little more flavor. Had the guacamole (which was free if you checked in on yelp when I was there) and fish tacos. Fresh yes. Wanted a boost. Even a salt shaker on the table would have helped. Sat at a table that didn't have the large center post. Goodness! glad I didn't have one of those tables.
(3)Amanda N.
Came here again, this time for happy hour. We sat in the 'designated' happy hour seating, which, if you're not 4'11" is mildly uncomfortable, as the chairs/benches are too high for the tables provided. I kept hitting my knees. The server was nice enough, but definitely busy and as such, was a little lacking. I noticed the manager, or who I assume was the manager, just standing there watching. In my restaurant experience, the management helps out, but this guy just stood there like a bad bouncer and watched everyone. It made me uncomfortable. Food was still solid, and the prickly pear blueberry margarita was delicious. Unfortunately, this time the service and atmosphere was still lacking.
(3)Amanda M.
I enjoyed my first visit to La Sandia. The wait was about 20 minutes on a friday night at 7pm. As others have said, there is no waiting area aside from the bar which was full, so we waited outside on a bench. We sat on the patio, and happy hour was going on, so we ordered a quesadilla to start. It was larger and fancier than expected for $3. Later when the bill arrived we noticed our server billed us for a regular quesadilla at $8.50. We brought it to his attention, and a manager came over and apologized and changed the price to $3 even though we received the regular menu chicken quesadilla (which would not have been worth $8.50). The patio itself was really nice, with comfortable seating and good people watching. For my entree I ordered the chile relleno which was excellent. I was really surprised at how nice the presentation was. The flavors were spot on and it had just the right amount of heat. Our server was a bit aloof, and never refilled our water glasses, and he disappeared for a good 30 minutes in the middle of our meal... good thing he has nice co-workers who refilled our water, and tracked him down for our check. This is a nice spot to get dinner or drinks before a movie if you're in Stapleton.
(4)Alex L.
Met some friends here who I haven't seen in many years. Margaritas and beer were good. Service was OK. Food was OK too. Everything was just OK. Sometimes our waiter would drop by super quick and other times we were wondering where he went. Not that many people were there on a Friday at 5:30. They might have been at the bar. I ordered the grilled steak tacos. That was the only good thing on my plate. The rice and beans that were on the plate were cold and really tasted like something out of a can. For the price of my plate ($12.50), I really rather go to Del Taco and then run by the store and pick up a 6-pack of Dos XX w/ lime. Even the cheese enchilada on my friend's plate came out colder than my rice and beans! The only thing that came out decent were my other friend's fajitas and that's it. I will probably come back again and try another dish but it's definitely not at the top of my list for Mexican food.
(3)Chris D.
The food was good and the mojito was amazing, but I thought the place was a little to hip and trendy. The servers seemed a little too self-righteous for my taste and it was pretty pricy for Mexican food. The whole place just seemed to have a club feel to it, not really what I wanted when I just wanted a good meal.
(3)John W.
Another great meal at La Sandia. I don't understand why their is any negative reviews about this place. Service and food was superb. The Manager Kris was really nice and helpful. My Carne Asada, and my wife's salmon were done to perfection. Highly recommend this place.
(5)John M.
Much better than we thought/anticipated. We usually eat Mexican food in the Alameda Federal, Morrison Rd. neighborhood. Had the Cadillac Margarita, Portobello mushroom fajita and cheese enchiladas. Excellent service, and will return if in the Park Meadows direction, a bit far otherwise. A fancy gringo spot, high rent neighborhood.
(4)Dean S.
I live in Stapleton so have dined here many times over the past several years. I have never been thrilled with the food like I have with other Mexican places, but it was always good enough, given its proximity to my house. However, the last two times I have dined there (one just last weekend), I was very disappointed. The service has never been good, but that is more a function of poor training and supervision than anything else and I can live with it. The food, on the other hand, is now over-cooked and very bland. This is Mexican food so it should have some level of spice and flavor, but, seriously, it has none. So, upon requesting a side of jalapeno pepper, I was told that they only have "picked" jalapeno -- and believe me, it was pretty pickled with no other discernible taste. A Mexican restaurant that does not have, at the very least, fresh jalapeno peppers? No kidding??!? That explains the lack of spice and taste. On top of that, it is not an inexpensive restaurant. The drinks are still good so all is not lost, but I doubt I would stop in for just drinks. Too bad, I remember when Tamayo and its sister restaurants where good. Not any more.
(2)Jeremy P.
Nice atmosphere, excellent service - I really enjoyed this dining experience. The table side guacamole is delicious. Quite possibly one of the best mojito's I've had in Colorado. The Baja Fish taco dish hit the spot!
(5)Megan S.
Traffic bad on i70?! GO TO LA SANDIA! Northfield is far, yes. But you can park right outside the door and you never have to worry about waiting for a table. The happy hour here is better than decent. I have been back multiple times and once summer hits will definitely lounge on their patio when I find myself pulling my hair out on the drive home $4-6 fruit margaritas, mojitos, and other fun mixes $3 beers $11 sampler plate that was more than enough to feed my 3 friends and I $10 for 5 tacos -- and not the baby, trendy tacos you see at other Denver establishments Wednesdays are by far my favorite day. $5 HUGE bowls of guacamole that they make up fresh at the table to suit your spiciness level. Like I said, it's far for most but a diamond in the rough if you ask me.
(4)Amie G.
the hubby and i went here for date night and were blown away by how delicious it was! The guacamole is mixed table side and is super fresh! Our server, David, was very knowledgable and got us to step out of our box and try something new. My husbands chicken dish was delicious and the cheesy rice was it came with was to die for. Thank you David! This will be a frequent date night spot for us!
(5)Julia S.
I've been here 4-5 times now, and I've tried and tried to like this place. The service is subpar and the food is remarkably average. Even last night, there were dirty tables all over the restaurant, and it took forever to get our food and drinks. The one thing I did like was the guac, but it's not cheap. Also, If you're over 5'5", know the tables and chairs are incredibly uncomfortable! Also, keep in mind that happy hour is only in the bar area.
(2)Elena L.
My husband & I came here last night after having a bad experience at Toby Keith's. We sat at the bar & was immediately greeted by Tara with a sincere & friendly smile. She gave us a happy hour menu which was really impressive at 8:30 on a Saturday evening. Tara informed us of the happy hour shot special when we asked about them. We ordered the artichoke wings and they came out fast, fresh & hot. The bar, restaurant & bathrooms are clean. We will definitely be returning again soon!
(5)Sina G.
Great spot for lunch, dinner or just drinks at the bar. We started off with the chips and roasted salsa which was very delicious. I took advantage of the free "guac at your table" coupon from yelp which was amazing. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and my friend ordered the chicken tacos. We were both stuffed and happy. Honestly, I loaded up on the chips and guac and barely had any room for my entree. I would recommend to wait for your food to come and use the guac with your food too because they didn't give us any on our entrees which is always sad when food doesn't have "green gold".
(5)Cindy F.
Fresh tasting sauces, comfortable atmosphere, smallish but sensible sized portions. I had the trio with soup, salad and baked chili relleno for 450 calories. All very good!
(5)April H.
One of my favorite places to eat! I am a huge fan of the sangria, table made guacamole and cheese enchiladas! The only downfall is the seating is very uncomfortable, especially if you are tall. But it is worth it. They also have a great happy hour. Don't eat out much, but when I do its La Sandia!
(4)George T.
Great service and food. I've tried most of their menu and nothing disappoints. Great decor too. Great service and food. I've tried most of their menu and nothing disappoints. Great decor too.
(5)Too S.
Best restaurant in Northfield Stapleton. We really love La Sandia, so much that we had to cut ourselves off for a while because we were going ALL THE TIME. The food is consistently good and we never leave disappointed. I love the steak fajitas. The steak is marinated and tender and full of flavor. I've also had their Mole Chicken which is amazing. Guacamole is made to order and you can specify spicy-ness. Service can be slow and bar slow to get drinks when they're busy. I always make reservations through OpenTable to get the points. Sometimes you need reservations, sometimes you don't. Around the weekends and holidays, this place can get pretty busy so without reservations you will have to wait but they have a full service lobby/lounge in addition to the bar with ample seating. It's a very loud and lively place, even when it's empty so La Sandia is great for kids because the music and noise.
(4)L W.
I have to say.. We LOVED this place. The service was outstanding. Food was delicious. The chicken tinga and the mushroom lettuce wraps were great. The portion size was good. We loved that the guacamole was made fresh at your your table and it was fantastic. Will be returning as soon as we go back to Denver.
(5)Anne F.
I've been a regular at La Sandia for the last few years, since we moved to the greater Stapleton area. The service /food several months ago was pretty shady and we'd stopped going. Over the summer we decided to give them another try, it'd been a while and maybe things were better. The new all day happy hour is awesome (I don't think they do it Friday and Saturday evenings). The portions are perfect, the bottomless guacamole is good, it does come in a small bowl, and it's bottomless so it totally doesn't matter, I'd like another round my good man! and it's on the house! the chips and salsa are good. The service is much improved, we only sit in the bar though and skip the dining room. I am a fan of the chicken nachos. The pulled pork torta sliders are also good, the bread is a little sweet. Overall good experiences the last three or so months.
(4)Thomas H.
i agree with Shannon K......cool temperature food at best. the bartender was disinterested in waiting on us. I guess she didn't want to sell us more alcohol. I sent basic quesadillas back twice and finally said enough. The manager, about as professional as a high school junior student only wanted to comp our bill, not fix the problem of the food being cold. I would not recommend this place and did not want to give it any stars. I never criticize any restaurant as every place can be off once in a while, but i feel I should warn anyone considering going there. additionally, i just joined yelp to place this review. sorry to be so critical...........
(1)E M.
Very odd flavors. Too salty. Not a fan. The table side guacamole tasted very strange. Not sure what they put in it but I love guacamole and I couldn't each much of it. The cheese enchiladas were salty and rubbery. The staff was attentive- almost overly so- but that's better then the nonexistent service you get at some places these days. Just blah food and not inspiring at all. Will go somewhere else for Mexican food in the future.
(2)Steven M.
We tried a good variety of the menu. The chips and salsa are free and bottomless, and while nothing special among Mexican restaurants, they are very good when the service gets slow around 6pm. Don't really care for the Chicken Enchiladas.. Don't taste like they should. Go for the Beef/Steak Fajitas if you're hungry. The steak is done to order, and its always very moist and tender. Don't be fooled, either, by the doormen who are very formally dressed - it's a very casual place with a moderately loud ambiance. Great for kids. Would definitely come back.
(4)Chong I.
This was my first visit here. I'm not a big Mexican food fan, so I always play it safe and order the fajitas. The meal I received was not very good. Maybe I'm being picky, but this was the first time I've ordered fajitas, where it didn't come out sizzling on the pan. The food was warm, not hot. I had to ask for sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes, etc., you know, the stuff that normally comes with fajitas. I ordered the shrimp and steak combo, and I gotta say, I was disappointed. I was dining with 9 others, they too were not impressed.
(2)Florence S.
We just had a party of 10 people at La Sandia for lunch and we had horrible service. We had to constantly ask for drink refills, but that was only when we actually saw our server. She also did not seem to be happy to be working and took our order from one end of a very long table. She definitely did not have any sort of customer service and it was quite apparent. I wish I had disputed the automatic 20% gratuity because we did not have service anywhere near that caliber. She even claimed that we didn't pay one of our checks, when in actuality, she never brought it out in the first place. La Sandia was my choice for my co workers and unfortunately, I regret it.
(1)Debbie D.
My family and I love this place. We discovered it three years ago when in Denver for the Colorado Sparkler softball tournament. Each year we make it a point to go back, and usually we visit more than once during our 10-day trip. The table side fresh guacamole is delicious (we like the spicy version best) and we have yet to get something we don't like. The worst part is the salsa is also delicious, so we find ourselves full from the chips, salsa and guacamole before we even get our meals! Margaritas are also yummy and our daughter loves the strawberry lemonade. It's not cheap, but it is good.
(5)Adrian C.
Went in the other night, and it's just alright. They really push the guacamole hardcore. Our waitress kept asking even after we said no. The food tasted a little bland, or at least the chicken enchiladas. The salsa was amazing though.
(2)Van H.
I loooove to come here I love the margs and apps.... Harsh for 3 stars???? Service! Why is there only one bartender on EVER? For a long bartop I don't understand how they never have a second bartender on shift and everyone in the restaurant suffers because it is not practical to expect a single person to hold down the fort.... Hopefully they'll get the hint soon because I truly enjoy dining at la Sandia
(3)Jeff B.
I usually never review unless I'm happy. Delivered salad w/o dressing then 15 min to get it delivered after requesting not to mention the time it took to get waiter attention. Done bother especially during lunch time!!!!
(2)Sara A.
Have eaten here twice. The drinks are great (the coconut mojito, which is a special and not served all the time, was probably the best drink I've ever had). The food, it's ok. I think they're trying to be fancy, but some of their food just doesn't taste right. I had their guacamole both times and it was good--but too spicy. The first time I came with a friend who said they used to make the guac table-side, and you could tell them how spicy/not spicy you wanted it and if you wanted anything left out. I think they should bring that back. I know I'll be back (I live close by), I just wished that their food tasted more like a traditional Mexican restaurant.
(3)Marla M.
After looking forward to going to La Sandia for sometime, we finally made a reservation during Denver Restaurant Week. We arrived 10 minutes early for a 7:00 reservation. The restaurant seemed busy but not packed. The hostess said they would get the table ready, we went to the bar, tried to order a specialty Margarita, they were out if that particular Marg. I ask for a specific beer which is listed on the menu, they were also out of that. Not a great start, right? We sat at the bar for sometime, I finally go back up to the hostess, ask if our table is ready. The hostess says "we can seat you anytime". I'm thinking to myself"what the heck?" We get or table, we did have a GREAT waiter. Our service from him was good. The kitchen was having problems. Our appetizer took FOREVER, then our meal came right after our app. My chicken was cold, my Posole was overdone and mushy. My husband had the chili rellano, his was good. Long story short, DISAPPOINTED and NEVER RETURNING!!!!
(2)Gavin D.
A former Coloradan recommended I eat here during my business trip to Denver. Based on her advice I came in. I sat at the bar to watch Monday night football. Steve the bartender immediately made me feel welcome and said he would take care of me and he sure did. The table side guacamole was amazing. The carne asade was moist and tender and the corn tamale was decadent. Sure the food was great, but it means little to nothing if the service isn't great either, and between the food at La Sandia and Steve the bartender, this is definitely a 5 star joint.
(5)Larry R.
The guacamole, prepared fresh at your table is worth the visit alone. If traditional Mexican food is what your craving then this is not the place, with that being said the food was flavorful and fresh the portions were enough to satisfy. the staff was friendly and attentive, the Decor was not what i expected very colorful with Spanish accessories but a very high class feel . Over all for the price, quite reasonable, I would recommend
(3)Kimberly B.
Great culinary experience at a reasonable price. Very impressed with the bottomless brunch, the margs were made from scratch and delicious!! Great attentive service, Will our server was amazing and the hostess was equally great, both let us sit outside even though the patio was closed.
(5)Jacob S.
Bland. Bland. Bland. I really expect more out of a Mexican restaurant. The chips tasted store bought and apparently saved on cost by having no salt. The salsa had no flavor. It was basically tomato sauce. I ordered a house specialty, the chicken tinga tacos. The chicken had no flavor but still managed to drop something all over the plate. Same case for the rice and beans; could have come from a can. The price wasn't bad and I'm sure their mixed drinks are great. The service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere was tasteful and warm. Might give it a second chance someday but probably not.
(2)Tyler M.
The Spicy guac is the best in town! Great place to take a date, have her try the watermelon margarita.
(4)Christopher S.
At the suggestion of friends, I had dinner here. Interesting experience. First off the staff and the service were a bit off. The hostesses (yes there were two) seemed to not have it together. I was early, looked around and then by text message confirmed that I had arrived before the rest of my party. I asked the hostesses to put me on the list and that my party would be there within ten minutes. The first response was "it's going to be a 20-30 minute wait." OK. Put me down. Then literally ten seconds later, one of them asked me to follow her to a table. I stated clearly in the beginning that it was five adults and one high chair. I had to ask twice about the high chair before it was brought out. Not a huge deal, but why do I have to ask twice? Our server, who seemed to think that her job was a managerial job, of sorts, almost ruined this meal. I ordered a margarita and did not receive the drink until my party had all arrived, ordered their own drinks and then I had to remind the waitress about my drink. Very slow. As the meal progressed it became clear that the waitress was of the opinion that she did not have to "do" anything other than talk to us. We needed to have plates cleared and said so, she scurried off seemingly to get a busser, but it never happened. We had to take the dirty plates and move them to a nearby table, which got the attention of another server who recognized this as a problem and started to clear the dishes. The small child in our party wanted ice cream and our waitress said it was on order. Again, had to ask at least twice to get this done, and then the other server just went back to the kitchen and made it happen in a matter of minutes. Strange to say the least. It did not entirely detract from my dining experience, but this to me is the definition of bad service in a middle to higher end restaurant that sits at this price point. The restaurant design was that of an old style steak house. Very dark, oddly lit from below, and the tables and chairs were uncomfortable. The space is used poorly. I felt cramped the entire time which was not helped by the kitchen's choice of super huge plates for each dish that literally only used half the plate for food, the other half was just taking up space. I get it, you want the food to have a certain look, but if that's the case maybe rethink the dining room setup and get some tables commensurate in size. The food. Not at all bad, but not great. The fusion Southwestern thing is a bit played out in this town. I tried the carnitas which were good, the fresh mixed guac was also decent and my main entrée of cheese enchiladas was passable. The tomatillo sauce was average, but it was the mixture of cheeses that made this dish work. The beans and rice were a major miss. The rice was traditional Spanish style with veggies, but was just gross, like nobody could be bothered to taste this side dish to see what the results of the cooking were. I looked around the table and confirmed that everyone else thought the same thing. The black beans were passable if a bit mushy and over seasoned. I'd try this place again, but the service issue needs to be addressed. Your servers are the face of the restaurant. They should project a positive attitude, be willing to roll up their sleeves and be prompt. Thank heavens the "other" server was around to pick up the slack.
(2)Alanah S.
First time eating here and it wasn't bad. The salsa is very good!
(3)Ralph H.
Sickening food and really expensive....what more could you ask for? Rellenos came filled with an undescribable brown sludge, the enchiladas were so small, I could have hidden them under my wristwatch. And then the bill...I almost died of shock. This place is trying to be some nouvelle cuisine scene. They should focus on just being a good, reasonably priced mexican restaurant instead.
(1)Shannon C.
Took the finace here with a LivingSocial, which was supposed to be for a tamale tasting, but we missed that event, so we ended up with $60 to spend and the manager was very sweet to us. Here's what we had on our gluttonous night out: -Spicy margarita: a must try. Great margarita, each sip is followed by just a little bit of heat. -Guacamole and chipotle wings: The guacamole was decent, but I would skip it next time because the avocados were not ripe enough. But, the chipotle wings were AMAZING. I'm not usually a big fan of chicken wings, but these were crispy and had this delicious chipotle glaze on them, with a really tasty cream sauce for dipping. -Chicken mole poblano: This was good, but a little decieving as the poblano was in the mole sauce, and I was expecting it to be a whole chile on the plate... still delish. -Chicken Zarape: I could seriously just live on their creamy white rice. So good. -Tres Leches cake: I've teased my fiance for years for eating cake in a bowl so that he can pour milk on it... Now he won't stop raving about this amazing dessert. Thanks for a great date night! We'll be back.
(4)Jayme J.
I was very happy with my experience here. The service was pretty good (except waiting awhile to receive our check) and the food was as well. We started off with the Queso Fundido which was delicious even though I'm sure it is horrible for you. We expected more of a Chile con Queso type dish but it is more of a skillet of melted cheese. Their complimentary chips and salsa were the highlight of the meal. I loved both and filled up on them. For the entrees, my wife had the salmon and I had the chile verde pork burrito. Neither was exceptional but the salmon was definitely the better of the two in my opinion. My burrito was strangely sweet... I couldn't isolate what was causing the sweetness but in the end I just pulled it apart and ate the pork from it (I was so full from all of the chips and salsa that it really wasn't a big deal.) We also split the tres leches for dessert which is something we'd never had before so we weren't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised and would probably order it again given the chance. Overall, the food was good, the chips and salsa were amazing and we will definitely be back since it is so close to our home.
(4)Michael L.
Another great Richard Sandoval restaurant, only more affordable than his others. Very interesting take on mexican food. Table side guac is great. Also the cheese enchiladas are very unique and definitely worth a try. They also have great margs, chips and salsa, and monthly specials. Definitely worth checking this place out!!!
(5)Leonard E.
Great environment and friendly staff. I'm a not a guacamole eater, but I could not stop eating the guacamole, salsa, and chips here. They taste great. I was not impressed with the margaritas though. The rest of the food taste great too. I would recommend this as a fun place to eat and hang out.
(4)Joe C.
Went there for lunch yesterday. Wife had the Al Pastor Tacos (marinated pork), I had the Carne Asada. The tacos were perfect, the tortilla not to thick, just right. The Carne Asada was cooked perfectly, juicy, tender, perfect seasoning. It came with this corn tamale... oh man... delicious! The Salsa is excellent... could use some heat, but so tasty. I added some Habenaro sauce to it... mmmmm. The service was excellent. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food, and checked on us regularly. When he asked us if we wanted desert, my wife murmured that she loves sopapillas... The waiter then told us that they could make them off menu for us. They were the bombeezy! With Vanilla Ice Cream and caramel sauce. Definately going back. I think it's the only place to get a great taco in Denver. yeah yeah... I tried Pinche Taco... it's alright.
(5)Paul A.
Classy Mexican. This is a great place if you have to wait for somebody. The restaurant is split in two: one for their all day & night happy hour (except until 7p on Fri & Sat) with lounge seating ($3 coronas, $4-5 margs/mojitos/sangrias, $5 finger foods) and another side for normal dining. Free chips & salsa - and I was a fan of the salsa. We filled up on chips & salsa and split a meal to come out under $30 with drinks. This place worked out great to meet up with my parents who had just flown in - it's half way from downtown & DIA, and it was quiet enough to catch up.
(5)Chris R.
Don't live in Denver, but have been to La Sandia a handful of times now over the years. For us, it's been kind of a hit and miss place. The "misses" have tended to be related to service. But the food has been consistently good. On our most recent visit, both the food and the service were quite good. As a few others have mentioned, their chips are fantastic. Great way to start the meal. We also had tacos and a barbacoa enchilada. (The meat in the enchilada was as tender as any I've had at a Mexican restaurant.) We topped off the experience with the Churros y Chocolate, as well as the Tres Leches. Both outstanding. Good location for us, as our friends live in the Stapleton area. Also convenient if you're passing through on I-70.
(4)Karen M.
The guacamole, salsa and chips were fantastic. I had the shrimp avocado salad, dynamite. My dining partner had the pork carnitas , melt in your mouth good!!!
(4)Larry N.
Best Mexican food I ever had!
(5)Sue M.
Based strictly on the food, I would have rated the restaurant higher. Ordered the veggie fajitas and they were amazing; everyone at our table enjoyed their entree. On the downside, it was ridiculous to expect four adults to comfortably enjoy a meal at the dollhouse-sized table we were seated at. The table couldn't even accommodate the four entree plates that were brought out, without the square plates extending two inches beyond the table edges. Had it not put a major damper on the whole experience, it would have been comical to watch everyone trying to find a place to set their plate, water, and bar drink. We resorted to placing the tortilla warmer lids and empty glasses and bottles on the floor next to us (wait staff seemed oblivious to the serious lack of space). Would have liked to linger and converse over after-dinner drinks, but the table space was too claustrophobic.
(3)Annie B.
In the past week, I have eaten here twice. Once for lunch, and once for dinner. Both experiences were very similar. It seems as if La Sandia is slipping a bit. For lunch, my friend and I tried La Sandia's "Mix & Match Lunch" for $6.95 and we got an order of "Bottomless Guacamole", extra spicy. I had a "Skirt Steak Taco" and a "Beef Barbacoa Enchilada." Both the taco and the enchilada were very flavorful and I enjoyed them a lot! However, the accompanying beans and rice were bland and tasted pre-manufactured as if the beans were canned and the veggies in the rice came from a mix instead of from scratch. I didn't enjoy the beans and rice so much. The guacamole was somewhat bland and wasn't spicy at all. To make it spicy, they just put some orange stuff on top which I can only assume was a habanero puree (this is a guess) that you have to mix in yourself. It wasn't horrible, it was just lacking in flavor. The salsa was also a little in need of some salt. The service was close to outstanding! My only issue was I had to flag the waiter down for one iced tea refill. Overall, the experience was pretty good. My dinner experience was a little more lackluster. Upon grabbing a seat in the lounge, I ordered some "Bottomless Guacamole", extra spicy. Our guac, salsa and chips were brought to the table quickly and I dug in! To my disappointment, the guac was similar to the guac I had when I visited La Sandia for lunch. Not spicy, somewhat bland and it even had a little strange aftertaste. The salsa was also a little lacking in seasoning. For an appetizer, we shared the "Queso Fundido" which I must say was pretty greasy, but really tasty! We opted for the $1 extra cost to get chorizo on top. A worthwhile investment! After a few servings of bottomless guac and the queso, we opted to just get a few more things from the happy hour menu instead of ordering entree's. I ordered the "Mini Chili Verde Pork Chimichangas" and my friend ordered the "Chicken Taquitos." Both dishes were very bland, with the exception of the " Chile Morita" sauce. My friend shared her sauce with me which added a nice kick and some great flavor to both dishes. I only ate one of my chimichangas. I decided to box up the other two and take them home to my boyfriend. After a while, the manager came by and asked us how everything was. I was honest. I politely told him that my meal was very bland and he quickly took charge and offered to rectify the situation. I told him there was no need. I was full and did not want anything else and I was just planning on boxing them up and taking them home anyway. He offered to take care of my dinner (just the chimi's, not the entire ticket). I thanked him and he brought us boxes. The service during this experience was just OK. Our waitress was very nice, but it appeared that she was too busy to notice us at times. My water glass did however remain filled at all times, which if you read any of my other reviews is a big deal to me. Overall, it seems as though La Sandia has deteriorated since some of the better experiences I've had here. I don't know if they're under new management or if they have a new chef or what the case is, but I know they can do better than this. I have eaten some amazing food here and it is truly disappointing to see this place go down hill. To anyone at La Sandia that reads this, salt and seasonings are your friends. They bring life too food. Please add another server to your dinner shift so your tables get more attention. I truly hope you can turn it back around. I believe you are capable of much greater things than what I witnessed in the past week. I gave La Sandia 3 stars as it wasn't bad, it just wasn't amazing. It was OK.
(3)Bob M.
Omg, the chocolate waffles were awesome. They were so light and fluffy, it was like cake. The fajitas were equally tasty as well. The Ghurro's however were a tad over fried. All in all, we will come back. The hostess seated us quickly, but it took a bit before our waiter came over, but once he did he was attentive.
(4)Rachel S.
La Sandia Margs = amazing. Try the Prickly Pear or the strawberry or mango margaritas. They are best (I think) served on the rocks, and they don't have that yucky, high-calorie sour mix in them - these are the real thing. My friends who are into food/drinks with some kick also really like the spicy orange margarita. Their happy hour is bomb (check out the menu here: richardsandoval.com/lasa… ). The margaritas are from $4 - $6 and they also have $3 tacos, $5 quesadillas, etc. That being said, If you're really feeling hungry, you're probably just better off ordering from the dinner menu... Math example: three tacos on happy hour = $9; three tacos + rice & beans (off of the dinner menu) = $9.50. I might not be a math whiz, but I'm pretty sure that cost/benefit analysis is clear. Finally, the best part of the happy hour: BOTTOMLESS GUACAMOLE. Yes, you read that right. For FIVE DOLLARS you and a friend can eat as much guacamole as your little hearts desire until happy hour ends at 7.
(5)Cleo X.
4.5 stars for customer service alone. An impromptu dinner at La Sandia one Thursday evening left the following impressions: friendly, efficient, and accommodating staff .. quick and impressive service .. minimal wait times .. good food .. nice atmosphere. Pleasantly surprised! Would return and hope for a similar outstanding vibe.
(4)Kim S.
Visited La Sandia on a Friday for Happy Hour. Not impressed. Not even a little. I was excited to see they offered bottomless gauc for $5 for tables of 4 or less. Who wouldnt be excited about that? Well, the bowl it's served in probably holds less than a cup of liquid and you get MAYBE 1/2 of an avocado with each serving. Oh, and if you ask your server for another..be prepared for the "oh jesus really" annoyed stare. Don't offer it if it's just going to piss your servers off when people ask for more...OR...serve a decent helping of gauc so that people may not ask for more. Just a thought. This place makes AMAZING Prickly Pear margaritas - $5 during happy hour. I got one - 15 minutes after ording it - I would have ordered another had our server ever been seen again. We had to flag people down to order stuff. We ended up walking around and finding a manager and asking for our ticket so we could pay and get the h out of there. He didnt care either. Our server showed up with a huge smile and our ticket. Whatever. Not worth it. 1st Star is for the great margarita 2nd Star is for the yumminess of the food. Apparently the nice people work in the kitchen.
(2)Richard G.
I liked my meal here very much. Not sure I'm into "compartmentalized" plates, but the food was good. The guac and salsa is as good as everyone before me has said. Attentive service too...
(4)Christy D.
I love their food -- especially the pork tacos. Also, they have a great happy hour with a ton of choices. Also, they have some interesting flavored margaritas -- including spicey orange. We'll definitely return.
(4)amanda b.
We stumbled upon this place during our first movie date in Denver. We usually catch movies first thing Sunday morning, but had too much to do this past weekend so we didn't make it out of the house until 3:30. I was having a huge avocado craving so we stopped in for some boozy drinks and Mexican food before our show. We were there for happy hour (on a Sunday- random but I went with it) so my mojitos were $5 each. Well-made, not too sweet and a good amount of mint. I had the shrimp quesadilla, and it was amazing. Slightly smokey, not too cheesy and the shrimp was not overcooked. Corey got some oysters. They were just OK. We'll probably go back for lunch for the future. Unrelated- DO NOT go see "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.' Terrible movie, even after two mojitos.
(4)JD F.
Restaurant.com got us in the door. Kate and I had a long Saturday- her doing some work in our house and attending a social function, and me doing some serious yard work. We were looking for a place where we could share some interesting food, have a good conversation and a few drinks, and not drive too far. Which meant it had to be close to our house. Because we had a restaurant.com gift card, we perused the options until we found what seemed like the perfect place, and we bought a certificate. The food was...fine. I asked Kate what I should write, her response "It's Mexican food... more or less." Our guacamole was guacamole, nothing less, nothing more. My tortilla soup was...fine. Kate's chicken soup was...fine. The waitress was confused when we ordered appetizer (guac), soups, and entree. When we explained that we would like them served as three separate courses, the idea seemed foreign to her. Which explains why our entrees were served two minutes after our soup. Kate ordered steak fajitas, and that's what she got. There was nothing unique about them, and very little to report. I ordered the chiles relleno because our waitress promised me they were "the best EVER." They were decidedly not the best ever. My reward for following her advice was that every two minutes she stopped by to ask "aren't those awesome?" "No, dear, they aren't, and you're interrupting our conversation." If you're getting the feeling that La Sandia is nothing special, you're right. The cuisine is serviceable. The staff is untrained and mediocre. But would I go back? ABSOLUTELY. Because Kate and I have discovered that La Sandia is where aging, cruising, sadly pathetic ex-frat boys go to meet much too young girls with little self esteem and even less clothing. The people watching is extraordinary. We watched suave, and considerably less suave, pickup artists ply their craft. We prayed to turn into flies in order to eavesdrop. And we hoped that some old Tri-Lam would come by to tell us war stories about the "babe that got away." It didn't happen for us on Saturday night. But like most of the people at La Sandia, we'll be back another Saturday, eating bland nachos and hoping, hoping against hope, really, to get lucky.
(2)Greg D.
Super fresh ingredients, excellent fresh gaucamole, awesome margaritas and great Rick Bayless-style mexican food. I love this place, highly recommend.
(5)Pilar D.
GREAT happy hour apps and drinks selection. I came here for a mini high school reunion and we basically took over the bar area. The bartender was great, quickly taking and producing drink orders. The waitstaff who brought the food were also pretty fast. They have an extensive list of appetizers for happy hour. I would recommend trying the carnita sliders and banana empanada with ice cream with caramel. For drinks, I would highly recommend their regular mojito, which is also their specialty. Great place for large groups.
(4)Brenda H.
I really enjoyed this place. I had the cobb salad (less egg, bacon and cheese) and it was wonderful. Unfortunately i did load up on the yummy guacomole, chips and salsa...which was amazing. That plus 2 large servings of watermelon agua fresca...and i was more full and was still full by the morning. haha! I especially loved how informative our server was regarding vegan items on their menu...and how to veganize non-vegan dishes too!!
(4)Kat O.
OMG WTH? We went in with reservations and the place was not even half full and we had to wait. The hostess said it was her 2nd day on the job. Fine. Understandable. People kept coming in and asking to be seated and she was telling everyone (even groups of 2) that there was a 20 minute wait. Many of the people were wandering around the restaurant and coming back to ask the hostess why in the world they were waiting 20 minutes if the restaurant was more than half empty? We finally got seated, every server seemed slow and hungover. They were all young. One of the waitresses was texting in the bathroom and said to me- "I have to hide in here from my boss to text. I dare him to come find me in here". Really? Also- they advertise a 6.95 lunch special and happy hour specials but then we were told they cannot do happy hour unless we sit at certain tables. WHAT? And apparently the lunch special is some kind of joke? They even have signs outside about the lunch special, but we couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. The one plus, which gives this 2 stars instead of one, is that after I finally found the manager and asked him to honor the happy hour menu for us even though we weren't sitting in the lounge or on the patio, he said he would. We ordered bottomless guacamole which was hardly bottomless. It was really hard to get the server to bring anything out when asked for it- and he seemed irritated every time we asked. We would ask for more guacamole and he said "ITS COMING". We asked for a refill of salsa and he said "ITS COMING". Seriously? He was really rude. Service was extremely slow and unfriendly. The whole thing is a shame because the food is great, but the lack of care and concern from the waitstaff really ruined the experience. The manager seems like a good guy who got stuck with a bunch of slacker workers. Would love to go back here, but the service was just icky.
(2)Sandra D.
I visited Colorado with my sister in law last week and we met some of her family for dinner here. What a great pick! The food was wonderful, and the service was excellent! I had the Fajita's, steak and chicken, along with black beans, rice, and corn tortilla's. The guacamole was wonderful, also the salsa was fresh. Next time I'm in town I will be back. Also everyone at the table, there was 10 adults and 3 kids, said there meal was good too!!
(5)