La Nopalera
3265 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608
La Nopalera Menu
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Address :
3265 SW 34th St
Gainesville, FL, 32608 - Phone (352) 519-5322
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Carolina H.
I really wish this place was good, but unfortunately it's not. I've been here twice since it opened. My first visit, our waiter seemed awkward, almost like if serving wasn't his job. You get unlimited chips and salsa which is probably the best thing this place has going for as they are very good and fresh even though the salsa can be watery. I ordered the chicken enchilada. The chicken was bland and the enchilada sauce literally tasted like Chef Boy-ar-dee tomato sauce. Rice was standard and beans were ok. I did notice the waiters carrying sizzling dishes of fajitas to other tables which looked good. On my second visit the service was a tad better but the food still left me unimpressed. I got the tacos al pastor and the meat was dry and lacked flavor so I had to pile on the salsas which were good. I also got a tamale from their a la carte part of the menu. I should've known something was up when the price was less than $2 and I receive this heaping plate of stuff atop what I assumed was a tamale. It was basically a ton of unseasoned ground beef smothered in that same Chef Boy-ar-dee sauce over a dry flavorless corn "tamale". I'm not one to send things back, but this I had to. I've had better tamales at Publix in Miami (do they sell them in Gainesville?). They call themselves "authentic" but are far from it. There are plenty of better Mexican restaurants in Gainesville.
(2)Shreyas J.
The main reason that brings me here many times is big food portions and pocket friendly prices! and they have outdoor seating as well. Taste may be on the down side as compared to other Mexican restaurants but thats not the reason I come here.
(3)Nicholette M.
Just had the chips and salsa because I went in for the drinks last night. Spacious and c lean. It was not crowded at all so we sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and my drinks were nice and strong. They have outside seating which was pretty nice for this time of year. If you want a few tacos, strong drinks, and a little music playing in the background.. this place is good for that. I was on a date so it was perfect.
(3)Morgan L.
Is this the best mexican food in the entire world? Nope. Is it pretty darn good and a great addition to Gainesville? yes. I've been to La Nopalera probably 7-8 times now and it never fails. Decent/Good food at a reasonable price and margarita pitchers that will put you on your butt. Plus they always call me mamacita. As a single girl, I'll take the compliments where I can get them! You get the traditional options here. Nothing unique, but everything comes out fresh and they'll work with ya if there's something you're specifically looking for. Go at a busy time and the chips are piping hot. (clearly it would be impractical to try to do that when it's dead.) Lunch specials are massive and under $5. But back to the margaritas....oh the margaritas. I recommend 3 people to split a pitcher. Any less, and your risk debauchery - or a trip to Wal Mart where you leave with skewers, socks and car wax. The only food item I don't recommend is the guacamole. As previously mentioned, it's clearly not fresh. I am a particular fan of the chilaquiles - oh sweet fried cheesy goodness. And it's always 2 meals for me. Biggest benefit of La Nopalera v. Las Margs? No wait! Or if there is one, it's under 15 minutes. And did I mention the margaritas? Try the frozen strawberry. I'm a fan of this place. It would take some doing to get me to go somewhere else for traditional Mexican...
(4)Charles D.
Excellent tacos. Sometimes a bit salty.
(4)Olga L.
La Nopalera is really close to my house and all my friends (given, with low standards) love this place so I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, my evening here was a disappointment. Maybe I'm a spoiled Yelper and maybe I watch too much Restaurant Impossible, but I was left completely underwhelmed from the food to the service. I went with my boyfriend for an early Friday night dinner. There was no wait when we arrived, but we stood at the host station with a line of 3-4 groups behind us for about 5 minutes before we were greeted. After we sat down, we waited another 5 minutes for a server to even acknowledge us. Not all the tables were full, business was steady, but definitely not busy enough for him to not even say hello to us. I'm only complaining about this because I was a server for years and I've always been taught to at least greet the customer in the first 1-2 minutes. He finally came with free chips & salsa in hand to take our drink order, and he was friendly and answered all our questions as best as he could given the language barrier. Thanks to someone here who mentioned the fajitas, that's what I ended up ordering. The chicken was flavorful and the portion was massive. Definitely nothing standout, as I've had better fajitas at Chili's. The rice and beans seemed microwaved, as did the giant burrito my boyfriend ordered. His beef was tough and rubbery, and his plate was scalding hot, which leads me to the microwave conclusion. We both ordered margaritas ($1 off on Fridays) and were please with the heavy handedness of the bartender. Surprisingly, we weren't even hung over the next day. The entire time we were there, our server only checked on us once, nor did he pre-bus the table, which is important when you're eating off 3-4 different plates. Once again, I used to be a server so the little things score major points with me. Overall, I was pleased with the price and the portions, but I won't be returning because the quality of food and service was far below what I expected. If you do visit here, stay away from any foods with meat rolled inside; I think they'll overcook it every time. The fajitas and margaritas are a safe bet- just ask for extra tortillas and share with a friend.
(2)Debbie M.
This is the kind of Mexican you might expect to find in Alaska. The guac was packaged, the relleno pepper was tiny, I had to hunt for it beneath a thick blanket of cheese. The chicken in the taco was dry and tasteless. Overall, I can't remember having a worse Mexican meal.
(1)Amanda G.
I don't even know how I feel about La Nopalera right now. I've given myself a couple weeks to digest my experience and really think about my emotions, but I still feel torn between the 2 and 3 star. The prices were good, the chips and salsa tasty and service very friendly. But something just didn't sit right. I don't know, the drink selections didn't seem that great and the guac looked REAL funks. When they brought out our food they forgot our sides and honestly I only found the food to be so-so. Just another subpar Mexican restaurant in Gainesville in a weird location. I was informed by my waiter that there would be dancing later on, but I didn't feel like sticking around the 80% empty restaurant to see it. No me gusta
(2)Brice O.
The long and short of it is that this just another standard Americanized Mexican restaurant. Same general selections you'd find at Las Margaritas or La Fiesta and both of those places would be better choices. There's nothing exceptionally bad about this place, it's just too much like several places we already have in town.
(2)Ivanna G.
I have been here a few times for separate occasions. Their happy hour margaritas are relatively cheap and taste great! Their specials bring so much food that you will not be able to finish it all in one sitting! It is definitely authentic Mexican food, so if you're looking for more of tex-mex this is not the place for you!
(5)Kim L.
I have been to a lot of Mexican restaurants and I am tolerant because I love fajitas. But my tolerance alas has come to an end with La Nopalera. The fajitas were so greasy I was afraid to eat them. The salad was mediocre. The rice and beans, which I had to beg them for because they were forgotten, were like slop, particularly the beans. All meat in the fajitas was like rubber too. This may be THE worst restaurant at which I have ever eaten. That is saying a lot. Plus they are soooooooo expensive for small portions and crappy food. Why bother? I just hope I don't get sick later.
(1)Brandon C.
Previous owners were better but the menu is still the same. Large portions for fair price. I always get the #22, Burrito, rice w/refried beans, and a taco. Chips and salsa always come free. Everything almost tastes homemade and authentic, their beans and fresh cheese make the meal shine outside of your expected tex-mex.
(4)Raquelle R.
I ordered tacos al pastor and it is nothing like what tacos al pastor should be like. It was some type of shredded beef and not very good. The guacamole wasn't good either. I will not come back.
(2)Astrid B.
I have frequented this location so much in my time living in Gainesville, I haven't ever sat down and made a review.. Today that changes. This restaurant has undergone small changes in a management and service since it first opened, replacing the old Hooters. The menu has stayed consistent. For the most part, the managers and servers are friendly, and will remember you. One of the first meals I tried was a simple order of a Single Order #9 burrito: chicken or beef in a burrito, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. I had a phase with the cheese dip and lunch combos, and another phase where all I wanted was a taco salad. They're always quick to get you drinks and chips, but sometimes may be slowed in the kitchen if a lot of Greek birthday parties and tables of taco salads are being seated and served. They also get clogged up when there's a big game to watch or during on-campus game days. One of the best qualities about La nopalera is the fact this food always satisfies that part of you that wants just general tex-mex. It doesn't have to be super authentic to be delicious and satisfying. Only the real bougey people won't appreciate fast, delicious, and simple Mexican dishes. Their happy hour is practically all day for margaritas as well!
(4)Jessica F.
I wanted to give it more stars but my experience recent wasn't positive enough to warrant it. First off food is consistently 5 stars, and for the price you get a ton of food. I noticed on this visit it's touting "new management" well not sure how long this change has been but they need to tighten up the ship or it'll be out of business. The service and kitchen was ridiculously slow. It took 15 minutes for our waiter to come over to take our drink orders, and the chips/salsa took longer than that. The waiter had no clue what beers they had on tap and since it took so long for him to come over we ordered food at the same time. 45 minutes later our food was still not there. I know Mexican food doesn't take that long to prepare even with a packed restaurant. The table next to ours had to put their foods in to-go boxes once they received them because they had other places to be and it took so long. Almost the whole restaurant received their food at the same time (which of course then created a massive line to cash out). Overall they will get one more chance from me and if I have a repeat experience I will not be back which sucks because this is one of my favorite places.
(3)Michael H.
When this place first opened, it was great. Ate there today and they recently changed owners. Food quality was just average (Enchilada Suizas) Asked for a to go cup for my drink and they refused. They also don't accept any gift cards before Nov 2014. Will spend my dollar elsewhere next time.
(2)Avinash K.
Nice place to be. Pretty living. Free chips and Salsa. Love their chips and salsa. If you like spicy - really hot stuff, ask for green salsa. Love their lunch combo's - very good quantity of food and cheap. $5/6 you can get a lunch combo which can include upto 3 items. My favorite is Chicken Quesadilla and 2 Taco salad combo - $5. Like their flan and fried ice-cream dessert too.
(4)Diana O.
New owners = CRAPPY food flavorless boring, canned salsa. I took a lovely photo when we ate here and it's true a picture is worth a thousand words. On the banister above our booth which was near the bar we had an unusual item looming over our meal. Please tell me if it grosses you out as much as it did us. We had to eat with a spider web entangled air freshener. The kind you see on the back of the toilet at granny's house. A dive, a dump, a greasy hot mess. Avoid.
(1)Dmachop C.
Food is sumptuous with unlimited Nachos and Salsa. Those were the only respite from what is to come next. Sodas and enchiladas are pretty standard which fills your stomach to say the least. Average service and most of them will not agree about the relevance of its theme with it's cuisine. Meh restaurant. Okay from the rest.
(3)Sarah W.
This place. Yum! I don't know how people can say this isn't good. FAST, delicious, and authentic!
(5)Tiffany D.
I love La Nop! I have been coming to La Nop for over 7 years in Orange Park and 2 of my favorite people went to manage this one. They are awesome. The food is fabulous and they always aim to please. Don't listen to the negative reviews on here. These people are ridiculous. You couldn't ask for better people then Mario and Jorge. Easy on the eyes and great customer service!!!
(5)Christopher F.
the food was fantastic.. i had the speciall #11 witch was a beef burrito covered in guacomole sour creme tomato and other salsa.. the beef was a little salty but thats the way i like it.. absolutely perfect it ver filling service was great and the 2-4-1 margaritas were good too. flan was amazing as well.. my only complaint was the coffe was a little on the cold side but other than that it was perfect and the prices were good too. i will be back for sure
(5)T F.
The staff is very nice and accommodating. I was unfortunately sat by a group of about 15 sorority girls having dinner. The girls were incredibly loud, but the waiter graciously helped us relocate to a different table, away from the noisiness. The meal that I wanted was on the lunch menu, and although it was dinner time, the waiter allowed me to dine off of the lunch menu. The rice is mediocre, but the chimichangas are AMAZING! Some of the best chimichangas I have had. I will definitely be back!
(4)Shelton B.
Fast service and very good food. Good beer prices and comfortable casual atmosphere and the margaritas are usually on special. Every waiter I've had has been incredibly friendly, and I've gone many times. The chicken quesadilla is very reasonably priced and delicious. Great free chips and salsa.
(5)Kalindi M.
This place is so disgusting. I am a huge fan of chips and queso, I have never had queso that I couldn't eat. I ordered it here and it was so watered down, it tasted kind of sweet and had a really strange taste. I don't know if it was rotten or something but I don't see how anybody could have tasted that and thought it was good. My food was pretty gross too. And I tried asking my waiter a question about what was in the burrito I wanted and he didn't speak English well so he couldn't answer it properly. He was a nice guy but I don't see how it makes sense that you can't even ask questions because nobody understands you well enough to answer. This place was pretty awful, I think I am giving up on Mexican food in Gainesville.
(1)Kace K.
I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I went with my friend and the experience was absolutely horrific. My Quesadilla Rellena was soggy, filled with wet, shredded chicken and huge pieces of onion and half the plate was covered with a ridiculous mound of shredded lettuce. My friend's meal looked like a plate of dog food. The Fajita Nachos - the shrimp had POOP in it still and was overcooked and rubbery, The steak was unseasoned and the chicken was just acceptable. They put this mess of a combination on top of nachos, and all the disgusting, oily juice sogged up everything on the bottom. It was a plate of shit. Then when the waiter asked how it was and we told him the truth. Even he admitted that wasn't what the plate normally looked like. He called his useless manager over, who accepted our criticism half heartedly and didn't offer to comp or discount the $13.99 plate of garbage. Instead, she was offered a complementary glass of their crappy Sangria. After the waiter brought that, it was at least 30 minutes before we could get a check... and that was after I went up to the waiter and demanded it. This was the first time I ever left $0 for a tip, I was so appalled by the service and management. AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE! GO TO ANY OTHER SUB-PAR MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN GAINESVILLE BECAUSE IT WILL BE A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN THIS DUMP.
(1)Karly G.
My boyfriend and I usually eat here once a week because the food is pretty good and quick. The servers do a good job. The drinks are overpriced and the margaritas are not good. We usually see the rest of the staff walking around, doing nothing, or being unprofessional. The hosts sit and eat at the bar instead of greeting guests. But what just turned me off from this place was when I went here tonight, I saw a woman wearing an apron (manager, host, owner, idk...) and she was walking around the restaurant with a wine glass drinking wine. That's unprofessional and unacceptable for employees OR management! I wish this place had a little more class or respect for themselves.
(1)Scott M.
Four stars, would have given five but needs better decor. Attentive service & very helpful. Fish Taco's were very good. Chips & Salsa were good. Will return for sure.
(4)Hannah P.
I don't know how to describe this place except WET! Every single thing we ordered was drippy. Salsa was watery, queso was thin, even the refried beans were watery! I really had to struggle to get some salsa substance on my chip. Most everything tasted slightly watered down -- I'm not sure how that's possible. Guac was watery and creepy. Our food was sopping because of all of the liquid on our plates. The chimichangas rest in a watery bed of refried beans. The chille relleno is buried underneath a wet blanket of cheese. The food tasted ok, like really generic American Mexican. The chicken was flavored really well. Atmosphere was nice and clean, prices were SUPER cheap, and our waitress was friendly. Go to Las Margaritas or La Tienda before you go here. Hell, Chuys is probably better (drier?). Unless you are experiencing dental issues and the idea of watery soggy food appeals to you...
(2)Alayna D.
Helllllo margarita pitchers! Worth the trip alone. :) Decent food, typical Mexican size portions, yummy chips, good salsa, friendly staff! It's never busy so good for a quick lunch, no wait. Great lunch combo prices with frequent specials, too. Hope they last in Gainesville with all the other Mexican restaurants.
(4)Stephanie R.
It's just ok. Better than Tienda? Me thinks not! I ordered the Chili Relleno (my test for any Mexican place) and I have to say it failed pretty miserably. When I first received my plate I didn't think it was even on there...oh wait...there it was..flattened into a puddle of sadness underneath all that cheese and beans. Not very flavorful or tasty, absolutely no effort. All I kept thinking about was how I wish I had gone to La Tienda for their Relleno. Maybe they have just set the bar too high. The food was just ok, but this is NOT real Mexican. Real Mexican food does not DROWN in cheese and beans (beans are served on the side). It seems that every item on the menu was this way. I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that this is the best Mexican food in Gainesville. That being said the food is not inedible and the Margaritas were pretty good (the service wasn't spectacular but there wasn't really anything to complain about either). So instead of one star they get two.
(2)Olivia D.
It was alright. The food i received seemed not very fresh. But the Lunch prices are great! I loved the guacamole and chips here.
(3)Localdude D.
"LA Nopalera" is Spanish for "sausage fest'. There are virtually no Latinas that work here. (It's like a Bizzaro World version of Hooters.). Those hoping for a traditional, warm and accommodating waitress as one would expect to find nearly everywhere else will be disappointed. Nothing like the better service I have gotten at other Nopaleras (Jacksonville). Ordering anything customized is met with impatience or lack of English comprehension from these dudes: you get a funny look for straying the slightest bit from the menu. Bartenders combine ambivalence & zero cocktail knowledge for any drink that doesn't end in "-rita". Tequila selection average for a Florida Mexican Cantina. Food variety good and both appetizers and entrées (eventually) served hot. Prices are darned cheap without much of a drop in food quality. TV hiccups will keep this from being a go-to sports venue at the bar. With the exceptions of a few too many inflatable bic-a-bracks decor is appropriate, restroom was clean as well as the restaurant proper. Never really packed and familia friendly.
(2)Cari P.
The service at this place was lightning fast on a Saturday afternoon, which is the only reason I'm going with two stars instead of one. The servers weren't particularly friendly and didn't come around for refills at any point, but we had our food in a snap. Now, the food... This was easily the worst Mexican food I've ever had. I didn't think it was possible to mess up a taco salad, but I learned something new that Saturday. It was mainly guacamole, very little lettuce, and the meat tasted like it came from a can. It came in a taco shell bowl which tasted like it had been marinated in butter for 48 hours, and not in a good way, almost an artificial butter taste. I did take a bite of my husband's food which was significantly better, but my judgment was skewed by the horribleness of my food at that time so I can't say for sure if it was actually good. Two other people at my table ordered the taco salad as well and they looked equally bad. The only person at the table who finished his food was my husband, who ordered the tacos al pastor. All that said, the food was really cheap. We were 6 adults and a baby, and the bill came up to $70 before the tip including margaritas. So if for some reason you can't get to any of the other better restaurants in the area, at least it's cheap. If you do go to this place, just please for the love of all that is good, don't order ground beef. The experience of eating that was borderline traumatic.
(2)Sanyogita R.
This restaurant is a rip off. Their food is excessively cheesy and salty. I could not even finish half of my dish.
(1)Claire N.
Update: been here several other times since initial review. Food is consistently excellent. Service has improved immensely and drink specials are awesome. 2-4-1 margaritas? Hello! Deserving of five stars! !
(5)Chris R.
Don't be surprised if it's out of business in 6 months. The menus are dirty, the tables looked like they were wiped with a dirty rag. The service is not just slow, it's bad. The waitress didn't even know what beer they had on tap. It took about 15 minutes to put in a drink order and after 10 more minutes of waiting we left. It was not busy. As I was walking out I saw our sever chatting away with the kitchen staff. Don't waste your time.
(1)Mark W.
You know what I say to all the bad reviews on this place? Haters to the left! La Nop is exactly what it looks like: a cheap greasy dive bar that serves ok food and reasonably-priced drinks. Was it fine dining? No. But I enjoyed my meal and definitely enjoyed the 2-for-1 margaritas that they offer almost every night. If you live nearby, it's definitely worth the walk. I don't know if I'd become a regular there, but it's worth a stop every now and then.
(3)Landon E.
Nice place, great for dinner with a group. The free nacho chips and salsa are just okay, but are easily improved with a little dash of hot sauce. The food in general is okay, not the best mexican food you can get, but pretty good. There are tons of choices on the menu, so everyone can definitely find something they would enjoy. Wait staff was GREAT, super friendly and many of them are completely bilingual, so order in Spanish or English, or I'm sure some other languages too and they'll be more than happy to respond. Lots of parking available.
(4)Ryan F.
Just opened recently so Shannon B. and I had to check it out. Chips and salsa complimentary. The standard. Got some free guac courtesy of a radio ad, but unfortunately it's not made fresh. However, it was fresh from a container (you know... the paste)! I want it fresh ground, so I know it's real *Drake voice*. She got a beef taco and chicken enchilda combination, with refried beans (rice never showed up... NBD). It was alright ($7.50). I would venture to say you will enjoy the special dinners more than the combos. They range from $11-15, but you usually get what you pay for and here is no exception. I got chicken and beef fajitas (as seen in the pics). HUGE portion ($11.50)! I'm talking about a portion most men can't finish. I could've finished it but I was being reasonable and took a bit home. I definitely loaded up the 2 tortillas to maximum capacity (they should give you 3 or 4). The toppings include: shredded lettuce, tomato slice, guac paste, cheese, and sour cream. The meat was very good. I could tell it was marinated nicely and it had a nice grill/smokey flavor. Also grilled with the typical onions and peppers. Good value Mexican. Worth a re-visit.
(3)Bryson R.
Best thing I can say is we didn't have to wait. Dinner combinations tasted like they were reheated & not much flavor. Watched the cheese dip being microwaved before being served. Would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)Charles S.
Lets be honest, these places are all very similar. Sounds like a good idea so you go with a group of friends, get a little drunk, eat too many chips and salsa, and by the time the enormous amount of food comes out you are already full. You must look past this with regards to La Nop. The place is IMMACULATE, which is more than can be said for other mexican restaurants who missed out on the invention of central air conditioning. The staff speaks english and is as accommodating as you will find. Portions are large and well priced. Nothing wrong with this place at all.
(4)Ashley B.
Pro: strong, cheap, and tasty margaritas. Con: had very slow and inattentive service once or twice. I can't speak to the authenticity of their food, but I know it's what I expect of a Mexican restaurant. Can't complain about that. Really do love their margaritas though!
(3)Max S.
Good prices, great drinks (love the big beers and margaronas) and tasty food. Frankly i don't really know what the other reviewers problem is. This is one of my favorite places in town to get grub an drinks. Is it perfect: no. If you're a restaurant reviewer then you should probably avoid Gainesville as a whole. If you just want some good food and a nice drink, then come here!
(5)Vicki M.
Margaritas are good, food not so much. Gave it two try's, not going back!
(2)Mike W.
I had dinner here with a friend and it is ok, but not all that impressive. The atmosphere is fine but typical: the space is a re-purposed Hooters' so it's your standard restaurant approach with ample space and a lot of booths, a bar, and now Mexican touches here and there. The staff is also typical in their Gainesville-friendly approach (the hostess is quick to smile, the waiters are sincere and outgoing if at times not fully on top of their game) but to their credit, the majority of the staff appears to be Hispanic so maybe they know more about the food they serve than some Gainesville waiters, as I've had plenty at ethnic restaurants that were very uninformed about the food at hand. The menu is standard as well: pretty much the same Mexican-American combo platters and "specials" you'll find at places like La Fiesta. They did have tacos al pastor on the menu (tacos of seasoned pork with pineapple) which is a more authentic Mexican dish and I ordered that. The tacos came with a more than ample serving of pork al pastor plus a smokey salsa roja, cilantro, and onions served on the side to add in to your liking. The quality wasn't quite on par with Le Tienda but close and the salsa roja was especially good. I'd requested they also bring out salsa verde and they did, but it wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped or expected. For that matter, my friend's dinner (I forget what he had--one of the combo platters) and my own tacos came out at the same time however they forgot my garnish/salsa plate and I had to wait a good five minutes before the waitress came back with it. The runner who brought out the dinners had mentioned it and promised to return with it but never did, so when the waitress showed up she was very apologetic about it as if there had perhaps been a miscommunication between the runner and herself. My friend said his dinner was fine, even "as good as La Tienda", so that's a comforting thought. In my own opinion though, and as another reviewer has already noted, La Nopalera is the very same type of Mexican-American restaurant as Las Margaritas or La Fiesta, and these two established restaurants overall may do things better. That said, the very fact they had tacos al pastor on the menu and the additional fact the salsa roja was so good is very encouraging. I'd try it again, but it's an even three stars as things stand now--nothing vastly new and amazing.
(3)Gigi A.
I am not blown away by this place, but they are fairly consistent and food is pretty good. Their portion sizes are humongous, and the food always comes out very fast. They don't rush you to leave, which is nice if you just wanna hang out for a bit. The waitstaff can answer your questions about the food and speaks english, which other tex mex places would have you believe is next to impossible. Their drinks are yummy and if you go during happy hour pretty cheap too. The atmosphere is typical, if a bit lacking, but taking into account that this used to be a hooters, I can't really blame them. This is typical tex mex and not nearly as authentic as La Tienda. If you come with good friends, it's an ok experience. Think of this place as a pretty standard fb: reliable, hits the spot, not so expensive, but just doesn't wow you too much.
(3)Jennifer L.
They have great food. I enjoy their fajitas and the 2 for 1 frozen margaritas always seal the deal for me. Yumm!
(4)Laura B.
Was excited to see another Mexican place coming to Gainesville and gave this place a try Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Hailing from southern California I have been pretty disappointed in the Mexican food I have experienced in G-ville and Tampa. Bland, Americanized Mexican food again and the quality was so so. The warning that not all Mexican food is spicy on the front of the menu was a tip off this place was not really aimed at the Mexican food enthusiast. Salsa was quite bland. The chips were a little greasy. The guac that was on my food was from a container, not made with fresh avocados. Hubby's carnitas were not as flavorful as at another place in town. Refried beans were pretty bland, as was the ground beef in my beef enchilada. Will not be going back. If you like good Mexican food (and know what that is like), I suggest you keep looking.
(2)Joel W.
The portions are humongous, the food relatively cheap (especially the daily lunch special!) and they still have an above-average quality. Won't blow your mind but is definitely a good change of pace from all the fast food Tex-Mex places like TBell, Moe's, or Chipotle.
(4)P S.
La Nopalera is the best Mexican food in Gainesville, hands down. The staff are friendly and always happy to see you. The margaritas are strong (!) and 2-for-1 on most weeknights. Also check out their week-night food specials. What a great deal! I much prefer this atmosphere to the overly-loud colors of Las Margaritas or Mexico Lindo.
(4)Christine W.
i was very impressed w/ la nopalera. i was familiar with the restaurant before visiting the gainesville location. i ordered a tamal with rice and beans. it was even better than i could have imagined. it was a huge portion (2-3 servings easility) and the price was amazing ($5.90). will definitely be back next time i'm cravin south of the border!
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