Well, we tried stopping in on Cinco de Mayo, they were absolutely slammed. I felt bad for their staff so we opted to go elsewhere. We returned last night and they impressed once again. This is truly the only authentic Mexican I've found in Tampa. The queso fundido is something special. I never skip that. I had the steak fajitas which are absolutely fantastic. The freshly made tortillas and guacamole really set it off. The refried beans were perfect. My fiance's lobster tacos were perfect. We enjoyed it so much we booked our rehearsal dinner there. Will definitely be back sooner. By the way, if you're expecting Tex-Mex, food prepared the day before then reheated, or a quick in-and-out meal, go to Chili's. This isn't the place for you.
(5)
Robin K.
More like 2.5 stars! Always wanted to try this place so we went tonite. I came here with 12 other friends, we made reservation just in case. It wasn't needed since there were only one other couple beside us. They had baskets of complimentary fried pinwheels, different from other Mexican restaurants. It's very interesting, reminds me of spicy Cheetos. Flavor grows on you when paired with margaritas. Julio, restaurant manager? told us we'll be getting served by their new waitress. Service was little slow and the food didn't come out at the same time. Not exaggerating but one of my friends didn't get his food until his wife was half way done with her entree. The waitress didn't know too much about the menu either which was ok but you can't expect us to pay 18% gratuity for mediocre service. Not cool on their part. Drinks were top notch, most of my friends got margaritas. Food: my friend and I shared the fajitas for 2. We ordered the steak fajitas with veggies, comes with a side of yellow rice and beans (bland), guac and sour cream. Very good but tortillas were so tiny lol. I think they make it in the restaurant? We had to ask for more tortillas. I would recommend this dish. Since my friend and I love spicy food and some aspects of the dish lacked spice, we asked for hot sauce. All Mexican restaurants I've been to thus far never charged me for hot sauce except here. They charged us $4 for hot sauce?!? Again, so not cool! It felt like they wanted to make as much money as possible from us. Will I be back? I don't know.
(2)
Gary F.
It was ok. Came here because I didn't feel like waiting at bar taco for 45 minutes. Most of catrinas reviews mention the guacamole as a must have. When I asked the server about the guacamole, she didn't know what all was in it or anything it was made of. For $16 I would assume there is something in it that sets it apart from everywhere else. This was very disappointing, and I chose a different appetizer. The server I think was new and didn't really have any knowledge of the food, or what the entrees consisted of. She was nice enough, but was a little slow. We had nachos for apps, they were decent. Then had fajitas for 2, which we requested to be made medium rare. Came out well done, drastic difference from what was ordered. I've heard of cooking medium well too long but it seems hard to confuse medium rare and receive well done steak. My expectations were apparently too high for this restaurant. Ive read a ton of great reviews, so I was looking forward to trying it. It was 7:30 and there were only 2 other tables that came in during our dining experience, so there shouldn't have been any issues with our dinner. The guy that showed us to our table was very nice and accommodating, I'm not sure if he was the host or maybe the bartender. Not sure if I will be back, might give it another shot, might not.
(3)
Deirdre S.
The first time I was there several months ago, the food was fantastic. It was a lobster dish with avocado slices and pomegranate seeds, a decadent but light sauce, and rice. I skip rice usually, but it was also tasty. The guacamole with shrimp was delicious and a fun presentation. I was with a larger group and the newer server was polite but a little lost. I ordered a drink and received a different drink. To be honest, I didn't say anything. Someone else in our party asked about the pitcher of drinks that was also ordered, and the answer from the manager was not very polite, so I was afraid to say anything. I am not afraid to be vocal, but I also didn't want to embarass my coworkers. Some people are touchy about that. The next time I came with friends, it was lackluster. I love the decor and idea of this place. I want to love the entire restaurant. But it wasn't right. My server this time also was lost (I might have been just lucky, but it seems I got new people twice) and didn't really know to go ask someone when she couldn't answer a question, so I basically got "Sorry, I am not sure." Also, the menu changed and the dish I loved was removed. I understand menus change, I've worked in food service, but it was disappointing to say the least. And she wasn't familiar with the menu enough to suggest a replacement, so I guessed. I asked her if it had chicken or beef in it, and she said no. When my food came out, it did have chicken in it and had to be sent back. So I had to order something else and ate after the rest of the group. New staff is a constant thing, as are evolving menus. But good service means that a server knows if there is meat in a dish (because, you know, allergies, religious constraints, dietary needs) and if not, ASKS someone else to be sure. My friends said their food was decent, but didn't live up to the price point. I would agree and in addition, add that the price point should reflect the quality of service you should receive. As I said, I WANT to love it. But I wasn't impressed the first time, tried again and still didn't live up to my hopes. I will pay extra for AUTHENTIC and top-notch food, but here it was just pricey and the service also overshadows it. Doesn't matter how amazing your recipes are, or great the intentions, if the execution isn't there, it isn't successful.
(2)
Jasmine R.
I've been meaning to give Catrina's a try for awhile and am glad I finally got around to it. I went for Taco Tuesday which is $2 tacos all day and night. The parking lot was small..maybe 10 cars could fit? But the place was dead so it was no big deal. Once I was inside I was actually surprised that this spot isn't more popular. The decor was eccentric and fun. Staff super friendly and explained the menu (it's in spanglish). They have A LOT of taco options! Variations of steak and pork. A chicken option. And then also tongue and cactus. Cactus?! I had to try and it was unique. Looks like a sauteed green bell pepper and reminded me a little of okra because of the texture but had it's own taste. My other tacos were all very good and the tortillas were house made. Overall this is a great little spot I hope it will develop more of its own crowd so that it's a little more lively though.
(4)
Jen M.
How does this place stay in business. Just terrible food at ridiculous prices. Had to pay for chips and salsa and wanted asked if there was a more spicy one and had to pay $2 more because "it's made from scratch". Is nothing else made from scratch?
(1)
Liz M.
I really enjoy this place. I'm from Arizona and this is the only place that I have found that is even close to what I call Mexican food. I enjoyed the margaritas so much. They were strong and large. Flash the flavors are unique from other "Mexican" places. I have been here a few times and I've had a few items. The fresh fish was amazing, the chili rellano was fantastic. The decor sends me right to the south west. The day of the dead pics are great and really make the place special.
This is truly 3.5 stars. I came here with a party of 9 to celebrate a birthday. We were really looking fwd to the Guac, reportedly the best in Tampa Bay (per website)... & although it was fresh, I can't pin it as the best. Overall, the food and service are both "standard". Everything ordered came out in a timely fashion and no one had complaints. Flavorful, well presented... but not a must come back for more type-a experience. I will say that I tasted a margarita (unfortunately can't remember the name) that was one of the best Ive ever had. Very unique!! I will come back to give this place another try on a night with Live Music or for one of the great lunch deals advertised!
(3)
Melissa M.
Have been to Catrina's twice now and both times I've been disappointed. Each vista was about a year apart, so the second time I went I thought maybe it would be better. It took awhile to get our food and we were the only two people in the restaurant. I asked for some tortilla chips and had to pay for them where most Mexican restaurants give them to you free. Limited menu and over priced.
(2)
Malinda L.
We went for taco night and sat outside on the patio with our puppy. Service was fast and the tacos were awesome. Such a good deal on Taco night. The carnitas tacos were the best of all the different kinds we tried. The lengua and chicken were great as well. They came with a cilantro/lime type sauce and fresh cilantro/onions on top. We got completely stuffed but really enjoyed our experience and will be returning very soon. Good to know it is a dog friendly place on the outside, they even have a dog item on the menu of chicken and rice. :) Overall-great spot and we will be going there more.
(4)
Sarah B.
Pretty spendy for a Mexican place, but I dig it. This is not your run-of-the-mill "Mexican" joint - this is the real deal. My boyfriend and I met up with a few others and sat at the bar a couple of Fridays ago. The owner (I believe?) suggested the Corazon Sangrante Margarita, so I went with it and was so glad! The margarita was huuuge and perfect. The pomegranate seeds were a really nice touch and gave the margarita extra flavor. My boyfriend got a tequila flight. I have no idea what he got but he was overwhelmed by the number of different tequilas available. Whatever he got, he enjoyed it! Having nearly finished my first margarita, I was hungry. Everything on the menu looked good, but the owner made another recommendation, and having thoroughly enjoyed my margarita, once again I put my faith in her. She said I wanted - no, I NEEDED - the Cochinita Pibil tacos. Not sure what that is? Well, I'll tell you. Slow-roasted pork, red habanero onions, and avocado in a corn tortilla. With salsa verde and a squeeze of lime. Now, I'm not a big pork person. I don't like onions. Like, at all. And I am mildly allergic to avocado and usually avoid it, since my tongue gets tingly if I eat too much of it. It didn't sound like my cup of tea. But I was convinced this would be good, and dammit, the owner was so right. My boyfriend ordered the Tacos Al Pastor. Between the two of us, we had 8 delicious (albeit pretty small) tacos for $20. I bit into one of my tacos and had a foodgasm. My boyfriend had to try one of these tacos. I warned him that he would be mad at himself the rest of the night for ordering the "wrong" tacos, and sure enough, he was kicking himself and totally jealous. I ate my remaining tacos and didn't even feel a little ashamed for not offering him another bite. Next time, babe. Next time. Anyway, I've been thinking about those cochinita pibil tacos for roughly two weeks now and will undoubtedly be back at Catrina's for like, two orders just for me. I guess I'll comment on the restaurant itself. Some people aren't fans of the decor, but I love it. I thought it was really true to culture without being kitschy. Plus, live music is always a plus for me! I'm not giving Catrina's five stars because I do agree with others that have mentioned it's pretty expensive. Friendlier prices would go a long way here!
(4)
Elon F.
I recently went here to experience authentic Mexican food and I was not disappointed! I first tried their flavor packed guacamole that had shrimp, lobster and topped with pomegranate. It was so good! You could taste all the fresh ingredients. I then tried multiple tacos that were on their house-made tortillas. I had the carnitas, in house made chorizo, shrimp, fish, barbocoa, beef tongue and a few more that I can't remember. My favorite were the fish tacos and the beef tongue! I also enjoyed their salsas that were made from scratch. In the mean time I tried a few of their delicious margaritas that had fresh ingredients in them and it made all the difference. That's so important to me. The night ended with a bang with a 6lb Maine lobster that was cooked to perfection! It was so tender with great flavors! By far the best I've ever had! They just added a tequila bar and I love that! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Karli M.
The quesadilla were soggy, some of their authentic Mexican dishes were made from canned ingredients. The service is a bit slow. The manager / possibly the owner would greatly benefit from being mentored by a local female business woman. Her demeanor towards some of the guest was curt and borderline rude. The Latino waiter could not pronounce the Mexican dishes and the drinks were overpriced and poured with a light hand. The less then capable waiter failed to put in all the orders. Unfortunately we had a large group so one of the guest was without food for the entire meal. My husband coming from Mexican heritage can identify what a quesadilla should taste like. This was a failed attempt at authenticity.
(2)
Roshni S.
If you want authentic Mexican food this is the place to go. It's not the cookie cutter Americanized Mexican food. All the items are very fresh and they make it to your preferred spice level. They make family recipes and have a very made from scratch togetherness concept. You are paying for the authentic taste and fresh ingredients along with a homey atmosphere. The enchiladas and tacos were great. We would definitely go back to try some new items.
(5)
Ana Victoria M.
They treat me like royalty every time I go to Catrinas. The servers are super cool. Karol (one of the owners) always make sure that you are having a good experience. As for their menu, you can't go wrong with the following dishes: momias and fish ceviche. The momias are to die for. I don't know exactly what they use to marinate the meat, but the flavors are amazing. My sister who came from New York a month ago to visit, is still trying to figure out the ingredients on their marinate. She hasn't stop talking about them and is looking forward to try them again. Their ceviche screams "Caribbean" in a heart beat. It's so fresh and refreshing at the same time. If you are a foodie who loves AUTHENTIC mexican food and loves art, this is the place to be. You will enjoy the paintings and the restaurant eclectic decoration. And yes, they have the BEST fresh guacamole in town!
(5)
Jeff D.
first time we tried this place and it was not a disappointment. I enjoyed a Wednesday evening with my companion we both had a couple drinks the margaritas are fantastic. I would recommend the everything guacamole along with the full fried fish it's served authentic style with authentic seasoning.
(4)
David D.
The real deal. As authentic as it gets. Amazing, real Mexican food with incredible flavor. Excellent margaritas as well. Highly recommend.
(5)
Idalis M.
I went back today! For a late lunch around 3pm. Zory was our server, she was great. Puertorrican, from the West Coast like me and my BF (Sab Gde) So we had a good chat and enjoy great food. I had the chicken tamales, even though they were good the peas and carrots took me as a surprise. My BF had the steak fajitas and it was delicious, saucy not dry... could not try the huge tequila selection because we had to drive back home to Orlando. But again, I will be back... for drinks only. #sayyestoautentico !! Love the vibe of this restaurant. ;) very excited to go back. I hope can make the tequila night bext week. Swing by and try this place.. worth the drive.
(4)
Malissa W.
the deco is amazing but noy a good place for taco Tuesday, that are small appetizer sized. Most of all i didnt like their scaled down drinks for Cinco de Mayco, claiming going to be too busy to use "pretty " glassware . My 9$ drink was in a plastic cup felt cheated. will never attend one of their events again. three stars for the tasty food
(3)
Will C.
Came here with a party of 22! Yes it was a big party and I was surprised the waiter and staff were on point! Everything came out on time, everyone got their food correctly, and even the drinks were coming out fast! Big plus to the bartenders. This place used to be the old Marrakesh which was an awesome mediterranean restaurant. They have completely remodeled the interior and made it to look like a Mexican cantina which is great. Also its spacious, clean, and colorful. Now onto my favorite thing to do, eat and then review it haha. I ordered the poblano pepper with meat. The dish was good but not the best. The only reason I wasnt too crazy about it, its because they added raisings and pomegranate seeds as garnish which made it a little too sweet for my taste. But dont get me wrong that's just my preference but a lot of people might like that. The pepper was cooked perfectly! Because it wasn't too soft nor too hard. It was crunchy enough to still have that green pepper feel. The sauce they used on top of it made it even better. (Warning, they drench the peppers with it, so if you don't like too much sauce then I recomend you to get it on the side). Now the rice that came with it was too salty, but I just ate it because I was hungry haha. Before I forget!! The only place in Tampa I have found that has SOUR SOP juice!!!! I might just come for that in the near future. Overall great for groups, and drinks.
(4)
Jay C.
We arrived, found ourselves a table as we were told to. We found a sever who began to clear our table. Within the 15 minutes we were at the table waiting to order our drinks at least 3 servers past us. We ended up leaving. What a horrible experience I can see why Green Limon is slammed and they are NOT. They were understaffed and not ready for such a large night they were having compared to what in told usually is. Not impressed, horrible service as far as I see it.
(1)
Mariah M.
WOW! I haven't had Mexican food like this since...I was in Mexico and even then it wasn't THIS good! The tortilla's are homemade and delicious! The tacos we had were so good and the tequila selection was amazing. Karol the owner was so knowledgeable about the tequilas and gave us a tasting sampler and taught us the different types of tequila and how good tequila can be beyond the typical Cuervo stuff everyone knows. I was sipping tequila which I NEVER would have done before and I LOVED it! They served us a 6 pound lobster that had spices and sauces that honestly might have been the best thing I have ever eaten in my life! It was tender and delicious and not reliant on butter to taste good. This place is the real deal and the prices are excellent! Make sure you try the guacamole. it is the best I have ever had in my entire life. Seriously. It is outrageously good! Everything was perfect and I am already planning to return on Friday night!
(5)
Amara G.
Having lived in El Paso for a couple of years, and having sneaked into Juarez to have my feast of Mexican Cuisine... I must say I found my niche here. If you are a Chili's kind of fajitas person, you won't enjoy this place at all. If you are looking for a basket overflowing with stale tostitos and some free salsa... Not your place either. It is not a place to eat and run. From the moment you walk in it, you are transported. Paintings of La Santa Muerte and the tequila bar crowded with posibilities... the music... everything whispers in another language... fresh ingredients that smell of earth and chile and cilantro... colorful walls and colorful plates that take you elsewhere, for the bit you are there, and return you home kindly, nostalgic even... longing for more. Not a place for the starved for a meal, but for the one who knows that food is much more than a stuffed belly... that there is a story, a gastronomic history behind the menu and the hands that you don't see, but are, at that moment, carefully crafting for you.
(5)
D D.
I went here on taco Tuesday and I was impressed! The tacos were $2 a piece and they were pretty good (but also very small). The sangria and margaritas were nice and strong. Our waitress was also very nice and she did a great job. The chips and guacamole were also delish! The reason why this restaurant doesn't get 5 stars is because the tacos were good, not great. They were worth the $2. The tacos are so small that before you know it, you've spent $30 on tacos because you're still starving after 2-3. Despite the size, and slight lack of flavor, I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Edward G.
The worst food ever! Would not feed it to my dog! The drinks were horrible! Keep driving! Do not stop!!!
(1)
Karen O.
Excellent ceviche and quesadilla, great tequila selection and very attentive and professional server, Michael. Want to feel like you're in Mexico? Come here to see the interesting decor and hear the music! Overall a great experience
(5)
Henry M.
The place is more hype that anything. The food is sub par. The wait staff could care less about you. As close as this gets to being like Mexico are the drunks at the bar.
(1)
Sandra G.
Fun decor and a new tequila bar since I was there last. Had margaritas that were generous in alcohol, chips and guacamole made fresh, $2 taco Tuesday. Good food, good service.
(4)
Jesus M.
Totally recommend this truly authentic Mexican gourmet kitchen. Not only does this restaurant have the freshest and most true Mexican food, but it's owner/chef and waitstaff are amazing and make you feel at home. Awesome food, great tequilas and amazing service. A gem in Tampa. Highly recommended. Try a michelada, a pinche pescado and top it off with a don Julio 1942. Amazing!
(5)
Sheri P.
The food was a fresh taste adventure! From the flower chips to the Sangria with cinnamon, the "outside the box" thinking made for a delightful experience! The decor is "Day of the Dead" and adds to the fun. Mike is a great server with a plethora of knowledge about the place. Definitely a new favorite!
(5)
Stacy P.
REPOSTIG MY REVIEW BECAUSE YELP AND CATRINAS REFUSED TO. This restaurant is absolutely ridiculous. We took our uncle and family (party of about 13) out to dinner to celebrate here over the weekend. The Sangria and Margarita Pitchers were flowing heavily, and seemed to be the only thing the servers cared about. We arrived at 6:30pm, and our orders were not even taken until well near 7:30pm. It seems someone from the staff brought their kids that night, who were running around the restaurant. Normally, I do not mind kids if they are not bothering me, but this is not the case. The children decided to run and climb through out our table, walking on our purses, bags, and anything else behind our seats. The children stepped on and nearly broke a gift of unity candles to a family member. When the food FINALLY arrived, my father in law ordered the Cerdo(pork) Tamales, and received chicken instead. My sister in law is a strict vegan, and mentioned this several times to the wait staff, ordered the Rajas con Queso, and received CHICKEN STUFFED PEPPERS. Accordingly, she spit out the food and was very upset, to which the wait staff said they would bring her correct food. 5 minutes later someone comes out to tell her that they are all out of Rajas con Queso, and is there something else she would like. She ordered something else, and was adamant that they not serve her the refried beans that comes with the meal, because again, she is vegan. Her new plate arrived full of refried beans, and as they were giving her the food, the waitress knocked her Margarita glass (full of margarita) allover her lap and chest. 2 dish rags were handed to her to clean up the mess herself. The food is sub par- their "fresh" Nopalitos Salad made with cactus definitely comes straight from a can, and their rice is dry and not delicious. This was our second time trying this restaurant (we were not a huge fan the first time), and it will absolutely be our last.
(1)
Tametra L.
Thank You Karol for getting back with me. My husband and I will definitely come back. Looking forward to see the changes in the Rice & Beans.
(4)
Don T.
Awesome margaritas. Salsa is excellent. Definitely can tell all is homemade. Highly recommend.
(5)
Mary O.
MY FAVORITE MEXICAN IN SOUTH TAMPA! the food is just down right amazing, it is not your average mexican it is fresh and not covered in sour cream! The place is super clean and the snack they bring us before food comes out is delish!
(5)
Matt S.
Drove past this place a bunch of times but never stopped. I was starving after work and really wanted mexican food so I stopped in. Hands down the best tacos I've ever had the pleasure to put in my mouth. GRILLED CACTUS?!?!?!?! Sounded weird but it was amazing. Steak was perfect, chicken was perfect, chorizo was perfect. Food was out in less than 5 minutes. It's a little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for. If you don't love the food your tastebuds don't work. I don't even yelp just had to post this because I love you Catrinas. Please have my food baby. See you next Tuesday!
(5)
Bridget B.
As a Miguel's regular, I had never tried Catrina's. Every time I drive by, I notice the cool artwork on the building and mean to stop in. Last night I went there for a friend's birthday. We were greeted and sat immediately at one of the two bars. The first thing you notice is the badass decor. Talk about a conversation piece! There's a lot to look at, but it's not cheap/tacky in the least. Also possibly the coolest ladies' room I've ever been in. We stopped in for drinks, so the only food we ordered was a chicken nacho plate, which was delicious. I'm a guacamole snob, but this place passed my test with flying colors. It was incredibly fresh and had a good kick to it. I ordered the cilantro margarita out of pure curiosity and I was far from disappointed. The drink had a unique, refreshing flavor. They use fresh squeezed lime juice for all of the margaritas instead of sugary, pre-made sour mix - makes a huge difference. For me, fresh ingredients and interesting drinks are fantastic, but ultimately, it comes down to customer service. Catrina's nailed it. Our server (who we later found out had just started working there) was friendly and attentive. When other servers would come to grab things from behind the bar, each one of them would smile and say hello. One of the owners, Karol, also checked in on us frequently and I was blown away by her extensive knowledge of tequila. As someone who knows little about tequila, I usually just pick a brand I know, like Patron. Karol dumbed it down for me and made awesome recommendations. She clearly knows her stuff. She was genuine and made me feel at home the whole time. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fresh food and a unique dining (and drinking) experience. The atmosphere is authentic and upbeat, but not overwhelming. I can't wait to go back and try more of the dishes. I'm so glad I finally stopped in here. This an honest place that obviously puts quality first. Not to mention, I felt valued as a customer, which is so important.
(5)
Laura D.
Food is over priced and the quality is low in my personal opinion. The server I had during my last visit was the opposite of attentive and made us wait an ungodly amount of Time just to get a drink.
(1)
Stephen T.
I would like to give some feedback on my experience tonight. I've been to this restaurant before and my first time was great. Great food and service. Today being Cinco de Mayo I understand the wait time and craziness but the customer service was lacking. We were acknowledged by the security guard and were told first come first serve so we found a place to sit. A server cleared the table and never returned to even take our drink order. We patiently waited for 20 minutes but we left to make our own tacos at home. We wasted our time trying to have a good night here. Place should have been properly staffed for this event especially. I'm not interested in returning again. Thanks for reading and I hope this feedback is helpful.
(1)
Rob L.
Another great visit to this wonderful little restaurant in South Tampa. The owner is hands-on and makes sure that you're happy with your visit. I had enchiladas with salsa verde on this visit, just the right size, flavored were awesome, nothing overpowering another flavor. Not sure why visitors complain about the prices. You're paying for quality handmade food. That's something you can taste. And no I don't have stock in the company. Maybe we can stop assuming that all Mexican food should be priced like Taco Bell.
(5)
Hermun P.
Despite the recommendations it was a huge mistake going on Cinco de mayo. It really was not crowded but it was probably crowded for them. No busboys. Handcrafted margaritas weren't (said the waiter mike) yet took forever to get them and then I saw they were coming out of coolers which explains the fact they were watered down. I should have known when I got there early and asked the waiter to wipe down the sticky table and he pulled a dirty rag out of his apron and rice flew everywhere and I had to ask for a clean one. Dixie cup for my shot which for a restaurant with the large tequila menu was serving shitty tequila. No tequila menu was offered. Once again it was not as crowded as you would think of now I know why.
(1)
Line W.
Very disappointing. Went here based on Yelp reviews, but will never return. The food is expensive, they charge $5 for chips & salsa and we made the mistake of asking if they had spicier salsa...that sample cost $2. We should have left when we saw the place was empty.
Showed up to sit on the patio on a Tuesday evening and see what this place is all about. The Line Up: Mole Enchiladas Side of Red Salsa The Verdict: OMG. Really tasty! The salsa was hot and mighty good. Cleaned out my sinuses. Heck YA! I had the pleasure of amazing service, partly by the owner. She took the time to give me some history of the restaurant, food quality/choices, ingredients, and concept. This business is a from scratch, original establishment in every aspect. No chain stuff here. The enchiladas I ate have over 72 fresh ingredients in them and I tell you, so fresh & delish 14.99 for this meal was at the appropriate price point for the quality and taste. Be back soon! YUM.
(5)
Derp D.
Gaudy environment. Walls covered in "original art" by the "chef". I use quotes for the art because I have seen literally the exact same images on tshirts sold at Target. The quotes for chef bc the food is very obviously microwaved. My tamales were chewy and tasted like plastic. The rice is so greasy it drips. No thank you.
(1)
Paul K.
One of my best friends, her new roommate, and I were getting settled in Tampa as they will soon be moving down here for school. I decided to do my part to help out with scouting for good restaurants as well as find the great beaches that Tampa has to offer. Since we're all big on tex mex foods, I suggested we try this restaurant out as it was nearby to our hotel and see that a few elites have reviewed this place as well. We came here on a Thursday night close to 7ish. Besides a couple dining in, we were the only other table. Kind of makes you wonder where everyone else is at if not this side of town. Since my friend's roommate wasn't feeling the live music inside we chose to sit on the outside. Service: Our server's name was Maribel. There seem to be only two servers, and they were quick to take our drink orders and bring out a appetizer of chips and guacamole. Our main server heavily recommending the Guacamole Catrinas, granted I didn't feel like ordering a $14 guacamole just cause there's lobster in it without trying how the guacamole taste alone. So I opted for just the regular chips and guacamole, while we looked over the menu. She refilled our waters on her return and left a pitcher of water as well since we were outside so we didn't have to struggle trying to get her attention while she was inside. I'm on the fence if this is a good thing. Food: Guacamole and Chips - $5. Both are very good. The chips are perfect, non-greasy while having a slightly sweet, buttery taste alone. We ate more of the chips then the guacamole, that I had to request a second serving of chips to finish it. The guacamole is good, a good blend of seasoning that brings out the flavor of the avocados. A must order. Mole Enchiladas - My friend ordered this dish. She's not a typically a fan of mole sauce but she liked the enchiladas overall. She mentioned that the meat inside had plenty of flavor so she dissected each just to avoid eating it with the sauce. Her food filled up her entire plate due to being served with plenty of rice and fried beans. Good bang for the buck. Her roommate ordered chicken tacos. Which she was excited about as they were really quite good. This, as well as my taco order came with a good helping of salsa de verde. We both asked the server if we could switch to flour tortillas, and I'm glad we did. Tacos de Camaron - "Shrimp Tacos" - Their version was pretty good. Four tacos per order with a generous filling of meat and toppings fill out the tortilla pretty well. Perfect balance of shrimp and other toppings keep each bite satisfied. The salsa de verde was pretty good even though I'm not usually a fan. I think pico de gallo might be a better choice. I was stuffed after devouring all four taco's and chips. Good eats for $10. Overall: A bit more costly than what I'm use to paying for in Atlanta for Tex-Mex ($2-$4 more) but definitely worth a visit. I would like to try other dishes to see how they stack up to my favorite restaurants in Atlanta.
(4)
Matt W.
First visit last night and wouldn't return. We did have a party of 8 so I expect slower service but two hours for food is nutty. Waiter delivered plates one or two at a time. I think I waited 10 minutes for my rice and beans plate after my entree was brought out. Skirt steak was well done mediocre flavor. Shrimp was ok. 85$ for my wife and I. The price is not equal to the food quality or service. I'll stick to Red Mesa or J Alexander's.
(1)
Mark S.
I guess traditional, real Mexican food just is not for us! The food was very fresh, but very, very bland, not at all like what we typically expect at a Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere was slightly creepy, with Day of the Dead decorations everywhere. The food, and the drinks, were pretty expensive too. All in all, if you're used to eating Mexican food locally with lots of cheese, salsa, spicy sauces, jalepenos everywhere, then this is not the spot.
(2)
michelle l.
This is a neat place to come for a drink and a snack. The ambiance is great (they had live mariachi on Friday night when we visited), and the staff that served us was great. We also liked the extensive beer list and the Corazon tequila on the menu (use that instead of the well tequila for a much better margarita). Alcohol prices were very reasonable. Food was okay. I enjoyed the guacamole, and I really liked the churros and ice cream. I loved the chips sprinkled with lime and salt they put out with our drinks. I was less enchanted with the main courses (my husband had the steak fajitas, and I had an assortment of tacos), so this place might be my dessert or tapas place rather than the place to take a main meal.
(4)
Stacey A.
We decided to try Catrinas after seeing it featured on Fox morning show. Very disappointed. The service was terrible, the guacamole had no flavor, and their prices were high. Needless to say, we did not order entrees.
(1)
Aaron M.
Food was fine. Just a bit difficult interacting with server. Menu is a little tricky; a side of salsa was $2, side of chips is $1, but an appetizer of chips and salsa is $5.. Tricky tricky. Guacamole for $16 has to be the most expensive I have ever heard of; and it's not like a ginormous portion either. The fish tacos were clean and tasty enough. Just not the best I have ever had. They are better than some other places in tampa - but I would not order them again. Places like Miguel's where I crave their alambras dish or even chihuahua where I love their salsa would make me come back. The place in San Antonio fl has the best beans, corn, and fresh food. Why I come back here was not determined this visit.
(3)
Jennie W.
What an amazing local Mexican restaurant! Wow I'm so impressed. I enjoyed the shrimp tacos garnished with a lime. These 5 small tacos were filled with plenty of fresh and delicious grilled shrimp. They also had grilled onions and a little cheese with fresh tomato. Beautifully done! I enjoyed the mild salsa on the side as well as a side of the very hot but full of flavor, habanero salsa. I liked mixing the two salsas together. Yum! Ok on to the Sangria, just a touch of cinnamon, not over done. It was a delicious red with fresh fruit and let me tell you, 1 was enough for me...hello little buzz lol! This is a must try and I will return! Btw great music and wonderful attentive service! Bravo to a new favorite for me :)
(5)
H L.
I feel 2 stars is a bit harsh, but don't think the "a-ok" 3 star rating works either. Why don't they offer 1/2 stars on these review sites? We went here for dinner earlier this year and I don't recall there being much for me to eat (being a vegetarian) but I believe my boyfriend enjoyed his meal. We saw on their website that they offered weekend brunch and we went back (breakfast is usually fairly easy finding vegetarian options.. eggs!) While I did have options to choose from, we were not too thrilled with it and won't be going back for brunch unless they change it up. First, it was very pricey. They had 'hangover cure' meals for $24-$30 (from my memory), which was way too much money to even look at. We looked at the 'left side' of the menu which was all set at $12. The servings weren't very big (we both had scrambled eggs with a side of refried beans and some tortillas). The food was on the bland side and there was no salt/pepper. We asked for salsa, which we later saw we were charged for (I was also charged for cheese when I asked for it to be added to my eggs, understandable though) Between our two meals, a bloody mary (which my boyfriend did not care for, he said it had soda water or something in it) and a mimosa and coffee, the meal cost us $50. That is just too much for brunch. That is what we expect to pay for dinner. We frequently go to Green Lemon for brunch and their prices are much more reasonable. In addition, the place was practically empty but yet our service was slow. There was only one waiter taking care of all the tables (and I believe he was preparing the drinks as well). So we were understanding and he was pleasant. But we were the only table inside, there was one or two tables outside. A small family came in about 10 minutes after us (and was placed at the table right next to us, I mean right next to us.. the table had to be moved to allow them to sit down) and their food order was taken at the same time as ours and their food arrived the same time as ours. On the positive- I truly loved the coffee. It was strong and tasty. (chickory perhaps?) They are in a great location and for brunch are primed to take spillover from Datz (we've yet to eat at Datz due to driving in circles for 10 minutes looking for a spot before giving up and going someplace else). If they revamped brunch, we'd be back. In the meantime, we may be back for dinner.
We went to Catrinas for a delicious authentic Mexican meal and were not disappointed. The margaritas were delish especially the tamarind Rita. The house special guacamole was amazing. I then had the lobster tacos which were a little gushy tasting but good all the same. My husband had the mole rojo which was spicy but delicious. Cute atmosphere and excellent service. We will definitely return.
(4)
Josiah G.
Could be a great place...but, it was lacking in a few areas. I hate to say it's the curse of that location, but no restaurant has been successful there. Because it is a great location, I have always tried every new restaurant that has opened there, hoping for something great. I tried Catrinas recently for lunch and I came with a friend of Colombian and Mexican descent. There really aren't great Mexican restaurants in South Tampa, so I was really looking forward to trying the food, especially the chips and salsa. Unfortunately, they do not bring out chips and salsa, but instead, some fried flour wheel looking things. Not quite sure what they were, but I was sure they didn't have much flavor. I ordered the chips and salsa, which we had to pay for. Luckily the salsa was absolutely delicious. The service, on the other hand, was not so enjoyable. The salsa was spicy, which is great, but I had to get the waitress' attention every time I needed a water refill, and sometimes getting her attention didn't work. With only 3 tables of customers, it shouldn't have been too hard to make sure we had drinks. My friend ordered their traditional soup which he couldn't eat. I tried it and could barely swallow it. For lunch, I ordered the fajitas and they came without tortillas. I asked the waitress, after waiting a few minutes to get her attention, for flour tortillas and eventually she brought out some corn tortillas. It took a few more waves and tries to get the flour tortillas I wanted. The fajitas were ok, but nothing memorable. As we were finishing the owner came out and asked us how everything was. She noticed the full bowl of soup on the table, which was there because the waitress had cleared nothing from the table, and asked my friend why he didn't eat it. He told her he didn't like it and her response was that he is not familiar with real Mexican food. Keep in mind, he is Mexican and Colombian. The owner was very nice, besides that moment, and gave us the history of Mexico and the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo. After it all, we were left with no reason to want to come back. I am usually up for a personal second opinion, but there was nothing else I feel like I want to try. Too bad because Tampa needs a good Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Fritz E.
Simply delicious, authentic, flavorful Mexican food. For lunch, we had the Mexican Soup and a tequila shrimp entree. The flavors were there. This is not, open a can, warm up food approach. More tasty than nearby Miguel's and don;t even to think to compare it to any mexican or tex mex related chain or say Estella's which long ago stopped being a good place to eat. On Tuesday, they offer $2 tacos. We got 5 including the tongue taco - very tasty. If you like Acapulco, Taco Bus or Tios on Drew Street, give this place a chance. Plus the place looks great and in a convenient location in South Tampa.
(4)
Jim H.
Very fresh, genuine ingredients. Everything was very tasty without the need to overspice with heavy sauces. Enchaladas were outstanding. Tuesday taco night is a great bargain! Server was terrific.
(5)
Cassie P.
The food is good and the portions are huge, but it's a little expensive for a casual Mexican restaurant. An entree runs $14-22 I came here at an off time on a Saturday- around 4pm....and the service was less than stellar. The restaurant was empty and most of the staff was just standing around. Agreeing with some of the other reviews, yes the decor is a little much- but it's not the reason I won't return. With so many options for Mexican, I was not impressed with Catrina's overall experience.
(2)
Leonardo G.
Best authentic Mexican food around, worth the trip. Everyone is super nice and help. Been their twice and will go again and again. Not a drinker but their frozen tamarindo margarita is awesome. All the food is fresh, no burritos or chimis go to Taco Bell if you want that. Guacamole is to die for so fresh. I've had the ceviche and it was great. The only place I will go and try other plates, normally when I go to restaurants I get the same thing all the time.
(5)
Thomas D.
I walked into the restaurant on a Thursday night at 7:15. The parking lot seemed mostly full so I expected a decent crowd inside. The place was empty save one table of four people. The server walked up, handed us menus and asked us what we wanted to order for dinner. We requested that she give us a few minutes to review the menu. She came back less than two minutes later with waters and asked us again what we wanted to drink and eat. We ordered an appetizer and asked for additional time to look at the menu. When she returned a couple minutes later I asked about a couple items on the menu, specifically, what one of their sauces tasted like. I asked if she could bring me just a taste of it. When she returned she informed me that the chef does not allow tastes, and I would need to order to find out what it tastes like. The drink menu is grossly overpriced. When I asked about their $10 margaritas she said they are "good and normal sized" whatever that means. Everything on their menu is overly priced and average quality with little to no creativity. Go ahead and skip this place.
(1)
Weatalo H.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Drinks were strong, food was crazy good (chorizo tacos), mariachi was charming and not to loud and the atmosphere was excellent. If they just left the tomatoes out of the guacamole it would have been perfect.
(5)
Dixie C.
My family dined here over the weekend. We had an overall pleasant experience. My husband had the tamales and he said "they weren't his favorite". The "filling-to-outside" ratio was off and the outside tasted like cornbread. I had the carne asada tacos. They tasted slightly bland, I added quite a bit of salt. But they were good. My son (2 yrs) had the chicken fingers and fries. The chicken came out and I was very surprised to see that it was REAL chicken that looked like it was just hand breaded and not some frozen crap that a lot of restaurants put on their kids menu. All of the food seemed extremely fresh and made from scratch. We would eat here again, but will probably try something different off the menu. Oh, and the service was STELLAR!
(3)
Alina M.
I had hoped for better but have not been impressed with the food at all. The last time I was there the service was the worst ever. I kind of felt bad for the guy because he was honestly clueless. The management is the pits. We won't ever go back.
(1)
Nikki A.
The food was amazing. The Langosta tacos were incredibly flavorful and fresh. There was a little confusion with our order and the explanation of the night's specials. There was an extended wait for drink refills. I will be back for more of the Queso Fundido.....
(3)
Regina L.
Now, this is authentic Mexican. I've been dying for some authentic mexican food and thought I would give it a try and glad I did. Don't expect the usual mexican fare here though. Knocking the rating down by 1 star due to the price, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Try the molcajeta. It's delish.
(4)
Tina H.
We've been there a few weeks ago for dinner. I liked the ambience and the variety of food and beverages offered reminded me of my time in Central America - they have Rosa de Jamaica tea. The food was tasty, but the service needs to improve in attitude and friendliness I feel.
(4)
Juan P.
Food was delicious, but the Mariachi music is a bit too loud for such a small place.
(4)
Alexandra S.
Great Mexican with an authentic touch. I love spice and heat and they do not disappoint. If you like chiles go for the aguachiles--like a shrimp ceviche with serrano and habanero peppers. Molcajetes are also satisfying. Friday is mariachi night and it's a great show!
Food was bland with very little meat. Quantity was very small and everything was WAY overpriced. Large fee for chips and salsa ($5). Come on, this is a mexican restaurant, make with the chips. Wait staff was what you might describe as "snooty". if you're looking for Mexican food in the area, forget this place and go to Miguel's.
(1)
Varianii V.
Delicious, vegetarian-friendly, and nice atmosphere. Absolutely love the decorations (seriously, go to the bathrooms just to see more).
(5)
Lauren C.
Cool art gallery atmosphere. Authentic food. Pretty good and I would probably go back but the menu is pretty pricey for what is offered.
(3)
Michelle E.
So flavorful!! Coming originally from San Diego, I am usually disappointed by bland food, thankfully not the case here. The mushroom tacos are a great vegetarian option, I highly recommend that. My fiance got the carne asada, so good we talked about them the next few days. Fun cups for the margaritas too. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Yoli Y.
Very authentic and everything is hand made. They're unique margaritas are to die for!
(4)
Axis S.
As a rule I don't bother going out to eat Mexican food -- for the price of a bag of chips, a shaker of salt, and some Old Mission items from Publix I can get 90% of what's on offer out there without having to dodge happy hour OL's howling about their most recent conquests or surrenders. If I do go looking for better, I usually wind up at a Mexican grocery getting tacos, or standing outside a food truck somewhere. I'm very glad I found this place. Cool (temp and decor, imho), clean, laid out, rough-hewn but smooth tables, a couple of large (but quiet) televisions showing a futbol game and/or a Mexican news channel. This is someplace I'd like to watch a match at and otherwise settle in for an afternoon... But the food quickly and rightly takes center stage. I'm not going to argue authentic -- Mexico is the 15th largest country in the world and at 760,000 square miles to think I "know all Mexican food" is pretty laughable. This looks, tastes, and feels very similar to what I ate while traveling south of the border once I left the chain restaurants. Which is to say fresh, clean tastes of good ingredients prepared simply. Tamales: Light, fluffy, served dry style with fresco. Excellent! And after trying to make these one winter, I'm more than glad to pay the twelve bones for the platter -- these things take FOREVER to cook. Tacos: Corn or flour, fresh ingredients, mouthfeel and textures range from tangy/spongy (cactus) to unctuous/firm (tongue), I ususally get corn tortillas. Quesadillas: These surprised me, but in a good way. Light corn tortilla, similar to the fluffiness of the Tamales, with inspired stuffing choices. I like the corn truffle (huitlacoche), my guest loved her grilled mushroom & spinach (hongos o espinica). And here is where I need to hang my head in shame a bit. I REALLY need to try more of the seafood and meat dishes, but I keep taking vegetarian friends here because the offerings are fantastic for their dietary restrictions. Soon, dammit, and yes, that means I'll be back often.
(4)
Jose H.
I had brunch this morning and those chilaquiles were the best I have had for a long time, been born and raised in La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico I kind of know what the real taste is when it comes to Mexican food, not your Tex-Mex kind of place, if you are looking for real ethnic mexican flavors this is the perfect spot...just loved it, can't wait for next weekend to return....
(5)
Beth G.
Fantastic authentic Mexican! This is by far the best in South Tampa. The guacamole was the best I have ever had. The chicken enchiladas were incredibly flavorful. The skinny margarita was also wonderful. Will definitely be going back!!
(5)
Beth S.
I saw the mixed reviews on here and wanted to throw in that I really, truly enjoyed this place. It's a shame that it appears to be hit and miss. The night I ate there was a definite hit. The decor of Catrina's is eclectic and features lovely art that you'd see at any place celebrating Dia de los Muertos. I'm a fan of the skulls and bright colors but I get that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I ate here by myself so I only have one meal to base this review on but that one meal was delicious! Upon being seated you are given a warm basket of chicharones. These are not "pork rinds" but a flour chicharone in the shape of a wagon wheel. They are a fried flour that comes out crispy and are seasoned with a little salt and a little lime. The are strangely addicting and totally worth trying the place out for these alone because they have such a unique flavor. I ordered the tamales because I consider myself a tamale conisseur and I was not let down. The mole sauce was perfect mixed with the pork and cornmeal. They were warm and the portion was awesome! More than enough! The side of rice and beans were also delicious and everything tasted very authentic. Bottom line: if you're looking for Tex-Mex and gobs of melted cheese on everything, this isn't the place. This is authentic Mexican and it's quite delicious. I hope this place stays around a bit longer but the other reviews on here give me some concern. I'll go back again and do my part!
(4)
Kristin M.
Came here on a Sunday when Datz had a 2 hour wait. It's right down the street and has beautiful artwork and ambiance inside. I had a $5 El Niño margarita and some huevos chorizo. Food was great, however there was a $2 charge for hot sauce or salsa. Other than that, we were in and out before we even heard back from Datz.
(4)
Krs T.
I've been here on a few occasions. Unfortunately on my last visit the manager was completely unprofessional. Our order was messed up and when it was corrected there was a hair on the plate. The manager whisked the plate away to fix the problem. These things happen. All would have been fine if it wasn't for the manager coming back to the table--not to apologize--but to let us know that they inspected the plate and they determines that there was no hair. It's ridiculous because we all saw it and the manager took the plate away within seconds of putting it down. The professional response should have been we apologize and will take care of it. There is no point to argue with the customer unless you don't want those customers to return again--which she clearly did not. And we will be happy to oblige. Overall the food is okay but certainly not worth dealing with a poorly managed restaurant.
(1)
Kyle M.
So good, I got the fajitas cantinas... So fire! Chunks of lobster, tons of shrimp and steak and chicken. Also best fresh salsa I've ever had.
(5)
O. G.
Skeptical about coming here based on reviews, but decided to give it a try. Amazing food, cocktails, art and music!!! We had various appetizers and the taco dishes!!! (And yes, just Tacos! no sides of rice and beans!!!) Truly authentic. I think there is some confusion amongst some Yelper's about what true Mexican food is... I'm thinking the negative reviews are coming from people expecting Taco Bell!!! In any case we had a great experience and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in town!!!
(5)
Jason K.
I will preface this review with the fact that I ate at an a-typical event and thus no portion of my review will concern the service as I dont want to hold that against Catrinas due to the nature and number of people who were at the event. As for the food, we tried a sampling of different dishes. After reading the reviews, we were anxious to try the guacamole and chips, which was pretty good. I would say that was the highlight of the meal. The portions of the food were very large, but i found myself having to pick around some of the odd ingredients in the food. I am a picky eater, but many of the flavors weren't enjoyable to me.There were also some issues with other "warm" dishes arriving to our table at room temperature (perhaps due to the event referenced above). I think the food was average, but honestly, I would much rather eat at the Taco Bus if I were to do Mexican in Tampa. I thought the "day of the dead" style art was pretty cool, but the prices were definately out of my budget!
(3)
SOFIA G.
We are from LA and its hard to find decent Mexican food on the east coast. We were actually heading to Datz but it was closed so we decided to give Catrina's a chance and were not dissapointed. I ordered the Chile Rellenos afraid they would put salsa like the other east coast restaurants but to my surprise it was actual sauce and the chile rellenos they were Delicious. The rice and beans were good. they had aguas frescas which i love I ordered the Guava, delish. My husband ordered the enchiladas and the margarita. The ambience is great. I like the decorations and the mexican artwork that surrounds the bar. Will definitely be going again.
(5)
Tracy G.
Each visit gets better and better. My last two visits have been sensational and words can't express how much I love the Guacamole Catrinas. I took some to a tailgating event for a recent Bucs game and it was gone before I could dip my second chip in for more. I have brought several friends in for dinner and all of them have raved about the food. My current favorite dish is the Chiles en Nogada which which consists of poblano chiles filled with picadillo (a mixture of meat, nuts, fruits and spices) then covered with a walnut cream sauce, called nogada, and then dazzled with gorgeous pomegranate seeds. AMAZING!!!!!!! Love this place and can't wait to take my mom in who is visiting from Washington. Oh, their wine list is pretty dang good as well. Cheers!
(5)
Mary B.
We went to Catrina's for the first time around 1:30pm on a Thursday afternoon and the place was completely empty. It took at least 10 minutes to receive our margaritas from the bartender, who was busy chatting with someone at the bar. My boyfriend ordered the "La Nina" margarita and I ordered the "Cilan Rita" margarita; both were $9 for a house tequila-made margarita. When we finally did get our margaritas, they tasted like bad tequila mixed with very sour lime juice and water. We then ordered the Queso Fundido appetizer which had good flavor, but was made of mozzarella cheese, not the more authentic "melted Oaxaca" cheese that was listed on the menu. My boyfriend asked for a bottle of hot sauce (meaning Tabasco sauce or something similar) and was brought a tiny cup of their special hot sauce. He again asked for the bottle version but the server said "this is our hot sauce". We were later charged $2 for it. We were so disappointed with the margaritas that we did not order another. We then ordered the Chicken Tacos listed under the lunch specials. The tacos consisted of plain, non marinated, dry pieces of chicken with tons of chopped cilantro and a small amount of minced onions on them. That was it. We asked the waiter for some shredded cheese to put on the tacos and he brought us a tiny cup of shredded mozzarella cheese (obviously flavorless) and charged us $1 for it. Overall, the experience was flavorless, overpriced, and disappointingly not the typical authentic Mexican cuisine we are used to. We will not be back.
(1)
Megan W.
I visited Catrina's for the first time during the first Dishcrawl in Tampa. Iwas blown away at the authenticity of the cuisine. We were served three courses, Chile en Nogada, Guacamole Catrinas and Quesadille Huitlacoche. Since Catrina's opened 10 months ago, I have been dying to stop in and try the Guacamole Catrinas. Avocados topped with lobster, shrimp, cheese and pomegranate seeds...I mean, really. It was as delicious as it sounds. Chile en Nogada: poblano chiles filled with picadillo (a mixture of meat, nuts, fruits and spices) then covered with a walnut cream sauce, called nogada, and then dazzled with gorgeous pomegranate seeds. The green chiles, the white cream sauce and the red pomegranate seeds reflect the colors of the Mexican flag. Quesadille Huitlacoche: Lightly fried corn tortilla filled with corn truffle, poblano peppers, onions and cheese. I was super excited to try this dish since it had corn truffle in it. It was very good and executed perfectly. Margaritas and Sangria were both delicious as well!
(4)
Joe S.
Overpriced and bizarre. Corn tortillas, not free chips nor salsa, strange ambiance. This place has high end prices for a Mexican restaurant but absolutely nothing spectacular about their food. They are searching for an identity. I never write on here but felt compelled to since this place basically robbed me of $60. Dribk prices are reasonable. Food prices are ridiculous. Honestly, if you want high end Mexican, try Miguel's. If you want low end Mexican, try Estela's. If you want to pay a lot for nothing, eat here.
(1)
Chad U.
Catrinas has good ambiance. The walls are decorated in a way like no other restaurant around Tampa. Not knowing much about Mexican culture, I felt like I was taken into another country briefly. Lots of skulls, black magic and Mexican art. Could be a little scary for smaller children. The food options are pretty standard. Many different options of taco's and Quaesadilla's. No basket of chips and salsa but a basket of air crisps with seasoning. I wasn't too upset about this because I typically chow down on chips and then I'm full by the time the meal arrives. My barbacoa taco's were fair. My date ordered chicken taco's and I like the taste of those a little better. But neither dish was outstanding enough that I'd go back. A note: the drink menu looked pretty exciting. I didn't partake that evening, but it might be fun to try a few of the cocktails they offer. The service was spotty, which was surprising because it wasn't too crowded. There were several empty seats at 7pm on a Saturday night. The staff wasn't very kind; one the servers blatantly cut off a customer headed to the bathroom. And my server in particular didn't offer much more than average service. Our drinks were refilled but it took an eternity to get our plates clear and our check after we finished. But the main reason this only gets 3 stars is that the price is too dang high! Each plate of taco's ran about $12-$14 and the items on the kids menu were $7. Without getting drinks, that already puts you in the mid 40s for a family of 4. If the food quality was higher, I'd be OK paying those types of prices. But I think you're better off just driving a few more minutes over to Green Lemon.
(3)
Sylvester M.
Authentic Mexican food, no nachos, no burritos. The staff is a little talkative, but good. The food is excellent authentic Mexican food, if you want nachos or burritos go elsewhere.
(5)
Charles R.
If you're looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant, and a genuine dining experience with owners who are as nice as they come, this is the place for you! As a S. Tampa resident, I am thrilled to have such an authentic Mexican restaurant within the community! Well done Catrina's...... Well done!!!!
(5)
Misty B.
Well, I returned as I said I would. On this second -- and final -- visit, the owner got in her own way. She stopped by the table to welcome us (good start) but then lecture around her food philosophy. Her heart is absolutely in the right place and, like another reviewer said, she means well. However, her almost obnoxious overtaking of our dining experience to insult every other Mexican-food experience (including that of my home state, Cali) was absolutely off-putting and unnecessary. As for the food this visit, I went specifically to try the menudo, available weekends only and a rare find in South Tampa. A really great example of how the above "situation" with the owner played out was: (after a lecture about why she charges for chips and salsa -- OK, I get it already) I asked if their menudo had hominy in it. Simple question. First, she was taken aback that I'd ordered menudo. (Gasp, you put something on your menu no one in the area would dare try?) After that, I got an earful about how hominy in menudo is not "real menudo" and about how where she's from, they'd NEVER put hominy in menudo. OK, thanks. I like hominy in my menudo, but I'm also fine without it. What I don't like is the commentary given to ANY customer around how their taste preference is off/wrong/incorrect or otherwise not acceptable. As for the actual menudo, it was only OK. It needed the hominy. ;-) Advice: As much as I'd usually recommend otherwise, in this case, I suggest that you keep the owner off the floor, train the servers well, and just let them do their job. I won't be back.
(1)
Shawn G.
This place is amazing. I visited three times and will definitely continue. I can't imagine anyone saying the food is not good. Perhaps it doesn't match people's expectation of "Mexican". I've been to several "authentic" Mexican restaurants, several Tex-Mex style ones, several tiny mom & pop style, and a few trucks/trailers. Catrinas is completely different from any previous Mexican food I've ever had. The ingredients are top-notch. The dishes are vibrant and exciting - lots of well-balanced flavors, and they're meticulously prepared and presented. The owner did come to our table, but we did not have an experience like that in the other reviews. She simply asked if we enjoyed it. When we gave an enthusiastic "yes", she suggested that next time we ask about the specials that aren't on the menu. I was dissappointed the server didn't mention anything about the specials and I asked her what tonight's was. She gave a poetic description of the dish - she clearly is passionate about food. We complimented her guacamole and she thanked us and left. Maybe she considered The service wasn't great - she was not in the front much, and so wasn't aware of when we needed things. It was difficult to get her attention to fix the situation. Additionally, the hostess lounges at the bar with her feet up on another chair, chatting with the bartender or playing on her phone. The decor is beautiful, filled with contemporary artwork. During one of the visits, there was a violist. If you visit, be sure to try the Guacamole Catrinas: it's magical.
(5)
Don P.
I have been here once, so far, and totally plan to return the next time I am here on a work trip from SF, CA. I love Mexican food, and have tried all kinds of variations all over the country, but mostly in SF and SD, California and the Mexican Yucatan. The place was nearly empty, but seemed like it might get lively on occasion--there is plenty of space. My colleague and I sat at the bar. We ordered the fish ceviche (as opposed to the shrimp) and a pitcher of Pacifico. Mui autentico! The chips that came with the ceviche were fresh and crisp. For main courses, I got the lobster tacos and he got the pastor tacos. Both plates were super-excellent, fresh, flavor-filled soft tacos, and I had to go purge before I could finish all of my dinner. (OK, I did not purge, but maybe should have, because I was stuffed when I left that place). The woman serving us did not seem especially happy we were there (I don't know why; maybe they would have closed had we not walked in?), but I really enjoyed the food and the ambiance, left a hefty tip, and told her I would be back. Highly recommend!
(4)
Kelly K.
Since this particular location has been more restaurants than I can remember we waited a good long while to visit, for quality control purposes. The parking is a little less than adequate but there are other options, street and neighboring lots. They offer outside seating, which in Tampa is desirable at times, just not between 4 and 5pm as we all know the showers visit for at least 15 minutes everyday. I was immediately impressed my the interior and the immaculate painting and sculptures. The bright colors are much more authentic than their local competitors. I odored a margarita, and the lovely waitress returned promptly with these fluffy crispy treats, I'm still unsure of what to call them. We ordered taco's as it was recommend by many yelpers. In the meantime, the owner, came out greeted us and gave us a beautiful rundown of how the restaurant came to be, where she was from, and what I thought most interesting how she acquires her fresh catch. Side note, she did most of the paintings on the walls as well. She was more than educated on the toxins released by the catch when caught by fishing line or a net. She put so much emphasis on the freshness because of the way the local fisherman use spear fishing in an inhumane way to fish. We listened on attentively and rather enjoyed so much passion she had for her establishment. The meal was delish but the experience is what put it over the top. I will be back and more often. I should have given it a try much sooner.
(5)
sarah M.
When my husband told me about Catrinas opening up on the cute little portion of South MacDill in Palma Ceia - walking distance from our house - I was thrilled! Mexican food is a favorite of mine. I could probably eat it every day of my life and having recently moved to Tampa, I'm starving for some tasty enchiladas, chips and salsa and a nice, cold Margarita. I'm from California and also lived breifly in Texas. My husband is Mexican and his mom can makes some of the best food you'll ever eat. So lets just say I know good Mexican food. Authentic Mexican food. And lets face it - Florida is just lacking when it comes to good, authentic Mexican food. We went to Catrinas during the Happy Hour on a Friday evening. The artwork and scupltures in front and inside the restaurant are cute and help it fit into the Palma Ceia district but are an obvious attempt to make the restaurant qualify as "trendy". There were several servers standing around the bar playing with their iphones looking bored. We were greeted by ours - I don't remember her name - but she was actually very friendly and attentive. First thing we checked out was the drink menu. Two different types of Sangria but limited Margarita options. When I found out they don't offer Margaritas my husband and I both had the white Sangria. I had a rough week at work and being tired, I was looking for a nice drink to help ease me into the weekend. Sangria was a poor choice. I"m a light weight and had been dieting for several weeks prior to this night, which means I hadn't had a sip of alchohol in probably 6 weeks. The Sangria was sweet and flavorful but I'm pretty sure it had no alchohol. The drinks were buy one get one free. My husband drank my second one. We think were were given fruit juice with some fruit in the bottom. One thing I love about dining in Mexican Restaurants is the unlimited chips and salsa they bring you. If you have good chips and salsa its generally a pretty good indicator that you will have good food. Instead of chips and salsa, Catrina's provides a very tiny, cup of chopped fruit and cucumbers. The waitress smiles and states "its very healthy and complimentary, on the house". Well, it bettter be complimentary because I can't imagine who would have ordered this off the menu. It was so small and meant to be shared by an entire table? Very odd! The menu is pricey. So much so, they we ended up leaving and going down the street to Datz. Sorry - I just can't pay $15 for a plate of beans, rice and bland tacos. I guess in some ways its not fair for me to write a review on this place because I really didnt try their food. But if you go to a restaurant, sit down, order a drink and the impression is so bad you get up and leave - its probably not a place you will ever visit again or that you would recommend anyone else to visit. If you're in Tampa and want real, authentic Mexican food avoid this spot. Actually, I can only advice you to really avoid any Mexican restaurant in Tampa. Head down Nebraska and hit up some of the taco trucks. Thats the only place in Tampa that I've experienced real, fresh Mexican food.
(1)
Ramon R.
The Catrina guacamole is delicious. The tacos are full of flavor. The food is made fresh and very good. I like the range of meats; chicken, beef, and lobster. If you're hard core Mexican they have lengua and nopales. They have a good selection of beer. The margaritas and sangrias need some work. The food is a little pricey but worth it. If its not the best Mexican restaurant in Tampa it should be in top 3.
(5)
Mike P.
They mean well at Catrina's Cocina Y Galeria, they really do. Despite meaning well, the service, the ambiance, the food and the execution was a bit lacking for my taste. They say you should wait a few months before visiting a new restaurant, and I wish we had. We waited a while to see our server after arriving. The food took roughly 30 minutes to arrive after ordering, and my order was wrong. Instead of waiting another 30, I just ate what was in front of me. The food was more authentic than most sit-down mexican restaurants in Tampa, but the pricing and nickel-and-dime approach made for a bland experience. Pro Tips: - Instead of paying $14 for the four tacos that come in the taco entrees (which don't include sides), just buy 4 a la carte tacos off the sides menu for $2.50 each (and mix and match). That way, you'll only pay $10. - If you don't like sweet margaritas, don't order one here. The sweetness was too much for my wife and I, and there was no discernible kick from tequila. I think this was the first time I haven't finished a margarita. Cool cups though! - If you come at night, sit inside. The mosquitos out front feasted on our legs to the point that we needed to move inside. That's not Catrina's fault, of course. Nor was the drunk sorority having a volume battle with the band indoors. I might suggest asking the host/ess to seat you on the left side of the bar if you want to avoid that. If Catrina's can get the service tightened up a bit, if they can come back to earth a little on their prices, and if they can ditch the cheap skating to put some tequila in the marg's and chips/salsa on the tables charge-free, they might be a good alternative to Miguel's. I'm not a fan of Miguel's. But as of this experience, I can't say I'm a fan of Catrina's either.
(2)
Eric T.
Picked-up a .slew of food for a group of us, as we were meeting on my couch to watch NCAA basketball. Anyway, the mole poblano chicken was great...perfect amount of heat, mexican rice was excellent as well...and while I was waiting I was able to enjoy a few Victorias! Chips and salsa were also above average.
(4)
Natalie M.
Went for lunch. The decor is fantastic, but the food was just mediocre. They brought out a fried flour treat that appeared would be crunchy, but wasn't. Not sure if it was stale, as I've never had it before. For appetizers we ordered chips and salsa, as well as guacamole. I was unimpressed with the guacamole. The chips were thick and the salsa spicy. Both were ok. Others in my group ordered steak fajitas and chicken tacos. The reviews for those were average. I ordered the beef and chorizo quesadilla which came with beans and rice on the side. The beans tasted canned and the rice was bland. I will say the quesadilla was very good, though not what I expected. It's more what I would call an empanada--fried flour dough stuffed with beef, chorizo and cheese. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, just underwhelming. I imagine this is a fun place in the evenings, but not my first choice for lunch. I prefer Chihuahuas down the street.
(3)
Tony P.
Pre-Mexican can mean a lot. This is pretty straight on Mexican. Our friendly waitress Ella greeted us when we were seated. Made suggestions about the food. I got the guacamole and the mole enchiladas. Both good, could use a little salt. Prices are a bit on the high side, but far from unreasonable. The sangria was very tasty. I will return to try more from this unique addition to the neighborhood.
(3)
Kailee W.
I did not enjoy my experience at all. I work in hospitality and I was surprised about how awful the service was. I told my server I didn't understand the menu and what each name for the type of meat were, he looked aggravated yet went through very quickly what each meat was. I then asked if I could just order two tacos because I was not very hungry, he said no that I could order three chicken tacos on the lunch special or the four for ten dollar tacos. So I went with the four tacos because I wanted to try two different meats. I asked if I could only have sour cream and cheese on my tacos, he said no that he could put it on the side and it would be extra. I do not have any issue with paying extra for sour cream or cheese I work in a restaurant and understand food cost. The issue was the way the server said no I can't put it on your taco. After the fact that our food took over twenty minutes with two other tables in the building, my food came out wrong. All of the toppings came on the taco cilantro, onion, tomato, ect. I apologized and said I only wanted cheese and sour cream, even though I had already made it clear what I wanted on the tacos I was trying to be polite because I know everyone makes mistakes. My server I believe his name was John looked at me like I was an idiot then took my plate and walked away. About ten minutes later returning with tacos the way I originally wanted them. I am twenty two as well as my boyfriend who dined with me, we ordered a margarita pitcher and did not get carded. The Margarita tasted very watered-down nothing special about it. The food over all was pretty good. I recieved my bill and my tacos were listed as $2.70 each which multiplied by 4 is $10.80, 80 cents is not a huge deal but if the tavos were put into the computer as individual i don't see why i couldn't of just had two. Service is what really sells a good restaurant and this was lacking that, and I wouldn't ever return here again.
(1)
R M.
This is the first Mexican restaurant in Tampa that has really authentic Mexican food. The house signature guacamole is fantastic. I had the lobster tacos and my wife had shrimp tacos. Both were great. We had a decent bottle of wine that was reasonably priced! How refreshing! This is our new go to place for Mexican.
(4)
Phillip S.
I found the food very underwhelming. The salsa is okay, but nothing to write home about. The Queso Fundido was my favorite thing there. The portions were pretty tiny and for the price not worth my money. If you like authentic Mexican food then this might be for you, but not my cup of tea.
(2)
Ari B.
Mexican food that tries to be pretentious in the ritzy Palma Ceia area and falls flat on its face. First of all, they serve you this weird, tiny fruit cup when you come in. NO chips and salsa. If you want it you have to pay FIVE dollars. Are you kidding me? Queso blanco is four dollars at Miguel's with unlimited chips! All the meals nickel-and-dime you too. Prepare to pay 14 dollars for tacos with NO sides. Sides are extra. These people are crazy! The food is not good either. Not worth the price by a long shot. The worst part is the owner. Wow she's obnoxious. She has a Yelp account and she gets on here and bashes anyone who gives her restaurant a bad rating. I can't wait for her to bash me! Lady? Take a management course or hand the restaurant over to someone who isn't an arrogant loudmouthed a-hole like you. This place will be closed in six months. And the owner will be crying and wondering why people did this to her wonderful authentic restaurant. Wake up and read the real reviews, not just the ones your friends posted to boost the rating. This place sucks. PROS: Decor is a mediocre attempt at "trendy" That's it CONS: You'll give more nickels and dimes here than you'll give to the Salvation Army bell man Bad food The. Owner. Is. Obnoxious. Not worth the price at all VERDICT: Are you kidding me? I wouldn't go near the owner with a thirty foot long pole! Stay away, far away. ****EDIT**** Apparently the loco owner thinks that anyone who gives her restaurant a bad review is just another account of a troll who has it out for her place. Look at her response to Elizabeth's review. SO unprofessional. Also I'll add that we are NOT the same person, just two people who think her restaurant sucks like a mosquito. AND the owner is having friends write good reviews of this place to boost the rating. You can tell because the reviews of "Jane" and "Tracy" all have terrible grammar throughout, just like the owner's grammar when she comments...hmmm.... And lastly, why would I waste my time creating different accounts for a restaurant that'll be closed soon regardless? The owner is a looney toon and she should be committed. She should be about as near to the customer service industry as I should be to the top of Mount Everest. Hint: I'm afraid of heights. ****EDIT EDIT**** Hmm, "Jane"s review has mysteriously disappeared. I wonder why? Maybe because the owner knows we see through her game? You know lady, someday you're gonna run out of email addresses to create all these fake accounts. And friends to write fake reviews. Your restaurant sucks; 95 percent of people don't like it. Admit it and take your "authentic Aztec recipes of your grandmother" and shove them up your piehole. Come back when you've learned a little humility. Adios muchacha. :D
(1)
Windy C.
Stopped in for a Friday happy hour drink with friends and stayed till I was full and happy, happy, happy. Every dish from appetizers to entrees to dessert was delicious. Guacamole was freshly made and tasty, corn chips were warm with a toasty flavor and thick enough to stand up to the chunky dips/salsas. Lobster quesadillas and fish tacos were delicious. Whole fried snapper was perfectly cooked - not too dry as is sometimes the case. Cactus salad and marinated carrots/onions were consumed and I was left wanting more. Coffee flan was a great finish to a great meal. Then came the mariachi band and I really wanted to stay longer but was feeling too full and lethargic. Service was flawless. The chef took time to tell us what was freshly available and how she would prepare it. Servings are large enough for sharing and prices are reasonable. Menu has a lot of vegetarian and seafood dishes. This is NOT a tex-mex joint. I will return.
(4)
Allen I.
This review thread should be required reading for anyone thinking about opening a restaurant in Tampa. No wonder the restaurants are so terrible here, the complaints are just ridiculous. I think a lot of Yelpers in this town are more Prima Donnas than foodies. What kind of foodies try and force a restaurant to be just like all the others?? It's not a mexican chain (i.e. no free chips, no huge quantities of poor quality food at cheap prices). It's an attempt to bring a higher end Mexican restaurant to Tampa. Something you'll find plenty of in larger cities, particularly on the west coast. You shouldn't go here if you are just looking for big burrito's (or for that matter if you think General Tso's Chicken is chinese food). Anyway my meal was great. Nice ceviche full of fish, shrimp and lobster meat (though I kind of question the use of lobster meat in a ceviche, I thought I'd try it), no filler ingredients like most. The Mole Enchiladas were excellent, the mole sauce was full of flavor not bland like I've found in most places. The Flor De Calabaza Quesadilla was very interesting though I'm not sure I'd get it again, I like more flavor than squash blossoms offer. I'll definitely go back and try again as it's one of the few restaurants in town that actually has different things not found on very other menu. So it actually has new things to try.
(5)
Marybeth D.
Wonderful! Fresh and yummy! Owners Carolyn & Lisbeth and entire staff is so friendly. It was my friend's BD and they brought out a complimentary little flan. A new little gem in South Tampa!
(5)
Darlene C.
Lovely place, one of the few interesting mexican places in Tampa. Love the flavors, atmosphere and the really good food.
(5)
Leeanna S.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Not your typical Americanized Mexican - This is true, hands-down, authentic Mexican! I just keep going back! Cannot wait to go back again!
(5)
Food L.
Really wanted to like it but food was not good. Won't be back.
(1)
Rachel M.
My husband and I are Mexican food fanatics. Catrina's caught my eye because of the restaurant and gallery combination. We were greeted immediately, sat down and enjoyed the array of awesome eye candy. After inhaling the delicious appetizers (guacamole and sopa Azteca), our meals came out, but what I ordered was not what arrived at the table-- it wasn't a big deal, but the chef came out, and offered to make me an amazing quesadilla. She chatted us up about cactus (nopalito), and since my husband and I have never tried it, she insisted we did so. She was so warm and caring about our experience at her restaurant (both owners were so welcoming), she made us feel like family. She took us around and spoke to us about the art, which she has made herself! It was such a great, hospitable experience, which is very rare these days. I am a fan and I would HIGHLY recommend Catrina's to anyone who is also a Mexican food junkie.
(5)
Jason G.
Awesome soft corn tortilla tacos, fresh and not greasy. Great staff, a lot of love put in all their food.
(5)
EJ P.
Still waiting to find a good taco in Tampa Bay, although Catrinas is decent. Better than our other options at the moment, if you are looking for a typical Mexican restaurant experience. I guess they went for this artsy vibe, but all I really care about is fresh, authentic Mexican food that doesn't require a flight to San Diego. The fish tacos were good. Fresh fish, nice Baja sauce. The tortillas are not homemade. I don't understand why this is so difficult. Can no one in Tampa make homemade tortillas? Every restaurant in Texas and California has a tortilla maker, whether it's a fancy machine or a grandmother in the back. What is the problem, Florida? Also, I think Catrinas will have a problem attracting success without offering the obligatory chips/salsa free before you order. I don't care about this, but everyone else in my table was bitching about it. The carnitas tacos were OK, but the pork was dry. It was flavorful, but dry. To make it a great carnitas taco out of that you needed some salsa or other wet ingredient (they serve the carnitas tacos with the authentic cilantro and onions topping only). The guac was pretty good. But I have def. had better in other U.S. Mex restaurants. The chips are different. Although I liked them b/c at least they are homemade and NOT out of a bag, I know other diners will not like chips that are hard and greasy like that. I would go back to Catrinas for the fish tacos. But in general the food is OK, not great, overall. I guess I still have to plan my next taco trip to California.
(3)
Michelle W.
I wrote a review before, not sure why it isn't showing. I don't understand why everyone is ranking this place so low. It is delicious. The atmosphere is very fun and the drinks are tasty. Additionally, the food is incredibly reasonably priced. A group of 4 of us got out for less than $100 w/ a margarita pitcher, a beer, 3 entree orders and 2 appetizers....pretty good deal. I also don't understand the brewhaha about free chips and salsa. If you want to feast on some quality chips and salsa - order them. I have never walked into a coffee shop and thought, "WOAH! Wait...what's going on... no free pastries with my coffee? Rip off." I have been to this place 2x now and will 100% be back.
(4)
jane s.
So excited to find a real authentic Mexican restaurant in Tampa. The owner has created a fun atmosphere, has a lovely staff, and apparently has great cooks in the kitchen. The menu is extensive. We ordered the chicken enchiladas mole because mole is a very complicated undertaking. This mole was better than any we have anywhere. Can vouch for the real chips and guacamole. Fish is fresh and brought in off the boats daily. If you are expecting the usual all -you -can -eat piles of bad salsa and greasy chips and the same sauces poured over everything, this is not the place for you. Stick with your Tex-Mex high sodium places. If you want real Mexican food this is the only place we have found in the Bay area.
(5)
Gurol E.
great location,very friendly service,decent prices most important great taste,what else you can ask
(5)
Katie G.
The first authentic Mexican food for Tampa. This restaurant will force South Tampa to experience outside of their comfort zone. You will learn to love flavor and authenticity! Catrina's Guacamole with shrimp and lobster is a must. Sangria and Agave Margarita's are outstanding. Don't use a straw. Live a little!
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.
Terry Y.
Well, we tried stopping in on Cinco de Mayo, they were absolutely slammed. I felt bad for their staff so we opted to go elsewhere. We returned last night and they impressed once again. This is truly the only authentic Mexican I've found in Tampa. The queso fundido is something special. I never skip that. I had the steak fajitas which are absolutely fantastic. The freshly made tortillas and guacamole really set it off. The refried beans were perfect. My fiance's lobster tacos were perfect. We enjoyed it so much we booked our rehearsal dinner there. Will definitely be back sooner. By the way, if you're expecting Tex-Mex, food prepared the day before then reheated, or a quick in-and-out meal, go to Chili's. This isn't the place for you.
(5)Robin K.
More like 2.5 stars! Always wanted to try this place so we went tonite. I came here with 12 other friends, we made reservation just in case. It wasn't needed since there were only one other couple beside us. They had baskets of complimentary fried pinwheels, different from other Mexican restaurants. It's very interesting, reminds me of spicy Cheetos. Flavor grows on you when paired with margaritas. Julio, restaurant manager? told us we'll be getting served by their new waitress. Service was little slow and the food didn't come out at the same time. Not exaggerating but one of my friends didn't get his food until his wife was half way done with her entree. The waitress didn't know too much about the menu either which was ok but you can't expect us to pay 18% gratuity for mediocre service. Not cool on their part. Drinks were top notch, most of my friends got margaritas. Food: my friend and I shared the fajitas for 2. We ordered the steak fajitas with veggies, comes with a side of yellow rice and beans (bland), guac and sour cream. Very good but tortillas were so tiny lol. I think they make it in the restaurant? We had to ask for more tortillas. I would recommend this dish. Since my friend and I love spicy food and some aspects of the dish lacked spice, we asked for hot sauce. All Mexican restaurants I've been to thus far never charged me for hot sauce except here. They charged us $4 for hot sauce?!? Again, so not cool! It felt like they wanted to make as much money as possible from us. Will I be back? I don't know.
(2)Gary F.
It was ok. Came here because I didn't feel like waiting at bar taco for 45 minutes. Most of catrinas reviews mention the guacamole as a must have. When I asked the server about the guacamole, she didn't know what all was in it or anything it was made of. For $16 I would assume there is something in it that sets it apart from everywhere else. This was very disappointing, and I chose a different appetizer. The server I think was new and didn't really have any knowledge of the food, or what the entrees consisted of. She was nice enough, but was a little slow. We had nachos for apps, they were decent. Then had fajitas for 2, which we requested to be made medium rare. Came out well done, drastic difference from what was ordered. I've heard of cooking medium well too long but it seems hard to confuse medium rare and receive well done steak. My expectations were apparently too high for this restaurant. Ive read a ton of great reviews, so I was looking forward to trying it. It was 7:30 and there were only 2 other tables that came in during our dining experience, so there shouldn't have been any issues with our dinner. The guy that showed us to our table was very nice and accommodating, I'm not sure if he was the host or maybe the bartender. Not sure if I will be back, might give it another shot, might not.
(3)Deirdre S.
The first time I was there several months ago, the food was fantastic. It was a lobster dish with avocado slices and pomegranate seeds, a decadent but light sauce, and rice. I skip rice usually, but it was also tasty. The guacamole with shrimp was delicious and a fun presentation. I was with a larger group and the newer server was polite but a little lost. I ordered a drink and received a different drink. To be honest, I didn't say anything. Someone else in our party asked about the pitcher of drinks that was also ordered, and the answer from the manager was not very polite, so I was afraid to say anything. I am not afraid to be vocal, but I also didn't want to embarass my coworkers. Some people are touchy about that. The next time I came with friends, it was lackluster. I love the decor and idea of this place. I want to love the entire restaurant. But it wasn't right. My server this time also was lost (I might have been just lucky, but it seems I got new people twice) and didn't really know to go ask someone when she couldn't answer a question, so I basically got "Sorry, I am not sure." Also, the menu changed and the dish I loved was removed. I understand menus change, I've worked in food service, but it was disappointing to say the least. And she wasn't familiar with the menu enough to suggest a replacement, so I guessed. I asked her if it had chicken or beef in it, and she said no. When my food came out, it did have chicken in it and had to be sent back. So I had to order something else and ate after the rest of the group. New staff is a constant thing, as are evolving menus. But good service means that a server knows if there is meat in a dish (because, you know, allergies, religious constraints, dietary needs) and if not, ASKS someone else to be sure. My friends said their food was decent, but didn't live up to the price point. I would agree and in addition, add that the price point should reflect the quality of service you should receive. As I said, I WANT to love it. But I wasn't impressed the first time, tried again and still didn't live up to my hopes. I will pay extra for AUTHENTIC and top-notch food, but here it was just pricey and the service also overshadows it. Doesn't matter how amazing your recipes are, or great the intentions, if the execution isn't there, it isn't successful.
(2)Jasmine R.
I've been meaning to give Catrina's a try for awhile and am glad I finally got around to it. I went for Taco Tuesday which is $2 tacos all day and night. The parking lot was small..maybe 10 cars could fit? But the place was dead so it was no big deal. Once I was inside I was actually surprised that this spot isn't more popular. The decor was eccentric and fun. Staff super friendly and explained the menu (it's in spanglish). They have A LOT of taco options! Variations of steak and pork. A chicken option. And then also tongue and cactus. Cactus?! I had to try and it was unique. Looks like a sauteed green bell pepper and reminded me a little of okra because of the texture but had it's own taste. My other tacos were all very good and the tortillas were house made. Overall this is a great little spot I hope it will develop more of its own crowd so that it's a little more lively though.
(4)Jen M.
How does this place stay in business. Just terrible food at ridiculous prices. Had to pay for chips and salsa and wanted asked if there was a more spicy one and had to pay $2 more because "it's made from scratch". Is nothing else made from scratch?
(1)Liz M.
I really enjoy this place. I'm from Arizona and this is the only place that I have found that is even close to what I call Mexican food. I enjoyed the margaritas so much. They were strong and large. Flash the flavors are unique from other "Mexican" places. I have been here a few times and I've had a few items. The fresh fish was amazing, the chili rellano was fantastic. The decor sends me right to the south west. The day of the dead pics are great and really make the place special.
(5)Lisa M.
Authentic Mexican with fresh fish and everything made to order! This is not fast food or your run of the mill American style food! The menu is complete with traditional Mexican food made from scratch. Mole, Pibil, Whole Fried Hog Snapper!. We had the tequila flight for desert, but a nice bottle of Chilean Cabernet with our meal. The décor is fun and the bathrooms must be seen! If you are looking for fast.... not your restaurant, if you are looking for excellent.. then try it! Mexicano auténtico con pescado fresco y todo hecho a la medida! Esto no es comida rápida o la marcha de la fábrica de alimentos estilo americano! El menú es completo con comida tradicional mexicana hecha desde cero. Mole, Pibil, todo frito cerdo pargo!. TenÃamos el vuelo de tequila para el desierto, pero una botella de Cabernet chileno con nuestra comida. La decoración es divertido y los baños deben ser vistos! Si usted está buscando rápida... no tu restaurante, si usted está buscando excelente... ¡ Entonces pruébalo!
(5)Mercy G.
This is truly 3.5 stars. I came here with a party of 9 to celebrate a birthday. We were really looking fwd to the Guac, reportedly the best in Tampa Bay (per website)... & although it was fresh, I can't pin it as the best. Overall, the food and service are both "standard". Everything ordered came out in a timely fashion and no one had complaints. Flavorful, well presented... but not a must come back for more type-a experience. I will say that I tasted a margarita (unfortunately can't remember the name) that was one of the best Ive ever had. Very unique!! I will come back to give this place another try on a night with Live Music or for one of the great lunch deals advertised!
(3)Melissa M.
Have been to Catrina's twice now and both times I've been disappointed. Each vista was about a year apart, so the second time I went I thought maybe it would be better. It took awhile to get our food and we were the only two people in the restaurant. I asked for some tortilla chips and had to pay for them where most Mexican restaurants give them to you free. Limited menu and over priced.
(2)Malinda L.
We went for taco night and sat outside on the patio with our puppy. Service was fast and the tacos were awesome. Such a good deal on Taco night. The carnitas tacos were the best of all the different kinds we tried. The lengua and chicken were great as well. They came with a cilantro/lime type sauce and fresh cilantro/onions on top. We got completely stuffed but really enjoyed our experience and will be returning very soon. Good to know it is a dog friendly place on the outside, they even have a dog item on the menu of chicken and rice. :) Overall-great spot and we will be going there more.
(4)Sarah B.
Pretty spendy for a Mexican place, but I dig it. This is not your run-of-the-mill "Mexican" joint - this is the real deal. My boyfriend and I met up with a few others and sat at the bar a couple of Fridays ago. The owner (I believe?) suggested the Corazon Sangrante Margarita, so I went with it and was so glad! The margarita was huuuge and perfect. The pomegranate seeds were a really nice touch and gave the margarita extra flavor. My boyfriend got a tequila flight. I have no idea what he got but he was overwhelmed by the number of different tequilas available. Whatever he got, he enjoyed it! Having nearly finished my first margarita, I was hungry. Everything on the menu looked good, but the owner made another recommendation, and having thoroughly enjoyed my margarita, once again I put my faith in her. She said I wanted - no, I NEEDED - the Cochinita Pibil tacos. Not sure what that is? Well, I'll tell you. Slow-roasted pork, red habanero onions, and avocado in a corn tortilla. With salsa verde and a squeeze of lime. Now, I'm not a big pork person. I don't like onions. Like, at all. And I am mildly allergic to avocado and usually avoid it, since my tongue gets tingly if I eat too much of it. It didn't sound like my cup of tea. But I was convinced this would be good, and dammit, the owner was so right. My boyfriend ordered the Tacos Al Pastor. Between the two of us, we had 8 delicious (albeit pretty small) tacos for $20. I bit into one of my tacos and had a foodgasm. My boyfriend had to try one of these tacos. I warned him that he would be mad at himself the rest of the night for ordering the "wrong" tacos, and sure enough, he was kicking himself and totally jealous. I ate my remaining tacos and didn't even feel a little ashamed for not offering him another bite. Next time, babe. Next time. Anyway, I've been thinking about those cochinita pibil tacos for roughly two weeks now and will undoubtedly be back at Catrina's for like, two orders just for me. I guess I'll comment on the restaurant itself. Some people aren't fans of the decor, but I love it. I thought it was really true to culture without being kitschy. Plus, live music is always a plus for me! I'm not giving Catrina's five stars because I do agree with others that have mentioned it's pretty expensive. Friendlier prices would go a long way here!
(4)Elon F.
I recently went here to experience authentic Mexican food and I was not disappointed! I first tried their flavor packed guacamole that had shrimp, lobster and topped with pomegranate. It was so good! You could taste all the fresh ingredients. I then tried multiple tacos that were on their house-made tortillas. I had the carnitas, in house made chorizo, shrimp, fish, barbocoa, beef tongue and a few more that I can't remember. My favorite were the fish tacos and the beef tongue! I also enjoyed their salsas that were made from scratch. In the mean time I tried a few of their delicious margaritas that had fresh ingredients in them and it made all the difference. That's so important to me. The night ended with a bang with a 6lb Maine lobster that was cooked to perfection! It was so tender with great flavors! By far the best I've ever had! They just added a tequila bar and I love that! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Karli M.
The quesadilla were soggy, some of their authentic Mexican dishes were made from canned ingredients. The service is a bit slow. The manager / possibly the owner would greatly benefit from being mentored by a local female business woman. Her demeanor towards some of the guest was curt and borderline rude. The Latino waiter could not pronounce the Mexican dishes and the drinks were overpriced and poured with a light hand. The less then capable waiter failed to put in all the orders. Unfortunately we had a large group so one of the guest was without food for the entire meal. My husband coming from Mexican heritage can identify what a quesadilla should taste like. This was a failed attempt at authenticity.
(2)Roshni S.
If you want authentic Mexican food this is the place to go. It's not the cookie cutter Americanized Mexican food. All the items are very fresh and they make it to your preferred spice level. They make family recipes and have a very made from scratch togetherness concept. You are paying for the authentic taste and fresh ingredients along with a homey atmosphere. The enchiladas and tacos were great. We would definitely go back to try some new items.
(5)Ana Victoria M.
They treat me like royalty every time I go to Catrinas. The servers are super cool. Karol (one of the owners) always make sure that you are having a good experience. As for their menu, you can't go wrong with the following dishes: momias and fish ceviche. The momias are to die for. I don't know exactly what they use to marinate the meat, but the flavors are amazing. My sister who came from New York a month ago to visit, is still trying to figure out the ingredients on their marinate. She hasn't stop talking about them and is looking forward to try them again. Their ceviche screams "Caribbean" in a heart beat. It's so fresh and refreshing at the same time. If you are a foodie who loves AUTHENTIC mexican food and loves art, this is the place to be. You will enjoy the paintings and the restaurant eclectic decoration. And yes, they have the BEST fresh guacamole in town!
(5)Jeff D.
first time we tried this place and it was not a disappointment. I enjoyed a Wednesday evening with my companion we both had a couple drinks the margaritas are fantastic. I would recommend the everything guacamole along with the full fried fish it's served authentic style with authentic seasoning.
(4)David D.
The real deal. As authentic as it gets. Amazing, real Mexican food with incredible flavor. Excellent margaritas as well. Highly recommend.
(5)Idalis M.
I went back today! For a late lunch around 3pm. Zory was our server, she was great. Puertorrican, from the West Coast like me and my BF (Sab Gde) So we had a good chat and enjoy great food. I had the chicken tamales, even though they were good the peas and carrots took me as a surprise. My BF had the steak fajitas and it was delicious, saucy not dry... could not try the huge tequila selection because we had to drive back home to Orlando. But again, I will be back... for drinks only. #sayyestoautentico !! Love the vibe of this restaurant. ;) very excited to go back. I hope can make the tequila night bext week. Swing by and try this place.. worth the drive.
(4)Malissa W.
the deco is amazing but noy a good place for taco Tuesday, that are small appetizer sized. Most of all i didnt like their scaled down drinks for Cinco de Mayco, claiming going to be too busy to use "pretty " glassware . My 9$ drink was in a plastic cup felt cheated. will never attend one of their events again. three stars for the tasty food
(3)Will C.
Came here with a party of 22! Yes it was a big party and I was surprised the waiter and staff were on point! Everything came out on time, everyone got their food correctly, and even the drinks were coming out fast! Big plus to the bartenders. This place used to be the old Marrakesh which was an awesome mediterranean restaurant. They have completely remodeled the interior and made it to look like a Mexican cantina which is great. Also its spacious, clean, and colorful. Now onto my favorite thing to do, eat and then review it haha. I ordered the poblano pepper with meat. The dish was good but not the best. The only reason I wasnt too crazy about it, its because they added raisings and pomegranate seeds as garnish which made it a little too sweet for my taste. But dont get me wrong that's just my preference but a lot of people might like that. The pepper was cooked perfectly! Because it wasn't too soft nor too hard. It was crunchy enough to still have that green pepper feel. The sauce they used on top of it made it even better. (Warning, they drench the peppers with it, so if you don't like too much sauce then I recomend you to get it on the side). Now the rice that came with it was too salty, but I just ate it because I was hungry haha. Before I forget!! The only place in Tampa I have found that has SOUR SOP juice!!!! I might just come for that in the near future. Overall great for groups, and drinks.
(4)Jay C.
We arrived, found ourselves a table as we were told to. We found a sever who began to clear our table. Within the 15 minutes we were at the table waiting to order our drinks at least 3 servers past us. We ended up leaving. What a horrible experience I can see why Green Limon is slammed and they are NOT. They were understaffed and not ready for such a large night they were having compared to what in told usually is. Not impressed, horrible service as far as I see it.
(1)Mariah M.
WOW! I haven't had Mexican food like this since...I was in Mexico and even then it wasn't THIS good! The tortilla's are homemade and delicious! The tacos we had were so good and the tequila selection was amazing. Karol the owner was so knowledgeable about the tequilas and gave us a tasting sampler and taught us the different types of tequila and how good tequila can be beyond the typical Cuervo stuff everyone knows. I was sipping tequila which I NEVER would have done before and I LOVED it! They served us a 6 pound lobster that had spices and sauces that honestly might have been the best thing I have ever eaten in my life! It was tender and delicious and not reliant on butter to taste good. This place is the real deal and the prices are excellent! Make sure you try the guacamole. it is the best I have ever had in my entire life. Seriously. It is outrageously good! Everything was perfect and I am already planning to return on Friday night!
(5)Amara G.
Having lived in El Paso for a couple of years, and having sneaked into Juarez to have my feast of Mexican Cuisine... I must say I found my niche here. If you are a Chili's kind of fajitas person, you won't enjoy this place at all. If you are looking for a basket overflowing with stale tostitos and some free salsa... Not your place either. It is not a place to eat and run. From the moment you walk in it, you are transported. Paintings of La Santa Muerte and the tequila bar crowded with posibilities... the music... everything whispers in another language... fresh ingredients that smell of earth and chile and cilantro... colorful walls and colorful plates that take you elsewhere, for the bit you are there, and return you home kindly, nostalgic even... longing for more. Not a place for the starved for a meal, but for the one who knows that food is much more than a stuffed belly... that there is a story, a gastronomic history behind the menu and the hands that you don't see, but are, at that moment, carefully crafting for you.
(5)D D.
I went here on taco Tuesday and I was impressed! The tacos were $2 a piece and they were pretty good (but also very small). The sangria and margaritas were nice and strong. Our waitress was also very nice and she did a great job. The chips and guacamole were also delish! The reason why this restaurant doesn't get 5 stars is because the tacos were good, not great. They were worth the $2. The tacos are so small that before you know it, you've spent $30 on tacos because you're still starving after 2-3. Despite the size, and slight lack of flavor, I'd definitely go back!
(4)Edward G.
The worst food ever! Would not feed it to my dog! The drinks were horrible! Keep driving! Do not stop!!!
(1)Karen O.
Excellent ceviche and quesadilla, great tequila selection and very attentive and professional server, Michael. Want to feel like you're in Mexico? Come here to see the interesting decor and hear the music! Overall a great experience
(5)Henry M.
The place is more hype that anything. The food is sub par. The wait staff could care less about you. As close as this gets to being like Mexico are the drunks at the bar.
(1)Sandra G.
Fun decor and a new tequila bar since I was there last. Had margaritas that were generous in alcohol, chips and guacamole made fresh, $2 taco Tuesday. Good food, good service.
(4)Jesus M.
Totally recommend this truly authentic Mexican gourmet kitchen. Not only does this restaurant have the freshest and most true Mexican food, but it's owner/chef and waitstaff are amazing and make you feel at home. Awesome food, great tequilas and amazing service. A gem in Tampa. Highly recommended. Try a michelada, a pinche pescado and top it off with a don Julio 1942. Amazing!
(5)Sheri P.
The food was a fresh taste adventure! From the flower chips to the Sangria with cinnamon, the "outside the box" thinking made for a delightful experience! The decor is "Day of the Dead" and adds to the fun. Mike is a great server with a plethora of knowledge about the place. Definitely a new favorite!
(5)Stacy P.
REPOSTIG MY REVIEW BECAUSE YELP AND CATRINAS REFUSED TO. This restaurant is absolutely ridiculous. We took our uncle and family (party of about 13) out to dinner to celebrate here over the weekend. The Sangria and Margarita Pitchers were flowing heavily, and seemed to be the only thing the servers cared about. We arrived at 6:30pm, and our orders were not even taken until well near 7:30pm. It seems someone from the staff brought their kids that night, who were running around the restaurant. Normally, I do not mind kids if they are not bothering me, but this is not the case. The children decided to run and climb through out our table, walking on our purses, bags, and anything else behind our seats. The children stepped on and nearly broke a gift of unity candles to a family member. When the food FINALLY arrived, my father in law ordered the Cerdo(pork) Tamales, and received chicken instead. My sister in law is a strict vegan, and mentioned this several times to the wait staff, ordered the Rajas con Queso, and received CHICKEN STUFFED PEPPERS. Accordingly, she spit out the food and was very upset, to which the wait staff said they would bring her correct food. 5 minutes later someone comes out to tell her that they are all out of Rajas con Queso, and is there something else she would like. She ordered something else, and was adamant that they not serve her the refried beans that comes with the meal, because again, she is vegan. Her new plate arrived full of refried beans, and as they were giving her the food, the waitress knocked her Margarita glass (full of margarita) allover her lap and chest. 2 dish rags were handed to her to clean up the mess herself. The food is sub par- their "fresh" Nopalitos Salad made with cactus definitely comes straight from a can, and their rice is dry and not delicious. This was our second time trying this restaurant (we were not a huge fan the first time), and it will absolutely be our last.
(1)Tametra L.
Thank You Karol for getting back with me. My husband and I will definitely come back. Looking forward to see the changes in the Rice & Beans.
(4)Don T.
Awesome margaritas. Salsa is excellent. Definitely can tell all is homemade. Highly recommend.
(5)Mary O.
MY FAVORITE MEXICAN IN SOUTH TAMPA! the food is just down right amazing, it is not your average mexican it is fresh and not covered in sour cream! The place is super clean and the snack they bring us before food comes out is delish!
(5)Matt S.
Drove past this place a bunch of times but never stopped. I was starving after work and really wanted mexican food so I stopped in. Hands down the best tacos I've ever had the pleasure to put in my mouth. GRILLED CACTUS?!?!?!?! Sounded weird but it was amazing. Steak was perfect, chicken was perfect, chorizo was perfect. Food was out in less than 5 minutes. It's a little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for. If you don't love the food your tastebuds don't work. I don't even yelp just had to post this because I love you Catrinas. Please have my food baby. See you next Tuesday!
(5)Bridget B.
As a Miguel's regular, I had never tried Catrina's. Every time I drive by, I notice the cool artwork on the building and mean to stop in. Last night I went there for a friend's birthday. We were greeted and sat immediately at one of the two bars. The first thing you notice is the badass decor. Talk about a conversation piece! There's a lot to look at, but it's not cheap/tacky in the least. Also possibly the coolest ladies' room I've ever been in. We stopped in for drinks, so the only food we ordered was a chicken nacho plate, which was delicious. I'm a guacamole snob, but this place passed my test with flying colors. It was incredibly fresh and had a good kick to it. I ordered the cilantro margarita out of pure curiosity and I was far from disappointed. The drink had a unique, refreshing flavor. They use fresh squeezed lime juice for all of the margaritas instead of sugary, pre-made sour mix - makes a huge difference. For me, fresh ingredients and interesting drinks are fantastic, but ultimately, it comes down to customer service. Catrina's nailed it. Our server (who we later found out had just started working there) was friendly and attentive. When other servers would come to grab things from behind the bar, each one of them would smile and say hello. One of the owners, Karol, also checked in on us frequently and I was blown away by her extensive knowledge of tequila. As someone who knows little about tequila, I usually just pick a brand I know, like Patron. Karol dumbed it down for me and made awesome recommendations. She clearly knows her stuff. She was genuine and made me feel at home the whole time. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fresh food and a unique dining (and drinking) experience. The atmosphere is authentic and upbeat, but not overwhelming. I can't wait to go back and try more of the dishes. I'm so glad I finally stopped in here. This an honest place that obviously puts quality first. Not to mention, I felt valued as a customer, which is so important.
(5)Laura D.
Food is over priced and the quality is low in my personal opinion. The server I had during my last visit was the opposite of attentive and made us wait an ungodly amount of Time just to get a drink.
(1)Stephen T.
I would like to give some feedback on my experience tonight. I've been to this restaurant before and my first time was great. Great food and service. Today being Cinco de Mayo I understand the wait time and craziness but the customer service was lacking. We were acknowledged by the security guard and were told first come first serve so we found a place to sit. A server cleared the table and never returned to even take our drink order. We patiently waited for 20 minutes but we left to make our own tacos at home. We wasted our time trying to have a good night here. Place should have been properly staffed for this event especially. I'm not interested in returning again. Thanks for reading and I hope this feedback is helpful.
(1)Rob L.
Another great visit to this wonderful little restaurant in South Tampa. The owner is hands-on and makes sure that you're happy with your visit. I had enchiladas with salsa verde on this visit, just the right size, flavored were awesome, nothing overpowering another flavor. Not sure why visitors complain about the prices. You're paying for quality handmade food. That's something you can taste. And no I don't have stock in the company. Maybe we can stop assuming that all Mexican food should be priced like Taco Bell.
(5)Hermun P.
Despite the recommendations it was a huge mistake going on Cinco de mayo. It really was not crowded but it was probably crowded for them. No busboys. Handcrafted margaritas weren't (said the waiter mike) yet took forever to get them and then I saw they were coming out of coolers which explains the fact they were watered down. I should have known when I got there early and asked the waiter to wipe down the sticky table and he pulled a dirty rag out of his apron and rice flew everywhere and I had to ask for a clean one. Dixie cup for my shot which for a restaurant with the large tequila menu was serving shitty tequila. No tequila menu was offered. Once again it was not as crowded as you would think of now I know why.
(1)Line W.
Very disappointing. Went here based on Yelp reviews, but will never return. The food is expensive, they charge $5 for chips & salsa and we made the mistake of asking if they had spicier salsa...that sample cost $2. We should have left when we saw the place was empty.
(1)Rob S.
To begin with I dislike cookie-cutter Mexican restaurants and their cuisine. Eat at enough Mexican "catinas" and you know what I mean. I have written off Mexican for the most part. Catrina's has a sign out front that states it serves "upscale" Mexican food. For some reason, this got me in the door. ATMOSPHERE: Nobody except the staff was there at 6pm on Tuesday. MENU: I looked over the drink and food menus. Some food items are present that normally are not at the typical cantina. However, after reading the menu, I couldn't figure out what was "upscale" about it. I asked the server and she pointed out they serve lobster, molcajete, and various fish dishes. I thought the equation dubious at best. Everything else appeared pretty standard for a cantina: chicken, pork, or beef covered in sketchy sauces and paired with the same old refriend beans and yellow rice. THE MEAL: I ordered the cerdas tamales. The molé was dull. The masa and the pork were overcooked and therefore dry. The ceviche was good. I ordered it as an appetizer, priced at $10. Pricey. The ceviche saved this review from being a 1. SERVICE: I liked the service, although I did not like being all by myself. It sort of made me the servers' pet project.
(2)Claire K.
Showed up to sit on the patio on a Tuesday evening and see what this place is all about. The Line Up: Mole Enchiladas Side of Red Salsa The Verdict: OMG. Really tasty! The salsa was hot and mighty good. Cleaned out my sinuses. Heck YA! I had the pleasure of amazing service, partly by the owner. She took the time to give me some history of the restaurant, food quality/choices, ingredients, and concept. This business is a from scratch, original establishment in every aspect. No chain stuff here. The enchiladas I ate have over 72 fresh ingredients in them and I tell you, so fresh & delish 14.99 for this meal was at the appropriate price point for the quality and taste. Be back soon! YUM.
(5)Derp D.
Gaudy environment. Walls covered in "original art" by the "chef". I use quotes for the art because I have seen literally the exact same images on tshirts sold at Target. The quotes for chef bc the food is very obviously microwaved. My tamales were chewy and tasted like plastic. The rice is so greasy it drips. No thank you.
(1)Paul K.
One of my best friends, her new roommate, and I were getting settled in Tampa as they will soon be moving down here for school. I decided to do my part to help out with scouting for good restaurants as well as find the great beaches that Tampa has to offer. Since we're all big on tex mex foods, I suggested we try this restaurant out as it was nearby to our hotel and see that a few elites have reviewed this place as well. We came here on a Thursday night close to 7ish. Besides a couple dining in, we were the only other table. Kind of makes you wonder where everyone else is at if not this side of town. Since my friend's roommate wasn't feeling the live music inside we chose to sit on the outside. Service: Our server's name was Maribel. There seem to be only two servers, and they were quick to take our drink orders and bring out a appetizer of chips and guacamole. Our main server heavily recommending the Guacamole Catrinas, granted I didn't feel like ordering a $14 guacamole just cause there's lobster in it without trying how the guacamole taste alone. So I opted for just the regular chips and guacamole, while we looked over the menu. She refilled our waters on her return and left a pitcher of water as well since we were outside so we didn't have to struggle trying to get her attention while she was inside. I'm on the fence if this is a good thing. Food: Guacamole and Chips - $5. Both are very good. The chips are perfect, non-greasy while having a slightly sweet, buttery taste alone. We ate more of the chips then the guacamole, that I had to request a second serving of chips to finish it. The guacamole is good, a good blend of seasoning that brings out the flavor of the avocados. A must order. Mole Enchiladas - My friend ordered this dish. She's not a typically a fan of mole sauce but she liked the enchiladas overall. She mentioned that the meat inside had plenty of flavor so she dissected each just to avoid eating it with the sauce. Her food filled up her entire plate due to being served with plenty of rice and fried beans. Good bang for the buck. Her roommate ordered chicken tacos. Which she was excited about as they were really quite good. This, as well as my taco order came with a good helping of salsa de verde. We both asked the server if we could switch to flour tortillas, and I'm glad we did. Tacos de Camaron - "Shrimp Tacos" - Their version was pretty good. Four tacos per order with a generous filling of meat and toppings fill out the tortilla pretty well. Perfect balance of shrimp and other toppings keep each bite satisfied. The salsa de verde was pretty good even though I'm not usually a fan. I think pico de gallo might be a better choice. I was stuffed after devouring all four taco's and chips. Good eats for $10. Overall: A bit more costly than what I'm use to paying for in Atlanta for Tex-Mex ($2-$4 more) but definitely worth a visit. I would like to try other dishes to see how they stack up to my favorite restaurants in Atlanta.
(4)Matt W.
First visit last night and wouldn't return. We did have a party of 8 so I expect slower service but two hours for food is nutty. Waiter delivered plates one or two at a time. I think I waited 10 minutes for my rice and beans plate after my entree was brought out. Skirt steak was well done mediocre flavor. Shrimp was ok. 85$ for my wife and I. The price is not equal to the food quality or service. I'll stick to Red Mesa or J Alexander's.
(1)Mark S.
I guess traditional, real Mexican food just is not for us! The food was very fresh, but very, very bland, not at all like what we typically expect at a Mexican restaurant. The atmosphere was slightly creepy, with Day of the Dead decorations everywhere. The food, and the drinks, were pretty expensive too. All in all, if you're used to eating Mexican food locally with lots of cheese, salsa, spicy sauces, jalepenos everywhere, then this is not the spot.
(2)michelle l.
This is a neat place to come for a drink and a snack. The ambiance is great (they had live mariachi on Friday night when we visited), and the staff that served us was great. We also liked the extensive beer list and the Corazon tequila on the menu (use that instead of the well tequila for a much better margarita). Alcohol prices were very reasonable. Food was okay. I enjoyed the guacamole, and I really liked the churros and ice cream. I loved the chips sprinkled with lime and salt they put out with our drinks. I was less enchanted with the main courses (my husband had the steak fajitas, and I had an assortment of tacos), so this place might be my dessert or tapas place rather than the place to take a main meal.
(4)Stacey A.
We decided to try Catrinas after seeing it featured on Fox morning show. Very disappointed. The service was terrible, the guacamole had no flavor, and their prices were high. Needless to say, we did not order entrees.
(1)Aaron M.
Food was fine. Just a bit difficult interacting with server. Menu is a little tricky; a side of salsa was $2, side of chips is $1, but an appetizer of chips and salsa is $5.. Tricky tricky. Guacamole for $16 has to be the most expensive I have ever heard of; and it's not like a ginormous portion either. The fish tacos were clean and tasty enough. Just not the best I have ever had. They are better than some other places in tampa - but I would not order them again. Places like Miguel's where I crave their alambras dish or even chihuahua where I love their salsa would make me come back. The place in San Antonio fl has the best beans, corn, and fresh food. Why I come back here was not determined this visit.
(3)Jennie W.
What an amazing local Mexican restaurant! Wow I'm so impressed. I enjoyed the shrimp tacos garnished with a lime. These 5 small tacos were filled with plenty of fresh and delicious grilled shrimp. They also had grilled onions and a little cheese with fresh tomato. Beautifully done! I enjoyed the mild salsa on the side as well as a side of the very hot but full of flavor, habanero salsa. I liked mixing the two salsas together. Yum! Ok on to the Sangria, just a touch of cinnamon, not over done. It was a delicious red with fresh fruit and let me tell you, 1 was enough for me...hello little buzz lol! This is a must try and I will return! Btw great music and wonderful attentive service! Bravo to a new favorite for me :)
(5)H L.
I feel 2 stars is a bit harsh, but don't think the "a-ok" 3 star rating works either. Why don't they offer 1/2 stars on these review sites? We went here for dinner earlier this year and I don't recall there being much for me to eat (being a vegetarian) but I believe my boyfriend enjoyed his meal. We saw on their website that they offered weekend brunch and we went back (breakfast is usually fairly easy finding vegetarian options.. eggs!) While I did have options to choose from, we were not too thrilled with it and won't be going back for brunch unless they change it up. First, it was very pricey. They had 'hangover cure' meals for $24-$30 (from my memory), which was way too much money to even look at. We looked at the 'left side' of the menu which was all set at $12. The servings weren't very big (we both had scrambled eggs with a side of refried beans and some tortillas). The food was on the bland side and there was no salt/pepper. We asked for salsa, which we later saw we were charged for (I was also charged for cheese when I asked for it to be added to my eggs, understandable though) Between our two meals, a bloody mary (which my boyfriend did not care for, he said it had soda water or something in it) and a mimosa and coffee, the meal cost us $50. That is just too much for brunch. That is what we expect to pay for dinner. We frequently go to Green Lemon for brunch and their prices are much more reasonable. In addition, the place was practically empty but yet our service was slow. There was only one waiter taking care of all the tables (and I believe he was preparing the drinks as well). So we were understanding and he was pleasant. But we were the only table inside, there was one or two tables outside. A small family came in about 10 minutes after us (and was placed at the table right next to us, I mean right next to us.. the table had to be moved to allow them to sit down) and their food order was taken at the same time as ours and their food arrived the same time as ours. On the positive- I truly loved the coffee. It was strong and tasty. (chickory perhaps?) They are in a great location and for brunch are primed to take spillover from Datz (we've yet to eat at Datz due to driving in circles for 10 minutes looking for a spot before giving up and going someplace else). If they revamped brunch, we'd be back. In the meantime, we may be back for dinner.
(2)Joe P.
Mediocre food, poor service and deceptive pricing made for a disappointing brunch experience. The wait staff was poorly trained and rude. Each of our plates came out separately, five minutes apart. I requested salsa for my bland egg sandwich and was told that it would be a $1 upcharge for a small plastic cup. The salsa was $2 on the bill, and my toddler's juice that the waitress claimed was "included" was $4. We will not be back. It's a shame because we like to support local businesses, and we enjoyed the unique artwork and décor.
(1)Khalilah W.
We went to Catrinas for a delicious authentic Mexican meal and were not disappointed. The margaritas were delish especially the tamarind Rita. The house special guacamole was amazing. I then had the lobster tacos which were a little gushy tasting but good all the same. My husband had the mole rojo which was spicy but delicious. Cute atmosphere and excellent service. We will definitely return.
(4)Josiah G.
Could be a great place...but, it was lacking in a few areas. I hate to say it's the curse of that location, but no restaurant has been successful there. Because it is a great location, I have always tried every new restaurant that has opened there, hoping for something great. I tried Catrinas recently for lunch and I came with a friend of Colombian and Mexican descent. There really aren't great Mexican restaurants in South Tampa, so I was really looking forward to trying the food, especially the chips and salsa. Unfortunately, they do not bring out chips and salsa, but instead, some fried flour wheel looking things. Not quite sure what they were, but I was sure they didn't have much flavor. I ordered the chips and salsa, which we had to pay for. Luckily the salsa was absolutely delicious. The service, on the other hand, was not so enjoyable. The salsa was spicy, which is great, but I had to get the waitress' attention every time I needed a water refill, and sometimes getting her attention didn't work. With only 3 tables of customers, it shouldn't have been too hard to make sure we had drinks. My friend ordered their traditional soup which he couldn't eat. I tried it and could barely swallow it. For lunch, I ordered the fajitas and they came without tortillas. I asked the waitress, after waiting a few minutes to get her attention, for flour tortillas and eventually she brought out some corn tortillas. It took a few more waves and tries to get the flour tortillas I wanted. The fajitas were ok, but nothing memorable. As we were finishing the owner came out and asked us how everything was. She noticed the full bowl of soup on the table, which was there because the waitress had cleared nothing from the table, and asked my friend why he didn't eat it. He told her he didn't like it and her response was that he is not familiar with real Mexican food. Keep in mind, he is Mexican and Colombian. The owner was very nice, besides that moment, and gave us the history of Mexico and the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo. After it all, we were left with no reason to want to come back. I am usually up for a personal second opinion, but there was nothing else I feel like I want to try. Too bad because Tampa needs a good Mexican restaurant.
(2)Fritz E.
Simply delicious, authentic, flavorful Mexican food. For lunch, we had the Mexican Soup and a tequila shrimp entree. The flavors were there. This is not, open a can, warm up food approach. More tasty than nearby Miguel's and don;t even to think to compare it to any mexican or tex mex related chain or say Estella's which long ago stopped being a good place to eat. On Tuesday, they offer $2 tacos. We got 5 including the tongue taco - very tasty. If you like Acapulco, Taco Bus or Tios on Drew Street, give this place a chance. Plus the place looks great and in a convenient location in South Tampa.
(4)Jim H.
Very fresh, genuine ingredients. Everything was very tasty without the need to overspice with heavy sauces. Enchaladas were outstanding. Tuesday taco night is a great bargain! Server was terrific.
(5)Cassie P.
The food is good and the portions are huge, but it's a little expensive for a casual Mexican restaurant. An entree runs $14-22 I came here at an off time on a Saturday- around 4pm....and the service was less than stellar. The restaurant was empty and most of the staff was just standing around. Agreeing with some of the other reviews, yes the decor is a little much- but it's not the reason I won't return. With so many options for Mexican, I was not impressed with Catrina's overall experience.
(2)Leonardo G.
Best authentic Mexican food around, worth the trip. Everyone is super nice and help. Been their twice and will go again and again. Not a drinker but their frozen tamarindo margarita is awesome. All the food is fresh, no burritos or chimis go to Taco Bell if you want that. Guacamole is to die for so fresh. I've had the ceviche and it was great. The only place I will go and try other plates, normally when I go to restaurants I get the same thing all the time.
(5)Thomas D.
I walked into the restaurant on a Thursday night at 7:15. The parking lot seemed mostly full so I expected a decent crowd inside. The place was empty save one table of four people. The server walked up, handed us menus and asked us what we wanted to order for dinner. We requested that she give us a few minutes to review the menu. She came back less than two minutes later with waters and asked us again what we wanted to drink and eat. We ordered an appetizer and asked for additional time to look at the menu. When she returned a couple minutes later I asked about a couple items on the menu, specifically, what one of their sauces tasted like. I asked if she could bring me just a taste of it. When she returned she informed me that the chef does not allow tastes, and I would need to order to find out what it tastes like. The drink menu is grossly overpriced. When I asked about their $10 margaritas she said they are "good and normal sized" whatever that means. Everything on their menu is overly priced and average quality with little to no creativity. Go ahead and skip this place.
(1)Weatalo H.
This is my new favorite restaurant! Drinks were strong, food was crazy good (chorizo tacos), mariachi was charming and not to loud and the atmosphere was excellent. If they just left the tomatoes out of the guacamole it would have been perfect.
(5)Dixie C.
My family dined here over the weekend. We had an overall pleasant experience. My husband had the tamales and he said "they weren't his favorite". The "filling-to-outside" ratio was off and the outside tasted like cornbread. I had the carne asada tacos. They tasted slightly bland, I added quite a bit of salt. But they were good. My son (2 yrs) had the chicken fingers and fries. The chicken came out and I was very surprised to see that it was REAL chicken that looked like it was just hand breaded and not some frozen crap that a lot of restaurants put on their kids menu. All of the food seemed extremely fresh and made from scratch. We would eat here again, but will probably try something different off the menu. Oh, and the service was STELLAR!
(3)Alina M.
I had hoped for better but have not been impressed with the food at all. The last time I was there the service was the worst ever. I kind of felt bad for the guy because he was honestly clueless. The management is the pits. We won't ever go back.
(1)Nikki A.
The food was amazing. The Langosta tacos were incredibly flavorful and fresh. There was a little confusion with our order and the explanation of the night's specials. There was an extended wait for drink refills. I will be back for more of the Queso Fundido.....
(3)Regina L.
Now, this is authentic Mexican. I've been dying for some authentic mexican food and thought I would give it a try and glad I did. Don't expect the usual mexican fare here though. Knocking the rating down by 1 star due to the price, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Try the molcajeta. It's delish.
(4)Tina H.
We've been there a few weeks ago for dinner. I liked the ambience and the variety of food and beverages offered reminded me of my time in Central America - they have Rosa de Jamaica tea. The food was tasty, but the service needs to improve in attitude and friendliness I feel.
(4)Juan P.
Food was delicious, but the Mariachi music is a bit too loud for such a small place.
(4)Alexandra S.
Great Mexican with an authentic touch. I love spice and heat and they do not disappoint. If you like chiles go for the aguachiles--like a shrimp ceviche with serrano and habanero peppers. Molcajetes are also satisfying. Friday is mariachi night and it's a great show!
(4)Brian N.
I'm calling all my California transplants and lovers of authentic Mexican food! Catrinas Cocina y Galeria is the best Mexican food I have had outside of Southern California. Yes, that's right. I said it! You read that correctly. But before I get to my review, I would like to explain a few things about authentic Mexican food. Mexican food is not Tex-Mex! If that's what you're expecting when you think Mexican, then this is not the place for that. Tex-Mex is good if that's what you like, but it is not, I repeat, not, Mexican food, so don't be disappointed if you don't get your Tex-Mex at Catrinas. Another misconception about Mexican food is that it's cheap and simple both in its preparation and taste. Again, this could not be farther from the truth. Many Mexican foods are highly complex in both flavor and preparation and can be very time intensive to make. Take for instance, mole'. There are several different versions of mole', and, on average, most mole sauces have around twenty to thirty different ingredients. Moreover, mole' is usually started early in the morning and simmered until the afternoon or evening. As a Southern California boy, good Mexican food surrounded me growing up. I could visit a friend's house, and their mom, tias, and abuelitas would be making homemade corn tortillas, mole', real beans, and a smorgasbord of meats, side dishes, and entrées. Sigh...tear...okay, regroup and move on. I miss home, though. Let's fast forward to today. I live blocks from Catrinas, and for some reason I have never gone in until now. I just always assume Mexican food is going to be terrible outside of California - I will say the one exception is Barrio Chino in Chinatown, NYC, surprisingly. However, I walked in after the lunch crowd with my 16 month old daughter and was immediately greeted with a smile and told to sit anywhere I liked. My friendly and beautiful waitress quickly went over the menu and finished with, "this is authentic Mexican." I replied, "Oh, excellent, I'm Californian and will be the judge of that." On the menu, my eyes were immediately drawn to the tacos al pastor. If you don't know what this is, it's slow cooked pork that has been marinated in pineapple juice and several different seasonings and roasted chilies; it's also a dish you rarely find outside of Mexico or heavy Mexican immigrant communities. I immediately placed an order in for them. I also ordered the tacos lengua (beef tongue). The anticipation began to build. After I placed my order, the waitress told the chef that I was from CA, and the chef came out and showed me the fresh chorizo she was making - incredible, both green and red! By the way, I was given a taco with both chorizos on the house. I mean, let's talk about service, hospitality, and pride in their food. I seriously wanted to hug everyone. My tacos came out and were properly prepared: small homemade corn torillas, meat, cilantro, onion, salsa verde (or roja), and a lime! Booyah! That's how it's supposed to be! I started with the lengua, simply put, they were amazing. Next I sampled the pastor, which was delicious, but not as authentic as they should be. In Catrinas defense, they don't have a rotisserie roaster, much like a shwarma roaster. Pastor comes from Jalisco province, where Lebanese immigrant cooking collided with Mexican spices and flavors. Anyway, I was assured that a slow roaster was high on their list of future purchases. No matter, the pastor was still amazingly delicious. The chorizo tacos - again, on the house - can only be described with a socal colloquialism, "bomb, fool!" Seriously, the chorizo was sublime. You must order it if you go, and at this point you'd be a fool not to. Yes, this was a serious TL:DR review, but I was so happy to find this place that I couldn't restrain my love and enthusiasm. With all this said, I will be returning to Catrinas soon to sample the mole' and the Baja fish tacos, which I'm sure will be amazing, especially with one of the many Mexican beers on tap or in the bottle at Catrinas. Also, next month my best friend who is from Cali but living in NYC is coming for a visit. There is no doubt that we'll be making a trip to experience authentic Mexican food, being proudly served here in the heart of South Tampa.
(5)Sam G.
Food was bland with very little meat. Quantity was very small and everything was WAY overpriced. Large fee for chips and salsa ($5). Come on, this is a mexican restaurant, make with the chips. Wait staff was what you might describe as "snooty". if you're looking for Mexican food in the area, forget this place and go to Miguel's.
(1)Varianii V.
Delicious, vegetarian-friendly, and nice atmosphere. Absolutely love the decorations (seriously, go to the bathrooms just to see more).
(5)Lauren C.
Cool art gallery atmosphere. Authentic food. Pretty good and I would probably go back but the menu is pretty pricey for what is offered.
(3)Michelle E.
So flavorful!! Coming originally from San Diego, I am usually disappointed by bland food, thankfully not the case here. The mushroom tacos are a great vegetarian option, I highly recommend that. My fiance got the carne asada, so good we talked about them the next few days. Fun cups for the margaritas too. I will definitely be back.
(5)Yoli Y.
Very authentic and everything is hand made. They're unique margaritas are to die for!
(4)Axis S.
As a rule I don't bother going out to eat Mexican food -- for the price of a bag of chips, a shaker of salt, and some Old Mission items from Publix I can get 90% of what's on offer out there without having to dodge happy hour OL's howling about their most recent conquests or surrenders. If I do go looking for better, I usually wind up at a Mexican grocery getting tacos, or standing outside a food truck somewhere. I'm very glad I found this place. Cool (temp and decor, imho), clean, laid out, rough-hewn but smooth tables, a couple of large (but quiet) televisions showing a futbol game and/or a Mexican news channel. This is someplace I'd like to watch a match at and otherwise settle in for an afternoon... But the food quickly and rightly takes center stage. I'm not going to argue authentic -- Mexico is the 15th largest country in the world and at 760,000 square miles to think I "know all Mexican food" is pretty laughable. This looks, tastes, and feels very similar to what I ate while traveling south of the border once I left the chain restaurants. Which is to say fresh, clean tastes of good ingredients prepared simply. Tamales: Light, fluffy, served dry style with fresco. Excellent! And after trying to make these one winter, I'm more than glad to pay the twelve bones for the platter -- these things take FOREVER to cook. Tacos: Corn or flour, fresh ingredients, mouthfeel and textures range from tangy/spongy (cactus) to unctuous/firm (tongue), I ususally get corn tortillas. Quesadillas: These surprised me, but in a good way. Light corn tortilla, similar to the fluffiness of the Tamales, with inspired stuffing choices. I like the corn truffle (huitlacoche), my guest loved her grilled mushroom & spinach (hongos o espinica). And here is where I need to hang my head in shame a bit. I REALLY need to try more of the seafood and meat dishes, but I keep taking vegetarian friends here because the offerings are fantastic for their dietary restrictions. Soon, dammit, and yes, that means I'll be back often.
(4)Jose H.
I had brunch this morning and those chilaquiles were the best I have had for a long time, been born and raised in La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico I kind of know what the real taste is when it comes to Mexican food, not your Tex-Mex kind of place, if you are looking for real ethnic mexican flavors this is the perfect spot...just loved it, can't wait for next weekend to return....
(5)Beth G.
Fantastic authentic Mexican! This is by far the best in South Tampa. The guacamole was the best I have ever had. The chicken enchiladas were incredibly flavorful. The skinny margarita was also wonderful. Will definitely be going back!!
(5)Beth S.
I saw the mixed reviews on here and wanted to throw in that I really, truly enjoyed this place. It's a shame that it appears to be hit and miss. The night I ate there was a definite hit. The decor of Catrina's is eclectic and features lovely art that you'd see at any place celebrating Dia de los Muertos. I'm a fan of the skulls and bright colors but I get that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I ate here by myself so I only have one meal to base this review on but that one meal was delicious! Upon being seated you are given a warm basket of chicharones. These are not "pork rinds" but a flour chicharone in the shape of a wagon wheel. They are a fried flour that comes out crispy and are seasoned with a little salt and a little lime. The are strangely addicting and totally worth trying the place out for these alone because they have such a unique flavor. I ordered the tamales because I consider myself a tamale conisseur and I was not let down. The mole sauce was perfect mixed with the pork and cornmeal. They were warm and the portion was awesome! More than enough! The side of rice and beans were also delicious and everything tasted very authentic. Bottom line: if you're looking for Tex-Mex and gobs of melted cheese on everything, this isn't the place. This is authentic Mexican and it's quite delicious. I hope this place stays around a bit longer but the other reviews on here give me some concern. I'll go back again and do my part!
(4)Kristin M.
Came here on a Sunday when Datz had a 2 hour wait. It's right down the street and has beautiful artwork and ambiance inside. I had a $5 El Niño margarita and some huevos chorizo. Food was great, however there was a $2 charge for hot sauce or salsa. Other than that, we were in and out before we even heard back from Datz.
(4)Krs T.
I've been here on a few occasions. Unfortunately on my last visit the manager was completely unprofessional. Our order was messed up and when it was corrected there was a hair on the plate. The manager whisked the plate away to fix the problem. These things happen. All would have been fine if it wasn't for the manager coming back to the table--not to apologize--but to let us know that they inspected the plate and they determines that there was no hair. It's ridiculous because we all saw it and the manager took the plate away within seconds of putting it down. The professional response should have been we apologize and will take care of it. There is no point to argue with the customer unless you don't want those customers to return again--which she clearly did not. And we will be happy to oblige. Overall the food is okay but certainly not worth dealing with a poorly managed restaurant.
(1)Kyle M.
So good, I got the fajitas cantinas... So fire! Chunks of lobster, tons of shrimp and steak and chicken. Also best fresh salsa I've ever had.
(5)O. G.
Skeptical about coming here based on reviews, but decided to give it a try. Amazing food, cocktails, art and music!!! We had various appetizers and the taco dishes!!! (And yes, just Tacos! no sides of rice and beans!!!) Truly authentic. I think there is some confusion amongst some Yelper's about what true Mexican food is... I'm thinking the negative reviews are coming from people expecting Taco Bell!!! In any case we had a great experience and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in town!!!
(5)Jason K.
I will preface this review with the fact that I ate at an a-typical event and thus no portion of my review will concern the service as I dont want to hold that against Catrinas due to the nature and number of people who were at the event. As for the food, we tried a sampling of different dishes. After reading the reviews, we were anxious to try the guacamole and chips, which was pretty good. I would say that was the highlight of the meal. The portions of the food were very large, but i found myself having to pick around some of the odd ingredients in the food. I am a picky eater, but many of the flavors weren't enjoyable to me.There were also some issues with other "warm" dishes arriving to our table at room temperature (perhaps due to the event referenced above). I think the food was average, but honestly, I would much rather eat at the Taco Bus if I were to do Mexican in Tampa. I thought the "day of the dead" style art was pretty cool, but the prices were definately out of my budget!
(3)SOFIA G.
We are from LA and its hard to find decent Mexican food on the east coast. We were actually heading to Datz but it was closed so we decided to give Catrina's a chance and were not dissapointed. I ordered the Chile Rellenos afraid they would put salsa like the other east coast restaurants but to my surprise it was actual sauce and the chile rellenos they were Delicious. The rice and beans were good. they had aguas frescas which i love I ordered the Guava, delish. My husband ordered the enchiladas and the margarita. The ambience is great. I like the decorations and the mexican artwork that surrounds the bar. Will definitely be going again.
(5)Tracy G.
Each visit gets better and better. My last two visits have been sensational and words can't express how much I love the Guacamole Catrinas. I took some to a tailgating event for a recent Bucs game and it was gone before I could dip my second chip in for more. I have brought several friends in for dinner and all of them have raved about the food. My current favorite dish is the Chiles en Nogada which which consists of poblano chiles filled with picadillo (a mixture of meat, nuts, fruits and spices) then covered with a walnut cream sauce, called nogada, and then dazzled with gorgeous pomegranate seeds. AMAZING!!!!!!! Love this place and can't wait to take my mom in who is visiting from Washington. Oh, their wine list is pretty dang good as well. Cheers!
(5)Mary B.
We went to Catrina's for the first time around 1:30pm on a Thursday afternoon and the place was completely empty. It took at least 10 minutes to receive our margaritas from the bartender, who was busy chatting with someone at the bar. My boyfriend ordered the "La Nina" margarita and I ordered the "Cilan Rita" margarita; both were $9 for a house tequila-made margarita. When we finally did get our margaritas, they tasted like bad tequila mixed with very sour lime juice and water. We then ordered the Queso Fundido appetizer which had good flavor, but was made of mozzarella cheese, not the more authentic "melted Oaxaca" cheese that was listed on the menu. My boyfriend asked for a bottle of hot sauce (meaning Tabasco sauce or something similar) and was brought a tiny cup of their special hot sauce. He again asked for the bottle version but the server said "this is our hot sauce". We were later charged $2 for it. We were so disappointed with the margaritas that we did not order another. We then ordered the Chicken Tacos listed under the lunch specials. The tacos consisted of plain, non marinated, dry pieces of chicken with tons of chopped cilantro and a small amount of minced onions on them. That was it. We asked the waiter for some shredded cheese to put on the tacos and he brought us a tiny cup of shredded mozzarella cheese (obviously flavorless) and charged us $1 for it. Overall, the experience was flavorless, overpriced, and disappointingly not the typical authentic Mexican cuisine we are used to. We will not be back.
(1)Megan W.
I visited Catrina's for the first time during the first Dishcrawl in Tampa. Iwas blown away at the authenticity of the cuisine. We were served three courses, Chile en Nogada, Guacamole Catrinas and Quesadille Huitlacoche. Since Catrina's opened 10 months ago, I have been dying to stop in and try the Guacamole Catrinas. Avocados topped with lobster, shrimp, cheese and pomegranate seeds...I mean, really. It was as delicious as it sounds. Chile en Nogada: poblano chiles filled with picadillo (a mixture of meat, nuts, fruits and spices) then covered with a walnut cream sauce, called nogada, and then dazzled with gorgeous pomegranate seeds. The green chiles, the white cream sauce and the red pomegranate seeds reflect the colors of the Mexican flag. Quesadille Huitlacoche: Lightly fried corn tortilla filled with corn truffle, poblano peppers, onions and cheese. I was super excited to try this dish since it had corn truffle in it. It was very good and executed perfectly. Margaritas and Sangria were both delicious as well!
(4)Joe S.
Overpriced and bizarre. Corn tortillas, not free chips nor salsa, strange ambiance. This place has high end prices for a Mexican restaurant but absolutely nothing spectacular about their food. They are searching for an identity. I never write on here but felt compelled to since this place basically robbed me of $60. Dribk prices are reasonable. Food prices are ridiculous. Honestly, if you want high end Mexican, try Miguel's. If you want low end Mexican, try Estela's. If you want to pay a lot for nothing, eat here.
(1)Chad U.
Catrinas has good ambiance. The walls are decorated in a way like no other restaurant around Tampa. Not knowing much about Mexican culture, I felt like I was taken into another country briefly. Lots of skulls, black magic and Mexican art. Could be a little scary for smaller children. The food options are pretty standard. Many different options of taco's and Quaesadilla's. No basket of chips and salsa but a basket of air crisps with seasoning. I wasn't too upset about this because I typically chow down on chips and then I'm full by the time the meal arrives. My barbacoa taco's were fair. My date ordered chicken taco's and I like the taste of those a little better. But neither dish was outstanding enough that I'd go back. A note: the drink menu looked pretty exciting. I didn't partake that evening, but it might be fun to try a few of the cocktails they offer. The service was spotty, which was surprising because it wasn't too crowded. There were several empty seats at 7pm on a Saturday night. The staff wasn't very kind; one the servers blatantly cut off a customer headed to the bathroom. And my server in particular didn't offer much more than average service. Our drinks were refilled but it took an eternity to get our plates clear and our check after we finished. But the main reason this only gets 3 stars is that the price is too dang high! Each plate of taco's ran about $12-$14 and the items on the kids menu were $7. Without getting drinks, that already puts you in the mid 40s for a family of 4. If the food quality was higher, I'd be OK paying those types of prices. But I think you're better off just driving a few more minutes over to Green Lemon.
(3)Sylvester M.
Authentic Mexican food, no nachos, no burritos. The staff is a little talkative, but good. The food is excellent authentic Mexican food, if you want nachos or burritos go elsewhere.
(5)Charles R.
If you're looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant, and a genuine dining experience with owners who are as nice as they come, this is the place for you! As a S. Tampa resident, I am thrilled to have such an authentic Mexican restaurant within the community! Well done Catrina's...... Well done!!!!
(5)Misty B.
Well, I returned as I said I would. On this second -- and final -- visit, the owner got in her own way. She stopped by the table to welcome us (good start) but then lecture around her food philosophy. Her heart is absolutely in the right place and, like another reviewer said, she means well. However, her almost obnoxious overtaking of our dining experience to insult every other Mexican-food experience (including that of my home state, Cali) was absolutely off-putting and unnecessary. As for the food this visit, I went specifically to try the menudo, available weekends only and a rare find in South Tampa. A really great example of how the above "situation" with the owner played out was: (after a lecture about why she charges for chips and salsa -- OK, I get it already) I asked if their menudo had hominy in it. Simple question. First, she was taken aback that I'd ordered menudo. (Gasp, you put something on your menu no one in the area would dare try?) After that, I got an earful about how hominy in menudo is not "real menudo" and about how where she's from, they'd NEVER put hominy in menudo. OK, thanks. I like hominy in my menudo, but I'm also fine without it. What I don't like is the commentary given to ANY customer around how their taste preference is off/wrong/incorrect or otherwise not acceptable. As for the actual menudo, it was only OK. It needed the hominy. ;-) Advice: As much as I'd usually recommend otherwise, in this case, I suggest that you keep the owner off the floor, train the servers well, and just let them do their job. I won't be back.
(1)Shawn G.
This place is amazing. I visited three times and will definitely continue. I can't imagine anyone saying the food is not good. Perhaps it doesn't match people's expectation of "Mexican". I've been to several "authentic" Mexican restaurants, several Tex-Mex style ones, several tiny mom & pop style, and a few trucks/trailers. Catrinas is completely different from any previous Mexican food I've ever had. The ingredients are top-notch. The dishes are vibrant and exciting - lots of well-balanced flavors, and they're meticulously prepared and presented. The owner did come to our table, but we did not have an experience like that in the other reviews. She simply asked if we enjoyed it. When we gave an enthusiastic "yes", she suggested that next time we ask about the specials that aren't on the menu. I was dissappointed the server didn't mention anything about the specials and I asked her what tonight's was. She gave a poetic description of the dish - she clearly is passionate about food. We complimented her guacamole and she thanked us and left. Maybe she considered The service wasn't great - she was not in the front much, and so wasn't aware of when we needed things. It was difficult to get her attention to fix the situation. Additionally, the hostess lounges at the bar with her feet up on another chair, chatting with the bartender or playing on her phone. The decor is beautiful, filled with contemporary artwork. During one of the visits, there was a violist. If you visit, be sure to try the Guacamole Catrinas: it's magical.
(5)Don P.
I have been here once, so far, and totally plan to return the next time I am here on a work trip from SF, CA. I love Mexican food, and have tried all kinds of variations all over the country, but mostly in SF and SD, California and the Mexican Yucatan. The place was nearly empty, but seemed like it might get lively on occasion--there is plenty of space. My colleague and I sat at the bar. We ordered the fish ceviche (as opposed to the shrimp) and a pitcher of Pacifico. Mui autentico! The chips that came with the ceviche were fresh and crisp. For main courses, I got the lobster tacos and he got the pastor tacos. Both plates were super-excellent, fresh, flavor-filled soft tacos, and I had to go purge before I could finish all of my dinner. (OK, I did not purge, but maybe should have, because I was stuffed when I left that place). The woman serving us did not seem especially happy we were there (I don't know why; maybe they would have closed had we not walked in?), but I really enjoyed the food and the ambiance, left a hefty tip, and told her I would be back. Highly recommend!
(4)Kelly K.
Since this particular location has been more restaurants than I can remember we waited a good long while to visit, for quality control purposes. The parking is a little less than adequate but there are other options, street and neighboring lots. They offer outside seating, which in Tampa is desirable at times, just not between 4 and 5pm as we all know the showers visit for at least 15 minutes everyday. I was immediately impressed my the interior and the immaculate painting and sculptures. The bright colors are much more authentic than their local competitors. I odored a margarita, and the lovely waitress returned promptly with these fluffy crispy treats, I'm still unsure of what to call them. We ordered taco's as it was recommend by many yelpers. In the meantime, the owner, came out greeted us and gave us a beautiful rundown of how the restaurant came to be, where she was from, and what I thought most interesting how she acquires her fresh catch. Side note, she did most of the paintings on the walls as well. She was more than educated on the toxins released by the catch when caught by fishing line or a net. She put so much emphasis on the freshness because of the way the local fisherman use spear fishing in an inhumane way to fish. We listened on attentively and rather enjoyed so much passion she had for her establishment. The meal was delish but the experience is what put it over the top. I will be back and more often. I should have given it a try much sooner.
(5)sarah M.
When my husband told me about Catrinas opening up on the cute little portion of South MacDill in Palma Ceia - walking distance from our house - I was thrilled! Mexican food is a favorite of mine. I could probably eat it every day of my life and having recently moved to Tampa, I'm starving for some tasty enchiladas, chips and salsa and a nice, cold Margarita. I'm from California and also lived breifly in Texas. My husband is Mexican and his mom can makes some of the best food you'll ever eat. So lets just say I know good Mexican food. Authentic Mexican food. And lets face it - Florida is just lacking when it comes to good, authentic Mexican food. We went to Catrinas during the Happy Hour on a Friday evening. The artwork and scupltures in front and inside the restaurant are cute and help it fit into the Palma Ceia district but are an obvious attempt to make the restaurant qualify as "trendy". There were several servers standing around the bar playing with their iphones looking bored. We were greeted by ours - I don't remember her name - but she was actually very friendly and attentive. First thing we checked out was the drink menu. Two different types of Sangria but limited Margarita options. When I found out they don't offer Margaritas my husband and I both had the white Sangria. I had a rough week at work and being tired, I was looking for a nice drink to help ease me into the weekend. Sangria was a poor choice. I"m a light weight and had been dieting for several weeks prior to this night, which means I hadn't had a sip of alchohol in probably 6 weeks. The Sangria was sweet and flavorful but I'm pretty sure it had no alchohol. The drinks were buy one get one free. My husband drank my second one. We think were were given fruit juice with some fruit in the bottom. One thing I love about dining in Mexican Restaurants is the unlimited chips and salsa they bring you. If you have good chips and salsa its generally a pretty good indicator that you will have good food. Instead of chips and salsa, Catrina's provides a very tiny, cup of chopped fruit and cucumbers. The waitress smiles and states "its very healthy and complimentary, on the house". Well, it bettter be complimentary because I can't imagine who would have ordered this off the menu. It was so small and meant to be shared by an entire table? Very odd! The menu is pricey. So much so, they we ended up leaving and going down the street to Datz. Sorry - I just can't pay $15 for a plate of beans, rice and bland tacos. I guess in some ways its not fair for me to write a review on this place because I really didnt try their food. But if you go to a restaurant, sit down, order a drink and the impression is so bad you get up and leave - its probably not a place you will ever visit again or that you would recommend anyone else to visit. If you're in Tampa and want real, authentic Mexican food avoid this spot. Actually, I can only advice you to really avoid any Mexican restaurant in Tampa. Head down Nebraska and hit up some of the taco trucks. Thats the only place in Tampa that I've experienced real, fresh Mexican food.
(1)Ramon R.
The Catrina guacamole is delicious. The tacos are full of flavor. The food is made fresh and very good. I like the range of meats; chicken, beef, and lobster. If you're hard core Mexican they have lengua and nopales. They have a good selection of beer. The margaritas and sangrias need some work. The food is a little pricey but worth it. If its not the best Mexican restaurant in Tampa it should be in top 3.
(5)Mike P.
They mean well at Catrina's Cocina Y Galeria, they really do. Despite meaning well, the service, the ambiance, the food and the execution was a bit lacking for my taste. They say you should wait a few months before visiting a new restaurant, and I wish we had. We waited a while to see our server after arriving. The food took roughly 30 minutes to arrive after ordering, and my order was wrong. Instead of waiting another 30, I just ate what was in front of me. The food was more authentic than most sit-down mexican restaurants in Tampa, but the pricing and nickel-and-dime approach made for a bland experience. Pro Tips: - Instead of paying $14 for the four tacos that come in the taco entrees (which don't include sides), just buy 4 a la carte tacos off the sides menu for $2.50 each (and mix and match). That way, you'll only pay $10. - If you don't like sweet margaritas, don't order one here. The sweetness was too much for my wife and I, and there was no discernible kick from tequila. I think this was the first time I haven't finished a margarita. Cool cups though! - If you come at night, sit inside. The mosquitos out front feasted on our legs to the point that we needed to move inside. That's not Catrina's fault, of course. Nor was the drunk sorority having a volume battle with the band indoors. I might suggest asking the host/ess to seat you on the left side of the bar if you want to avoid that. If Catrina's can get the service tightened up a bit, if they can come back to earth a little on their prices, and if they can ditch the cheap skating to put some tequila in the marg's and chips/salsa on the tables charge-free, they might be a good alternative to Miguel's. I'm not a fan of Miguel's. But as of this experience, I can't say I'm a fan of Catrina's either.
(2)Eric T.
Picked-up a .slew of food for a group of us, as we were meeting on my couch to watch NCAA basketball. Anyway, the mole poblano chicken was great...perfect amount of heat, mexican rice was excellent as well...and while I was waiting I was able to enjoy a few Victorias! Chips and salsa were also above average.
(4)Natalie M.
Went for lunch. The decor is fantastic, but the food was just mediocre. They brought out a fried flour treat that appeared would be crunchy, but wasn't. Not sure if it was stale, as I've never had it before. For appetizers we ordered chips and salsa, as well as guacamole. I was unimpressed with the guacamole. The chips were thick and the salsa spicy. Both were ok. Others in my group ordered steak fajitas and chicken tacos. The reviews for those were average. I ordered the beef and chorizo quesadilla which came with beans and rice on the side. The beans tasted canned and the rice was bland. I will say the quesadilla was very good, though not what I expected. It's more what I would call an empanada--fried flour dough stuffed with beef, chorizo and cheese. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, just underwhelming. I imagine this is a fun place in the evenings, but not my first choice for lunch. I prefer Chihuahuas down the street.
(3)Tony P.
Pre-Mexican can mean a lot. This is pretty straight on Mexican. Our friendly waitress Ella greeted us when we were seated. Made suggestions about the food. I got the guacamole and the mole enchiladas. Both good, could use a little salt. Prices are a bit on the high side, but far from unreasonable. The sangria was very tasty. I will return to try more from this unique addition to the neighborhood.
(3)Kailee W.
I did not enjoy my experience at all. I work in hospitality and I was surprised about how awful the service was. I told my server I didn't understand the menu and what each name for the type of meat were, he looked aggravated yet went through very quickly what each meat was. I then asked if I could just order two tacos because I was not very hungry, he said no that I could order three chicken tacos on the lunch special or the four for ten dollar tacos. So I went with the four tacos because I wanted to try two different meats. I asked if I could only have sour cream and cheese on my tacos, he said no that he could put it on the side and it would be extra. I do not have any issue with paying extra for sour cream or cheese I work in a restaurant and understand food cost. The issue was the way the server said no I can't put it on your taco. After the fact that our food took over twenty minutes with two other tables in the building, my food came out wrong. All of the toppings came on the taco cilantro, onion, tomato, ect. I apologized and said I only wanted cheese and sour cream, even though I had already made it clear what I wanted on the tacos I was trying to be polite because I know everyone makes mistakes. My server I believe his name was John looked at me like I was an idiot then took my plate and walked away. About ten minutes later returning with tacos the way I originally wanted them. I am twenty two as well as my boyfriend who dined with me, we ordered a margarita pitcher and did not get carded. The Margarita tasted very watered-down nothing special about it. The food over all was pretty good. I recieved my bill and my tacos were listed as $2.70 each which multiplied by 4 is $10.80, 80 cents is not a huge deal but if the tavos were put into the computer as individual i don't see why i couldn't of just had two. Service is what really sells a good restaurant and this was lacking that, and I wouldn't ever return here again.
(1)R M.
This is the first Mexican restaurant in Tampa that has really authentic Mexican food. The house signature guacamole is fantastic. I had the lobster tacos and my wife had shrimp tacos. Both were great. We had a decent bottle of wine that was reasonably priced! How refreshing! This is our new go to place for Mexican.
(4)Phillip S.
I found the food very underwhelming. The salsa is okay, but nothing to write home about. The Queso Fundido was my favorite thing there. The portions were pretty tiny and for the price not worth my money. If you like authentic Mexican food then this might be for you, but not my cup of tea.
(2)Ari B.
Mexican food that tries to be pretentious in the ritzy Palma Ceia area and falls flat on its face. First of all, they serve you this weird, tiny fruit cup when you come in. NO chips and salsa. If you want it you have to pay FIVE dollars. Are you kidding me? Queso blanco is four dollars at Miguel's with unlimited chips! All the meals nickel-and-dime you too. Prepare to pay 14 dollars for tacos with NO sides. Sides are extra. These people are crazy! The food is not good either. Not worth the price by a long shot. The worst part is the owner. Wow she's obnoxious. She has a Yelp account and she gets on here and bashes anyone who gives her restaurant a bad rating. I can't wait for her to bash me! Lady? Take a management course or hand the restaurant over to someone who isn't an arrogant loudmouthed a-hole like you. This place will be closed in six months. And the owner will be crying and wondering why people did this to her wonderful authentic restaurant. Wake up and read the real reviews, not just the ones your friends posted to boost the rating. This place sucks. PROS: Decor is a mediocre attempt at "trendy" That's it CONS: You'll give more nickels and dimes here than you'll give to the Salvation Army bell man Bad food The. Owner. Is. Obnoxious. Not worth the price at all VERDICT: Are you kidding me? I wouldn't go near the owner with a thirty foot long pole! Stay away, far away. ****EDIT**** Apparently the loco owner thinks that anyone who gives her restaurant a bad review is just another account of a troll who has it out for her place. Look at her response to Elizabeth's review. SO unprofessional. Also I'll add that we are NOT the same person, just two people who think her restaurant sucks like a mosquito. AND the owner is having friends write good reviews of this place to boost the rating. You can tell because the reviews of "Jane" and "Tracy" all have terrible grammar throughout, just like the owner's grammar when she comments...hmmm.... And lastly, why would I waste my time creating different accounts for a restaurant that'll be closed soon regardless? The owner is a looney toon and she should be committed. She should be about as near to the customer service industry as I should be to the top of Mount Everest. Hint: I'm afraid of heights. ****EDIT EDIT**** Hmm, "Jane"s review has mysteriously disappeared. I wonder why? Maybe because the owner knows we see through her game? You know lady, someday you're gonna run out of email addresses to create all these fake accounts. And friends to write fake reviews. Your restaurant sucks; 95 percent of people don't like it. Admit it and take your "authentic Aztec recipes of your grandmother" and shove them up your piehole. Come back when you've learned a little humility. Adios muchacha. :D
(1)Windy C.
Stopped in for a Friday happy hour drink with friends and stayed till I was full and happy, happy, happy. Every dish from appetizers to entrees to dessert was delicious. Guacamole was freshly made and tasty, corn chips were warm with a toasty flavor and thick enough to stand up to the chunky dips/salsas. Lobster quesadillas and fish tacos were delicious. Whole fried snapper was perfectly cooked - not too dry as is sometimes the case. Cactus salad and marinated carrots/onions were consumed and I was left wanting more. Coffee flan was a great finish to a great meal. Then came the mariachi band and I really wanted to stay longer but was feeling too full and lethargic. Service was flawless. The chef took time to tell us what was freshly available and how she would prepare it. Servings are large enough for sharing and prices are reasonable. Menu has a lot of vegetarian and seafood dishes. This is NOT a tex-mex joint. I will return.
(4)Allen I.
This review thread should be required reading for anyone thinking about opening a restaurant in Tampa. No wonder the restaurants are so terrible here, the complaints are just ridiculous. I think a lot of Yelpers in this town are more Prima Donnas than foodies. What kind of foodies try and force a restaurant to be just like all the others?? It's not a mexican chain (i.e. no free chips, no huge quantities of poor quality food at cheap prices). It's an attempt to bring a higher end Mexican restaurant to Tampa. Something you'll find plenty of in larger cities, particularly on the west coast. You shouldn't go here if you are just looking for big burrito's (or for that matter if you think General Tso's Chicken is chinese food). Anyway my meal was great. Nice ceviche full of fish, shrimp and lobster meat (though I kind of question the use of lobster meat in a ceviche, I thought I'd try it), no filler ingredients like most. The Mole Enchiladas were excellent, the mole sauce was full of flavor not bland like I've found in most places. The Flor De Calabaza Quesadilla was very interesting though I'm not sure I'd get it again, I like more flavor than squash blossoms offer. I'll definitely go back and try again as it's one of the few restaurants in town that actually has different things not found on very other menu. So it actually has new things to try.
(5)Marybeth D.
Wonderful! Fresh and yummy! Owners Carolyn & Lisbeth and entire staff is so friendly. It was my friend's BD and they brought out a complimentary little flan. A new little gem in South Tampa!
(5)Darlene C.
Lovely place, one of the few interesting mexican places in Tampa. Love the flavors, atmosphere and the really good food.
(5)Leeanna S.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Not your typical Americanized Mexican - This is true, hands-down, authentic Mexican! I just keep going back! Cannot wait to go back again!
(5)Food L.
Really wanted to like it but food was not good. Won't be back.
(1)Rachel M.
My husband and I are Mexican food fanatics. Catrina's caught my eye because of the restaurant and gallery combination. We were greeted immediately, sat down and enjoyed the array of awesome eye candy. After inhaling the delicious appetizers (guacamole and sopa Azteca), our meals came out, but what I ordered was not what arrived at the table-- it wasn't a big deal, but the chef came out, and offered to make me an amazing quesadilla. She chatted us up about cactus (nopalito), and since my husband and I have never tried it, she insisted we did so. She was so warm and caring about our experience at her restaurant (both owners were so welcoming), she made us feel like family. She took us around and spoke to us about the art, which she has made herself! It was such a great, hospitable experience, which is very rare these days. I am a fan and I would HIGHLY recommend Catrina's to anyone who is also a Mexican food junkie.
(5)Jason G.
Awesome soft corn tortilla tacos, fresh and not greasy. Great staff, a lot of love put in all their food.
(5)EJ P.
Still waiting to find a good taco in Tampa Bay, although Catrinas is decent. Better than our other options at the moment, if you are looking for a typical Mexican restaurant experience. I guess they went for this artsy vibe, but all I really care about is fresh, authentic Mexican food that doesn't require a flight to San Diego. The fish tacos were good. Fresh fish, nice Baja sauce. The tortillas are not homemade. I don't understand why this is so difficult. Can no one in Tampa make homemade tortillas? Every restaurant in Texas and California has a tortilla maker, whether it's a fancy machine or a grandmother in the back. What is the problem, Florida? Also, I think Catrinas will have a problem attracting success without offering the obligatory chips/salsa free before you order. I don't care about this, but everyone else in my table was bitching about it. The carnitas tacos were OK, but the pork was dry. It was flavorful, but dry. To make it a great carnitas taco out of that you needed some salsa or other wet ingredient (they serve the carnitas tacos with the authentic cilantro and onions topping only). The guac was pretty good. But I have def. had better in other U.S. Mex restaurants. The chips are different. Although I liked them b/c at least they are homemade and NOT out of a bag, I know other diners will not like chips that are hard and greasy like that. I would go back to Catrinas for the fish tacos. But in general the food is OK, not great, overall. I guess I still have to plan my next taco trip to California.
(3)Michelle W.
I wrote a review before, not sure why it isn't showing. I don't understand why everyone is ranking this place so low. It is delicious. The atmosphere is very fun and the drinks are tasty. Additionally, the food is incredibly reasonably priced. A group of 4 of us got out for less than $100 w/ a margarita pitcher, a beer, 3 entree orders and 2 appetizers....pretty good deal. I also don't understand the brewhaha about free chips and salsa. If you want to feast on some quality chips and salsa - order them. I have never walked into a coffee shop and thought, "WOAH! Wait...what's going on... no free pastries with my coffee? Rip off." I have been to this place 2x now and will 100% be back.
(4)jane s.
So excited to find a real authentic Mexican restaurant in Tampa. The owner has created a fun atmosphere, has a lovely staff, and apparently has great cooks in the kitchen. The menu is extensive. We ordered the chicken enchiladas mole because mole is a very complicated undertaking. This mole was better than any we have anywhere. Can vouch for the real chips and guacamole. Fish is fresh and brought in off the boats daily. If you are expecting the usual all -you -can -eat piles of bad salsa and greasy chips and the same sauces poured over everything, this is not the place for you. Stick with your Tex-Mex high sodium places. If you want real Mexican food this is the only place we have found in the Bay area.
(5)Gurol E.
great location,very friendly service,decent prices most important great taste,what else you can ask
(5)Katie G.
The first authentic Mexican food for Tampa. This restaurant will force South Tampa to experience outside of their comfort zone. You will learn to love flavor and authenticity! Catrina's Guacamole with shrimp and lobster is a must. Sangria and Agave Margarita's are outstanding. Don't use a straw. Live a little!
(5)