I have been eating here for over a decade. Their first location was conveniently across the street from me. Recently, El Leoncito has become my husband and I's local default restaurant. Whether you decide to eat from their Cuban or Mexican menu, you can't go wrong. This is where I recommended out-of-towners to eat. The palomilla steak is amazing as are the black beans. Everyone loves the black beans. Most people I know live for their margaritas but I am not a tequila drinker so I won't comment. This joint is always busy and for good reason. The only place where I don't like to be seated is near the bar against the far wall. It's a little too close for comfort to the other patrons. Don't fill up on chips-- they're addicting!
(5)
Li K.
My family went here for 2 for 1 margaritas on a Monday. We were planning on staying for dinner, but pretty quickly changed our minds. We sat outside because it was pleasant after the rain. the Margaritas game quickly and were ok, though the requested salt rim on my girl's watermelon rita came out as sugar. We ordered the guacamole and queso for a snack. The guac was fair, but the queso was cheezwiz and had no flavor or spice. The chips were greasy. We asked for napkins no less than 4 times for napkins and never received them. Our server disappeared and didn't return - we had to go find her to ask for a check. No me gusta.
(1)
Steve S.
El Leoncito is an average Mexican/Cuban restaurant and bar. Our large party was seated in the bar -- not sure if that was because it was the only place that could accommodate, but we did have a reservation. Our meal started with requisite chips and salsa -- ask for the green variety to add more of kick. The menu has a nice mix of Mexican and Cuban favorites. I ordered from the Mexican side this particular evening. My combination meal came out nice and hot. The chicken enchilada was a the best of the plate. The taco came in a corn tortilla that had a lot of oil soaked into it. The chile relleno was mushy on the outside and not real exciting on the inside. I requested the black beans (Cuban side) instead of the standards refried beans. They were very good and came with cheese and onions on top. Others at the table thought their meals were average to good. El Leoncito is a colorfully decorated restaurant just across from the intracoastal waterway and the space center. The bar has lots of sports memorabilia and TVs tuned only to sports. Yes, there are no real craft beers but they do have your standard Mexican varieties. There is a decent-sized patio which seemed reasonably comfortable. Service was a little on the slow side. The restaurant does well in this area but there isn't much else. All in all, it isn't a bad choice if you happen to be in the area.
(3)
ellyn s.
I have to give this restaurant 5 stars because one of my friends is practically a fixture at the place. The margaritas are tasty, service has always been warm and attentive (reference "practically a fixture") and I've found the wait and kitchen staff very accommodating when I want something that's not exactly on the menu.
(5)
Rigo N.
The ambiance was comfortable and festive, along with the staff full of smiles. I went with a party of 9 and our server was excellently poised and present. Drinks were delicious and happy hour was a welcomed bonus. The meals came in a timly manner and were presented very well. How delicious was the meal? I was very pleased. If you are looking for something tasty and fun, race over to El Leoncito...and dont forget to get your selfie infront of the fountain.
(5)
Joe K.
Simply awesome. We always go for the food and margaritas. Best Mexican in the area that we can find.
(5)
Heidi A.
Unfortunately I cannot give a good review here. We walked in and sat down and waited to be seen. For 15 minutes at 11:30 am, on a weekend .. it wasn't overly crowded. We had no water, no one stopped at our table. We left and went to a Vietnamese place instead.
(1)
Brianne D.
Chips and salsa were very tasty, food was flavorful and came in large quantities for a good price. Only complaint was the tamale was very dense and thick. Very pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Jamie P.
Food is ok. Service is usually quick during lunch time, though it could be friendlier. The atmosphere is nice and inviting.
(3)
Hilda D.
I am Mexican and I know Mexican. This is not authentic. I have read other reviews, and really hoping this is not the best Mexican food in Florida's East coast as some of you have said. Now if I am comparing with other non authentic Mexican restaurants the food was very average, I've tasted better. I would like to say that our waiter was very nice and was full of energy, and is why I am giving you two stars and not one.
Another restaurant that I have frequented for years and haven't had a recent opportunity to review - well, yesterday was that day, finally. I've been to this establishment since it was located just down the road, to the north, of where it resides today. And I can certainly say, from my experience, consistency has been the key with El Leoncito. The food has always been good, whether from the Mexican or Cuban menu, I have never been disappointed by entrees, lunch items, or sandwiches. And I discovered during our last visit that they have increased their offerings with specials depending on the day of week - all good choices. This last trip, my wife had their enchiladas rancheros, and I had the special for the day: Salmon with Mango Salsa. Both dishes where huge, fresh, and well made. For dessert, my wife had the fried cheesecake, while I went traditional and had the Mexican Fried Ice Cream - she couldn't finish her's (thick and tasty she just couldn't down it all), while on the other hand I had the whole ice cream - I just couldn't stop. The one thing to nit-pick on is the wait staff - it has been just a bit spotty over the years. But last night, was perfect - a young gal who was personable, attentive, and full of energy - she was a delight. In my opinion, by far one of the best, if not the best Mexican in Brevard County.
(4)
R David P.
Great food, service - a must stop I was in town on business and I wanted to try the best Mexican this city has to offer. I was given this restaurant as a recommendation by someone who works at the Chamber of Commerce. Initially the sound of combining Mexican and Cuban seemed a bit odd but the more I thought about it the more I came to realize that being a Florida native these two flavors are found in abundance throughout the state, so the combination is not nearly as foreign as you might think. I dined on a Wednesday evening around 7 PM. When checking in, the hostess was a little flustered when I said I was by myself. There was another hostess on the phone and she seemed to be waiting for her advice as to where to place me when a gentleman, possibly the manager or owner, grabbed a menu and led me to my seat. I was placed in the bar area on a four top. This area contains several TVs tuned into various sports channels. Close captioning was turned on at least one of the sets. The place also has free Wi-Fi with a decent signal. Behind the bar I noticed that one of the TV sets was tuned into some kind of trivia. They have a full bar and offer 2-for-1 margaritas. I was craving a beer and was a little disappointed to hear that they did not have Modello so I ordered Corona. My server's name was Fernando and he was quite pleasant I asked him what the specialty of the house was and he offered up three chicken dishes I would soon find out why. I ended up ordering the chicken wet burrito platter. While I waited for my food, I was served a basket of tortillas, corn-based and some red salsa. I asked if the chips and salsa were homemade and was told that they were. The chips were warm but the salsa was a bit of a disappointment. It was extremely runny almost watery like. I asked for a side of pico and Verde and an extra bowl. I proceeded to mix up my own salsa concoction using the three. Turns out the pico was very nicely made with fresh onions and cilantro mixed throughout. The Verde was also quite nice with a good but not too overpowering bite to it. I wasn't charged for the pico or the Verde which was a huge plus in my book and allowed me to be much kinder in my ratings of this establishment. My food came pretty quickly and the presentation was decent. It's a large burrito covered in enchilada sauce with a huge portion of yellow rice and some shredded lettuce and a half a slice of tomato. I found the burrito to be stuffed with chicken that was flavor perfectly and quite delicious. The biggest disappointment of the burrito was really the lack of beans that this thing has. The menu described it as "a burrito covered with enchilada sauce, beans and melted cheese with a side of rice". I truly love refried beans so I was looking forward to enjoying some however I honestly didn't find any noticeable beans whatsoever throughout my burrito. If I wasn't told that the burrito had beans in it, then honestly I probably wouldn't have missed them at all, as there was an adequate amount of cheese present and the incredible flavoring of the chicken truly stood out on its own. The portion size was quite filling and I was unable to eat all of my Rice. I'm assuming that the yellow Rice was used as opposed to white Rice because of the Cuban influence. The Rice had a nice chicken broth taste as well as other flavoring and consistency. The lettuce was crisp and fresh and the tomato tasted quite earthy indicative of freshly ripe tomatoes. I decided to try some dessert as I often do with my dinner meal. Selections include fried ice cream, churros, flan, sopapillas and cheesecake Frito. I chose flan to be atypical. When it arrived I was a little concerned as the flan seemed to be floating over some sort of liquid. It is topped with whipped cream and the liquid appeared to be some sort of a light berry sauce, which I discerned after my first bite. This flan was probably the best I've had in years. The consistency was perfect. I couldn't put my spoon down and I must've eaten it in two minutes flat! It was delicious and truly a "must try" for your visit In summary, I'd venture to say that if the rest of the menu was made with the same obvious care that the dish that I had was made with, then this place is definitely worthy of a visit. There are some interesting looking Cuban dishes on the menu as well, such as the "Cherna a La Parrilla" which is described as "9 ounce Corvina" a Spanish grouper fillet grilled with mojo and served with white rice, black beans and strangely French fries? I think I'll skip the French fries but the rest sounds delicious! I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Steve S.
Pleasant atmosphere is about all this place has going for it. Very generic Mexican food. The chips were cold and tasted like they came out of a bag. I ordered the lunch steak fajitas. The meat portion was small and the steak wasn't seasoned at all. The tortillas smelled like play dough. There was a small dollop of lettuce and a tomato slice on top of rice and beans. Worst Mexican I've ever eaten.
(1)
Kendall P.
Went here during lunch on a family vacation. Cheap prices and very filling food. Best Mexican food that I have had in a long time. Service took a but long ti get the order taken. But overall food came out hot and fresh and exactly as ordered. Will go back on our next vacation
(4)
Kurt B.
This Mexican Cuban restraint has a wide variety of food ranging from Cuban sandwiches to tacos. It was great service, absolutely phenomenal. Louis was the best. The food was less great. The Cuban sandwich that I order had good insides meat, cheese, you know the works. But the bread....it was too toasted. I got a quesadilla and it was great, very cheesy. Unfortunately I wanted to get a cafe cubano, but their coffee machine was "broken". Thus, leaving me without a satisfying end to my evening and spoiling my mood. But overall I'd eat here again hopefully it'll be better.
(3)
Jaclyn P.
The decor is festive and the hostess was friendly but our waiter was a bit straight-faced. This isn't gourmet food by any means but the portions are generous and the prices are good. I ordered a margarita to start and after a few sips I realized there were bits of glass in the bottom. I thought it was salt from my rim but when I pulled a few out of my mouth it was obviously glass. I showed the waiter, and he offered a new drink but didn't say sorry or seem the least bit remorseful....to top it off, they charged me for the drink! Anyway, the replacement drink was just fine. The chips were warm and crispy and I did appreciate that they offered both gluten-free and vegetarian menus. I ordered the Tacos de Papas Rancheros (potato tacos) and they were actually quite tasty. The two tacos were served with a generous helping of refried beans and rice. The bathrooms were disgusting, however. As I said, we were road-tripping around and just needed food fast so if you're in a pinch, it'll do.
(3)
Carrie G.
Will never go back. Went there a year ago with my husband and another couple, we ordered 2 chicken and steak fajitas to share between the 2 couples. When they came out 1 looked ok the other was way over cooked. Same table, same order. We decided to try it again and all of are meals were not good. Tacos had a greasy shell, meat was okay. Chimichanga was not crispy, it was soggy with oil, I had purposely order sauce on the side. My husband got a combo and the chillies rellenos had a doughy greasy taste and couldn't even taste the pepper . My friend had a beef dish that had what looked like a mole sauce on it, only it had no flavor. When we told the server he didn't seem real interested in our complaint. Then had the audacity when he gave us r bill to say hope to see you again. NOT.
(1)
Dominic R.
The food was good same with service. This is the first "Mexican" restaurant that I've been to that ever ran out of HOT sauce.
(2)
Nicole N.
Very solid Mexican food Good pork enchiladas, great quesadillas. The chicken taquitos were OK. Beautiful decor! Great views of the ocean. A bit on the plain side.
(4)
Maho S.
The food is authentic Mexican the atmosphere is very nice overlooking the water and the service was extremely good. They cater to large and small groups. Eclectic mix of people in period settings, beautiful environment. My friends and I enjoyed the experience.
(4)
Nirav B.
Excellent place! Me and my wife were heading back from Kennedy space center and found this place on yelp. I think this place deserves much better reviews than what it has. Great ambience , very lively! My wife had margaritas and potato tacos which were great! I had the chicken burrito which also was very delicious. The best part was the salsa which was appropriately spicy and had the right tang to it. Service was excellent and not expensive at all! I would highly recommend this and look forward to dining here again at some point!
I moved here from Miami Beach two years ago. I miss the Cuban cuisine so I went here for dinner recently. The first strike was the horrible excuse for a mojito. The mint was on the bottom of the glass and not muddled. The lime was on the rim like a garnish. It tasted like a shoddy mint julep. So dissapointing. Next came the Yucca. Hard, dry, and no mojo? It was like eating cardboard. Strike two. Finally the churrasco came and it looked and smelled good, but was cooked entirely too well for a steak I asked for medium. Strike three. I hear Leoncito had good margaritas and I hope that's true, because everything I had was mediocre at best.
(3)
Carol S.
We loved their food and the Margaritas were wonderful. Stick with the original margarita, it has more tequila then then the frozen which were way too sweet. The food is excellent! Especially the steak with chimichurri sauce. That is unbelievably good. And they are very good about changing what sides come with your meal. Excellent Place!!! Well haven't been here in a few months. Bad night!! Terrible waiter. Steak was like shoe leather. Waiter screwed up our whole order. La Marimba in Rockledge will be our new go to Mexican. Waiter's name was Talentino. Stay away from him!!!!!
(3)
Maggie G.
I go here with my husband from time to time and their food is decent. Nothing to write home about for the most part, decent though. They have decent service and decent prices. They've messed up our to go order a few times and attempted to make good. One thing I will say is that their cheesecake is to die for and they have good sizes portions for the price. Not a bad place to go to if you're in the Titusville area. Unfortunately, that isn't saying much...
(3)
Stacy M.
The atmosphere is lively and bright and clean! The service was quick and friendly. I started with the best frozen watermelon Margarita I've had in a long time! The chips and salsa were good, with the chips being the thicker ones. The salsa had a bite to it and definitely tasted like it was made fresh. We ordered the steak fajitas. To our surprise it came with a nice fresh salad. We could have had soup instead, and next time will try that. I asked for oil & vinegar dressing, & its not premade. They gave me both to put on as I desired! Fantastic! Fajitas were good, 3 tortillas total with more meat than we could fit in!! Refried beans were excellent!! Price was great too! We will definitely be coming back!!
(4)
Connie D.
The food was ok, pricey for what you get. Had the fajitas and the meat was tough. Our server was great. Thats about it. It was ok. Nothing to rave about. I probably will not go back.
(3)
Carolina C.
Loved their vegetarian menu! The margaritas are delicious, guacamole is ok, staff is friendly and the ambience takes you back to Puebla, Mexico! Oraleeee!
(5)
Joe K.
A super place for lunch! Have the Cuban sandwich !!! Overlooks the Indian river. Kids menu was good and the staff was friendly. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Mitch L.
This is simply the best Mexican place on the east coast of Florida!!! The bartender who was super cute brought me milder salsa and I prefer that. The food was awesome!!! I had the enchiladas with black bean soup and Spanish rice. The food was hot and not too spicy. I will be back next trip!!!!
(5)
Dalia S.
The food was good, and the atmosphere was great! We stopped in for lunch one day while visiting the area. The decor could use a little updating, but the view was really nice.
(4)
Maria M.
I loved the place. First of all the atmosphere was very welcoming and enjoyable. Colorful place with a view. Background music volume was loud enough to be heard but low enough to be able to pleasantly talk. Prices were very reasonable and food was delicious. I would recommend to anybody.
(5)
Larry S.
We arrived a little after. 5:00 pm. Three other couples came in after us, they were all taken care of before us, service would be a Zero ! Food wasn't 't bad, my meal could of used a lot more sauce. When I went to pay the young man asked me how everything was , while I was telling him, I could tell I was being tuned out! He replied we have been busy. So you might look somewhere else! This isn 't the first time we have had a problem here
(1)
Elexie H.
great Mexican, especially for the small Titusville area. Not extremely authentic to Mexican flavors but really good! happily surprised :)
(4)
Thomas O.
Arrived on a Saturday night with a full house.Thinking that this place has to have great Mexican food.what a disappointment.to start things off they were out of the beverages we wished to order. Minor setback.Time to order our food.Please keep in mind it is only 6:00 pm.First dish I tried to order I was informed they were out of crab.It was advertised as a speciality dish. Moving forward we decided to try the steak and chicken fajitas.They arrived in short order.I am accustomed to the iron plates arriving sizzling hot. No such luck. They were Lukewarm with no juice whatsoever.I can only assume that they were cooked before hand and sat in a warmer till someone ordered the dish.Totally devoid of flavor and freshness.We will never return.To my fellow Mexican diners I say be forewarned.
(1)
Aimee G.
We always come to El Leoncito (the "little lion") when visiting Titusville. Located on Route 1, this is a wonderful Mexican restaurant with friendly service and a spectacular view of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building just across the waterway. Cheap, strong margaritas and a never-ending supply of chips and salsa start the weekend off right. I really like the chile verde, and the fajitas are huge and satisfying. The lunch menu is incredibly cheap, and we never leave here any less than completely full.
(4)
Gregory R.
Been here multiple times for lunch. Solid food and service. Decent lunch specials. Chicken fajitas are great. I'll keep coming back here for lunch when I need my Mexican fix.
(4)
JR R.
This is a Titusville hot spot. They've for a full bar plus Mexican & Cuban cuisine. I especially like the grilled fish tacos, but I haven't had anything I didn't like here.
(4)
Brett R.
Fantastic cuban food, at least for somewhere north of the Keys. Very friendly staff, eccentric decor, nice views, good food, great mojitos. They got everything just right!
(5)
Jaimie G.
Great food and margaritas! Our server was wonderful. Between the Cuban sandwiches, black bean soup, fish tacos, and churrasco steak we were all full and happy. Would definitely go back again!
(4)
Jennifer S.
Love the food!! Enchiladas are very good. Churasco steak is the best!! Margaritas are worth coming for. Great friendly service and the owner meets and greets the tables. Love coming!
(5)
Christina B.
Ok this sounds harsh but honestly, this was the worst Mexican food I have ever eaten. I know, you are thinking but Taco Bell is pretty low on the rung. Listen, Taco Bell is gourmet compared to this. I didn't think it was possible for Mexican food to be tasteless and uninspiring but El Leoncita has accomplished it. Everything was sad, from the dingy interior to the bland tortilla chips. The decor was Mexican theme circa 1997 with dirty walls, floors and sticky booths. My taco was soggy - it's shell coated in a greasy sheen. The rice appeared to have been microwaved and the refried beans moved in a gelatinous fashion while my plate was set down before me. My husband tried a Cuban dish and his was just as bland and grease-infused as my Mexican counterpart. This experience was one big Yuck!
(1)
Tanya H.
Great food and nice ambiance if you sit on the patio. Loved the yucca and plantains, and their salsa was tasty. Everyone in my group loved their entree choices, and the folks that got margaritas were pleased with those as well. The only downside was that the service was pretty slow, but it looked like there was a large party going on inside (we were seated out on the patio enjoying the lovely view of the water and the moon) so I'll cut them some slack for that.
(4)
Jill T.
Excellent! The service is amazing! Endless chips n salsa .. Meatball soup was good and the stuffed jalepenos were awesome! Husband had ropa vieja and I had steak fajita .. all very good! Would come again!
(5)
D K.
Food is so-so. Service was great. Went as a group of 7 people for lunch. They charged 5 of us dinner prices for lunches ordered at lunch time. Had to get them to fix it. Glad one of us asked to see the menu again, otherwis, we might not have caught it. Suggest you keep a menu and check bill before paying.
(1)
Samantha A.
My opinion of this place has lowered over the last couple of years. Used to love going here, but at least the last few times I've been there I have been very disappointed with the service. I went there 2 years ago for my birthday with a group of people (about 10), and the server we had had a terrible attitude, and was not attentive. Somehow I ended up going there for my birthday again the next year (there was a benefit for the local animal shelter), and the staff was very rude. They were very irritated about having to add tables for us because the party kept growing (gosh, I brought in more business, darn!), and told one of my guests flat out that it was time for us to leave. It was pretty outrageous. I don't go there on principle now. They seriously need to teach their staff some manners.
Stopped in here for lunch. Nothing incredible but not bad either.
(3)
Sherri G.
El Leoncitios has a great atmosphere with cute decor. Their food is pretty good, I especially like their chimichangas. I do feel like their Queso is lacking. Something about it is just too "cheese in a can" like. And there is no meat in it. If their Queso was better, I would go more often.
(4)
Nancy L.
Went with two other people for lunch break during a long bicycle ride. Fish tacos with mango salsa were on special. Sounds yummy right? Not so much. I asked the waiter specifically if this dish had cilantro (I am allergic). He said oh no, not in this dish. So he brings my plate with the delicious mango salsa. He then says, by the way, the mango salsa has cilantro in it (which it obviously did). I asked if he would bring some either mango salsa or regular salsa without cilantro. Nope....every sauce and salsa there contains cilantro. Then, he kept stopping by the table with an insipid smile asking if we were enjoying our food. I would have ordered something different if he had told me before bringing the food out. I didn't want to make my table mates wait on my making a reorder.
(1)
Bill G.
Dined here recently on a Friday evening. Driving by it always seemed to be packed, so gave it a try. Waitress was very nice and very pleasant atmosphere. But food not very good. at suggestion of waitress I tried a Cuban sandwich. It simply tasted like dried up ham. Price ok but I've seen better.
(2)
Kyle J.
REAL TAQUITOS! With Guac!? Have I died and gone to heaven? This place reminds me of the kitschy Mexican places in Ohio, but the food is the real deal. They have shredded beef on the menu, which is an automatic win in my book. The margaritas are delightful. The chips plentiful. For this picky Mexican food eater this place was almost an automatic win.
(5)
Tatiana B.
It's not everybody's cup of mexican tea or cuban coffee but I really like their food. We started coming here when we lived in Titusville and now we only come for after-work get-togethers. House margaritas are too sweet. My co-workers usually get the Cadillac margaritas. Those are better but waaaaay stronger. One is one too-many for me. I love their house salsa. It has lots of flavors, cilantro (yum), and not too spicy. Their jalapeno poppers are good and so is the melted queso (to go with the chips). For the entree, my favorite are the Chicken Enchiladas Rancheras. This comes with two enchiladas, topped with green sauce, sour cream and guacamole, yellow rice, and refrito beans. I looove the green sauce that comes with the enchiladas and their yellow rice is one of the best I've had. The enchiladas are filled with chicken and cheese and they are really, really good! I usually leave one enchilada for next day's lunch and it tastes even better. The chicken quesadillas, carne asada, the pork chops, and the fajitas are all really good too. The cuban dishes such as the pork chops, ropa vieja, and picadillo come with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains. Desserts are not their strong suit. Skip it. Servers are very attentive and service is always great.
(4)
Bee C.
Maybe they are known for their Mexican but that wasn't on point either. Had the Cuban Ropa Vieja, it was missing the sofrito seasoning flavor, came with white rice which was parboiled (yuck) you can't serve plain parboiled white rice it's just disgusting and an insult to Spanish/Latino cooking. Left all the rice had the maduros ( sweet plantains) which were perfect, the black bean soup is definitely Americanized had way too much cumin but the onions made it edible even with the cheese on top which was unnecessary for Cuban black beans. Partner had steak fajitas which had lemon pepper seasoning? Or lemon salt flavoring? which we at first mistook for bad meat but after smelling and tasting again, realized it was the seasoning. Fajitas came with yellow rice which was long grain and very good (why can't that be served with the Ropa Vieja instead of the parboiled crap?) along with 3 flour tortillas. Paid lunch special prices for the meals. Waitress was very attentive, atmosphere is lively and well decorated, loved the little hacienda inside and the water view. Expected authentic since the staff is Hispanic and most likely the cooks too. Stars for service and atmosphere. Food needs work.
(2)
Annamarie H.
Found this place on Trip Advisor, and now everyone in our party is a fan! Friendly staff, clean environment, and great food! Also, the night we went had a great mariachi band. I would recommend the shredded beef taquitos, chicken or beef enchiladas, or the chile verde. This is a great restaraunt. One tip: If there is a wait, head down the hall to the Cantina Bar to grab a drink and browse the menu.
(5)
Kristoff H.
Crowded, lively atmosphere. Had some Cuban dish that was less than stellar. Wait staff was attentive. Prices reasonable.
(3)
Chris P.
Some of the best Mexican food I've had in Florida. Their regular salsa is quite flavorful, not the bland tomato sauce you get at most places. If you ask, they will give you a hotter green salsa that is even better. Their menu contains plenty of Americanized versions of Mexican dishes, but they do have some authentic ones that you don't typically see in Florida: chile verde (pork green chile), chile colorado (beef red chile), machaca (shredded beef with chiles, onions, and scrambled eggs), camarones al diablo (shrimp in spicy red sauce), and camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp with a garlic sauce). I thought they had enchiladas suizas (chicken enchiladas with green chile and a cream sauce) on their menu when I was there recently, but I don't see it on their web site now. The camarones al diablo are outstanding. I asked them to make it extra spicy for me, and the kitchen delivered - it was as good as I've had in Mexico. The service was efficient, and the prices are reasonable. Will definitely stop by here every time I am in Titusville.
(4)
Melissa B.
I've never enjoyed the food for the price here..I guess I just don't like mexican or cuban.. I go for events..and that's it.
(2)
Christine H.
Okay its not really mexican and its not really cuban its a hybrid....but for Titusville this is as good as it gets. The salsa is bar none my absolute favorite ANYWHERE, but you can't review a whole joint on salsa alone. I suggest you go with the mexican side of the menu its better than the cuban side. The cuban side is a bit bland. I think people have a misconception of mexican food....its not spicey...the actual food is rather bland itself what makes it "spicy" hot is the jalapenos or the hot sauce or salsa that you put on top of the mexican food. The fajitas are great, the fajita salad is awesome, skip the guac...you can make it better at home, if you must order from the cuban side go with the cuban sandwich and black beans...then take the extraordinary salsa and put some in your black beans and dip your sandwich into it....I'm not kidding the salsa is awesome. Service deserves 5 stars, I have never been disappointed, always quickly seated, attended to, and served. OH and sorry to my fellow reviewers that say this is the best cuban ever......you need to get out of Brevard more often folks. Ybor and Miami, and even WPB and Orlando have excellent Cuban food. I still heart Leoncito and its one of my favorite places in town, but better cuban food than Miami?! You gotta be kidding me!
(4)
Barbara A.
Cuban and Mexican food, margaritas, live Mariachi Band, views of the water from the front patio! This place is great! If you want a quiet dinner, avoid Friday nights, but the food is very tasty, we've tried many of the old favorites like enchiladas, relleno, tacos, fajitas, but also been having the Cuban dishes, which are all quite good. We have not had a bad meal here..
(4)
Chase T.
Service is horrible, place is dingy and cold feeling. Food is fairly priced, although the food isn't great at all. Only reason I would ever go back is to have a margarita, which aren't even that outstanding.
(1)
Wendy H.
O wish we had his at home ... Amazing service great food, and service is unbelievable ... This is one of the best Mexican/Cuban restaurants I've ever eaten ... the wait staff is the best, they remember your name, and are extremely attentive. I love it. Their Hot Salsa ... is better than Fire ... yummy. If you live anywhere on the Space Coast it's worth the drive. Call a head it is a busy place, and they have special nights ... They are known as the best Margarita in Florida ... and I'd say they are great ... one is good, two you might not remember where you live ... careful~ See you again real soon ...
(5)
Jason P.
The absolute best Mexican restaurant I've ever ate at, and the best restaurant period in Titusville. Prices are great, food is great, service is great, super clean, and usually not too packed unless you go on BOGO monday margarita night or friday nights. Get's really packed for shuttle launches, but it's a great view from here to watch them. Careful with their margaritas most people will be stumbling around after 2 and on the floor at 3!!! Home made salsa and chips are the best! No chain food jar salsa!
(5)
James B.
Eat at El Leoncito at least once a week for lunch and a few times a month for dinner. One of the better restaurants in Titusville. The food is always prepared well and the staff are friendly. Oh by the way, BEST Margarita's in town.
(5)
G W.
My favorite place to eat enchilada rancheros! Always fast and good service. Nice view of rocket launches and the intercoastal waterway! Give it a try you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Anita K.
Saw 2 roaches within 5 minutes of being seated (table was right next to kitchen).
(1)
Dave J.
Great place for lunch, and one of the closest actual restaurants if you're working at KSC. The Cuban fare is delicious, and everyone in our party was happy with their food. I'll be back for more!
(5)
Julie C.
Until we ate here, I was going to give this restaurant a review of "brilliant marketing." It's located across the street from a park where you can see the space shuttle launch so they were selling their parking spaces, but selling them for $25 gift vouchers to be used in the restaurant. Brilliant, right? Not so fast... We were given lunch menus to choose from (it was lunch time) and kids menus. We received chips and salsa; the hot was great, the mild- not so much. The chips were not fresh. We ordered lunch entrees which were served hot but notably bland. Then we received the bill. First, the margaritas were marked up by $2.00 each from what the menu said, and the entrees were marked up between $3 and $4 per entree. When I brought it to the attention of the manager he said they do different pricing for the space shuttle. I explained to him that I have no problem with that however it should have been indicated as such on the menu or in signage in the restaurant or any kind of communication. He said he was too exhausted to argue with me about it and would adjust my bill. Then when he gave it to me said he couldn't adjust the items but rather " did the math in his head" and adjusted by $8. At that point I just wanted to get out. Then when we used our $25 gift voucher, they only adjusted our bill for $20 instead of the $25. When I brought it to the attention of my server, he again acted innocent and sent me back to the manager who was not happy to see me a second time. I told him I wasn't happy and that now it appeared to be a scam they were trying to pull on people. He told me I was being ridiculous and threw the $5 bill at me. I tried explaining to him it wasn't about the money it was about how they were executing it. He would hear none of it and began ignoring me so I told him to give the money to my server and we left. I really don't care how long this restaurant has been in business or that "it's hard to find good employees," as I'm often told. What I am concerned about is businesses, not just restaurants, screwing consumers every which way they can and getting away with it because not enough consumers say anything about the screwing for it to ever stop.
(2)
Dana S.
Wow. I'm not sure how this place has 4 stars. It was terrible overall. The good points, the margaritas were very good and inexpensive. It was a decent value, but the food was average below average. My rellenos were so greasy I couldn't eat them. The enchiladas were plain but decent. Chimichangas were more like a strange combo of enchilada and poorly fried burrito, but the chicken inside was good. The service started out okay, but quickly devolved. We wanted dessert, but after waiting 20 minutes for our waiter, we just asked for the bill when he finally came. After waiting another 15 minutes to have our credit card run, we gave up and just paid up front. I know I can be a bit picky about Mexican food because I'm from Colorado and can get great food back home, but I'd advise people to just skip this place regardless of where you're from; there's better food and service out there.
(2)
Melissa M.
Everyone else's reviews sum it up. This place is excellent. All I will add is that I was born and raised in So Cal. Moved to NC five years ago and haven't had decent Mexican food since (except on trips back to CA). This was just as good as any Mexican fare I had in the Los Angeles area. Delicious! Don't hesitate to go. Reasonable prices too.
(5)
Brenden S.
Really enjoyed my dinner. Food came out hot and was truly authentic Mexican. Service was great! Totally a return visit next time I am in town!
(4)
Steve F.
I just had a great experience here. Saturday night at dinner time the parking lot was full, but we were seated immediately, and the rest of our service for the evening was similarly prompt and friendly. I'll echo other reviews in saying that the salsa is worth a stop on it's own. It's pleasantly chunky with a great balance of sweet, tangy and slow burn. My burrito was hearty and delicious, as was the rice and beans that came with it. My friend ordered from the Cuban side and was similarly impressed. Especially for the quality and quantity of the food, the price was very reasonable. The decor was also very nice, with a dark, cosy, rustic feel that drew you in. An odd final note is that the "mints" by the door were also fantastic, though they were more sorbet flavored than mint.
(5)
Debra j.
Finally we found a good place to eat before seeing the rockets. Good, authentic, clean, good service. We will be back. Cuban sandwich was very good and large. Chili Pork relleno was very tasty.
(4)
Nathan R.
El Leoncito Mexican and Cuban restaurant is a beacon of light in a sea of average restaurants in the Titusville area. For years it has consistently provided the same great quality of food and service that have made it a staple for this area. The restaurant moved to a bigger and better location this year which allows it to seat more guests in a more enjoyable atmosphere. My personal favorite here is the shredded beef enchiladas with red sauce. The chips and salsa at this place are the best around, and their house margarita was voted best in the county. El Leoncito also features a Cuban menu which includes some tasty dishes, but its the Mexican that keeps everyone coming back. If you are looking for great service, ask for Paulina (although many others may be waiting for her ahead of you). When you are in the Space Coast area and craving some good quality food, head on over to El Leoncito.
(4)
Trent T.
The food was pretty good here. The service was really good and the chips and salsa were great!
(4)
lisa m.
This is a restaurant with a lot of history for me. First time I dined at this location was back in 2005 when it was still a rib joint...food was good then...it's great now. When my husband and I were still single...and living a thousand miles apart...we went here and had wonderful times together. When I moved down to FL, it was one of our first stops. At first, we were a little iffy about the change in cuisine (which apparently was prompted by El Leoncito's change in location) but we were SO pleased with what we had. You can't go wrong with any chicken dish...and I agree with other reviewers who say the Mexican trumps the Cuban. The 'ritas taste great and don't hit you over the head. While a fair number of families come here it's not obnoxious for those of us without kids. Definitely a go in my book
(4)
CARMEN R.
We were looking for a place to eat and we saw El Leoncito Restaurant, so we stopped and ate there. The prices were good, the place was very clean, the food was delicious, and the service was great. So, If you're in the mood for Mexican or Cuban food, I recommend El Leoncito Restaurant on Titusville, Florida.
(4)
Sam K.
One of the best cuban/mexcan food I have had + very quick and good service.
(5)
Kathleen B.
It has taken me a very long time to write this review for "if ya can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all"....This was my second attempt at this restaurant, the first was horrible. I'll start with what is good, VERY VERY VERY nice service. Nice warm ambiance, good margaritas. That's where is begins and that's where it ends. Food, a mixture of (not authentic) Mexican and (not authentic) Cuban ...oh I do know my Cuban food since my b/f is Cuban...is lack luster. Not bad, not good, just blah. The pricing is not bad....reasonable for the quality of food. NOW onto the bad.... WAY TOO much rice. We (b/f and I) are still trying to figure out what the hell went wrong with the black beans (obviously their cook has some sort of special secret ingredient). The kitchen sends forth these very drab "non plated" plates (would not kill them to cut back on the rice and dress up their plates with a little lettuce/tomato/cheese/sour cream or guacamole). The salsa, blah, not fresh. The portions, blah, not unless you LOVE rice. The entree, nothing to write home about, blah. Overall my little feet will never grace their doorway again, nor my ass their seats. Sorry but just not worth the blahhhhhhhhhh. Might be a good place to go and have a few margaritas and watch a game, while snacking on some chips/salsa.
(3)
Tanner S.
El Leoncito is the best. We had some cuban food in South Beach and it didn't even compare. Love the chicken fajitas, palomilla, yellow rice, picadillo, etc. Margaritas are great!
(5)
Doug B.
As far as Mexican/Cuban food is concerned, this place is a must.
(5)
Tom M.
Great Cinco De Mayo dinner on our way from Kennedy Space Center to Orlando. Highly recommend!
(4)
Nikki B.
Hubby and I ate here before we drove to Kennedy Space Center as we didn't think there would be any good food there. Ordered Fajita Chicken Quesadilla and the Wet Burrito with a side of rice. Both were very good. My husband mentioned that the quesadilla was one of the better he has ever had. The burrito had just enough of each ingredient. Restaurant is located off Hwy 1 and we were fortunate enough to get a booth by a window where we were able to look at the river. I am sure this place was a great location to view the shuttle lift offs. Only negative was waiter wasn't very attentive.
(4)
Phil B.
Food was bland, absolutely no flavoring or seasoning. We ordered the Wet Burrito Plate and the Enchilada & Tamal Combination Plate. The shredded chicken tasted like it was boiled and then mixed with the "so called" seasoning just prior to preparation. The tamale did not taste fresh, and even the sides of refried beans and yellow rice were bland. How can you mess up refried beans? If you like good Mexican food, do not go here. If you like mild flavorless food, then this is your cup-of-tea.
(1)
Richard B.
Very Good Lunch. Value is excellent. good service and always busy at lunch. Suggest that you try the lunch specials and you'll spend less than $8. Good service, good atmosphere.
(4)
Dawn T.
The food is really horrible...I avoid it
(1)
Jake M.
I stopped at El Leoncito today for my first time ever, cause I drive by it all the time and it has a badass looking lion on the sign. Also the "today special" was New York strip, a Mexi/Cuban staple. Now, many people think that a Leoncito is some sort of Mexican fighting chicken but they are mistaken. There is a little drunk dude named Leon who lives upstairs and always wears a sombrero. The restaurant is named after him. I didn't see any Cuban food on the menu but there was a lot of Mexican stuff. I ordered the enchiladas rancheros which is Spanish for enchiladas ranch. Mine had pork in them. It was obviously freshly pulled pork because it was mostly clumps of fat. That's how you know it's real though. Like grit in clam chowder or a dog collar in your dim sum. The chips and salsa was made in house. So was the guac which was ok. I didn't get shafted on the price like that other lady did. Course, I also recognized that the menu I was looking at was a lunch menu....anywho, you should stop in if you are (obviously) lost on south washington street and eat some stuff. I have no complaints.
(3)
Michelle S.
Went for happy hour. They get a pretty good crowd. The soup was very good. Chicken fajitas were good and the service was friendly. 2 for 1 happy hour beers only for Bud & Bud Lite.... The margarita was pretty good at $3.95.
(3)
Dennis F.
Eat here every time I visit Titusville. Fun vibe, friendly service, great prices, and lots of hearty, good Cuban food. The drink specials can be an amazing deal. On this occasion, while the roast pork was overcooked, the black beans, plantains, and yellow rice were excellent as usual. The food is nothing fancy but it hits the spot. Somewhat less impressed by the Mexican fare, but the locals seem to like it and I'm comparing it to stuff I've had in AZ, TX, and CA.
(4)
John C.
I rarely would give a five, This place deserves 4.5! An absolutely great place to eat. Black beans are great as well as the picadillo, Cuban style New York Steak. Don't pass this place up.
(4)
Duncan S.
El Leoncito is a definitely the best Mexican restaurant in Titusville. It's great for both Mexican and Cuban food whatever you are in the mood for. Their yellow rice is exceptional and the Cuban grilled chicken is very good. My dad and uncle both had the Palomilla, steak served thin "Old Havana Style", topped with fresh parsley and onions and they loved it. I recommend this place to anyone who likes Mexican or Cuban food when they visit Titusville. Oh and the deserts are delicious too - fried ice cream or flan
(5)
J K.
Average Mexican restaurant. Great lunches and price, but I think La Bamba II is better (especially the chips/salsa).
(3)
Stephen M.
This is my favorite and, probably, the best all-around restaurant in Titusville. If you're in town, just go.
(5)
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Address :4280 S Washington Ave
Titusville, FL, 32780
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Rosa S.
I have been eating here for over a decade. Their first location was conveniently across the street from me. Recently, El Leoncito has become my husband and I's local default restaurant. Whether you decide to eat from their Cuban or Mexican menu, you can't go wrong. This is where I recommended out-of-towners to eat. The palomilla steak is amazing as are the black beans. Everyone loves the black beans. Most people I know live for their margaritas but I am not a tequila drinker so I won't comment. This joint is always busy and for good reason. The only place where I don't like to be seated is near the bar against the far wall. It's a little too close for comfort to the other patrons. Don't fill up on chips-- they're addicting!
(5)Li K.
My family went here for 2 for 1 margaritas on a Monday. We were planning on staying for dinner, but pretty quickly changed our minds. We sat outside because it was pleasant after the rain. the Margaritas game quickly and were ok, though the requested salt rim on my girl's watermelon rita came out as sugar. We ordered the guacamole and queso for a snack. The guac was fair, but the queso was cheezwiz and had no flavor or spice. The chips were greasy. We asked for napkins no less than 4 times for napkins and never received them. Our server disappeared and didn't return - we had to go find her to ask for a check. No me gusta.
(1)Steve S.
El Leoncito is an average Mexican/Cuban restaurant and bar. Our large party was seated in the bar -- not sure if that was because it was the only place that could accommodate, but we did have a reservation. Our meal started with requisite chips and salsa -- ask for the green variety to add more of kick. The menu has a nice mix of Mexican and Cuban favorites. I ordered from the Mexican side this particular evening. My combination meal came out nice and hot. The chicken enchilada was a the best of the plate. The taco came in a corn tortilla that had a lot of oil soaked into it. The chile relleno was mushy on the outside and not real exciting on the inside. I requested the black beans (Cuban side) instead of the standards refried beans. They were very good and came with cheese and onions on top. Others at the table thought their meals were average to good. El Leoncito is a colorfully decorated restaurant just across from the intracoastal waterway and the space center. The bar has lots of sports memorabilia and TVs tuned only to sports. Yes, there are no real craft beers but they do have your standard Mexican varieties. There is a decent-sized patio which seemed reasonably comfortable. Service was a little on the slow side. The restaurant does well in this area but there isn't much else. All in all, it isn't a bad choice if you happen to be in the area.
(3)ellyn s.
I have to give this restaurant 5 stars because one of my friends is practically a fixture at the place. The margaritas are tasty, service has always been warm and attentive (reference "practically a fixture") and I've found the wait and kitchen staff very accommodating when I want something that's not exactly on the menu.
(5)Rigo N.
The ambiance was comfortable and festive, along with the staff full of smiles. I went with a party of 9 and our server was excellently poised and present. Drinks were delicious and happy hour was a welcomed bonus. The meals came in a timly manner and were presented very well. How delicious was the meal? I was very pleased. If you are looking for something tasty and fun, race over to El Leoncito...and dont forget to get your selfie infront of the fountain.
(5)Joe K.
Simply awesome. We always go for the food and margaritas. Best Mexican in the area that we can find.
(5)Heidi A.
Unfortunately I cannot give a good review here. We walked in and sat down and waited to be seen. For 15 minutes at 11:30 am, on a weekend .. it wasn't overly crowded. We had no water, no one stopped at our table. We left and went to a Vietnamese place instead.
(1)Brianne D.
Chips and salsa were very tasty, food was flavorful and came in large quantities for a good price. Only complaint was the tamale was very dense and thick. Very pleasant dining experience.
(4)Jamie P.
Food is ok. Service is usually quick during lunch time, though it could be friendlier. The atmosphere is nice and inviting.
(3)Hilda D.
I am Mexican and I know Mexican. This is not authentic. I have read other reviews, and really hoping this is not the best Mexican food in Florida's East coast as some of you have said. Now if I am comparing with other non authentic Mexican restaurants the food was very average, I've tasted better. I would like to say that our waiter was very nice and was full of energy, and is why I am giving you two stars and not one.
(2)José A.
Another restaurant that I have frequented for years and haven't had a recent opportunity to review - well, yesterday was that day, finally. I've been to this establishment since it was located just down the road, to the north, of where it resides today. And I can certainly say, from my experience, consistency has been the key with El Leoncito. The food has always been good, whether from the Mexican or Cuban menu, I have never been disappointed by entrees, lunch items, or sandwiches. And I discovered during our last visit that they have increased their offerings with specials depending on the day of week - all good choices. This last trip, my wife had their enchiladas rancheros, and I had the special for the day: Salmon with Mango Salsa. Both dishes where huge, fresh, and well made. For dessert, my wife had the fried cheesecake, while I went traditional and had the Mexican Fried Ice Cream - she couldn't finish her's (thick and tasty she just couldn't down it all), while on the other hand I had the whole ice cream - I just couldn't stop. The one thing to nit-pick on is the wait staff - it has been just a bit spotty over the years. But last night, was perfect - a young gal who was personable, attentive, and full of energy - she was a delight. In my opinion, by far one of the best, if not the best Mexican in Brevard County.
(4)R David P.
Great food, service - a must stop I was in town on business and I wanted to try the best Mexican this city has to offer. I was given this restaurant as a recommendation by someone who works at the Chamber of Commerce. Initially the sound of combining Mexican and Cuban seemed a bit odd but the more I thought about it the more I came to realize that being a Florida native these two flavors are found in abundance throughout the state, so the combination is not nearly as foreign as you might think. I dined on a Wednesday evening around 7 PM. When checking in, the hostess was a little flustered when I said I was by myself. There was another hostess on the phone and she seemed to be waiting for her advice as to where to place me when a gentleman, possibly the manager or owner, grabbed a menu and led me to my seat. I was placed in the bar area on a four top. This area contains several TVs tuned into various sports channels. Close captioning was turned on at least one of the sets. The place also has free Wi-Fi with a decent signal. Behind the bar I noticed that one of the TV sets was tuned into some kind of trivia. They have a full bar and offer 2-for-1 margaritas. I was craving a beer and was a little disappointed to hear that they did not have Modello so I ordered Corona. My server's name was Fernando and he was quite pleasant I asked him what the specialty of the house was and he offered up three chicken dishes I would soon find out why. I ended up ordering the chicken wet burrito platter. While I waited for my food, I was served a basket of tortillas, corn-based and some red salsa. I asked if the chips and salsa were homemade and was told that they were. The chips were warm but the salsa was a bit of a disappointment. It was extremely runny almost watery like. I asked for a side of pico and Verde and an extra bowl. I proceeded to mix up my own salsa concoction using the three. Turns out the pico was very nicely made with fresh onions and cilantro mixed throughout. The Verde was also quite nice with a good but not too overpowering bite to it. I wasn't charged for the pico or the Verde which was a huge plus in my book and allowed me to be much kinder in my ratings of this establishment. My food came pretty quickly and the presentation was decent. It's a large burrito covered in enchilada sauce with a huge portion of yellow rice and some shredded lettuce and a half a slice of tomato. I found the burrito to be stuffed with chicken that was flavor perfectly and quite delicious. The biggest disappointment of the burrito was really the lack of beans that this thing has. The menu described it as "a burrito covered with enchilada sauce, beans and melted cheese with a side of rice". I truly love refried beans so I was looking forward to enjoying some however I honestly didn't find any noticeable beans whatsoever throughout my burrito. If I wasn't told that the burrito had beans in it, then honestly I probably wouldn't have missed them at all, as there was an adequate amount of cheese present and the incredible flavoring of the chicken truly stood out on its own. The portion size was quite filling and I was unable to eat all of my Rice. I'm assuming that the yellow Rice was used as opposed to white Rice because of the Cuban influence. The Rice had a nice chicken broth taste as well as other flavoring and consistency. The lettuce was crisp and fresh and the tomato tasted quite earthy indicative of freshly ripe tomatoes. I decided to try some dessert as I often do with my dinner meal. Selections include fried ice cream, churros, flan, sopapillas and cheesecake Frito. I chose flan to be atypical. When it arrived I was a little concerned as the flan seemed to be floating over some sort of liquid. It is topped with whipped cream and the liquid appeared to be some sort of a light berry sauce, which I discerned after my first bite. This flan was probably the best I've had in years. The consistency was perfect. I couldn't put my spoon down and I must've eaten it in two minutes flat! It was delicious and truly a "must try" for your visit In summary, I'd venture to say that if the rest of the menu was made with the same obvious care that the dish that I had was made with, then this place is definitely worthy of a visit. There are some interesting looking Cuban dishes on the menu as well, such as the "Cherna a La Parrilla" which is described as "9 ounce Corvina" a Spanish grouper fillet grilled with mojo and served with white rice, black beans and strangely French fries? I think I'll skip the French fries but the rest sounds delicious! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Steve S.
Pleasant atmosphere is about all this place has going for it. Very generic Mexican food. The chips were cold and tasted like they came out of a bag. I ordered the lunch steak fajitas. The meat portion was small and the steak wasn't seasoned at all. The tortillas smelled like play dough. There was a small dollop of lettuce and a tomato slice on top of rice and beans. Worst Mexican I've ever eaten.
(1)Kendall P.
Went here during lunch on a family vacation. Cheap prices and very filling food. Best Mexican food that I have had in a long time. Service took a but long ti get the order taken. But overall food came out hot and fresh and exactly as ordered. Will go back on our next vacation
(4)Kurt B.
This Mexican Cuban restraint has a wide variety of food ranging from Cuban sandwiches to tacos. It was great service, absolutely phenomenal. Louis was the best. The food was less great. The Cuban sandwich that I order had good insides meat, cheese, you know the works. But the bread....it was too toasted. I got a quesadilla and it was great, very cheesy. Unfortunately I wanted to get a cafe cubano, but their coffee machine was "broken". Thus, leaving me without a satisfying end to my evening and spoiling my mood. But overall I'd eat here again hopefully it'll be better.
(3)Jaclyn P.
The decor is festive and the hostess was friendly but our waiter was a bit straight-faced. This isn't gourmet food by any means but the portions are generous and the prices are good. I ordered a margarita to start and after a few sips I realized there were bits of glass in the bottom. I thought it was salt from my rim but when I pulled a few out of my mouth it was obviously glass. I showed the waiter, and he offered a new drink but didn't say sorry or seem the least bit remorseful....to top it off, they charged me for the drink! Anyway, the replacement drink was just fine. The chips were warm and crispy and I did appreciate that they offered both gluten-free and vegetarian menus. I ordered the Tacos de Papas Rancheros (potato tacos) and they were actually quite tasty. The two tacos were served with a generous helping of refried beans and rice. The bathrooms were disgusting, however. As I said, we were road-tripping around and just needed food fast so if you're in a pinch, it'll do.
(3)Carrie G.
Will never go back. Went there a year ago with my husband and another couple, we ordered 2 chicken and steak fajitas to share between the 2 couples. When they came out 1 looked ok the other was way over cooked. Same table, same order. We decided to try it again and all of are meals were not good. Tacos had a greasy shell, meat was okay. Chimichanga was not crispy, it was soggy with oil, I had purposely order sauce on the side. My husband got a combo and the chillies rellenos had a doughy greasy taste and couldn't even taste the pepper . My friend had a beef dish that had what looked like a mole sauce on it, only it had no flavor. When we told the server he didn't seem real interested in our complaint. Then had the audacity when he gave us r bill to say hope to see you again. NOT.
(1)Dominic R.
The food was good same with service. This is the first "Mexican" restaurant that I've been to that ever ran out of HOT sauce.
(2)Nicole N.
Very solid Mexican food Good pork enchiladas, great quesadillas. The chicken taquitos were OK. Beautiful decor! Great views of the ocean. A bit on the plain side.
(4)Maho S.
The food is authentic Mexican the atmosphere is very nice overlooking the water and the service was extremely good. They cater to large and small groups. Eclectic mix of people in period settings, beautiful environment. My friends and I enjoyed the experience.
(4)Nirav B.
Excellent place! Me and my wife were heading back from Kennedy space center and found this place on yelp. I think this place deserves much better reviews than what it has. Great ambience , very lively! My wife had margaritas and potato tacos which were great! I had the chicken burrito which also was very delicious. The best part was the salsa which was appropriately spicy and had the right tang to it. Service was excellent and not expensive at all! I would highly recommend this and look forward to dining here again at some point!
(5)K. N.
Good: The decor is nice and so is the ambiance. Service is prompt and the view is Devine. Bad: The food leaves something to be desired. My shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and wine were overcooked and rubbery. The butter sauce was more like melted margarine in water. The corn tortillas ordered on the side were more like bounty paper towels that had been wet and dried again. They were dry and stale. The chips were thin and chewy. But the salsa was yummy. However, the best thing we ordered was a pitcher of beer. Tasted exactly like it should.
(2)Jim F.
I moved here from Miami Beach two years ago. I miss the Cuban cuisine so I went here for dinner recently. The first strike was the horrible excuse for a mojito. The mint was on the bottom of the glass and not muddled. The lime was on the rim like a garnish. It tasted like a shoddy mint julep. So dissapointing. Next came the Yucca. Hard, dry, and no mojo? It was like eating cardboard. Strike two. Finally the churrasco came and it looked and smelled good, but was cooked entirely too well for a steak I asked for medium. Strike three. I hear Leoncito had good margaritas and I hope that's true, because everything I had was mediocre at best.
(3)Carol S.
We loved their food and the Margaritas were wonderful. Stick with the original margarita, it has more tequila then then the frozen which were way too sweet. The food is excellent! Especially the steak with chimichurri sauce. That is unbelievably good. And they are very good about changing what sides come with your meal. Excellent Place!!! Well haven't been here in a few months. Bad night!! Terrible waiter. Steak was like shoe leather. Waiter screwed up our whole order. La Marimba in Rockledge will be our new go to Mexican. Waiter's name was Talentino. Stay away from him!!!!!
(3)Maggie G.
I go here with my husband from time to time and their food is decent. Nothing to write home about for the most part, decent though. They have decent service and decent prices. They've messed up our to go order a few times and attempted to make good. One thing I will say is that their cheesecake is to die for and they have good sizes portions for the price. Not a bad place to go to if you're in the Titusville area. Unfortunately, that isn't saying much...
(3)Stacy M.
The atmosphere is lively and bright and clean! The service was quick and friendly. I started with the best frozen watermelon Margarita I've had in a long time! The chips and salsa were good, with the chips being the thicker ones. The salsa had a bite to it and definitely tasted like it was made fresh. We ordered the steak fajitas. To our surprise it came with a nice fresh salad. We could have had soup instead, and next time will try that. I asked for oil & vinegar dressing, & its not premade. They gave me both to put on as I desired! Fantastic! Fajitas were good, 3 tortillas total with more meat than we could fit in!! Refried beans were excellent!! Price was great too! We will definitely be coming back!!
(4)Connie D.
The food was ok, pricey for what you get. Had the fajitas and the meat was tough. Our server was great. Thats about it. It was ok. Nothing to rave about. I probably will not go back.
(3)Carolina C.
Loved their vegetarian menu! The margaritas are delicious, guacamole is ok, staff is friendly and the ambience takes you back to Puebla, Mexico! Oraleeee!
(5)Joe K.
A super place for lunch! Have the Cuban sandwich !!! Overlooks the Indian river. Kids menu was good and the staff was friendly. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mitch L.
This is simply the best Mexican place on the east coast of Florida!!! The bartender who was super cute brought me milder salsa and I prefer that. The food was awesome!!! I had the enchiladas with black bean soup and Spanish rice. The food was hot and not too spicy. I will be back next trip!!!!
(5)Dalia S.
The food was good, and the atmosphere was great! We stopped in for lunch one day while visiting the area. The decor could use a little updating, but the view was really nice.
(4)Maria M.
I loved the place. First of all the atmosphere was very welcoming and enjoyable. Colorful place with a view. Background music volume was loud enough to be heard but low enough to be able to pleasantly talk. Prices were very reasonable and food was delicious. I would recommend to anybody.
(5)Larry S.
We arrived a little after. 5:00 pm. Three other couples came in after us, they were all taken care of before us, service would be a Zero ! Food wasn't 't bad, my meal could of used a lot more sauce. When I went to pay the young man asked me how everything was , while I was telling him, I could tell I was being tuned out! He replied we have been busy. So you might look somewhere else! This isn 't the first time we have had a problem here
(1)Elexie H.
great Mexican, especially for the small Titusville area. Not extremely authentic to Mexican flavors but really good! happily surprised :)
(4)Thomas O.
Arrived on a Saturday night with a full house.Thinking that this place has to have great Mexican food.what a disappointment.to start things off they were out of the beverages we wished to order. Minor setback.Time to order our food.Please keep in mind it is only 6:00 pm.First dish I tried to order I was informed they were out of crab.It was advertised as a speciality dish. Moving forward we decided to try the steak and chicken fajitas.They arrived in short order.I am accustomed to the iron plates arriving sizzling hot. No such luck. They were Lukewarm with no juice whatsoever.I can only assume that they were cooked before hand and sat in a warmer till someone ordered the dish.Totally devoid of flavor and freshness.We will never return.To my fellow Mexican diners I say be forewarned.
(1)Aimee G.
We always come to El Leoncito (the "little lion") when visiting Titusville. Located on Route 1, this is a wonderful Mexican restaurant with friendly service and a spectacular view of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building just across the waterway. Cheap, strong margaritas and a never-ending supply of chips and salsa start the weekend off right. I really like the chile verde, and the fajitas are huge and satisfying. The lunch menu is incredibly cheap, and we never leave here any less than completely full.
(4)Gregory R.
Been here multiple times for lunch. Solid food and service. Decent lunch specials. Chicken fajitas are great. I'll keep coming back here for lunch when I need my Mexican fix.
(4)JR R.
This is a Titusville hot spot. They've for a full bar plus Mexican & Cuban cuisine. I especially like the grilled fish tacos, but I haven't had anything I didn't like here.
(4)Brett R.
Fantastic cuban food, at least for somewhere north of the Keys. Very friendly staff, eccentric decor, nice views, good food, great mojitos. They got everything just right!
(5)Jaimie G.
Great food and margaritas! Our server was wonderful. Between the Cuban sandwiches, black bean soup, fish tacos, and churrasco steak we were all full and happy. Would definitely go back again!
(4)Jennifer S.
Love the food!! Enchiladas are very good. Churasco steak is the best!! Margaritas are worth coming for. Great friendly service and the owner meets and greets the tables. Love coming!
(5)Christina B.
Ok this sounds harsh but honestly, this was the worst Mexican food I have ever eaten. I know, you are thinking but Taco Bell is pretty low on the rung. Listen, Taco Bell is gourmet compared to this. I didn't think it was possible for Mexican food to be tasteless and uninspiring but El Leoncita has accomplished it. Everything was sad, from the dingy interior to the bland tortilla chips. The decor was Mexican theme circa 1997 with dirty walls, floors and sticky booths. My taco was soggy - it's shell coated in a greasy sheen. The rice appeared to have been microwaved and the refried beans moved in a gelatinous fashion while my plate was set down before me. My husband tried a Cuban dish and his was just as bland and grease-infused as my Mexican counterpart. This experience was one big Yuck!
(1)Tanya H.
Great food and nice ambiance if you sit on the patio. Loved the yucca and plantains, and their salsa was tasty. Everyone in my group loved their entree choices, and the folks that got margaritas were pleased with those as well. The only downside was that the service was pretty slow, but it looked like there was a large party going on inside (we were seated out on the patio enjoying the lovely view of the water and the moon) so I'll cut them some slack for that.
(4)Jill T.
Excellent! The service is amazing! Endless chips n salsa .. Meatball soup was good and the stuffed jalepenos were awesome! Husband had ropa vieja and I had steak fajita .. all very good! Would come again!
(5)D K.
Food is so-so. Service was great. Went as a group of 7 people for lunch. They charged 5 of us dinner prices for lunches ordered at lunch time. Had to get them to fix it. Glad one of us asked to see the menu again, otherwis, we might not have caught it. Suggest you keep a menu and check bill before paying.
(1)Samantha A.
My opinion of this place has lowered over the last couple of years. Used to love going here, but at least the last few times I've been there I have been very disappointed with the service. I went there 2 years ago for my birthday with a group of people (about 10), and the server we had had a terrible attitude, and was not attentive. Somehow I ended up going there for my birthday again the next year (there was a benefit for the local animal shelter), and the staff was very rude. They were very irritated about having to add tables for us because the party kept growing (gosh, I brought in more business, darn!), and told one of my guests flat out that it was time for us to leave. It was pretty outrageous. I don't go there on principle now. They seriously need to teach their staff some manners.
(2)Victoria L.
My fiancé and I just had dinner here and it was good. Although, the service was terrible than most I've had there. We were sat and then two other couples were and we were dealt with last. Our food took at least 45 minutes to come out. Overall a bad experience.
(1)Ann L.
Stopped in here for lunch. Nothing incredible but not bad either.
(3)Sherri G.
El Leoncitios has a great atmosphere with cute decor. Their food is pretty good, I especially like their chimichangas. I do feel like their Queso is lacking. Something about it is just too "cheese in a can" like. And there is no meat in it. If their Queso was better, I would go more often.
(4)Nancy L.
Went with two other people for lunch break during a long bicycle ride. Fish tacos with mango salsa were on special. Sounds yummy right? Not so much. I asked the waiter specifically if this dish had cilantro (I am allergic). He said oh no, not in this dish. So he brings my plate with the delicious mango salsa. He then says, by the way, the mango salsa has cilantro in it (which it obviously did). I asked if he would bring some either mango salsa or regular salsa without cilantro. Nope....every sauce and salsa there contains cilantro. Then, he kept stopping by the table with an insipid smile asking if we were enjoying our food. I would have ordered something different if he had told me before bringing the food out. I didn't want to make my table mates wait on my making a reorder.
(1)Bill G.
Dined here recently on a Friday evening. Driving by it always seemed to be packed, so gave it a try. Waitress was very nice and very pleasant atmosphere. But food not very good. at suggestion of waitress I tried a Cuban sandwich. It simply tasted like dried up ham. Price ok but I've seen better.
(2)Kyle J.
REAL TAQUITOS! With Guac!? Have I died and gone to heaven? This place reminds me of the kitschy Mexican places in Ohio, but the food is the real deal. They have shredded beef on the menu, which is an automatic win in my book. The margaritas are delightful. The chips plentiful. For this picky Mexican food eater this place was almost an automatic win.
(5)Tatiana B.
It's not everybody's cup of mexican tea or cuban coffee but I really like their food. We started coming here when we lived in Titusville and now we only come for after-work get-togethers. House margaritas are too sweet. My co-workers usually get the Cadillac margaritas. Those are better but waaaaay stronger. One is one too-many for me. I love their house salsa. It has lots of flavors, cilantro (yum), and not too spicy. Their jalapeno poppers are good and so is the melted queso (to go with the chips). For the entree, my favorite are the Chicken Enchiladas Rancheras. This comes with two enchiladas, topped with green sauce, sour cream and guacamole, yellow rice, and refrito beans. I looove the green sauce that comes with the enchiladas and their yellow rice is one of the best I've had. The enchiladas are filled with chicken and cheese and they are really, really good! I usually leave one enchilada for next day's lunch and it tastes even better. The chicken quesadillas, carne asada, the pork chops, and the fajitas are all really good too. The cuban dishes such as the pork chops, ropa vieja, and picadillo come with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains. Desserts are not their strong suit. Skip it. Servers are very attentive and service is always great.
(4)Bee C.
Maybe they are known for their Mexican but that wasn't on point either. Had the Cuban Ropa Vieja, it was missing the sofrito seasoning flavor, came with white rice which was parboiled (yuck) you can't serve plain parboiled white rice it's just disgusting and an insult to Spanish/Latino cooking. Left all the rice had the maduros ( sweet plantains) which were perfect, the black bean soup is definitely Americanized had way too much cumin but the onions made it edible even with the cheese on top which was unnecessary for Cuban black beans. Partner had steak fajitas which had lemon pepper seasoning? Or lemon salt flavoring? which we at first mistook for bad meat but after smelling and tasting again, realized it was the seasoning. Fajitas came with yellow rice which was long grain and very good (why can't that be served with the Ropa Vieja instead of the parboiled crap?) along with 3 flour tortillas. Paid lunch special prices for the meals. Waitress was very attentive, atmosphere is lively and well decorated, loved the little hacienda inside and the water view. Expected authentic since the staff is Hispanic and most likely the cooks too. Stars for service and atmosphere. Food needs work.
(2)Annamarie H.
Found this place on Trip Advisor, and now everyone in our party is a fan! Friendly staff, clean environment, and great food! Also, the night we went had a great mariachi band. I would recommend the shredded beef taquitos, chicken or beef enchiladas, or the chile verde. This is a great restaraunt. One tip: If there is a wait, head down the hall to the Cantina Bar to grab a drink and browse the menu.
(5)Kristoff H.
Crowded, lively atmosphere. Had some Cuban dish that was less than stellar. Wait staff was attentive. Prices reasonable.
(3)Chris P.
Some of the best Mexican food I've had in Florida. Their regular salsa is quite flavorful, not the bland tomato sauce you get at most places. If you ask, they will give you a hotter green salsa that is even better. Their menu contains plenty of Americanized versions of Mexican dishes, but they do have some authentic ones that you don't typically see in Florida: chile verde (pork green chile), chile colorado (beef red chile), machaca (shredded beef with chiles, onions, and scrambled eggs), camarones al diablo (shrimp in spicy red sauce), and camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp with a garlic sauce). I thought they had enchiladas suizas (chicken enchiladas with green chile and a cream sauce) on their menu when I was there recently, but I don't see it on their web site now. The camarones al diablo are outstanding. I asked them to make it extra spicy for me, and the kitchen delivered - it was as good as I've had in Mexico. The service was efficient, and the prices are reasonable. Will definitely stop by here every time I am in Titusville.
(4)Melissa B.
I've never enjoyed the food for the price here..I guess I just don't like mexican or cuban.. I go for events..and that's it.
(2)Christine H.
Okay its not really mexican and its not really cuban its a hybrid....but for Titusville this is as good as it gets. The salsa is bar none my absolute favorite ANYWHERE, but you can't review a whole joint on salsa alone. I suggest you go with the mexican side of the menu its better than the cuban side. The cuban side is a bit bland. I think people have a misconception of mexican food....its not spicey...the actual food is rather bland itself what makes it "spicy" hot is the jalapenos or the hot sauce or salsa that you put on top of the mexican food. The fajitas are great, the fajita salad is awesome, skip the guac...you can make it better at home, if you must order from the cuban side go with the cuban sandwich and black beans...then take the extraordinary salsa and put some in your black beans and dip your sandwich into it....I'm not kidding the salsa is awesome. Service deserves 5 stars, I have never been disappointed, always quickly seated, attended to, and served. OH and sorry to my fellow reviewers that say this is the best cuban ever......you need to get out of Brevard more often folks. Ybor and Miami, and even WPB and Orlando have excellent Cuban food. I still heart Leoncito and its one of my favorite places in town, but better cuban food than Miami?! You gotta be kidding me!
(4)Barbara A.
Cuban and Mexican food, margaritas, live Mariachi Band, views of the water from the front patio! This place is great! If you want a quiet dinner, avoid Friday nights, but the food is very tasty, we've tried many of the old favorites like enchiladas, relleno, tacos, fajitas, but also been having the Cuban dishes, which are all quite good. We have not had a bad meal here..
(4)Chase T.
Service is horrible, place is dingy and cold feeling. Food is fairly priced, although the food isn't great at all. Only reason I would ever go back is to have a margarita, which aren't even that outstanding.
(1)Wendy H.
O wish we had his at home ... Amazing service great food, and service is unbelievable ... This is one of the best Mexican/Cuban restaurants I've ever eaten ... the wait staff is the best, they remember your name, and are extremely attentive. I love it. Their Hot Salsa ... is better than Fire ... yummy. If you live anywhere on the Space Coast it's worth the drive. Call a head it is a busy place, and they have special nights ... They are known as the best Margarita in Florida ... and I'd say they are great ... one is good, two you might not remember where you live ... careful~ See you again real soon ...
(5)Jason P.
The absolute best Mexican restaurant I've ever ate at, and the best restaurant period in Titusville. Prices are great, food is great, service is great, super clean, and usually not too packed unless you go on BOGO monday margarita night or friday nights. Get's really packed for shuttle launches, but it's a great view from here to watch them. Careful with their margaritas most people will be stumbling around after 2 and on the floor at 3!!! Home made salsa and chips are the best! No chain food jar salsa!
(5)James B.
Eat at El Leoncito at least once a week for lunch and a few times a month for dinner. One of the better restaurants in Titusville. The food is always prepared well and the staff are friendly. Oh by the way, BEST Margarita's in town.
(5)G W.
My favorite place to eat enchilada rancheros! Always fast and good service. Nice view of rocket launches and the intercoastal waterway! Give it a try you won't be disappointed.
(5)Anita K.
Saw 2 roaches within 5 minutes of being seated (table was right next to kitchen).
(1)Dave J.
Great place for lunch, and one of the closest actual restaurants if you're working at KSC. The Cuban fare is delicious, and everyone in our party was happy with their food. I'll be back for more!
(5)Julie C.
Until we ate here, I was going to give this restaurant a review of "brilliant marketing." It's located across the street from a park where you can see the space shuttle launch so they were selling their parking spaces, but selling them for $25 gift vouchers to be used in the restaurant. Brilliant, right? Not so fast... We were given lunch menus to choose from (it was lunch time) and kids menus. We received chips and salsa; the hot was great, the mild- not so much. The chips were not fresh. We ordered lunch entrees which were served hot but notably bland. Then we received the bill. First, the margaritas were marked up by $2.00 each from what the menu said, and the entrees were marked up between $3 and $4 per entree. When I brought it to the attention of the manager he said they do different pricing for the space shuttle. I explained to him that I have no problem with that however it should have been indicated as such on the menu or in signage in the restaurant or any kind of communication. He said he was too exhausted to argue with me about it and would adjust my bill. Then when he gave it to me said he couldn't adjust the items but rather " did the math in his head" and adjusted by $8. At that point I just wanted to get out. Then when we used our $25 gift voucher, they only adjusted our bill for $20 instead of the $25. When I brought it to the attention of my server, he again acted innocent and sent me back to the manager who was not happy to see me a second time. I told him I wasn't happy and that now it appeared to be a scam they were trying to pull on people. He told me I was being ridiculous and threw the $5 bill at me. I tried explaining to him it wasn't about the money it was about how they were executing it. He would hear none of it and began ignoring me so I told him to give the money to my server and we left. I really don't care how long this restaurant has been in business or that "it's hard to find good employees," as I'm often told. What I am concerned about is businesses, not just restaurants, screwing consumers every which way they can and getting away with it because not enough consumers say anything about the screwing for it to ever stop.
(2)Dana S.
Wow. I'm not sure how this place has 4 stars. It was terrible overall. The good points, the margaritas were very good and inexpensive. It was a decent value, but the food was average below average. My rellenos were so greasy I couldn't eat them. The enchiladas were plain but decent. Chimichangas were more like a strange combo of enchilada and poorly fried burrito, but the chicken inside was good. The service started out okay, but quickly devolved. We wanted dessert, but after waiting 20 minutes for our waiter, we just asked for the bill when he finally came. After waiting another 15 minutes to have our credit card run, we gave up and just paid up front. I know I can be a bit picky about Mexican food because I'm from Colorado and can get great food back home, but I'd advise people to just skip this place regardless of where you're from; there's better food and service out there.
(2)Melissa M.
Everyone else's reviews sum it up. This place is excellent. All I will add is that I was born and raised in So Cal. Moved to NC five years ago and haven't had decent Mexican food since (except on trips back to CA). This was just as good as any Mexican fare I had in the Los Angeles area. Delicious! Don't hesitate to go. Reasonable prices too.
(5)Brenden S.
Really enjoyed my dinner. Food came out hot and was truly authentic Mexican. Service was great! Totally a return visit next time I am in town!
(4)Steve F.
I just had a great experience here. Saturday night at dinner time the parking lot was full, but we were seated immediately, and the rest of our service for the evening was similarly prompt and friendly. I'll echo other reviews in saying that the salsa is worth a stop on it's own. It's pleasantly chunky with a great balance of sweet, tangy and slow burn. My burrito was hearty and delicious, as was the rice and beans that came with it. My friend ordered from the Cuban side and was similarly impressed. Especially for the quality and quantity of the food, the price was very reasonable. The decor was also very nice, with a dark, cosy, rustic feel that drew you in. An odd final note is that the "mints" by the door were also fantastic, though they were more sorbet flavored than mint.
(5)Debra j.
Finally we found a good place to eat before seeing the rockets. Good, authentic, clean, good service. We will be back. Cuban sandwich was very good and large. Chili Pork relleno was very tasty.
(4)Nathan R.
El Leoncito Mexican and Cuban restaurant is a beacon of light in a sea of average restaurants in the Titusville area. For years it has consistently provided the same great quality of food and service that have made it a staple for this area. The restaurant moved to a bigger and better location this year which allows it to seat more guests in a more enjoyable atmosphere. My personal favorite here is the shredded beef enchiladas with red sauce. The chips and salsa at this place are the best around, and their house margarita was voted best in the county. El Leoncito also features a Cuban menu which includes some tasty dishes, but its the Mexican that keeps everyone coming back. If you are looking for great service, ask for Paulina (although many others may be waiting for her ahead of you). When you are in the Space Coast area and craving some good quality food, head on over to El Leoncito.
(4)Trent T.
The food was pretty good here. The service was really good and the chips and salsa were great!
(4)lisa m.
This is a restaurant with a lot of history for me. First time I dined at this location was back in 2005 when it was still a rib joint...food was good then...it's great now. When my husband and I were still single...and living a thousand miles apart...we went here and had wonderful times together. When I moved down to FL, it was one of our first stops. At first, we were a little iffy about the change in cuisine (which apparently was prompted by El Leoncito's change in location) but we were SO pleased with what we had. You can't go wrong with any chicken dish...and I agree with other reviewers who say the Mexican trumps the Cuban. The 'ritas taste great and don't hit you over the head. While a fair number of families come here it's not obnoxious for those of us without kids. Definitely a go in my book
(4)CARMEN R.
We were looking for a place to eat and we saw El Leoncito Restaurant, so we stopped and ate there. The prices were good, the place was very clean, the food was delicious, and the service was great. So, If you're in the mood for Mexican or Cuban food, I recommend El Leoncito Restaurant on Titusville, Florida.
(4)Sam K.
One of the best cuban/mexcan food I have had + very quick and good service.
(5)Kathleen B.
It has taken me a very long time to write this review for "if ya can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all"....This was my second attempt at this restaurant, the first was horrible. I'll start with what is good, VERY VERY VERY nice service. Nice warm ambiance, good margaritas. That's where is begins and that's where it ends. Food, a mixture of (not authentic) Mexican and (not authentic) Cuban ...oh I do know my Cuban food since my b/f is Cuban...is lack luster. Not bad, not good, just blah. The pricing is not bad....reasonable for the quality of food. NOW onto the bad.... WAY TOO much rice. We (b/f and I) are still trying to figure out what the hell went wrong with the black beans (obviously their cook has some sort of special secret ingredient). The kitchen sends forth these very drab "non plated" plates (would not kill them to cut back on the rice and dress up their plates with a little lettuce/tomato/cheese/sour cream or guacamole). The salsa, blah, not fresh. The portions, blah, not unless you LOVE rice. The entree, nothing to write home about, blah. Overall my little feet will never grace their doorway again, nor my ass their seats. Sorry but just not worth the blahhhhhhhhhh. Might be a good place to go and have a few margaritas and watch a game, while snacking on some chips/salsa.
(3)Tanner S.
El Leoncito is the best. We had some cuban food in South Beach and it didn't even compare. Love the chicken fajitas, palomilla, yellow rice, picadillo, etc. Margaritas are great!
(5)Doug B.
As far as Mexican/Cuban food is concerned, this place is a must.
(5)Tom M.
Great Cinco De Mayo dinner on our way from Kennedy Space Center to Orlando. Highly recommend!
(4)Nikki B.
Hubby and I ate here before we drove to Kennedy Space Center as we didn't think there would be any good food there. Ordered Fajita Chicken Quesadilla and the Wet Burrito with a side of rice. Both were very good. My husband mentioned that the quesadilla was one of the better he has ever had. The burrito had just enough of each ingredient. Restaurant is located off Hwy 1 and we were fortunate enough to get a booth by a window where we were able to look at the river. I am sure this place was a great location to view the shuttle lift offs. Only negative was waiter wasn't very attentive.
(4)Phil B.
Food was bland, absolutely no flavoring or seasoning. We ordered the Wet Burrito Plate and the Enchilada & Tamal Combination Plate. The shredded chicken tasted like it was boiled and then mixed with the "so called" seasoning just prior to preparation. The tamale did not taste fresh, and even the sides of refried beans and yellow rice were bland. How can you mess up refried beans? If you like good Mexican food, do not go here. If you like mild flavorless food, then this is your cup-of-tea.
(1)Richard B.
Very Good Lunch. Value is excellent. good service and always busy at lunch. Suggest that you try the lunch specials and you'll spend less than $8. Good service, good atmosphere.
(4)Dawn T.
The food is really horrible...I avoid it
(1)Jake M.
I stopped at El Leoncito today for my first time ever, cause I drive by it all the time and it has a badass looking lion on the sign. Also the "today special" was New York strip, a Mexi/Cuban staple. Now, many people think that a Leoncito is some sort of Mexican fighting chicken but they are mistaken. There is a little drunk dude named Leon who lives upstairs and always wears a sombrero. The restaurant is named after him. I didn't see any Cuban food on the menu but there was a lot of Mexican stuff. I ordered the enchiladas rancheros which is Spanish for enchiladas ranch. Mine had pork in them. It was obviously freshly pulled pork because it was mostly clumps of fat. That's how you know it's real though. Like grit in clam chowder or a dog collar in your dim sum. The chips and salsa was made in house. So was the guac which was ok. I didn't get shafted on the price like that other lady did. Course, I also recognized that the menu I was looking at was a lunch menu....anywho, you should stop in if you are (obviously) lost on south washington street and eat some stuff. I have no complaints.
(3)Michelle S.
Went for happy hour. They get a pretty good crowd. The soup was very good. Chicken fajitas were good and the service was friendly. 2 for 1 happy hour beers only for Bud & Bud Lite.... The margarita was pretty good at $3.95.
(3)Dennis F.
Eat here every time I visit Titusville. Fun vibe, friendly service, great prices, and lots of hearty, good Cuban food. The drink specials can be an amazing deal. On this occasion, while the roast pork was overcooked, the black beans, plantains, and yellow rice were excellent as usual. The food is nothing fancy but it hits the spot. Somewhat less impressed by the Mexican fare, but the locals seem to like it and I'm comparing it to stuff I've had in AZ, TX, and CA.
(4)John C.
I rarely would give a five, This place deserves 4.5! An absolutely great place to eat. Black beans are great as well as the picadillo, Cuban style New York Steak. Don't pass this place up.
(4)Duncan S.
El Leoncito is a definitely the best Mexican restaurant in Titusville. It's great for both Mexican and Cuban food whatever you are in the mood for. Their yellow rice is exceptional and the Cuban grilled chicken is very good. My dad and uncle both had the Palomilla, steak served thin "Old Havana Style", topped with fresh parsley and onions and they loved it. I recommend this place to anyone who likes Mexican or Cuban food when they visit Titusville. Oh and the deserts are delicious too - fried ice cream or flan
(5)J K.
Average Mexican restaurant. Great lunches and price, but I think La Bamba II is better (especially the chips/salsa).
(3)Stephen M.
This is my favorite and, probably, the best all-around restaurant in Titusville. If you're in town, just go.
(5)