Buena Vista Restaurant
220 N Harrison St, Algonquin, IL, 60102
Buena Vista Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Algonquin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Algonquin for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Algonquin for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
220 N Harrison St
Algonquin, IL, 60102 - Phone (847) 658-6150
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Mike C.
The perfect description of this place would be a little "hole in the wall". I have lived in chicago for 20yrs or so and i would say i know "good" mexican food. I have had dozens and dozens of meals at small mom & pop places where the grandma is in the back making fresh tortillas and tamales, this place is as close to authentic as i can find in the NW suburbs. The place is not pretty, it's pretty small and badly in need of updating, but don't let that stop you from going there. As you sit down, they bring out the chips and salsa. The warm chips are accompanied with some very spicy red chile salsa and some also very spicy pico de gallo (sp?). Both are very good but very spicy so be forwarned. The menu options are ENORMOUS. I would say that im am the outcast when i order a taco dinner or a burrito as most of the other customers order some more authentic seafood dishes or steak dishes. The prices are VERY VERY reasonable, actually cheap to most suburban standards. A 2 taco dinner with rice and beans will run you $4.25, and that is for steak too. Everything else on the menu is also priced right and the options are endless, 4 full pages of menu items to choose from. They also serve alcohol and make some strong margaritas. Have i had better tacos, burritos, or mexican all together? yes i have, but being in the NW suburbs this is pretty damn good. For the price you can't beat it. I'd say it's 10x's better than tacos el norte down the road. DO NOT forget to try the fresh Horchata they have, it is some of the best i've ever had with plenty of cinnamon.
(5)Barbara H.
This place is a tiny little hole in the wall place with the best authentic and inexpensive food in town! The chips and guacamole are out standing (the chips come warm). My favorite is the steak that is smothered in pablano peppers and baked cheese... out of this world!
(5)Kent U.
Don't get the typical Anglo-Mexican fare and you might be surprised. For one this is a "cheap eats" and if they called themselves a 'Taqueria' vs Restaurant it might get less criticism about atmosphere which there is none. Second all their food is "rustic" with little finesse. That is the only mind set one can be in to enjoy their food. To some the food maybe a little salty, overcooked/charred but it is never bland like Algonquin Mexican which is down the street (and gets higher ratings). They have soups and pozole which no one serves in the area. These dishes have been quite consistent. We have to take-out, since it is a hit or miss if you get all the correct garnishes that make these dishes zing. For us its really a take-out only restaurant. For example I remember the first time I had the pozole at the restaurant, I thought it was 'awful' something was missing. Had it a couple years later when my wanted wanted soup so we order all three types they had. This time the pozole came with fresh onions, cilantro, cabbage and limes. What a difference. They have a lot of things on the menu which are atypical. I can't be a judge of some since I don't know how its suppose to taste. Their al pastor is tasty but always seems 'dry' so great on a tostada but needs a lot of salsa in a taco. So if live in the area and want a little food adventure, its a place to go but its not a place to try to impress someone of whats in the Algonquin area.
(3)Natalie B.
Waited 20 minutes for my takeout---ok, fine. Not a biggie. But I get home and the fish taco is like 10% fish and 85% tomato, onion, other strange things and spices, and burnt. Almost as if they took the burnt scrapings from everything they were cooking and added it to the fish because they didn't have enough. The other tacos were also quite burnt. But I get what really burns my biscuits is that I asked the guy if the horchata was "homemade or a mix," and he told me it was homemade. I'm sorry but I can tell homemade from a mix and that was a mix. If not, they sure know how to make it taste just like a mix. Sugar-water and plaster for color? Honestly if I were very, very desperate for tacos and there were no other choices, this place would suffice, but I'd choose any place over them as it is.
(1)Steven H.
The place has gone downhill dramatically over the last few years. It was, IMO, a pretty good Mexican restaurant. But now, it's barely edible. Chicken burritos have some kind of ground up chicken the size of large peas in them, and hard and chewy. Just plain nasty. Sorry to say, we've had to say adios. Maybe they'll get it back together someday.
(1)Corryn A.
Went here for dinner at 7:00 on a Saturday night. There was only one other couple in the restaurant, and they left shortly after we did. This place is so casual, I thought perhaps more people would be picking up orders to go, but no one else stopped in. I had been driving past this restaurant for so long, and I finally ate there. There is beer and margaritas, which I was pleased to see. Most casual Mexican places like these don't offer alcohol. Our server was pleasant and they have a gigantic menu. Beans and rice are awesome - I am extremely picky about Mexican beans and rice - cannot taste canned. I had the chile rellenos dinner, and I was very pleased with it. It comes with a red rancheros sauce, but you can ask for it on the side or leave it off. My friend had the carne asada, which was a bit disappointing. The meat itself was super tender and cooked perfectly, but it tasted as if Worchestire or A-1 had been added - not a good blend with Mexican spices. We will go back, but he may ask for the steak to NOT be seasoned or something. It is a bit dirty and dingy inside, so be prepared for that. Complimentary chips and salsas were good. I did not go to the bathroom, so I don't know how they are. There's a small parking lot as well as street parking. Hours are 10 until 10pm during the week and until 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. They have breakfast as well.
(3)Howie C.
Sorry, Can't review this place. After reading the other reviews (OLD) we didn't go in. I even had a coupon that cost me $2 to save 60%.
(2)Rolf A.
This is a great place to eat at! But if your going to eat here, have the man serve you, not the woman. The food is great, along with the timing of the food. Although it does need a clean-up, still not a dump. Totally recommend this place, as long as the man is serving you.
(4)Chris S.
Very good carnitas and carneasada. Salsa is excellent as well. This is a take out place so the service lacks when you eat in but totally worth the trip.
(5)Jeff V.
This is a typical Mexican restaurant, in Mexico. I think our American standard of cleanliness are not taken to heart. I did find the food to be OK, nothing amazing. All of the tables look as if they are about to fall over. If you happen to find yourself in front of the place, go ahead and try it. I wouldn't go out of my way.
(2)Dave C.
Great affordable Mexican food! This place is tucked away off the main street, but has a great view of the riverfront. It's kinda small and quaint, but the food is great. I loved the guacamole, nicely topped with shredded cheese. The mild salsa was also very tasty. Our only issue was a mix-up on one order of tacos, seems "hard shell taco" was lost in translation & we ended up with soft tortilla's. It was soon cleared up by the friendly cook from the kitchen, who came out to help translate. We'll be back, this place has great food!
(4)Elizabeth L.
So dirty food was gross. The girl was nice but ill never eat here again A guy that looked or acted like the owner was walking around hacking in his hand then I saw him cooking. Floors are dirty just nasty. Don't eat here.
(1)Marvin L.
The worst food I've ever tried in my life!!!!!! P.s sorry but it's the truth. I couldn't even drink the coffee, and the meat was GREASY, and I had to wait 30 minutes for my food and i was the only person there.
(1)Renato P.
Ordered take out from here a few times and had a solid burrito and nachos there. margarita was decent but Ive had better, the burrito does the job but doesn't leave any clear stuff in my underwear. A good Mexican joint but not among my favorites, probably closer to a 3 and a half star review.
(4)Eric E.
Good, not great Mexican food in Algonquin. Service was good, and the place was surprisingly empty for 1pm on a Monday. Order was served with Chips and Salsa. Chips were good, nothing special. Fresh / mild salsa was excellent! Hotter salsa lacked flavor, but was OK. Ordered Taxco Combination - Poblano Pepper, Steak and Tamal. Poblano was tasty and well prepared. Slightly thin from previous experiences, but OK. Steak was done perfectly - Medium Rare - but lacked seasoning and flavor. Tamal was also nicely done, but not with a lot of flavor. Note that steak is often overcooked, and this cook did a great job, here! Why the 3 stars? I have been coming here for the over 20 years I've lived in town, and the place used to be hopping, with excellent, full and rich salsa's! Service was always top notch - even if the server didn't speak English (I speak no Spanish), and we had fun making do. There are at least two other great Mexican restaurants in town which are both high quality and from different regions. This leaves little room for an 'OK' Buena Vista. Have some fun with seasonings, and smile a little more. ;)
(3)Mark R.
Worst meal i've had in years...i'm not kidding. Had the carne asada..tasted livery..Wife had steak burrito...every bite gristly...son had steak burrito suizo, 2/3rd of the way thru it bit into and pulled out a 3 inch piece of plastic wrap......(wtf)...Dtr in law had 3 tacos and is still queasy today....All night long I leaked more gas than a hot air balloon...UGH. On top of everything else it took 45 mins to get our food. If you're into bulimia this is your place to dine.
(1)Laura B.
Good dive restaurant. I wouldn't go there for the atmosphere, however the food is good and inexpensive. note: it is NOT a dirty place as others have mentioned, but it badly needs some upgrades. The mural-try not to even look at it.
(3)The Decide R.
Get the lengua tacos, you won't be disappointed. This is the place for tacos in CL, plus you can get grilled whole jalapeños and onions with your order!!:) I know it's divey from the outside, but give it a chance, you'll be very happy. Plus they're open till midnight in the weekends.
(5)Kathy S.
Another 1 of my favorite places to eat in Algonquian on the cheap it's definitely not a flashy place in fact its a total hole in the wall but the food is excellent. Close to the river you can come from your boat and even walk over its a Saturday or Sunday afternoon
(4)Garry K.
Gave it 2 stars only because of my latest experience there tonight. The carnitas were so-so and my wife ordered fajita combo w/steak & shrimp but she got chicken and shrimp but we did not complain. Most of the chicken was burnt but the shrimp were very good. The Pico de gallo, salsa and chips were as good as ever. I also did not feel too hot after dinner.
(2)Tracy K.
I am so excited to find out about this place! The complimentary pico de gallo and salsa have the perfect amount of heat, and the chips had just the right amount of grease. My mom loved her steak fajita taco salad - she said it was the best taco salad she had ever had. And I absolutely loved my sopes that they substituted guacamole (also very tasty) for meat. Huge portions for fairly cheap. The only part of the meal I was not crazy about was the beans & rice; I'd skip them next time because they were both quite lackluster. Our waitress was so friendly. Sure the place wasn't busy - we were one of two tables - but she anticipated our wants for refills, etc. Like Mike mentioned, this place is a total dive.. but not at all in a skeevy way. The bathrooms were even dive-y yet not gross. They play loud, traditional Mexican music sporadically.. so it would go from silence/quiet conversation to loud, oompa-y musica.. and then back to silencio. I was amused by this, but I think my mom was kind of annoyed. All in all, I really like this place. Its closer to home than the other Mexican joint we go to, so I know I'll be back here soon.
(5)Franklin D.
You've got to be kidding. This place needs a good power washing and maybe a coat of shellac if they aren't going to keep up with their cleaning duties. Went in with my two boys. Our food took about 45-60 minutes to get to the table. The kids had chicken nuggets and fries. These were the little Tyson dinosaur nuggets you get in the frozen section of the supermarket for $5 in a huge bag. Yuck. I ordered TWO tacos...pastor. What is so hard about cooking some pork to put in a taco? It was all dried out and topped with a tiny bit of onion and cilantro and that was it. Bleh. One star is only for the decent view of the Fox River out the window. Don't bother going here if you like Mexican food. There's just no excuse for charging people money for this mess!
(1)Ryan H.
We've dined here numerous times. True, it is a little dingy hole in the wall and the air conditioning rarely works, but the food is great. Prices are reasonable. We've always been happy with what we've ordered.
(4)Laurin G.
There was a coupon in my Entertainment book last year for this place. I didn't bother looking for a coupon for Buena Vista this year, because even if there was a coupon and I got the food for 1/2 price, I wouldn't use it. It was just "meh" and I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. The dishes we ordered were edible, but forgettable. The beans and rice were probably the worst any of us have ever had. They were pretty much flavorless. Everyone in my family loves Mexican food and we were sorely disappointed by Buena Vista. It is a really great location with a good view of the Fox River. I think they would do much more business if they spruced up the place. And their menu.
(2)