This place is just overall not good. The patio outside is tiny, the staff seem fairly disinterested and the food is complete crap. I really don't understand how they manage to draw people in, especially on the East side of Batavia. The margaritas taste like they're made with cheap mixes. A waste of time.
(1)
william h.
absolute dog food.
(1)
J M.
I don't get the bad reviews! This place is cozy and cutely decorated. The service was pretty good. The food was great, just like I remember Pepe's being, and it fulfilled my cravings. Salsa was freshly made and tasted great with hearty tomato flavor. I will definately be back.
(4)
Chris D.
This was such a disappointment. The place was pretty busy, it was clean and festively decorated, and the host and waiter were attentive and nice. But the food was bad. The meat they use to make the various Mexican rolled up items was just browned ground beef. No seasoning and almost no flavor. If they would just season their meat I think they would have a nice little place. The rice was very good. The salsa was fair. It had raw onions (a lot) in it so it had a very oniony flavor that I don't particularly like. Like I said this place had much to like, but at the end of the day the food just isn't flavorful.
(1)
Dee H.
Not the greatest. I have dined here a couple times and food is okay, service not the best. Recently I went in for lunch. I was the only customer in the restaurant. I wanted a chili relano and a chicken enchilada . The waiter said he could not do that because it was not on the pick 2 item menu. The only way I could get the chili relano in combination was to choose the 3 item special combo that included items I did not want. He said sorry, so I left and went to another Mexican restaurant in the area, And thanks to Pepe's I found a new great Mexican restaurant with awesome food and service that I will frequent often.
(2)
Chad B.
I don't get all these bad reviews. I grew up on Pepe's in Chicago and have been going to the Batavia location for nearly 9 years. The food and service are great. The meals are authentic, tasty and reasonably priced. Could it possible the other reviewers have never had authentic Mexican cuisine? I hate to clue you in, but most Mexican restaurants in the far suburbs don't serve authentic Mexican food. You will find the more you pay for Mexican food, the less authentic it is.
(4)
Christina S.
I came here on cinco de mayo with my parents. We were celebrating my birthday. They took down some hats and sang around me, gave me dessert. Their drinks are VERY STRONG. Three large margaritas and I was way beyond drunk. Their food was good I think. I dont really remember. But the pictures that I have show the servers with huge smiles and they clearly made my 21st not so memorable, which is a great thing for that birthday! Love them! Also, my parents go once a week. Who would turn down half price margaritas? lol!
(5)
Ben T.
This is my second time here. I always visit multiple times before judging a restaurant as I worked in a restaurant growing up and I know things can get crazy around dinner rush. Speaking of which, we were the only customers in the whole place so there is no excuse for this. Growing up my family would eat at the Oswego location every so often and we enjoyed it... but not here. The food came out within 5 minutes of ordering both times I was here. Scary. The food had NO flavor. You could tell the food had been microwaved. Aside from everything tasting like nothing, the cheese was a generic version of Kraft singles and was messily put on top.. and it wasn't melted at all. There is nothing authentic about this place. I'm not a picky eater and I never leave reviews for restaurants. I joined Yelp just to give this review because I've never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I would rather eat Taco Bell food that was dropped on the ground than eat this food again. The only way to explain the food is like tasteless matter. Not to mention that our group felt sick within a few hours of leaving here. Steer clear of this place! Hopefully it will close soon so we can get a decent restaurant here.
(1)
Vivian Y.
Really? so much hate people! I think the Cadillac Margarita is SUPER yummy and I hate tequila! Come for the 1/2 price margaritas on Tuesday and Thursday. Food - well, I think it's pretty decent, not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but fairly authentic in my opinion. Yes, service does suck. The waiters are bad at looking around to see who is trying to capture their attention. They walk past without looking at you unless they are flagged down.
(3)
Ginny E.
Gross and HORRIBLE SERVICE! Ironically the place was pretty busy but we sat at the front without being greeted for at least 10 minutes. I finally, and pretty agressively, got the attn of a server who nodded his head but still didn't come back for 7 or so minutes. We were finally seated and given a 1/2 basket of chips but no salsa. At least it was something to give to the hungry kiddos that were with us. After a very LONG time the food came and my husband couldn't eat his because the chicken smelled bad and tasted bad (as in spoiled meat.) We finally get the check only to discover that they had over charged us. Eat here at your own risk people!
(1)
Rona H.
When my dad and I got here, we were shocked because it was a full house in there. ..On a Tuesday?! And then we saw the permanent sign embedded in the blue awning: "1/2 price Margaritas on Tuesdays!" Ooooh. Well, if you're drunk, everything tastes good right? However, my dad and I weren't, so our food was so-so. I don't recommend the tamales--really bland, and slightly sour? My dad had the tostadas, and they were slightly better. The complimentary chips were sparse.. I guess beggars can't be choosers huh? It is what it is; it's a place to drink on Tuesdays. So come here to drink margaritas on Tuesdays.
(3)
Jen R.
It pains me to write this review. I loved Pepe's when I was a kid. My parents used to take me and my brother here almost every Saturday, and I felt like such a big shot that I got to have my own tacos. I also used to get this enchilada or something like that which had imitation crab and cheese in it. It's pretty disgusting to think about now, but as a kid, it made my under developed taste buds explode. Imagine my surprise when we ventured to the Pepe's down the street from our house and it was just... awful. Nothing had flavour and it made me so sad to sit in this booth and eat the same thing I had eaten countless other times and have it fall flat. Estoy triste :( I gave it two stars only because the people there were friendly and very attentive. I'm just sorry that the food was so bad. There are much better Mexican restaurants right down the street off Wilson.
(2)
Elizabeth A.
Don't get all the bad reviews ... I love this place and the quest fundito is amazing , really fattening but amazing none the less. We always get good service, food comes pretty fast and I always leave after eating way too much with a box full of leftovers , so I'm happy. Love you Pepe!
(4)
Steve G.
I love Pepe's. Don't get me wrong, I know it's gringo Mexican food, but it's tasty gringo Mexican food. I have become a regular, so my server knows who I am and brings me a not-too-sweet margarita soon after I'm seated. I typically start with the taquitos, a deep-fried, stuffed mini-taco filled with either beef or cheese served with guac and sour cream. Yum. I've never had a bad meal, but I usually go with some sort of steak taco/tostada combo served with refried beans and rice. For those griping about lack of flavor, I suggest topping any selection with Pepe's homemade hot sauce, which gives any dish plenty of kick. What I also appreciate is that Pepe's is accommodating for kids. Mine don't particularly care for beans and rice, so subbing with fries is no problemo. And, honestly, their fries are really tasty and a single order is a substantial portion. I haven't had dessert there, but only because I am always too full by the time I pry myself out of the booth. Ignore the haters and get some gringo food today!
(4)
RC S.
Hubby and I have been here several times now and we love it especially for the price. Tonight hubby enjoyed his chicken fajita burrito and I really love the shrimp quesadilla. Big yummy shrimp! Also, have never been dissapointed by the margaritas or the service. However, the chips and salsa you get after being seated are just ok. The decor/ambience is nothing special, but when we want reasonably priced, good american mexican fare, this is it.
(4)
Truth M.
I wish more people would Yelp. We work hard for our money! If your a drunk and like 1/2 price drinks well good for you. I will never recommend this Pepe's for food. I have been to many Pepe's in Chicago land and burbs and this one is by far is sad indeed. I was brought a Runny plate of food.Yikes. I can't understand why it so hard to get good Mexican food. Its so easy to make Every location is different so pick one that works for you. Your cooks need to be trained right. Maybe lazy or cheap. Don't get my family's vote
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Amanda S.
This place is just overall not good. The patio outside is tiny, the staff seem fairly disinterested and the food is complete crap. I really don't understand how they manage to draw people in, especially on the East side of Batavia. The margaritas taste like they're made with cheap mixes. A waste of time.
(1)william h.
absolute dog food.
(1)J M.
I don't get the bad reviews! This place is cozy and cutely decorated. The service was pretty good. The food was great, just like I remember Pepe's being, and it fulfilled my cravings. Salsa was freshly made and tasted great with hearty tomato flavor. I will definately be back.
(4)Chris D.
This was such a disappointment. The place was pretty busy, it was clean and festively decorated, and the host and waiter were attentive and nice. But the food was bad. The meat they use to make the various Mexican rolled up items was just browned ground beef. No seasoning and almost no flavor. If they would just season their meat I think they would have a nice little place. The rice was very good. The salsa was fair. It had raw onions (a lot) in it so it had a very oniony flavor that I don't particularly like. Like I said this place had much to like, but at the end of the day the food just isn't flavorful.
(1)Dee H.
Not the greatest. I have dined here a couple times and food is okay, service not the best. Recently I went in for lunch. I was the only customer in the restaurant. I wanted a chili relano and a chicken enchilada . The waiter said he could not do that because it was not on the pick 2 item menu. The only way I could get the chili relano in combination was to choose the 3 item special combo that included items I did not want. He said sorry, so I left and went to another Mexican restaurant in the area, And thanks to Pepe's I found a new great Mexican restaurant with awesome food and service that I will frequent often.
(2)Chad B.
I don't get all these bad reviews. I grew up on Pepe's in Chicago and have been going to the Batavia location for nearly 9 years. The food and service are great. The meals are authentic, tasty and reasonably priced. Could it possible the other reviewers have never had authentic Mexican cuisine? I hate to clue you in, but most Mexican restaurants in the far suburbs don't serve authentic Mexican food. You will find the more you pay for Mexican food, the less authentic it is.
(4)Christina S.
I came here on cinco de mayo with my parents. We were celebrating my birthday. They took down some hats and sang around me, gave me dessert. Their drinks are VERY STRONG. Three large margaritas and I was way beyond drunk. Their food was good I think. I dont really remember. But the pictures that I have show the servers with huge smiles and they clearly made my 21st not so memorable, which is a great thing for that birthday! Love them! Also, my parents go once a week. Who would turn down half price margaritas? lol!
(5)Ben T.
This is my second time here. I always visit multiple times before judging a restaurant as I worked in a restaurant growing up and I know things can get crazy around dinner rush. Speaking of which, we were the only customers in the whole place so there is no excuse for this. Growing up my family would eat at the Oswego location every so often and we enjoyed it... but not here. The food came out within 5 minutes of ordering both times I was here. Scary. The food had NO flavor. You could tell the food had been microwaved. Aside from everything tasting like nothing, the cheese was a generic version of Kraft singles and was messily put on top.. and it wasn't melted at all. There is nothing authentic about this place. I'm not a picky eater and I never leave reviews for restaurants. I joined Yelp just to give this review because I've never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I would rather eat Taco Bell food that was dropped on the ground than eat this food again. The only way to explain the food is like tasteless matter. Not to mention that our group felt sick within a few hours of leaving here. Steer clear of this place! Hopefully it will close soon so we can get a decent restaurant here.
(1)Vivian Y.
Really? so much hate people! I think the Cadillac Margarita is SUPER yummy and I hate tequila! Come for the 1/2 price margaritas on Tuesday and Thursday. Food - well, I think it's pretty decent, not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but fairly authentic in my opinion. Yes, service does suck. The waiters are bad at looking around to see who is trying to capture their attention. They walk past without looking at you unless they are flagged down.
(3)Ginny E.
Gross and HORRIBLE SERVICE! Ironically the place was pretty busy but we sat at the front without being greeted for at least 10 minutes. I finally, and pretty agressively, got the attn of a server who nodded his head but still didn't come back for 7 or so minutes. We were finally seated and given a 1/2 basket of chips but no salsa. At least it was something to give to the hungry kiddos that were with us. After a very LONG time the food came and my husband couldn't eat his because the chicken smelled bad and tasted bad (as in spoiled meat.) We finally get the check only to discover that they had over charged us. Eat here at your own risk people!
(1)Rona H.
When my dad and I got here, we were shocked because it was a full house in there. ..On a Tuesday?! And then we saw the permanent sign embedded in the blue awning: "1/2 price Margaritas on Tuesdays!" Ooooh. Well, if you're drunk, everything tastes good right? However, my dad and I weren't, so our food was so-so. I don't recommend the tamales--really bland, and slightly sour? My dad had the tostadas, and they were slightly better. The complimentary chips were sparse.. I guess beggars can't be choosers huh? It is what it is; it's a place to drink on Tuesdays. So come here to drink margaritas on Tuesdays.
(3)Jen R.
It pains me to write this review. I loved Pepe's when I was a kid. My parents used to take me and my brother here almost every Saturday, and I felt like such a big shot that I got to have my own tacos. I also used to get this enchilada or something like that which had imitation crab and cheese in it. It's pretty disgusting to think about now, but as a kid, it made my under developed taste buds explode. Imagine my surprise when we ventured to the Pepe's down the street from our house and it was just... awful. Nothing had flavour and it made me so sad to sit in this booth and eat the same thing I had eaten countless other times and have it fall flat. Estoy triste :( I gave it two stars only because the people there were friendly and very attentive. I'm just sorry that the food was so bad. There are much better Mexican restaurants right down the street off Wilson.
(2)Elizabeth A.
Don't get all the bad reviews ... I love this place and the quest fundito is amazing , really fattening but amazing none the less. We always get good service, food comes pretty fast and I always leave after eating way too much with a box full of leftovers , so I'm happy. Love you Pepe!
(4)Steve G.
I love Pepe's. Don't get me wrong, I know it's gringo Mexican food, but it's tasty gringo Mexican food. I have become a regular, so my server knows who I am and brings me a not-too-sweet margarita soon after I'm seated. I typically start with the taquitos, a deep-fried, stuffed mini-taco filled with either beef or cheese served with guac and sour cream. Yum. I've never had a bad meal, but I usually go with some sort of steak taco/tostada combo served with refried beans and rice. For those griping about lack of flavor, I suggest topping any selection with Pepe's homemade hot sauce, which gives any dish plenty of kick. What I also appreciate is that Pepe's is accommodating for kids. Mine don't particularly care for beans and rice, so subbing with fries is no problemo. And, honestly, their fries are really tasty and a single order is a substantial portion. I haven't had dessert there, but only because I am always too full by the time I pry myself out of the booth. Ignore the haters and get some gringo food today!
(4)RC S.
Hubby and I have been here several times now and we love it especially for the price. Tonight hubby enjoyed his chicken fajita burrito and I really love the shrimp quesadilla. Big yummy shrimp! Also, have never been dissapointed by the margaritas or the service. However, the chips and salsa you get after being seated are just ok. The decor/ambience is nothing special, but when we want reasonably priced, good american mexican fare, this is it.
(4)Truth M.
I wish more people would Yelp. We work hard for our money! If your a drunk and like 1/2 price drinks well good for you. I will never recommend this Pepe's for food. I have been to many Pepe's in Chicago land and burbs and this one is by far is sad indeed. I was brought a Runny plate of food.Yikes. I can't understand why it so hard to get good Mexican food. Its so easy to make Every location is different so pick one that works for you. Your cooks need to be trained right. Maybe lazy or cheap. Don't get my family's vote
(1)