Las Palmas Restaurant & Bar
817 University Pl, Evanston, IL, 60201
Las Palmas Restaurant & Bar Menu
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Address :
817 University Pl
Evanston, IL, 60201 - Phone (847) 328-2555
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : 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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Carlos A G.
Excellent service they are always take care of us I recommend las palmas in Evanston real Mexican food and good Margaritas super yummy yummy !!!!!!!
(5)Brian N.
Wow where to begin... What a MESS and a joke this place was. I didn't even know this much stupidity was possible. I walked in at 12:35 and ordered (from the Carmens menu) linguine with meat sauce. They Hispanic man who took my order didn't seem to understand what sauce I was saying (as his confused look brought him around to looking at the menu from my side, as if that would clear up his confusion). I pointed and said "meat" like 3-4 times. he said "ohh okay okay". I assumed that meant he understood. he went to out the order in... waited-waited-waited... 45 minutes later. They came out with linguine with Alfredo. I said I didn't order that nor can I have Alfredo. they said it would be 15 minutes to remake it. I chose to wait. I didn't have anywhere to be immediately. they came out 20 minutes later with the proper dish. thank God. 20 minutes or so later when I was done, I got the tab and it was FULL PRICE! I said I'm NOt paying full price when you guys brought me the wrong dish and made me wait well over an hour for my food. I SHOULD ha e walked out. anyways, they cut the bill in half and I didn't tip one wooden nickel. too bad, because the sauce was really good. obviously I won't be going back there again. The service was a joke! They had like 4-5 guys on the floor and the place was maybe 15% full. the end.
(1)FoodieChic L.
When a restaurant is changing from a Mexican to a Pizza/Mexican joint - you know something is up. I don't know where to begin with this place and am still gagging from the ambiance and more importantly the food. Sadly, even the chips were awful and don't get me started on the guacamole. When my food arrived, within minutes (red flag #10), I didn't know if my chicken was even cooked. It was slimy and pale - ewwww!!! How can one go wrong with chicken tacos? I thought for sure I picked the most basic, easy dinner and it went wrong. I really wonder if the food inspectors have overlooked this place....and it makes Chipotle look like a 5 star restaurant, no joke.
(1)Patrick D.
Las Palmas was for years a favorite standby by comfortable place to go for good Mexican food, lovely margaritas, good service, in a comfortable space, with reasonable prices. No more. I'm betting it will be gone in 6 months, if that long. It's now like management and owner(s) completely quit watching what's going on. I realize that the restaurant is in some sort of transition. They are apparently combining Carmen's Pizza [a terrific pizza place] with Las Palmas - SAY WHAT??? - , but it's as if there is no plan. Things are just being thrown together. Las Palmas is losing its identity, and nothing is taking its place. It's a mess. No one is paying ANY attention to the restaurant. There is the old lower section that's been draped in black plastic, the windows covered, a somewhat construction zone with a computer and people hunched around the computer. No construction. What the heck? I've barely tolerated the three tv's in the main room, always on sports, but having the TV's going last night AND the ?music?. Come on guys, this ain't right. The only people paying any attention to the TVs were staff sitting at the unoccupied tables. The ?music? provided a competing odd whoompa drum beat, but no music. Most of the decorations giving a Southwestern charm [beautiful saddles, sombreros, ...] are gone. There's an aloe vera plant, its vase wrapped in aluminum foil propped on a well lit rafter, but, other that a few pictures, that's it. The place looks empty. The lighting - lots of it! - just emphasizes the emptiness. I had the special, a rib eye steak. Dreadful. Cooked way to fast. I ordered medium. I received a very well done exterior, with a small bit of pink on the inside. The vegetables were cooked perfectly, then covered in a pseudo-garlic-butter thing. I like butter. I like garlic. I have no idea what that was covering my veges. The service was good. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Much of the rest of the staff drifted around the restaurant, occasionally sitting at an empty table - there were lots of them! - to watch TV. 7:30 on a Saturday evening. There was one large table with three Mom's at one end and several kids at the other. One table with a couple, and one table with one person. That's it. This place is sinking fast and I don't think management and the owners have any idea why. To bad. Las Plamas used to be a nice place. Just in case management see this: Five hints. Get rid of the TV's. Dim the lights on the ceiling. Tell the staff this is a restaurant, not an employee break room. Put a door or curtain blocking the construction area. Figure out what you are doing and do it.
(2)Rowena L.
This place was once good when you were underage and wanted margaritas at a place that was lax w/IDs. And then you turned 21 and realized, hmm, why am I still coming here? (Also it used to be better and then just got worse and worse.
(1)Ann K.
I have been here three times so far. Each time has been because of my friends, and I do not think I will return again. On my visit today, I ordered my food at around 12:55 PM as to-go, but I sat with my friends at a table. Midway through, we ran out of chips, and the waitress came over and asked if we wanted a refill. She took our basket and never returned. At around 1:20 PM, my food arrived. I left and ate it at around 2 PM. To my disgust, the tortilla was soggy, the ingredients were really slimy, and the entire experience was just awful. To top it off, I asked for guacamole in my burrito only to find that there was no guacamole inside. Normally, I would be a little more lenient about the soggy tortilla, but I remember dining in one time and experiencing the same issue. My stomach feels a little unsettled after that meal. I will definitely not come back again.
(1)Steve A.
I was hesitant to try this place because of the reviews, and I'm a bit of a Tex Mex snob. But I have to say that their premium margarita is killer. Maybe no one tries it because it's $11 bucks, but it was worth it: top of the line Sauza and Gran Marnier. I had the veggie fajitas, which were an amazing spread for $7.95. Service on a quiet Friday afternoon was attentive. I'd go back.
(4)Jen L.
Ok so the place is not super fancy and needs some updating but .......they gets the job done. the drinks where nice and the Enchilada Verde with ground beef was great. To everyone else that is complaining grab a tortilla and wipe your tears. Then learn to relax. (told ya the drink were good) Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!!!!
(4)Sara J.
Steak burrito only had steak n was soggy, chicken enchilada had no cheese on top of sauce n wasn't even a full enchilada, tostado was stall, n flan is moldy, forgot limes, n hot sauce.. Don't ever carry out Food was horrible!
(1)Helen S.
I highly dislike this restaurant. Came here awhile back with a large group. The place was fairly empty and I'm not surprised. I ordered a spinach quesadilla (I think). It's pretty difficult to mess up a quesadilla but they managed to do it, and all I remember is that it was pretty gross and I could barely eat half. I also wasn't a fan of the environment. Evanston just has so many better places to spend your money and I would not come here again.
(1)Maria S.
I love this place! I like their carne asada al carbon it's DELICIOUS!!!! yum and also their salsa it's a bit spicy (or maybe not much for someone who's used to eating chile) but i can't stop eating it. Great place in Evanston!
(4)Brett M.
There is nothing wrong with the food here. There is nothing wrong with the service here. There is nothing wrong with environment here. Why I give this establishment such a poor review is what happened on my first and only visit. I came here with my wife looking for some tasety Mexican cuisine. The ENTIRE length of experience was cut, diced, and punctuated by the chirps, shrills, and screams of toddler. There is no understating this either. The parents did absolutely nothing. Outside of this being a perfect example of horrible parenting and a selfishness that can not be accurately be described, to add insult to injury, the restaurant staff did NOTHING about it. Even after my wife and I plus another family complained to the server. Finally, the father from family across from us spoke up directly to deal with the unruly patrons since the staff would not. Things quickly escalated as the poor parents with the screaming child would not leave and accusing the man of racial prejudice. All the while the staff did nothing. Things culminated when the mother approached the man and his family with a lot of verbal aggression. I applaud the family for having stayed calm. However, as the parents and their baby were leaving, the FATHER or what I presume to be father, grabbed a fork from a nearby table and THREW it at the family across from us. The knife hit a glass and shattered it all over the table. There were no injuries but there very well could have been. While this was happening, the wife of the family accross from us was calling for a staffer to call the police or get some help as things were getting out of hand. THE STAFF WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. It was as if the patrons were abandoned to themselves. This was an unacceptable experience the reason I will NEVER support Las Palmas.
(1)AJ M.
Standard Mexican food not great or unique in anyway. The frozen margaritas were pretty good especially strawberry. The place is located on a awkward location like a island between 3 streets. The parking lot is tiny and inconvenient. Not
(2)S J.
Honestly Taco Bell could be Zagat rated next to this place. Drinks ok, food? Just lay your money on the ground and burn it, just awful!! Service was fine the times I've been.
(1)Chris M.
Where do I begin? First of all, the decor: phenomenal. If you like yellow and blue color schemes mixed with authentic Spanish art and trinkets, then this is the place for you. Between their simmering steak tacos, cheese slathered burritos and delightfully delicious salsa is a joy that can only be matched if you were playing soccer with Jesus. The water: cold, clean, refreshing and refilled often. And don't even get me started on the bathrooms. Clean as a whistle with new faucet heads and handles to boot. Is that brushed stainless steel? It certainly is. Nice. Great place, great food. Way to go Las Palmas. Way to go.
(5)Blue B.
Take one look at the carpet. Think about the infestation. The place is filthy. I had the worst chimichanga ever. The steak was bad meat with no taste and chicken was all dark and a bone in the chimichanga. Filthy again look at the carpet.
(1)N. S.
Evanston is not known as a destination for good Mexican food, but I found Las Palmas to be particularly disappointing. Chips and salsa were okay. Margaritas were cloyingly sweet. Tacos were of a generous size, but very disapointing. We tried steak, which was tough and flavorless, and the al pastor, which tasted like pork stir-fried with a supermarket taco seasoning packet. They could have been improved with some onion or cilantro, but there was none of that to be found. Also, the tortillas were wet and soggy, falling apart after one or two bites. If you're looking for tasty fresh food, this is definitely not the place, and you'd do you yourself a favor to head into Chicago and take your pick of the plethora of better taquerias and full-service Mexican restaurants.
(2)Jeff H.
The food was fine, but I prefer Lupita's.
(3)Ann M.
I think these reviews are a little too critical. I think this place is great. The inside is very authentic and decorated. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. I ordered the Burrito Suizos which was fantastic. We ordered the guac as a appetizer, which is not the best but it is very fresh and tasty. Nothing about this place would make me rate it any less than 4 stars. I think its a great little place with fast service, good food, and a nice cozy atmosphere. You should check it out, there are several locations!
(4)Uzma S.
Lovely pina coladas. Great food. Great service. I look forward to going back every time.
(5)Kate S.
I came here last weekend for drinks with my roommate, her boyfriend, and a bunch of his friends after a concert. I had never been here before, but as an NU alum I have heard a lot about it. First off, when we got upstairs (where they had reserved the room for us), there were chips and salsa ready on every table. I'm assuming that this was because they had made reservations, and that they don't usually leave chips/salsa out on tables until people show up. Regardless, the chips and salsa were very tasty. My margarita was really good, and pretty substantial in size. Someone ordered cheese quesadillas for everyone, which were good, but nothing special. I have no idea how much anything costs, because I never saw a menu - everything was pre-ordered, or in the case of the drinks, my roommate's boyfriend got them at the bar for us. It probably isn't my first choice place to go for Mexican food, but the separate room upstairs is nice for events. I'd go back if there's another afterparty there.
(3)Mike P.
Solid food but the prices are a little higher for similar dishes at similar restaurants. The place is very clean and bright, the staff is excellent. IMO, I'd visit here before similar places when craving Mexican in Evanston.
(4)Jean C.
So so
(2)A G.
This place is decent and a safe choice for big groups of visiting families of people who like Mexican food but don't want to venture down got the more authentic yet grimmer places on Clarke St. I thought the chips and salsa was good, and my cheese enchilada entree was good. Nothing to write home about, but decent.
(3)Dee W.
I had a coupon for $8 off a dinner entree and my son really wanted tacos for dinner so we came by for the first time and probably will never be back. We started off with the guacamole and it was so flavorless - just mashed up avocado with some tomatoes on top and cheese. I opted to try the steak fajitas but the steak was tough and the contraption was so hot (they left a metal spoon on top) so when I went to serve myself I burned my fingers touching the spoon. Overall the meal was forgettable and we weren't impressed. We rarely eat out as a family and try to save it to 1-2 times a month and its sad that it was wasted here. Customer service was just okay too. For a Thursday night, this place was pretty empty with only three tables.
(2)Cheryl S.
I have always been a fan of the Las Palmas chain. When I lived in Westmont, I used to love to go, and would often go just to get a big container of salsa. My favorite dishes have always been the enchiladas rojas and the vegetarian burrito. I was visiting the area this week and wanted to go to Las Palmas, so we drove to this location from my sister's place in Uptown. The salsa was amazing, like always. We kept asking for more bowls of it and they brought us as much as we wanted. The rest of the food was also good, with generous portions. The service was a little slow, but that is my only complaint. I'm so surprised to see all the negative reviews!
(4)ann s.
With the assortment of piling on here, I went in with pretty low expectations. But we had a solid 3.25-star experience. A-OK and then some. I wouldn't travel great distances to eat here, but it's a fine close-by choice for scratching the tex-mex and margarita itch. We ordered pretty standard stuff, and it was good. Not amazing, but solid. The margaritas are sweeter than I prefer, and not as strong as I like, but eminently drinkable. The chips were warm, and the salsa was tasty. The guy filling our water was so on it, I was almost embarrassed by how hard we made him work (we came thirsty). The portions were generous, and the dining room is colorful and pleasant. We'll try it again.
(3)David B.
I've always have appreciated Las Palmas for being a pretty steady and solid Mexican restaurant. They have always provided solid entrees, drinks and service. Plus if you look around, they usually have good deals floating around (groupon, living social, etc.) The downside is that I do consider them more of a niche Mexican restaurant. Their niche being entrees (steak and seafood oriented dinners), and not your traditional Mexican fast food. Some of the negative reviews here are towards things like their Burritos, Tacos and Quesidillas, which is an area they don't excel in. Now I don't necessarily think these items are bad, its just that you can get better elsewhere and probably cheaper.
(3)caitlin j.
I don't enjoy giving bad Yelp reviews and I am not a vindictive Yelper. Take a look at my reviews, if you don't believe me; most of them are at least 3-stars. Part of the reason for my good reviews is that I generally know how to pick a place, and part of it is because if I have a bad experience I don't prefer to broadcast it to the world via Yelp when I can simply have a one-on-one convo with the management. But what happens when the management doesn't listen? Or the management doesn't call you back? Or the management is only in the restaurant for a few hours a day and is, therefore, very difficult to get a hold of when you have a problem? Like I say, I am not a vindictive Yelper. But chronic bad experiences with a restaurant coupled with a manager who demonstrates a complete unwillingness to respond to patrons means they're sort of asking for the worst. So here it is. I am often in charge of catering at work. And if folks request Las Palmas, I generally roll my eyes. Because they are AWFUL to work with. And their food is just ok. There are many other Mexican restaurants nearby that are way better in terms of food and customer service. Wholly Frijoles, for instance. OrThat Little Mexican Cafe. And here is the thing. If you have a problem at Las Palmas with a catering order, say, or you need to get a copy of your receipt faxed over or if you want to request that the restaurant fax you a contract with your order written out exactly because they've screwed you over in the past and you don't exactly trust them anymore--- well, good luck. Because you will never get a hold of the manager. Know why? He's only in for a couple hours a day. And know why else? When you finally get in touch with him he'll cut you off as you explain your problem, take down your number (because he's very busy), repeat your number to make sure he's got it right, promise to call you in 5 minutes and then... he will never call back. And when you call the restaurant an hour later looking for him, guess what? He's not there anymore! Because-- because--- you know why? Because he is a very busy man. Unlike you. You're not busy. Nope. Not too busy to sit by the phone and wait for a phone call that will never come. I know this restaurant must be EXTREMELY busy. I know that's why this manager can never seem to meet my extravagant demands (receipt, please?). And since they are soooo wicked busy all the time I am pretty sure they are way too backed up to need any of my business ever, ever again. So see you later, Las Palmas. If you ever wanna meet up again... well, I guess you've got my number. Right... Like I'm holding my breath for that phone call.
(1)Carrie V.
I don't know why I keep going to this place. The food is so bland and mediocre. However, it is in a convenient location in downtown Evanston, has its own parking lot, and is accommodating for large parties. The staff is also very friendly and attentive. However, the food just isn't very good. The salsa is decent. The guacamole is terrible - no flavor whatsoever. However, if you need a place for a large group with varied dietary issues that has margaritas, this is your place.
(2)Debbs K.
Love this place, Have been there several times. Reasonable prices, great food and a wonderful staff.
(5)Lee R.
I like this place. The interior is pretty nice looking. Sure, there are other places in town that might have an edge on the food here. This place must have a giant magnet in the back because it seems to attract a ton of tools. I have to pull some quotes like Nicole W did in 2008: "I guess I was expecting a nacho consistency cheese"? "No sopes or gorditas- and they call it "authentic"!"?? "I've had better burritos at Chipotle!!"??? "we're going back to Chili's for now."?!?! "i ordered chicken quesadillas, always a good option, right? Wrong. They gave me chicken in a flour tortilla with melteed cheese, along with lettuce on the side and a tomato." "Portion size is good, but remember that most of your plate is covered in rice and beans which you can buy at Jewel for like less than a dollar."
(4)Mikey J.
Who can resist those pink roofs and flying streamers? This place rocks. I consider Las Palmas to be one of the most under-rated places in E-town. They seat you quickly, the warm chips and spicy salsa keeps you satisfied until your delicious enchiladas food comes out, and the frozen margaritas are muy bien! Though I have been here numerous times (including celebrating my birthday here), my fondest memory is coming here for Cinco de Mayo with some good friends. The servers gave us colorful hats and kept the pitchers of margarita coming! A great place!!
(4)Phillip T.
The bean paste made me shudder. The steak fajitas were tough and tasteless. The guacamole paste was tasteless. The menus and tables and pretty much all surfaces were sticky. The Corona was good...not skunked. Service was fine. Don't go here.
(2)Keiko S.
We finally gave this place a try only to be confirmed that our hunt for a good Mexican restaurant in the vicinity shall continue... The atmosphere is pleasantly warm and jolly; with more than a few tables short of a full house on a Friday night, it wasn't too crowded or rowdy. There are plenty of seats and a reasonably large parking lot on the side that accommodates maybe up to 15 cars. Anyway, the food simply didn't impress us. It's a chain restaurant, alright. Salsa, meat, beans, rice, etc...they're all too plain, and for their mediocre quality, painfully overpriced. I've definitely had better tortilla soups made at home. Both regular and strawberry margaritas were too sugary for me, and they could've certainly been more generous with the tequilla. In sum, 2.5 stars...and we're going back to Chili's for now. Okay service, although not so attentive.
(2)Rachel S.
Good, solid Mexican food, good service...salsa bowl was always filled and so were our drinks. Good place if you have a hankering for Mexican food!
(4)Kelvin A.
Ordered again, 2nd time in 2 weeks. This time food was on time. Food was good as expected. However, no silverware (plasticware) and no napkins. Also, would have been nice to have a menu for future orders.
(4)Tim F.
I've taken the Metra to the Evanston Davis Street Metra Station by myself and have walked over to Las Palmas. When I've been to Las Palmas by myself, it hasn't been too hard to order my food. This is the first time I've been to Las Palmas. And this is the only location I've been to. When I walked into Las Palmas, I got a table for one. The lady at the counter took me to a good table. After I got to my table, the waitress gave me tortilla chips for me. At this location, I think people get tortilla chips with water before they take their order. I was eating the tortilla chips before I took my order. When the waitress was ready to take my order, I ordered my drink first. The drink I got was a Sprite. The waitress gave me extra time to think about what I want to get. After my Sprite arrived, I ordered my dinner. What I got for dinner was a Taco Dinner. It's three tacos with seasoned ground beef in it. The Taco Dinner comes with Mexican rice. After I ordered my food, I was just sitting at my table listening to the Mexican music. I was also drinking my Sprite. The food at this Las Palmas is ready pretty fast in about 15 to 20 minutes. When my dinner arrived, I started eating my dinner once I got it. I enjoy the food at Las Palmas. I enjoy their Mexican food. I enjoy their tacos, their Mexican rice, their tortilla chips, and I enjoy their Sprite. After I finished my food, I got the bill and then paid the waitress for my food. When I got my change, I paid the tip. Then after I finished paying for my food, I grabbed a mint, left Las Palmas, and then took the train home. This Las Palmas is a fun Mexican restaurant to go to.
(5)S K.
The decoration and service is great. Waiters are very friendly and attentive. However, the food on the other hand, worst mexican food I have ever had. Portions are too big, most people around us, didn't even finish half of their food. It made me sick and I ended up spending my Saturday night at home, drinking tea. Im the last person to give a bad review, but if you want bad food, good service, you should go. Otherwise, do not waste your time or money at this place.
(1)Luis B.
What happened to the Guacamole here? Not very good any longer. Gave my Groupon away.
(2)Karen L.
I came to Las Palmas in Evanston thinking it was a second location to Las Palmas in Chicago off North Ave. Boy, was I wrong! I had high hopes in the guacamole but it was nothing exciting. The food was ok. Then again, I'm not too crazy about authentic Mexican food. I'm more of a Tex-Mex fan.
(3)Xriz H.
I found this gem through my good friends the Zagats. Quite Possibly the 3rd best Ground Beef and Cheddar Cheese Tacos in all of Evanston... a distant 3rd behind Taco Bell left overs! I do like that it is never crowded like Taco bell and the service is really authentic. The Salsa is sometime a little too spicy but not as spicy as heinz ketchup so that is a big plus! I will definitely be having my 98th birthday party there so I can suck everything through a straw straight to my asshole!
(2)Kristin W.
Las Palmas is one of few Mexican restaurants in Evanston and while not the best Mexican restaurant it is definitely worth the stop to get some traditional Mexican fare. Every meal starts with some quality salsa and the menu features a wide variety of dishes from standard tacos and burritos to more upscale chicken and fish dishes. The flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine are represented well in the dishes and portions are ample. The main downfall tends to be the erratic service which sometimes can be very attentive but can also be lacking. If you are in Evanston and want a quick Mexican dinner, Las Palmas is a good choice that gives you quality Mexican food at an affordable price.
(3)Eric G.
Noted some other reviews talking about bad service. Went right after the dinner rush on a Friday night and got very good service. Our server even took care of the other couple's odd request without issue. We got a pitcher of Margaritas which may have been a little over priced and slightly-weak alcohol-wise, but have an excellent flavor and went great with the meal. The food itself was on par with what I've had elsewhere. Came out quick enough and was cooked well. The portions were generous enough and everything tasted fresh. This is my second time here and so far they are on a good streak.
(5)T S.
This is the worst Mexican food I have ever had! The cheese had this odd after-flavor, the nacho chips and tostada shells were soggy and their red sauce was somewhat sweet. We literally wanted to walk out after the appetizer. It was so bad that to meet our Groupon limit, we bought their tortilla chips to go! If you are in the Evanston area and want Mexican food, I would choose That Little Mexican Cafe over this place any day...
(1)Mike K.
Well at least this place looks good. Soooo yeah....i ordered chicken quesadillas, always a good option, right? Wrong. They gave me chicken in a flour tortilla with melteed cheese, along with lettuce on the side and a tomato. It looked like something I could have made for myself. Speaking of making stuff for myself...I ordered the nacho supreme to start the night...yeah, they gave me chips with meat and melted cheese over it. And a scoop of sour cream because i wanted sour cream. it looked like the first time you make nachos and dont have the necessary supplies for actual nachos. Taco bell makes their nachos look more presentable than the crap they offered me as food. oh and the kicker....430 for a fucking pitcher of margaritas? You must be out of your damn mind. Im never ever ever ever going back. Ever Ever? Ever Ever!
(1)Kit G.
The food didn't knock my socks off, but how much can you expect from a $4.25 burrito. It was pretty good, and it was enough food to fill me up. The service was quick and friendly. I was able to be in and out in 45 minutes for lunch.
(3)Nastassia J.
Dang...everyone is super hard on this place. Went here recently for a co-worker's birthday on a weeknight. They were empty when we arrived, but filled up to about half capacity. The chips and salsa were ample and refilled throughout the night, drinks were timely and everyone raved about their margaritias. I got enchiladas Verde, and thought they were pretty darn good. The rice, meh, was a bit dry and tasteless, but that's not the entree so I was not disappointed. Others have complained about the high price. I'd agree if I weren't totally accustomed to over priced food. $11.50 for enchiladas entree is not too bad anyways. Oh and I didn't smell any bathroom smell as others complained of. Perhpas they have resolved the issue.
(3)Theresa K.
This place hit the spot when I was looking for an Authentic Mexican restaurant in the area. If you're in the area and want authentic food, I would try this place out .
(3)Justin B.
Found out about restaurant through geoqpons phone application based on where we were located. Would not honor their coupon through my phone and they would not allow me to email it to them or make a xerox copy of it. The food was good, but the fact that they would not honor their offer is outrageous.
(1)Laila C.
Evanston doesn't have a lot of Mexican restaurants so I was excited to go. But the food was unmemorable except that it made my friend so sick she stayed in the bathroom for half an hour. The margaritas were also subpar. Since I don't live in Evanston anymore, the lack of Mexican food is not a problem. But for those still in Evanston and in dire need of some SUPER DUPER delicious Mexican food, take your lazy butt out of Evanston and go to Roger's Park. Literally every taqueria there will be 1000x better and CHEAPER than Las Palmas
(1)Petra D.
inferior beef quality; steak taco were full of grizzle and fat as well as tasteless. The waiter even recommended the steak instead of pork when asked for a suggestion....will not return
(1)Melissa F.
3 stars, on Yelp, means A-OK. And that's what it is, A-OK, solid, satisfying, and with a nice dash of sketchiness. This is a place most people go to for drinks rather than dinner. The food isn't that great, but it's decent. The fajitas are always good. One thing I love here is the salsa. I don't know why but it really hits the spot. Everything else is pretty middling, to put it nicely. Not a place to avoid at all costs, but not a place to go out of your way to patronize.
(3)Liz W.
I don't know what everyone else ordered, but I have been here like 10 times and it's consistently delicious. LOVE their salsa, and they keep it coming, which is great, because I hate having to flag down and beg the server for more every time I see them. It's a chill place and everyone's very friendly. A sure bet.
(5)Concerned C.
I have been going to Las Palmas many,many years. In the beginning, it was only on Howard St. in Chicago,This location closed! When they first opened in Evanston, the food was as good as possible. Just about every Friday and Saturday, they had mariachis going from table to table taking requests, what a great way to give the feel of authentic Mexican food. However, over the years the Evanston location has taken a beating. The food some days is great and then some days it just ok. I am not sure why, other than the fact managment just doesn't t care. The original on Howard St. was the best but back then you had a one on one with the owner, and that made sure your food was up to par. Now it seems to be about the money not the quality of food. I keep going back with the wife and family hoping we have a good day with good food. you never know until your meal arrives. The ONE THING THAT REALY BOTHERS ME IS THE CARPETS IN THE PLACE NASTY, GROSS DIRTY, GREASY SMELLY. I keep thinking that one day they will replace them, in my mind and probably everyone else's, if the place smells clean and looks clean it would give this place a better feel that the kichen is clean. I love the shrimp cocktails and the Snapper is great too. Over the the years too many vegetables were added to the fajitas and the steak not so much, Go back to the old day's and you will be fine. Please REPLACE THE CARPETS. I just bought a Groupon and am coming back and would love to see a cleaner Las Palmas in Evanston!
(4)Mr. F.
Stopped in for lunch the other day. Had a steak taco and a chicken taco (soft shell, corn tortillas). Pretty tasty, and a lot of meat. Almost so much that it's smart to eat some plan with a fork. That said, for a five dollar lunch without tip, I wasn't complaining. A tad salty, but it's Mexican food. I've always loved the chips and salsa at Las Palmas locations - the chips were still hot as if just made, and the salsa is surprising spicy, with some great onion and cilantro in there. Overall, a positive experience and a cheap lunch out. Very friendly service as well!
(4)Jims L.
Jeez I guess I missed out on the margaritas.. I went to lunch here the other day and was really disappointed. The food is overpriced for what they serve. We had an appetizer and I don't remember what it was called but the menu describes it as melted cheese with chorzio that comes with warmed tortillas - I guess I was expecting a nacho consistency cheese, but this was more like a little bowl of melted pizza cheese that stuck together in one little ball and there was really no easy way of eating it with the tortillas. I had a combo of a taco, enchilada, and pork tamale My boyfriend had a flauta, chimichanga, and tostada. Everything on my plate really could have been one big dish. I actually had the urge to just mix everything together and have one big taco salad. And the food was way too greasy for me - everything was smothered in cheese, and that's all I could really taste and especially FEEL after the meal. I was annoyed that the bill+tip came out to $40 (without drinks). My boyfriend REALLY liked his chimichanga though. I said if we ever come here again, I'll just eat the chips and salsa and order a small dessert. Maybe with some horchata. And the entrance does smell like bathroom.
(2)Molly S.
The only reason to go here is the cheap margaritas. I've seriously never had blander "Mexican" food. They don't even use salt correctly. You know everything is just reheated, because it's always luke-warm but overcooked. Worst tamales that have ever existed. A lot of Northwestern students go here because it's close (and because it's known for being rather liberal with its carding policy). This is seriously the only reason this place is still open. I've been to other Las Palmas locations, and they're better than this one. I think they just don't give a crap at the Evanston location because they know that the students will still come. If you want GOOD Mexican food in Evanston, go to Lupita's, just off the Main el stop. If you want FOR REAL and CHEAP Mexican food and don't mind a couple extra minutes of traveling, just go anywhere on Clark in Rogers Park.
(1)Charles T.
Ironically, Las Plamas is both authentic and mediocre. It just goes to show that not everyone Mexican is a good cook. Everyone there is Mexican, and the decor is comfortable and homey. But the food just isn't good. I was especially disappointed with the nachos, which bore little resemblance to both what was described on the menu and what I was expecting. How do you mess up nachos? All the condiments came in separate bowls instead of combined in a glorious whole. We tried to get some intervention from the server, and then from the manager. Everyone apologized, but no one seemed to be willing to make it right, or even to understand what "right" is. We also ordered the premium margaritas with "homemade margarita mix." I should have known better. If someone is telling you they are using a mix, then they are not serious about making good margaritas. It tasted just as industrial as anything you'd get off the shelf in Dominick's. There are many, many Mexican restaurants in Chicago. Go somewhere else.
(2)Zach P.
college kid trying to get drunk on margaritas in a large group? then you've come to the right place. otherwise, stick to chipotle
(2)Maria L.
Disgusting! Possibly the worst "Mexican" food ever. Overpriced and underspiced! Ugh! No sopes or gorditas- and they call it "authentic"! The worst was when I specified, in Spanish, that I wanted a "soft-shell" corn tortilla and they gave me a nasty Taco Bell-hard one! Gross! The tostada was sad attempt too. It was full of old lettuce, skimped on the canned beans and put *2* pieces of shredded cheese. Gross! Very, very sad.
(1)Diana D.
I'll start out by saying something positive: The service was very good and attentive. The food however was unforgivable. I had a steak milanesa torta which was so tough that it was impossible to bite though making it an unpleasant sandwich experience. The rice was mushy and flavorless and the free tortilla chips were pretty average. I hope it was an off day for them because this area of Evanston needs a good Mexican restaurant, but for the time being, I'm going to stay away.
(1)Jeff G.
Just by the looks of the building you're thinking: "Oh shit, this place is a total hole in the wall....that means it's gotta have some super-authentic, cheap, Mexican food!!!!!!" Wrong. While the exterior does in fact look like shit, the interior is actually pretty decent, it's just sad that the food follows in the line of the former. The menu claims "Authentic Mexican Food" and as soon as you flip through pages 2-4 of the menu you can tell that slogan is blatantly false. About 1/2 of the menu is combo platters with your generic honkey-American rice and beans, choice of ground beef or chicken in the form of enchiladas, tacos, or burritos, fajitas, etc................lame. No carnitas, no lengua, no chorizo, no pescado, no cabeza....etc for your tacos/burritos. The other entrees are improved but are still pretty generic and overdone. I got the mole, it was okay but the price was absurd. Most of the entrees are priced from $11 - $15 and really these dishes are worth like $4 - $5 tops but you would basically have to pay me to eat there again....the only reason I went was because I had a coupon for buy one entree get one free. But of course you get shafted because you have to buy beverages to use the coupon...so I only saved like 3 dollars. Portion size is good, but remember that most of your plate is covered in rice and beans which you can buy at Jewel for like less than a dollar. --------------------------------------------------Â-------------- VERDICT: Las Palmas should have lame sauce as a side dish on the menu because that's what they are. My 2 Cents: Go deeper into Evanston or north Chicago for some real Mexican food. You know you are in the right neighborhood when you have trouble interpreting the names of the storefronts and also when you here the occasional gunshot and screeching of tires. At that point its safe to sit down and enjoy some real Mexican fare for about 25% of the cost of Las Palmas.
(1)C W.
This restaurant used to be one of our favorites but we ate there last night and it was dreadful. The place was empty on a Saturday night and little wonder - other than the chips, everything else - the salsa, the guacamole, fajitas, quesadillas, enchilladas -- was truly awful. The food was astonishingly bland. The fajitas were served without any garnish so I had grilled veggies plain in a corn tortilla. My son's were similar but with chicken (and the mushrooms he specifically asked them not to include) and they served our tortillas (mine were corn and his were flour) in one container so we had to paw through them to see which was which. The service sucked -- in fact, the only thing genuinely Mexican about the place was our waitress, whose English was weak. Despite messing up my son's order and having to re-do it there was no offer of a discount. The waitress never asked us if we wanted more to drink and we repeatedly had to beg to just get more water. There are so many better Mexican places around - save yourself the time and trouble and avoid this one.
(1)Joanne B.
The food here was inferior to what you would find at your neighborhood Mexican place (i.e. Garcias in Lincoln Square). The burrito that I had in a combination plate was just chicken in a rolled-up tortilla with some sort of red sauce and cheese. That was just disgusting. I've had better burritos at Chipotle!! Anyway, service was decent borderlining on inferior. My fiance was trying to schmooze the waitress and it still didn't work. When we wanted to pay our bill (with cash), she was nowhere to be seen. We left the money on the table and left. Also, we were placed in a room with an obvious draft. My fiance was shivering the entire time! They needed to turn up the fireplace. He did, however, enjoy his fajitas. The only redeeming quality this place had was that they refilled our chips without even asking.
(2)Tom D.
Las Palmas has to be the best place around Evanston for authentic mexican food. I recommend the enchiladas pacifico. The white sauce the make (home made) is SO good!! I love how the management is always greeting and helping the csr. A+ Also, the best margies around!!
(5)Megan B.
I frequent Las Palmas because it is close to my campus and overall the food and service is good. I only give it three stars because, yes, it is not the BEST place to eat Mexican food, but it certainly hits the spot when you need to catch some food heading out of campus. Their fajitas are my favorite and they are certainly generous with their portions. I also enjoy their margaritas. I would recommend to someone looking for a yummy bite in Evanston.
(3)Eric A.
Been here a few times, will not go back. Steak and shrimp fajitas were flavorless, low on the meat, and overpriced. Pretty sure they undercooked the shrimp, I didn't want to eat it for risk of getting sick. Enchiladas are reasonably safe, hard to mess that up. Free flowing chips and salsa, that's nice I guess.
(1)Marion J.
1 star for decent margarita and nice service, Food was awful for both me and my husband. we had more than 1/2 our plate left and did not take our leftover home (a first I believe). kind of a gross feeling when I took the first bite of the wet fried chille relleno.
(1)Dan E.
I met some people here on a Friday night. They wound up here because their first choice for food had a 30 minute wait. I wanted to like this place but somehow agree with the other reviewers. The food seemed to be prepared with institutionalized ingredients - reminded me more of a Pepe's than a stand alone Mexican restaurant. And maybe a couple of bucks overpriced. Combo plates are $10.95 at dinner. Redeeming features: salsa served with chips was good and I thought the chili relleno (in my combo plate) was good.
(2)Bess R.
I love the Las Palmas chain. They have the best fajitas - tons of different veggies and meat options. yum yum. I've been to this location and the Highland Park location - good service at both.
(4)Matt D.
My family has been going to Las Palmas since 1999, we are regular dinners there, dinning 7-12 times per year. If you are looking for a place that serves 'rustic', 'provincial' or 'authentic' (what ever that means to you), Mexican food, this might not be your place, but its no taco bell!!! The chips and great in house made salsa flow freely and you're not charged every time another bowl of either comes out. If you're a meat eater, I recommend the Bistec Oaxaca. If you have a preference to how it's cooked, - I like mine medium rare -, they'll cook to order. Their fajitas are excellent as well. Portions are well sized and more often than not I've got leftovers to reheat the next day. Often I'll split a dinner with my teen aged (10K running) son and with chips/salsa and desert its still filling. I highly recommend their premium Margaritas (on the rocks NOT blended), if 2 couples are dinning, start with a pitcher. The staff and management at LP have always been welcoming and accommodating, my son is a Celiac (he can't digest foods with wheat or gluten), and they have always been good about inquiring about ingredients with the cook and by providing corn tortillas separately and in addition to flour tortillas. We've made reservations and come into this restaurant with over 20 people, and it's never been a problem. If you're expecting 'fine dinning' you're in the wrong place, but you can get an excellent filling meal, go with kids, family and friends, drink great Margaritas and have a good time. Service at times (especially when crowded) can be a bit on the slower side, and I've had to remind our server (on occasion) to bring another container of tortillas or lime or whatever. A little tip, if you become a regular and get to know the management you'll often find that you are comped a 2'nd (or 3'rd) half pitcher of the Margaritas you've been ordering.
(4)Jesster A.
Had hoped the "new" location would inject some new improvements in this once really good Mexican restaurant. Food is now very ordinary and the place (especially near the rest rooms) sometimes has a very intense disinfectant smell that can really get to you. But as duly noted - the Margarita's still rock.
(3)Katie R.
...Don't get the shrimp soup. I think I was expecting at least the shrimp to be shelled. When we were leaving, I saw a server pouring margarita mix from a jug... But I hear the fajitas are fantastic.
(2)Jessica P.
I just got back from this restaurant and it was the worst Mexican food I've ever tasted. My husband and I ordered guacamole as a starter and it was SWEET! WTF?! Who messes up guacamole??? I was so disgusted by the taste that we had to set it aside. I then ordered shrimp cocktail and my husband the enchiladas verdes. I was very disappointed with my choice. It was as though they sqeezed the ketchup bottle in the bowl, added shrimp and called it a cocktail. They also served me some stale ass crackers! Ugh!!! When the server came he asked how everything was and I told him exactly what I had just experienced and then he and the manager offered us two free drinks but I said no. He still had the audacity to charge us for everything! First and last time I will ever go to this place. It was NASTY.
(1)Annie W.
I don't know why people are such snobs about LP. It's true that it's not some foodie paradise, but here's what it does have: fresh salsa and homemade chips, as well as solid margaritas. Any combination plate I've ordered there -- usually the vegetarian one with the stuffed poblano pepper -- has been delicious, and so huge I always take home and enjoy the leftovers. I'll admit that sometimes I miss the more "authentic" Mexican food in Chicago, and LP doesn't quite live up to the reputation of some tasty neighborhood taquerias there. But I will keep going there as long as I live in Evanston. Also, the service is always excellent.
(4)Jason P.
Good food at a good price. They usually have coupons in the mail as well. I like the enchiladas a lot.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Why is this not listed under Mexican food?
(4)Ann Y.
Went here for a friends birthday on Saturday and really nothing to write home about. I had the enchilladas rojas. They sauce looked old and my rice was boring. The tortilla soup and NO chicken. The plantains were really good, but I have had better. The waitress never really checked on us and we had to flag her down for drinks. The rice was really boring and had lima beans in it (gross). The chips and salsa were good at least. There are so many better mexican restaraunts in chicago (Adobo, Salpicon, Frontera Grill). Don't waste your time.
(2)Andrew C.
If you want Mexican food, don't come here. Food was very Americanized and not very tasty. For the type of food they had (burritos, fajitas, enchiladas), the price should be cheap, but it is not. It's on the more pricey side.
(2)Brandy B.
The good news is that the salsa is tasty. The bad news is that the only time you'll see it is in the bowl you get with the chips at the beginning. I ordered a combo with a chicken chimichanga, a beef enchilada, and a chile relleno. When it arrived, the enchilada and chile were smothered in... spaghetti sauce?? Marinara sauce? Definitely NOT anything salsa-like. The enchilada didn't even involve enchilada sauce. I have no idea what self-respecting Mexican restaurant would use this sauce, let alone so MUCH of it. Once I scraped the sauce off, the food itself wasn't *bad*, it was just bland. Especially the chili relleno, which I didn't even eat more than a couple of bites of - I don't know where they got such bland cheese to stuff it with. Plain old cheddar, even a mild cheddar, would have been so much better. My husband reported that his meal (the same chicken chimichanga, plus a beef tostada and a chicken flauta) was just as bland, but at least he didn't get any spaghetti sauce on his. How can this place stay in business when there are so many good Mexican restaurants on Chicago's Clark Street just a couple miles away? Heck, how can this place stay in business when there's a Taco Bell and a Chipotle within a mile? The clientele was mostly college students, but please, Northwestern students - don't lower yourself to thinking that this is good Mexican. It was also a little overpriced - $11 for combos that are $8-9 at most places.
(2)Melinda C.
Contrary to the other reviewers, I actually didn't think this place was so bad. I had a standard combo platter with a taco, enchilada, and tamale. The taco and enchilada were better than the tamale. Pricees are pretty standard for sit down Mexican (entree $11-15), but portions are good-sized so it makes up for it soemwhat. Don't get me wrong - the food is not amazing, but it's fine. When I went, there were a couple of large Mexican families celebrating in the same room so I always take that as a good sign.
(3)Douglas G.
Standard Mexican fare. Not great,, not bad. The maragritas are excellent. Decor is lousy. It caters to the college crowd and it accomplishes that.
(3)T W.
I have been here a couple of times in the recent past because it is a friends favorite restaurant. I have to say that the sewer smell in the entry and the bathrooms is so gross that I won't go back. I thought it might have just been bad that first time, but it was worse the next time. We were seated at the top of the stairs right above the entry last time we were there and I caught whiffs of sewer all meal long. I don't have a weak stomach, so I managed to get some of my meal down, but it was nasty. The food was reasonably priced and reasonably good, but the sewer overwhelmed it. Fix your pipes DUDE.
(1)Jaclyn C.
Las Palmas may have the worst taste to price ratio for Mexican food. Ever. Apparently, they put all of their effort into the margaritas. So good. You can ask for extra tequilla.
(3)