Giving Santa Fe 5 stars, not cause it's super gourmet, but because it exceeds expectations on quality. Everything here seems to be from scratch. Simple, but authentic, and with great quality Ordered chicken mole, and then asked for hot sauce, gringo dumb, but anyway, waiter didn't come out with the usual Tabasco or chalula bottle. Instead, it was a home made sauce, kind of hot, but not crazy hot. Great, even though adding heat to mole is dumb. Not a fan of margarita, but tasted my wife's. Definitely a tequila taste, and not the usual soda pop flavor of most.
(5)
Renee H.
Love this place! Family owned and when you are here you feel like part of the family. Staff is great. Reyna is awesome. Food is always good!!
(4)
Gary D.
We ended up in Glen Ellyn on a Friday night and were looking for some Mexican food and we found it here. We typically go to Front St. in Wheaton but we're glad we found this place, the food is a little better and the prices are definitely better. We had the guacamole appetizer which was really good. Then split a chicken fajita and it also was very good. The place is bigger than it looks from the street. Thought we'd have a wait but they have many more tables in the back. Typical nice atmosphere for this type of restaurant, very clean and service was very efficient. Chips are good as well, not the best I've had but they're complimentary so that's a good thing. The one thing I don't care for is how they don't put prices on their alcoholic drinks. I've noticed this at several Mexican restaurants and really don't like it.
(4)
G B.
The waiters are rude and slow. The food is over priced. I felt that the tables with minority guests were treated poorly . Me and my girlfriend waited for over 15 minutes while other tables were served. We asked for salsa on 3 occasions before we received it. This place is a true stain in Glen Ellyn. :(
(1)
Jill D.
- Great jalapeno poppers!! So much cream cheesey goodness!! - Expensive ($10!!), small and mediocre margaritas - Average chili relenos - Sad and pathetic chorizo distribution on the chilaquiles The place was packed on the Friday night we visited. With the
(2)
Angela G.
Best Nachos and their mild sauce is amazing. Ordered the Chicken and Cheese enchiladas. Been coming here for years and now that I live in California it's a must go to place when I'm in town.
(5)
Tim D.
Went in for some drinks and sat at the bar. Ordered margaritas and was shocked when the bartender filled a margarita glass with ice then poured a premade margarita from a jug in the glass. There were maybe 10 people in the place at the time. So sad that they can't make margaritas to order, needless to say I won't be back
(2)
Sydney C.
Tried this for the first time for lunch and it definitely does not make my list of restaurants I would choose for Mexican food. I had a quesadilla and an enchilada--both were pretty bland and, while this may sound odd, the cheese was way too stringy! Service was decent, but not great. Overall, nothing stood out about the restaurant to me. They do advertise margaritas as being their specialty, so maybe I should go back just for drinks.
(2)
David R.
Credit Card Fraud: BE AWARE! We don't eat out much, and don't use our credit cards much. I just received an alert from my credit card company of a foreign transaction...from Mexico. Well, our previous credit card transaction was almost 2 weeks prior to this one from the Santa Fe restaurant in Glen Ellyn. It seemed like it was a family run restaurant (my wife is a native Spanish speaker, and talked to several of the workers) and we'd be 'safe' Food was just average for Mexican fare. Hosts and servers were very attentive. Cannot forgive credit card fraud!
(1)
C C.
I like this place. Food is good. Service is good 90% of the time. Margaritas are wonderful. I just have one odd complaint. Lower level of building smells of sewer gas! I believe their sewer traps are dried out. Pour some water down those pipes and everything should be fine.....
(4)
Sara B.
Do you have any spicy salsa?? "Yes, here you go but be careful." Upon tasting my friend, who doesn't like spicy said, "this tastes like tomato soup." The tacos were ok but it is sad to go to a "mexican" restaurant that doesn't have a kick to it.
(3)
Michael H.
Fajitas were OK, Meat was tender. Service was good.
(3)
Renita M.
This would really be a 3.5 star review if I ever needed one. There don't seem to be a ton of good table-service Mexican places near us, so we thought we'd give this one a try. It was fine, I'd come back, but it didn't knock my socks off. The complimentary chips and salsa were tasty; they veer away from the typical chunky tomatoey salsa into two more sauce-like dips. The darker one reminded me of adobo sauce from canned chipotles. I had the chicken with mole (Pollo de Pueblo I think it was called?), and it was half a chicken, totally smothered in a mole that was just a little too sweet for me. Moles can vary wildly so I have no judgment over its authenticity, but it wasn't my favorite flavor. The chicken was cooked pretty well though. The rice and beans were fine, nothing special. I feel like maybe I ordered "wrong" and should try something else to give it a better chance. My husband got three hard-shell tacos and devoured them; I'm not all that sure how much he tasted :) But he seemed happy with his food. The atmosphere is nothing too special, although the "courtyard" look in the back room was kind of cool. Service was acceptable. Overall it's just... fine. Pretty good. I'll try something different next time.
(3)
Jose C.
Pretty decent place to find Tex-Mex food. The service was great and the menu did have a lot to offer. The drink specials they have are also pretty great with a variety of margaritas to try.
(4)
Rubrya G.
Great tex mex in the area!!! the food is very tasty and the margaritas are awesome!! very friendly service and people! loved the food will definitely come again.
(5)
Joe E.
Went here a few years ago on a Saturday afternoon. For some reason, I ordered the BBQ chicken. Who the hell does that at a Mexican restaurant? I went with two coworkers, and they each had veggie tacos. Nothing was overwhelming. The service wasn't that great, either. Not a surprise, because all GLen Ellyn restaurants have service issues. Decent food, though. Will I be back? Probably not. I think the owners own El Puente in St. Chaz, and El Zarape in Wheaton. El Puente is definitely better, and I've yet to try El Zarape, which is located in my hometown.
(3)
Jared W.
My absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. This has been a family staple for many years, and they have the best margaritas you can find just about anywhere. The service is almost always excellent, and after well over a dozen visits there myself, I have never had anything close to a bad experience. The menu is pretty consistent, but they do offer really great specials, which are often what I have ended up getting whenever I go.
(5)
Andy M.
A higher end Mexican restaurant in uppity Glen Ellyn there was only one waitress for the whole place the weekday lunch time I decided to visit. The food was pretty high priced and not really any better than what I can find at any strip corner storefront. The place has a beautiful look from the train painting and other Southwestern scenery. A popular place in downtown GLen Ellyn and worth if you are picky about where you eat your Mexican food. The bathrooms are downstairs so the elderly may not be ale to access this easily. They have a private downstairs party room for special events and other planned activity.
(2)
Nichole C.
Obviously I should have drank one of Sante Fe's famous margaritas before enjoying their food because that is apparently where it's at. This place blinds you with an alcoholic stupor before it feeds you so you think everything is just perfect. I'm not trying to hate on Santa Fe, honestly, I just wasn't that impressed. Here's the thing...when I get Mexican food I'm looking for a few things: Good salsa, good guac, good spice/sauces, and good meat. Santa Fe has a mix of yay's and nay's when it comes to my test items. Salsa- Weird. When you sit down, you get a complimentary bowl of chips (yummy, by the way) and two bowls of salsa. Shallow monkey dishes really...but two bowls. One is the most delicious spicy sauce ever (I call it "sauce" because it was really runny) and the other is just...WHAT IS IT? I kept eating it even though I didn't like it simply to determine what it was. I never figured it out. It's not your average salsa. And it is runny too. Guac- Plain but delicious. I don't need a lot of fancy stuff to be in my guac so I was happy with the lightly seasoned mashed avocados and cilantro that was brought out. It even came in a little tortilla bowl. Nice touch. And nothing was too chunky or too runny. Bonus. House made hot sauce- See also: "Runny delicious spicy sauce" listed above as salsa. DELICIOUS. I poured it all over my fajitas. Meat- Two things: 1) When I order fajitas, I want them to come out on a ridiculous iron platter and be sizzling. Yes, I know, I have been to too many American places that serve fajitas, but I'll be damned if that sizzle hasn't been conditioned in my brain as "AWESOME FOOD COMING TO YOUR TABLE!!", and 2) I want the meat to be lean. I hate fatty meat of any kind. Santa Fe didn't deliver on either of these needs, unfortunately. I will say this: Service was good, and friendly, prices were cheap(ish), and the clientele was decent. The restaurant is cute and homey and I will definitely be coming back to imbibe. And maybe to have some chips and guac (and spicy salsa) when I get drunk.
(3)
Laura T.
Decent Mexican standards. Went on a slow lunch day and service was friendly but extremely slow. Like most places you get free chips and salsa when seated... Salsa is that non-chunky sauce style, which isn't my preference. Overall, a cute place in a cute setting with good food. Just nothing to write home about.
(3)
Ilie N.
The new and smaller location on Main Street is serving higher priced items of smaller portions. For example, the skinniest beef burrito was about $4. Our group dined there on a Sunday evening and everyone was disappointed with their selections. The noise level was deafening. Food was not hot either. Chips were borderline stale. I will not go there again.
(3)
A H.
First timers there, used the Groupon for our dinner. Food came out fast but overall it was just ok, margaritas are over priced and small. I think the staff needs to get a clue. If your guests won't take their jackets off, turn up the heat! Make it welcoming! Everybody sitting by us had our jackets on, shivering away. We won't be back, so many better places (la campana bloomingdale, salseria in Elmhurst).
(2)
Shannon E.
We had some chips and salsa and drinks here while waiting for a table at Fire and Wine. Great service, salsa was FANTASTIC, and good beer selection.
(4)
Pam M.
Love this restaurant. The only downside is that I never try anything other menu items than the supreme nachos. THEY ARE THE BEST!!!! And very satisfying as my dinner!
(5)
Anne G.
Now I remember why we haven't been back in years. Crabby hostess who in an empty restaurant tried to seat us next to the front door on a 20 degree night. I asked for a different table, and she put us next to the kitchen in the back of the house. We moved one table over out of the kitchen doorway (again there was no one else in the restaurant) and it was all down hill from there. Crappy mediocre food for all 5 of us. The only bright spot was our wonderful waiter. Never ever again!
(1)
Greg W.
We wanted to go to El Zarape in Wheaton, but they are closed on Sunday, so we Yelped the area and this place came up. I wish we would have just waiting until today to go to El Zarape. We got seated pretty quickly, but had to wait about 15 minutes before placing an order. They were beyond understaffed for a lunchtime service. I ordered a longy taco and a chorizo chalupa. It's not that they were inedible, they just really weren't good. The one word that I kept thinking as I ate was bland. I also really can't stand it when restaurants nickel and dime you on everything. A soda here was $2.85 (we spent 9 dollars on 3 Diet cokes). The menu states that you only get 2 free refills on soda. I only drank one glass and some water so this didn't effect me, but if you're going to charge almost 3 dollars for a fountain drink (which probably costs less than 5-10 cents per cup), you could not be so stingy. If I were you, I'd travel the ten minutes to downtown Wheaton and go to El Zarape... it's a lot smaller than this place but the food, salsa, and experience is better. Or go to Geneva to the awesome mexican restaurants there.
(2)
Conor G.
Came here hoping to find a good local family-owned Mexican place similar to other places my wife and I like to frequent but did not have a good experience at all. For one thing, it's never a good sign when there's nobody else in the restaurant as it was on this Sunday afternoon, even with playoff football games on the TVs. The service was incredibly slow and not overly friendly. Our waitress, who I think may have been one of the owners basically forgot about us and went in the back for about 10-15 minutes. Then when she came back and I asked for a drink refill she just took my cup and went to refill it without a word. The food was just ok, I had an enchilada & taco. As one reviewer mentioned, the two types of "salsa" they give you were unusual and neither tasted good to us. Won't be coming back.
(2)
Rich R.
The service was great. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive making this a real great experience. The menu is at best Mexican-ish but, let's face it: it's downtown Glen Ellyn, not Oaxaca. The waiter was nice enough to bring out "secret salsa" from the back which was fantastic. It had a real kick to it! The flautas had a little enchilada sauce and appeared hum-drum. The mole con pollo was pleasingly unique. Again, the waiter was helpful in guiding me there. The beans and rice was standard issue. The food gets a 2/5 on a standard of real Mexican food. The service was a 5/5.
(3)
David D.
I love chicken quesadillas and order them as an appetizer at every mexican restaurant I eat at. I would love to rate Santa Fe's but they don't even qualify as a quesadilla. What should be a savory mixture of sauteed and seasoned chicken smothered in cheese and veggies and grilled in a fluffy tortilla was simply a pile of stringy pulled chicken tucked into a tortilla taco style. Never again.
(2)
Stef F.
This place pissed me off so much I waited a minimum of three weeks to write it... Oh, how you eff en pissed me off. Perhaps newbies should take note. Yeah, it's Mexican. Yeah, it's decent. Not mind blowing, but decent. You want to know what is complete bull honkey? Don't put a taco dinner on the menu for $7.95. Have the large majority of your menu items under $10.00... And THEN charge me $45.00 for a effen pitcher of margaritas. Are you smoking crack rocks? Are you kidding me? Yes, I admit I did not ask for the price of the pitcher. My bad. Shame on me. But when I say to the waitress "I've never been here before and we were thinking of doing a pitcher of margaritas..." ... Don't respond with "oh, we have a great special this evening with Gran Marnier in them or what the hell ever was in them.. And then say they are smooth and would be perfect since they are on special. Have you ever had a $45.00 special??? That typically entails a friggin' lobster tail. Suggestion: Don't offer "specials" that are clearly not special. Suggestion: Put drink prices on the menu. Suggestion: Perhaps your food prices should be more representative of your drink prices. If I pay $18+ for a dinner, I expect to pay $10-$12 for a drink. If I pay $8, I expect to pay like $6. And the kicker? The margaritas were so tart, we couldn't finish them. And I had horrible gut rot the rest of the night. Horrible. Then to add to my falling over gut rot: my bill on a Tuesday evening in small town suburbia. $75. Two entrees and an appetizer: $25. One pitcher of sub-par margaritas that immediately erased any small buzz I had: $45. So, almost $100 gone on an average weekday. Oh joy. Basically, I would have probably eaten here again if it wasn't for my cursed alcohol. But when I can get a top shelf pitcher of long islands/margaritas at Hollywood blvd for $28...And I can get Mexican pretty much anywhere.... Well, guess what. Probably won't be heading here again.
(2)
Erika C.
One fateful morning in 1996 I attended a College of Du page football game with a thermos full of a cocoa peppermint schnapps concoction and a friend or 2. Halftime, we opted out, C.O.D. always won anyway. They had the longest winning streak in college football history, look it up. To Santa Fe we went, to get some chow and perhaps a margarita or 2. Flash froward 7 p.m. same day 6 hours after leaving Sana Fe, phone ringing off the hook, reaching to my bedside table, coat and scarf still on, body on top of the covers. Successful grab, "hello?" Friend, " Are you okay??? I just woke up on my bathroom floor." 2012 review Margaritas that can make your world go round, and if you aren't careful they will. The service can be intermittent, become a regular and it is very good. They offer 2 salsas with the complimentary chips, those in the know ask for the green salsa, it is a chunky verde style and goes well with the thinner warm red salsa. The Chicken Fajitas are great but get a Taco Longy for sure. It is a deep fried beef taco. Just do it. Another surprise hit, the Shrimp Nachos Especial: 1 chip, beans a mushroom and green pepper and grilled shrimp topped with melted cheese eight chips per order. Surprisingly delicious and filling. "Friend" and I can each still be seen regularly, now with children in tow and a few less margarita glasses in front of us.
(4)
Malibu Z.
Im a huge fan of Mexican, growing up in Az/Ca I know good Mexican food. Unfortunately I have a hard time finding it here in Illinois. I only eat white meat chicken which is suprisingly hard to find out here. My friend recommended this place and compared to what ive had at other places I love their food. They are super fast and friendly. Has a great bar area, which is super loud when busy. Only complaint is that the food is bland and they need better sales, otherwise I love the place and go often.
(4)
Meredith B.
I came here for my friend's birthday, since tacos and margaritas are our favorite celebration foods and beverages! 30 minute wait on a Saturday at 7 pm, the place was pretty crowded! Once our margaritas arrived, we figured out why. Strong, delicious margaritas....how we love them. My dinner was a quesadilla and chicken enchilada with rice and beans. It was totally fine, standard Mexican food. It hit the spot and was a perfect stomach-filler to keep the margaritas from destroying me. The margaritas are really the highlight of the experience, like at many Mexican restaurants, the food ends up playing second-fiddle. But when the drinks are this good, who cares?
(3)
Rebecca R.
I went there on a Tuesday night with a date. We ordered a picher of margaritas and began chatting. Our waitress was very kind and let us talk for almost an hour before beginning to bug us for our order. Service is such an important part of a night out that I always take notice of the servers, hosts, and bussers. The drinks were strong, but not overpowering, and the food portions were large and tasty. It was nothing mind-blowing, but very enjoyable. I would go back for the food, drinks, and service.
(4)
Michael M.
The most important part of a good Mexican restaurant for me are the Margaritas, the chips and salsa, then the food. Santa Fe is great for all three, but the Margaritas are SERIOUSLY GOOD, not to mention powerful. The food is excellent too but not like a fancy Rick Bayless restaurant. You need to venture past tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, to really get the flavor of this place. I love the "Steak a la Mexicana" and the specials each night are always worth a try. The atmosphere can be lively but not too loud. It's the kind of place you'd have no problem sitting at the bar by yourself until your friends arrived. If they're late. you'll probably have plenty of new friends. Rena and Freddie at the bar are your gracious hosts and always ready to serve you. Want a special Margarita? Ask Rena, she's really knows her tequila. Another review mentioned $45 dollar pitchers. WHAT???? I'm not sure what kind of tequila he/she asked for but pitchers are $26 and serve 6 Marg's. Careful, you'll only want 2 unless you're walking home or have a DD. THey also have half pitchers which are perfect for 2 people. Usually dinner and drinks for 2 plus tip is right around $50. Santa Fe is my favorite restaurant in Glen Ellyn and I recommend you go there tonight! PS, the Margaritas are NOT the sticky sweet kind with slushy ice that looks like a Mr. Misty. If that's what you're looking for, I'm sure there's a Chi Chi's in a mall nearby. They are on the rocks and tart, and the first sip will get your attention, but after that they are smooth as silk.
(5)
Kim M.
Good chips and salsa, but the food overall is just ok.
(3)
Sherry M.
The place used to be a local favorite, that is when the mom & dad ran it in a different location. Things have gone way downhill since the rude and greedy kids took over. Rudeness is guaranteed, the margaritas are bad and the bill is usually wrong...often charged for food and drinks you did not order. Be prepared for an argument when you point it out. For those who like to sit or stand at the bar, do not turn your back on your money!! It finds it's way to the bartender in a blink. Take a pass on this place. There are great places steps away!
(1)
Candice G.
I've heard rumors that they put everclear in their margaritas... from experience, I believe this to be true. The Margaritas are deadly and delicious. If you need to get drunk quickly, this is the place to go. My BF and I have been here many, many times before, yet somehow I'd never written a review. We went last night and it was possibly the best visit yet. My BF got the steak and poblano pepper special (after they were out of his first choice, the salmon special) and was quite happy with it. I got the vegetarian quesadillas with green peppers, chihuahua cheese, onions, tomato, and mild sauce on top it was amazing... I just finished my leftovers and am so mad I didn't get anything more to go. Their salsas are fantastic, especially the spicy ones. I've never had the desserts here, as I'm always pretty drunk by the time the end of dinner and the bottom of the pitcher comes but I'm sure they're great. The service, once you're sat, is fantastic and they make you feel right at home. I defo wouldn't call it Mexican food though... it's Tex Mex all the way. I've never seen anyone who wasn't white, eating here. If you're looking for sloppy, greasy, Mexican food, you can keep looking because this place is as dressed up as it comes. I recommend this restaurant and I highly recommend their daily specials which are always fantastic.
(4)
Erika S.
Went there for the first time for lunch on a Saturday. Were seated quickly as they weren't very busy. They brought out chips and two kinds of unique salsa. It wasn't your run of the mill salsa and very tasty but it would have been nice if they had explained the salsa to us, ie flavor, heat level, etc. the food was prompt and was pretty good. I had chicken enchilada and chimichanga combo and the chicken was fresh, had good flavor and none of that weird tendon stuff in it. The guacamole on top was also very fresh and tasty. My husband has the pastor tacos, which were on special and was not impressed. The meat used on his did not seem to be of high quality and the flavor was just ok. There are others places (one that will soon be down the street) that have the pastor taco down. The other members of our party loved their meals and would definitely return. Also, there are some items including the nachos, that come in a half order. The half order is small! Suitable for a snack or appetizer but for a meal you get about four large chips.
(2)
Jason P.
Sante Fe is an excellent family owned and operated Mexican restaurant. My favorites are their cheese enchiladas, chichen enchiladas, and the "nachos special". The nachos are unlike nachos at other places. They start with large flat tortilla chips arranged in a single layer on a plate. To that the add a layer of refried beans, then a layer of ground beef or chicken. Then they melt authentic white Mexican cheese over each chip and serve them with guacamole and sour cream. The red salsa is also very unique and delicious. They are very busy on weekend nights, so go during the week. Note that they are closed on Mondays.
(4)
Bridget C.
This place just isn't very good. My husband and I eat a LOT of mexican and know a good margarita, etc. and this was a disappointment, especially since we can walk there and I always like to support local businesses. The service was good and attentive, so there's that. The chips were cold and tasteless. The salsa was nothing special. I got steak tacos, nothing too exciting, but they were SO greasy and lardy and just not appealing. I got a patron margarita and the tequila couldn't even shine through the nasty too sweet/sour neon green mix it was mixed with. Bummer.
(2)
Jeff K.
Disclaimer: I have been going to Santa Fe since I was Two, so I am somewhat biased. Anyways, Santa Fe is an awesome family run restaurant, with authentic Mexican food. I am a sucker for their complimentary chips and unique salsas, also try the home-made guacamole! I usually get the chicken tacos or a chimichanga (mmm... Deep Fried Burrito...) Last, they make a mean Margarita.
(5)
Mandie L.
Love Santa Fe! Awesome place to go after work with co-workers and have some good food, service and margaritas! Take my advise and order the nachos (they dress up each chip individually!) then the flautas and wash it down with their killer margaritas! Careful they tend to sneak up on you! Worth the trip! Service has been wonderful everytime I go!
(4)
Osiris V.
Oops..I might have spoken a little too soon. I actually ate here over the weekend and I did not like. I guess my expectations were a little high. I ordered some fajitas and to my disappointment they did not come out sizzling in one of those cool frying pans. The steak was not of good quality and it was overpowered by green and red peppers. One of the people I was with actually said that the food tasted bland and not authentic. The margaritas didn't taste as good as before and to my surprise, the salsa wasn't as good as I had originally thought. Guess that's what happens when it's 11 pm and you've already had lost of drinks. You think everything is da bomb...eh.
(2)
Maria P.
If you're looking for a Mexican restaurant with excellent service, stop looking, this is the place for you. I've never felt so welcomed, nor have I been waited on so quickly, followed by fast service. The food was hot and delicious. The portions were decent sized and the prices were fair. This place is much bigger than it looks as it has a long bar that is followed by multiple dining rooms. Ole!
(3)
Lisa S.
santa fe has been in glen ellyn as long as i can remember, and i swear, i don't know how they stay open. the food is beyond bland, and the service is terrible. i keep letting my friends drag me there, but only when it's their treat.
(1)
Tina E.
Simply the best mexican food I've had since leaving LA. I don't know what was in that orange sauce, I just drank it straight. The tacos Longy style were incredible as were the enchiladas. Looks like the make a mean margarita, but I was driving so maybe next time. They also have a location in downtown Sandwich.
(5)
Christine S.
The margaritas were strong (but really overpriced) and the food was decent. I can't say, though, that I would go out of my way to eat here again. The waiter seemed like we were inconveniencing him by just being there and we felt very rushed to leave. We went on a Tuesday at 3:00 so it wasn't busy (at all) so I'm not sure why he wanted us out.
(3)
Caley C.
Good Mexican food and great service. Nice big space means plenty of tables and little-to-no wait. Guac was excellent. Chips and salsa were good too (salsa is nicely spicy).
(4)
Christina S.
I toyed with the notion of giving Santa Fe four stars but decided to stick with three for now. Could the excellent experience I had have been a fluke? Better to proceed cautiously. Bear in mind that I'm one of those people who doesn't care how authentic Mexican food is, and because I'm incredibly pregnant, I did not have any of those highly-recommended margaritas. But I really did dig the chalupa platter. Something about it seemed fresher and more flavorful than I've come to expect from suburban Mexican restaurants. Maybe it was the hunks of bright green avocado and juicy red tomato on top. I'm not ashamed to say I left rubbing my (sizable) belly!
(3)
E B.
Not the worst place, but I will never go again. Food is very bland. I mean, no flavor at all. We ordered a steak burrito and a veggie burrito and both were very disappointing. The rice and beans were room-temperature mush. It is so loud here that at at able for 2 we could not hear each other. Decent service, it was pretty quick. And fairly clean.
(2)
Chuck D.
I like the "Meh. I've experienced better." caption that goes with the two star rating. That exactly explains how I feel about Santa Fe. We have (well, had now, thanks, Santa Fe) a theory that downtown Glen Ellyn was magical and that all their restaurants were as great as Honey Cafe and Thipi Thai, so Santa Fe must be the best Mexican place imaginable! ...okay, so perhaps our expectations were set a little high. While the margaritas definitely lived up to the hype, the food did not. I felt that the menu covered all the basic Mexican food that you might expect to find anywhere and it was just okay...usually I try to give a place at least two tries if I'm not impressed the first time, because I understand that things happen sometimes. The thing that would stop me here is that two out of the four people in my party felt super ill after our time there. Overall, not a great experience.
(2)
Brad V.
My wife and I have been to Santa Fe several times. The food is good, nothing special. I'm always full after eating there and usually take the leftovers home. As others have said, the service is a little on the slow side. But the staff we've encountered have always been friendly.
(3)
Mike S.
Stopped in with my sister for lunch, we both enjoy coming here, and we're both Glen Ellyn natives. The only reason I'm giving 5 stars is I'm not a fan of their salsas (they're complimentary, so I can't downgrade too much), and because their beef is completely unseasoned. Stick with the chicken, steak, or anything else, it's all good! We had the chicken nachos, enchiladas, and a beef chimi with a few beers and the price was very reasonable. Servers were attentive, but then again it was lunch, so they weren't super busy.
(4)
Steve F.
Loved it! Nice Mexican place down town Glen Ellyn not far from the bike path there that I ride down with my gf. I highly recommend it. Great food and the owner served us so the service was great. I had the steak tacos and the meat was perfect. Tasted like butter. Not a chewy piece of meat in my taco. The chips and tomato sauce was outstanding. Pretty nice atmosphere and fits well with the town of Glen Ellyn which is beautiful it self. Cold beer and everything left very satisfied of course! Little pricey but what do you expect in Glen Ellyn? All I can say is I will be back no doubt!
(4)
C J.
The food is the worst Mexican I've had in the Chicagoland area, bar none! It is bland, smothered in cheese only (few or no other ingredients), it is cold, the beans are soupy, and the service is slow. The waiter wouldn't split a 6 person table into 2 checks, who do they think they are? If you sit in the back room, acoustics are terrible with sound bouncing everywhere and difficult to carry on a conversation.
(1)
Christina A.
The food here is consistent and good. Can it be better?? Yes! But it's good and well priced. Service isn't great... actually, far from it. We've learned to sit at the bar for better service.
(3)
Ethan S.
Pretty nice - but I'm not a super-fan for Mexican food. Upsides: Great chips & salsa Great variety of food Good drinks Downsides: Long wait Little kid crying non-stop, and the waiters only brought him a high-chair Food slightly dry
(3)
Erica D.
Great place. The food is great, the prices are good & their margaritas are seriously tasty. This is also a great place for events, they work well with you and are affordable.
(5)
Katie W.
My fiance's family LOVES Santa Fe and have been regulars for years. The place is growing on me, although their menu is very small. The Good: Excellent Margaritas Tasy Guacomole The Bad: Small Menu Salsa and Chips are only so - so No Atmosphere The Ugly: Last time we were there was had a VERY long wait for our food. The food was not that great after waiting that long. Although the Margaritas were tasty.
(3)
Mark R.
I, too, am biased as I grew up in Glen Ellyn. To be sure, all that glitters in Glen Ellyn isn't always gold. Luckily, the Santa Fe Restaurant is gold. I always order the delicious Longy's style tacos. They are excellent. Love the salsas with the chips. It's crowded, it's noisy, and the foods are high in calories, but you feel alive here, in a town that is rather tame in the evening. Service is okay, but not great. The patrons can be loud, too, most likely talking about the 1940's tear-down they bought on Oak Street or the Glenbard West football game. They staff is indeed slow on refills of chips and soft drinks, but for me, Glen Ellyn will always be home, and this place is tops. Been back twice since then and while the people seems to get louder, the Longey style tacos get better...And the salsa is great too. I agree with another reviewer. Only order the Longey-style tacos!!!!! Can't be dupiicated anywhere, although Fiesta Fresh in Hilton Head, South Carolina comers damn close.
(5)
Dawn B.
I visit this place about once a month. The margaritas are lethal - if not the best margaritas I've ever had, they are pretty darn good. Try the special nachos, the steak and poblano quesadilla, or the vegetable fajitas (they contain actual vegetables, not just peppers and onions). Good, reasonably priced food, fast and friendly service, noisy atmosphere make this place perfect for families. Small kids are welcome and they won't bother anyone. Enjoy!
(4)
Emily C.
We have been bored with our standard restaurant jaunts and decided to venture out, since we weren't too hungry. I picked the town, and then we googled some eateries. The website states that they use "TVP" instead of meat on menu items marked with an asterix (for vegetarians) however, no-one there got the memo. The food was ok - not very tasty in my mind - bland really. The guacamole appetizer was a rip off for the price you get a small scoop of guac and more of the chips that were already on the table. The salsas were both passable, but nothing special - for the money and flavor I would sadly go to Las Palmas over this place again.
(2)
Troy V.
The best house Margarita, bar none. Hey after all it's momma recipe. The people are warm and engaging. Never had a meal I didn't like. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars, is I can't walk home from there.
(4)
Jane D.
The food is good, but the margaritas and the impeccable service will always keep me coming back to this place! I've had better mexican food elsewhere, but if you're local, and you don't want to drink and drive (none of us should!), this is a nice little walk for a nice little nip! :-)
(4)
Kathleen C.
Completely mediocre. Not bad, don't mind it, but not great. no wait which is a good thing, but we had pretty slow service considering we were the only people seated in the entire dining room.
(3)
Melinda A.
this is where we go for mexican close. I like the home cooked feel of their food. There santa fe (?) sauce is wonderful. I find it fresh mexican comfort food. We have always had good service.
(3)
Jennifer B.
There isn't a huge menu selection, but what we had was pretty good. You can't compare this place to a Mexican restaurant in Chicago, because you'll be disappointed. For the suburbs though it's pretty tasty and well priced. The service wasn't great though. We waited about 10 minutes for our bill while our waitress was talking to her boyfriend and the manager was texting on her blackberry.
(3)
Bee T.
Santa Fe is still great first choice for Mexican food in the suburbs. The food is authentic, and their margaritas are delicious. However, be warned that their margaritas are expensive, and the price for a pitcher is astronomically higher than what you would expect (especially suspicious since the price for a pitcher is not on their menu). My favorite entree is their enchiladas, and I've never been there with someone who didn't enjoy their plate. Try to get a seat at the front of the restaurant if you're there for the atmosphere because the back of the restaurant doesn't really have much to offer.
(3)
Jeff H.
I love this place, and I've been going here my whole life. No, like literally my entire life. Don't overlook their awesome breakfasts: simple American style or Mexican with amazingly simple breakfast potatoes that I've been trying to reproduce at home for years without success. Lunch and dinner are just as good, great straight-forward Mexican dishes. Family owned and operated and a mainstay in downtown Glen Ellyn for decades in their present location and the old spot across the tracks. BOGUS UPDATE: Apparently they never brought over their breakfast service from the old location. A sad day for breakfast potatoes.
(5)
Barbie S.
I used to live in GE so i have eaten at almost all the restaurants here... i guess i need to review more... LOL... anyway, Sante Fe...hmmmm... the food is decent & yummy.... i guess i think..... cuz everytime i am there, always order a pitcher of margaritas, so maybe anything taste good after that???? hahahaa... seriously, the chips and salsa are fabulous!!!! ok, i have eaten so many chips here, i can't eat my dinner!!! The salsa is very good... and i am VERY particuliar about salsa... and the Margaritas are outstanding!!! Definitely order with Don Julio or Patron.... and u don't even taste the tequila... (on the rocks ONLY plz!)... wow! I am not kidding! YUMMY!!!! :))
(4)
Mary J.
Another good restaurant located in downtown Glen Ellyn! It's right next to Shannon's Irish Pub. Good fresh mexican food and yes, Ellen is correct, excellent margaritas. I've ALWAYS had to wait here - to be seated, to have my order taken, to get my drinks and food - not good. Sometimes the place has been dead and I'm still waiting. Luckily I don't have a complex about it.
(3)
Ginny E.
I've tried this place 3 x now and haven' t had a good meal once. The tortilla shells come from an El Paso box and the meat needs some serious seasoning. The Front Street Cocina is much better.
(1)
Jen H.
Three of us went here because of the Yelp reviews. I don't know what all the fuss is about. First, we had to park really far away because the lot next door was packed, as were the streets, and the sidewalks were icy and slick. Second, our waitress was miserable. She never smiled, may have said three words to us the entire evening, and was generally unpleasant. She would walk away before we were done speaking or had time to place the order we wanted. Third, the two non-traditional salsas provided were not tasty. They were quite bland, runny, and small portions. Fourth, I did not think the margaritas were anything special. They tasted like a mix to me and my friends, and for advertising them as their "specialty," I certainly wasn't wowed. Lastly, our food was just ok. I had an enchilada and quesadilla combo. The quesadilla was just fine, but the enchillada had absolutely no sauce on it whatsoever and was quite dry. My friend said her tacos were ok, but they were small and she only got two. My other friend really enjoyed her fajitas. In the end, I will not go back and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(2)
Cinnamon M.
I was there last night by myself. It was a busy Saturday so I sat at one of the two small tables in the bar area. I had the margaritas, which are delicious and pack a punch! I also had the nachos special, which were good, but I prefer the nachos that are layered like a mountain and can be a little messy, but if you're on a date or with people that you don't want to make a mess in front of, they would've been perfect. The chips are good and the salsa is unconventional, but is more like a choice of two 'sauces'. Not bad, but I've had better. But the service was great! The servers are always very friendly and accommodating, the bus boys are always Johnny-on-the-spot, and the hosts are super kind. When I noticed that the wait line was filling up, I offered to move myself to the bar to free up the table. The staff insisted that I remain comfortable at my table and take my time. Although the food is good, but not great, it's worth it to be a repeat customer for the drinks and the service alone! If there's ever a choice between Santa Fe and Shannon's next door, ALWAYS take Santa Fe! The service at Shannon's is crap!!!!!!!
(4)
Susan T.
Great margaritas, just average food.
(2)
Jim M.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in DuPage county. The margarita's are out if this world! The restaurant is a little pricey but worth it to me. Fresh home made food.
(5)
Carly C.
One of my favorite restaurants in the 'burbs. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great location, great margaritas. Me and my family love it!
(4)
A. B.
06-04-11 Dinner. 1 word, to describe the meal and server , awful. The best part of the experience was receiving the correct drink. That is where it ends. *Our waiter never introduced himself, nor did he ever once smile. **The waiter did not take our order when he delivered the drinks, he came back 10 minutes later to do that. ***When our meal arrived 2 the 4 fajita orders were delivered. Only 2 were given tortillas. When we asked for the 2 missing tortillas, he looked disgusted and just walked away. We were not sure if he went back to the kitchen to get them because he did not return for at least 10 minutes. A very nice lady (that works) actually asked what was happening, so we explained and she spoke to our waiter who eventually returned. ****The fajitas were steamed/mushy. No spice what so ever. There was no sizzling skillet, NOTHING crisp. Awful. I would NEVER recommend this place ever. Drive to Wheaton to Front Street and spend your money there, st least you'll get a decent meal.
(1)
janice m.
Santa Fe is one of my favorite suburb restaurants. We try to make it here at least once a month and the food is consistently awesome. From the chips and salsa to their amazing margaritas, we have never been unhappy with a meal there! Normally we go as a group and order different dishes so we can sample a little of everything. The flautas are amazing, and the burrito with the eggs is great! There are a lot of different choices for vegetarians, which I appreciate, and if you order the steak burrito you are in for a treat. All in all a wonderful place for dinner for two or a party of five! On the plus side for moms and dads, they are very kid friendly.
(4)
James K.
If you go to Santa Fe for anything other than to eat Longey Tacos, you are an utter moron. They're literally the best tacos in the Universe. The margaritas are also pretty good. When you go there and order your Longey tacos, don't get the dinner. Just get three Longey tacos. Why waste critical stomach space on beans and rice when you can enjoy yet another Longey? And don't go in there and get all full of yourself by ordering a steak or chicken Longey Taco. They suck. Stick with the beef. It's perfection. PERFECTION I say. Here's how to win at Santa Fe: Step 1. Acquire a table. Step 2. Order 3 beef Longey Tacos. Step 3 (optional). Order a Margarita pitcher. Step 4. While waiting for Longey Tacos, ask for the secret "green sauce" for your chips. Step 5. Eat everything they bring you. Step 6. Win.
(5)
Sunshine L.
don't go here if you want a pleasant meal. The waitress we had was such a @$&%&. She was bothered by questions. Did not want to wait on us at all. The bus servers were excellent. Feel sorry for them. The food is really over priced. Food was okay. Maybe because it is snobby Glen Ellyn they feel they can treat people like crap and make them pay more.
(1)
Blair S.
I have to say that I am very biased. My family, or some combination of my family eat here at least three times a month. Food is good, margaritas are excellent, and the wait staff are very friendly. It makes for a great Friday evening to eat here, enjoy the food, drink, and family at weeks end. Ask for the nightly specials, they are usually very good. Also, ask for the green tomatillo salsa, not offered up as the norm, but it is to die for.
(5)
Lindsey W.
Santa Fe is hands down the best Mexican food in the area! The friendliest service, AMAZING margaritas, delicious salsas (I prefer the dark red chili based and salsa verde), and a great atmosphere to enjoy yourself in. My family comes weekly and have never had a bad meal. Also, do yourself a favor and get the pico de gallo. Their version includes avocados...YUM!
(5)
Bruce H.
Great food and Margaritas. The service is very good and friendly. We probably go here at least once a month. My son says their BBQ Chicken is the best anywhere, I usually have the Burritos which they will make any way you want them.
(5)
Birds N.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant around! I remember when they were located in a very small corner on Pennsylvania avenue. I have been going here since I was in the second grade, I am 32 now and it is my all time favorite birthday/celebration place. My husband and I even had our rehearsal dinner here because it's that good! The margaritas are insane prepare to take a taxi home and or have a designated driver if you drink one! Chips and salsa are just so yummy! Couldn't ask for a better place.
(5)
Ellen M.
Good mexican food. I had a very nice salmon once and traditional flautas and tacos the other times. Excellent margaritas. The service was pretty good, but they always seem short-staffed and it takes a while to get food. I usually wait about 15-20 minutes on a weekend, and they have a parking lot, so logistics aren't bad.
(4)
Karen S.
I wont be going back here. The deceptively good aroma coming from the restaurant dragged me in. It took a long time for someone to take our order - even though the restaurant was not busy. I guess If I had ordered a margarita - I would have been served better. The chips were meh as was the salsa. I ordered tacos and my husband ordered the burritos - it was standard fair and definitely nothing to talk about. I wont be going back - I would rather go to one of the pubs or The Snackery. Too bad - the search for a margarita hangout will continue.
(1)
Chester R.
my god those sisters are hot !! forget the food, just drink margaritas and stare.
(5)
Kenny L.
This is my girlfriend's favorite Mexican restaurant of all time. The chips and salsa are the best, because the salsa is served warm. The enchiladas are out of this world. The margaritas are also delicious, and they really sneak up on you. I happily take my girlfriend there whenever she wants.
(5)
Danielle G.
The food at Santa Fe is very good. It is a family owned restaurant and you can usually find several family members waiting tables, bartending, hosting. The wait is signifigant at peak times, Friday and Saturday nights. We usually skip Friday night unless it's late. Great Margaritas and great food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : 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.
Tim C.
Giving Santa Fe 5 stars, not cause it's super gourmet, but because it exceeds expectations on quality. Everything here seems to be from scratch. Simple, but authentic, and with great quality Ordered chicken mole, and then asked for hot sauce, gringo dumb, but anyway, waiter didn't come out with the usual Tabasco or chalula bottle. Instead, it was a home made sauce, kind of hot, but not crazy hot. Great, even though adding heat to mole is dumb. Not a fan of margarita, but tasted my wife's. Definitely a tequila taste, and not the usual soda pop flavor of most.
(5)Renee H.
Love this place! Family owned and when you are here you feel like part of the family. Staff is great. Reyna is awesome. Food is always good!!
(4)Gary D.
We ended up in Glen Ellyn on a Friday night and were looking for some Mexican food and we found it here. We typically go to Front St. in Wheaton but we're glad we found this place, the food is a little better and the prices are definitely better. We had the guacamole appetizer which was really good. Then split a chicken fajita and it also was very good. The place is bigger than it looks from the street. Thought we'd have a wait but they have many more tables in the back. Typical nice atmosphere for this type of restaurant, very clean and service was very efficient. Chips are good as well, not the best I've had but they're complimentary so that's a good thing. The one thing I don't care for is how they don't put prices on their alcoholic drinks. I've noticed this at several Mexican restaurants and really don't like it.
(4)G B.
The waiters are rude and slow. The food is over priced. I felt that the tables with minority guests were treated poorly . Me and my girlfriend waited for over 15 minutes while other tables were served. We asked for salsa on 3 occasions before we received it. This place is a true stain in Glen Ellyn. :(
(1)Jill D.
- Great jalapeno poppers!! So much cream cheesey goodness!! - Expensive ($10!!), small and mediocre margaritas - Average chili relenos - Sad and pathetic chorizo distribution on the chilaquiles The place was packed on the Friday night we visited. With the
(2)Angela G.
Best Nachos and their mild sauce is amazing. Ordered the Chicken and Cheese enchiladas. Been coming here for years and now that I live in California it's a must go to place when I'm in town.
(5)Tim D.
Went in for some drinks and sat at the bar. Ordered margaritas and was shocked when the bartender filled a margarita glass with ice then poured a premade margarita from a jug in the glass. There were maybe 10 people in the place at the time. So sad that they can't make margaritas to order, needless to say I won't be back
(2)Sydney C.
Tried this for the first time for lunch and it definitely does not make my list of restaurants I would choose for Mexican food. I had a quesadilla and an enchilada--both were pretty bland and, while this may sound odd, the cheese was way too stringy! Service was decent, but not great. Overall, nothing stood out about the restaurant to me. They do advertise margaritas as being their specialty, so maybe I should go back just for drinks.
(2)David R.
Credit Card Fraud: BE AWARE! We don't eat out much, and don't use our credit cards much. I just received an alert from my credit card company of a foreign transaction...from Mexico. Well, our previous credit card transaction was almost 2 weeks prior to this one from the Santa Fe restaurant in Glen Ellyn. It seemed like it was a family run restaurant (my wife is a native Spanish speaker, and talked to several of the workers) and we'd be 'safe' Food was just average for Mexican fare. Hosts and servers were very attentive. Cannot forgive credit card fraud!
(1)C C.
I like this place. Food is good. Service is good 90% of the time. Margaritas are wonderful. I just have one odd complaint. Lower level of building smells of sewer gas! I believe their sewer traps are dried out. Pour some water down those pipes and everything should be fine.....
(4)Sara B.
Do you have any spicy salsa?? "Yes, here you go but be careful." Upon tasting my friend, who doesn't like spicy said, "this tastes like tomato soup." The tacos were ok but it is sad to go to a "mexican" restaurant that doesn't have a kick to it.
(3)Michael H.
Fajitas were OK, Meat was tender. Service was good.
(3)Renita M.
This would really be a 3.5 star review if I ever needed one. There don't seem to be a ton of good table-service Mexican places near us, so we thought we'd give this one a try. It was fine, I'd come back, but it didn't knock my socks off. The complimentary chips and salsa were tasty; they veer away from the typical chunky tomatoey salsa into two more sauce-like dips. The darker one reminded me of adobo sauce from canned chipotles. I had the chicken with mole (Pollo de Pueblo I think it was called?), and it was half a chicken, totally smothered in a mole that was just a little too sweet for me. Moles can vary wildly so I have no judgment over its authenticity, but it wasn't my favorite flavor. The chicken was cooked pretty well though. The rice and beans were fine, nothing special. I feel like maybe I ordered "wrong" and should try something else to give it a better chance. My husband got three hard-shell tacos and devoured them; I'm not all that sure how much he tasted :) But he seemed happy with his food. The atmosphere is nothing too special, although the "courtyard" look in the back room was kind of cool. Service was acceptable. Overall it's just... fine. Pretty good. I'll try something different next time.
(3)Jose C.
Pretty decent place to find Tex-Mex food. The service was great and the menu did have a lot to offer. The drink specials they have are also pretty great with a variety of margaritas to try.
(4)Rubrya G.
Great tex mex in the area!!! the food is very tasty and the margaritas are awesome!! very friendly service and people! loved the food will definitely come again.
(5)Joe E.
Went here a few years ago on a Saturday afternoon. For some reason, I ordered the BBQ chicken. Who the hell does that at a Mexican restaurant? I went with two coworkers, and they each had veggie tacos. Nothing was overwhelming. The service wasn't that great, either. Not a surprise, because all GLen Ellyn restaurants have service issues. Decent food, though. Will I be back? Probably not. I think the owners own El Puente in St. Chaz, and El Zarape in Wheaton. El Puente is definitely better, and I've yet to try El Zarape, which is located in my hometown.
(3)Jared W.
My absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. This has been a family staple for many years, and they have the best margaritas you can find just about anywhere. The service is almost always excellent, and after well over a dozen visits there myself, I have never had anything close to a bad experience. The menu is pretty consistent, but they do offer really great specials, which are often what I have ended up getting whenever I go.
(5)Andy M.
A higher end Mexican restaurant in uppity Glen Ellyn there was only one waitress for the whole place the weekday lunch time I decided to visit. The food was pretty high priced and not really any better than what I can find at any strip corner storefront. The place has a beautiful look from the train painting and other Southwestern scenery. A popular place in downtown GLen Ellyn and worth if you are picky about where you eat your Mexican food. The bathrooms are downstairs so the elderly may not be ale to access this easily. They have a private downstairs party room for special events and other planned activity.
(2)Nichole C.
Obviously I should have drank one of Sante Fe's famous margaritas before enjoying their food because that is apparently where it's at. This place blinds you with an alcoholic stupor before it feeds you so you think everything is just perfect. I'm not trying to hate on Santa Fe, honestly, I just wasn't that impressed. Here's the thing...when I get Mexican food I'm looking for a few things: Good salsa, good guac, good spice/sauces, and good meat. Santa Fe has a mix of yay's and nay's when it comes to my test items. Salsa- Weird. When you sit down, you get a complimentary bowl of chips (yummy, by the way) and two bowls of salsa. Shallow monkey dishes really...but two bowls. One is the most delicious spicy sauce ever (I call it "sauce" because it was really runny) and the other is just...WHAT IS IT? I kept eating it even though I didn't like it simply to determine what it was. I never figured it out. It's not your average salsa. And it is runny too. Guac- Plain but delicious. I don't need a lot of fancy stuff to be in my guac so I was happy with the lightly seasoned mashed avocados and cilantro that was brought out. It even came in a little tortilla bowl. Nice touch. And nothing was too chunky or too runny. Bonus. House made hot sauce- See also: "Runny delicious spicy sauce" listed above as salsa. DELICIOUS. I poured it all over my fajitas. Meat- Two things: 1) When I order fajitas, I want them to come out on a ridiculous iron platter and be sizzling. Yes, I know, I have been to too many American places that serve fajitas, but I'll be damned if that sizzle hasn't been conditioned in my brain as "AWESOME FOOD COMING TO YOUR TABLE!!", and 2) I want the meat to be lean. I hate fatty meat of any kind. Santa Fe didn't deliver on either of these needs, unfortunately. I will say this: Service was good, and friendly, prices were cheap(ish), and the clientele was decent. The restaurant is cute and homey and I will definitely be coming back to imbibe. And maybe to have some chips and guac (and spicy salsa) when I get drunk.
(3)Laura T.
Decent Mexican standards. Went on a slow lunch day and service was friendly but extremely slow. Like most places you get free chips and salsa when seated... Salsa is that non-chunky sauce style, which isn't my preference. Overall, a cute place in a cute setting with good food. Just nothing to write home about.
(3)Ilie N.
The new and smaller location on Main Street is serving higher priced items of smaller portions. For example, the skinniest beef burrito was about $4. Our group dined there on a Sunday evening and everyone was disappointed with their selections. The noise level was deafening. Food was not hot either. Chips were borderline stale. I will not go there again.
(3)A H.
First timers there, used the Groupon for our dinner. Food came out fast but overall it was just ok, margaritas are over priced and small. I think the staff needs to get a clue. If your guests won't take their jackets off, turn up the heat! Make it welcoming! Everybody sitting by us had our jackets on, shivering away. We won't be back, so many better places (la campana bloomingdale, salseria in Elmhurst).
(2)Shannon E.
We had some chips and salsa and drinks here while waiting for a table at Fire and Wine. Great service, salsa was FANTASTIC, and good beer selection.
(4)Pam M.
Love this restaurant. The only downside is that I never try anything other menu items than the supreme nachos. THEY ARE THE BEST!!!! And very satisfying as my dinner!
(5)Anne G.
Now I remember why we haven't been back in years. Crabby hostess who in an empty restaurant tried to seat us next to the front door on a 20 degree night. I asked for a different table, and she put us next to the kitchen in the back of the house. We moved one table over out of the kitchen doorway (again there was no one else in the restaurant) and it was all down hill from there. Crappy mediocre food for all 5 of us. The only bright spot was our wonderful waiter. Never ever again!
(1)Greg W.
We wanted to go to El Zarape in Wheaton, but they are closed on Sunday, so we Yelped the area and this place came up. I wish we would have just waiting until today to go to El Zarape. We got seated pretty quickly, but had to wait about 15 minutes before placing an order. They were beyond understaffed for a lunchtime service. I ordered a longy taco and a chorizo chalupa. It's not that they were inedible, they just really weren't good. The one word that I kept thinking as I ate was bland. I also really can't stand it when restaurants nickel and dime you on everything. A soda here was $2.85 (we spent 9 dollars on 3 Diet cokes). The menu states that you only get 2 free refills on soda. I only drank one glass and some water so this didn't effect me, but if you're going to charge almost 3 dollars for a fountain drink (which probably costs less than 5-10 cents per cup), you could not be so stingy. If I were you, I'd travel the ten minutes to downtown Wheaton and go to El Zarape... it's a lot smaller than this place but the food, salsa, and experience is better. Or go to Geneva to the awesome mexican restaurants there.
(2)Conor G.
Came here hoping to find a good local family-owned Mexican place similar to other places my wife and I like to frequent but did not have a good experience at all. For one thing, it's never a good sign when there's nobody else in the restaurant as it was on this Sunday afternoon, even with playoff football games on the TVs. The service was incredibly slow and not overly friendly. Our waitress, who I think may have been one of the owners basically forgot about us and went in the back for about 10-15 minutes. Then when she came back and I asked for a drink refill she just took my cup and went to refill it without a word. The food was just ok, I had an enchilada & taco. As one reviewer mentioned, the two types of "salsa" they give you were unusual and neither tasted good to us. Won't be coming back.
(2)Rich R.
The service was great. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive making this a real great experience. The menu is at best Mexican-ish but, let's face it: it's downtown Glen Ellyn, not Oaxaca. The waiter was nice enough to bring out "secret salsa" from the back which was fantastic. It had a real kick to it! The flautas had a little enchilada sauce and appeared hum-drum. The mole con pollo was pleasingly unique. Again, the waiter was helpful in guiding me there. The beans and rice was standard issue. The food gets a 2/5 on a standard of real Mexican food. The service was a 5/5.
(3)David D.
I love chicken quesadillas and order them as an appetizer at every mexican restaurant I eat at. I would love to rate Santa Fe's but they don't even qualify as a quesadilla. What should be a savory mixture of sauteed and seasoned chicken smothered in cheese and veggies and grilled in a fluffy tortilla was simply a pile of stringy pulled chicken tucked into a tortilla taco style. Never again.
(2)Stef F.
This place pissed me off so much I waited a minimum of three weeks to write it... Oh, how you eff en pissed me off. Perhaps newbies should take note. Yeah, it's Mexican. Yeah, it's decent. Not mind blowing, but decent. You want to know what is complete bull honkey? Don't put a taco dinner on the menu for $7.95. Have the large majority of your menu items under $10.00... And THEN charge me $45.00 for a effen pitcher of margaritas. Are you smoking crack rocks? Are you kidding me? Yes, I admit I did not ask for the price of the pitcher. My bad. Shame on me. But when I say to the waitress "I've never been here before and we were thinking of doing a pitcher of margaritas..." ... Don't respond with "oh, we have a great special this evening with Gran Marnier in them or what the hell ever was in them.. And then say they are smooth and would be perfect since they are on special. Have you ever had a $45.00 special??? That typically entails a friggin' lobster tail. Suggestion: Don't offer "specials" that are clearly not special. Suggestion: Put drink prices on the menu. Suggestion: Perhaps your food prices should be more representative of your drink prices. If I pay $18+ for a dinner, I expect to pay $10-$12 for a drink. If I pay $8, I expect to pay like $6. And the kicker? The margaritas were so tart, we couldn't finish them. And I had horrible gut rot the rest of the night. Horrible. Then to add to my falling over gut rot: my bill on a Tuesday evening in small town suburbia. $75. Two entrees and an appetizer: $25. One pitcher of sub-par margaritas that immediately erased any small buzz I had: $45. So, almost $100 gone on an average weekday. Oh joy. Basically, I would have probably eaten here again if it wasn't for my cursed alcohol. But when I can get a top shelf pitcher of long islands/margaritas at Hollywood blvd for $28...And I can get Mexican pretty much anywhere.... Well, guess what. Probably won't be heading here again.
(2)Erika C.
One fateful morning in 1996 I attended a College of Du page football game with a thermos full of a cocoa peppermint schnapps concoction and a friend or 2. Halftime, we opted out, C.O.D. always won anyway. They had the longest winning streak in college football history, look it up. To Santa Fe we went, to get some chow and perhaps a margarita or 2. Flash froward 7 p.m. same day 6 hours after leaving Sana Fe, phone ringing off the hook, reaching to my bedside table, coat and scarf still on, body on top of the covers. Successful grab, "hello?" Friend, " Are you okay??? I just woke up on my bathroom floor." 2012 review Margaritas that can make your world go round, and if you aren't careful they will. The service can be intermittent, become a regular and it is very good. They offer 2 salsas with the complimentary chips, those in the know ask for the green salsa, it is a chunky verde style and goes well with the thinner warm red salsa. The Chicken Fajitas are great but get a Taco Longy for sure. It is a deep fried beef taco. Just do it. Another surprise hit, the Shrimp Nachos Especial: 1 chip, beans a mushroom and green pepper and grilled shrimp topped with melted cheese eight chips per order. Surprisingly delicious and filling. "Friend" and I can each still be seen regularly, now with children in tow and a few less margarita glasses in front of us.
(4)Malibu Z.
Im a huge fan of Mexican, growing up in Az/Ca I know good Mexican food. Unfortunately I have a hard time finding it here in Illinois. I only eat white meat chicken which is suprisingly hard to find out here. My friend recommended this place and compared to what ive had at other places I love their food. They are super fast and friendly. Has a great bar area, which is super loud when busy. Only complaint is that the food is bland and they need better sales, otherwise I love the place and go often.
(4)Meredith B.
I came here for my friend's birthday, since tacos and margaritas are our favorite celebration foods and beverages! 30 minute wait on a Saturday at 7 pm, the place was pretty crowded! Once our margaritas arrived, we figured out why. Strong, delicious margaritas....how we love them. My dinner was a quesadilla and chicken enchilada with rice and beans. It was totally fine, standard Mexican food. It hit the spot and was a perfect stomach-filler to keep the margaritas from destroying me. The margaritas are really the highlight of the experience, like at many Mexican restaurants, the food ends up playing second-fiddle. But when the drinks are this good, who cares?
(3)Rebecca R.
I went there on a Tuesday night with a date. We ordered a picher of margaritas and began chatting. Our waitress was very kind and let us talk for almost an hour before beginning to bug us for our order. Service is such an important part of a night out that I always take notice of the servers, hosts, and bussers. The drinks were strong, but not overpowering, and the food portions were large and tasty. It was nothing mind-blowing, but very enjoyable. I would go back for the food, drinks, and service.
(4)Michael M.
The most important part of a good Mexican restaurant for me are the Margaritas, the chips and salsa, then the food. Santa Fe is great for all three, but the Margaritas are SERIOUSLY GOOD, not to mention powerful. The food is excellent too but not like a fancy Rick Bayless restaurant. You need to venture past tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, to really get the flavor of this place. I love the "Steak a la Mexicana" and the specials each night are always worth a try. The atmosphere can be lively but not too loud. It's the kind of place you'd have no problem sitting at the bar by yourself until your friends arrived. If they're late. you'll probably have plenty of new friends. Rena and Freddie at the bar are your gracious hosts and always ready to serve you. Want a special Margarita? Ask Rena, she's really knows her tequila. Another review mentioned $45 dollar pitchers. WHAT???? I'm not sure what kind of tequila he/she asked for but pitchers are $26 and serve 6 Marg's. Careful, you'll only want 2 unless you're walking home or have a DD. THey also have half pitchers which are perfect for 2 people. Usually dinner and drinks for 2 plus tip is right around $50. Santa Fe is my favorite restaurant in Glen Ellyn and I recommend you go there tonight! PS, the Margaritas are NOT the sticky sweet kind with slushy ice that looks like a Mr. Misty. If that's what you're looking for, I'm sure there's a Chi Chi's in a mall nearby. They are on the rocks and tart, and the first sip will get your attention, but after that they are smooth as silk.
(5)Kim M.
Good chips and salsa, but the food overall is just ok.
(3)Sherry M.
The place used to be a local favorite, that is when the mom & dad ran it in a different location. Things have gone way downhill since the rude and greedy kids took over. Rudeness is guaranteed, the margaritas are bad and the bill is usually wrong...often charged for food and drinks you did not order. Be prepared for an argument when you point it out. For those who like to sit or stand at the bar, do not turn your back on your money!! It finds it's way to the bartender in a blink. Take a pass on this place. There are great places steps away!
(1)Candice G.
I've heard rumors that they put everclear in their margaritas... from experience, I believe this to be true. The Margaritas are deadly and delicious. If you need to get drunk quickly, this is the place to go. My BF and I have been here many, many times before, yet somehow I'd never written a review. We went last night and it was possibly the best visit yet. My BF got the steak and poblano pepper special (after they were out of his first choice, the salmon special) and was quite happy with it. I got the vegetarian quesadillas with green peppers, chihuahua cheese, onions, tomato, and mild sauce on top it was amazing... I just finished my leftovers and am so mad I didn't get anything more to go. Their salsas are fantastic, especially the spicy ones. I've never had the desserts here, as I'm always pretty drunk by the time the end of dinner and the bottom of the pitcher comes but I'm sure they're great. The service, once you're sat, is fantastic and they make you feel right at home. I defo wouldn't call it Mexican food though... it's Tex Mex all the way. I've never seen anyone who wasn't white, eating here. If you're looking for sloppy, greasy, Mexican food, you can keep looking because this place is as dressed up as it comes. I recommend this restaurant and I highly recommend their daily specials which are always fantastic.
(4)Erika S.
Went there for the first time for lunch on a Saturday. Were seated quickly as they weren't very busy. They brought out chips and two kinds of unique salsa. It wasn't your run of the mill salsa and very tasty but it would have been nice if they had explained the salsa to us, ie flavor, heat level, etc. the food was prompt and was pretty good. I had chicken enchilada and chimichanga combo and the chicken was fresh, had good flavor and none of that weird tendon stuff in it. The guacamole on top was also very fresh and tasty. My husband has the pastor tacos, which were on special and was not impressed. The meat used on his did not seem to be of high quality and the flavor was just ok. There are others places (one that will soon be down the street) that have the pastor taco down. The other members of our party loved their meals and would definitely return. Also, there are some items including the nachos, that come in a half order. The half order is small! Suitable for a snack or appetizer but for a meal you get about four large chips.
(2)Jason P.
Sante Fe is an excellent family owned and operated Mexican restaurant. My favorites are their cheese enchiladas, chichen enchiladas, and the "nachos special". The nachos are unlike nachos at other places. They start with large flat tortilla chips arranged in a single layer on a plate. To that the add a layer of refried beans, then a layer of ground beef or chicken. Then they melt authentic white Mexican cheese over each chip and serve them with guacamole and sour cream. The red salsa is also very unique and delicious. They are very busy on weekend nights, so go during the week. Note that they are closed on Mondays.
(4)Bridget C.
This place just isn't very good. My husband and I eat a LOT of mexican and know a good margarita, etc. and this was a disappointment, especially since we can walk there and I always like to support local businesses. The service was good and attentive, so there's that. The chips were cold and tasteless. The salsa was nothing special. I got steak tacos, nothing too exciting, but they were SO greasy and lardy and just not appealing. I got a patron margarita and the tequila couldn't even shine through the nasty too sweet/sour neon green mix it was mixed with. Bummer.
(2)Jeff K.
Disclaimer: I have been going to Santa Fe since I was Two, so I am somewhat biased. Anyways, Santa Fe is an awesome family run restaurant, with authentic Mexican food. I am a sucker for their complimentary chips and unique salsas, also try the home-made guacamole! I usually get the chicken tacos or a chimichanga (mmm... Deep Fried Burrito...) Last, they make a mean Margarita.
(5)Mandie L.
Love Santa Fe! Awesome place to go after work with co-workers and have some good food, service and margaritas! Take my advise and order the nachos (they dress up each chip individually!) then the flautas and wash it down with their killer margaritas! Careful they tend to sneak up on you! Worth the trip! Service has been wonderful everytime I go!
(4)Osiris V.
Oops..I might have spoken a little too soon. I actually ate here over the weekend and I did not like. I guess my expectations were a little high. I ordered some fajitas and to my disappointment they did not come out sizzling in one of those cool frying pans. The steak was not of good quality and it was overpowered by green and red peppers. One of the people I was with actually said that the food tasted bland and not authentic. The margaritas didn't taste as good as before and to my surprise, the salsa wasn't as good as I had originally thought. Guess that's what happens when it's 11 pm and you've already had lost of drinks. You think everything is da bomb...eh.
(2)Maria P.
If you're looking for a Mexican restaurant with excellent service, stop looking, this is the place for you. I've never felt so welcomed, nor have I been waited on so quickly, followed by fast service. The food was hot and delicious. The portions were decent sized and the prices were fair. This place is much bigger than it looks as it has a long bar that is followed by multiple dining rooms. Ole!
(3)Lisa S.
santa fe has been in glen ellyn as long as i can remember, and i swear, i don't know how they stay open. the food is beyond bland, and the service is terrible. i keep letting my friends drag me there, but only when it's their treat.
(1)Tina E.
Simply the best mexican food I've had since leaving LA. I don't know what was in that orange sauce, I just drank it straight. The tacos Longy style were incredible as were the enchiladas. Looks like the make a mean margarita, but I was driving so maybe next time. They also have a location in downtown Sandwich.
(5)Christine S.
The margaritas were strong (but really overpriced) and the food was decent. I can't say, though, that I would go out of my way to eat here again. The waiter seemed like we were inconveniencing him by just being there and we felt very rushed to leave. We went on a Tuesday at 3:00 so it wasn't busy (at all) so I'm not sure why he wanted us out.
(3)Caley C.
Good Mexican food and great service. Nice big space means plenty of tables and little-to-no wait. Guac was excellent. Chips and salsa were good too (salsa is nicely spicy).
(4)Christina S.
I toyed with the notion of giving Santa Fe four stars but decided to stick with three for now. Could the excellent experience I had have been a fluke? Better to proceed cautiously. Bear in mind that I'm one of those people who doesn't care how authentic Mexican food is, and because I'm incredibly pregnant, I did not have any of those highly-recommended margaritas. But I really did dig the chalupa platter. Something about it seemed fresher and more flavorful than I've come to expect from suburban Mexican restaurants. Maybe it was the hunks of bright green avocado and juicy red tomato on top. I'm not ashamed to say I left rubbing my (sizable) belly!
(3)E B.
Not the worst place, but I will never go again. Food is very bland. I mean, no flavor at all. We ordered a steak burrito and a veggie burrito and both were very disappointing. The rice and beans were room-temperature mush. It is so loud here that at at able for 2 we could not hear each other. Decent service, it was pretty quick. And fairly clean.
(2)Chuck D.
I like the "Meh. I've experienced better." caption that goes with the two star rating. That exactly explains how I feel about Santa Fe. We have (well, had now, thanks, Santa Fe) a theory that downtown Glen Ellyn was magical and that all their restaurants were as great as Honey Cafe and Thipi Thai, so Santa Fe must be the best Mexican place imaginable! ...okay, so perhaps our expectations were set a little high. While the margaritas definitely lived up to the hype, the food did not. I felt that the menu covered all the basic Mexican food that you might expect to find anywhere and it was just okay...usually I try to give a place at least two tries if I'm not impressed the first time, because I understand that things happen sometimes. The thing that would stop me here is that two out of the four people in my party felt super ill after our time there. Overall, not a great experience.
(2)Brad V.
My wife and I have been to Santa Fe several times. The food is good, nothing special. I'm always full after eating there and usually take the leftovers home. As others have said, the service is a little on the slow side. But the staff we've encountered have always been friendly.
(3)Mike S.
Stopped in with my sister for lunch, we both enjoy coming here, and we're both Glen Ellyn natives. The only reason I'm giving 5 stars is I'm not a fan of their salsas (they're complimentary, so I can't downgrade too much), and because their beef is completely unseasoned. Stick with the chicken, steak, or anything else, it's all good! We had the chicken nachos, enchiladas, and a beef chimi with a few beers and the price was very reasonable. Servers were attentive, but then again it was lunch, so they weren't super busy.
(4)Steve F.
Loved it! Nice Mexican place down town Glen Ellyn not far from the bike path there that I ride down with my gf. I highly recommend it. Great food and the owner served us so the service was great. I had the steak tacos and the meat was perfect. Tasted like butter. Not a chewy piece of meat in my taco. The chips and tomato sauce was outstanding. Pretty nice atmosphere and fits well with the town of Glen Ellyn which is beautiful it self. Cold beer and everything left very satisfied of course! Little pricey but what do you expect in Glen Ellyn? All I can say is I will be back no doubt!
(4)C J.
The food is the worst Mexican I've had in the Chicagoland area, bar none! It is bland, smothered in cheese only (few or no other ingredients), it is cold, the beans are soupy, and the service is slow. The waiter wouldn't split a 6 person table into 2 checks, who do they think they are? If you sit in the back room, acoustics are terrible with sound bouncing everywhere and difficult to carry on a conversation.
(1)Christina A.
The food here is consistent and good. Can it be better?? Yes! But it's good and well priced. Service isn't great... actually, far from it. We've learned to sit at the bar for better service.
(3)Ethan S.
Pretty nice - but I'm not a super-fan for Mexican food. Upsides: Great chips & salsa Great variety of food Good drinks Downsides: Long wait Little kid crying non-stop, and the waiters only brought him a high-chair Food slightly dry
(3)Erica D.
Great place. The food is great, the prices are good & their margaritas are seriously tasty. This is also a great place for events, they work well with you and are affordable.
(5)Katie W.
My fiance's family LOVES Santa Fe and have been regulars for years. The place is growing on me, although their menu is very small. The Good: Excellent Margaritas Tasy Guacomole The Bad: Small Menu Salsa and Chips are only so - so No Atmosphere The Ugly: Last time we were there was had a VERY long wait for our food. The food was not that great after waiting that long. Although the Margaritas were tasty.
(3)Mark R.
I, too, am biased as I grew up in Glen Ellyn. To be sure, all that glitters in Glen Ellyn isn't always gold. Luckily, the Santa Fe Restaurant is gold. I always order the delicious Longy's style tacos. They are excellent. Love the salsas with the chips. It's crowded, it's noisy, and the foods are high in calories, but you feel alive here, in a town that is rather tame in the evening. Service is okay, but not great. The patrons can be loud, too, most likely talking about the 1940's tear-down they bought on Oak Street or the Glenbard West football game. They staff is indeed slow on refills of chips and soft drinks, but for me, Glen Ellyn will always be home, and this place is tops. Been back twice since then and while the people seems to get louder, the Longey style tacos get better...And the salsa is great too. I agree with another reviewer. Only order the Longey-style tacos!!!!! Can't be dupiicated anywhere, although Fiesta Fresh in Hilton Head, South Carolina comers damn close.
(5)Dawn B.
I visit this place about once a month. The margaritas are lethal - if not the best margaritas I've ever had, they are pretty darn good. Try the special nachos, the steak and poblano quesadilla, or the vegetable fajitas (they contain actual vegetables, not just peppers and onions). Good, reasonably priced food, fast and friendly service, noisy atmosphere make this place perfect for families. Small kids are welcome and they won't bother anyone. Enjoy!
(4)Emily C.
We have been bored with our standard restaurant jaunts and decided to venture out, since we weren't too hungry. I picked the town, and then we googled some eateries. The website states that they use "TVP" instead of meat on menu items marked with an asterix (for vegetarians) however, no-one there got the memo. The food was ok - not very tasty in my mind - bland really. The guacamole appetizer was a rip off for the price you get a small scoop of guac and more of the chips that were already on the table. The salsas were both passable, but nothing special - for the money and flavor I would sadly go to Las Palmas over this place again.
(2)Troy V.
The best house Margarita, bar none. Hey after all it's momma recipe. The people are warm and engaging. Never had a meal I didn't like. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars, is I can't walk home from there.
(4)Jane D.
The food is good, but the margaritas and the impeccable service will always keep me coming back to this place! I've had better mexican food elsewhere, but if you're local, and you don't want to drink and drive (none of us should!), this is a nice little walk for a nice little nip! :-)
(4)Kathleen C.
Completely mediocre. Not bad, don't mind it, but not great. no wait which is a good thing, but we had pretty slow service considering we were the only people seated in the entire dining room.
(3)Melinda A.
this is where we go for mexican close. I like the home cooked feel of their food. There santa fe (?) sauce is wonderful. I find it fresh mexican comfort food. We have always had good service.
(3)Jennifer B.
There isn't a huge menu selection, but what we had was pretty good. You can't compare this place to a Mexican restaurant in Chicago, because you'll be disappointed. For the suburbs though it's pretty tasty and well priced. The service wasn't great though. We waited about 10 minutes for our bill while our waitress was talking to her boyfriend and the manager was texting on her blackberry.
(3)Bee T.
Santa Fe is still great first choice for Mexican food in the suburbs. The food is authentic, and their margaritas are delicious. However, be warned that their margaritas are expensive, and the price for a pitcher is astronomically higher than what you would expect (especially suspicious since the price for a pitcher is not on their menu). My favorite entree is their enchiladas, and I've never been there with someone who didn't enjoy their plate. Try to get a seat at the front of the restaurant if you're there for the atmosphere because the back of the restaurant doesn't really have much to offer.
(3)Jeff H.
I love this place, and I've been going here my whole life. No, like literally my entire life. Don't overlook their awesome breakfasts: simple American style or Mexican with amazingly simple breakfast potatoes that I've been trying to reproduce at home for years without success. Lunch and dinner are just as good, great straight-forward Mexican dishes. Family owned and operated and a mainstay in downtown Glen Ellyn for decades in their present location and the old spot across the tracks. BOGUS UPDATE: Apparently they never brought over their breakfast service from the old location. A sad day for breakfast potatoes.
(5)Barbie S.
I used to live in GE so i have eaten at almost all the restaurants here... i guess i need to review more... LOL... anyway, Sante Fe...hmmmm... the food is decent & yummy.... i guess i think..... cuz everytime i am there, always order a pitcher of margaritas, so maybe anything taste good after that???? hahahaa... seriously, the chips and salsa are fabulous!!!! ok, i have eaten so many chips here, i can't eat my dinner!!! The salsa is very good... and i am VERY particuliar about salsa... and the Margaritas are outstanding!!! Definitely order with Don Julio or Patron.... and u don't even taste the tequila... (on the rocks ONLY plz!)... wow! I am not kidding! YUMMY!!!! :))
(4)Mary J.
Another good restaurant located in downtown Glen Ellyn! It's right next to Shannon's Irish Pub. Good fresh mexican food and yes, Ellen is correct, excellent margaritas. I've ALWAYS had to wait here - to be seated, to have my order taken, to get my drinks and food - not good. Sometimes the place has been dead and I'm still waiting. Luckily I don't have a complex about it.
(3)Ginny E.
I've tried this place 3 x now and haven' t had a good meal once. The tortilla shells come from an El Paso box and the meat needs some serious seasoning. The Front Street Cocina is much better.
(1)Jen H.
Three of us went here because of the Yelp reviews. I don't know what all the fuss is about. First, we had to park really far away because the lot next door was packed, as were the streets, and the sidewalks were icy and slick. Second, our waitress was miserable. She never smiled, may have said three words to us the entire evening, and was generally unpleasant. She would walk away before we were done speaking or had time to place the order we wanted. Third, the two non-traditional salsas provided were not tasty. They were quite bland, runny, and small portions. Fourth, I did not think the margaritas were anything special. They tasted like a mix to me and my friends, and for advertising them as their "specialty," I certainly wasn't wowed. Lastly, our food was just ok. I had an enchilada and quesadilla combo. The quesadilla was just fine, but the enchillada had absolutely no sauce on it whatsoever and was quite dry. My friend said her tacos were ok, but they were small and she only got two. My other friend really enjoyed her fajitas. In the end, I will not go back and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(2)Cinnamon M.
I was there last night by myself. It was a busy Saturday so I sat at one of the two small tables in the bar area. I had the margaritas, which are delicious and pack a punch! I also had the nachos special, which were good, but I prefer the nachos that are layered like a mountain and can be a little messy, but if you're on a date or with people that you don't want to make a mess in front of, they would've been perfect. The chips are good and the salsa is unconventional, but is more like a choice of two 'sauces'. Not bad, but I've had better. But the service was great! The servers are always very friendly and accommodating, the bus boys are always Johnny-on-the-spot, and the hosts are super kind. When I noticed that the wait line was filling up, I offered to move myself to the bar to free up the table. The staff insisted that I remain comfortable at my table and take my time. Although the food is good, but not great, it's worth it to be a repeat customer for the drinks and the service alone! If there's ever a choice between Santa Fe and Shannon's next door, ALWAYS take Santa Fe! The service at Shannon's is crap!!!!!!!
(4)Susan T.
Great margaritas, just average food.
(2)Jim M.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in DuPage county. The margarita's are out if this world! The restaurant is a little pricey but worth it to me. Fresh home made food.
(5)Carly C.
One of my favorite restaurants in the 'burbs. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great location, great margaritas. Me and my family love it!
(4)A. B.
06-04-11 Dinner. 1 word, to describe the meal and server , awful. The best part of the experience was receiving the correct drink. That is where it ends. *Our waiter never introduced himself, nor did he ever once smile. **The waiter did not take our order when he delivered the drinks, he came back 10 minutes later to do that. ***When our meal arrived 2 the 4 fajita orders were delivered. Only 2 were given tortillas. When we asked for the 2 missing tortillas, he looked disgusted and just walked away. We were not sure if he went back to the kitchen to get them because he did not return for at least 10 minutes. A very nice lady (that works) actually asked what was happening, so we explained and she spoke to our waiter who eventually returned. ****The fajitas were steamed/mushy. No spice what so ever. There was no sizzling skillet, NOTHING crisp. Awful. I would NEVER recommend this place ever. Drive to Wheaton to Front Street and spend your money there, st least you'll get a decent meal.
(1)janice m.
Santa Fe is one of my favorite suburb restaurants. We try to make it here at least once a month and the food is consistently awesome. From the chips and salsa to their amazing margaritas, we have never been unhappy with a meal there! Normally we go as a group and order different dishes so we can sample a little of everything. The flautas are amazing, and the burrito with the eggs is great! There are a lot of different choices for vegetarians, which I appreciate, and if you order the steak burrito you are in for a treat. All in all a wonderful place for dinner for two or a party of five! On the plus side for moms and dads, they are very kid friendly.
(4)James K.
If you go to Santa Fe for anything other than to eat Longey Tacos, you are an utter moron. They're literally the best tacos in the Universe. The margaritas are also pretty good. When you go there and order your Longey tacos, don't get the dinner. Just get three Longey tacos. Why waste critical stomach space on beans and rice when you can enjoy yet another Longey? And don't go in there and get all full of yourself by ordering a steak or chicken Longey Taco. They suck. Stick with the beef. It's perfection. PERFECTION I say. Here's how to win at Santa Fe: Step 1. Acquire a table. Step 2. Order 3 beef Longey Tacos. Step 3 (optional). Order a Margarita pitcher. Step 4. While waiting for Longey Tacos, ask for the secret "green sauce" for your chips. Step 5. Eat everything they bring you. Step 6. Win.
(5)Sunshine L.
don't go here if you want a pleasant meal. The waitress we had was such a @$&%&. She was bothered by questions. Did not want to wait on us at all. The bus servers were excellent. Feel sorry for them. The food is really over priced. Food was okay. Maybe because it is snobby Glen Ellyn they feel they can treat people like crap and make them pay more.
(1)Blair S.
I have to say that I am very biased. My family, or some combination of my family eat here at least three times a month. Food is good, margaritas are excellent, and the wait staff are very friendly. It makes for a great Friday evening to eat here, enjoy the food, drink, and family at weeks end. Ask for the nightly specials, they are usually very good. Also, ask for the green tomatillo salsa, not offered up as the norm, but it is to die for.
(5)Lindsey W.
Santa Fe is hands down the best Mexican food in the area! The friendliest service, AMAZING margaritas, delicious salsas (I prefer the dark red chili based and salsa verde), and a great atmosphere to enjoy yourself in. My family comes weekly and have never had a bad meal. Also, do yourself a favor and get the pico de gallo. Their version includes avocados...YUM!
(5)Bruce H.
Great food and Margaritas. The service is very good and friendly. We probably go here at least once a month. My son says their BBQ Chicken is the best anywhere, I usually have the Burritos which they will make any way you want them.
(5)Birds N.
Hands down the best Mexican restaurant around! I remember when they were located in a very small corner on Pennsylvania avenue. I have been going here since I was in the second grade, I am 32 now and it is my all time favorite birthday/celebration place. My husband and I even had our rehearsal dinner here because it's that good! The margaritas are insane prepare to take a taxi home and or have a designated driver if you drink one! Chips and salsa are just so yummy! Couldn't ask for a better place.
(5)Ellen M.
Good mexican food. I had a very nice salmon once and traditional flautas and tacos the other times. Excellent margaritas. The service was pretty good, but they always seem short-staffed and it takes a while to get food. I usually wait about 15-20 minutes on a weekend, and they have a parking lot, so logistics aren't bad.
(4)Karen S.
I wont be going back here. The deceptively good aroma coming from the restaurant dragged me in. It took a long time for someone to take our order - even though the restaurant was not busy. I guess If I had ordered a margarita - I would have been served better. The chips were meh as was the salsa. I ordered tacos and my husband ordered the burritos - it was standard fair and definitely nothing to talk about. I wont be going back - I would rather go to one of the pubs or The Snackery. Too bad - the search for a margarita hangout will continue.
(1)Chester R.
my god those sisters are hot !! forget the food, just drink margaritas and stare.
(5)Kenny L.
This is my girlfriend's favorite Mexican restaurant of all time. The chips and salsa are the best, because the salsa is served warm. The enchiladas are out of this world. The margaritas are also delicious, and they really sneak up on you. I happily take my girlfriend there whenever she wants.
(5)Danielle G.
The food at Santa Fe is very good. It is a family owned restaurant and you can usually find several family members waiting tables, bartending, hosting. The wait is signifigant at peak times, Friday and Saturday nights. We usually skip Friday night unless it's late. Great Margaritas and great food.
(4)