I wanted to not go in here at so many points before eating here. Like when we pulled in and it looked like a restaurant in a business. Or when I noticed 3 cars in the parking lot. Or when we walked into an empty building. Or when there were 5 handmade signs on the doors leading into this place. Or when we walked in and there was no. one. in. there. But damnit, I had bought a Groupon, and this Groupon I would use. While in Rockford, we like to try different places so when I saw $11 for $20 worth of food, excluding seafood, I was all about it. We were promptly seated and waited on(considering they weren't busy). You get a basket of chips and two small things of salsa. The red one tasted like tomato paste and the green one had a little flavor to it. I was interested to see on the menu that any additional chips or salsa would cost you some $$$. I also asked the waitress if the guac came with chips, no go. We ordered the guac anyway and our waitress was kind enough to bring out some extra chips, her treat. The guac ($4.99) was ok, it came with onions, cilantro, tomatoes and cheese on it. It basically tasted like mashed avocado with the previous toppings. It definitely could have used some lime. I ordered the steak enchiladas($9.99). It came with three small corn tortillas covered in red sauce and served with rice and beans. I was happy with the meal, especially the steak. I was definitely worried I wouldn't enjoy it but I would be back. With the guac, enchiladas, and taco dinner our total came to be $25. With the Groupon, we only paid $5. Things started off scary but luckily this hole in the mall was pretty good!
(4)
Daniella D.
We gave this place two chances. The first time my Husband and I tried it. We were not impressed and said we would not return. Then the family picked it and we gave it another try without sharing our opinion with them. They told us they did not like it and would not go back. The reason: the food is not that good and it is pricey for a Mexican restaurant. I like to support local businesses but sadly we would not return.
(2)
Alex Z.
This was an ok Mexican-style restautant, but not nearly close to what I was looking for. I think my money would have been better spent at Chipotle or Pancheros.
(2)
Cub Fan G.
The Chiles Rellenos were the best I've had in some time. My wife had the combination plate and enjoyed all three items, and the guacamole was very good too. It was a very good meal overall and the service was excellent. We look forward to going back to Bahia when we're in Rockford again, it's a nice, cozy place with good food.
(5)
Christopher C.
Steak burrito was bland and mostly tortilla. Service was barely adequate as there were only 3 groups in the restaurant and I still had to wait for refills. Chips were store-bought and not very tasty. The salsas were pretty good though.
(2)
Kristin B.
I've been going to Bahia for about 13 years and actually liked them better down on Broadway (maybe because it's closer to where I live). The reasons for moving are unfortunately apparent and I hope they still succeed in the new location. I went to high school with the owners daughters and although I haven't seen them in quite some time, the whole family and waitstaff is always very pleasant and welcoming. I typically get tacos or enchiladas when I go w/ rice & beans. I've never been disappointed. The salsa they make it amazing and I usually fill up on that first. I've also had a lot of the carne en su jugo (steak in it's own juice) which consists of pieces of steak, bacon strips, onion and jalapeno served like a soup...with tortillas and rice on the side. One of my favorite dishes when I'm really hungry. I will always recommend this place to people looking for a good Mexican restaurant - the new location inside the strip mall isn't the greatest but it does have life in the general area and is in a safer location than before.
(4)
Erica D.
Bahia completely surprised me! I was a little skeptical about it at first b/c of the location but I'm so glad I went there! The restaurant is very open and colorful, but not in a tacky way. The server was extremely friendly and helpful. (She must have been a family member b/c she told us she was filling in for the night.) The menu was extensive and had a lot more than you usually see on Mexican restaurant menus. I can't remember the name of the seafood dish i ordered but it was absolutely delicious! It had large pieces of shrimp placed over bacon and cooked with butter and cheese. Each shrimp/bacon combination came in individual pockets of foil..it was like opening little presents. I even enjoyed the rice it was served with..lots of flavor! I will definitely be coming back to this restaruant. For the price and quality of food, this is my new favorite mexican restarant in Rockford.
(4)
Erin D.
Some of the best salsa around!!!! However, the location is not the best. Its 'hidden' in an old mall. Yeah, kinda weird but I'll ignore it. If you like seafood with a Mexican twist, this place is for you. If you don't like seafood, there are several other options on the menu for you. I had the enchiladas and the SO had a burrito with steak. Both were excellent. We also ordered the shredded beef nachos. Everything was good, the food, our server, can't say enough about it. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Domitilia A.
This place! Awesum service & Yummy authentic Mexican food!! Sweet margaritas & Best fish dish I've ever had! Luv the owner 2!
(5)
Jennifer K.
Ahhh, Bahia, how I really wanted to love you! After one good word of mouth and a visit to Yelp and Bahia's website, Hubby and I decided to visit on a slow Tuesday night. Bahia's website claims that they have an awesome Tuesday dinner special of a taco and an enchilada with beans and rice for $5.99! Bahia is located in a DEAD strip mall, the kind where there is one interior door and several vendors within. I give them props for their location, albeit somewhat obscure and difficult to find. The general ambience is great.....a lot of time and thought and MONEY went into setting the stage. We were greated immediately upon entering by a good looking hispanic girl. Never got her name. The restrooms are outside of the restaurant, down a dark corridor of daytime businesses which were already closed for the day. The hostess was also our server. To begin we asked if there were any drink specials. Nothing at night. House margaritas are $4.50 and a half pitcher is $9.00. We opted for the half pitcher. This was your standard, not a lot of tequila and too much sweet and sour margarita...nothing special. No mention of a dinner special. The menu is very weird.....items ranging from $6.99 enchiladas to a $55.00 dinner for 2 that included lobster and a small game bird that takes hours to prepare correctly. Hmmmm.....Kitchen Nightmares came to mind immediately! This place wants to be awesome and has the absolute potential, but they simply do not have the clientele at this point to be chic chic. Some things did not make sense. We were served 2 salsas along with store bought tortilla chips (we have purchased the same brand at Woodman's and Valli and immediately recognized them). Salsa #1 was amazing with a ton of spice and flavor. Salsa #2 was a liquidy and soupy concoction of a WHOLE lot of cumin and they actually served it with a spoon. We combined the 2. We both ordered the enchiladas, chicken, beef or cheese with rice and beans for $6.99 and a side of guacamole. Between the 2 of us we tried all 3 enchiladas. The beef was not fresh. It was tough as heck and had a lot of gristle. The chicken was very dry. Both had been cooked VERY prior to our meal, NOT JUST prepped in advance. The enchilada sauce was oh so reminiscant of the crap that comes out of a can, nothing resembling authentic or homemade by any stretch of the imagination. The beans were the garden variety canned refried beans with some cheese melted on top and the rice was almost non-existant.....basically one tablespoon's worth on the plate and actually not neatly plated. The corn tortillas that the enchiladas were prepared in were dry and dead long before the canned enchilada sauce was poured on top. The guacamole was really very good.....fresh avacado, mashed perfectly with lime and salt and then topped with onions, tomatoes, cilantro and some kind of cheese. It was the equivalent of MAYBE one avacado and cost $4.99. Their website claimed it was $3.99, which is why we ordered it. Meanwhile, the owner was there and very obvious. He is a non-hispanic obviously white dude that loves Mexican food so much that he decided to open a restaurant. He sat at the bar and watched the Cub's game the entire time we were there without so much as even looking in our general direction. MAJOR TURNOFF.....Hello? Owner? Trying to make a go of it? Come pre-bus my table, say hello, fill up my chips????? In the lobby is a sign that reads, "Check in on Foursquare and Facebook". They are not on Foursquare but I am happy to review them on Yelp! :) Sorry for the long diatribe.....we would absolutely go there to get their hot salsa and take it home for when we make authentic Mexican food for the family ( and I am not Mexican), but that is it. No more visits for us...... :(
(2)
Cindy K.
This is a Mexican seafood restaurant, with a few of the American standbys. Plenty of free parking. Meh, it was ok, edible, I had chicken enchiladas and a tamale, hubby had steak enchiladas. They did have chicken nuggets and french fries for the kids (thank goodness for Gordon's food service!). They were out of milk, but the horchata was a nice alternative. They had what we like to drink with Mexican food; Negra Modelo and margaritas. Very attentive service. Food came out fast and very hot from the kitchen, which was nice. The atmosphere left something to be desired. The Mulford Village Mall is a post apocalyptic wasteland- Bahia was the only business open. The room was so cold they had a space heater running, and the audio speaker was mostly static throughout our meal. Better tamales from the vendor outside Valli Produce. We will not be going back.
(2)
J B.
I haven't been to Bahia for a long time and only once since they moved from Broadway. But I went many times then and the food was delicious. I asked the owner if she would bottle the salsa and sell it, it was so good. The burritos were outstanding and very flavorful. The food in general was not quickly whipped together but prepared with care - actually quality which is hard to find in Mexican restaurants since most Mexicans just cook at home and the restaurants end up with mostly Americans as their customers. Many customers who went to Bahia used to suggest that the owner move east. I'm glad she did, but I don't know why she picked the current location. To be honest Im sure the poor reviews are mostly because of the dingy location in this early 80s ghost town strip mall. If people went in with a better frame of reference I guarantee you they'd realize the food tastes excellent.
(4)
D J.
I ate there one time and never again. I ordered the steak fajitas and got the 'gringo special', onions and peppers with two or three tiny little pieces of grilled fat tossed on the table with the check. The Hispanic guy across from me ordered the same thing and got a HUGE plate of steak strips and good friendly service.
(1)
Mike S.
Bahia was a great place at their previous location. Since they moved their food, and especially their service suffered a lot. We tried out them out a couple months ago and had high expectations. We sat and sat waiting for service. We had to chase and find our server, who did not give a rats behind, to keep reminding her of what we ordered, and the mistakes they made. I probably will not be back.
(1)
Chris-tal P.
The first thing that we noticed was that the one guy that previously reviewed this place was in the booth a couple rows up from ours. I ordered the enchiladas meal and chose one beef, one chicken, and one cheese. The chicken and the carne asada were both flavorful. I really liked the rice and beans too. The server was polite and I liked the decor, minus all of the dolphins. The owner must really love dolphins. I would come back to this place.
(4)
Mike H.
Very yummy authentic mexican
(4)
Losito A.
Bahia used to be on Broadway. When it was there I would go for lunch all the time. It was always great. Sometimes a little heavy on the garlic but never so much that it was not good. Maybe people don't realize it but Bahia is a Mexican seafood restaurant. Bahia means the bay as in sitting on the dock of the bay. ORDER SEAFOOD! The filet a la diablo. Or the shrimp cocktail or the campachana or the whole fish that comes fried (I forgot what they call it). If you don't like seafood they have tacos and chicken enchiladas that are always good, or chicken flautas. Ask when the caldo de res (beef soup) was made. If it was made yesterday it is better than if it was made today. This place has some great food on the menu if you know what to order. Best authentic Mexican food in town. But remember... They specialize in seafood. If you don't want seafood go to San Jose for authentic burritos and tacos etc. the location is not good but the food is. The owner is a very nice lady.
(4)
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Address :6116 Mulford Village Dr,Ste 13
Rockford, IL, 61107
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average 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.
Amanda S.
I wanted to not go in here at so many points before eating here. Like when we pulled in and it looked like a restaurant in a business. Or when I noticed 3 cars in the parking lot. Or when we walked into an empty building. Or when there were 5 handmade signs on the doors leading into this place. Or when we walked in and there was no. one. in. there. But damnit, I had bought a Groupon, and this Groupon I would use. While in Rockford, we like to try different places so when I saw $11 for $20 worth of food, excluding seafood, I was all about it. We were promptly seated and waited on(considering they weren't busy). You get a basket of chips and two small things of salsa. The red one tasted like tomato paste and the green one had a little flavor to it. I was interested to see on the menu that any additional chips or salsa would cost you some $$$. I also asked the waitress if the guac came with chips, no go. We ordered the guac anyway and our waitress was kind enough to bring out some extra chips, her treat. The guac ($4.99) was ok, it came with onions, cilantro, tomatoes and cheese on it. It basically tasted like mashed avocado with the previous toppings. It definitely could have used some lime. I ordered the steak enchiladas($9.99). It came with three small corn tortillas covered in red sauce and served with rice and beans. I was happy with the meal, especially the steak. I was definitely worried I wouldn't enjoy it but I would be back. With the guac, enchiladas, and taco dinner our total came to be $25. With the Groupon, we only paid $5. Things started off scary but luckily this hole in the mall was pretty good!
(4)Daniella D.
We gave this place two chances. The first time my Husband and I tried it. We were not impressed and said we would not return. Then the family picked it and we gave it another try without sharing our opinion with them. They told us they did not like it and would not go back. The reason: the food is not that good and it is pricey for a Mexican restaurant. I like to support local businesses but sadly we would not return.
(2)Alex Z.
This was an ok Mexican-style restautant, but not nearly close to what I was looking for. I think my money would have been better spent at Chipotle or Pancheros.
(2)Cub Fan G.
The Chiles Rellenos were the best I've had in some time. My wife had the combination plate and enjoyed all three items, and the guacamole was very good too. It was a very good meal overall and the service was excellent. We look forward to going back to Bahia when we're in Rockford again, it's a nice, cozy place with good food.
(5)Christopher C.
Steak burrito was bland and mostly tortilla. Service was barely adequate as there were only 3 groups in the restaurant and I still had to wait for refills. Chips were store-bought and not very tasty. The salsas were pretty good though.
(2)Kristin B.
I've been going to Bahia for about 13 years and actually liked them better down on Broadway (maybe because it's closer to where I live). The reasons for moving are unfortunately apparent and I hope they still succeed in the new location. I went to high school with the owners daughters and although I haven't seen them in quite some time, the whole family and waitstaff is always very pleasant and welcoming. I typically get tacos or enchiladas when I go w/ rice & beans. I've never been disappointed. The salsa they make it amazing and I usually fill up on that first. I've also had a lot of the carne en su jugo (steak in it's own juice) which consists of pieces of steak, bacon strips, onion and jalapeno served like a soup...with tortillas and rice on the side. One of my favorite dishes when I'm really hungry. I will always recommend this place to people looking for a good Mexican restaurant - the new location inside the strip mall isn't the greatest but it does have life in the general area and is in a safer location than before.
(4)Erica D.
Bahia completely surprised me! I was a little skeptical about it at first b/c of the location but I'm so glad I went there! The restaurant is very open and colorful, but not in a tacky way. The server was extremely friendly and helpful. (She must have been a family member b/c she told us she was filling in for the night.) The menu was extensive and had a lot more than you usually see on Mexican restaurant menus. I can't remember the name of the seafood dish i ordered but it was absolutely delicious! It had large pieces of shrimp placed over bacon and cooked with butter and cheese. Each shrimp/bacon combination came in individual pockets of foil..it was like opening little presents. I even enjoyed the rice it was served with..lots of flavor! I will definitely be coming back to this restaruant. For the price and quality of food, this is my new favorite mexican restarant in Rockford.
(4)Erin D.
Some of the best salsa around!!!! However, the location is not the best. Its 'hidden' in an old mall. Yeah, kinda weird but I'll ignore it. If you like seafood with a Mexican twist, this place is for you. If you don't like seafood, there are several other options on the menu for you. I had the enchiladas and the SO had a burrito with steak. Both were excellent. We also ordered the shredded beef nachos. Everything was good, the food, our server, can't say enough about it. We will definitely be back.
(5)Domitilia A.
This place! Awesum service & Yummy authentic Mexican food!! Sweet margaritas & Best fish dish I've ever had! Luv the owner 2!
(5)Jennifer K.
Ahhh, Bahia, how I really wanted to love you! After one good word of mouth and a visit to Yelp and Bahia's website, Hubby and I decided to visit on a slow Tuesday night. Bahia's website claims that they have an awesome Tuesday dinner special of a taco and an enchilada with beans and rice for $5.99! Bahia is located in a DEAD strip mall, the kind where there is one interior door and several vendors within. I give them props for their location, albeit somewhat obscure and difficult to find. The general ambience is great.....a lot of time and thought and MONEY went into setting the stage. We were greated immediately upon entering by a good looking hispanic girl. Never got her name. The restrooms are outside of the restaurant, down a dark corridor of daytime businesses which were already closed for the day. The hostess was also our server. To begin we asked if there were any drink specials. Nothing at night. House margaritas are $4.50 and a half pitcher is $9.00. We opted for the half pitcher. This was your standard, not a lot of tequila and too much sweet and sour margarita...nothing special. No mention of a dinner special. The menu is very weird.....items ranging from $6.99 enchiladas to a $55.00 dinner for 2 that included lobster and a small game bird that takes hours to prepare correctly. Hmmmm.....Kitchen Nightmares came to mind immediately! This place wants to be awesome and has the absolute potential, but they simply do not have the clientele at this point to be chic chic. Some things did not make sense. We were served 2 salsas along with store bought tortilla chips (we have purchased the same brand at Woodman's and Valli and immediately recognized them). Salsa #1 was amazing with a ton of spice and flavor. Salsa #2 was a liquidy and soupy concoction of a WHOLE lot of cumin and they actually served it with a spoon. We combined the 2. We both ordered the enchiladas, chicken, beef or cheese with rice and beans for $6.99 and a side of guacamole. Between the 2 of us we tried all 3 enchiladas. The beef was not fresh. It was tough as heck and had a lot of gristle. The chicken was very dry. Both had been cooked VERY prior to our meal, NOT JUST prepped in advance. The enchilada sauce was oh so reminiscant of the crap that comes out of a can, nothing resembling authentic or homemade by any stretch of the imagination. The beans were the garden variety canned refried beans with some cheese melted on top and the rice was almost non-existant.....basically one tablespoon's worth on the plate and actually not neatly plated. The corn tortillas that the enchiladas were prepared in were dry and dead long before the canned enchilada sauce was poured on top. The guacamole was really very good.....fresh avacado, mashed perfectly with lime and salt and then topped with onions, tomatoes, cilantro and some kind of cheese. It was the equivalent of MAYBE one avacado and cost $4.99. Their website claimed it was $3.99, which is why we ordered it. Meanwhile, the owner was there and very obvious. He is a non-hispanic obviously white dude that loves Mexican food so much that he decided to open a restaurant. He sat at the bar and watched the Cub's game the entire time we were there without so much as even looking in our general direction. MAJOR TURNOFF.....Hello? Owner? Trying to make a go of it? Come pre-bus my table, say hello, fill up my chips????? In the lobby is a sign that reads, "Check in on Foursquare and Facebook". They are not on Foursquare but I am happy to review them on Yelp! :) Sorry for the long diatribe.....we would absolutely go there to get their hot salsa and take it home for when we make authentic Mexican food for the family ( and I am not Mexican), but that is it. No more visits for us...... :(
(2)Cindy K.
This is a Mexican seafood restaurant, with a few of the American standbys. Plenty of free parking. Meh, it was ok, edible, I had chicken enchiladas and a tamale, hubby had steak enchiladas. They did have chicken nuggets and french fries for the kids (thank goodness for Gordon's food service!). They were out of milk, but the horchata was a nice alternative. They had what we like to drink with Mexican food; Negra Modelo and margaritas. Very attentive service. Food came out fast and very hot from the kitchen, which was nice. The atmosphere left something to be desired. The Mulford Village Mall is a post apocalyptic wasteland- Bahia was the only business open. The room was so cold they had a space heater running, and the audio speaker was mostly static throughout our meal. Better tamales from the vendor outside Valli Produce. We will not be going back.
(2)J B.
I haven't been to Bahia for a long time and only once since they moved from Broadway. But I went many times then and the food was delicious. I asked the owner if she would bottle the salsa and sell it, it was so good. The burritos were outstanding and very flavorful. The food in general was not quickly whipped together but prepared with care - actually quality which is hard to find in Mexican restaurants since most Mexicans just cook at home and the restaurants end up with mostly Americans as their customers. Many customers who went to Bahia used to suggest that the owner move east. I'm glad she did, but I don't know why she picked the current location. To be honest Im sure the poor reviews are mostly because of the dingy location in this early 80s ghost town strip mall. If people went in with a better frame of reference I guarantee you they'd realize the food tastes excellent.
(4)D J.
I ate there one time and never again. I ordered the steak fajitas and got the 'gringo special', onions and peppers with two or three tiny little pieces of grilled fat tossed on the table with the check. The Hispanic guy across from me ordered the same thing and got a HUGE plate of steak strips and good friendly service.
(1)Mike S.
Bahia was a great place at their previous location. Since they moved their food, and especially their service suffered a lot. We tried out them out a couple months ago and had high expectations. We sat and sat waiting for service. We had to chase and find our server, who did not give a rats behind, to keep reminding her of what we ordered, and the mistakes they made. I probably will not be back.
(1)Chris-tal P.
The first thing that we noticed was that the one guy that previously reviewed this place was in the booth a couple rows up from ours. I ordered the enchiladas meal and chose one beef, one chicken, and one cheese. The chicken and the carne asada were both flavorful. I really liked the rice and beans too. The server was polite and I liked the decor, minus all of the dolphins. The owner must really love dolphins. I would come back to this place.
(4)Mike H.
Very yummy authentic mexican
(4)Losito A.
Bahia used to be on Broadway. When it was there I would go for lunch all the time. It was always great. Sometimes a little heavy on the garlic but never so much that it was not good. Maybe people don't realize it but Bahia is a Mexican seafood restaurant. Bahia means the bay as in sitting on the dock of the bay. ORDER SEAFOOD! The filet a la diablo. Or the shrimp cocktail or the campachana or the whole fish that comes fried (I forgot what they call it). If you don't like seafood they have tacos and chicken enchiladas that are always good, or chicken flautas. Ask when the caldo de res (beef soup) was made. If it was made yesterday it is better than if it was made today. This place has some great food on the menu if you know what to order. Best authentic Mexican food in town. But remember... They specialize in seafood. If you don't want seafood go to San Jose for authentic burritos and tacos etc. the location is not good but the food is. The owner is a very nice lady.
(4)