El Meson Mexican Restaurant
34 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL, 60194
El Meson Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
34 W Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL, 60194 - Phone (847) 882-1716
- Website https://www.elmesonschaumburg.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Vicki M.
Stopped in for dinner tonight to a packed restaurant. Seated at a table for 2 by the window overlooking the patio. A little cool to be on patio this evening, but once torches were lighted the beautiful flower garden and charm of an intimate dinner made me wish I was outside. It will bring me back on a warmer night because it was a beautiful setting. The tables and booths were spaced far enough apart that out conversation was private but very cozy dining room for every table taken. The cheese quesadillas with chicken were delicious. I'm not a guacamole person, but I ate my entire helping. I ordered the carne asadas which were the best I've EVER HAD. My husband ordered the enchiladas which he also said were very tasty. EVERYTHING was hot and we were surprised with a dining room full of people how quickly we were served. We had guave margaritas on the rocks with sugar rim...I've never had one but I'm a huge fan now! Wow! We didn't have any room for dessert but have heard the fried ice cream was outstanding. Will definitely return. My new favorite Mexican restaurant! Our server was so friendly and helped us to order. Not pushy but recommended her favorites and she was spot on. I've read the reviews over time but I've come to the conclusion everyone has their own dining experience and standards. This is a great little family run and owned restaurant in the heart of Schaumburg. Give them a try. Hidden gem
(5)Buster M.
Nice Atmosphere... That's about it. Food arrived quickly, cold, not hot, not close being warm. Food taste, disappointed. Service, poor. Over priced, way over priced. They had to charge $1 for one extra, small scoop of sour cream. Returning, no way.
(1)Tiffany M.
Bad bad bad service! The waitress had a bad attitude. Was not very helpful and never refilled our drinks. The worst part was the place was empty. The food was bland and portions were small. I won't be returning.
(1)Brittany C.
Food is great, the service is absolutely terrible. They clearly have never heard of customer service...they only show up at your table when necessary, and sometimes not even then. Last couplee times I have had to wave down other waitresses to get simple water...which they didn't even bring automatically like most places...and then when I got water it was tepid and had no ice (like they had just gotten it from the tap). Then, there is the problem of their margaritas...which are delicious when you can actually drink them. Why do I say this? Because they are NEVER blended all the way and there is chunks of ice that consistently get stuck in the straw (this happens every time I go there). I literally sat there with a fork trying to smash up ice so I could drink it (no waitress in sight to ask to re-blend it for me). Now the only reason I have gone back at all is because the food really is good, but their service needs serious serious work. They were not even that busy when I've gone in and I have been ignored. PS, their decor also needs major work. Booth seats being taped up because of holes? Kind of tacky. If you want good food (at a decent price), and can put up with bad service, this is your place. Otherwise..I can only hope management reads this and works with their servers.
(2)Nick M.
We came here on a quiet Saturday afternoon around 1 pm and the place was pretty dead. There were two other tables that were seated. We were looking for a tasty authentic appetizer and a nice cold maragarita. The margritas were really good so there were no complaints there and they also have complimentary chips with three different salsas to satisfies all. However, we ordered the quesadill which was $8 and it was very underwhelming. It was on a small 6 inch tortilla with barely any cheese and left us unsatisfied because it was so small. The staff was good though and refI'll ed our drinks and salsas.
(3)Jess F.
Food is just so-so and some of it was cold. It is a small crammed restaurant. Service is horrid as well. We won't be back since there are many other better places around the area.
(2)Mina H.
Went to meet a friend who shares my love of al fresco dining... and while it was a gorgeous night. .. the patio is only okay... food mediocre and overpriced... and the service is really really lacking... more with the elderly waitress that showed up only when absolutely necessary. Did I mention that I had to swipe flatware and napkins from another table because we hadn't gotten any?
(2)John L.
Yep, over priced!
(2)Heather N.
Not impressed. I'd probably list this as the worst Mexican food I've ever had. Guacamole tasted like hard boiled eggs (I know) and our entrees were just as bad. No flavor, no spices, tasted like something I heated up out of a cardboard box. The outdoor seating is the only thing they have going for them....this most likely lures people in on a nice day (like it did us) and then you're stuck in a trap of bad bad food. Don't bother going here.
(1)Maggie D.
Been to this delightful restaurant twice this summer. Hoping for one more try, at least, before fall. It offers a wonderful outdoor patio right off Schaumburg Road. What a nice surprise. The food was excellent both times as rated by all six diners. Prompt service...great Sangria. Reasonable prices. Great way to spend delightful summer evenings.
(5)Melinda M.
Food just ok. Tastes pretty much like all mexican restaurants. They didn't have queso on the menu. Margarita was pretty decent.
(2)Mary Grace M.
Not worth the money. The portions were skimpy and the food was not hot and $8.50 for a sangria. I'm definitely done here. The service was good and friendly. Not many tables filled either. Now I know why. Too expensive for mediocre food.
(2)Melissa A.
My coworkers mentioned a few times about wanting to try El Meson so on a whim we decided to give it a shot yesterday for lunch. OMG terrible decision...and I'm not being a dramatic female I promise. When we arrived, we were seated immediately since the restaurant was still fairly empty. I know this is nothing to be picky about but when I sat down in the booth, the booth seats were so uncomfortable! You sank like a foot down and felt like you were sitting on box springs covered with plastic. So I thought to myself, I can overlook the ambiance of this little restaurant as long as the food is delicious. Little did I know that I would continue to be disappointed. My coworkers and I were tricked for a hot second that hey, maybe the food will be good because of the chips and salsa. I don't know if it's because we were hungry or if the chips and salsa were especially tasty but we devoured them. They had 2 different salsas, a green and a red; both of which were yummy but I was partial to the green. We took some time looking at the lunch menu and I settled on ordering the steak burrito grande. One of the girls ordered 2 tacos and the other had the enchiladas. Ok, now let's talk about the food. Service was pretty quick and we got our food within 15 min of us ordering. When our food came out, my first disappointment was the size of the burrito. The name of the burrito was "Steak Burrito Grande" and my burrito was far from grande. The burrito came with a side of beans and mexican rice, both of which were not impressive. The beans were watery and the rice was overly salty. As for the burrito, it was so salty I'm pretty sure I ingested my recommended salt intake for the day! I was less than impressed with everything and to make matters worse, when we asked to split the check our waitress wasn't too pleased. She responded with a disheartened, "oh, ok" and a sigh..as if we asked her to split it among 20 people. I've heard from my boss and other people that their Sunday brunch is pretty good. However, my one time here for lunch makes me pretty skeptical. I'm not sure if I would give it another try but if I were to, I'd come for their brunch.
(2)Ada G.
If you like authentic Mexican food go here it's worth the prices. If you like crappy food find elsewhere cheaper. But, if you know flavors and like good Mexican food El meson is the place to eat! It has become one of my favorite restaurants in the area! Yumm yummm is always in the back of my mind when I eat their tasty cheesey quesadillas, chille rellenos, tacos, rice...etc etc.
(5)Jeffrey R.
Best Margaritas in the burbs. Never had an issue with the service. Prices are VERY reasonable and the food is excellent. I would typically give it four stars but there are some really unfair reviews here.
(5)Rob S.
Tasty AUTHENTIC Mexican food that my Uncle from Guadalajara even loves. Agree the prices for Margaritas are on the high side, but their Pollo en Mole was very tasty. My fiance loves their Enchiladas Suiza. The service was exceptional, especially going out of their way for those that had a number of order specifications. In short, the items were as described on the meno and were exceptional.
(5)Kim L.
The food here is ok, and their guava margaritas rock, but their service is really poor. It's slow, and what gets me the most is that they round the bill, which is weird (is it even legal!?). On two separate occasions they've rounded the bill up between 10 cents and 50 cents to make it an even number. The other night a friend and I went for drinks, and our bill was 19.50. We split the bill, and both our charges to our card were $10. We asked the server, who still had our bill saying $19.50, and she said they just rounded it. What? It happened months ago when I was there with my family as well. I just think it's really odd, we dine out ALL the time and I've never had that happen. Besides that, she service is always bad when we're here. It's so slow, and they've forgotten things we ask for fairly regularly. The place has potential, but we probably won't be back.
(2)Miguel H.
I was just recommended by a friend and I really liked it. The staff could attend in English or Spanish. I practiced both languages. The waiter was very patient, she helped me to choose the one I was looking for. Then they gave me a basket of fresh, warm tortillas, along with several types of salsa, all as part of the courtesy of the restaurant. Then I received my cold horchata no ice exactly as I requested, It was great. The food came later and It was delicious, fresh and good size. While I was enjoying the meal I could not fail to appreciate the decor of the restaurant, very colorful and with many Mexico ornaments and music too. For a moment my mind was remembering my last visit to that beautiful country.
(5)Chris M.
I've been here a few times and it's always disappointing, primarily the price. $7.75 for 2 tacos on a lunch menu? INSANE. The food is fine and they have outdoor seating which can be nice on a nice day, but there's no way the food is ever worth what they charge. Go to Taqueria Los Juanes instead, just a few minutes away and far better food and prices.
(1)Amy W.
Mexican has never been my favorite food. I can eat it occasionally but I don't make a habit of it. El Mason changed that for me! I suggested to my boyfriend that we go there, strictly for their outdoor patio and a margarita. But the entire experience turned out to be wonderful. Let me start with the patio. It is beautiful. My boyfriend and I were seated at a table that was fairly private and along the outer edge. With plants surrounding us, tiki torches that substituted well for candlelight, and music playing in the background, we forgot that Schaumburg Rd was only a few yards away. It was a gorgeous night and I loved sitting on the patio enjoying their delicious house margarita and complementary chips and salsa. Then the food came. I ordered the chimichanga and it was delicious! I rarely eat an entire meal in one sitting, but I couldn't resist finishing it all this time around (well, the chimichanga part, side beans and rice never do much for me). The meat was tender and the sauce savory. I can't wait to go back and have it again! My boyfriend ordered the steak tacos, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I checked in to El Meson on Facebook and was surprised by how many people commented to me that they also love this place. Great for families, great for catching up with friends, and the patio makes it great for date night.
(5)Amanda D.
Don't waste your time here. 1st off the food & drinks are VERY OVERPRICED and very poor quality food with no taste and just a watery soupy mess on your plate. Better off going to Taco Bell. Prepare to be paying city prices. Horrible service also. Be prepared to wait awhile and drink tap water that tastes like toilet water. Also beware the waitress will sneak in a 15% tip no matter what the bill is or how many people are in your party. So she will be getting a double tip each time! Is this even legal?!? I'm gonna go with no!
(1)Raj U.
We went there with a group of 13 and really liked this place! Our waitress and the bus boy were really atentive to us, and our portions were good. We went to El Mason on a Wednesday at noon and it wasn't too crowded. They had free chips and hot and mild salsa.
(5)Truth M.
Oh great The reviews suck for this place. I was going to meet up with my sister here .but I will pass the beans look too runny. The food is over priced for what your getting. The reviews are old as well No one yelps anymore? I was here over 10 years ago with a date and is was not all that back then
(1)Mrsotle O.
Honestly, the food is okay, the salsas are good but the prices are obnoxious. 1 Pitcher of a margarita and 3 shots of Don Julio should not cost $90.. a half pitcher is $27. The drink prices are WAY too high. I can't say that I would ever go back because the food isn't amazing but it's good but the drink prices are just WAY too much.
(3)Julie R.
Tamales. Red and green salsa. Hacienda decor...with exceptional Guacamole. The waitress was dressed in cute, classic Mexican garb. The atmosphere was charming. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. It did take some time to get some water, chips and have our drink orders taken BUT the food made up for it. I had the House Special beef tacos, the guac, and their frozen margarita. They offer 1/2 pitchers of margs which I highly recommend if you're ordering two drinks...costs the same but there's enough deliciousness for 3 margs. Not a huge fan of the rice tho ... kinda bland. And... I just don't like strip malls.
(4)Azhar S.
I thought the location was excellent and the parking was very easy. I love the decor and the outdoor dining. It's very relaxing and it has a decent variety on the menu, However, the portions are too small for what I paid for so I wish that was something that could be improved on the menu. Overall, it was a decent place to eat.
(3)Sarah S.
No me gusta El Meson - Lo siento! My coworkers wanted to go for lunch on Friday so we headed over about noon. El Meson is a cute restaurant, hidden in a strip mall on Schaumburg Road. We sat in their beautiful outdoor seating and I loved the atmosphere and seating. Our waitress was nice enough but we were often left waiting...waiting for our order to be taken or waiting for our check...We went over our lunch hour by quite a bit. Now all this could be forgiven if the food was amazing but it feel flat for me. Their normal menu prices are way high, $16.50 for Bistek Milanesa? And their lunch specials are $7.25 to $10.50. I had the two tacos lunch special for $7.50. This came with one chicken taco, one machaca beef taco, rice and beans. I asked for no tomatoes or onions on my tacos and they came with no lettuce but did include the tomatoes & onions. Aside from the mixup, I found the tacos to be just okay in flavor and beyond greasy. I know good grease, especially when it comes to Mexican food, and this was just...my whole plate and soft taco shell was completely soaked in the grease & juices. It was not appetizing at all that my taco shell broke apart because it was so soaked. The rice has no flavor and was dry. We paid $30 for two of us with tax & tip for lunch, completely not worth it in my eyes. My friends seemed to all be okay with their food although also not blown away. They paid $55ish between the three of them. I won't be going to El Meson again, but I imagine dining on their outdoor patio with a pitcher of margaritas is super relaxing!
(2)David P.
This place is a complete and utter s-hole dump. Nothing went right: the waitress got my order wrong, it took 15 minutes to get my marg on and the tacos were saltier than pirate tears. $7 for a spoonful of guac? Keep it. Avoid this place like you owe it money.
(1)Butter D.
brought a party of 9 people here for my daughter's birthday, won't be coming back. My daughter ordered the burrito and changed her mind while the waitress was going around taking our party's order. The waitress told her that she already wrote the burrito down as though to say she couldn't change her mind. It took us for a surprise - for pete's sake lady cross it out and write something else down! And to top it off the food was not impressive.
(1)Edward M.
Sadly the quality has gone down hill these past years :( The service is minimal but polite. Enchiladas con Pollo (chicken) - the enchilada basically was soggy and lacked texture. Rice - it was passable Beans - bleh, they are actual beans not refried beans Chips / Salsa - unsalted or barely salted chips, salsa is ok, not great Horchata - it was like tasting creamy sand ... i actually sent it back sadly. I've been going over to Ahuaa lately with far superior food in all these areas. And it's not a waited restaurant, ie u order and get it yourself, so u save on the tip too,. and it's a dollar less there. Sad to see such a classic place fall :(
(2)Debbie C.
The food is okay, nothing great, nothing bad. The chips and salsa were basic. I ordered the lunch chicken fajitas. Good portion size but not much flavor. The restaurant was not busy yet the servers seemed anxious to clean our table. It was annoying, we felt rushed. The quality is similar to Chevys. I would have liked to try a margarita but it was a work lunch :)
(3)Genevieve L.
I was really craving a burrito so we went here. They serve you 3 small steak burritos instead of one big one. It had just the meat inside which was seasoned properly and very tender but I would haved liked just one bit one with the steak, veggies, and some onions. Horchata was ok. Traffic isn't too busy but it's a nice local place
(4)Jazzmine W.
I'm a first timer here and I just wanted to start this review with the definition of a chimichanga. Chimichanga-FRIED burrito that can be filled with a variety if meats. As we all know, "fried" means crispy. I say that to say when you douse a chimichanga or "fried burrito" in sauce, it makes it soggy defeating the purpose of it's being. I love chimichangas and no where on the menu does it state that it will be drenched in sauce otherwise I would have ordered it on the side. The meat, (chicken) was seasoned beautifully and tasted great. The sauce had it been on the side would have been a great compliment to the dish. The bean were cool in temperature and a bit soupy, the beans themselves were a tad hard and slightly undercooked. The overall taste of the beans was "ok" I could have done without them and I love beans. They also give the same amount of sour cream and guacamole with the macho chimichanga as they do with the regular size which is insufficient. If I'm paying $2.25 more for a macho I think I should get more condiments to accompany its size. I ordered the regular margarita which is the special on Wednesdays for $5. I had my frozen, the consistency was great but couldn't taste the alcohol. The staff was polite but the service was minimal. For a $17.25 price tag, not worth it due to the lack of a full experience. I MIGHT come back but probably not.
(3)Frank S.
We went on Mother's Day for the brunch. Terrible! There was never enough food. The trays were empty a good majority of the time. There were no plates. I had to ask and when plates were brought they were dirty. They had one man making omelets and waffles. The omelets were small and were more like scrambled eggs. You had to wait in line for a good half hour to get the slop. As they ran out of food they said that's it we are not bringing out any more. What? You advertise what you will be offering such as chicken wings and tamales, run out and that's it? What kind of a buffet is that? Also, the bloody Mary's were watered down with no vodka. The waitress added on a 15 % tip. Stay away! I do not recommend.
(1)J T.
This place is way over priced for what your getting. Service isn't all that great. You have to keep asking for water. And the food wasn't that good at all. Again I have to ask, what kind of place only puts steak on a burrito suiza??? What happened to tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, etc??? It's literally only steak and the tortilla with sauce and cheese on top. Save your $$ and go elsewhere. For what I spent on two people here, I could have filled my entire refrigerator!! Ugh! Live and learn!
(2)Bob R.
After a long week, Kerrie, Jon and I decided to head out on a Friday evening for Mexican food. It's been many years since we went to El Mason in Schaumburg so we decided to try it out. Our memories of it from years past were very very good. It's nicely decorated and very clean - always a plus. You enter the restaurant in the rear where there is plenty of parking. (The area around Roselle and Schaumburg Roads can be very busy.) We were seated very quickly. The first strike was the layout of the restaurant. The restaurant looked smaller than we recalled, and every seat seemed to be taken. But, since it had been so long since we went there, we didn't really remember how it was set up. I would guess that over the years it expanded and must have taken over a space to the west of their main space. So, we were guided along a long hallway, past the restrooms, to another dining area out of view. The three of us were given a table for six, since it was all that was available. Strike 2 - we were seated and given one menu. There seemed to be one waiter frantically moving from one table to the next. He acknowledged us after about 10 minutes and we asked for two more menus. Sure, and he rushed off. More time passed as he brought food out for tables around us. He stopped again and apologized saying he would be right back with the menus. A few more minutes went by and he dropped them off. Strike 3 - he asked if he could take our drink order, then excused himself quickly to run off to another table. While he was gone, we were brought chips and salsa. Now, I will complement them on their salsas. There were two - one red, a little spicy and quite smokey flavored. The other was green, a little spicier and sharper and had a distinct citrus flavor. Both were very good. He offered to take our drink order, but we were more than a little frustrated by that point so said we would also be ordering our meal. Believe it or not, he ran off again. When he came back he, pleasantly, complained that he was the only one working the back. Well, duh. We figured that one out already. On subsequent stops to our table that became his mantra - I'm the only one back here. Overall, the food was good. I had burritos - one shredded beef and two chicken. The beans and rice were both good. The burritos were soggy. Jon had chicken soup - it was incredibly large, loaded with chicken and vegetables, including a whole zucchini, in one piece... Kerrie had veggie enchiladas. Both remarked their food was good too. This is probably the longest review I've written in the few years I've been writing reviews for Yelp. But, the service was so bad it was comical. I don't know if this is the way they do business, or if they were just shorthanded that Friday night. And, I really don't care to hear waiters complain about their jobs. This was unfortunate. El Meson has been around a long time and I have fond memories. But, given this experience, it will be a long time until I next return.
(2)Ivonne U.
I've been going to el meson for years! I love it here and I love there food. Yes I can say I've almost tried everything on there menu. I can't get over the reviews that people are leaving on here. I've gone there with friends and have even recommended people to come here and they always call me and tell what a great time they had. I'm not going to sit here and write a long review because I never leave reviews on places but I felt this was a necessity to tell people how great this place is because IT IS! I will continuously be going back and enjoying the great food and drinks way better than any place in Schaumburg. Not like chain restaurants like On the Border and Lalos. El Meson has been around for 25 years and I love supporting local businesses.
(5)Ritu D.
Coming back into town to visit usually means countless outings at restaurants to catch up with friends. While I always have my fave few restaurants that I HAVE to visit, I decided this trip that I was going to try new restaurants. After reading some reviews for el meson, I figured I may as well give it a try.... Food - The food was good, I've just had better.. The chips were great in the beginning- warm and seemed fresh, but as they started cooling off, they had the "fresh from a store-bought bag" kind of taste. They had 2 salsa options, the green was a tangy milder salsa and the red was a pretty spicy red salsa. They were definitely good! However, I asked if they had a milder red and they didn't. I ordered the vegetarian combo (guac tostada, cheese and onion enchilada, and bean burrito). The tostada was okay- I love guac so I was happy with it... the enchilada sauce was too salty, and the bean burrito was just beans in a small tortilla- could have done that myself :-\ ... My friend got the taco lunch special and I was impressed that they put all the toppings on the side- smart! Price - Definitely more expensive than some better mexican restaurants... Entrees can range from 13-28 dollars depending on what you get. Service- Considering we were the ONLY customers in the restaurant (with the exception of one other group of 2 that were there for maybe the first 10 minutes we were there), you'd think they'd be very on top of things. The waitress was in the beginning, but then started to slack. I placed my empty glass of water at the edge for a while and it wasn't refilled. When the guy came to give us our food I asked him for a refill on my water and my friend asked for a diet coke refill. He eventually brought her diet coke and my water remained empty. Finally the waitress came by when we were almost done with our meals and I asked her (third request) for water which was finally refilled. Again- we were the only customers....... wonder how the service is with a room full of people. Drinks - Can't comment on this, we just had water and diet coke. Overall- I'm giving this place 2 stars- the food was OK - nothing special. Service was poor even though we were the only ones there and they kept the place pretty cold (in chicago winter.... not cool)... probably because they didn't want to pay a heating bill for 2 customers, but still. I doubt I'll return to El Meson- Maybe it's better on other days, but my experience wasn't the best.
(2)Phill C.
Chips with some salsa or guac can get dangerous. Every freakin time I end up eating way too much. Lesson never learned. The basket of hot tortilla chips and are good. The guacamole made table-side is also really good. But my favorite thing here is their Mole, which is packed with flavor and really good. The place gets pretty packed, which is usually a good indication that the foods good. Plus I saw they make some huge margaritas. Great food and friendly service.
(4)Michelle F.
Eh, this place is just "meh" for me. I have been here MANY times now, and the service is definitely subpar. The food is mediocre, and the prices are steep for what you get. They DO have amazing outdoor seating, so that's really nice, but ambiance doesn't really make up for lack of flavor and overinflated pricing. I think El Meson has definitely fallen out of favor with our family lately. I will be going elsewhere for really good Mexican cuisine!
(3)Karl M.
Nice location in Schaumburg. Easy parking. There is a patio for dining al Fresco with a big green lawn between you and Schaumburg Road. The place is a standard, sit-down mexican joint. The food isn't spectacular and the fajitas didn't seem to be spiced at all other than peppers and onions. The beans just seemed a bit watered down, thin and tasteless. The mexican rice was also rather bland. They charge you for any more than the first bowl of tortilla chips... weird that they don't mention that when they offer you more!! The salsa and assorted sauces were very tasty and one of the saving graces. The price points seem about 25% higher than any other mexican place. Must be the locale. The rice pudding was cold and not very cinnamon-y. The flan was decent. This place is too expensive. The meats and veggies were cooked well but the flavor and spice wasn't there.
(3)Nicole W.
El Meson is full of old memories and good times. I feel like this place has been there forever...or maybe it's just been there since I was a kid. Regardless, even as an adult, El Meson is still pushing out some solid Mexican eats that are both nostalgic and delicious. My mom and I rolled in here on a recent weekend afternoon to an almost empty restaurant. Mind you, it was 3 pm on a Saturday, so the lack of other patrons wasn't super surprising. Service was more than impressive, especially considering the typical occurrence of "phantom server" when restaurants are completely dead. We went pretty simple and opted to split the chicken quesadilla appetizer. After we had dined on the hot, fresh and perfectly crispy chips and salsa at the table, we didn't want to overstuff ourselves. While the quesadilla is on the small side (it is an appetizer after all), it's packed with one of my most favorite cheeses of all - Chihuahua. I would eat said cheese on a daily basis if I didn't have pants to fit in to. So, is El Meson the best Mexican I've ever had? Nope. Do I think some of the items are overpriced for what you get? Maybe. Will I come back? Absolutely. The nostalgia, ease and Chihuahua cheese make it all worth it.
(4)Carolyn B.
321 Margaritas....'Nuff said...I mean $50 bucks for a half pitcher means you're going to NOT need to drink anyting else. Period. And the wait staff always asks twice if you're sure you want to order it, the price is scary but SOOOO worth it! Everything here is amazing. The food is authentic, fresh and always delish! Tableside Guacamole is a must do, for parties of 4 or more. The buffet on Sunday mornings is also good, but I'm not a huge buffet fan. Would give this place 5 stars, but the service can be sketchy and unpredictable.
(4)Melissa C.
BEWARE..... HAIR FOUND IN THE BUFFET..... WAITRESS STATES ITS NOT HER DUTY TO MONITOR THE BUFFET.... My husband and I use to eat at El Meson every other Sunday. This particular Sunday was by far the most horrible experience I have ever encountered in my life. The waitress was rude and confrontational. I have never in my life experience such an unprofessional . We found a long piece of hair in our food and the waitress response nearly took my breath away. We asked to speak to a manager and she mentioned he left and clearly sstarted to yell at us in Spanish.... I will never return to El Meson.... Such a disgusting buffet.....
(1)Benjamin S.
We decided to try this place after looking for something different. First of all the service was horrible with the waitress lacking any type of personality or service skills. This is the first time I've ever been to a Mexican restaurant and charge extra for second rounds of chips and salsa( completely outrageous ) after seeing our dull waitress only two times and waiting for refills we finally received or entrees. We had the chicken and steak fajitas with the Carne Asada. The first thing I noticed was the portion size on both entrees being small considering prices were high on both. The food had no flavor at all I expect more when dining at a family business especially when it comes to Mexican Food. Over all this place was one of the worst places I've ever been to eat and wouldn't recommend or ever go back. I felt like asking for my money on the way out. Next time I go for Mexican I will stick with On The Border when I get more value for my buck with great tasting food
(1)Jennifer M.
Went here for cinco de mayo! Margaritas to start, then red and green salsa. We had steak and shrimp fajitas ($18-20). They were really tasty- wish they had a little more spiciness. I wanted shrimp tacos but they don't have them. They have us two red bead necklaces in celebration for cinco de mayo!
(3)Meghan F.
I have to say that the number of dissatisfied patrons of this restaurant surprises me. Normally I would just chalk this up to the fact that I am not a difficult eater to please, but in this case it seems the qualms are with the service. Well, here is my piece: I think this place is fantastic. Having waitressed for years, I consider myself a harsh critic when it comes to customer service. Yea yea, I'm one of those who still tips on service.. for shame! Sure, the waitresses aren't bending to your every whim when you are there... this isn't your local corporate chain restaurant people! It's an authentic, family owned, Mexican spot - give these people a break! Perhaps I enjoy the quirkiness of the staff because it is different than every cookie cutter waiter/waitress with fake plastic smile, stupid uniform, and the ability to rattle off a list of draft beers as if they've been tested on it at some point....hmm. Food = delicious. Yea it's a little messy, it's tacos and burritos for goodness sake! If you want to eat at a place where you can keep your napkin clean, why are you eating Mexican? If you ask me, the messier it is, the better! The vegetarian quesadillas are killer, and the lunch buffet on Sundays is hard to beat, and I can never get enough of their salsa - which I can be super picky about. Perhaps my most favorite part of a visit to El Meson though, is their Guava Margaritas. They are TO DIE FOR!! Me and the girls are always looking for an excuse to get together so we can go there and drink as many of those as we can in one sitting! Love Love Love El Meson. Definitely a favorite of mine!
(5)John Z.
Great food! Best Margaritas! Great service! Food is always fast, fresh, and delicious!
(5)Ernesto S.
As Line cook with 11 years on my belt I have to say this place is a mixed bag of greatness and bad judgement calls, but it has the capacity to be very very good. I took my wife and Son along with my parents here. It's a great location, albeit abit obscured you might even drive past it due to the trees in the front, If I wanted a small restaurant I would definitely want this location. "El Meson" decoration resembles a countryside rancho in Mexico. We went in for the Morning Brunch, great open styled buffet, Omelet grill you can even order and open styled Omelet if you want. Some of the items on the brunch menu are not worth the $15 price tag I'm afraid, 4 pork Items that are identical except for the sauce. Other than that it was a good brunch. Food was overall good. As I said earlier It is a great location I love the outdoor patio they have and I can image how beautiful it must be out there on the late night service. The food was good as is with any other Mexican joint. but not worth the amount of money paid for such food when I can get the same taste elsewhere. and Guacamole at $8 a pop is asking to much. My main grip with this place is simply the price for simple staple Dishes. The staff is very attentive if not slightly forgetful at times. so WITH all this said it's still a good place to eat, suggested Items, Sopes, Guacamole, Omelet, and fajitas- it's a toss up for me while I love the place decor and location, I feel that the menu needs some work along with pricing.
(3)Melissa R.
Yesterday was my first time in the El Meson Restaurant and the place is a wonderful looking place! I heard good reviews about brunch and let me just say the food was great. My family and I came at the time when it was empty and the service was fast. The reason why I am giving it 3 stars is because the waitress was rude and when we asked about what was good she kept saying to look at the menu or when we asked what drinks are there that was good, the waitress looked annoyed every time we asked her something. This place gave me a bad vibe that I just wished we got up and left. But other than that it was good food.
(3)Louise S.
I don't care what anyone says... fried ice cream is not a scoop of ice cream rolled in rice krispies! The worst part about when a restaurant does this is that the cereal is always stale. Otherwise the food was decent. Nothing to write home about, but not bad. I did really enjoy the salsas that were included with chips.
(3)Phil S.
Nicely tucked away in the heart of Schaumburg with optional outdoor seating during favorable weather. Nice spot for a date. So why only 3 stars? We just weren't thoroughly impressed with much here except the pitcher of margarita we ordered. The ceviche was mediocre and so were the tacos and regular enchiladas. I ordered the mole enchiladas because of all the Yelp raves but wasn't really happy with my meal. My main gripe is the overall sodium content in all the dishes we tried. It was like sucking on a taco flavored deer lick. At least it helped us drink the tasty margaritas quickly. I really want to like this place so I'm going to try it again but this time I'll tell them to hold any additional salt possible so that I can taste the food instead of the Dead Sea every time I take a bite. Those margaritas are good though... especially by the pitcher!
(3)kim c.
You know, I have to give such a low rating because the wait staff is CONTINUALLY ridiculously ABSENT!!! I cannot remember having such crappy service. Sad to say, I go back from time to time, because the tableside guacamole is fabulous, and the marguarita's are tasty, and it very conveniently located for us... but every time we end up looking at each other like "why do we come here to be ignored??" Worst. Service. Ever. Crabbiest. Waitress. Ever. EVER!!!
(2)Cristie F.
Bueno!! Ole!! First of, two words: Sunday. Brunch. Omelet, waffle, taco, and salsa stations all under one roof?! You bet! With a sampling of many of their popular items, you can't go wrong for a hot and spicy, and inexpensive brunch. As for the regular menu, the dishes are very authentic. This isn't your local Chevy's or Taco Bell ((thank god)). El Meson serves up the real deal. As always, you can order a combination platter to try a few different options. Just about everything comes with rice and beans - obviously. El Meson is infamous for their margaritas, mole sauces, table side guac, and killer salsa. All are delish, and all I would recommend. Fave Craves: ::Vegetarian platter: guacamole tostada//cheese burrito//cheese & onion enchilada ::Chiles Rellenos ::Flautas ((chix please!)) ::Chimichanga ((Machaca beef...mmmm...)) ::Homemade Guac ((duh!)) ::Enchiladas - Hot//Medium Hot//Mild. ((I dig cheese with the green mild sauce. nom.)) ::Caldo de Pollo ((chicken soup - so good for the soul!)) Service has always been great. The staff is extremely friendly and knows how to serve up a Mexican meal right! Between the decor and music...I swear you feel as if you've been whisked off to Mexico. Too bad you're only in Schaumpton. ((weak)) For Mexican grub, El Meson is hands down the best in the area. Whether it's brunch, lunch or dinner, make your way over and get your fiesta on!
(4)Tammy D.
Wow I can not believe all these bad reviews !!!! THE ONLY BAD THING I COULD EVER SAY ABOUT THIS PLACE IS ITS A LIL EXPENSIVE. ... However It's well worth the price ... I live close and food is always fresh hot and good ;) SERVICE IS ALWAYS FAST AND ATTENTIVE ;) a must try when you are around schaumburg !!! Everything is great
(5)Stephanie G.
We had dinner here last night. If it weren't for the pitchers of margaritas I probably wouldn't consider coming back. Food was ok, I didn't enjoy the shredded beef at all though. It was flavorless. Also, our waitress was lacking any personality at all and was rather curt. She seemed annoyed by the couple questions I asked her about menu items. However, I enjoyed the margaritas...and for that reason alone I would probably give them another try.
(3)Rae L.
The outside patio is a nice location for the summer, but I've been disappointed the last few times I've been here. The food was ok - not memorable, not bad. The service is what will keep me from going back. I used to be a server, so I understand how tough it can be when you're really busy. But when I'm one of 3 tables, you should be checking in on me more often for water/chip refills, etc. Went for margaritas with girlfriends during a happy hour deal. We ordered Mango margaritas and weren't told that they weren't on special until the bill came. El Mason should really focus on better customer service - if I hear about improvements, I will consider going back.
(2)Chef Augie M.
Food is ok but the prices are outrageous. Living in a medium income town of Schaumburg and with times still tough. Last time I ordered there and to - go , my meal for two of us was $35 for 2 people. Chips and salsa was like 9 bucks. I am a Head Chef and I would never go back due to the pricing. Food was decent and the girl was on her personal phone while I was trying to talk. Opening my own restaurant and I know exactly what not to do!
(2)Michele B.
Wow, I checked to see if I had the right place and address. The service was everything but friendly! When presented with the check the only time we saw our server other than during the table side guac fiasco, she said would you please hurry and pay me, I want to leave?!?!? She wasn't the only one! Rude, rude rude. The "guac" made table side was so salty, and tasteless that we didn't even eat it. I ordered the burrito with shredded beef--I was served my burrito with ground meat dripping with grease. We both ordered margaritas when asked how many the half pitcher would serve, we were told that they were only serving singles no pitchers on Saturdays??????????? When questioned she just shrugged. This place has been here for a while and I thought well it's gotta be good, WRONG guess besides pizza there isn't anything else in Olde Schaumburg to go to. SKIP IT
(1)Rose D.
Just had my birthday dinner here with a girlfriend. Of course, I had to order those delicious tamales again...and this time I cleaned my plate! No leftovers for lunch tomorrow... I'm posting this update because I experienced two new things: -We tried the sangria- fruity & quite good , though not as strong as others I've tried. I did love the option of ordering it by the glass, the 1/2 pitcher or the full pitcher. Our server, Gabriel once again, suggested we go for the 1/2 pitcher instead of two glasses - more bang for our buck :-) -We sat on the patio. Even though it's along Schaumburg Road I didn't really notice traffic noise since the patio was quite full of diners having a grand time. The patio is mostly covered so even if it were raining out (which it was threatening to do this particular evening) you can still hang outside. And citronella candles for each table! THANK-YOU! One downside to this visit - this time the rice had a very slight metallic taste to it. Strange, I've never had anything not taste fabulous here. Not sure what the cause was but since this has never happened before in all the times we've dined here I'm not worried about it.
(4)K Y.
The prices make this like its some kind of upscale restaurant. It's American Mexican for sure; most true Mexican places aren't giving huge dollops of sour creme and then having mini options like mini burritos. The portions were awfully small!! Will not go back.
(1)James C.
Came in for the first time for Sunday brunch. There was plenty of space for our group of 10 and the service was great from the start. Sunday brunch is buffet, which I started with a subtly spiced coffee and fresh sqeezed orange juice. Everything was fresh and delicious. They had a made-to-order omlete and waffle bar, which you can customize with a great variety of toppings including cheese, guac, pico, and a selection of salsas (didn't get a waffle so didn't pay attention to those toppings). My meal also included tasty tamales, taquitos, and stewed beef and chicken. Finished with some nice rice pudding and fresh fruit for dessert. Among what I didn't try was standard Mexican fare like rice, beans, and everything you need to make tacos and tostadas. Everyone in our group found plenty of God food to fill up on, including the kids. Hour to be back :-)
(4)Michelle B.
I love coming to El Meson in summer with my husband or a bunch of friends, relaxing on the patio and having a pitcher of frozen mango margarita's. The mango margarita's are some of the best I have ever had. YUM! Pair those with the chips & salsa and I'm a happy girl. The food overall is pretty good (not the best Mexican I've had, but not bad) and the prices are a little high. If it wasn't summer and I couldn't sit on the patio, I might try a different Mexican place because of the above mentioned reasons. La Hacienda De Roselle is really tasty and their prices are more reasonable.
(4)J R.
Their steak tacos are amazing! One of the best meals I've ever had. Too bad they're a tad expensive and the other dishes weren't very good
(4)Toni R.
I am a picky eater and I must say this is one of the better Mexican restaurants I have dined at. I love spicy food and their enchiladas huastuquenas deliver.I prefer ground beef but I've had them with chicken and they are still good. I usually order take-out from here and no matter how big the order is it's always ready in less than 20 minutes. The staff is always nice. When I do dine here if it is warm out I always try to sit in the patio area. My only complaint is I have several friends who wish seafood was an option for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.
(4)Gina P.
Yum! I've been going here for several years and has not changed! Finally tried a chimichanga and it was awesome!
(4)Mark K.
My fiance and I ate there on a nice summer night on their patio. The atmosphere was decent. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it at all. The food was tasty. I had the mole enchiladas and my fiance had a different enchilada plate. They were both very good. Big servings, good flavor and tasted fresh. We ordered a cheese dip appetizer and got the wrong one. However, what we received was very good. So, I had no complaints. Overall, a bit pricey, but it was to be expected. I would recommend this place for some good food and decent drinks. I read some reviews of the service being awful and I didn't think so at all. I thought it was just fine. We will go back.
(4)Ken G.
Went to El Meson for the in-laws' anniversary. (Six in total with two kids.) They wanted "Mexican" and it's a minute away. We haven't been there in a while, so we figured, why not? Not many people in the restaurant when we arrived, granted it was an early dinner, so we were seated right away. And as usual, there weren't any Mexicans eating, but since I know what to expect, I was fine with it. It was a chilly day, so we sat inside. (Sitting outside is nice on a warm day, but during high-traffic times it can get a bit loud.) I asked if they have something special for an anniversary, and I was told promptly, No. (I was thinking not even a scoop of ice cream, or a flan with a candle or something...???) Drinks and food were ordered... Margarita was pretty good, but the larger glass might have been an optical illusion (that and a lot of ice) as it seemed that I drank it rather quickly - which isn't usually a problem, but I didn't get any water and the service was infrequent. I ordered the steak oaxaquena. I didn't get any tortillas, so I had to request some. The tortilla warmer came and inside were three! Yes three! Gawd. Well, my steak was in a spicier sauce, and actually pretty tasty, BUT the instant I took my first bite my stomach hurt. I knew right away that they use a ton of salt. I don't have an ultra-sensitive stomach, but it is a very good indicator of sodium content and nitrates - and this place (or at least my dish) uses Olive Garden-like levels. I just couldn't finish my dish... Others seemed to be enjoying their meals (combination plates and a fajita plate), so maybe it was just mine. Our server, as mentioned earlier, was seen infrequently. Having two kids, we could always use napkins, or spoons and such, but since we didn't see our waitress after our food came, I ended up getting those things myself. I should've gotten myself a water while I was up too. We finished up, and luckily I was with good company. The bill came and it was a darn good thing I checked it, as they added an 18% tip - assuming because of our party of 6. When I didn't add any extra it seemed like I got a look... It's within walking distance, but it's a shame. I'd be hard pressed to go again.
(2)Melissa R.
Outdoor Terrace....very nice. Price.....WAY too high. Food....very good. Margaritas.....Too Sour & not enough tequila. (Lalos MUCH better) Service.......HORRIBLE.....EVERY SINGLE TIME.....for years. It's a shame this restaurant can't get there act together and get some decent servers in there that actually give a damn because the food is good & it is a nice quaint place.
(2)Ina B.
Food, atmosphere was great, service was Awesome!! The staff was very friendly, attentive to detail. The Mariachi was very entertaining and catered to a great summer night. A bit pricey though, but will definitely go back for their warm and fresh chips, green salsa and Mole Enchiladas! Yummy! Margaritas on the Rock are good, and so are the Non-alcoholic margaritas. Great location, easy access, nice patio.
(4)Cano S.
Was good, but $10 for guacamole and chips is overpriced. Also, they didn't bring my friend her correct order. The apparent burritos also look like 3 tiny enchiladas.
(3)Bryan O.
First time here for the Sunday brunch buffet. I had heard some high marks for the buffet before, but wasn't "wow'd. The best item was the spicy pork, otherwise the rest was ok. Their sangria is outstanding.
(3)Dan C.
GF and I went here Saturday for lunch. The place was pretty empty, only one other table sat while we were there. The service was fine, to be expected with so few customers there. Wish the weather was nice, the patio area outside looks like a nice place to enjoy a drink on a sunny day. The food was decent. Really about what you would expect and on par with places like Chevy's. I had the Enchiladas El Meson and she had Chicken Taco. Portions were large as neither one of us finished our plates. Her tacos were dripping water/grease/something out when she picked them up. Not the most appetizing way to start the meal. We both ended up thinking the food was fine though. The chips and two kinds of salsa they start the meal off with were very tasty. We would probably go back just to be able to sit on the patio, but the food was nothing to write home about.
(3)LTine M.
My brother and I both got sick from this place. I felt it was overpriced for the food you received. Better off going to a hole in the wall mexican place for better food and better prices.
(2)Sarah F.
This Mexican food is really good in my opinion and to people I know from Mexico love the food here as well. It's a great place to go when you want to sit outside because there is a really nice patio. I've never been there for the buffet but I know they have one because every time I go there they seem to be cleaning it up so I don't know how it is. Also the staff has always been really friendly.
(4)Karen G.
Typical Mexican fare, good service and great margaritas. The chili rellenos was better than expected, great chip, dip and guacamole. The restaurant was not busy but the service was not up to par. There is plenty of parking. Might go back sometime but not a restaurant that left a lasting impression.
(3)G E.
Good food, average service, not much for atmosphere and way to expensive. My bill for 1 person with no alcohol was $30 not including tip.
(2)Martie M.
Great Sangria, Great Queso Fundido w/poplano peppers, but the Bistek Oaxaqueno was awful. It was drowning in sauce and the chicken chilaquiles were a mushy mess as well. Very disappointing.
(2)Nikole H.
I have never, ever written a bad review on here, but this place will be my first exception. It was so horrible that I honestly feel like I need to warn other people. Two of us walked in and asked for outdoor seating for a party of 6. We were told they couldn't seat us until everyone arrived. No big deal. A little weird, considering the place was empty, but we went to the bar and figured we'd get a drink while we waited. Both my friend and I ordered mojitos. The bartender took about 7 minutes to make our drinks. When they came, mine had about a 4 inch dark hair floating around in it. I gave it back to the bartender and she tried to tell me that the hair was mint. No. It was hair. I've worked in restaurants for years, stuff happens, but that's gross. Just apologize and make a new drink, please. No apology was offered, and it was clear that the bartender was annoyed. Strike one. We waited while other drink orders were filled, and then the bartender remade my drink. Two of our party showed up (one of whom was a 5 year old) and we were informed that he couldn't be in the bar area. No problem. I paid the tab ($17 for two mojitos, apparently I time traveled to the city when I didn't notice, who the hell charges 8.50 for a drink, but neither here nor there). We then went and waited for the rest of our party to arrive, which they did momentarily. We then stood there. And stood there. And stood some more, while we watched all the tables outside fill up and we got ignored, except for when the rude waitstaff asked us to move out of their way. We got there at 6:20, and didn't get a seat till 7:30, and that was pretty much because one of our party got slightly irate. After finally getting sat, we did get water and chips pretty quickly. Service was slow, but it was obvious that they were way understaffed. Things do happen. Food was unmemorable, except for the prices, which were definitely high. Three steak tacos (no cheese, sour cream, or guac came with it, so I had to order and pay for sides) and a coke cost $24.00. Overall. a lousy experience. As a former server, I will forgive just about anything if oversights are apologized for, but it was obvious that the staff of this restaurant not only don't like their jobs, but don't particularly seem to like their patrons either. I'm pretty sure the hostess wanted to set us on fire. I've never, ever gotten service that bad. I tried to be really nice, but it was to no avail. Avoid this place. You can get way better food with a far better attitude elsewhere.
(1)Kris L.
Oh the good and bad of a family run place. The good; 1) Some original menu items not just a dupe of everywhere else. 2) Home made salsa with citrus and decent spice level. 3) Fresh hot chips. 4) Decent margaritas 5) Happy decor to be in The bad; 1) Family members as waitresses = a) walking past you and not looking you in the eye as you are trying to flag them down b) communication by grunting with no interest in describing the food or pointing you in a direction c) generally slow and inattentive service because they are not going to be managed or fired. 2) Tableside guac! ohh sorry not today its Tuesday, oh and we must have run out of salt, pepper and spice. Didn't we say it was bland guac night!! 3) Lots of pre made menu items that tasted pre made, dry and bland. The score maybe 5 good to 3 bad but you go for the food and it was just Meh.
(2)Brandy W.
It was pretty good! I am so frustrated with the lack of decent Mexican food in IL, but this place is worth trying. I would go back if I were in the area. I'm not driving all the way from Naperville again, but whatever. The chips-- fine. Not amazing. You are only allotted one basket per table and then you're charged like $2.50 for a second basket. Bummer. I have never ever ever ever ever heard of this in CA, where I come from. The salsa was good. They provide a red and green tomatillo. I enjoyed both. The prices for lunch were good and they offer both the lunch and dinner menus. I had a cheese enchilada, avocado tostada (they call it a guacamole tostada but it was definitely only pieces of sliced avocado), rice and beans for $7.25, pre tax. Not bad! I'm a vegetarian that doesn't consume lard or animal stocks, so it's nice to know their rice uses veggie stock and their beans are without lard. FYI to other veggies out there who dig Mexican food. Nice patio outside. Glad I visited.
(4)April M.
Can't believe I haven't written a review for El Meson yet! I have gone to this restaurant since I was young, it's the only real mexican restaurant in Schaumburg that I was ever aware of. My family and I are still fans, going as often as we can (especially now that I moved back to the area). Margaritas, guac and almost anything on the menu is amazing! Food comes out quickly and is fairly priced (cheaper and Way Better quality than the big mexican chains!). Servers know spanish, if you wish to order in spanish you can (you can't get that at the big mexican chains either). Summer is my favorite time to go since I enjoy hanging out on the patio with girl friends and a margarita after a long day of work. If you received bad service while visiting this restaurant, you should really give it a second chance. No one is perfect and everyone has off days just like you.
(5)Dee C.
The only good part about this place is their margarita. The service was very poor. The chips tasted stale, and the salsa was not chunky enough for me. The entree I had the vegetarian fajitas and I thought it was very bland. I mean BLAND. I did not think it was that busy there for the service to be so poor, but hey I guess they have better things to do than make money. I don't understand how there are so many good reviews to this place. I would not go back. I rather go to Chipotle and get some real food instead of waiting around.
(1)Jennifer C.
Went to El Meson last night, and the food was pretty darn good. Wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, but I ate it, enjoyed it, and finished up my left overs today. We split a half pitcher of "killer margaritas" and they were great!!!! For the half pitcher we got 5 glasses worth! Yum!! We were able to enjoy a beautiful fall night out on their patio. Downside would be that we asked about more info about the margaritas and the lady waitress wasn't able to provide much info (maybe it's a secret recipe??) and she came back to check on our food, but not until it had been quite a while... (maybe she just had complete faith in their food??). We had no problems though and the food and margaritas were good, so it didn't seem like a deal breaker to me. :)
(4)Ken B.
I'll make this quick. Any place that has a good mole sauce has to be doing something right and this was the BEST MOLE sauce I've ever had. I dont claim to have had it made for me throughout my childhood by my "abuela" but I know how its supposed to taste and this was spot on. Perfect over chicken enchiladas. The beans were also amazing. Its not your typical refried beans. Theyre almost soup-like with some whole beans thrown in. Great flavor. Margaritas were very tasty too but they better be when made with Don Julio.
(4)Jeka M.
I'm not going to go overboard and update EVERY time I visit El Meson, but I really do love it. I have to comment on the service because I didn't give them enough props last time, and Gabriel always takes good care of me. He even gave us a mini-mango margarita to sample, which (for someone who abhors mangoes) was DEEE-licious, as was the Pollo Oaxaquena. I don't do much more than "medium" spicy, and this was packed with flavor and just enough kick to make me hug my Corona. --Sit outside whenever possible, get the guacamole made fresh, and get a pitcher of house (or other) margaritas to share. If you're uncertain, the beef & chicken fajitas are ALWAYS a good choice (...unless you're a veggie who'd like to do more than smell your food).
(5)Christy C.
After living in CA for several years, I've eaten at my share of Mexican places. El Meson is the only Mexican restaurant I like in this area. Their margaritas are great and the food tastes homemade. I love their chicken fajitas and their enchiladas. Because I like most things they make, I usually order a combination dinner to mix things up cuz I'm crazy like that. I love their fried ice cream and churros. Try them if you have enough room. The service is pretty unpredictable. It runs the spectrum and you never know how good or bad it will be. Part of the fun? That is why I dinged them one star. They host large parties and are very friendly and accommodating. I've been going to El Meson for at least 15 years now - it is part of my regular rotation.
(4)Bill F.
Went again last night. (we about once a month). The killer margaritas are always amazing. Either half or whole pitcher. service was good. Two in our party had veggie frajitas.... Two thumbs up
(4)Michelle A.
Best place for mexican food in schaumburg!!! Great margaritas and awesome sunday buffet:) The only reason I am giving them 3 stars is that service can be terrible. From the host who usually acts like we bothered her by walking in to waiting forever for a waitress to come.. to having our drinks delivered to every other table but ours. We literally forgive them because it is the only place that is not a franchise, prices are affordable, and the meat is not gross. Some taquerias are just gross... let me be honest... if you look at the meat at some places it's not quality. But like i said El meson has the best mexican in the area. Check it out:)
(3)Amy G.
Prior to arriving, I read the reviews and was expecting below par service. What we got was way worse than that. We showed up around five P.M. on a Saturday and were greeted by no one. Waiters walked by without acknowleding us, and we could see managers outside cleaning the patio tables. After about five minutes, we walked outside and told the waitress we were seating ourselves. We had to ask for a high chair after five minutes of sitting there, other tables sat themselves and were waited on, and yet we were still sitting there like idiots. After fifteen minutes of managers, and servers walking by, ignoring us, we left. I would have liked to review the food, sadly, I'll never go back. Service like that is unacceptable, and i am surprised anyone puts up with it.
(1)Samantha M.
My boyfriend and I went to El Meson one day for lunch. I had recommended it to him due to all the hype. There was no hype once we walked into the place. The service was almost non-exsistent, the food was terrible and took forever(even though we were the only two people in the place). I ordered a sangria that tasted like grape juice. The food, OH the food. We eat at a lot of mexican restaurants. I like pollo en mole, but this was nothing close to what I had expected. It looked, and TASTED like barf on a plate. My boyfriends choice of food was nothing close appetizing either. We have never and will never go back to this place again. I give it one star for effort
(1)Shalief A.
The food is great. The service is poor. The staff correct the mistakes but make too many of them. The last time they advertised a special on Rum Chattas and were out when we arrived at 1 PM. Tonight they were out of chicken soup at 7 PM. I had to ask twice to get water with no ice. And it took 25 minutes to arrive. The waitress keeps disappearing and we cannot get service. Specifically asked for corn tortillas and received flour tortillas. This happened both times.
(2)Melissa H.
I am torn about El Meson. My friends swear by this place for their margarita fix, but also swear by sitting at the bar. I've gone with them, and had very good experiences sitting at the bar, chatting with the staff, and drinking some very strong margaritas. Their food is better than average with some great and filling burrito options. What makes me torn is the table service. My friends swear by sitting at the bar because it is the only way they can get the staff to notice them. I have experienced this first hand, sitting a booth with an empty drink and spicy food waiting for me for over 10 minutes.
(3)Andrew J.
Hands down, El Meson has some of the best margaritas (other than my own) and mole enchaladas I've ever had. El Meson is especially nice in the summer because they have a really nice patio. Decor is nice and fairly simple, and prices are in line with most family Mexican restaurants. Portions are a good size, so you get plenty of value for your dollar. Service is always friendly, though there are times when you are wondering if your server is dead in a ditch somewhere. It would be nice if the waitstaff would check back a little more regularly on their guests, especially if that guest is me, and, for example, I would like another horchata. However, I can forgive those minor sins. The friendly atmosphere and the wonderful food haven't let me down yet.
(4)Annette G.
While the guacamole was outstanding, my chili rellano was the WORST I've ever had. The kids meals were nearly $7, and there wasn't enough food to satisfy my 4 year old. To top it all off the service was frustratingly slow, took them nearly 30 minutes to get us water and chips after we arrived, even though they had already taken the food order. Will not be going back.
(1)Jade R.
The food is DELICIOUS! but the service is TERRIBLE! ay ay ay. Every time we went there, we had to seat ourselves and get our own menus. On one occasion, I had to get ourselves drinks because we got sick of waiting for someone to show up...and the restaurant wasn't even half-full, it's not like they were busy. They were just watching TV in their bar, or avoiding us. It's such a shame because their food is super tasty and fresh.
(3)B L.
Seriously fantastic Mexican cuisine. What can I recommend? Peach margaritas for one. Nachos are also excellent as is the jalepenos with cheese appetizer dish. I wish I knew the name of that. The chips and salsa are very good which is always a plus. I gotta say, best Mexican in Schaumburg!
(5)Brandon L.
"...so hypnotizing I could not in good concsience take a vegetarian loved one in the general area for fear they would gorge themselves on the bountiful feast and have to pay horrible digestive penalties later . . ." I have been going here for years. And Jessica M. has it right . . . My personal highlights: - The Margaritas: Hand made and delicious, a variety of tequilla options (which is what matters most in a good margarita), and amazing. - Table Siide Guacamole: It's good, fresh, and and the accompanying salsa marry well with the flavors and the chips that are extremelely fresh (another essential often overlooked, in fact I believe they may be made on location). - The Fajitas: These are absolutely ridiculous! This spot is created to be eaten at on a wonderful sunny day . . . they have a nice large grill set up outside . . . the scent goes for many blocks and brings people in from all over . . . do not dare drive by with your windows even cracked in the approximate area if you do not have time and are not tryign to eat delicious wonderful meat . . . in fact the boquet of seasonings, peppers, onions, and meats is so hypnotizing I could not in good concsience take a vegetarian loved one in the general area for fear they would gorge themselves on the bountiful feast and have to pay horrible digestive penalties later . . . mmmmm . . . /sorry saliva on the keyboard/ . . . you know actually forget it - I'm leaving right now to be pickle the old liver and fortify the bell as I know they can! (Fun Fact: If you are at all familiar with El Molino in Carpentersville [ yelp.com/biz/el-molino-m… you should be made aware that they in fact owned by the same people but offer different regional cuisines.)
(5)Greg A.
OK Mexican food with OK service; but boy oh boy do they know how to charge! $18 for fajitas?! Too pricey for a simple Mexican restaurant!
(2)Billy E.
Quaint, friendly,and warm, you'll enjoy the charm and prices of this nice mexican restaurant. I only wish I wasn't trying to eat better because I'd be eating burrito suizo's and patron shots by the dozen!
(4)Sara H.
Really enjoyed my experience here--no problem getting in a table for four outside on a summer Saturday evening. The big stand-out about El Meson for me is the tableside guacamole. Part of good dining is always the experience, and I think its really neat to watch your guac being made right in front of you. It also gives you control over whether you'd like certain ingredients in it or how much. I had the chicken flautas, which were probably the best I've ever had. The other members of my party had the chimichanga, beef tacos, and tamales; all of which looked delicious. Rave reviews about the Sangria as well. Definitely plan on returning when I'm back in the area.
(4)Jennifer S.
We were directed to El Meson by our hotel staff after an inquiry for the best Mexican food in the area. It did not disappoint. The strawberry guava margaritas were perfectly balanced. The guacamole was perfect. The steak tacos were excellent. I would definitely return.
(4)Shardul R.
Horrible mexican food, over priced and slow staff. We do not recommend!
(1)John M.
We tried El Meson a few weeks ago. We have driven by it many times and said we had to try it some day. Not the greatest experience for us. First, we had to wait for quite a while at the front door. No staff to be seen anywhere. There were only 2-3 other tables occupied at the time so it's not like they were busy. The chips and salsa were ok. Nothing special. When we got our meals, they came with rice. It tasted burnt. Otherwise they were just ok. Saw another customer come in. Same problem as we had - no staff to be found. They were wandering around trying to find someone for several minutes before someone finally came out to help them. Summary - just ok food, below average service.
(2)Liam S.
Service is slow considering their was not many customers in mid afternoon. Food is good and drinks are okay.
(4)Catherine C.
Pretty darn good! Food came out fast and was delicious.
(5)John C.
We've been going here since this place opened, but my wife and I agree our visit this past weekend was the last. We stopped by Saturday evening and the place was half full, I think the word is getting out about this place. Our waitress, who came quickly to greet us, was shooed away by another waitress, who promptly took our order...then disappeared for the rest of the evening. The food is more expensive than similar place, my steak was cut up into pieces, which makes me believe I got someone else's leftovers. The meal was mostly vegetables with a few pieces of steak. The beans were watery, the portion small. I had finished off my beer just as the food came, and since we never saw our waitress again, I was gasping for something to wash down my food. If it wasn't for the patio, no one would go here, as they've been on cruise control for years . Get your act together, El Meson, you are on the way down!
(1)Kevin S.
2 stars for the food, -1 star for the poor service. Went there on Friday night. They had a decent amount of customers there but they were by no stretch of the imagination filled. They stuck my girlfriend and I in a tiny corner of the restaurant by ourselves right next to the bathrooms. Was it because we looked young? Maybe they thought we wouldn't tip well? Maybe it was just poor luck that they decided to put us in a segregated closed of section of the restaurant when there were plenty of more desirable tables open. Any other table, even in our own, empty, little section, would have been better! After we got seated, a busboy brought over some chips and salsa. We waited for a few minutes to order some drinks to go with that, but no one came by. My girlfriend decided to try some of the chips and salsa since we were hungry. The salsa seemingly went down her windpipe or something because she started coughing violently. I looked around for any server or busboy (to ask for some water) but no one was in sight. My girlfriend had to visit the bathroom so she could try to calm her coughing more privately. Luckily, we were right next to the bathroom! While my girlfriend was in the bathroom, our waitress finally arrived to ask if we wanted to order any drinks or appetizers. I told her that we would just need some water for now. After calming her cough, my girlfriend came back to our table, hoping for some water to arrive shortly, as her throat was still irritated. We waited maybe 5-10 minutes and still no water. I went up and walked from our dungeon to the bar and asked if I could have two cups of water, since nobody had brought ours yet. The bartender asked where we were sitting, and our waitress just happened to pass by right then. After being told by the bartender that "tienen agua" (they want water), the waitress told me she was taking care of it. Why I couldn't just get water right there is beyond me. I sat back down and we waited several more minutes for water. Finally, a busboy brought over two glasses of water. Relief! A few minutes later our waitress stopped by to take our orders. We ordered the enchiladas suizas. It wasn't even very good. The enchiladas were very small, and everything seemed soggy and too salty. To be honest, I couldn't even really tell the difference between my chicken enchiladas and my girlfriend's braised/pulled beef unless I really concentrated. The sauce was too tomato-y also. After finishing our meal, we waited for the waitress to come by so we could get our check, pay, and leave. We waited some more. And some more. Finally, she dropped by, we told her we were finished, and she came back with the bill. In conclusion: less than average food, terrible service. To their credit, though, I suppose that it would be really difficult to adequately take care of customers when they are seated in a remote, desolate corner of the otherwise populated restaurant, right?
(1)Gerry D.
We just got back from El Meson Mexican Restaurant. It been almost two years since we have been there. Being on Fathers Day I thought we would have a problem getting in know problem. We got to sit outside on their patio, the drinks we ordered with a large guacamole was just like I remembered yummy. Our meals were delivered hot before we were finished with the guacamole. They didn't miss a beat and everything was great.
(5)Bridget M.
Given that my palette is fairly forgiving, Taco Bell had always been the resort when a Mexican inkling would make its way to my subconscious. Now we are all too well aware that their is nothing authentic when the menu includes "cheesy fiesta potatoes" and "cinnamon twists;" so if you are indeed looking for authenticity, El Meson goes far beyond thinking outside the bun. El Meson has the best Mexican food that I have found in the Woodfield-ian area. They offer a deep selection accompanied by very awesome margaritas. I must venture back to embibe in the more flavorful variations. Both salsa and chips are fresh and have crisp zest to them. The entrees are hefty and are delivered (if you're lucky) while there is a live band playing in the background. The ambiance is warm and inviting and as close to Mexico as I can imagine - just bear in mind, I've never been to Mexico. The staff is friendly - we had come at a busy time so the wait was a little longer than "ideal" but the pleasant attitude from the staff more than compensated. Definitely in need of repeat visits.
(4)Summer N.
I have been going here pretty much since it opened. It doesn't look like much, but it is a great restaurant! The food is always great! The proportions are perfect too. They give chip and salsa to start. The green salsa is amazing if you don't like too spicy. The margaritas are the best (guava!) During the warmer months, try to sit outside. They have a great garden! Very nice! Even though the restaurant isn't huge, I have never had to wait *that* long for a table. The service is friendly. Such great authentic Mexican food. I have meet the owner several times. He is hands on-making sure his customers are happy. The pricing is very fair given the portion size!
(4)Marc B.
You know what I like best about El Meson? I could tell that everyone from the cook to the waitress was proud of what they're creating. Their food is served and prepared with care and love and it shows -- unlike many places I've been to. Please don't skip their flan -- it's likely the best you'll ever have.
(4)Jessica G.
There is nothing better than sitting outside at El Meson on a warm summer day and drinking a margarita! The food is pretty good (definitely better than any of the dozen or so Mexican chain restaurants in the area), the drinks are even better, but the number one draw of this restaurant is its outdoor seating. I could sit out there all evening (if it weren't for the bees). It gets pretty packed, so get there early. You can always browse the wine store next door while you wait. Come hungry because you will definitely fill up on chips before your food arrives!
(4)Marta S.
Their margaritas are awesome, specifically the Killer Margarita! Food is delish, not too cheesy or Americanized. Sit outside in the summer and enjoy their plantings, traditional music and a nice breeze. Service is always good and the food is consistently yummy. Recommended!
(4)Tony M.
I went there for my Birthday over summer. I love the outdoor patio and the service was excellent. The food wasn't too bad. I had the enchilladas, but my only complaint was that the red sauce was way to salty. Pretty good margaritas + Good atmosphere + Salty enchiladas -
(4)Matt S.
Such a good find, that is if you can find it! I've driven by this place several times and never knew it was there! Recommended by a few friends and it is my new favorite sit-down mexican restaurant. The portions are generous and everything tasted so fresh. I had the Macho Chimichanga. Although it was deep friend, it wasn't even greasy! My wife had enchiladas and they were excellent. No question in my mind that they get 5/5 stars. Staff was very polite and humored me when I tried to use the few spanish words I know into some spanglish. Only criticism I can give (and it was a struggle to think of any) is that the side of beans were a bit watery for my liking. We had to wait 10-15 mins for a table, but it was worth every minute. Try this place, it won't disappoint!
(5)Sumara K.
Love this place. For years I've driven by and seen the crowd enjoying their margaritas on the patio, and I had never gotten around to trying it. On a Sunday afternoon by chance I went there with my sister. Let me just say Sunday is a buffet. They have a pretty relaxed atmosphere, the decor is simple and not overbearing, and the place is clean. When you first walk in you see the buffet set up in the middle. Be that it was our first time visiting there, I could only wish that the waitress explained more as to what was in the buffet, but she seemed slightly rushed (I found out later there was a large party in the bar area, so that must have been why) and left us to our own devices. The tamales here are the best I have had in the suburbs of Chicago. Moist, spiced perfectly, and deceptively filling. The sopes had a nice kick to them. Stay away from the taquitos though, they don't seem to hold well in a buffet setting. The rice and beans-again some of the best I have had outside of the suburbs. And enough cannot be said about how amazing the pork was. It was spicy, hot, and the pork literally melted in your mouth. I could have bathed in it. But that would have seemed a bit ridiculous. The margaritas were fantastic, and very strong. I could have done a couple of those had I not been so busy stuffing my face. Oh- and they also have a guy in the back area making specialty omlettes and waffles, and fresh warm tortillas. The dessert table comprised of fresh fruit (watermelon, papaya, pineapple, melon) and fresh churros. Overall I loved this place. I was full for the entire day after I had eaten here, and completely satisfied. Would definitely go there again, and have since my first visit. For 13.95 for a Sunday brunch, you cannot go wrong.
(4)Megan T.
The best frozen Strawberry Margaritas around! Went with friends and we had a great time! We sat out on the beautiful patio and enjoyed the sunshine! This was our first visit and we all agreed that we would be back! Our waitress was very nice and attentive. I thought the food was good even though I was not a fan of the beans that they serve with the meals. It seemed like they were really liquidy and usually they are mashed like re-fried beans. These were whole beans in liquid. A good place for a dinner out!
(4)Michael H.
Nice, local Mexican restaurant with great outdoor seating. The guacamole is always good and the wait staff is always friendly.
(4)George R.
My baseline when rating Mexican restaurants starts with enchiladas-- and El Meson has some great enchiladas! Enchilada choices included: Huastuquenas (hot, chipotle sauce), El Meson (med. hot, El Meson sauce), Suizas (mild, Ranchero sauce), Indias (mild, salsa India), and a few mole sauce options. The El Meson enchilada dinner plate was $10.75 and came with the standard rice and beans. My enchilada filling choice was machata beef which had potatoes mixed in with ground beef. Good spice to the sauce; it had a slight kick to it. The rice was good and the beans were excellent-- tasted like homemade! The small side of guacamole I ordered helped to balance the flavor and heat of the enchiladas. *My Dining Tip: Order a side of guacamole to counter the spiciness of anything hot or spicy on your plate. Notes on the menu: - The first basket of chips they bring you with red salsa (some heat) and green salsa (mild) are complimentary. Any additional chips and salsa is $2.50 per order. - No substitutions on Fridays & Saturdays. - They do catering. Overall, this was a great dinner choice and the food was quite tasty! El Meson is now one of my preferred restaurants for enchiladas!
(4)Brittany Q.
The beer is cold and the enchiladas are sizzling! I recommend this Restaurant.
(4)Brian S.
This place is one of my favorites in the suburbs. Fair pricing, very nice staff. Portions are larger then nessessry, but why complain about that? Left overs.....
(5)Stacey D.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Guac is outstanding, service is good. Margaritas are huge and very strong, and oh so tasty. The salsa is really good too. Usually if I get a margarita, guac, and a single taco I am STUFFED. Beer is a little pricey here, in my opinion. So are the margaritas ($7 or so), but I get more than a little tipsy off one. Beers will run you about $5 and I need at least 2 to get any sort of buzz. Strawberry margarita for me!!
(4)Katrina G.
The food is above average. I like to go because the outdoor patio. The enchiladas are really good. Watch out for waiters who dump plates on your lap! Flaming hot red sauce, all over the bf's bare leg. Not only did the waiter help wipe it up (weird) he was EXTREMELY apologetic, but even that got a bit annoying. I'm sure I'll go back (not sure about the bf!!), it's really the most decent Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating in the area.
(3)Mark S.
For what this place is, it's as good as it gets! This place is just a great, good quality, Mexican "family" type restaurant. They don't mess around trying to be to fancy or creative, but what they do, they do well. I really like their spicy steak dish that I can't spell (tampiquena or something like that)- if you finish it you're gonna be stuffed! The steak is served with a great sauce which is not pretend hot- it's really hot! And it comes with chicken chiquitos, too! Add a decent margarita and a nice outdoor patio to sit on in the summer (and watch Schaumburg traffic go by!) with barbeque's smoking away out there and you've got a nice meal for yourself without giving in to generic corporate/chain Schaumburg dining.
(5)Gus E.
El Meson is a special place, I always love the food and find myself coming back. It's a great place to come with close friends, get a table outside and just eat and drink the rest of the night.
(5)Jennifer B.
Good food, solid salsa, decent margaritas. Service is usually above par and never had to wait long, although the place is usually busy. Would have gone 3 1/2, but any place with outdoor seating in my book gets an extra half-star.
(4)Larry R.
Great for Lunch in the outside seating area! Margaritas are as you expect, Fajitas are great as well as everything else I have tried. Try it, you will come back
(4)Joan K.
Wow service was pretty bad. Was there early for dinner and there was no one at the door to seat you. I needed to look out in the kitchen to find someone. When we were seated, I asked about the table side made guacamole, man replied.. Nope you won't be getting that. We don't serve that til after 5 pm. ( it was 4:40) and by the time we got drinks it was way after 5. Waitress was lacking people skills. Not at all pleasant. Best thing was the sangria. Food was ok. Refried beans were watery, Enchilada dinner was nothing to write home about. Spouse was not impressed with the skirts steak either. No one came by to ask how things were. Place has been there 20 yrs, but not sure why. I have been there before and know why I haven't returned until now.
(2)Katherine K.
Nice patio seating overlooking Schaumburg and Roselle roads. The food however leaves much to be desired. Case in point what Mexican restaurant has BAD FLAN? The flan was BITTER and TOUGH, RUBBERY! AAAAGH! NO LIKE. All other food items ordered were incredibly average.
(1)Stella K.
The service was great. The food was great. This restaurant located in a small strip mall next to a busy road is a really great place to eat during the summer in their outdoor seating area. They always have weekly specials on drinks and their margarita come in a very large glass!
(4)Stella S.
Pretty good mexican food - chips are okay. Margaritas are good but not as good as Lalos. Veggie fajitas are great since they give you a lot of different veggies. If you sit outdoors, don't sit too close to the shrubbery since if it's been treated the smell can be a little overwhelming.
(4)Sheila M.
This was my favorite restaurant until encountering the worst service I had ever experienced. After the wrong meal was being served, I politely let the busboy know that wasn't what I ordered. The waitress comes out starts a confrontation with me in front of a large group of people I was with pointing and yelling at her notepad stating that I was wrong. What was sent to me is what I ordered. I was so shocked that this even happened. I corrected her in what the order was, and she continued to raise her voice, not let the issue go and kept telling me she was right, she was going to double charge me, and I was wrong. After she blew up on me the customer, who has been coming here for years, she went inside and didn't come back out to serve anything for sometime. When my family went in to check on the situation she said she has never made a mistake in 12 years, and I was wrong. She came and apologized later. It still was the most bizarre, uncomfortable dining situation I had ever had. Especially at a bridal luncheon. It really hurt the mood. The food was always good here, but that doesn't matter. When you work hard for your money, go out to enjoy a special occasion with your family and get yelled at and insulted by the service staff, there is a huge problem. No restaurant is worth that kind of treatment.
(1)R N.
We've lived in Schaumburg over 20 years. El Meson has been around forever. I think they are taking their business for granted. We've been many times in the past. The food portions were always generous and the food delicious. In the past, our biggest beef with the place is that they rush you in and out to turn over tables quicker. We haven't been here for a while, but went last night. It wasn't really crowded, so the "bringing the food out within 5 minutes after ordering" wasn't an issue. What was an issue was the portion sizes of our main courses. My husband ordered the Carne Asada for $15.95. We expected the usual very large piece of steak. What he got was a piece about 4 oz. with a thick, vertically sliced piece of potato under it to make the steak look thicker. My dish, a combination of steak and shredded chicken topped with cheese, was somewhat better. My steak was a decent size (no potato underneath to make it look bigger). But the shredded chicken was on top of a pile of tortilla chips to make it look like a lot, and there was hardly any chicken in between the chips and the cheese. They are getting cheap on us and we probably won't return. My husband thought we went out for Tapas. My suggestion, Los Comales or Taco Patio on Irving Park Road in Hanover Park. Both have outstanding and more authentic Mexican food. el Meson has ambience, yes, but if you love Mexican food you can do better elsewhere.
(1)Justin W.
I enjoy this as one of the better Mexican restaurants in the Schaumburg area. Usually when I bring this place up in conversation with friends, they agree that they have some outstanding food. Usually I don't get steak at a Mexican restaurant, but when I did here, it came out wonderfully! Little to no fat, extremely tender, and accented very well with the sauces.
(5)Sarah D.
Go for the Sunday Bruch. It's resonably priced and the choice of dishes are wonderful. Casual atmosphere, a little on the small side. If you can sit on the outside porch, do!!
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