I was excited to check out this place. It's in a very cool area and the place is huge. I was surprised that we got right in on a Friday night. I went with another couple and we were going dancing afterwards, so I want a good dinner and drinks. I got the jumbo strawberry margarita. It was terrible. It tasted like it was just made from a packaged mix. This place is suppose to be known for it's drinks and I wasn't impressed. I got the mushroom quesadillias. They were pretty good, but not great. Would I go back? Probably not! The salsa was nothing special, along with the margarita. I could have made a better tasting margarita at home.
(2)
Saagar U.
The food was delicious (I got the mushroom quesadillas), however I was very disappointed with the drinks. I got a jumbo margarita, and was given a jumbo glass of ice with a minute amount of a drink (it seemed like my friends regular margarita may have had more to drink). If you do go though, make sure you get a reservation so you don't have to wait 45 mins.
(3)
James C.
Rojo is sweet! Last night me and a few of my buddies went out for taco Tuesday. On Tuesday Rojo has $1 tacos and $2 tequila shots!!!! The atmosphere is very upbeat and happening. They have a DJ in the back who plays music. The bathrooms are immaculate!!! very very clean restaurant. The waitstaff are very accommodating. FOOD - I ordered two Mahi Mahi (fish) tacos, and 3 beef tacos. The Mahi Mahi tacos were alright....to say the least. As for the $1 beef tacos they were great! Very fresh and tasty food and ingredients! My favorite is the habenero sauce! I love that the waitstaff will continually come by your table and give you fresh nacho chips with fresh salsa...or salsa verde or habenero sauce for no extra charge! My only gripe is the lack of flavor in the beef. It taste like boiled beef...which i don't mind I just need more flavor/salt or spice in my meat!!! and that's why i'm giving Rojo 3 stars. DRINKS - The drinks are awesome! on Tuesday you get 2 dollar tequila shots. The bar has a huge extensive tequila selection. ATMOSPHERE - Very dark with tones of black and red. The tables are very clean and inviting. The bathrooms are immaculate. Rojo has a house DJ on Taco Tuesday who will play music. It is very loud inside and when I'm trying to talk with my buddies I usually find myself shouting or yelling trying to hold a conversation. It's a good spot to chill. Rojo is a good spot for the younger (college) crowd If you and your friends are looking for a cool chill place to unwind on Tuesday hit up Rojo! I will surely come back for $3 Fajita Wednesday. *Taco Tuesday $1 Tacos, $2 Tequila shots* *Fajita Wednesday $3 Fajitas*
(3)
Felipe R.
New owners horrible food the appetizer nachos were ok Our two entrees were taken off the bill What's the deal with the bike on the wall
(1)
Taylor A.
I went to Rojo's new location on Grand River next to Better Health, they are no longer located in Fountain Walk. Why the move? I have no idea. I used to work for the company that owned Rojo and Andiamo I am not sure if they are still owned by the same people but man was I surprised when I walked in. They are no longer a high end Mexican restaurant with a huge selection of tequila, I am pretty sure they only sell 1800. They made that very clear. I met up with my sister and a friend on a Friday night and the place was somewhat busy; only seven people sitting at the bar. I ordered the first margarita on the menu (can't remember the name) and the bartender asked me if it was okay that the drink is PRE MIXED and in a GIANTE TUB. I looked at her like she was crazy! Especially, since my sister was sitting right next to me drinking it! Needless to say I went for the hand pour drink instead which is called the Perfect Margarita. I am a totally lightweight and I drank three of these and didn't even have a buzz. My sister also had the red sangria and said the same thing, she couldn't even taste the wine. I didn't order any food but my sister and her friend did and they weren't overly impressed. They said it was just decent Mexican food, nothing special. When I worked for Andiamo we used to always order food from Rojo, I ate so much Rojo food I had their menu memorize. The food they are serving at this new location doesn't even stand a chance. Very disappointing, I hope the location in Rochester hasn't gone down the same path.
(2)
Ann W.
Saturday afternoon, the parking lot at Fountain Walk, where Rojo faces, was packed with movie goers, shoppers and diners. While the temperatures may have dropped, the restaurant itself was warm and inviting. Two large murals in a style similar to that of Diego Rivera, by Andrzej Sikora, feature the making of tequila, from field to factory. Walls of stones in warm tones of brown add to the upscale setting. A meal at Rojo usually begins with table-side guacamole and today was no different. Two avocados were sacrificed for this starter, as were cilantro, peppers, onions, tomatoes and orange juice (instead of lime) for a spicy, simple, well-balanced, and textured, chunky guacamole. While pricey, it was well worth it with the salty restaurant-made chips. These same chips were served with mild salsa; the server offered both salsa verde (with serrano, poblano, and jalapeno peppers) and habanero sauces to adjust the level of spiciness. A departure from the norm, instead of the steak fajitas, I decided on the interesting Seafood Cazuela. Served piping hot, the lobster and tomato-based broth was spicy and brimming with mussels, shrimp, squid, scallops and mahi mahi. In one word: incredible. Other applicable words include: delicious, inventive, and well-made. How have I missed this dish on previous visits? And how to top off this delicious meal? With a tasty portion of light tres leches sponge cake, soaked in condensed and evaporated milk, as well as cream. Each forkful was sweet and yummy. Service was fantastic. The server responded to a ton of questions about ingredients and preparation. Note: the menu features daily specials, including tacos on Tuesdays and fajitas on Wednesday.
(4)
Kim B.
We have always enjoyed meeting friends at Rojo for dinner, but Saturday night we went to their new location on Grand River in Novi and it was a HUGE STEP DOWN. It no longer feels like an upscale restaurant, it feels like your run of the mill Mexican place. The nachos looked like something you would get at Chi-chis, covered in huge amounts of colorless lettuce and a CLUMP of beans in the middle. Really disappointing. HERE WAS THE WORST: I ordered (and drank) THREE red sangrias. They were tasty. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL in my sangrias. Sure, sure, you've heard that before, but I'm serious. I am a lightweight: I can get a buzz from one glass of wine. I pretty much drank $21 worth of juice and left STONE COLD SOBER. I was MAD. Everyone at my table agreed that there was little to no alcohol in their margaritas. Dinner was tasty but nothing outstanding and the portion sizes were small. The prices were good; $12 for the enchiladas. The table-side guacamole was HEAVEN. Too bad. We will not be back to that location. (I hope the other location (Rochester hills) hasn't suffered the same fate.)
(1)
John A.
Good food. Good service. It's Americanized Mexican fare. It's a good place for a quick bite to eat. Went on a Tuesday and found out it was taco Tuesday night. Beef taco and fish tacos were really good. Chicken taco was pretty bland. Have been here in the summer when there was live music on the patio. That's a nice touch. Will definitely return. Also, pass on the table side guacamole service. The guac was pretty bland and not worth the price.
(4)
Ryan E.
Rojo is a very eclectic spin on Mexican cuisine. It has a cool Bar for those looking to unwind after a busy work week. They have a special on Tuesday 2.00 Tacos. Also Kids 10 and under eat free on Sunday's. I enjoyed the Mahi-Mahi and Shrimp Diabla.
(4)
Katherine A.
This place is no longer at this location. They moved off of Grand River by Novi road on the other side of 96.
(3)
Nigel A.
This used to be a nice place to eat but the move to a cheaper place with none of the ambiance of the Fountain Walk location does not make for a good experience. The chips are clearly not home made and no more choices of salsa, just the bland stuff they put out. The food was about as authentic as Taco Bell and maybe not as good. The table side guacamole was ok, the brown tinged guacamole that was on my dinner plate was not so good. Clearly this place has gone seriously downmarket with the location and the food. Sadly this will be our last visit.
(1)
Vishala N.
As I walked into this place I thought wow! This does not look like a Mexican restaurant! There was a nice bar on one side that served a wide variety of Tequilas. I did not make any reservations and it was Friday evening. We were seated immediately. Which was surprising. Our server brought a basket of tortilla chips and a mild salsa. She also set two other sauces on the table. An habanero sauce and a salsa verde. Which I really enjoyed. The salsa served with the chips was good but nothing to write about. I wish they would bake their chips and not fry them. I could see the oil dripping down on the chips. The table side Guacamole is certainly a must although pricey! The service was excellent! Our server was very knowledgable when it came to vegetarian versions in the menu. She informed us that for vegetarians the rice and beans are cooked in water. But, one needs to mention that or you will get the Mexican rice cooked in chicken broth. I ordered Enchiladas with grilled vegetables which was delicious!
(4)
Greg F.
Arrived 6:30 PM 3/3/15. Taco Tuesday. Wife and I met a friend there. Had drinks, queso, and an assortment of tacos and a wet burrito $108 w/tip- not cheap. The location is great, first waitress was great, food just OK. At 7:45 we were told we had to move because a DJ had to use our area. They said they would move us to another table. They did (manager) and the new waitress said we had to order more food or drinks or we had to leave. She was screwed by the manager! And not nice about it! When it was suggested to the manager that maybe he should buy us a beer it was like 'right'. I have been to their former location by Fountain Walk- they moved to Main Street Novi in the past few days. Their food was very good but I've been to several Mexican bistros in Chicago that blow them away. This company's corporate mgmt should do some undercover work on this place. Won't be back soon!
(2)
Jay H.
Ate here last night for cinco de mayo, food was good, service was good. pretty good atmosphere. Ill be back.
(4)
Linda W.
Wow! Has this place gone down hill in quality, food is almost not edible. Prices are still high as if it was still a high end place. Tried it 3 times before writing this review. My friend and I went there and got a few appetizers and seriously had 2 bites, we didn't complain but it was pretty apparent we were not happy and no one cared. This place won't last.
(1)
Loooking F.
I was thinking this is either a two or three stars. Well, atmosphere is good, and nice decoration. We have a big group, the service is okay too. They keep checking on us and make sure we are doing fine. (we come on a quite weekday) The Food i have was not that good. Both the Enchilada and the beans are very salty. The rice is pretty dry, kind of hard chew too. The price is reasonable, but I don't think I want to come back here for Mexican food.
(2)
Jennie S.
The new location on Grand River in Novi was very noisy, the table and seats were wet when we sat down and my husband had rice stuck in his "clean" fork. The food was mediocre at best with not a lot of meat in our dishes. The premium margarita was awesome and service was very good. That's the only reason for the 2 stars.
(2)
Ani B.
i have experienced better. the best part of the food was the Portabella Tacos-savory and rich. the garlic rice was ok but not with mex. food. black beans seemed right out of the can, no seasoning added. So for the price of $11 i got two tacos. hubby got chicken fajitas which he said were ok. refried beans that he got were just salty, no deep flavor added like a little bacon fat, etc. red mex. rice tasted like paste. $12. so quite an expensive meal, about double what one would pay at a real mexican restaurant. chips good, bland salsa. hubby liked the verde out of the squeeze bottle. the habanero added some nice heat, but was wondering what was added to make it pink. waitress fairly disappeared after taking our order. manager and some other dude did check up on us for drink refills. will not return, just too expensive what we got.
(2)
Ernest G.
On March 13, we went in to check this place. It recently opened in the Novi area next to Better Health grocery store. I was excited to see a Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood. Initially, I was put off because of the limited vegetarian choices but my server, Aaron, helped me select a good choice for me. I was so grateful for his help that I asked to talk to the manager to acknowledge his efforts. After 20 or so minutes, the manager decided to come to our table. His attitude was more of "what do you want" Very unpleasant. Very pompous. So in today's environment where we have multiple choices, I will not return. The food was good, the service good - management - lame!!!. You blew it dude. If you were having a bad day, get over it and do your job.
(2)
Varun B.
Food was pretty good, but not great. Not the best mexican place, but definitely not the worst. The salsa that was set out with the nachos was more or less salsa out of a can that you can buy at your local grocery store. We didn't get any appetizers because we weren't super hungry, so we skipped right to the main course. My wife got enchiladas verdes, which she asked for extra spicy. They put some extra green chilies in the sauce and also sauteed some and gave it to her on the side, which gave the dish that extra kick. I ended up getting the chimichanga...felt that it missed the mark a bit. It wasn't as crispy as I had hoped, and the sauce was kind of bland. I had also asked for some spicier red sauce, and what they brought was the diavala sauce from one of their "spicy" shrimp entrees. Reeaally disappointed with that sauce. Tasted like italian origin, if you ask me. Service, on the other hand, was prompt. We had no issues in that respect.
(3)
Amanda O.
This was my first visit to the new location. I have been several times to the old location in Fountain Walk and always had at least a pleasant experience. My friends and chose to meet up here for a few margaritas and some appetizers because that was our tradition for Cindo de Mayo! We were even more excited that it was also Taco Tuesday! We sat and ordered our margaritas. They were served in plastic cups overloaded with ice. We ordered a second round without ice and the waiter brought three more plastic cups with about four ounces of liquid in them. We decided that we would order a beer instead, after all the Taco Tuesdays special was $2 Coronas! And then we were told no. No specials today! Although they had posters plastered on every window and the special was stated on the menu. The manager said his hands were tied because this is what the corporate office wanted. I tried to remind him that he was in charge and correct the issue was within his scope of authority. He disagreed. We asked for our bill and decided to go elsewhere. Right before we left our waiter offered us a free round of drinks via the manager's request. Maybe he call corporate and asked permission. Who know... we will find a new spot for our annual tradition. Our waiter was a nice kid, the only redeeming quality about the experience.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
Service was slow, and food was just ok. Table side guacamole was great, chicken and beef fajitas were meh.
(2)
Dipti R.
We went to this place second time. The first time we went it had a huge wait. The ambience of this place is great. The service is great aswell. Its a great hangout place with friends. But the food is not that great. Also, I found this place too expensive. I would go again for hangout and not really for food.
(3)
Gary A.
Not a fan. Even though we happen to go on a taco Tuesday, which was a good deal, and we did the table side Guacamole - they prepare it fresh at you table as you watch - sort of the Mexican version of Greek op-pa (Flaming cheese). This place just didn't do it for me. The drinks were weak, the food was OK, and the restaurant wasn't the cleanest - from the table, to the chairs , to the floor, to even the sneeze guard on the guacamole cart. The service was slow and the waitress was inexperienced. They give you two options on your salsa, with corn chips , a mid verdi and really hot red - I'm not sure why they went with such extremes. They do have more traditional Mexican food options, but it is pricey. I'm inclined to visit the other local Mexican places I've had better experiences.
(2)
Zeid S.
Average Mexican food. Mostly bland and uninspired. All dishes taste the same. They also charge extra for the sour cream, which we found very inappropriate for a Mexican restaurant of this tier.
(2)
Tanya N.
This was only our second time at Rojo, but it seemed consistent with our first visit. Both times our service has been subpar. Today we asked our waitress for a refill two separate times, but no refill came. Finally, we asked another server, and the drink appeared. She was not attentive in the least bit. Maybe she was new, but I'm thinking she needs more training. I ordered the Huitlacoche Quesadilla. The house blend of cheese that they put on it tastes a bit like I imagine Velveeta tastes. Blech. I think the table side guacamole is a great idea though. You can make it to your specifications. Nice touch.
(2)
Jon W.
Second time at this restaurant, first time at new locale, by Mongolian bbq. Good service but found a wire bristle in my girlfriends gums, hard to complain when you have a gift card and never want to return. Disappointed to say the least for a $60 meal with no satisfaction. Chile relleno was soaked in egg wash and tasted like an omelet.
(1)
Bob S.
To be honest, the boy and I stopped at Fountainwalk looking for Chinese. There was a Chinese place here the last time I stopped, but it seems to have been replaced since then. Anyway, the Rojo....on the plus side, folks were pleasant and accommodating, service was quick and consistent (we were here past peak lunch on a Saturday, so there weren't a ton of people here), the menu is very creative from the apps to the entrees while still including the classics, the chips were fresh and the salsa was as well, containing lots of tomato goodness you could cut with the thick hot sauces they provide. We had Chicken Flautas to start, which were good and served with fresh sour cream and guac, and I then had the pulled pork tacos with bacon. Why? Because they were there. A bit sweet and some greasiness/runniness to the pork sauce which required some care when eating, but tasty and worth a try. The boy had some type of burrito which they made to his specs no problem. The not so good: the decor is a bit weird; the boy pointed out that this is like the Tex Mex version of PF Changs. The food lacked a particular kick or distinct flavor which would have differentiated it from other chains or restaurants; making the meal feel less than fresh which counters the whole table side guacamole thing. Finally, the price was a bit much for a lunchtime excursion. Perhaps at night when the tequila starts pouring and the jet set moves in, it all seems a bit more normal and acceptable.
(3)
Jennifer J.
The prices on Tuesday are unbeatable and the taste of the food is amazing. It can get busy after work hours, so I arrives early because I have my children with me. The waitress was friendly and tolerant of my toddlers and very attentive. We had beef hard, chicken soft, quesadilla and FREE chips and salsa, along with soft drinks.
(4)
Esther G.
When the best part of your meal are the tortilla chips and the shell of your taco salad, you've got some problems. One word sums up the food here: Bland. Bland complimentary salsa. I liked how thick and chunky it was, ensuring that it was homemade. But no flavor. Bland table side guacamole. While it sounded fun to get this appetizer as you watch the avocado being mashed, I'd rather the "table side" part not be available if it compromises flavor. Guacamole needs time for all the flavors to settle, but here you get it served right away. Even at a medium spice level, I was pouring on the spice sauce. Bland meat in the taco salad. While it was a huge and even portions of black beans, bright lettuce, onions, tomatoes and green olives tossed in a light Dijon vinaigrette, the beef lacked ANY sort of flavor. It was like eating browned meat. The lack of flavor throughout the entire meal was quite surprising for a place that looks pretty upscale. There were three bottled salsas/sauces available on the table, but it defeats the purpose of being a Mexican restaurant if you rely on the bottle stuff to give your food any sort of flavor. And for a lunch that came out close to $20 with tip, it's not worth a second visit.
(2)
Roxana B.
Mediocre at best and overpriced. There was a piece of plastic in my salad... Enough said.
(1)
Ernesto T.
I'm giving this place four stars not for the food but for the service and amazing tequila selection. Rojo's tequila selection is by far the most extensive high quality selection I've ever seen in a restaurant. Our waiter,Ryan was very friendly and checked up on us frequently. The price was a little much, but what your really paying for in my opinion is the convenience of having a wide selection of hard to find tequila, not the high quality food a bistro like this should offer.
(4)
Samantha R.
Beautiful inside, interior design is beautiful and the margarita was fantastic. I had the rojo salmon and it was some of the best salmon I've had. Rather pricy but a great date night out.
(4)
Anna N.
Honestly I'm not a huge mexican food fan. I know this is quite ignorant and obnoxious to say but taco bell really satisfies my taco cravings and I don't find the need to visit mexican restaurants like this one. I came here with a group as the wait at bdubs was over an hour and we wanted something much faster than that. We were seated promptly and had a nice enough waitress. I actually can't really remember what my party ordered but one dish came with refried beans that literally looked like they were heaped onto the plate the night before then put in the fridge, taken out as soon as the ordered was received into the kitchen. Like if you were to turn the plate upside down they would have needed a lighter underneath to warm up and drop off. That's really all I can remember about the place, as my first and only visit was last November 2012. I liked the chips and salsa but as some have already mentioned it was like they opened up krogers private selection salsa and poured it out to serve up to customers thinking they're getting real authentic made on site salsa. I know my dish was nice though and I had a nice wine to accompany it too. 3 star review because it was nice but recently I visited a much more authentic mexican just up the road from me at basically 1/4 of the price this total bill in Rojo came to and the food and service blew me away more. That place is Burrito King for anyone looking for more authentic and lower priced, higher quality mexican food.
(3)
Brian K.
This place is offal! Got the chimichanga and they used canned jalapenos? Really? Watery salsa, bland chips. guacamole which was made fresh at the table was best part of meal. Service was 8 out of 10 stars. They need to put more effort into the freshness and quality of the food, especially for the price. Go to "On the border" instead.
(1)
D A.
We stopped in for the first time to Rojo last night with another family and had four kids ages 10-14. We had a slight wait of a few minutes, but sat down in a timely manner. Atmosphere: The place looks great. It looks high end. A place that would be worth a try. Ordering went fine considering the chaos with the kids. The menu has 'Kick Ass Tacos' in large print, and the boys loved that. Drinks arrived quickly. It went slightly south when my friend received his Poblano soup, and I didn't. I figured I must have not ordered it afterall. We ordered fajita's for my wife and myself. My youngest had it also while my older son opted for traditional tacos. Things went slightly south when the food arrived. My soup then arrived. Nothing irks me more than receiving my soup with my meal. So, I returned it. The fajita's and fixings were nothing to really to right home about. It was just okay, and I've had much better at other places for less money. My son's tacos were also just okay. He only ate one of the two, and while boxing it up to go ... I realized that one side of the taco fell apart in a pile of mush. The heat from the rice and beans eroded the taco shell. Our friend's son ordered salmon tacos, and the salmon was breaded nuggets of salmon. I surely wouldn't have eaten it, but he did. One very positive was the waitress. She was very personable. My son never had fajita's before and she actually worked with him on what not to touch before I did. She made it simpler by plating his meat instead of leaving the hot metal plate at the table. She was very attentive and enjoyable. So, if you are going to get drinks and chips, and maybe some munchies... then this would be a good place. I'd stay away from the fajita's. We didn't receive any kid menu's, and assumed they didn't have any. Overall, in this area, there are many other options to choose from. I'd recommend trying the other places (Buff Wild Wings, Lucky Strike, Black Rock or Tilted Kilt) first before spending your money here. To borrow words from another reviewer, this place is all show, and no substance. Looks great though!
(2)
Amy H.
When I was told we were coming here for dinner for a bachelorette party, I was a little skeptical. I've been to the ROchester location before and had a really bad experience as far as service and quality of food goes. This place was waaaay different. There were around 16 girls in our group and our two waiters did a great job. They were super patient and attentive to our needs. The chips and salsa they bring out are additive. They also have a really spicy hot sauce that I LOVE. THe tableside guacamole was really fresh and tasty. I ordered a house margarita (jumob) and it was the size of my head. It was really tasty. I also ordered the taco salad which was delicious. it came in a MASSIVE deep fried tortilla shell and it was filled with shredded chicken, queso fresco, beans, olives, and jalapenos. I love a good taco salad and goddamn, I was a big fan of this one. I know this isn't authentic Mexican food in any way, but I still enjoyed myself.
(4)
Julie S.
Sat up at the bar and had a drink with a friend. Her margarita had a bug in it. That is nasty. I don't really want to flag down a bartender for service when there are only 2 other people at the bar besides us. If you would rather talk to those other people and ignore us you should clock out and be a patron. I can give a bartender the benefit of the doubt if the place is crazy busy but it wasn't. Food? Wasn't willing to take a chance on that!
(1)
Greta D.
Great concept, but miss managed. This is suppose to be a premium Mexican restaurant, so we have tried it several times. The service is hit and miss. Last night our waitress got everything right, but it was obvious she was trying to turn the table. Kept pushing us to order right after we got our drinks, brought the desert tray while some of us were still working on the entree, was frustrated that we wanted to wait to order desert, and then dumped the bill off right after ordering the desert. Cleanliness is not a priority to this restaurant. Dishes, wait staffs clothes, and general appearance of the restaurant always look dirty. Food wise the main dishes are usually pretty good, but the side items are often dried out. Last night the refried beans on all of our plates looked like they had been plated right when we placed out order and sat under a heat lamp while the rest of the meal was being prepared. Cannot recommend
(2)
Rola S.
The ambience here is great. I love that people were not sitting on top of each other, very spacious. I had the spicy guacamole enchilada's, and ordered my burrito with black beans instead of refried beans....I don't like meat. I only wish the black beans were left whole. The enchiladas were delicious. My friend ordered the spicy shrimp fajaita's, I didn't try them but was told they were good, and not great. The only thing I didn't like was the spicy sauce was all over my burrito with a squirt of sour cream, I ordered extra sour cream. My rice was cold, and not tasty at all. Portions are small, but that's how I like my portions. There was no room for dessert.
(3)
Samantha L.
I was pretty excited about trying Rojo for the first time and had chosen to treat a family member to a birthday dinner (there were 3 of us). The menu looks vast and impressive and I was happy to give this place a try. Unfortunately, though the descriptions of the food sounded delicious, the flavors fell far short of it. We all ordered different varieties of kick ass tacos. None of us were terribly impressed with them, but since I only tasted my own meal, I will only speak to that. I ordered the Tacos al Pastor and added a Steak Taco to that. With both tacos, the meat was far from flavorful. It didn't appear to have any seasoning, and tasted more like boiled meat. Very disappointing. As far as the al pastor tacos were concerned, there was indeed pineapple on it, but it was certainly NOT roasted as described. It didn't even taste ripe, let alone roasted, which would have likely sweetened it some. It may have been fresh pineapple, but the pieces looked like the canned chunk kind. Also, each of the tacos had a heap of red onions in it tossed in a spicy sauce. I thought they each were supposed to come with different sauces, but that is even beside the point. The taste of the onion/sauce mixture really dominated everything in the taco. It made for an extremely unbalanced flavor. When I removed some of the mixture, it was more balanced, but since the meat was so bland, the tacos were still not flavorful. And even though each of the tacos had 2 tortillas each, the tortillas still ripped really easily. Like they were steamed, or something. All-in-all, the kick ass tacos failed to even give me a light shove. And I have to say, the re-fried beans tasted like beans out of a can. Yuck. I don't want to leave out the good points of the experience. Our service was very good. The salsa was actually quite flavorful. We enjoyed the appetizer we all shared, and each of us really enjoyed our respective desserts. One other thing that puzzled me though is that it was a happy hour all day (Thursday) and the advertisement at the table read that specialty margaritas were $5 all day. When I asked the server about the $5 margaritas, she said only the house margarita was $5, which is odd because that is the regular price anyway. She said all of the other margaritas, which appear to be the specialty ones, were regular price. So either she was mistaken or Rojo might consider re-wording the description of happy hour on the cards at the table. I don't think anyone considers the house margarita the specialty margarita. I realize this is just one person's opinion, but since all 3 of us were pretty disappointed, I don't think I'm alone. My first visit will be my last. I relayed my comments directly to Rojo. They never cared to reply.
(1)
David B.
The food here was excellent! Had the queso dip as an appetizer, 3 chunky beef tacos and a cherry cheesecake. All were delicious. Make sure you get the diabla sauce on the side of your entree. Has a bit of a kick, but it's great on the tacos. Only downside is the menu is mostly different types of tacos, not a huge variety of other things. But there were lots of different tacos. Will definitely be going back soon.
(4)
Lisa W.
A Sunday evening at Rojo... The Good , The Bad and the Ugly ! The Good... pretty standard Americanize Mexican food. The table side prepared Guac was excellent. Our server was very good. Fish taco's very good grilled Mahi Mahi The steak fajitas , just ok. the "juices" they were served in were a little thick/gooy. The Bad... my date. Guys, if you want to watch a playoff game.....fine, watch it....but not on the LAST time your going out with a woman. Pay attention to one thing...and in this case it was not me. The Ugly... a couple of housekeeping issues. We got there about 6 pm and the carpeted floor in the section we were seated was a mess with nacho chip crumbs.... looked like a kids birthday party just left. nice place...nasty floor. my other complaint was the salsa. Tasty but very mild... at the table are two types of hot sauce that you add yourself to kick up the heat. Fine, but both bottles were just about empty and stickier then hell on the outside. Not knowing what was on the outside and who had been touching them, I had to wash my hands before eating finger food. BTW NY won ...yea !
(3)
Jane X.
The food here was mediocre at best! It's such a rip-off! I think customers agree since the place was pretty much deserted on a weekday during lunch rush. The place looks really nice but I think it's all show and no substance unfortunately. The food isn't bad but it certainly isn't great and definitely not for the price. Tried the portobella tacos - drowned in oil. The sides of beans and rice were tiny portions as well.
(2)
Gary S.
I've never heard of a Mexican Bistro before. Maybe that's because bistro is a French word for a small restaurant. Rojo is neither small nor French, just saying. Mexican it is though, and in that regard it is average at best. Luckily there was no wait on the Saturday evening I ate there. The service was excellent and after a bit of a wait for chips and salsa, I was impressed how quickly our dinners came out. I had a chimi which was soaked with too much sauce, making it a bit soggy and completely eliminating that delicious crunch of deep fried burrito I was craving. The beans were dry. My wife had enchiladas and she was also underwhelmed with the flavor. Prices are reasonable considering the premium feel inside. But I can think of a number of Mexican restaurants with much better quality food for even lower prices. I probably won't be back to Rojo, the Mexican Bistro.
(3)
Susan R.
This is a fun place with a great atmosphere but the food is horrible. I have eaten here twice and both times my food tasted like it was a TV dinner. My husband got a veggie burrito and it looked like the vegetables had been frozen and warmed up for his meal. Also everything is way too salty.
(2)
Kelsey H.
Decent texmex, I like the vegetarian options like the mushroom quesadilla. The table side guac is out of this world too. The server was impatient and it's not the place for bigger parties more than 10. They gave us a hard time for having a work party there consisting of around 15 people.
(3)
Kate H.
I don't know what the fuss is about. Food is overpriced for an average Mexican food. This particular Rojo had an awful waitstaff. The runner dropped every single dish on his way to our table. They were running out of fundido dishes and tried to get us to give ours up before we were done.
(2)
Jeremy M.
Meh. I've been to a few Mexican spots around the city and I honestly think this place is more about the sizzle than the actual steak (that's figurative, I didn't try their steak). The Good: * They have a giant tequila selection which is cool. * they do table side guacamole which is a cool novelty, but that's about it. More on that below. * they had a pretty talented live acoustic performer in house. * staff was nice and courteous. * margaritas were great * food came out at pretty quick ad the order was correct. The Bad: * the staff knew hardly anything at all about the tequilas they offered. So being a novice, I couldn't justify spending $20 on a shot of vintage aged anejo tequila * the food was, well, do you remember Chi Chis? It seems they've put more effort into the appearance of the establishment than the quality of their menu. It was average at best, I'd liken it to an Applebee's of Mexican food. Not bud, just very very average. * for the price, it wasn't worth it. Severely overpriced. We paid $9 for tableside guacamole, which was cool, but the actual product? I honestly had to take lines from our margaritas and squeeze some in and add salt. Then it was okay at best. Anyone who says the guacamole is "amazing" has no idea what good guacamole is, or we just coincidentally got an average "cook" The Ugly: * More on the food. I had the enchiladas and it was as if there was no seasoning. Dry, DRY rice (it seriously could have been zattarains brand boxed rice, seriously), very runny refried beans probably to stretch them out further and the tiniest enchiladas I've ever had... For $13? It was frustrating. My wife had the fish mahi mahi tacos. They were dry sauteed chunks of fish again absolutely no seasoning. We had to ask for some limes to squeeze on the tacos to step up the flavor. Her rice and beans were the same as mine, what youd expect from a cafeteria. In closing, all in all i would never go here for the food. Unless you're expecting Chi Chi's-grade chain restaurant food. The drinks are fantastic and the layout and overal design of the establishment is pretty cool, but I'd never go here for anything but pre-dinner drinks. Seriously, it's not worth your hard earned money. $100 for 4 $9 margaritas an appetizer and two plates of insanely bland food is way over the top. im not kidding, taco bell seasons their food better. Judging by the quality of the food, it seems they've put so much money into the design and decoration and maintaining a gigantic list of fancy tequila that they cant afford to put money into their menu and maintain fresh food of any quality. Im pretty sure this place wont be here much longer as I get the sneaking suspicion they are stretching the food and making it cheaply to make ends meet. And if they aren't now, they soon will be.
(2)
Vic D.
The place has really gone downhill. The menu has been revamped and you can only buy multiples of the same taco, not mix-and-match like before. Tableside guacamole was still good, but the portion was notably smaller. My Camarones Rellenos, the most expensive thing on the menu, were overcooked and plopped atop a really gloppy and unappetizing cheese sauce. The chef must fave forgotten to take the "chef's potatoes" out of the refrigerator before they were plated -- they were ice cold. The same problem happened with the potatoes on my wife's plate, which were also replaced. Her carne asada was just OK. For the money we spent, the quality should have been much higher. 1.5 stars and no reason to go back.
First this is not an authentic Mexican or even New Mexican place. I wouldn't expect it to be with the word "bistro" in the title. But I love the atmosphere and service here. I am always treated very nice and I am always served promptly. Their prices are a little high, but not so high that I don't return. The food and drinks are actually pretty good. I wish the food was somewhat hotter when it arrived, nonetheless, it's still delicious. The enchiladas are my favorite as well as the queso appetizer. They have quite a few different margaritas and they are potent without tasting overly strong. Some of the best! They have great salsa also. Every week they have a tequila tasting so you can try out some of their many varieties. They have certain times of the day when you can get discounts and they have a nifty discount card that comes in handy. On weekends I would call in to make a reservation because they get pretty busy.
(4)
Mary Y.
I just don't buy it negative nellies...Rojo is worth a visit simply for the guac. Made tableside by a lovely young man, it was my first delve into the food. The staff was awesome, and in particular our waitress Natalie. She was so attentive and pleasant, and offered to keep our leftovers in the cooler until we went to the movies and stopped by after. I had stock chicken quesadillas, which were very good. I've had the lobster quesadillas before, which were better. We had 2 visits from the owner while there, making sure everything was ok. We had no wait, but we did call for reservations ahead of time. I enjoyed in particular the Diego Rivera paintings all over the walls, and it made me want to go back down to the DIA. We didn't have room for dessert but it was looking yummy. BTW, $31 for 2 of us for apps and drinks + entrees I don't consider expensive. For snooty Fountain Walk, I expected a higher price tag.
(4)
Darian R.
Things I expect any restaurant to do at the bare minimum: sit us at a table, bring us drinks, take our order, bring our order, refill our drinks, bring our check and let us pay before we leave in a timely manner. They didn't do any of these things. The food is okay. No different than any other tex-mex place. It was pretty much empty, yet our waiter was difficult to locate. We had to ask passers by to track him down a few times. Brought us the wrong food after asking us 3 times. My coworkers go on Tuesdays for dollar tacos. I think it'd be worth it for that but we aren't ever going back for a meal.
(2)
Molida K.
After going to Comic-Con at the Suburban Show Center and being sorely disappointed, my group and I decided to try Rojo because it was down the road. The ambiance was great--hip Latin music, the beautiful "Rojo" hues that the restaurant is aptly named for, and friendly waitstaff. However, ambiance does not save the day. I can deal with crappy servers and a crowded restaurant, but if the food is good, I will gladly grin and bear it. Sadly Rojo's food did not do a single thing for me. I ordered the Lobster tacos and for $13.99 for two tacos you would think there would be lobster in it. Not even close. I should have taken a picture for it because it was absolutely pathetic. The lobster was minced and chopped so finely that it literally became part of the tomatillo sauce it was cooked in or combined with. I really felt ripped off. There was plenty of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in the tortilla but NO LOBSTER. I don't think I'll come here ever again or any other Rojo joint in Metro Detroit. Sure you can gussy up a place but you cannot make up for the lack of quality in food.
(2)
Craig L.
When we first came to Rojo several years ago, we were disappointed, but when we tried it again two years ago, it became one of our favorites. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, and the service is great. If you are frequent diner, I would recommend the loyalty card and making reservations through Open Table, though reservations are rarely needed. If you haven't checked it out in a while, give it a try. Tonight, we had the table side made guacamole, and it was GREAT!
(5)
Chayan K.
Atmosphere, Id say I would give this 4 stars. Waitstaff, dedicated and on the ball but 3 stars. Drinks 2 stars, based on what I had. Food 1 arar
(2)
Klee L.
Not bad. Better than expected. Accommodating when I wanted a custom dinner combo. Hubby liked his burito too. And he was determined not to like the food. The tequila is over priced and I drink patron gold at home so I know what it cost. So for decent Midwest Mexican food it's a place to go. Service was fine by the way.
(3)
Scott P.
My wife and i decided to try this place on a Saturday night. First off, our reservation was already waiting a half hour early, so that was nice. Our waitress was very nice, and actually took the time to laugh at my lame jokes. (which was even more impressive lol) - Food wise i got the queso, which was more like fried cheese with chili in it. Not bad, but not what i had expected. The Salsa was great. I got the chunky beef burrito... the meat was nice and tender... overall, it was pretty good. I would definitely go back, but i think next time i'd probably go with typical mexican fare and see how they do that.
(4)
Robert P.
I hate coming back to yelp to write a review that is negative but that is usually what does it for me... Rojo is a waste of time. If you want to be a Mexican restaurant that charges medium range prices you better be above average considering there are so many mom and pops places that are cheap and could run you into the grave...that goes for Vietnamese restaurants as well...yea Da Nang i am talking to you... No chips and salsa were brought to our table...calamari was less then average...mahi fish tacos were so dreadful...if i have to eat carbs make it worth it...green enchiladas were lame...and finally i have had better beans and rice at taco bell...no offense TB...just don't go and waste your money my fiends and you will thank me later.
(2)
Harry B.
Finally a great Mexican restaurant on this side of the D... I have become a regular of this place. Their table-side handmade Guacamole is special and you can have it made your-way.. Another favorite of mine are the fish tacos... Oh did I mention they have more than 200 different kinds of tequila :)) On a side note, Friday and Saturday nights can be a lot busy, just like any other nice restaurant.. So I recommend prior reservation for these nights.
(4)
Holly G.
I grew up in Southern California, so I'll admit that I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to Mexican food...I've had a hard time finding any place that meets my standards. My top 3 requirements are: #1-Great Guacamole #2 Fresh & Yummy Tortillas and #3 A Good Margarita (Rocks/Salt--NOT frozen!) Based on these standards alone, Rojo gets a B. Loved the idea of the table-side guac...it was good, but expensive for the portion-- adding OJ was a nice idea, but I prefer the acidity of lime juice. The Tortillas were nice & fresh. I ordered the house Margarita & was impressed with its smoothness. My hubby had the fish tacos, which are typically a favorite of ours, but they were not good. The fish was well prepared, but the seasonings & cabbage/slaw took away from the dish. I loved my mushroom quesadilla & have been craving it ever since...perfect cheese to mushroom ratio. YUM!
(3)
Naveen N.
Great tasting food with a nice ambiance
(4)
Scott S.
Beware of the horrendous service you might encounter at Rojo in Fountain Walk. If you do, make sure to speak with a manager there as they will try to makeup for for their waitstaff's fails. Here are two of my experiences the past few times going there: My wife, one year old and I got seated and in 15 minutes not one of the three servers that walked by us once made eye contact. We were never given any tortilla chips or water. It was like we weren't even there. Ten minutes after waiting, a table of four sits down and within minutes has chips, water and getting their drinks placed. That was the final straw. With the one year old getting antsy we stormed out and the manager stopped to see what the problem was. I gave him quite an earful and he was very apologetic saying he wanted to make it right. He sat us down a different area near the front and of course we got great service along with not having to pay for the bill. After getting seated with four adults, two toddlers and a baby, we were hoping to get our order placed quickly. After waiting 10 minutes, the waiter says sorry I cannot take your order right now and I'll be back in a few minutes. Over ten minutes later he took our order. I ordered soup and fajitas with extra onions. After a 30 minute wait, I get my fajitas with no onions and two slices of peppers. To make matters worse, the beef was luke warm. A few minutes later they bring the soup. Seriously? Why would I want the soup with my dinner unless I specifically requested it to be? I said no thanks and asked again for my onions. Ten minutes later as I'm almost done with the fajitas, they brought out a plate of onions. I spoke with the manager and went over all the fails - he apologized and took care of the bill. Bottom line, keep your fingers crossed you get seated in a good section or you might be in for a rude awakening.
(2)
Mary M.
Pretty good restraunt for people with Gluten Allergies. They are willing to make any of their a-la carte tacos gluten free. There are many choices for gluten free people. Will definitely be going back.
(4)
Christina K.
It's located in the former Bamboo Club location and the interior has a great ambiance about it! The menu was fairly basic in a Mexican restaurant ranging from fajitas served in a sizzling plate, burritos, tacos, etc. They did put lobster in some of the items which I thought was a little unnecessary. We ordered the fresh guacamole which they make table side which was way yummy!! They also have a huge Tequila menu so if you're a fan I would definitely recommend this place! Overall the food was good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. I could probably go over to Mexican town and eat the same stuff for a third of the price!
(4)
Miike G.
This place has great decor, fair service and steep prices for Mexican food. I have been twice, once for lunch and dinner. I would advise stopping in for only for lunch. They have very reasonable "lunch specials". Remember no matter how good the "fresh avocado guacamole" sounds avoid it. It's $$ and is nothing special. There chips and salsa are some of the best I've had. The only catch is they cost $4. First Mexican place to charge me for chips while dining in.
(3)
Amy P.
Went to Rojo on a Friday around 5:30 and had no problem getting a table. I gave Rojo 3 stars because of a few things. I knocked off a star due to the terrible service we had. I also knocked a star off due to the price and the terrible entree I had. So the chips and salsa they bring to the table are pretty good. The salsa is a little acidic for my taste but still good. And it's a very generous portion of salsa which is nice. The 2 side sauces they bring with the salsa are delicious as well. One packs a lot of heat and the other is a little smokey, nice combo. Both by boyfriend and I ordered the chicken soup. It was a little salty, but pretty good. The broth seemed home made and had a nice flavor despite the salt, and there are nice pieces of chicken in the broth. Still pretty good soup though. Now on to the entrees. I ordered the Signature Chopped Salad with Shrimp. It was terrible, not even edible. It's probably my fault for ordering a salad at a Mexican restaurant as my boyfriend pointed out, but still, it's pretty hard to mess up a salad. Where do I start? The lettuce was romaine, but it was all the dark green, wilted parts of the romaine. I thought even if the salad was bad, at least there are shrimp. Well the shrimp were limp, disgusting and small. They seemed exactly like the shrimp you would buy frozen at a grocery store and just thaw and serve. Which isn't bad if that's what your buying, but if I'm spending $16 dollars on a salad I expect better quality. All this wouldn't be terrible if it could be disguised by a decent dressing, but the dressing was horrendous. It had very little flavor, it was disgusting and I couldn't even make out what it was made of. My boyfriend got the chunky beef burrito. And it was delicious! The beef was seriously good and perfectly sized for a burrito. The day after and my boyfriend is still talking about this burrito. I tried it and it was great. It seems like it comes in a gravy, whatever it is it's great. It's served with rice, refried beans, guacamole and slaw I think. All the flavors combined made for a great flavor. The best part of our meal (Well mine) was the Perfect Margarita. Hands down the best margarita I've had. So fresh tasting and it didn't taste like nasty fake sour mix. You could tell they use fresh, quality ingredients, and for the price I would hope they would. Definitely worth it! Now the service. It was terrible. We waited forever for our server to come. When he did, he tried way too hard to upsell us (I used to be a server myself) and he was too pushy. We ordered a liter of margarita and it took him forever to come back. The restaurant wasn't busy by any means and we were his only table when we arrived. Asked for 2 waters with our margaritas and never received them. Once our meal came he never checked on us once so I couldn't tell him about my terrible salad. We set our credit card out on the table and I for sure thought he would notice it and get us our tab, but he walked by 2 times and never noticed. Tried to flag him down and he didn't see. 15 minutes after we were done eating and a bus boy cleared our dishes and he still hadn't come back to our table. Finally had to loudly say excuse me when he was coming by again to get his attention to cash out. Didn't ask about our meals or anything. I think Rojo is the type of place that could get 4-5 stars if you knew what to order and asked for a specific server. I'd go back for the margaritas alone, and that chunky beef burrito though!
(3)
Amanda K.
I really feel bad about giving a one-star review. Why? Because I don't think Rojo in Novi even deserves that star. I remember the days when this place would be PACKED; probably because of the (formerly) awesome "Rojo chicken soup," that I would pine for. Gone are the days of that yummy lime flavored broth, sprigs of fresh cilantro, and an adequate amount of chicken. BF and I went here because we were in the 12 Oaks area, and it seemed like the least boring of the chain choices around. We really didn't have to wait at all, and it was a Friday night, which I found kind of odd. That should have been the first hint. Despite the average amount of customers that were there, we had to wait 20 minutes to even get greeted by our waitress. She took our drink orders, but never brought our drinks. Ummm... ok. We did have water, so that's what we had, until I reminded her TWICE that we ordered drinks. Finally she brought BF's Diet Pepsi, but still seemed to forget mine. The Food: I wouldn't feed this stuff to the stray cat that I feed. I wouldn't even feed it to a hermit crab. No living entity should have been served the slop that we were that night. Oh, and it took an hour to get this alleged food. Now I know I have high expectations, but I don't expect an exceptional meal from a chain. However, this chain is owned by Andiamo's and I expect at the very least, palatable food. BF ordered fajitas and I ordered fish tacos. The fajitas were brought to the table first, and instead of the meat and veggies being served on the hot griddle, they were brought to the table in a bowl (??), and then dumped on to the griddle, splattering hot oil and steam all over BF. The meat was cooked okay, but the vegetables were cut in a way that was most certainly not conducive to a fajita. It was as though the peppers were cut into quarters and then plopped into a pan for a minute. They were so thickly cut that they weren't even cooked through. Also, when he opened up the tortilla container, nothing but dried out, cold tortillas were smushed in there, along with a damp piece of wax paper. Appetizing, no? As for my fish tacos, I really can't attest to the taste. The fish... oh, the smell. The fish smell was so strong, it was making the people next to us make faces. Being a cook myself, I know that if you can smell fish, especially a very mild white fish like the tilapia they served, you don't eat that fish. I did take a small bite of the fish filet, and it was definitely rancid. I asked the waitress back, and explained to her that I was uncomfortable eating fish that I was pretty certain went bad. She took it back, and asked what else I wanted. Remember that chicken soup I mentioned? I started thinking about that. I wanted that soup. The lime broth, the chicken, the cilantro... anything to get the rancid fish taste out of my mouth. So I ordered the soup. I was appalled at what came out. The broth was almost completely clear; it looked and tasted like water with maybe a little bit of chicken broth. There was no cilantro in it at all. And the chicken? A GIGANTIC clump of shredded chicken was just plopped into the water-broth. And in it was mixed up soppy shreds of what I can guess were tortilla. I took a few bites, and then just sent that back. The waitress said that she was not going to charge for the rancid tacos that I didn't eat, or the watery chicken that I didn't eat, out of the kindness of her heart. I asked to see a manager, but she never brought one over. After waiting another 20 minutes to get the check, we paid for the one meal that was somewhat tolerable and left. I'm not sure where the 5 star reviews are coming; is it possible that we had a freak occurence? Sure, I guess. But it's a chance I'm not taking again.
(1)
Michelle L.
First of all, let me start off by saying DO NOT GO HERE! This was the biggest waste of time and money I have ever experienced. The only reason why we went was because we had a gift certificate. Lets start at the beginning. First, there was a 45 minute wait, not sure why we even waited. We sat down at the bar and ordered frozen margaritas and the bartender tells us she recommends a flavored one because "they taste watered down" when you get them frozen. I have been to plenty of mexican restaurants that have great flavorful frozen margaritas. They did taste watered down, they didn't taste like anything at all really. Then we get our guacamole (which was supposed to be done tableside and was not, she didn't even ask) and salsa. The salsa was basically canned tomato sauce with a few chopped canned tomatoes in there and about one piece of cilantro. It was disgusting! How can a mexican restaurant not have good salsa?? The guacamole (which was $9) tasted like nothing, and they don't even use lime juice, they use concentrated orange juice! Awful! When it came to dinner, we were not so excited. I ordered the mahi mahi fish tacos, and all I could smell was this overwhelming fish smell as she placed them in front of me. It really turned me off, plus they were very salty. My mom got the chicken flautas which were dry and had no flavor at all. My dad got the ground beef wet burrito, which he claimed to be good though it did not look so good (he's not too picky). To top it all off the service was awful. Our bartender was rude. Our waitress was just as rude and didn't pay any attention to us. She never came over and asked how our food was once. Also, the hostess told us when we came in that "its worth the wait", I made sure to let her know that it was NOT worth the wait on out way out, she didn't take that so well either, rolling her eyes. Overall this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. On top of that it was the most expensive mexican I've ever had as well as the worst! PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE!!
(1)
Tina J.
Beautiful interior, great location, guacamole is ok, nice service, amazing desserts.
(4)
Zac H.
The food was fantastic but it took 20 minutes for someone to finally come take my payment to pay the bill.
(4)
Chuck H.
This Rojo is decent, but I greatly prefer the one at Partridge Creek. No real complaints other than seating us next to the two other occupied tables in the place while the fat helicopter mom at the next table talked at her friends non-stop at volume setting 11 about her dumb kid for over an hour straight. Not Rojo's fault she sucked, but it didn't help seating us there.
(3)
Spencer K.
Quesadilla with special cheese and mushrooms. Chips and salsa were nice, had special sauce to add to spice it up a bit. Pretty standard Mexican fare, can't really go wrong. Notch up from Chili's
(3)
Rachel K.
I had a great time here the other night. I've been here twice now, once closer to it's grand opening a few years back, and the last visit this past Saturday. We did go around 6 pm on a Saturday, looking mostly to get a drink, so the place was almost dead. We were sat quickly, and our waiter was at our table in a matter of seconds to suggest a few drinks. We settled on a pitcher of Red Sangria, and also ordered the tableside guacamole. I'm not sure if I just wasn't a fan of the sangria or if it really was just cranberry juice, but it wasn't the taste I was expecting. Not bad, but not their specialty either. Their drink menu is extensive, featuring a number of tequila based cocktails, so maybe stick with what their known for, the tequila, instead. The guacamole was amazing. We ordered the mild, and our waiter made it in front of us. About $8 for the tableside guac, it was well worth it. Our tacos and burritos were great as well. Some of their menu items are on the pricier side, no doubt, but the serving sizes are huge. I stuck with the steak tacos while my sister ordered a vegetarian wet burrito. We were both happy with our choices. I think that Rojo's food is a step above standard Mexican chain food, both taste and price wise, so I don't know that you can compare it to the cheap chain down the street. Price wise, I'm not sure I'd be a frequent visitor (especially if you're sticking to something basic, like tacos), but taste wise, I'd gladly come back.
(3)
Lynn H.
Although the drinks were tasty and the service friendly, it didn't compensate for the so-so food. I expected better for the price.
(2)
Kate G.
Great casual place for upscale Mexican food. Their new taco menu is DELISH. Super fresh ingredients, good service. Highly recommend the table side guacamole. Best guac I've ever had!
(5)
Dave G.
Nice building, but it is food that counts. They dont use real cheese, it is some kind of Pastured Cheese food that coats your mouth. The chucks of beef were old and microwaved before being dumped in a tortilla and grilled with a press. The drinks were fine, but my wife had her's taken before she was done. Ask before you snatch things from a table. And worst of all, the beans and rice were cold. Really, you don't have a system to have the side everyone gets ready to eat? I was given a free meal and appetizer coupon and asked if I would please give them a second chance. I wont be using that.
(1)
David B.
Pretty good for a chain Mexican place. We had out team dinner there and they were pretty accommodating to out 16 people that we had in our group. The service was excellent and we never really had to wait for anything. The food was average and what I would get in any run of the mill Mexican restaurant. We ordered the Queso Dip and it was barely enough for feed 2 people. I had the enchiladas and they were pretty tasty but with hardly any rice. Medium price, small portions. I'd go back though because the service was excellent.
(4)
Denise Z.
The ambience is nice, and they have great jalapeno/habenero sauces, but that's about it. The food was BLAND. I had the chicken enchiladas verde and my husband had the carne esada. We had the guacamole made table side - no taste what so ever. The margaritas were weak. I can't understand why the place was full and there was a wait to get seated. Prickly Pear in Ann Arbor is WAY better.
(1)
Ruth G.
To Rojo, image is everything, and quality food and customer service is insignificant. If the most important thing to you is decor and fancy plates, that's about all Rojo has to offer. If you want a good meal served in a reasonable amount of time and decent customer service, eat elsewhere. We went on a Saturday night, and expected the usual Saturday night wait. The hostess told us 45 minutes. We were not seated until nearly an hour and a half (twice the estimate!) after being put on the wait list. This is certainly not industry standard - not in any restaurant at which I've dined or been employed. We attempted to speak to both the hostess and the manager about it. Both essentially gave excuses, told us that they often book reservations beyond capacity, and said that we should have expected that a "45 minute wait" could mean "up to two hours." I guess, as customers paying $60+ for mexican food, we were supposed to feel lucky to even be there. The food was sub-par and in incredibly small portions. At $10-$12 per platter, I would expect some kind of interesting "gourmet twist" on mexican cuisine, or at least something better than Mexicantown or the oh-so-mediocre americanized "mexican" food you can find in any suburb across the country. I was sadly mistaken. Our flautas were barely-glorified taquitos, and the chicken was stringy, dry, and unseasoned. The only thing unique about this mexican food is that it is served on a trendy oval platter and the portions are pathetically small (again - not industry standard for mexican restaurants). The food took over a half hour to arrive, which is disappointing given the fact that all of the offerings had essentially the same ingredients and should not have taken that long to prepare on any night of the week. No chips and salsa are provided to quench our hunger after waiting 1.5 hours to sit and another half hour for our food. Chips and salsa are $5, and they serve the salsa in trendy square bowls 1/4 full so that you have to ask for refills whenever you waiter happens to stop by your table (it took 15+ minutes to get salsa refills). For our party of four, there was enough salsa for us each to have about four chips. Again, after 2 hours of waiting for dinner, this was very unfulfilling. We also ordered guacamole, which was $8 (yikes!). The waiter said that it is normally served at the table and would be a 20 minutes wait. 20 minute wait for guacamole? Is he joking? I said kitchen prep was fine to avoid the wait, but this didn't knock down the price. When it was served, it was not even half an avocado's worth of guacamole - another pathetic portion. It was also rather bland. I've had better guacamole at Qdoba (which isn't the greatest guacamole). On top of this, the wait staff repeatedly tried to squeeze in between our chairs and the column behind us, even though there was an actual path designed for such traffic a foot away. Funny - doesn't shoving your customers repeatedly during their meal detract from your "fashionable" image? We were bumped in our heads several times. Overall, we were stunned with the staff's amateur customer service skills. Everyone in my party had worked or currently works in Novi restaurants with similar turnouts on weekends, and they did an absolutely terrible job of handling it. The food was no better than Chili's, and at twice the price with bad service, their trendy tableware is not enough to get me to ever set foot in there again. Rojo thinks image is everything. I doubt it will stay in business once its "trendy" image gets old. It may be the restaurant du jour to the tragically hip, but even their attention span for this kind of nonsense is guaranteed to linger to the next "great" thing soon.
(1)
Jeff M.
Ok, ...my wife found the ad for Rojo in the "Hour" magazine last month and wanted to try it, and, ...who am I to say no?? :) Anyhow ... Let's start w/ the chips and salsa, ...NICE! Love the fresh, and the hot that you can mix in to your own taste. Chips tasted crisp and fresh. My wife LOVES guac, ...so, ...of course, we had the "guac at the table" app, minus tomatoes (per the boss :) ) Delicious! Very nicely done, mixed nice and creamy, and the orange juice adds a nice touch. My wife had the Fish Tacos, and I had the camarones rellenos. Truth be told, the Fish tacos were "OK" at best, and the presentation was ...very plain! The camarones rellenos were very good, I must admit! A nice little bit of heat, nicely seasoned veggies, and shrimp were cooked just right, thankfully! Our watier was "so-so" ...he forgot my wifes second margarita, and I had to give the bill to the manager to have it rung up because he "disappeared" on us. I'm going with 3 stars because of the chips and salsa, the guac and the camarones rellenos. The service and fish tacos take it down a notch for sure. The prices are high for what is coming out of that kitchen in my personal opinion. Would I go back?? Probably not....the draw, for us, just isn't there. If there was a 2.5 star rating, ...I'd give it 2.5 for sure ....
(3)
Joanna L.
My best friend is half Mexican. She says that the chef there is actually Mexican. Bonus points. But... was the food all that? Meh. Chips and salsa - pretty good. Guacamole. Not bad either. I'm surprised they didn't have the stone bowls that have become a little kitschy in all other Mexican restaurants. Ordered the chicken flautas. Not bad, but I wouldn't rave about them either. I just didn't think there was anything particularly special about those flautas. I've had flautas elsewhere and I think the problem is that they all taste about the same. The meh? The chicken was a little tougher that it probably should've been and I think that they could've done better in presentation and how the guac was presented on top. The verdict? Good atmosphere. Cheap drinks. Food is pretty cheap too (disclaimer: I'm used to NYC prices). I paid for myself and my friend and it was about $38 w/tax and tip. I tossed in a little more on top just because we had a group of over 10 there for a Bachelorette party and the waitress did a nice job of taking care of us (thanks!). Would possibly return if I were in the Novi area.
(3)
Anonymous R.
Rojo is at Fountain walk in Novi. Love the location. We tried it and really enjoyed it. The food was good and margaritas were awesome! Some of the best margaritas I have had. Our waiter was a little discombobulated but he was friendly and meant well. I would certainly return for taco tuesday!
(4)
Amy B.
I was looking forward to this visit but came away disappointed. The table side guacamole lacked flavor. I ordered chicken enchiladas which were dry and I would almost seemed microwaved. Atmosphere is cool but food not worth the trip.
(2)
Toni C.
Wow what a rip off this place is! Let's start at the beginning, I read the reviews on here before I went and many said the table side guacamole was good so I went for it. Was it made table side? I don't know but if it was it wasn't at my table. Actually I guess you could say it kind of was because I had to add the lime from my margarita to it and some salt because of how bland it was. I'm pretty sure that it was also $8 or $9 for a small portion. Vegetarians be warned, the beans are made with lard and rice is made with chicken stock. I don't think I've ever been to a Mexican restaurant that charges for chips and salsa let alone $5 for salsa! About that salsa. It was alright I guess but it tasted like cooked tomatoes mixed with fresh onion and cilantro. It was fine but something was a bit off. It also had no heat to it. Ask for the hot salsa, its really not too hot and it has way more flavor. So then there were the desert options, four flavors of cake. Boring. Where's the fried ice cream or sopapillas? They advertise a happy hour from 3-6 every day with drink specials and two for $6 appetizers. Guess what, chips and salsa and guacamole aren't included in that deal. Guess who never mentioned that to us until we got our bill? Guess who asked us if we wanted chips and salsa as soon as we sat down? That's one of my restaurant pet peeves. The one bright spot and why they got two stars instead of one is because the mushroom quesadilla. That was very good. Not quite good enough for me to go back there again but good enough for me to take home with me the one piece of it I had left.
(2)
Sue H.
Atmosphere was very nice but the food just so-so - we stopped in after a movie and had great expectations. the table side guacamole was impressive but overall not worth the price just average Mexican fare. Sorry wont be back...
(2)
Drea K.
I like the food, the service has been great and the location is good since it is close. I had a burrito and my friend had a quesadilla, both the food and alcohol were good. I go there frequently and will continue to.
(4)
Jen M.
Love this place. So yummy. Haven't had a bad plate of food yet! They have some good happy hour food specials too.
(5)
Zishan B.
Ok...I actually liked this place. The decor is cool, trendy, & dim lit. Our waiter was amazing and definitely deserved the 25% tip we all left :) His name is Sammy..ask for him! I ordered: Appetizer: Queso fundido (minus the chorizo). It was a cheesy dip with onions and a side of salsa with a basket of warm chips. loved it! Entree: I was in the mood for something fishy so the waiter highly suggested I try the salmon which was the chef's specialty It was grilled topped with a pineapple/mango salsa and lay on a bed of white sticky rice...all bundled up in a mini banana leaf. It came with a side of smashed garlic black beans & roasted vegetables...portion was nice so i took some home. I loved it! *ask for it because it is not on the menu* Dessert: a couple of us shared a large piece of mexican berry milk cake. it was sweet and nothing worth remembering. great service, unique food, cool ambiance...but definitely pricey.
(4)
Dan S.
Went there for an anniversary celebration and walked out happily stuffed. However, walking *in* to the place requires an advanced degree in suburban logistics -- Rojo is on the far end of one of those crazy "downtown" entertainment habitrails in Novi. I didn't know it was owned by the same group that owns Andiamo, otherwise I might have passed. The fare was pretty good, the best item probably being the guacamole, which is hand-made tableside. House margaritas were "ok." I had a mushroom quesadilla, which was actually a notch better than the one I love at Grand Azteca (though for your money, the latter would definitely do). The ambience is very chain-y, bordering on PF Chang's, which is kind of a turn-off, but the service was top notch. Ultimately, I prefer "dirty Mexican" as my friend Sam likes to call it, but this was a nice change of pace. It probably deserves 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because the specific items I had were so good.
(4)
Steven W.
Ordered Fish Tacos (Mahi Mahi), for $13. Received three tacos. Waiter never heard of Salsa Ranchera! Fish Tacos taste really funny with red sauce. To me felt alot like PF Chang's. Great ambiance, but expensive food, which didn't taste all that good. I'd probably not return.
(2)
Cherry C.
Well my experience was NOT good. I asked the manager if they could make me a CHIMICHANGA because it's Not on the menu. He replied "yes" so we stayed. The table side Guacamole was great but if it wasn't for that & Salsa I would Not have made it thru my movie. The Chimichanga had NO Beef inside - looked like all beans & mush??? The cheese on top- What cheese? Looked like Feta cheese 4 a salad not Chedder/ Mozzarella. Also the rice & beans portion was not much. No way did I eat it! Our Patron Tequila on the rocks were $15 a piece (I'm used to paying $10 no more than $12) I've walked pass this place a thousand times scared to try it for this reason. I'll be sticking to Mexican Village Detroit (I live in W Bloomfield) that's the closes & best thing to getting "real" Mexican Food. Our bill was $35 for 2 drinks, Guacamole & Salsa. Sorry Rojo - thumbs down for me! p.s. the Manager was very Nice and apologized. If I decide to go back I will stick to something on the menu.
(2)
Kristin R.
As others have said, the food was good, but not for the price. I had shrimp tacos, which were very salty... and $14 for 3 tacos is pretty ridiculous. My husband had the fajitas, which were actually a huge portion- if we ever return we will split an entree. Beer/wine/tequila selection was great, but drinks were overpriced as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great- intimate and comfortable- but overall not for us. Our server was very stilted and formal, meanwhile we were just trying to have lunch! We will probably stick to El Patio for our local Mexican food fix.
(3)
Rob F.
I've heard good about Rojo and I've heard bad...it seems people are pretty split. Personally, I was very pleased. The split reviews make me wonder if the poor reviews are due to it being a newer restaurant where they're still trying to train staff to high standards and train chefs to make every dish consistently perfect. I'd be interested to see the people who reviewed it under 3 stars to go back and see if they had a different experience. For example, the review from g m. mentions that he was charged for chips and salsa. We were not and they showed up without us even asking for them. Toni C. 'warned' that the food was made with meat products...I mentioned I was a veg. to the waitress and she gave me a ridiculous amount of info about each item and what meat it contained (very helpful). Many others said the prices were high, but for two of us the bill came out to $32 and we had appetizer, dinner, and drinks...I thought the bill must be wrong, but with a $4 app. and $3 margaritas (which didn't choke you) I was happy with the value. I got the Chilies Rellenos and they were fabulous. The vegetarian version comes stuffed with veggies and plenty of cheese and was literally mouth watering. My dining companion had the quesadilla (in his words "as a standard to test the food quality") and he was pleased. So, why not 5 stars? The atmosphere lacked just a tiny bit of a special something. Not quite dark enough, not quite upscale enough for the quality of the food and the reputation. The waitress rushed us to order just a tiny bit and the bill came a little too fast. Other than that, I liked this place and will have to take my wife here soon. A solid 4 star experience for me.
(4)
No O.
Well, it just goes to show that not all dining experiences are created equal! We went there for the second time today and ordered the fajitas again: totally bland, spiceless, and nothing like the first time. What a huge disappointment, esp. for the prices involved (~$16/17 per dish). As my dining mate said, "We won't be going back here for a while." The trick, it seems for restaurants, is consistency. You'd think the recipe for fajita would be pretty standard in the kitchen, but apparently not. The queso fundido app was delicious, so we figure the next time we go, we'll only be doing a smorga of apps to be safe.
(2)
Hal B.
The atmosphere and the service are both pretty good. The problem is the food. For our party of six, every plate was overcooked and arrived cold. It lacked any real flavor.
(2)
Lawrence R.
Tacos on Tuesday is the best special around! With the drink specials you can eat and drink for less than 10 bucks a person! The bartenders there are very good at mixing various drinks including insane Margaritas. Very friendly staff that will spend time with you understanding the menu and drinks. I highly suggest you try the table side Guacamole if you have not. Huge tequila selection from low to super-high end.
(5)
Richard B.
Great chips and salsa and $1 tacos on Tuesday... yummm Its a little pricey for Mexican, but if you like Mexican that's what you will get.
(4)
Jose S.
Pretty authentic mexican food. The chile relleno was very good and the chicken flautas very well prepared. I did not try the fresh made guac since I believe it is expensive. I do not know about the autenticity of the other entrees, but this two that I had were pretty good.
(4)
Lisa O.
I've been there twice - once with hubby on a Friday or Saturday evening in the summer and once with a girlfriend during the week. Everything was pretty good both times. During the summer visit -- food was good, drinks were good. The only negative is their location. We sat outside in totally uncomfortable chairs that seriously need pads lest one gets waffle ass -- but there were teenagers everywhere! That's not a problem in and of itself so much as hearing them on the phone cussing and being essentially ill-mannered. If I were management, I would be ushering all foul-mouthed teens away from the outdoor patio. With my girlfriend we tried to squeak out one more day on the patio but eventually moved inside. Service was quite good and food was deliciosa. !Buena suerte, Rojo, me gusta!
(4)
Justin P.
Went in December 08 or January 09 can't remember right after first opening. You didn't get free chips or salsa then. Order lobster quesadillas for an appetizer - fishy, my food was enchiladas verdes, so so and not authentic mexican. My friend's mom who is mexican whips up way better ones, and the chef here was supposed to be Mexican. My entire party thought the food was okay, my girlfriend had shrimp tacos - fishy. My pregnant friend had steak tacos which she enjoyed. I remember thinking how stupid I was. I had a Jeep 4x4 at the time and we drove out in what had to be the worst snow storm ever because we had lost power. Spin outs all over the road but we made it safely there and back, never again for bad, overpriced mexican food.
(2)
Eric B.
Ate at the bar. bartenders where great had some awesome cheese on a hot plate with chips but didn't get much cheese on that hot plate... but was only 4.99 guess you get what you pay for or not...lol... glass of merlot 6 bucks. 1800 margarita was strong cost 7.50. And for dinner had three tacos at 8.99 with hardly any meat on them taco bell uses double the amount.... lol... anyways really nice place but 30 dollars for two drinks, side of cheese and 3 tacos.... not worth it.
(3)
Katie K.
I must have gone to a different restaurant than everyone else. When I was told later on that it was owned by the same people as Andiamo, I was stunned. The service definitely left something to be desired. It wasn't awful but it was diner-style service. I know that's nitpicky but as a place that presents itself as high end Mexican, I expected to not be so casual. As for the food, I wasn't impressed either. There was no spice!! While there are hot sauces on the table, certain flavors can't be gotten from the jar and need to be cooked into the dish. The sauce for my enchiladas was good but chicken inside was super bland. Nothing going on inside except bland chicken breast. Another person got the salmon dinner - it looked super depressing. It's wasn't expensive for salmon but the presentation left a lot to be desired. Another person at my table liked her mussels and the guacamole was an overall hit. Additionally servers kept bumping the back of our chairs. Overall I wish I had gone someplace else and happy to let the numerous people waiting when we left to go back and wait as many times as they want. i was so underwhelmed after having high expectations of this place.
(1)
Lena C.
I went to ROJO with my 2 children, it was a 30 minute wait, the hostess escort me and my 17 yr old and my 4 yr old in the bar area with big stools and high booths with big pipes under the booths. My son got down to go to the restroom with my daughter and he fell with his legs tangled up in the pipes and hurt his knees. The manager came to my table and said I should be watching my child and it's my fault he fell down even though I never left the table and was there the entire time, he never gave me or my child an apology, he was mean uncaring and walked away saying disrespectful remarks, I was hurt and in disbelief , his name is Dave. That was my family restaurant at least every week or every two weeks, I have invited and taken other people to ROJO but now I will never return. Children should never be seated in the bar area with the high tables and booths. Please reconsider taken your children to this place because it is not kid friendly. All their concern is the different liquors they offer you to buy, the customer service is poor and they rush you to order from the food menu. Thumbs down Mr Dave, the manager at the Novi Mi rojo shame on you the way you treat kids.
(1)
M O.
The food was delicious, but the price was....high -_- I only had a small salad, my bf had...some kind of Mexican dish, and it was over $20......
My husband & I have been frequent patrons since they opened. I am sad to report that the service at Rojo has unfortunately gone down during this past year. Very surprising as they are owned by Andiamo. The past few times we have been there, they have forgotten to give us silverware, and the wait times between drinks and food have been off. It is fairly easy to get a table quickly on a week night. Suggest eating in the bar area-bar or high top table if they say there is a wait. I would recommend coming here during their $1 taco Tuesday nights (I believe they have draft beer specials as well for $2.50), and their $9 fajita (beef or chicken), and $6 gigantic margaritas on Wednesday. With deals like this, I don't mind the lacking service as much. Chips and salsa are now complimentary!
(3)
Mei L.
went there for my birthday with my bf and we ordered tons of food really liked the cream of poblano soup and the chili rellano definitely a must try.
(3)
Chirag D.
The food here gets only 3 stars as it is very average Mexican food. We always order the cheese and onion enchiladas when we go to a Mexican place. The food was better than average and the price was a dollar or two more than at our other area Mexican restaurant. We did not order the Fajita's, but the table next to us did. The portion is huge. Definitely enough to share. We will be splitting that next time. This restaurant got 4 stars from me on the strength of their Margarita's and Chips n Salsa. The Chips/Salsa cost $5 for a bottomless basket. The Salse tastes as if it was made fresh in house and is accompanied with a Habenero sauce that can be added to give the Salsa as much heat as you would prefer. Since it is new to the area, it is always full. I recommend making reservations if you plan to go on a Thurs - Sat night, or you may find yourself waiting around for the better part of an hour.
(4)
Suzana Q.
I was not impressed at all. I tried the guacamole because many reviewers said it was great, but it wasn't. Yes, it was fresh and the consistency was nice but it just tasted like plain avocados. I didn't get any hints of garlic, citrus, onion, or pepper. The bf and I actually added salt and pepper to the $9 guac which is a bit sad. It's possible that we just got a weird batch, but the rest of the meal was also unimpressive which does not inspire me to visit again. I had the enchiladas verdes and the tortillas were so tough that I couldn't cut them with my fork like you can with normal enchiladas. I honestly think they used mini tortillas straight out of a plastic bag in the fridge because they weren't warm or crispy either. There is so much competition in the tex-mex category that I wouldn't bother with this place...you can go somewhere else and get more bang for your buck. Also, don't be fooled by the ambiance because it definitely doesn't suit the quality of the food.
(2)
Staynshape 4.
If there is a fantasic Mexican restaurant in the Suburbs, let me know! Rojo is not up to standards. Expensive, although the service and ambiance was fantastic. Calamari- suitable and delicious if you don't have a sophisticated palate. Here, it was the quality of an outdoor hotdog stand or a carnival ground. Chopped Salad- the waiter raived about it. I thought it was terrible. Enchaladas- according ot my friend, the dish has been inconsistent everytime she's ordered them. Yesterday, they were extremely high in sodium content. She ate half and chucked the rest. Chef- unfortunately this establishment needs a new one- desperately. When the check arrived, my girlfiend and I split the bill, we presented him with two credit cards.This morning, I checked my credit card statement and noticed that the waiter charged me twice- once for the full amount and the other for the half amount. He didn't inform me of this mistake. Thus, after the entire, expensive and cheap, lousy meal, the review of my bank statement prompted me to write this review. I can forgo the ambiance of Mexican restaurants - as is the case for a few Mexican restaurants I visit in Detroit. One is particualrly my favorite. Other than sipping on margaritas and indulging on chips and guacamole, Rojo is a disappointment.
(2)
Michael F.
Rojo Mexican Bistro serves low quality ingredients at high prices. Couple that with small portion sizes and terrible service, we will not be going back. The steak fajitas were made with a cheap chewy cut of meat and did not have good flavor, and did not even come with sour cream or guacamole. It took over 40 minutes for our food to come out, and when it did, the lettuce and sour cream on top of the burritos were wilted and hot and the kids meals plates were VERY hot because they had been sitting in the window so long. The waiter simply tells my 4 year old to be careful of the hot plate! A kids meal should never be served on a scorching hot plate.. The positives of this place are the decor and tableside made guacamole. I wanted to like this place, but it was a complete waste of time and money.
(2)
Maria P.
I went to Rojo with my boyfriend and another couple. We started out with a round of delicious margaritas that were on the small side, but were very good. We got our chips and salsa (although I didn't pay the bill and am not sure if we were charged or not) and the presentation was very good: we got a large bowl of "standard" salsa with carafes of salsa verde and a habanero salsa so each diner could customize their salsa. We ordered guacamole for the table and our waitress gave us the choice of having it made table side, which we of course couldn't resist. She brought out all the ingredients and made the guac right there (I even got some secret ingredient hints for my own at-home recipe). So far, so good. The entrees, however, was where this place was really lacking. The food is not cheap, by any means, so it was a bit disappointing when it was all only so-so. I've had much better for much less. I ordered the fajita salad, and the best part was the raspberry vinaigrette (such a pretty color!). My dining companions, who ordered more traditional meals of burritos and fajitas, had complaints of small portions, bland food, and beans and rice straight out of the can. As a Mexican restaurant, Rojo was lacking, and if I am craving "real" Mexican, Rojo wouldn't be my first choice. Dine with caution.
(3)
Rodney H.
I have been a few times to Rojo.Last night was date night with my wife so we made a reservation for 645pm & had no wait, if you dont like waitng, call ahead, it works, We also had the table side Guacamole for the first time, i agree with other comments it is a bit bland, but we asked for salt & lime juice & extra Cilantro & then it was pretty good.Chips & Salsa were provided with both additional Verde & Rojo sause, chips are excllent, large & crisp & not at all Greasy. We both had specialty Margeritas & they were both well made, Service from start to finish was prompt professional & courtious.For main course i tried the fish Tacos which i think are above average, my wife had the Steak Fajita which did not arrive with the sizzle you expect & was bland. I like the decor, i also think the service is above average, the food needs more zing & more authenticness.If the food was better id rate a 4, otherwise i will return, this place is also perfect for Dinner & movie & Tacos Tuesday are a bargin
(3)
Laurie M.
Okay-my first negative review on Yelp goes to...Rojo! I have to give them a poor review because they really gave me no other choice. Rojo has nothing to offer and I wasted $40 on poor quality, under seasoned, food and an undrinkable Peartini while sitting on the most uncomfortable seats ever. The cheese and salsa appetizer really tasted badly because their salsa tastes like Italian tomato sauce and, while tortilla chips and pasta sauce may be a unique food combination, it tastes too gross to be something I'd ever try eating again. The chicken with mole sauce was bland and the server was not very polite or attentive and on a slow Monday afternoon, I expect better service. We almost requested to be moved because the seats were so uncomfortable (the couple next to us actually did request to be moved to a table because of the uncomfortable booth seats) but we just toughed it out. I cannot give them a second chance, even though that is usually what I would do if I had a bad experience at a restaurant, because this place gave me no hope that it would be any better the second time around. Sorry Rojo but there's just too many other paces to try!
(1)
Nancy R.
This is a more sophistcated menu than you will see in many Mexican restaurants. Interesting menu choices but the food is far from interesting. No chips and salsa on the tables. Which is fine. Who really needs that! But my fish taco was sparse and dry. Fairly expensive considering the quality and amount. Wouldn't go back.
(2)
kelly k.
I will give the table side guacamole four stars however... the food and service was not great! The fish tacos tasted well... fishy, the margs were so-so (too much mix not enough fresh lime and tequila), and the service was pushy... Our server couldn't get us fed and out the door fast enough! It was incredibly rude and a HUGE bummer for a night out with girlfriends I haven't seen in over a year.
(2)
Tony B.
Have to agree with the other reviews - good food, not great, very pricey especially for Mexican. As far as the margaritas, yes, huge selection also but tiny glasses and they too are expensive.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Crystal W.
I was excited to check out this place. It's in a very cool area and the place is huge. I was surprised that we got right in on a Friday night. I went with another couple and we were going dancing afterwards, so I want a good dinner and drinks. I got the jumbo strawberry margarita. It was terrible. It tasted like it was just made from a packaged mix. This place is suppose to be known for it's drinks and I wasn't impressed. I got the mushroom quesadillias. They were pretty good, but not great. Would I go back? Probably not! The salsa was nothing special, along with the margarita. I could have made a better tasting margarita at home.
(2)Saagar U.
The food was delicious (I got the mushroom quesadillas), however I was very disappointed with the drinks. I got a jumbo margarita, and was given a jumbo glass of ice with a minute amount of a drink (it seemed like my friends regular margarita may have had more to drink). If you do go though, make sure you get a reservation so you don't have to wait 45 mins.
(3)James C.
Rojo is sweet! Last night me and a few of my buddies went out for taco Tuesday. On Tuesday Rojo has $1 tacos and $2 tequila shots!!!! The atmosphere is very upbeat and happening. They have a DJ in the back who plays music. The bathrooms are immaculate!!! very very clean restaurant. The waitstaff are very accommodating. FOOD - I ordered two Mahi Mahi (fish) tacos, and 3 beef tacos. The Mahi Mahi tacos were alright....to say the least. As for the $1 beef tacos they were great! Very fresh and tasty food and ingredients! My favorite is the habenero sauce! I love that the waitstaff will continually come by your table and give you fresh nacho chips with fresh salsa...or salsa verde or habenero sauce for no extra charge! My only gripe is the lack of flavor in the beef. It taste like boiled beef...which i don't mind I just need more flavor/salt or spice in my meat!!! and that's why i'm giving Rojo 3 stars. DRINKS - The drinks are awesome! on Tuesday you get 2 dollar tequila shots. The bar has a huge extensive tequila selection. ATMOSPHERE - Very dark with tones of black and red. The tables are very clean and inviting. The bathrooms are immaculate. Rojo has a house DJ on Taco Tuesday who will play music. It is very loud inside and when I'm trying to talk with my buddies I usually find myself shouting or yelling trying to hold a conversation. It's a good spot to chill. Rojo is a good spot for the younger (college) crowd If you and your friends are looking for a cool chill place to unwind on Tuesday hit up Rojo! I will surely come back for $3 Fajita Wednesday. *Taco Tuesday $1 Tacos, $2 Tequila shots* *Fajita Wednesday $3 Fajitas*
(3)Felipe R.
New owners horrible food the appetizer nachos were ok Our two entrees were taken off the bill What's the deal with the bike on the wall
(1)Taylor A.
I went to Rojo's new location on Grand River next to Better Health, they are no longer located in Fountain Walk. Why the move? I have no idea. I used to work for the company that owned Rojo and Andiamo I am not sure if they are still owned by the same people but man was I surprised when I walked in. They are no longer a high end Mexican restaurant with a huge selection of tequila, I am pretty sure they only sell 1800. They made that very clear. I met up with my sister and a friend on a Friday night and the place was somewhat busy; only seven people sitting at the bar. I ordered the first margarita on the menu (can't remember the name) and the bartender asked me if it was okay that the drink is PRE MIXED and in a GIANTE TUB. I looked at her like she was crazy! Especially, since my sister was sitting right next to me drinking it! Needless to say I went for the hand pour drink instead which is called the Perfect Margarita. I am a totally lightweight and I drank three of these and didn't even have a buzz. My sister also had the red sangria and said the same thing, she couldn't even taste the wine. I didn't order any food but my sister and her friend did and they weren't overly impressed. They said it was just decent Mexican food, nothing special. When I worked for Andiamo we used to always order food from Rojo, I ate so much Rojo food I had their menu memorize. The food they are serving at this new location doesn't even stand a chance. Very disappointing, I hope the location in Rochester hasn't gone down the same path.
(2)Ann W.
Saturday afternoon, the parking lot at Fountain Walk, where Rojo faces, was packed with movie goers, shoppers and diners. While the temperatures may have dropped, the restaurant itself was warm and inviting. Two large murals in a style similar to that of Diego Rivera, by Andrzej Sikora, feature the making of tequila, from field to factory. Walls of stones in warm tones of brown add to the upscale setting. A meal at Rojo usually begins with table-side guacamole and today was no different. Two avocados were sacrificed for this starter, as were cilantro, peppers, onions, tomatoes and orange juice (instead of lime) for a spicy, simple, well-balanced, and textured, chunky guacamole. While pricey, it was well worth it with the salty restaurant-made chips. These same chips were served with mild salsa; the server offered both salsa verde (with serrano, poblano, and jalapeno peppers) and habanero sauces to adjust the level of spiciness. A departure from the norm, instead of the steak fajitas, I decided on the interesting Seafood Cazuela. Served piping hot, the lobster and tomato-based broth was spicy and brimming with mussels, shrimp, squid, scallops and mahi mahi. In one word: incredible. Other applicable words include: delicious, inventive, and well-made. How have I missed this dish on previous visits? And how to top off this delicious meal? With a tasty portion of light tres leches sponge cake, soaked in condensed and evaporated milk, as well as cream. Each forkful was sweet and yummy. Service was fantastic. The server responded to a ton of questions about ingredients and preparation. Note: the menu features daily specials, including tacos on Tuesdays and fajitas on Wednesday.
(4)Kim B.
We have always enjoyed meeting friends at Rojo for dinner, but Saturday night we went to their new location on Grand River in Novi and it was a HUGE STEP DOWN. It no longer feels like an upscale restaurant, it feels like your run of the mill Mexican place. The nachos looked like something you would get at Chi-chis, covered in huge amounts of colorless lettuce and a CLUMP of beans in the middle. Really disappointing. HERE WAS THE WORST: I ordered (and drank) THREE red sangrias. They were tasty. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL in my sangrias. Sure, sure, you've heard that before, but I'm serious. I am a lightweight: I can get a buzz from one glass of wine. I pretty much drank $21 worth of juice and left STONE COLD SOBER. I was MAD. Everyone at my table agreed that there was little to no alcohol in their margaritas. Dinner was tasty but nothing outstanding and the portion sizes were small. The prices were good; $12 for the enchiladas. The table-side guacamole was HEAVEN. Too bad. We will not be back to that location. (I hope the other location (Rochester hills) hasn't suffered the same fate.)
(1)John A.
Good food. Good service. It's Americanized Mexican fare. It's a good place for a quick bite to eat. Went on a Tuesday and found out it was taco Tuesday night. Beef taco and fish tacos were really good. Chicken taco was pretty bland. Have been here in the summer when there was live music on the patio. That's a nice touch. Will definitely return. Also, pass on the table side guacamole service. The guac was pretty bland and not worth the price.
(4)Ryan E.
Rojo is a very eclectic spin on Mexican cuisine. It has a cool Bar for those looking to unwind after a busy work week. They have a special on Tuesday 2.00 Tacos. Also Kids 10 and under eat free on Sunday's. I enjoyed the Mahi-Mahi and Shrimp Diabla.
(4)Katherine A.
This place is no longer at this location. They moved off of Grand River by Novi road on the other side of 96.
(3)Nigel A.
This used to be a nice place to eat but the move to a cheaper place with none of the ambiance of the Fountain Walk location does not make for a good experience. The chips are clearly not home made and no more choices of salsa, just the bland stuff they put out. The food was about as authentic as Taco Bell and maybe not as good. The table side guacamole was ok, the brown tinged guacamole that was on my dinner plate was not so good. Clearly this place has gone seriously downmarket with the location and the food. Sadly this will be our last visit.
(1)Vishala N.
As I walked into this place I thought wow! This does not look like a Mexican restaurant! There was a nice bar on one side that served a wide variety of Tequilas. I did not make any reservations and it was Friday evening. We were seated immediately. Which was surprising. Our server brought a basket of tortilla chips and a mild salsa. She also set two other sauces on the table. An habanero sauce and a salsa verde. Which I really enjoyed. The salsa served with the chips was good but nothing to write about. I wish they would bake their chips and not fry them. I could see the oil dripping down on the chips. The table side Guacamole is certainly a must although pricey! The service was excellent! Our server was very knowledgable when it came to vegetarian versions in the menu. She informed us that for vegetarians the rice and beans are cooked in water. But, one needs to mention that or you will get the Mexican rice cooked in chicken broth. I ordered Enchiladas with grilled vegetables which was delicious!
(4)Greg F.
Arrived 6:30 PM 3/3/15. Taco Tuesday. Wife and I met a friend there. Had drinks, queso, and an assortment of tacos and a wet burrito $108 w/tip- not cheap. The location is great, first waitress was great, food just OK. At 7:45 we were told we had to move because a DJ had to use our area. They said they would move us to another table. They did (manager) and the new waitress said we had to order more food or drinks or we had to leave. She was screwed by the manager! And not nice about it! When it was suggested to the manager that maybe he should buy us a beer it was like 'right'. I have been to their former location by Fountain Walk- they moved to Main Street Novi in the past few days. Their food was very good but I've been to several Mexican bistros in Chicago that blow them away. This company's corporate mgmt should do some undercover work on this place. Won't be back soon!
(2)Jay H.
Ate here last night for cinco de mayo, food was good, service was good. pretty good atmosphere. Ill be back.
(4)Linda W.
Wow! Has this place gone down hill in quality, food is almost not edible. Prices are still high as if it was still a high end place. Tried it 3 times before writing this review. My friend and I went there and got a few appetizers and seriously had 2 bites, we didn't complain but it was pretty apparent we were not happy and no one cared. This place won't last.
(1)Loooking F.
I was thinking this is either a two or three stars. Well, atmosphere is good, and nice decoration. We have a big group, the service is okay too. They keep checking on us and make sure we are doing fine. (we come on a quite weekday) The Food i have was not that good. Both the Enchilada and the beans are very salty. The rice is pretty dry, kind of hard chew too. The price is reasonable, but I don't think I want to come back here for Mexican food.
(2)Jennie S.
The new location on Grand River in Novi was very noisy, the table and seats were wet when we sat down and my husband had rice stuck in his "clean" fork. The food was mediocre at best with not a lot of meat in our dishes. The premium margarita was awesome and service was very good. That's the only reason for the 2 stars.
(2)Ani B.
i have experienced better. the best part of the food was the Portabella Tacos-savory and rich. the garlic rice was ok but not with mex. food. black beans seemed right out of the can, no seasoning added. So for the price of $11 i got two tacos. hubby got chicken fajitas which he said were ok. refried beans that he got were just salty, no deep flavor added like a little bacon fat, etc. red mex. rice tasted like paste. $12. so quite an expensive meal, about double what one would pay at a real mexican restaurant. chips good, bland salsa. hubby liked the verde out of the squeeze bottle. the habanero added some nice heat, but was wondering what was added to make it pink. waitress fairly disappeared after taking our order. manager and some other dude did check up on us for drink refills. will not return, just too expensive what we got.
(2)Ernest G.
On March 13, we went in to check this place. It recently opened in the Novi area next to Better Health grocery store. I was excited to see a Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood. Initially, I was put off because of the limited vegetarian choices but my server, Aaron, helped me select a good choice for me. I was so grateful for his help that I asked to talk to the manager to acknowledge his efforts. After 20 or so minutes, the manager decided to come to our table. His attitude was more of "what do you want" Very unpleasant. Very pompous. So in today's environment where we have multiple choices, I will not return. The food was good, the service good - management - lame!!!. You blew it dude. If you were having a bad day, get over it and do your job.
(2)Varun B.
Food was pretty good, but not great. Not the best mexican place, but definitely not the worst. The salsa that was set out with the nachos was more or less salsa out of a can that you can buy at your local grocery store. We didn't get any appetizers because we weren't super hungry, so we skipped right to the main course. My wife got enchiladas verdes, which she asked for extra spicy. They put some extra green chilies in the sauce and also sauteed some and gave it to her on the side, which gave the dish that extra kick. I ended up getting the chimichanga...felt that it missed the mark a bit. It wasn't as crispy as I had hoped, and the sauce was kind of bland. I had also asked for some spicier red sauce, and what they brought was the diavala sauce from one of their "spicy" shrimp entrees. Reeaally disappointed with that sauce. Tasted like italian origin, if you ask me. Service, on the other hand, was prompt. We had no issues in that respect.
(3)Amanda O.
This was my first visit to the new location. I have been several times to the old location in Fountain Walk and always had at least a pleasant experience. My friends and chose to meet up here for a few margaritas and some appetizers because that was our tradition for Cindo de Mayo! We were even more excited that it was also Taco Tuesday! We sat and ordered our margaritas. They were served in plastic cups overloaded with ice. We ordered a second round without ice and the waiter brought three more plastic cups with about four ounces of liquid in them. We decided that we would order a beer instead, after all the Taco Tuesdays special was $2 Coronas! And then we were told no. No specials today! Although they had posters plastered on every window and the special was stated on the menu. The manager said his hands were tied because this is what the corporate office wanted. I tried to remind him that he was in charge and correct the issue was within his scope of authority. He disagreed. We asked for our bill and decided to go elsewhere. Right before we left our waiter offered us a free round of drinks via the manager's request. Maybe he call corporate and asked permission. Who know... we will find a new spot for our annual tradition. Our waiter was a nice kid, the only redeeming quality about the experience.
(2)Elizabeth C.
Service was slow, and food was just ok. Table side guacamole was great, chicken and beef fajitas were meh.
(2)Dipti R.
We went to this place second time. The first time we went it had a huge wait. The ambience of this place is great. The service is great aswell. Its a great hangout place with friends. But the food is not that great. Also, I found this place too expensive. I would go again for hangout and not really for food.
(3)Gary A.
Not a fan. Even though we happen to go on a taco Tuesday, which was a good deal, and we did the table side Guacamole - they prepare it fresh at you table as you watch - sort of the Mexican version of Greek op-pa (Flaming cheese). This place just didn't do it for me. The drinks were weak, the food was OK, and the restaurant wasn't the cleanest - from the table, to the chairs , to the floor, to even the sneeze guard on the guacamole cart. The service was slow and the waitress was inexperienced. They give you two options on your salsa, with corn chips , a mid verdi and really hot red - I'm not sure why they went with such extremes. They do have more traditional Mexican food options, but it is pricey. I'm inclined to visit the other local Mexican places I've had better experiences.
(2)Zeid S.
Average Mexican food. Mostly bland and uninspired. All dishes taste the same. They also charge extra for the sour cream, which we found very inappropriate for a Mexican restaurant of this tier.
(2)Tanya N.
This was only our second time at Rojo, but it seemed consistent with our first visit. Both times our service has been subpar. Today we asked our waitress for a refill two separate times, but no refill came. Finally, we asked another server, and the drink appeared. She was not attentive in the least bit. Maybe she was new, but I'm thinking she needs more training. I ordered the Huitlacoche Quesadilla. The house blend of cheese that they put on it tastes a bit like I imagine Velveeta tastes. Blech. I think the table side guacamole is a great idea though. You can make it to your specifications. Nice touch.
(2)Jon W.
Second time at this restaurant, first time at new locale, by Mongolian bbq. Good service but found a wire bristle in my girlfriends gums, hard to complain when you have a gift card and never want to return. Disappointed to say the least for a $60 meal with no satisfaction. Chile relleno was soaked in egg wash and tasted like an omelet.
(1)Bob S.
To be honest, the boy and I stopped at Fountainwalk looking for Chinese. There was a Chinese place here the last time I stopped, but it seems to have been replaced since then. Anyway, the Rojo....on the plus side, folks were pleasant and accommodating, service was quick and consistent (we were here past peak lunch on a Saturday, so there weren't a ton of people here), the menu is very creative from the apps to the entrees while still including the classics, the chips were fresh and the salsa was as well, containing lots of tomato goodness you could cut with the thick hot sauces they provide. We had Chicken Flautas to start, which were good and served with fresh sour cream and guac, and I then had the pulled pork tacos with bacon. Why? Because they were there. A bit sweet and some greasiness/runniness to the pork sauce which required some care when eating, but tasty and worth a try. The boy had some type of burrito which they made to his specs no problem. The not so good: the decor is a bit weird; the boy pointed out that this is like the Tex Mex version of PF Changs. The food lacked a particular kick or distinct flavor which would have differentiated it from other chains or restaurants; making the meal feel less than fresh which counters the whole table side guacamole thing. Finally, the price was a bit much for a lunchtime excursion. Perhaps at night when the tequila starts pouring and the jet set moves in, it all seems a bit more normal and acceptable.
(3)Jennifer J.
The prices on Tuesday are unbeatable and the taste of the food is amazing. It can get busy after work hours, so I arrives early because I have my children with me. The waitress was friendly and tolerant of my toddlers and very attentive. We had beef hard, chicken soft, quesadilla and FREE chips and salsa, along with soft drinks.
(4)Esther G.
When the best part of your meal are the tortilla chips and the shell of your taco salad, you've got some problems. One word sums up the food here: Bland. Bland complimentary salsa. I liked how thick and chunky it was, ensuring that it was homemade. But no flavor. Bland table side guacamole. While it sounded fun to get this appetizer as you watch the avocado being mashed, I'd rather the "table side" part not be available if it compromises flavor. Guacamole needs time for all the flavors to settle, but here you get it served right away. Even at a medium spice level, I was pouring on the spice sauce. Bland meat in the taco salad. While it was a huge and even portions of black beans, bright lettuce, onions, tomatoes and green olives tossed in a light Dijon vinaigrette, the beef lacked ANY sort of flavor. It was like eating browned meat. The lack of flavor throughout the entire meal was quite surprising for a place that looks pretty upscale. There were three bottled salsas/sauces available on the table, but it defeats the purpose of being a Mexican restaurant if you rely on the bottle stuff to give your food any sort of flavor. And for a lunch that came out close to $20 with tip, it's not worth a second visit.
(2)Roxana B.
Mediocre at best and overpriced. There was a piece of plastic in my salad... Enough said.
(1)Ernesto T.
I'm giving this place four stars not for the food but for the service and amazing tequila selection. Rojo's tequila selection is by far the most extensive high quality selection I've ever seen in a restaurant. Our waiter,Ryan was very friendly and checked up on us frequently. The price was a little much, but what your really paying for in my opinion is the convenience of having a wide selection of hard to find tequila, not the high quality food a bistro like this should offer.
(4)Samantha R.
Beautiful inside, interior design is beautiful and the margarita was fantastic. I had the rojo salmon and it was some of the best salmon I've had. Rather pricy but a great date night out.
(4)Anna N.
Honestly I'm not a huge mexican food fan. I know this is quite ignorant and obnoxious to say but taco bell really satisfies my taco cravings and I don't find the need to visit mexican restaurants like this one. I came here with a group as the wait at bdubs was over an hour and we wanted something much faster than that. We were seated promptly and had a nice enough waitress. I actually can't really remember what my party ordered but one dish came with refried beans that literally looked like they were heaped onto the plate the night before then put in the fridge, taken out as soon as the ordered was received into the kitchen. Like if you were to turn the plate upside down they would have needed a lighter underneath to warm up and drop off. That's really all I can remember about the place, as my first and only visit was last November 2012. I liked the chips and salsa but as some have already mentioned it was like they opened up krogers private selection salsa and poured it out to serve up to customers thinking they're getting real authentic made on site salsa. I know my dish was nice though and I had a nice wine to accompany it too. 3 star review because it was nice but recently I visited a much more authentic mexican just up the road from me at basically 1/4 of the price this total bill in Rojo came to and the food and service blew me away more. That place is Burrito King for anyone looking for more authentic and lower priced, higher quality mexican food.
(3)Brian K.
This place is offal! Got the chimichanga and they used canned jalapenos? Really? Watery salsa, bland chips. guacamole which was made fresh at the table was best part of meal. Service was 8 out of 10 stars. They need to put more effort into the freshness and quality of the food, especially for the price. Go to "On the border" instead.
(1)D A.
We stopped in for the first time to Rojo last night with another family and had four kids ages 10-14. We had a slight wait of a few minutes, but sat down in a timely manner. Atmosphere: The place looks great. It looks high end. A place that would be worth a try. Ordering went fine considering the chaos with the kids. The menu has 'Kick Ass Tacos' in large print, and the boys loved that. Drinks arrived quickly. It went slightly south when my friend received his Poblano soup, and I didn't. I figured I must have not ordered it afterall. We ordered fajita's for my wife and myself. My youngest had it also while my older son opted for traditional tacos. Things went slightly south when the food arrived. My soup then arrived. Nothing irks me more than receiving my soup with my meal. So, I returned it. The fajita's and fixings were nothing to really to right home about. It was just okay, and I've had much better at other places for less money. My son's tacos were also just okay. He only ate one of the two, and while boxing it up to go ... I realized that one side of the taco fell apart in a pile of mush. The heat from the rice and beans eroded the taco shell. Our friend's son ordered salmon tacos, and the salmon was breaded nuggets of salmon. I surely wouldn't have eaten it, but he did. One very positive was the waitress. She was very personable. My son never had fajita's before and she actually worked with him on what not to touch before I did. She made it simpler by plating his meat instead of leaving the hot metal plate at the table. She was very attentive and enjoyable. So, if you are going to get drinks and chips, and maybe some munchies... then this would be a good place. I'd stay away from the fajita's. We didn't receive any kid menu's, and assumed they didn't have any. Overall, in this area, there are many other options to choose from. I'd recommend trying the other places (Buff Wild Wings, Lucky Strike, Black Rock or Tilted Kilt) first before spending your money here. To borrow words from another reviewer, this place is all show, and no substance. Looks great though!
(2)Amy H.
When I was told we were coming here for dinner for a bachelorette party, I was a little skeptical. I've been to the ROchester location before and had a really bad experience as far as service and quality of food goes. This place was waaaay different. There were around 16 girls in our group and our two waiters did a great job. They were super patient and attentive to our needs. The chips and salsa they bring out are additive. They also have a really spicy hot sauce that I LOVE. THe tableside guacamole was really fresh and tasty. I ordered a house margarita (jumob) and it was the size of my head. It was really tasty. I also ordered the taco salad which was delicious. it came in a MASSIVE deep fried tortilla shell and it was filled with shredded chicken, queso fresco, beans, olives, and jalapenos. I love a good taco salad and goddamn, I was a big fan of this one. I know this isn't authentic Mexican food in any way, but I still enjoyed myself.
(4)Julie S.
Sat up at the bar and had a drink with a friend. Her margarita had a bug in it. That is nasty. I don't really want to flag down a bartender for service when there are only 2 other people at the bar besides us. If you would rather talk to those other people and ignore us you should clock out and be a patron. I can give a bartender the benefit of the doubt if the place is crazy busy but it wasn't. Food? Wasn't willing to take a chance on that!
(1)Greta D.
Great concept, but miss managed. This is suppose to be a premium Mexican restaurant, so we have tried it several times. The service is hit and miss. Last night our waitress got everything right, but it was obvious she was trying to turn the table. Kept pushing us to order right after we got our drinks, brought the desert tray while some of us were still working on the entree, was frustrated that we wanted to wait to order desert, and then dumped the bill off right after ordering the desert. Cleanliness is not a priority to this restaurant. Dishes, wait staffs clothes, and general appearance of the restaurant always look dirty. Food wise the main dishes are usually pretty good, but the side items are often dried out. Last night the refried beans on all of our plates looked like they had been plated right when we placed out order and sat under a heat lamp while the rest of the meal was being prepared. Cannot recommend
(2)Rola S.
The ambience here is great. I love that people were not sitting on top of each other, very spacious. I had the spicy guacamole enchilada's, and ordered my burrito with black beans instead of refried beans....I don't like meat. I only wish the black beans were left whole. The enchiladas were delicious. My friend ordered the spicy shrimp fajaita's, I didn't try them but was told they were good, and not great. The only thing I didn't like was the spicy sauce was all over my burrito with a squirt of sour cream, I ordered extra sour cream. My rice was cold, and not tasty at all. Portions are small, but that's how I like my portions. There was no room for dessert.
(3)Samantha L.
I was pretty excited about trying Rojo for the first time and had chosen to treat a family member to a birthday dinner (there were 3 of us). The menu looks vast and impressive and I was happy to give this place a try. Unfortunately, though the descriptions of the food sounded delicious, the flavors fell far short of it. We all ordered different varieties of kick ass tacos. None of us were terribly impressed with them, but since I only tasted my own meal, I will only speak to that. I ordered the Tacos al Pastor and added a Steak Taco to that. With both tacos, the meat was far from flavorful. It didn't appear to have any seasoning, and tasted more like boiled meat. Very disappointing. As far as the al pastor tacos were concerned, there was indeed pineapple on it, but it was certainly NOT roasted as described. It didn't even taste ripe, let alone roasted, which would have likely sweetened it some. It may have been fresh pineapple, but the pieces looked like the canned chunk kind. Also, each of the tacos had a heap of red onions in it tossed in a spicy sauce. I thought they each were supposed to come with different sauces, but that is even beside the point. The taste of the onion/sauce mixture really dominated everything in the taco. It made for an extremely unbalanced flavor. When I removed some of the mixture, it was more balanced, but since the meat was so bland, the tacos were still not flavorful. And even though each of the tacos had 2 tortillas each, the tortillas still ripped really easily. Like they were steamed, or something. All-in-all, the kick ass tacos failed to even give me a light shove. And I have to say, the re-fried beans tasted like beans out of a can. Yuck. I don't want to leave out the good points of the experience. Our service was very good. The salsa was actually quite flavorful. We enjoyed the appetizer we all shared, and each of us really enjoyed our respective desserts. One other thing that puzzled me though is that it was a happy hour all day (Thursday) and the advertisement at the table read that specialty margaritas were $5 all day. When I asked the server about the $5 margaritas, she said only the house margarita was $5, which is odd because that is the regular price anyway. She said all of the other margaritas, which appear to be the specialty ones, were regular price. So either she was mistaken or Rojo might consider re-wording the description of happy hour on the cards at the table. I don't think anyone considers the house margarita the specialty margarita. I realize this is just one person's opinion, but since all 3 of us were pretty disappointed, I don't think I'm alone. My first visit will be my last. I relayed my comments directly to Rojo. They never cared to reply.
(1)David B.
The food here was excellent! Had the queso dip as an appetizer, 3 chunky beef tacos and a cherry cheesecake. All were delicious. Make sure you get the diabla sauce on the side of your entree. Has a bit of a kick, but it's great on the tacos. Only downside is the menu is mostly different types of tacos, not a huge variety of other things. But there were lots of different tacos. Will definitely be going back soon.
(4)Lisa W.
A Sunday evening at Rojo... The Good , The Bad and the Ugly ! The Good... pretty standard Americanize Mexican food. The table side prepared Guac was excellent. Our server was very good. Fish taco's very good grilled Mahi Mahi The steak fajitas , just ok. the "juices" they were served in were a little thick/gooy. The Bad... my date. Guys, if you want to watch a playoff game.....fine, watch it....but not on the LAST time your going out with a woman. Pay attention to one thing...and in this case it was not me. The Ugly... a couple of housekeeping issues. We got there about 6 pm and the carpeted floor in the section we were seated was a mess with nacho chip crumbs.... looked like a kids birthday party just left. nice place...nasty floor. my other complaint was the salsa. Tasty but very mild... at the table are two types of hot sauce that you add yourself to kick up the heat. Fine, but both bottles were just about empty and stickier then hell on the outside. Not knowing what was on the outside and who had been touching them, I had to wash my hands before eating finger food. BTW NY won ...yea !
(3)Jane X.
The food here was mediocre at best! It's such a rip-off! I think customers agree since the place was pretty much deserted on a weekday during lunch rush. The place looks really nice but I think it's all show and no substance unfortunately. The food isn't bad but it certainly isn't great and definitely not for the price. Tried the portobella tacos - drowned in oil. The sides of beans and rice were tiny portions as well.
(2)Gary S.
I've never heard of a Mexican Bistro before. Maybe that's because bistro is a French word for a small restaurant. Rojo is neither small nor French, just saying. Mexican it is though, and in that regard it is average at best. Luckily there was no wait on the Saturday evening I ate there. The service was excellent and after a bit of a wait for chips and salsa, I was impressed how quickly our dinners came out. I had a chimi which was soaked with too much sauce, making it a bit soggy and completely eliminating that delicious crunch of deep fried burrito I was craving. The beans were dry. My wife had enchiladas and she was also underwhelmed with the flavor. Prices are reasonable considering the premium feel inside. But I can think of a number of Mexican restaurants with much better quality food for even lower prices. I probably won't be back to Rojo, the Mexican Bistro.
(3)Susan R.
This is a fun place with a great atmosphere but the food is horrible. I have eaten here twice and both times my food tasted like it was a TV dinner. My husband got a veggie burrito and it looked like the vegetables had been frozen and warmed up for his meal. Also everything is way too salty.
(2)Kelsey H.
Decent texmex, I like the vegetarian options like the mushroom quesadilla. The table side guac is out of this world too. The server was impatient and it's not the place for bigger parties more than 10. They gave us a hard time for having a work party there consisting of around 15 people.
(3)Kate H.
I don't know what the fuss is about. Food is overpriced for an average Mexican food. This particular Rojo had an awful waitstaff. The runner dropped every single dish on his way to our table. They were running out of fundido dishes and tried to get us to give ours up before we were done.
(2)Jeremy M.
Meh. I've been to a few Mexican spots around the city and I honestly think this place is more about the sizzle than the actual steak (that's figurative, I didn't try their steak). The Good: * They have a giant tequila selection which is cool. * they do table side guacamole which is a cool novelty, but that's about it. More on that below. * they had a pretty talented live acoustic performer in house. * staff was nice and courteous. * margaritas were great * food came out at pretty quick ad the order was correct. The Bad: * the staff knew hardly anything at all about the tequilas they offered. So being a novice, I couldn't justify spending $20 on a shot of vintage aged anejo tequila * the food was, well, do you remember Chi Chis? It seems they've put more effort into the appearance of the establishment than the quality of their menu. It was average at best, I'd liken it to an Applebee's of Mexican food. Not bud, just very very average. * for the price, it wasn't worth it. Severely overpriced. We paid $9 for tableside guacamole, which was cool, but the actual product? I honestly had to take lines from our margaritas and squeeze some in and add salt. Then it was okay at best. Anyone who says the guacamole is "amazing" has no idea what good guacamole is, or we just coincidentally got an average "cook" The Ugly: * More on the food. I had the enchiladas and it was as if there was no seasoning. Dry, DRY rice (it seriously could have been zattarains brand boxed rice, seriously), very runny refried beans probably to stretch them out further and the tiniest enchiladas I've ever had... For $13? It was frustrating. My wife had the fish mahi mahi tacos. They were dry sauteed chunks of fish again absolutely no seasoning. We had to ask for some limes to squeeze on the tacos to step up the flavor. Her rice and beans were the same as mine, what youd expect from a cafeteria. In closing, all in all i would never go here for the food. Unless you're expecting Chi Chi's-grade chain restaurant food. The drinks are fantastic and the layout and overal design of the establishment is pretty cool, but I'd never go here for anything but pre-dinner drinks. Seriously, it's not worth your hard earned money. $100 for 4 $9 margaritas an appetizer and two plates of insanely bland food is way over the top. im not kidding, taco bell seasons their food better. Judging by the quality of the food, it seems they've put so much money into the design and decoration and maintaining a gigantic list of fancy tequila that they cant afford to put money into their menu and maintain fresh food of any quality. Im pretty sure this place wont be here much longer as I get the sneaking suspicion they are stretching the food and making it cheaply to make ends meet. And if they aren't now, they soon will be.
(2)Vic D.
The place has really gone downhill. The menu has been revamped and you can only buy multiples of the same taco, not mix-and-match like before. Tableside guacamole was still good, but the portion was notably smaller. My Camarones Rellenos, the most expensive thing on the menu, were overcooked and plopped atop a really gloppy and unappetizing cheese sauce. The chef must fave forgotten to take the "chef's potatoes" out of the refrigerator before they were plated -- they were ice cold. The same problem happened with the potatoes on my wife's plate, which were also replaced. Her carne asada was just OK. For the money we spent, the quality should have been much higher. 1.5 stars and no reason to go back.
(1)Tim K.
I read all of the reviews on here and was a little bit skeptical of this place, but my wife really wanted to go here for her Birthday dinner so we gave it a shot. I made a reservation as I heard the wait can be long and we still ended up having to wait 20 minutes past our reservation time before we got a table. While this annoyed me a bit, they were pretty busy, but at least we didn't have to wait an hour or longer like the walk-ins. The table side Guacamole was amazing. So creamy and just the right kick of spices and flavor. I am not sure why some said the portion was small as we had plenty to split between the two of us plus some left over to have with our entrées. I had the Chunky Beef Burrito and it is definitely something i would continue to get there. The gravy they used was out of this world. I was a big fan of their rice too. Often times at Mexican restaurants the rice can be clumpy and dry/hard, but this was moist and fluffy. The beans were okay, but I think next time we go back I would opt for double rice instead of the beans. My wife had the Fajitas Supremas and she offered me a bite and they were pretty good. It seemed like there was definitely more Chicken then Steak and Shrimp combined. She didn't mind, but for the price I would like to see equal portions of the three instead of skimping on the two items that may cost more. We opted to get a pitcher of Margaritas as our drinks. The Margarita itself was pretty good. Smooth and not overpowering; just right. My only complaint was the salt. I am not a big Margarita drinker, but I know that they usually rim the glass with a rock or course salt and our glasses were rimmed with what seemed to be table salt which was just way too much and overpowering. I had to use my napkin to wipe it off because it almost made it undrinkable. I didn't give it a full 5 star rating due to having to wait for a table after making a reservation. If we had to wait a few minutes so the table could be cleaned off and prepped that would have been fine, but 20 minutes is a bit much. Also the salt on the Margaritas knocked the score down a bit too. Next time I will opt for no salt. Other than that I can see this place being one we go to for special occasions to enjoy a night out. It definitely isn't an all the time place due to the above average prices, but more of a Birthday or Anniversary spot. All I can say is try it for yourself, but do use some of the reviews to help with your choices. For example, pretty much everyone who has had the Fish Tacos said they were not very good so I would probably use that as a caution and steer clear from them.
(4)Cocos B.
First this is not an authentic Mexican or even New Mexican place. I wouldn't expect it to be with the word "bistro" in the title. But I love the atmosphere and service here. I am always treated very nice and I am always served promptly. Their prices are a little high, but not so high that I don't return. The food and drinks are actually pretty good. I wish the food was somewhat hotter when it arrived, nonetheless, it's still delicious. The enchiladas are my favorite as well as the queso appetizer. They have quite a few different margaritas and they are potent without tasting overly strong. Some of the best! They have great salsa also. Every week they have a tequila tasting so you can try out some of their many varieties. They have certain times of the day when you can get discounts and they have a nifty discount card that comes in handy. On weekends I would call in to make a reservation because they get pretty busy.
(4)Mary Y.
I just don't buy it negative nellies...Rojo is worth a visit simply for the guac. Made tableside by a lovely young man, it was my first delve into the food. The staff was awesome, and in particular our waitress Natalie. She was so attentive and pleasant, and offered to keep our leftovers in the cooler until we went to the movies and stopped by after. I had stock chicken quesadillas, which were very good. I've had the lobster quesadillas before, which were better. We had 2 visits from the owner while there, making sure everything was ok. We had no wait, but we did call for reservations ahead of time. I enjoyed in particular the Diego Rivera paintings all over the walls, and it made me want to go back down to the DIA. We didn't have room for dessert but it was looking yummy. BTW, $31 for 2 of us for apps and drinks + entrees I don't consider expensive. For snooty Fountain Walk, I expected a higher price tag.
(4)Darian R.
Things I expect any restaurant to do at the bare minimum: sit us at a table, bring us drinks, take our order, bring our order, refill our drinks, bring our check and let us pay before we leave in a timely manner. They didn't do any of these things. The food is okay. No different than any other tex-mex place. It was pretty much empty, yet our waiter was difficult to locate. We had to ask passers by to track him down a few times. Brought us the wrong food after asking us 3 times. My coworkers go on Tuesdays for dollar tacos. I think it'd be worth it for that but we aren't ever going back for a meal.
(2)Molida K.
After going to Comic-Con at the Suburban Show Center and being sorely disappointed, my group and I decided to try Rojo because it was down the road. The ambiance was great--hip Latin music, the beautiful "Rojo" hues that the restaurant is aptly named for, and friendly waitstaff. However, ambiance does not save the day. I can deal with crappy servers and a crowded restaurant, but if the food is good, I will gladly grin and bear it. Sadly Rojo's food did not do a single thing for me. I ordered the Lobster tacos and for $13.99 for two tacos you would think there would be lobster in it. Not even close. I should have taken a picture for it because it was absolutely pathetic. The lobster was minced and chopped so finely that it literally became part of the tomatillo sauce it was cooked in or combined with. I really felt ripped off. There was plenty of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in the tortilla but NO LOBSTER. I don't think I'll come here ever again or any other Rojo joint in Metro Detroit. Sure you can gussy up a place but you cannot make up for the lack of quality in food.
(2)Craig L.
When we first came to Rojo several years ago, we were disappointed, but when we tried it again two years ago, it became one of our favorites. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, and the service is great. If you are frequent diner, I would recommend the loyalty card and making reservations through Open Table, though reservations are rarely needed. If you haven't checked it out in a while, give it a try. Tonight, we had the table side made guacamole, and it was GREAT!
(5)Chayan K.
Atmosphere, Id say I would give this 4 stars. Waitstaff, dedicated and on the ball but 3 stars. Drinks 2 stars, based on what I had. Food 1 arar
(2)Klee L.
Not bad. Better than expected. Accommodating when I wanted a custom dinner combo. Hubby liked his burito too. And he was determined not to like the food. The tequila is over priced and I drink patron gold at home so I know what it cost. So for decent Midwest Mexican food it's a place to go. Service was fine by the way.
(3)Scott P.
My wife and i decided to try this place on a Saturday night. First off, our reservation was already waiting a half hour early, so that was nice. Our waitress was very nice, and actually took the time to laugh at my lame jokes. (which was even more impressive lol) - Food wise i got the queso, which was more like fried cheese with chili in it. Not bad, but not what i had expected. The Salsa was great. I got the chunky beef burrito... the meat was nice and tender... overall, it was pretty good. I would definitely go back, but i think next time i'd probably go with typical mexican fare and see how they do that.
(4)Robert P.
I hate coming back to yelp to write a review that is negative but that is usually what does it for me... Rojo is a waste of time. If you want to be a Mexican restaurant that charges medium range prices you better be above average considering there are so many mom and pops places that are cheap and could run you into the grave...that goes for Vietnamese restaurants as well...yea Da Nang i am talking to you... No chips and salsa were brought to our table...calamari was less then average...mahi fish tacos were so dreadful...if i have to eat carbs make it worth it...green enchiladas were lame...and finally i have had better beans and rice at taco bell...no offense TB...just don't go and waste your money my fiends and you will thank me later.
(2)Harry B.
Finally a great Mexican restaurant on this side of the D... I have become a regular of this place. Their table-side handmade Guacamole is special and you can have it made your-way.. Another favorite of mine are the fish tacos... Oh did I mention they have more than 200 different kinds of tequila :)) On a side note, Friday and Saturday nights can be a lot busy, just like any other nice restaurant.. So I recommend prior reservation for these nights.
(4)Holly G.
I grew up in Southern California, so I'll admit that I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to Mexican food...I've had a hard time finding any place that meets my standards. My top 3 requirements are: #1-Great Guacamole #2 Fresh & Yummy Tortillas and #3 A Good Margarita (Rocks/Salt--NOT frozen!) Based on these standards alone, Rojo gets a B. Loved the idea of the table-side guac...it was good, but expensive for the portion-- adding OJ was a nice idea, but I prefer the acidity of lime juice. The Tortillas were nice & fresh. I ordered the house Margarita & was impressed with its smoothness. My hubby had the fish tacos, which are typically a favorite of ours, but they were not good. The fish was well prepared, but the seasonings & cabbage/slaw took away from the dish. I loved my mushroom quesadilla & have been craving it ever since...perfect cheese to mushroom ratio. YUM!
(3)Naveen N.
Great tasting food with a nice ambiance
(4)Scott S.
Beware of the horrendous service you might encounter at Rojo in Fountain Walk. If you do, make sure to speak with a manager there as they will try to makeup for for their waitstaff's fails. Here are two of my experiences the past few times going there: My wife, one year old and I got seated and in 15 minutes not one of the three servers that walked by us once made eye contact. We were never given any tortilla chips or water. It was like we weren't even there. Ten minutes after waiting, a table of four sits down and within minutes has chips, water and getting their drinks placed. That was the final straw. With the one year old getting antsy we stormed out and the manager stopped to see what the problem was. I gave him quite an earful and he was very apologetic saying he wanted to make it right. He sat us down a different area near the front and of course we got great service along with not having to pay for the bill. After getting seated with four adults, two toddlers and a baby, we were hoping to get our order placed quickly. After waiting 10 minutes, the waiter says sorry I cannot take your order right now and I'll be back in a few minutes. Over ten minutes later he took our order. I ordered soup and fajitas with extra onions. After a 30 minute wait, I get my fajitas with no onions and two slices of peppers. To make matters worse, the beef was luke warm. A few minutes later they bring the soup. Seriously? Why would I want the soup with my dinner unless I specifically requested it to be? I said no thanks and asked again for my onions. Ten minutes later as I'm almost done with the fajitas, they brought out a plate of onions. I spoke with the manager and went over all the fails - he apologized and took care of the bill. Bottom line, keep your fingers crossed you get seated in a good section or you might be in for a rude awakening.
(2)Mary M.
Pretty good restraunt for people with Gluten Allergies. They are willing to make any of their a-la carte tacos gluten free. There are many choices for gluten free people. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Christina K.
It's located in the former Bamboo Club location and the interior has a great ambiance about it! The menu was fairly basic in a Mexican restaurant ranging from fajitas served in a sizzling plate, burritos, tacos, etc. They did put lobster in some of the items which I thought was a little unnecessary. We ordered the fresh guacamole which they make table side which was way yummy!! They also have a huge Tequila menu so if you're a fan I would definitely recommend this place! Overall the food was good but I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. I could probably go over to Mexican town and eat the same stuff for a third of the price!
(4)Miike G.
This place has great decor, fair service and steep prices for Mexican food. I have been twice, once for lunch and dinner. I would advise stopping in for only for lunch. They have very reasonable "lunch specials". Remember no matter how good the "fresh avocado guacamole" sounds avoid it. It's $$ and is nothing special. There chips and salsa are some of the best I've had. The only catch is they cost $4. First Mexican place to charge me for chips while dining in.
(3)Amy P.
Went to Rojo on a Friday around 5:30 and had no problem getting a table. I gave Rojo 3 stars because of a few things. I knocked off a star due to the terrible service we had. I also knocked a star off due to the price and the terrible entree I had. So the chips and salsa they bring to the table are pretty good. The salsa is a little acidic for my taste but still good. And it's a very generous portion of salsa which is nice. The 2 side sauces they bring with the salsa are delicious as well. One packs a lot of heat and the other is a little smokey, nice combo. Both by boyfriend and I ordered the chicken soup. It was a little salty, but pretty good. The broth seemed home made and had a nice flavor despite the salt, and there are nice pieces of chicken in the broth. Still pretty good soup though. Now on to the entrees. I ordered the Signature Chopped Salad with Shrimp. It was terrible, not even edible. It's probably my fault for ordering a salad at a Mexican restaurant as my boyfriend pointed out, but still, it's pretty hard to mess up a salad. Where do I start? The lettuce was romaine, but it was all the dark green, wilted parts of the romaine. I thought even if the salad was bad, at least there are shrimp. Well the shrimp were limp, disgusting and small. They seemed exactly like the shrimp you would buy frozen at a grocery store and just thaw and serve. Which isn't bad if that's what your buying, but if I'm spending $16 dollars on a salad I expect better quality. All this wouldn't be terrible if it could be disguised by a decent dressing, but the dressing was horrendous. It had very little flavor, it was disgusting and I couldn't even make out what it was made of. My boyfriend got the chunky beef burrito. And it was delicious! The beef was seriously good and perfectly sized for a burrito. The day after and my boyfriend is still talking about this burrito. I tried it and it was great. It seems like it comes in a gravy, whatever it is it's great. It's served with rice, refried beans, guacamole and slaw I think. All the flavors combined made for a great flavor. The best part of our meal (Well mine) was the Perfect Margarita. Hands down the best margarita I've had. So fresh tasting and it didn't taste like nasty fake sour mix. You could tell they use fresh, quality ingredients, and for the price I would hope they would. Definitely worth it! Now the service. It was terrible. We waited forever for our server to come. When he did, he tried way too hard to upsell us (I used to be a server myself) and he was too pushy. We ordered a liter of margarita and it took him forever to come back. The restaurant wasn't busy by any means and we were his only table when we arrived. Asked for 2 waters with our margaritas and never received them. Once our meal came he never checked on us once so I couldn't tell him about my terrible salad. We set our credit card out on the table and I for sure thought he would notice it and get us our tab, but he walked by 2 times and never noticed. Tried to flag him down and he didn't see. 15 minutes after we were done eating and a bus boy cleared our dishes and he still hadn't come back to our table. Finally had to loudly say excuse me when he was coming by again to get his attention to cash out. Didn't ask about our meals or anything. I think Rojo is the type of place that could get 4-5 stars if you knew what to order and asked for a specific server. I'd go back for the margaritas alone, and that chunky beef burrito though!
(3)Amanda K.
I really feel bad about giving a one-star review. Why? Because I don't think Rojo in Novi even deserves that star. I remember the days when this place would be PACKED; probably because of the (formerly) awesome "Rojo chicken soup," that I would pine for. Gone are the days of that yummy lime flavored broth, sprigs of fresh cilantro, and an adequate amount of chicken. BF and I went here because we were in the 12 Oaks area, and it seemed like the least boring of the chain choices around. We really didn't have to wait at all, and it was a Friday night, which I found kind of odd. That should have been the first hint. Despite the average amount of customers that were there, we had to wait 20 minutes to even get greeted by our waitress. She took our drink orders, but never brought our drinks. Ummm... ok. We did have water, so that's what we had, until I reminded her TWICE that we ordered drinks. Finally she brought BF's Diet Pepsi, but still seemed to forget mine. The Food: I wouldn't feed this stuff to the stray cat that I feed. I wouldn't even feed it to a hermit crab. No living entity should have been served the slop that we were that night. Oh, and it took an hour to get this alleged food. Now I know I have high expectations, but I don't expect an exceptional meal from a chain. However, this chain is owned by Andiamo's and I expect at the very least, palatable food. BF ordered fajitas and I ordered fish tacos. The fajitas were brought to the table first, and instead of the meat and veggies being served on the hot griddle, they were brought to the table in a bowl (??), and then dumped on to the griddle, splattering hot oil and steam all over BF. The meat was cooked okay, but the vegetables were cut in a way that was most certainly not conducive to a fajita. It was as though the peppers were cut into quarters and then plopped into a pan for a minute. They were so thickly cut that they weren't even cooked through. Also, when he opened up the tortilla container, nothing but dried out, cold tortillas were smushed in there, along with a damp piece of wax paper. Appetizing, no? As for my fish tacos, I really can't attest to the taste. The fish... oh, the smell. The fish smell was so strong, it was making the people next to us make faces. Being a cook myself, I know that if you can smell fish, especially a very mild white fish like the tilapia they served, you don't eat that fish. I did take a small bite of the fish filet, and it was definitely rancid. I asked the waitress back, and explained to her that I was uncomfortable eating fish that I was pretty certain went bad. She took it back, and asked what else I wanted. Remember that chicken soup I mentioned? I started thinking about that. I wanted that soup. The lime broth, the chicken, the cilantro... anything to get the rancid fish taste out of my mouth. So I ordered the soup. I was appalled at what came out. The broth was almost completely clear; it looked and tasted like water with maybe a little bit of chicken broth. There was no cilantro in it at all. And the chicken? A GIGANTIC clump of shredded chicken was just plopped into the water-broth. And in it was mixed up soppy shreds of what I can guess were tortilla. I took a few bites, and then just sent that back. The waitress said that she was not going to charge for the rancid tacos that I didn't eat, or the watery chicken that I didn't eat, out of the kindness of her heart. I asked to see a manager, but she never brought one over. After waiting another 20 minutes to get the check, we paid for the one meal that was somewhat tolerable and left. I'm not sure where the 5 star reviews are coming; is it possible that we had a freak occurence? Sure, I guess. But it's a chance I'm not taking again.
(1)Michelle L.
First of all, let me start off by saying DO NOT GO HERE! This was the biggest waste of time and money I have ever experienced. The only reason why we went was because we had a gift certificate. Lets start at the beginning. First, there was a 45 minute wait, not sure why we even waited. We sat down at the bar and ordered frozen margaritas and the bartender tells us she recommends a flavored one because "they taste watered down" when you get them frozen. I have been to plenty of mexican restaurants that have great flavorful frozen margaritas. They did taste watered down, they didn't taste like anything at all really. Then we get our guacamole (which was supposed to be done tableside and was not, she didn't even ask) and salsa. The salsa was basically canned tomato sauce with a few chopped canned tomatoes in there and about one piece of cilantro. It was disgusting! How can a mexican restaurant not have good salsa?? The guacamole (which was $9) tasted like nothing, and they don't even use lime juice, they use concentrated orange juice! Awful! When it came to dinner, we were not so excited. I ordered the mahi mahi fish tacos, and all I could smell was this overwhelming fish smell as she placed them in front of me. It really turned me off, plus they were very salty. My mom got the chicken flautas which were dry and had no flavor at all. My dad got the ground beef wet burrito, which he claimed to be good though it did not look so good (he's not too picky). To top it all off the service was awful. Our bartender was rude. Our waitress was just as rude and didn't pay any attention to us. She never came over and asked how our food was once. Also, the hostess told us when we came in that "its worth the wait", I made sure to let her know that it was NOT worth the wait on out way out, she didn't take that so well either, rolling her eyes. Overall this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. On top of that it was the most expensive mexican I've ever had as well as the worst! PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE!!
(1)Tina J.
Beautiful interior, great location, guacamole is ok, nice service, amazing desserts.
(4)Zac H.
The food was fantastic but it took 20 minutes for someone to finally come take my payment to pay the bill.
(4)Chuck H.
This Rojo is decent, but I greatly prefer the one at Partridge Creek. No real complaints other than seating us next to the two other occupied tables in the place while the fat helicopter mom at the next table talked at her friends non-stop at volume setting 11 about her dumb kid for over an hour straight. Not Rojo's fault she sucked, but it didn't help seating us there.
(3)Spencer K.
Quesadilla with special cheese and mushrooms. Chips and salsa were nice, had special sauce to add to spice it up a bit. Pretty standard Mexican fare, can't really go wrong. Notch up from Chili's
(3)Rachel K.
I had a great time here the other night. I've been here twice now, once closer to it's grand opening a few years back, and the last visit this past Saturday. We did go around 6 pm on a Saturday, looking mostly to get a drink, so the place was almost dead. We were sat quickly, and our waiter was at our table in a matter of seconds to suggest a few drinks. We settled on a pitcher of Red Sangria, and also ordered the tableside guacamole. I'm not sure if I just wasn't a fan of the sangria or if it really was just cranberry juice, but it wasn't the taste I was expecting. Not bad, but not their specialty either. Their drink menu is extensive, featuring a number of tequila based cocktails, so maybe stick with what their known for, the tequila, instead. The guacamole was amazing. We ordered the mild, and our waiter made it in front of us. About $8 for the tableside guac, it was well worth it. Our tacos and burritos were great as well. Some of their menu items are on the pricier side, no doubt, but the serving sizes are huge. I stuck with the steak tacos while my sister ordered a vegetarian wet burrito. We were both happy with our choices. I think that Rojo's food is a step above standard Mexican chain food, both taste and price wise, so I don't know that you can compare it to the cheap chain down the street. Price wise, I'm not sure I'd be a frequent visitor (especially if you're sticking to something basic, like tacos), but taste wise, I'd gladly come back.
(3)Lynn H.
Although the drinks were tasty and the service friendly, it didn't compensate for the so-so food. I expected better for the price.
(2)Kate G.
Great casual place for upscale Mexican food. Their new taco menu is DELISH. Super fresh ingredients, good service. Highly recommend the table side guacamole. Best guac I've ever had!
(5)Dave G.
Nice building, but it is food that counts. They dont use real cheese, it is some kind of Pastured Cheese food that coats your mouth. The chucks of beef were old and microwaved before being dumped in a tortilla and grilled with a press. The drinks were fine, but my wife had her's taken before she was done. Ask before you snatch things from a table. And worst of all, the beans and rice were cold. Really, you don't have a system to have the side everyone gets ready to eat? I was given a free meal and appetizer coupon and asked if I would please give them a second chance. I wont be using that.
(1)David B.
Pretty good for a chain Mexican place. We had out team dinner there and they were pretty accommodating to out 16 people that we had in our group. The service was excellent and we never really had to wait for anything. The food was average and what I would get in any run of the mill Mexican restaurant. We ordered the Queso Dip and it was barely enough for feed 2 people. I had the enchiladas and they were pretty tasty but with hardly any rice. Medium price, small portions. I'd go back though because the service was excellent.
(4)Denise Z.
The ambience is nice, and they have great jalapeno/habenero sauces, but that's about it. The food was BLAND. I had the chicken enchiladas verde and my husband had the carne esada. We had the guacamole made table side - no taste what so ever. The margaritas were weak. I can't understand why the place was full and there was a wait to get seated. Prickly Pear in Ann Arbor is WAY better.
(1)Ruth G.
To Rojo, image is everything, and quality food and customer service is insignificant. If the most important thing to you is decor and fancy plates, that's about all Rojo has to offer. If you want a good meal served in a reasonable amount of time and decent customer service, eat elsewhere. We went on a Saturday night, and expected the usual Saturday night wait. The hostess told us 45 minutes. We were not seated until nearly an hour and a half (twice the estimate!) after being put on the wait list. This is certainly not industry standard - not in any restaurant at which I've dined or been employed. We attempted to speak to both the hostess and the manager about it. Both essentially gave excuses, told us that they often book reservations beyond capacity, and said that we should have expected that a "45 minute wait" could mean "up to two hours." I guess, as customers paying $60+ for mexican food, we were supposed to feel lucky to even be there. The food was sub-par and in incredibly small portions. At $10-$12 per platter, I would expect some kind of interesting "gourmet twist" on mexican cuisine, or at least something better than Mexicantown or the oh-so-mediocre americanized "mexican" food you can find in any suburb across the country. I was sadly mistaken. Our flautas were barely-glorified taquitos, and the chicken was stringy, dry, and unseasoned. The only thing unique about this mexican food is that it is served on a trendy oval platter and the portions are pathetically small (again - not industry standard for mexican restaurants). The food took over a half hour to arrive, which is disappointing given the fact that all of the offerings had essentially the same ingredients and should not have taken that long to prepare on any night of the week. No chips and salsa are provided to quench our hunger after waiting 1.5 hours to sit and another half hour for our food. Chips and salsa are $5, and they serve the salsa in trendy square bowls 1/4 full so that you have to ask for refills whenever you waiter happens to stop by your table (it took 15+ minutes to get salsa refills). For our party of four, there was enough salsa for us each to have about four chips. Again, after 2 hours of waiting for dinner, this was very unfulfilling. We also ordered guacamole, which was $8 (yikes!). The waiter said that it is normally served at the table and would be a 20 minutes wait. 20 minute wait for guacamole? Is he joking? I said kitchen prep was fine to avoid the wait, but this didn't knock down the price. When it was served, it was not even half an avocado's worth of guacamole - another pathetic portion. It was also rather bland. I've had better guacamole at Qdoba (which isn't the greatest guacamole). On top of this, the wait staff repeatedly tried to squeeze in between our chairs and the column behind us, even though there was an actual path designed for such traffic a foot away. Funny - doesn't shoving your customers repeatedly during their meal detract from your "fashionable" image? We were bumped in our heads several times. Overall, we were stunned with the staff's amateur customer service skills. Everyone in my party had worked or currently works in Novi restaurants with similar turnouts on weekends, and they did an absolutely terrible job of handling it. The food was no better than Chili's, and at twice the price with bad service, their trendy tableware is not enough to get me to ever set foot in there again. Rojo thinks image is everything. I doubt it will stay in business once its "trendy" image gets old. It may be the restaurant du jour to the tragically hip, but even their attention span for this kind of nonsense is guaranteed to linger to the next "great" thing soon.
(1)Jeff M.
Ok, ...my wife found the ad for Rojo in the "Hour" magazine last month and wanted to try it, and, ...who am I to say no?? :) Anyhow ... Let's start w/ the chips and salsa, ...NICE! Love the fresh, and the hot that you can mix in to your own taste. Chips tasted crisp and fresh. My wife LOVES guac, ...so, ...of course, we had the "guac at the table" app, minus tomatoes (per the boss :) ) Delicious! Very nicely done, mixed nice and creamy, and the orange juice adds a nice touch. My wife had the Fish Tacos, and I had the camarones rellenos. Truth be told, the Fish tacos were "OK" at best, and the presentation was ...very plain! The camarones rellenos were very good, I must admit! A nice little bit of heat, nicely seasoned veggies, and shrimp were cooked just right, thankfully! Our watier was "so-so" ...he forgot my wifes second margarita, and I had to give the bill to the manager to have it rung up because he "disappeared" on us. I'm going with 3 stars because of the chips and salsa, the guac and the camarones rellenos. The service and fish tacos take it down a notch for sure. The prices are high for what is coming out of that kitchen in my personal opinion. Would I go back?? Probably not....the draw, for us, just isn't there. If there was a 2.5 star rating, ...I'd give it 2.5 for sure ....
(3)Joanna L.
My best friend is half Mexican. She says that the chef there is actually Mexican. Bonus points. But... was the food all that? Meh. Chips and salsa - pretty good. Guacamole. Not bad either. I'm surprised they didn't have the stone bowls that have become a little kitschy in all other Mexican restaurants. Ordered the chicken flautas. Not bad, but I wouldn't rave about them either. I just didn't think there was anything particularly special about those flautas. I've had flautas elsewhere and I think the problem is that they all taste about the same. The meh? The chicken was a little tougher that it probably should've been and I think that they could've done better in presentation and how the guac was presented on top. The verdict? Good atmosphere. Cheap drinks. Food is pretty cheap too (disclaimer: I'm used to NYC prices). I paid for myself and my friend and it was about $38 w/tax and tip. I tossed in a little more on top just because we had a group of over 10 there for a Bachelorette party and the waitress did a nice job of taking care of us (thanks!). Would possibly return if I were in the Novi area.
(3)Anonymous R.
Rojo is at Fountain walk in Novi. Love the location. We tried it and really enjoyed it. The food was good and margaritas were awesome! Some of the best margaritas I have had. Our waiter was a little discombobulated but he was friendly and meant well. I would certainly return for taco tuesday!
(4)Amy B.
I was looking forward to this visit but came away disappointed. The table side guacamole lacked flavor. I ordered chicken enchiladas which were dry and I would almost seemed microwaved. Atmosphere is cool but food not worth the trip.
(2)Toni C.
Wow what a rip off this place is! Let's start at the beginning, I read the reviews on here before I went and many said the table side guacamole was good so I went for it. Was it made table side? I don't know but if it was it wasn't at my table. Actually I guess you could say it kind of was because I had to add the lime from my margarita to it and some salt because of how bland it was. I'm pretty sure that it was also $8 or $9 for a small portion. Vegetarians be warned, the beans are made with lard and rice is made with chicken stock. I don't think I've ever been to a Mexican restaurant that charges for chips and salsa let alone $5 for salsa! About that salsa. It was alright I guess but it tasted like cooked tomatoes mixed with fresh onion and cilantro. It was fine but something was a bit off. It also had no heat to it. Ask for the hot salsa, its really not too hot and it has way more flavor. So then there were the desert options, four flavors of cake. Boring. Where's the fried ice cream or sopapillas? They advertise a happy hour from 3-6 every day with drink specials and two for $6 appetizers. Guess what, chips and salsa and guacamole aren't included in that deal. Guess who never mentioned that to us until we got our bill? Guess who asked us if we wanted chips and salsa as soon as we sat down? That's one of my restaurant pet peeves. The one bright spot and why they got two stars instead of one is because the mushroom quesadilla. That was very good. Not quite good enough for me to go back there again but good enough for me to take home with me the one piece of it I had left.
(2)Sue H.
Atmosphere was very nice but the food just so-so - we stopped in after a movie and had great expectations. the table side guacamole was impressive but overall not worth the price just average Mexican fare. Sorry wont be back...
(2)Drea K.
I like the food, the service has been great and the location is good since it is close. I had a burrito and my friend had a quesadilla, both the food and alcohol were good. I go there frequently and will continue to.
(4)Jen M.
Love this place. So yummy. Haven't had a bad plate of food yet! They have some good happy hour food specials too.
(5)Zishan B.
Ok...I actually liked this place. The decor is cool, trendy, & dim lit. Our waiter was amazing and definitely deserved the 25% tip we all left :) His name is Sammy..ask for him! I ordered: Appetizer: Queso fundido (minus the chorizo). It was a cheesy dip with onions and a side of salsa with a basket of warm chips. loved it! Entree: I was in the mood for something fishy so the waiter highly suggested I try the salmon which was the chef's specialty It was grilled topped with a pineapple/mango salsa and lay on a bed of white sticky rice...all bundled up in a mini banana leaf. It came with a side of smashed garlic black beans & roasted vegetables...portion was nice so i took some home. I loved it! *ask for it because it is not on the menu* Dessert: a couple of us shared a large piece of mexican berry milk cake. it was sweet and nothing worth remembering. great service, unique food, cool ambiance...but definitely pricey.
(4)Dan S.
Went there for an anniversary celebration and walked out happily stuffed. However, walking *in* to the place requires an advanced degree in suburban logistics -- Rojo is on the far end of one of those crazy "downtown" entertainment habitrails in Novi. I didn't know it was owned by the same group that owns Andiamo, otherwise I might have passed. The fare was pretty good, the best item probably being the guacamole, which is hand-made tableside. House margaritas were "ok." I had a mushroom quesadilla, which was actually a notch better than the one I love at Grand Azteca (though for your money, the latter would definitely do). The ambience is very chain-y, bordering on PF Chang's, which is kind of a turn-off, but the service was top notch. Ultimately, I prefer "dirty Mexican" as my friend Sam likes to call it, but this was a nice change of pace. It probably deserves 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because the specific items I had were so good.
(4)Steven W.
Ordered Fish Tacos (Mahi Mahi), for $13. Received three tacos. Waiter never heard of Salsa Ranchera! Fish Tacos taste really funny with red sauce. To me felt alot like PF Chang's. Great ambiance, but expensive food, which didn't taste all that good. I'd probably not return.
(2)Cherry C.
Well my experience was NOT good. I asked the manager if they could make me a CHIMICHANGA because it's Not on the menu. He replied "yes" so we stayed. The table side Guacamole was great but if it wasn't for that & Salsa I would Not have made it thru my movie. The Chimichanga had NO Beef inside - looked like all beans & mush??? The cheese on top- What cheese? Looked like Feta cheese 4 a salad not Chedder/ Mozzarella. Also the rice & beans portion was not much. No way did I eat it! Our Patron Tequila on the rocks were $15 a piece (I'm used to paying $10 no more than $12) I've walked pass this place a thousand times scared to try it for this reason. I'll be sticking to Mexican Village Detroit (I live in W Bloomfield) that's the closes & best thing to getting "real" Mexican Food. Our bill was $35 for 2 drinks, Guacamole & Salsa. Sorry Rojo - thumbs down for me! p.s. the Manager was very Nice and apologized. If I decide to go back I will stick to something on the menu.
(2)Kristin R.
As others have said, the food was good, but not for the price. I had shrimp tacos, which were very salty... and $14 for 3 tacos is pretty ridiculous. My husband had the fajitas, which were actually a huge portion- if we ever return we will split an entree. Beer/wine/tequila selection was great, but drinks were overpriced as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great- intimate and comfortable- but overall not for us. Our server was very stilted and formal, meanwhile we were just trying to have lunch! We will probably stick to El Patio for our local Mexican food fix.
(3)Rob F.
I've heard good about Rojo and I've heard bad...it seems people are pretty split. Personally, I was very pleased. The split reviews make me wonder if the poor reviews are due to it being a newer restaurant where they're still trying to train staff to high standards and train chefs to make every dish consistently perfect. I'd be interested to see the people who reviewed it under 3 stars to go back and see if they had a different experience. For example, the review from g m. mentions that he was charged for chips and salsa. We were not and they showed up without us even asking for them. Toni C. 'warned' that the food was made with meat products...I mentioned I was a veg. to the waitress and she gave me a ridiculous amount of info about each item and what meat it contained (very helpful). Many others said the prices were high, but for two of us the bill came out to $32 and we had appetizer, dinner, and drinks...I thought the bill must be wrong, but with a $4 app. and $3 margaritas (which didn't choke you) I was happy with the value. I got the Chilies Rellenos and they were fabulous. The vegetarian version comes stuffed with veggies and plenty of cheese and was literally mouth watering. My dining companion had the quesadilla (in his words "as a standard to test the food quality") and he was pleased. So, why not 5 stars? The atmosphere lacked just a tiny bit of a special something. Not quite dark enough, not quite upscale enough for the quality of the food and the reputation. The waitress rushed us to order just a tiny bit and the bill came a little too fast. Other than that, I liked this place and will have to take my wife here soon. A solid 4 star experience for me.
(4)No O.
Well, it just goes to show that not all dining experiences are created equal! We went there for the second time today and ordered the fajitas again: totally bland, spiceless, and nothing like the first time. What a huge disappointment, esp. for the prices involved (~$16/17 per dish). As my dining mate said, "We won't be going back here for a while." The trick, it seems for restaurants, is consistency. You'd think the recipe for fajita would be pretty standard in the kitchen, but apparently not. The queso fundido app was delicious, so we figure the next time we go, we'll only be doing a smorga of apps to be safe.
(2)Hal B.
The atmosphere and the service are both pretty good. The problem is the food. For our party of six, every plate was overcooked and arrived cold. It lacked any real flavor.
(2)Lawrence R.
Tacos on Tuesday is the best special around! With the drink specials you can eat and drink for less than 10 bucks a person! The bartenders there are very good at mixing various drinks including insane Margaritas. Very friendly staff that will spend time with you understanding the menu and drinks. I highly suggest you try the table side Guacamole if you have not. Huge tequila selection from low to super-high end.
(5)Richard B.
Great chips and salsa and $1 tacos on Tuesday... yummm Its a little pricey for Mexican, but if you like Mexican that's what you will get.
(4)Jose S.
Pretty authentic mexican food. The chile relleno was very good and the chicken flautas very well prepared. I did not try the fresh made guac since I believe it is expensive. I do not know about the autenticity of the other entrees, but this two that I had were pretty good.
(4)Lisa O.
I've been there twice - once with hubby on a Friday or Saturday evening in the summer and once with a girlfriend during the week. Everything was pretty good both times. During the summer visit -- food was good, drinks were good. The only negative is their location. We sat outside in totally uncomfortable chairs that seriously need pads lest one gets waffle ass -- but there were teenagers everywhere! That's not a problem in and of itself so much as hearing them on the phone cussing and being essentially ill-mannered. If I were management, I would be ushering all foul-mouthed teens away from the outdoor patio. With my girlfriend we tried to squeak out one more day on the patio but eventually moved inside. Service was quite good and food was deliciosa. !Buena suerte, Rojo, me gusta!
(4)Justin P.
Went in December 08 or January 09 can't remember right after first opening. You didn't get free chips or salsa then. Order lobster quesadillas for an appetizer - fishy, my food was enchiladas verdes, so so and not authentic mexican. My friend's mom who is mexican whips up way better ones, and the chef here was supposed to be Mexican. My entire party thought the food was okay, my girlfriend had shrimp tacos - fishy. My pregnant friend had steak tacos which she enjoyed. I remember thinking how stupid I was. I had a Jeep 4x4 at the time and we drove out in what had to be the worst snow storm ever because we had lost power. Spin outs all over the road but we made it safely there and back, never again for bad, overpriced mexican food.
(2)Eric B.
Ate at the bar. bartenders where great had some awesome cheese on a hot plate with chips but didn't get much cheese on that hot plate... but was only 4.99 guess you get what you pay for or not...lol... glass of merlot 6 bucks. 1800 margarita was strong cost 7.50. And for dinner had three tacos at 8.99 with hardly any meat on them taco bell uses double the amount.... lol... anyways really nice place but 30 dollars for two drinks, side of cheese and 3 tacos.... not worth it.
(3)Katie K.
I must have gone to a different restaurant than everyone else. When I was told later on that it was owned by the same people as Andiamo, I was stunned. The service definitely left something to be desired. It wasn't awful but it was diner-style service. I know that's nitpicky but as a place that presents itself as high end Mexican, I expected to not be so casual. As for the food, I wasn't impressed either. There was no spice!! While there are hot sauces on the table, certain flavors can't be gotten from the jar and need to be cooked into the dish. The sauce for my enchiladas was good but chicken inside was super bland. Nothing going on inside except bland chicken breast. Another person got the salmon dinner - it looked super depressing. It's wasn't expensive for salmon but the presentation left a lot to be desired. Another person at my table liked her mussels and the guacamole was an overall hit. Additionally servers kept bumping the back of our chairs. Overall I wish I had gone someplace else and happy to let the numerous people waiting when we left to go back and wait as many times as they want. i was so underwhelmed after having high expectations of this place.
(1)Lena C.
I went to ROJO with my 2 children, it was a 30 minute wait, the hostess escort me and my 17 yr old and my 4 yr old in the bar area with big stools and high booths with big pipes under the booths. My son got down to go to the restroom with my daughter and he fell with his legs tangled up in the pipes and hurt his knees. The manager came to my table and said I should be watching my child and it's my fault he fell down even though I never left the table and was there the entire time, he never gave me or my child an apology, he was mean uncaring and walked away saying disrespectful remarks, I was hurt and in disbelief , his name is Dave. That was my family restaurant at least every week or every two weeks, I have invited and taken other people to ROJO but now I will never return. Children should never be seated in the bar area with the high tables and booths. Please reconsider taken your children to this place because it is not kid friendly. All their concern is the different liquors they offer you to buy, the customer service is poor and they rush you to order from the food menu. Thumbs down Mr Dave, the manager at the Novi Mi rojo shame on you the way you treat kids.
(1)M O.
The food was delicious, but the price was....high -_- I only had a small salad, my bf had...some kind of Mexican dish, and it was over $20......
(3)lisa h.
All I can say is WOW...and not in a good way. I've been to Rojo a few times in the past and was pleased with the menu and the overall experience, so I was completely unprepared for what I experienced Saturday evening. But, Before I discuss the rest I need to say that the staff was very Pleasant. During the height of the dinner rush, The host staff as well as the wait staff were well prepared and accommodating. The bus staff also cleared tables quickly. Now, for the rest. The restaurant was absolutely filthy! The carpet was disgusting, black and grungy, covered in corn chips and in need of a thorough cleaning. The fabric on the booths was no better, dirty and greasy. I don't think the menus were ever wiped down. We had to send our first menu back because there was wet salsa smeared all over the inside. When we received new menus, they were no better with the exception that the salsa was already dried.....gross! I found myself turning the pages with my pinky because I didn't want to touch the menu. I couldn't help thinking that if the front of house was this dirty, then what must the kitchen be like?...we should've left then, but we were hungry and it was a weekend night in Novi so I knew we'd never get a table with less than an hour wait anywhere else. The food was underwhelming for an up-ish scale restaurant, the salsa is very good, but the calamari was rather tasteless with a presentation that was not very appealing. I ordered the carnes with veggies and was served a flat steak flopped on the plate with a heap of over-sautéed onions and peppers on top. The mixed veggie side-dish included zucchini, carrots and onions and was so greasy it was pooling at the bottom of the plate. We also had the chicken enchiladas which were not bad and easily the most appetizing thing I tried. My advice would be to stick to the basics like nachos or burritos and don't order anything "too fancy". But, if that's the case then there are plenty of other places nearby that will fit the bill for much less money. Our bill was $45.....and neither of us had alcohol. This is the first review I've ever written, but the restaurant was so dirty, I felt compelled to share my experience. The only reason I gave 2 stars was because of the pleasant wait staff.....sorry Rojo, but I will not be returning.
(2)Carolyn S.
My husband & I have been frequent patrons since they opened. I am sad to report that the service at Rojo has unfortunately gone down during this past year. Very surprising as they are owned by Andiamo. The past few times we have been there, they have forgotten to give us silverware, and the wait times between drinks and food have been off. It is fairly easy to get a table quickly on a week night. Suggest eating in the bar area-bar or high top table if they say there is a wait. I would recommend coming here during their $1 taco Tuesday nights (I believe they have draft beer specials as well for $2.50), and their $9 fajita (beef or chicken), and $6 gigantic margaritas on Wednesday. With deals like this, I don't mind the lacking service as much. Chips and salsa are now complimentary!
(3)Mei L.
went there for my birthday with my bf and we ordered tons of food really liked the cream of poblano soup and the chili rellano definitely a must try.
(3)Chirag D.
The food here gets only 3 stars as it is very average Mexican food. We always order the cheese and onion enchiladas when we go to a Mexican place. The food was better than average and the price was a dollar or two more than at our other area Mexican restaurant. We did not order the Fajita's, but the table next to us did. The portion is huge. Definitely enough to share. We will be splitting that next time. This restaurant got 4 stars from me on the strength of their Margarita's and Chips n Salsa. The Chips/Salsa cost $5 for a bottomless basket. The Salse tastes as if it was made fresh in house and is accompanied with a Habenero sauce that can be added to give the Salsa as much heat as you would prefer. Since it is new to the area, it is always full. I recommend making reservations if you plan to go on a Thurs - Sat night, or you may find yourself waiting around for the better part of an hour.
(4)Suzana Q.
I was not impressed at all. I tried the guacamole because many reviewers said it was great, but it wasn't. Yes, it was fresh and the consistency was nice but it just tasted like plain avocados. I didn't get any hints of garlic, citrus, onion, or pepper. The bf and I actually added salt and pepper to the $9 guac which is a bit sad. It's possible that we just got a weird batch, but the rest of the meal was also unimpressive which does not inspire me to visit again. I had the enchiladas verdes and the tortillas were so tough that I couldn't cut them with my fork like you can with normal enchiladas. I honestly think they used mini tortillas straight out of a plastic bag in the fridge because they weren't warm or crispy either. There is so much competition in the tex-mex category that I wouldn't bother with this place...you can go somewhere else and get more bang for your buck. Also, don't be fooled by the ambiance because it definitely doesn't suit the quality of the food.
(2)Staynshape 4.
If there is a fantasic Mexican restaurant in the Suburbs, let me know! Rojo is not up to standards. Expensive, although the service and ambiance was fantastic. Calamari- suitable and delicious if you don't have a sophisticated palate. Here, it was the quality of an outdoor hotdog stand or a carnival ground. Chopped Salad- the waiter raived about it. I thought it was terrible. Enchaladas- according ot my friend, the dish has been inconsistent everytime she's ordered them. Yesterday, they were extremely high in sodium content. She ate half and chucked the rest. Chef- unfortunately this establishment needs a new one- desperately. When the check arrived, my girlfiend and I split the bill, we presented him with two credit cards.This morning, I checked my credit card statement and noticed that the waiter charged me twice- once for the full amount and the other for the half amount. He didn't inform me of this mistake. Thus, after the entire, expensive and cheap, lousy meal, the review of my bank statement prompted me to write this review. I can forgo the ambiance of Mexican restaurants - as is the case for a few Mexican restaurants I visit in Detroit. One is particualrly my favorite. Other than sipping on margaritas and indulging on chips and guacamole, Rojo is a disappointment.
(2)Michael F.
Rojo Mexican Bistro serves low quality ingredients at high prices. Couple that with small portion sizes and terrible service, we will not be going back. The steak fajitas were made with a cheap chewy cut of meat and did not have good flavor, and did not even come with sour cream or guacamole. It took over 40 minutes for our food to come out, and when it did, the lettuce and sour cream on top of the burritos were wilted and hot and the kids meals plates were VERY hot because they had been sitting in the window so long. The waiter simply tells my 4 year old to be careful of the hot plate! A kids meal should never be served on a scorching hot plate.. The positives of this place are the decor and tableside made guacamole. I wanted to like this place, but it was a complete waste of time and money.
(2)Maria P.
I went to Rojo with my boyfriend and another couple. We started out with a round of delicious margaritas that were on the small side, but were very good. We got our chips and salsa (although I didn't pay the bill and am not sure if we were charged or not) and the presentation was very good: we got a large bowl of "standard" salsa with carafes of salsa verde and a habanero salsa so each diner could customize their salsa. We ordered guacamole for the table and our waitress gave us the choice of having it made table side, which we of course couldn't resist. She brought out all the ingredients and made the guac right there (I even got some secret ingredient hints for my own at-home recipe). So far, so good. The entrees, however, was where this place was really lacking. The food is not cheap, by any means, so it was a bit disappointing when it was all only so-so. I've had much better for much less. I ordered the fajita salad, and the best part was the raspberry vinaigrette (such a pretty color!). My dining companions, who ordered more traditional meals of burritos and fajitas, had complaints of small portions, bland food, and beans and rice straight out of the can. As a Mexican restaurant, Rojo was lacking, and if I am craving "real" Mexican, Rojo wouldn't be my first choice. Dine with caution.
(3)Rodney H.
I have been a few times to Rojo.Last night was date night with my wife so we made a reservation for 645pm & had no wait, if you dont like waitng, call ahead, it works, We also had the table side Guacamole for the first time, i agree with other comments it is a bit bland, but we asked for salt & lime juice & extra Cilantro & then it was pretty good.Chips & Salsa were provided with both additional Verde & Rojo sause, chips are excllent, large & crisp & not at all Greasy. We both had specialty Margeritas & they were both well made, Service from start to finish was prompt professional & courtious.For main course i tried the fish Tacos which i think are above average, my wife had the Steak Fajita which did not arrive with the sizzle you expect & was bland. I like the decor, i also think the service is above average, the food needs more zing & more authenticness.If the food was better id rate a 4, otherwise i will return, this place is also perfect for Dinner & movie & Tacos Tuesday are a bargin
(3)Laurie M.
Okay-my first negative review on Yelp goes to...Rojo! I have to give them a poor review because they really gave me no other choice. Rojo has nothing to offer and I wasted $40 on poor quality, under seasoned, food and an undrinkable Peartini while sitting on the most uncomfortable seats ever. The cheese and salsa appetizer really tasted badly because their salsa tastes like Italian tomato sauce and, while tortilla chips and pasta sauce may be a unique food combination, it tastes too gross to be something I'd ever try eating again. The chicken with mole sauce was bland and the server was not very polite or attentive and on a slow Monday afternoon, I expect better service. We almost requested to be moved because the seats were so uncomfortable (the couple next to us actually did request to be moved to a table because of the uncomfortable booth seats) but we just toughed it out. I cannot give them a second chance, even though that is usually what I would do if I had a bad experience at a restaurant, because this place gave me no hope that it would be any better the second time around. Sorry Rojo but there's just too many other paces to try!
(1)Nancy R.
This is a more sophistcated menu than you will see in many Mexican restaurants. Interesting menu choices but the food is far from interesting. No chips and salsa on the tables. Which is fine. Who really needs that! But my fish taco was sparse and dry. Fairly expensive considering the quality and amount. Wouldn't go back.
(2)kelly k.
I will give the table side guacamole four stars however... the food and service was not great! The fish tacos tasted well... fishy, the margs were so-so (too much mix not enough fresh lime and tequila), and the service was pushy... Our server couldn't get us fed and out the door fast enough! It was incredibly rude and a HUGE bummer for a night out with girlfriends I haven't seen in over a year.
(2)Tony B.
Have to agree with the other reviews - good food, not great, very pricey especially for Mexican. As far as the margaritas, yes, huge selection also but tiny glasses and they too are expensive.
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