Lopez SouthWest Kitchen & Tequila Saloon
2196 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH, 44118
Lopez SouthWest Kitchen & Tequila Saloon Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Cleveland Heights for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2196 Lee Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH, 44118 - Phone (216) 932-9000
- Website https://www.lopezonlee.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 pm - 11:00pm
- Mon : 4:30 pm - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Hamid E.
Liked the appetizer. The half price margarita turned out to be limited to two options and the glass was small. Usually you get triple the quantity for a good price in a lot of Mexican restaurants. My steak fajita was awful! Was a fatty piece of steak that I couldn't even chew! Not going back there!!!
(1)Patrick L.
"Lopez? More like Blowpez!" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh baby, Review of the Day here I come. So this place has three-star quality food at five-star quality prices. I'm really not sure how that math translates into a two-star rating, but that is what my TI-83 graphing calculator comes up with when I plug in the numbers. Although, to be fair, I did not double check my math, so I will do that now. (Pulls out calculator, types '80085', giggles uncontrollably) Yep, two stars. Moving along, Lopez isn't really a bad place per se. It's very nice inside and the food is certainly acceptable. It's just overpriced. You're much better off going to Momocho if you're looking for some fancy-pants Mexican joint to really wow your Taco Bell-lovin' friends with.
(2)Jackie K.
This place was terrible... way over priced and the food made me feel ill when I left. The margaritas are nothing to talk about... not very good at all and the amount you get for a $17 dish is not worth the lack of quality or the ambience (which there isn't much of). I was seated in the very back and our waitress seemed to have a stick up her butt. I will not be going back.
(1)Danial B.
A little expensive but I can count on GREAT FOOD and my drinks will be good. Period. Good atmosphere, great, trendy area of town. Only complaint would be parking and the fact that they use valet parking to get a spot there. Kinda silly if you ask me.
(4)Me M.
I had the mole chicken. The sauce was great! The drinks seemed a little light on the alcohol. But a great place with lots of action.
(4)Janna K.
Way overpriced for just ok food. I was disappointed, as this is one of my favorite types of cuisines, and there aren't many restaurants like this in the area. I'm happy to pay up for a good meal, but I just can't justify going back to this place to pay their high prices that don't match the quality of the food. Also, I love guacamole, but we tried the lobster guacamole and it was TERRIBLE! Both my date and I were pretty disgusted by it and didn't finish it.
(2)Justo G.
Well my wife and I were a little confused about them getting 3 stars. Seems like the reviews are bipolar about things and you either hate it or love it.. such is most of our lives. But oh well, I'm Mexican and new to the area and we are always looking for Mexican meals. But oh well we decided to give it a try due to the bipolar nature of the reviews with the in laws. I would not say that they are strictly traditional but really trying to push the envelope in a good way. Yes I would say it is more pricey than Chipotle, but they really do try hard to cook out of the box and try to give great service. I had duck under cover and thought it was great and could not finish it so I had duck for lunch the next day. My wife and in laws also liked their meals. So in the end though not traditional I thought it was untraditionally great. About the other contradictory reviews I do not know what to say.... just that you need to try this place and give it a shot like we did.
(5)Silvana M.
Lopez is always good! Tonight I had the smoked gouda jalapeno grits. AWESOME! Creamy and delicious. And the spicy grilled shrimp taco. Very tasty! They have several margarita flavors. My fave is the hibiscus! Servers have been great every time I've been there. And the bartender really knows how to pour a drink "neat"!
(4)Jenifer G.
Dangit, why do I revisit perfection? When I had the grits in December, they were fabulous. So this time, I ordered three to go. Got home, taste no smoked gouda and the grits are just eh. But since Lopez is closed and I am leaving town tomorrow, I'm stuck. Maybe I'll buy some smoked gouda and liven them up. Disappointed. Shame on me for waiting til the last minute and for setting myself up.
(3)Nate A.
My girl and I always go for mexican food when we are undecided so we went to Lopez since its close to our new place. To cut right to the chase it was not nearly worth the price. When I can go to some hole in the wall mexican joint that pops up and closes in a month for half the price I need to be wowed when I'm paying 9$ for guacamole. My martini was good, not saying much since I'm a sucker for anything with alchohol in it. The small bag of chips and bland salsa was very dissapointing. I decided on the pork burrito, with pulled pork, cracklins, and tips. It was a large serving and the quality of product was great but again, missing flavor. The jalapeno guda grits were the only notable portion of my meal. Bomb! But I was so dissapointed I didn't even get drunk and try to speak seductive spanish to my girlfriend like I always do. I may go back once more, but I doubt it.
(3)Alicia B.
In an effort to try to explore more things in our new neighborhood, we stopped in to Lopez. It was slightly busy, but easy to get a table. Good sign. We got a very helpful waiter who explained the menu and made some recommendations for us. We decided to order two flavors of margaritas - pomegranate and jalapeno. The pomegranate was sweet and fruity, and the husband's jalapeno was very spicy! Very good! We decided on a taquito-like appitizer with black beans that they called the rolled cigars or something and the tacos (and were required to order at least two tacos each.) All the selections we made were pretty tasty - some were better than others and I would recommend the shrimp and lobster tacos. For my second drink the waiter recommended a prickly pear cactus margarita that wasn't on the menu yet - really, really good! Definitely recommend that one. So, if everything was pretty good, why only 3 stars? Because after an appetizer, 4 tacos and 3 margaritas, our bill was $70. We left feeling like "those tacos were good, but not for $6-8 each!" so I don't know if we will be going back.
(3)Robert B.
Our meals were delicious and service excellent. The trout was as good as always. Another excellent meal with good service on their wonderful patio. A slight problem with the food order was promptly and cheerfully resolved. Another good meal and service, although the menu has more Tex-Mex varieties on the printed menu and different choices on the daily specials. The old menu was better.
(4)Pogo C.
food wasn't bad; taco WAY WAY overpriced. I had flan as dessert and the biscotti was very soggy, they taste old; and the waitress was not only apologetic but tried to blame the weather being humid...sure; dessert was way overpriced as well. Will not go back there again. Not worth it. Two tacos + 1 flan = $30
(2)Jason V.
In summary, dinner at Lopez fell short of expectations. The dining area was a little on the garish side, but my main course was pretty good. In the end, I think when you toss around Rick Bayless's name on your website--even if it was for something some 30 years ago--the bar gets raised a little bit,. When you don't meet those expectations, you're going to fall a little harder than others. For an appetizer we started with a simple order of traditional guacamole. The chips were okay--not too salty or too oily--but even along with the guacamole and salsa (which were at least both fresh), the combination proved to be nothing special. I expected something more from the restaurant than the blandness of the standard issue salsa. The guacamole did come with some pickled vegetables which were a welcome and unexpected addition. The Lobster Enchiladas were actually very good. The lobster and cheese cream mixed well with the lobster and shrimp in the enchilada to make a very tasty and texturally pleasing (the shrimp tacos at Deagan's came to mind) dish. On the other hand, my cucumber margarita was really lacking in taste and kick, leaving me wanting for the same drink I've had a while ago at Momocho. Service was decent and problem-free. I thought the restaurant decor was a little overdone around our table near the entrance, and I feel it set the wrong vibe and detracted a little bit from the food.
(2)Funglin W.
Most of my friends loooove this place. I'm not much of a mexican food eater, so personally, i usually don't come here for their food. That said, Lopez has such great happy hour deals and food choices though. Drinks: Half off margaritas! Their margaritas are great and during the summer, they have half off margaritas! The mojitos at lopez are also reallyyyy good. Food: I haven't had most of their food, but they have these really delicious salsa & chips that they bring out to each table. definitely also try their lobster enchilada. Overall: I go here all the time to grab drinks with friends during the summer. Most people I know love their food and personally, I love the atmosphere at Lopez. As good of a restaurant, there aren't any foods/drinks here that I'd specially remember it for (hence the 3-star). For me, this is kind of just the place to chill.
(3)Detek R.
Great food! Good service. Nice atmosphere. I would recommend highly. The margaritas were bad either!
(4)Joe B.
Cleveland is a cesspool of Mexican/Southwest restaurants that all have different names, but the exact same menus with the same crappy ingredients. Does nobody else notice this?? People actually argue which ones are better, without realizing that IT'S ALL THE SAME GARBAGE. And all of their margaritas consist of tequila, bottom shelf triple sec and sour mix, with maybe a little lime (or whatever fruit you want) juice squirted in. Sour mix does not belong in a margarita. It's filler. It's the pink slime of margaritas. But not at Lopez. The margaritas at Lopez are the best I have ever tasted, with real, high quality ingredients. "Not as good as Momocho," you say? You're wrong. Momocho has terrific margaritas, but they are a close second to Lopez. Bourbon is my poison, but a Lopez blood orange margarita would be an impossible cocktail to turn down if given a choice between the two. On to the food. The chips are perfect, and I enjoyed the salsa. Salsa is like pickles. Some people like dill pickles, some like sweet. There are the weirdos who eat bread & butter pickles, and some people absolutely hate salt-brined pickles - which ironically is the true kosher pickle. Anyway, the point is that every person likes their salsa prepared differently. Lopez's salsa is on the watery side (I do prefer it thicker), but the flavor was very good. They have a great selection of tasty guacs as well if watery salsa truly offends you. The smoked brisket enchiladas is a huge portion of tender brisket and flavorful sauces that combine perfectly. The night we went, there was some kind of habanero soup on special and I went for it. Great idea. Wow. I wish I knew when they were serving it again. So stop ordering the #104 Speedy Gonzalez at your favorite crappy restaurant and try something original at Lopez. The food and drinks are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for, and a nice atmosphere to boot. The bar is impressive, and they patio is one of my favorites. Go there and at least have a margarita. Or four margaritas, and a cab.
(4)Janice S.
I have been here about 5 times over 18 months - here are some of my impressions of the place. This is my place to go to for wonderful margaritas! Pricey, yes, but I don't think there is any other place nearby that you can get such well made and unique flavored margaritas. Plus, you can get them half price during happy hour (Sunday-Thursday). I never thought I would get a Hibiscus margarita in Cleveland. As for service - it can be a little too attentive at times. There was one time the owner or manager visited our table 3 times to check in. But, I can appreciate that he is concerned with customer service. My favorite server is Terry. He is very considerate and excellent at what he does. A wonderful guy! The hosts have never been haughty to me, as other commenters have experienced. They all are pretty young, but friendly. I am not a fan of the valet, and think it is kind of funny. But, you know what, I just don't use it. I park across the street in the garage. If someone wants that kind of high end valet experience, they can have it. Foodwise, I like the place, but it does not knock my socks off, especially at the price point. BUT, lets face it, Cleveland is not THE place for Mexican/Tex Mex food. As for me, I love Mexican/Tex Mex street food and have had the fortune of living where the good stuff is. DO NOT come to Lopez if you expect authentic Mexican street food. Lopez offers a more inventive approach to this cuisine. I would even say that they offer food to a more bland palette, which, in my experience, is consistent with the clientele of the area. I enjoy their calamari as it is very well seasoned and not fried. I enjoy most of their tacos too, although often they are underseasoned. The lobster taco was just ok. Again, it just wasn't seasoned enough, so it tastes like nothing. I appreciate their flavor combos of their tacos, just wish their were better seasoned. Their enchiladas are good too. Again, my socks are not knocked off, but it is the best I have found in the region. So, while this place is a little spendy, you get wonderful drinks, a nice ambiance (bathrooms need an overhaul, though), attentive and copious staff, and good unique food. And, if you want, you don't even have to park your car. A solid place in the neighborhood for me.
(3)Roxanne O.
Not sure why I wasn't a big fan of Lopez back when I originally reviewed it, but I really like it now. There are multiple vegetarian items clearly labeled on the menu. (and gluten free options, too!) If you make it in time for happy hour you can get a pitcher of margaritas on the cheap. My current favorite entree is the eggplant enchiladas. You wouldn't normally expect to find eggplant in enchiladas, but it's a really good combo. I always pair that with some of the vegetarian pinto beans and call it a day with gluttony. Is it pricier than other palaces? Sure. But the food you're getting is a lot better than a 99 cent taco.
(4)Mike N.
Living in the neighborhood, I am looking for a regular hangout. If you are there on a day when you can sit outside, do so. The menu is southwest, NOT Mexican. The Ceviche is very good. The salsa is fresh, along with the chips. The menu is diverse, with interesting items. The only concern I have is consistency. Some menu items are very good, others not so much. Nice bar selection.
(4)Rachael N.
Hmmm. Appetizers were good, entrees were alright? We started off with the guac trio- iron chef guac, goat cheese fundido, and the house chorizo. I definitely liked the iron chef guac- there's a reason why it's called iron chef. haha. The drinks were half off, so my friend tried the raspberry margarita(which was good) and I tried the cactus. Why not, right? I'm not sure what cactus is suppose to taste like..but it was good? For entrees, she got the pork al pastor. Mmmmmm. Her pork tacos were so well seasoned and good. I recommend that, totally. I got the lobster enchilada per suggestion of our waiter. It was..... okay? I mean, it was definitely an enchilada. And the lobster was a little tough....but at least, it's a cool item on the menu. It's a cool place to hang out though- I walked in, and instantly, the individuals who greeted me were over the top-friendly, laughing and being happy. The waiter was great as well, talking to us, instead of acting business-like. I liked the people there, for sure....maybe I need to give the entrees another try? Or maybe just get the tacos and guac.......
(3)Lulu T.
Dishes were good, not spectacular. The service was very good. Our server was very attentive. The guac was good but nothing really to scream out loud about. The fish tacos were good but could use more flavor. The chocolate mousse was very thick and sweet. It didn't really have enough chocolate flavor. I preferred the chocolate soufflé in the mug. The creme brûlée was also very good. The mojitos were very weak. All limes and mint and no liquor. Be sure to ask them to make it stiff.
(3)Wade W.
Food - delicious. They start you off, like all Mexican restaurants, with chips and salsa. They kept filling ours too, and the salsa was fresh and tasty. To add to our appetizer, I got the guacamole and it was superb. You could taste the fresh, high quality avocados in it. I also got the veggie chile relleno. Best I've ever had (not that I've had that many). It came out hot and crispy, impressively portioned, served with a side of various pickled vegetables (if you like pickles, like I do, go here). The service was okay but was not that great. We didn't wait long for anything, but we were not blown away by our server. She seemed kind of cold towards us, but she did the job. As far as the price goes, it's more than you would pay at Chi-Chis, but I feel it's worth it. You get higher quality food and large portions. The beer list was great. Their tequila selection was awesome and helped to soothe my stomach from a rough night before. Lopez on Lee - you (almost) complete me.
(4)Quinton F.
Echoing a few of the other reviews, I have to compliment this place for several things. First of all, the service. It's always enthusiastic, friendly, helpful and attentive. Next would be the atmosphere. For some reason I always have a great time when coming in. There's also a great patio for the warmer months. Finally, I'll compliment the bar. Very good selection and specials. Maybe not quite hitting the mark for me have been the entrees. The menu is interesting, but I've yet to be blown away by my meal...exception being the grits with jalapeño and Gouda. Maybe it's been my selections. Either way the positives will bring me back for another try!
(4)Terri D.
helloooooo margaritas and lobster tacos. what more do i need to say????? cute bags of chips and yummy salsa. the bags are like old school teeny brown lunch bags. just adorbs in my opinion. jalapeno margarita. yep. jalapeno margarita. who woulda thunk???? in addition to that flavor, there's MANY more, including but not limited to mango, hibiscus, ......the list is long. they used to do a 1/2 price night but i think it is just a certain time now, from say 6-8 or 4-6. dont quote me. ok, onto more important things. food. um, holy yumminess. mexican meets modern fusion. the tacos. ahhhh. i am salivating just thinking about them. lobster is my FAVORITE. notice all caps. they are my FAVORITE. HUGE pieces of lobster meat. they are just phenomenal. like really good. the other yummy dish is the goat cheese fundido. (sp?) it comes with fried like chips for dipping goodness. holy yum. like really holy yum. do your tastebuds a favor and hop, run or skip over to lopez. for some mexican deliciousness!!!
(4)Nissim M.
I live around the corner and me and my wife like to check out places in the neighborhood. Been there once. Pricey. Just ok food. Not friendly. Very good cocktails.
(3)Dave K.
Lopez has a pretty good outdoor dining area and the food was better than average with a good ambiance. I would go back if I was in the Cleveland area.
(4)Julie W.
I can't sing the praises of Michael Herschman enough. We have a child with multiple life threatening food allergies and 4 other members in our family. Lopez is our favorite restaurant of all!! The food is amazing and the service is top notch. We consistently get high quality food with the security of knowing our child is safe. Michael really is as good as they come. The food is awesome all around . You are missing out if you don't dine here. Seriously!
(5)Alison M.
This is an interesting restaurant, but it's for sure not Mexican. I will say that Lopez is calling themselves a southwestern restaurant, NOT Mexican so I can give them that, but if anything it's really Southwestern American fusion. So please don't go looking for real Mexican food at this place or you will surely be disappointed. If you can get past the unusual menu with things like blue cheese, arugula, and eggplant in burritos then you might like this place. For me it was difficult, but I was out for a friend's birthday so I kept my mouth shut and ordered the fajitas as they sounded like the most traditional dish on the menu. Surprisingly, it was actually very tasty with a large portion of chicken, soft tortillas, spicy salsa and lots to take home. My husband on the other hand didn't come away as lucky. He tried the beef enchiladas and gave it a big thumbs down as it turned out to be bland mush rolled in a tortilla. I also saw a friend leave a mushroom and goat cheese taco mostly untouched and I don't wonder why. Prices were high, $7.50 for a thousand island taco and you are required to order 2. The restaurant was also very loud. It was hard to hear others at the table. I wouldn't come back here again.
(3)Joe T.
Excellent!! Had tuna, brisket, and shrimp tocos, all awesome.
(5)Ryan N.
Overpriced and totally average. Two good things about this place are the friendly service and the outdoor seating. Came here on a Saturday night without reservations around 9pm and was seated immediately in the outdoor area. Was immediately digging the ambiance and liked the swift placement of chips and salsa which were free. The experience went down hill from here. I'm a big margarita fan so I order the Gold margarita which is supposed to have better tequila and be less sour according to our waitress. My wife orders the regular. Get the ritas and take a sip and my wife nails the taste perfectly "like gatorade and tequila." Except you can barely taste the tequila. These margaritas are WAY TOO SWEET. The gold was barely tolerable the regular was an absolute joke/nightmare. All you get is unbearable sweetness follow but a sour taste. Anyway had the Iron chef guacamole. Wife liked it but I didn't. IMO just has way too many flavors going on. Guac is already a complex taste why add blue cheese, bacon and sage? I don't get it. Like tasting 10 things at once. We shared the chicken enchiladas. They were OK. Nothing great and overall not too flavorful. If they were 10 bucks I would feel OK about them but for 18.5 they did not even come with rice and beans and I was feeling robbed. I am coming from NYC and even we don't pay this for enchiladas at a nice Mexican place. Between my wife and I had two margaritas, iron chef quac and shared the chicken enchiladas. Bill came to about $55 with tip!!! No thanks.
(2)Emiko V.
For months my boyfriend had been talking about getting a bacon manhattan from Lopez and last Thursday we finally took the plunge. Once inside, you instantly feel as if you've transported to a restaurant in the heart of Mexico. The decor and music is very inviting and definitely adds to the overall vibe and dining experience. We chose to eat on the patio and if the weather is nice I would highly recommend you sit there. We started with drinks - margaritas for the boyfriend and his roommate (they stopped making the bacon manhattan - go figure! However, they'll be back in September) and a mojito for me. The drinks were EXCELLENT but pricey, so if you're looking to have a boozy night then this isn't a very cost effective option. For an appetizer we got the iron chef guacamole - avocado, blue cheese and bacon. Absolutely delicious - no wonder why is't Michael Symon's favorite! For dinner the boys got nachos and al pastor tacos, which were both excellent. I, on the other hand, stuck to the guac and mojitos. Overall, the food and drinks were wonderful, but the serving sizes were pretty darn small for the prices.
(3)George A.
Traveled a little out of my way because I had heard this was a good place to get some really good food. The service was actually pretty good and they have valet service, so that actually came in handy because it was a little cold out. But getting back to the food....... the guacamole was ok, nothing really special and my daughter complained that her rice had no flavor. I tried the catfish, lobster and shrimp tacos and they were ok, again nothing special. All in all I would have to say that it was a good dining experience but I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon.
(2)Rob C.
Big fan of Lopez. Not too many spots to get good Mexican in the area and Lopez definitely fills that gap in my needs list. For starters (and before I lose your attention) you have to try the Iron Chef Guacamole. It's chocked full of avocado, bacon and blue cheese deliciousness and is a great compliment to the customary tortilla chips and salsa. So far we have tried the lobster enchiladas (a bit pricey), fish tacos and the always popular fajitas. We have yet to be disappointed. There is also a long list of margarita options with several lesser-utilized options including pomegranate and mango. There is an outside patio for summer fun and it is well appointed for the restaurant and for summer enjoyment. Recommend parking across the street in the public garage or ponying up a little more to valet (especially in the winter).
(4)Kirsten S.
Food is pretty good but the management and service are AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! If you advertise 1/2 price margaritas 'til 7pm, honor that for customers who walk in at 6:50 even if waitstaff is out of it and didn't place the order 'til 7:02. Staff is untrained and management is rude, petty. I'm not just basing this on the margarita incident but on many prior visits. The food alone (and nostalgia) has brought me back but I'm afraid not again.
(1)Will Y.
The food at Lopez is good, but it's not so spectacular to warrant the price. The drinks (including margaritas) are expensive, and the margaritas aren't really that great. However, if you go Sunday through Friday between 5-7 p.m., all the drinks with tequila (including margaritas!) are 50% off. The fish tacos are a good bet, and the salads (oddly) are quite good, since they fry up some cheese to throw on there. Yum. I also suggest the lobster enchiladas; they throw in shrimp and finish things with pretty good cheese and chipotle crema.
(3)John C.
Great drinks, nice outdoor seating, pricey menu. The overall feel of the restaurant is great. A wonderful date spot. The GF loved it.
(4)Erin S.
Love, love, love the fajitas here and my boyfriend could eat a bath tub full of their salsa. Other food is ok but we really come here for the fajitas. Atmosphere is cozy and relaxing especially on the patio. The wait staff here is fantastic and we have never been disappointed by them. (Virginia and Bridget are the best!)
(5)Anthony T.
Good food, Great drinks. cozy enviorment. Great place for a date.
(4)Lacy S.
Upon moving to Cleveland Heights from New Orleans and Charleston, SC, my fiancé and I were eager to try out our new neighborhood restaurants, which included Lopez. We are huge foodies with a thing for Tex-Mex, and self-proclaimed guacamole connoisseurs. Lopez seemed like a great fit. Not so. First, the highlights: Great outdoor dining area, special cocktails were above par (try the grapefruit smash), chunky/fresh salsa and decent chips. Table service was much better than our experience with the hostess on both visits (thank goodness). And for the 2 stars: the hostess was very snobby and rude, looking my fiance and i up and down upon entry and then acted like we were interrupting her texting time. The indoor dining area is very loud . The place is also waaaayyy over-priced for the quality of food served (their other locations include Palm Beach and Beverly Hills...I guess people don't mind paying too much for blah food there, but this place would never make it in the south). The guacamole is just okay, it could be much better with a less pungent onion. The lobster taco is simply too butter-soaked and salty (and that means a lot coming from a New Orleanian). Reduce the butter and you might be able to taste the lobster you're paying for. We also tried the carnitas and tuna tacos. The tuna was also just "okay".. Carnitas taco was terrible. The meat was dry and somewhat chewy, and the sauce flavoring was used to mask this shortcoming. Yuck! My fiancé tried the brisket entree during the first of our 2 visits to Lopez. He gave the brisket a 6/10, but also said it was way over priced for the quality. The margarita was very disappointing. You'd think a "tequila bar" would know better than to use the despicable green margarita mix. We definitely expected fresher margs. After our 2nd visit, we have decided to look elsewhere, even if it means having to drive across town for our guacamole and margarita fix. We wouldn't recommend this place, lots of hype with nothing to back it up in the kitchen.
(2)Marissa M.
I have also been here twice so far. The 1st time was super fun, sat at the bar during happy hour (1/2 off all tequila which is amazing and the cucumber margarita was super tasty), and then transferred to a table outside. I got the mahi mahi tacos and they were very fresh and clean tasting. Then I went back on a sunday (also a happy hour day) and got a god awful margarita (just the regular kind), seriously undrinkable and the mahi mahi tacos again, but this time they were like swimming in oil. They waitress was super nice and could see that something was not right, mistake I guess, a bunch of oil spilled on the plate and fixed things for me right away, but the tacos weren't the same as the last time. Oh well, I would definitely go back, not the most authentic mexican, but serves it's purpose and if you are jonesing for south of the border type food they could semi-satisfy your craving.
(3)Amy T.
Lopez was a frequent stop on my dining tour when I lived in the Heights. To be fair, I have not been to Lopez in over a year. However, I have some very fond memories of this Latin hot spot. I love the decor and ambiance. The food always took back seat to the Tequila drinks and fun atmosphere. If you know the down and dirty Cleveland foodie drama, then you know Momocho has the better menu and chef. That being said, I still always have a great time at Lopez. One of my favorite memories: purposefully ordering the most expensive entre on the menu just to watch my gentleman caller squirm. Mwahahahahaha. Ahh...the sweet memories of half priced tequila Thursdays.
(4)Jason P.
If you are in Cleveland from out of town...especially LA, Texas, or the southwest, you probably shouldn't bother eating here. You will have far too biased an opinion on what Mexican inspired food should taste like. Also, if you've only eaten at Mexican places where the name starts with "El" and contains the name of a resort town in Mexico, you also should steer clear- you can't get a "combo plate" of sodium for $5.99. For those who have continued to read, it truly has great Mexican inspired dishes. From flank steak to fish tacos to creative guacamole, it's good stuff and made from scratch. It's very similar to food you'd get at an actual restaurant in Mexico, rather than the usual tex-mex you get in a American strip mall. So it is pricier than Taco Bell...that seems to bother some reviewers. Also, this place is on the side of town that's full of cheap skates and college kids. So price effects their taste buds. It's a good setting with good service and great food- I'd recommend it to anyone.
(4)P W.
About a month ago I decided to drive back home after work, but to travel 271 North, then westbound on Cedar. I ended up on Lee and wanted to try Lopez. The atmosphere is classy. The staff was very friendly. I thought the food was decent and expensive. The tacos are $6. This is a lot of money for a taco even if you are rich. The company that I shared at the bar was terrific. Everyone was very warm and friendly. I really enjoyed myself at Lopez. I honestly would return solely for the grits. They are some of the best grits that I have had. There is smoked gouda in it. I saved the other half of it for breakfast the next day. If you do want to try out Lopez, please, try the grits. You will not be sorry.
(3)Eli H.
More than your typical really good Mexican restaurant. The house hot yellow sauce is really good. I really considered trying to steal the bottle.
(4)C Mack N.
When our fantasy expedition yacht docks in the fantasy marina in San Jose del Cabo - mind you, not Los Cabos, we are greeted by Mr. Herschman and a newly slaughtered pig and a few fishes. Mark creates the best sangrita on the Planet and we are at one with the World. Keep that special bottle secret, OK?
(5)Carl B.
Forward: Only went here for a drink. Its a fun atmosphere, the beers on tap are all "mexican-themed" so dont expect any GLBC, but Dos Equis to your heart's content. Its a nice place, with so-so prices on drinks. And thats all about that.
(3)Jenn G.
I can never decide if I like Lopez or not. The food is decent, but not for the price. Well, maybe when I was in college. Now it does not bother me. If you want a cool atmosphere and a ton of different margarita flavors, then this may be the place for you. Pretty much the only reason I ever come here is for the Margaritas and/or happy hour.. Lots of tequila is to be had at Lopez. I would say Lopez is good for smaller groups because there are usually a ton of people there, and the tables are pretty close together.
(2)Becky E.
Our visit started out fine. Quickly taken to our table, drink orders taken and chips brought out. When our food came out, our friend who is pregnant saw her taco had soft cheese on top- she flagged over the waitress, apologized, said she can't have unpaturized cheese, may she have tacos without cheese. Waitress took her tacos back- within a few minutes "new" tacos were brought out. My friend began eating, only to notice once she got past the new salsa on top there was still cheese on her taco. They had just scraped off the previous salsa and cheese on top and brought the same tacos back out. She called the waitress over, showed her the cheese. The waitress said the white crumbles in the taco were a black bean and proceeded to scold our friend for not letting her know in the beginning of our visit that she couldn't eat cheese! It was embarrassing to be treated this way!
(2)Payne T.
First and foremost, if you're going here, expect to spend some money. With that said, you really should. At least once. The food is really wonderful and the staff is very pleasant and accommodating. I was on my way to a movie that began an hour from the time we sat down and we told our waitress right off the bat. Our appetizer was out in about ten minutes - a fantastic calamari dish that was very unique. It was mixed with greens and grapefruit (and possibly oranges or some other citrus fruit) and a jalapeno jelly that was delicious. Our meal was then out less then ten minutes after that - both dishes were extremely large and extremely delightful. The bill ended up being nearly $50 for the entire meal, which is steep, but it was certainly worth it.
(4)Julie C.
I had a fantastic time here and consider it among the better Cleveland restaurants out there. It is a little pricey, but the food is unique and comes in ridiculously huge portions. Group favorites included the cactus margarita, bacon/pineapple guacamole, and lobster enchiladas. For an added kick, try out the gorilla hot sauce with your food. Sharing is a must.
(4)Jessica D.
I've never written a review of any restaurant in my life but after eating at Lopez last night I felt compelled to do so. The cost to taste ratio was completely not worth it. Mushroom tacos: disgusting. The marinade had an overwhelming vinegar flavor which honestly is not the best pairing with refried beans and to top it off- the tortilla shell was so thin&soggy it disintegrated, spilling the contents onto the plate. That said: I enjoyed the skinny margarita which is why I gave Lopez 2 stars instead of 0.
(2)Jason C.
Much of my previous review (11/29/08) still stands, but over the past year I've become more of a fan of this place. I still feel that it's a bit over-priced, but the food is really quite consistently good, the service is excellent, the atmosphere is very comfortable. Kid-friendly, couple-friendly, everyone-friendly. And they have some great specials on Margaritas from time to time. Upgrade to 4-stars for quality and consistency.
(4)Nancy F.
I was pleasantly surprised by our recent experience at Lopez. It is a locally owned vibrant neighborhood spot with a great patio so we gave it another chance. The food used to be fantastic, but of late it had been mediocre to downright bad. However, this last visit the food was, dare I say, good. We had the special burrito which was delicious, and the shrimp tacos were spicy and flavorful. We did not order guacamole, it is SO BAD there it just makes me angry. Do they buy it prepared or make it in the morning and load it up with chemicals? It has been such a huge disappointment that we avoided it. Also, I don't know why people like the margaritas, they taste like the bottled stuff from the grocery store. In a restaurant of that caliber I expect some fresh tasting lime juice in there. Bottom line- GO! Enjoy the patio, the indoor ambience, the fabulous service. Be judicious in what you order, and you will have a nice dining experience.
(4)Ermelinda C.
Very good food, nice atmosphere for large groups, pretty outdoor patio and, more importantly, KILLER margaritas.
(4)Joseph F.
Let me make an addendum....they have half-off tequila drinks on Tuesdays\Thursdays and discounted mojitos on another night (I think Friday?) Again, this is nice, but why no food discounts? Went there last night and had a blast...enjoyed a half-off Cactus Margarita and a seemingly never-ending stream of chips and salsa. I just came back from Mexico, and the salsa here at Lopez is pretty darn close to what we had down there. Hence, I made like Edmund in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with Turkish Delight and ate a ton! One other thing that I didn't mention in the original review is that the music at this place is wonderful--they played plenty of Dido last night, as well as some smooth jazz-esque music. Plus, in the summer, Lopez has one of the area's best patios!
(4)Kris V.
Had a fabulous dinner tonight. Our outstanding server Taylor ,recommended the caesar salad and shrimp tacos and they were the best this foodie has ever had! The steak fahitas were perfect. To top things the manager/owner? Stopped by the table to insure we were enjoying our meal. We will be back, best Mexican fresh, made to order food in Cleveland!
(5)Al B.
30 years ago when my parents took me to the original Lopez y Gonzalez I thought that mexican food was the greatest thing ever invented. In fact the original impact has continued to set the standard for all mexican restaurants ever since. I say all that to explain that it's a sad day when you cannot live up to you're own standards and I'm afraid that Lopez does not. In my opinion mexican food should be both rustic and flavorful. Lopez has decided to take a cuisine with humble beginnings and tried elevated to the level of fine dining, losing all the elements that makes mexican food special. If you are looking for a tasty fusion restaurant with mexican roots then Lopez is a nice choice.
(3)vineeta r.
Lopez has the potential to be great. Unfortunately its hard to think of a reason to go back because: 1) if we are craving mod mex- we would go to momocho which is similarly priced (maybe a lil bit more) but offers higher quality and more original food (in my opinion). 2) if we are craving true mexican flavor we would just got to mi pueblo taqueria (on lorain) which has great authentic tacos, etc. -The mojitos were decent, however when one combines cheap rum with mint it inevitably tastes like mint flavored medicine. -Their house salad was delicious- appropriate portion, unique and tasty. -Their steak enchiladas were more like an enchilada-fajita hybrid- which was fine b/c the ingredient quality was good (steak tasted like steak). -The sage/bluecheese/bacon guac was all that it was made out to be- delicious. -Tequilia list was expansive. All in all, might go back again b/c their salad was really good and just to try more menu options. Also, although we didn't dine in there- it looks like they have a fairly large area that would be conducive to parties which might be worth taking advantage of.
(3)Jennifer E.
Not cool to seat diners 15 mins before kitchen closes-- rushed order, rushed eating = not returning. However, loved our cocktail from our Bartender, super nice and friendly young guy....
(1)Michael S.
The food at Lopez seems to get progressively less interesting and less inspiring as the years go on. It seems like their average chef works there for only two years or so and with each new chef; their food gets more and more mediocre. Lopez put Mexican fusion on the map for Cleveland's East Side and now all it represents is a place that you can get a nice margarita or two and have to wait a long time to get it. Their staff can be a bit dim. We once got served our entrees 25 seconds after our appetizers arrived. I refused to have them pile up our table with everything. Naturally, 13 minutes later they served us the same entrees that I initially refused. I hate food heated by lamps and yes, it made their mediocre food taste even worse. Lobster enchiladas (which also used to be much better) turned to mush!
(3)Pri S.
We called ahead about the wait and were told it was a 20 min wait but we'd be put on "the list" (oooh). Upon checking in at the 20 min mark, the hostess told us that we'd need to wait 10 more minutes. Okay, fine. FORTY MINUTES LATER..after we were repeatedly assured that we were next... we were seated. DON'T WASTE MY TIME by lying to me about the wait. Repeatedly. WTF!! To the manager's credit, he came over to apologize and offer us free dessert (we didn't take it). Dude, tell your people not to lie. It's much more appreciated than free dessert. Food: yummy but seriously overpriced. Service: excellent, totally rescued the evening.
(3)Thomas Awesome G.
I love Mexican food... and this is by far the closest non-burrito joint to where I live. Unfortunately, my overall impression was that it was way overpriced. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cheapskate (anymore). I'm happy to drop $80-100 on good food and drink with my wife every couple weeks.... But three "jumbo" margaritas cost freakin' $30! Even that would be okay if they were strong... Or fantastic. But if my wife can drink 2 jumbo margaritas and not ask me to drive home, they ain't strong. And I've made better concoctions myself. As for the food... It's just good. Not great. I've had the same size and quality pulled pork burrito at trashy airport cantinas for half the price. My wife's lobster enchiladas were a step above average... but again... not enough of a step above for the price we paid. Damn. I really do sound like a cheapskate. It's just that I'd rather have spent the same amount of money at Anatolia or Bodega or... Freakin' Dewey's pizza. Ah well.
(2)Sara D.
I love Lopez. Yes, it's pricier than your average Mexican restaurant. But in my opinion it is totally worth it. The servers are very friendly. I had a goat cheese & portabella quesadilla and it was TO DIE. They have a good selection of tequila. Also, I highly recommend ordering a guacamole flight, they have one with bacon in it!
(5)Mike B.
Before I touch on food, I have to recognize Lopez for excelling at a more noble dining pursuit. That would be serving tequila. Lopez really has one of the more comprehensive tequila menus I've ever come across and certainly the most I've seen in Cleveland. I'd definitely recommend trying a flight of tequilas sometime. Since a good tequila is the key stone in any good margarita, Lopez serves up an excellent one here. Fortunately for me I can walk home from here. Others may not have that luxury, so I'd recommend that they invite at least one friend who doesn't enjoy partaking of fine libations and slap them with DD duty. Oh yeah, concerning the food. This isn't a Mexican restaurant, so if you have your hopes set on high for authentic Mexican, keep looking. It's more of a modern-southwest-fusionish menu. While I really love the enchiladas here, I'm also a huge fan of their crab cakes. The service is alright here, nothing to write home about, but I've never had a bad experience either.
(4)George M.
The food was tasty. I am a very picky eater, so finding something on the menu can be a stretch sometimes. But I didn't have that problem here. A very stylish place with good flavor.
(4)Marion S.
Oh lopez, mi lopez...please do not remove your luscious trout and your delectable shrimp and grits from the menu, nor your excellent half price margaritas on tuesdays and thursdays now that Michael Herschman is at the helm. The partner and I had to check things out now that 2 new things will be added to the menu weekly...just want to be sure we can get our old faves. The fish tacos and the burrito will be sadly missed if they go the away in place of some salty Menu 6 knock off....
(5)Sunday G.
Lopez has weird hours to me. It may actually be the case, but it seems that way. I think the bar opens at 4pm, the kitchen at like 5 then the kitchen closes at like (i dunno) 10 then the bar stays open. It's odd when you're there eating and enjoying the bar and then all of a sudden there are chairs upside down on tables. If something makes you feel like you should "get out" it's that. OK so anyway. There is apparently a happy hour. I know because I was there at this time (which I'm not completely convinced was any particular time) and my friend said, "It's half off tequila." You would NEVER know this. It's not on the website, the bartender didn't mention it. I didn't see a sign. Maybe I'm a fool, but I think not. The food is tasty. I'm vegetarian and the mushroom quesadilla is what I recommend. My meat eating friend got the same and loved it equally. The margaritas are well made. I know my margaritas and these worked their purpose. There's a lot of tequila to chose from and a fairly decent take on a Mexican menu. The one thing you may want to consider before trekking to Lopez is that this is not an authentic Mexican menu. It's more Americanized than some may like. Maybe more revisions Lopez! We don't get many Mexican joints in Ohio, hook us up! So try Lopez for some kinda Mexican food and drink tequila while you're there, maybe then you won't care about the non-Mexican choices.
(3)Zack M.
Lopez's menu begins with an interesting claim to fame. Apparently, when they were opening, they were helped out by Rick Bayless. I loved Bayless' Topolobampo, his upscale place in Chicago, so I was looking forward to my meal here: Food: Started with the blue cheese and sage guacamole to accompany the obligatory chips and (rather bland) salsa. The blue cheese really went well with the Guacamole, but overall it was too small to justify an $8 price. Also, at that point you'd think I'd get a bit more chips then the small bags of them, or at that price, god forbid, some of their flour chips (but no, those would be $5 extra). I guess they refill the tortilla chips every so often, but it just made the whole appetizer feel like a ripoff. Went with the pulled pork burrito for my entree. This was alright, with pulled pork and onions on the inside and some black beans on top. Unfortunately, they decided to drown the burrito in this tomatillo sauce. It was fine, but if I wanted a completely covered burrito, I would have ordered an enchilada, and I didn't, so this was another annoyance. Perhaps I'm being overly picky here, but if they were going to go for the "whole dish" vibe here by adding the sauce, the flavor should have been knockout and it wasn't. Now, just to clarify. I know that both of these could have been avoided by ordering something that might have been more to my liking. They weren't my first choice; we wanted to go with the tamale for an appetizer and I had picked out the Ahi Tacos for an entree, but they were out of both (as well as something else I'm forgetting). Just seemed sloppy. Drinks: Had a Mojito, it was nice and minty, although the ice should have been a bit more crushed. They have Dos Equis on tap, so that's a plus. Service: As a few of the other reviewers have said, they do seem to have a more attractive staff, so it was a very pleasant dinner on the eyes. Our particular waitress was very friendly, although she did recommend one of the dishes that they didn't have, so that was a bit ditzy. Overall, though, her demeanor was great and it's definitely possible to say she was the highlight of the meal. I'd go back, and would be eager to try a few other things, but they could learn a few things from Topolo / Bayless and focus on the small stuff, it definitely kept our meal from being a four star experience
(3)Hana G.
Went here for Valentine's Day and the place was jumpin'. The atmosphere was great (old, young, casual, and up-beat) and the staff catered to our every need from the moment we walked in. First things first, if you have time to stop over at the bar, make sure to give a big shout-out to the bar chef, Mark: he's got a BIG personality and is very generous with the drinks (if he likes you!) The mojitos were wonderful. Second, the guac was perfection and has got a slight kick to it (for the price the proportion was small :( Third, the lobster enchiladas are to-die-for and come with a watermelon sauce that is ridiculous! Fourth, you've got to try the sautéed spinach-raisin pepita and gouda-jalapeno grits...who would have thought? Sixth: We also got the half chicken mole pablano, which was fried to perfection, but a lil' dry. I would not order this again. Fifth: Okay, it IS pricey, but worth a stop in for those enchiladas. It's lobster for god's sake.
(4)Larry J.
If you enjoy slightly different Mexican fare and are willing to drop a little coin then you should love Lopez. Thye have been at it a very long time and that has to tell you something. Happy hour is a bargain!! Service is always good (sometimes great) and several of their dishes are just excellent. The pepita crusted trout and the lobster enchiladas just to name two. Their queso fundido can vary from outstanding to dull as dirt. The drinks are a little on the expensive side, particularly the margaritas. However, we always walk away happy, buzzed and pleasantly full. Keep up the good work.
(4)Keith W.
Went here on a Thursday night for happy hour. The tequila selection was impressive, and half price margaritas on Tues and Thurs nights are good, but the food seemed mediocre to me. The food selections were a mix of American/Mexican/Tex-Mex fare (such as the Kobe burger with chipotle mayo). Would go back for half price margaritas, but would not go back to eat.
(3)Terri L.
Seems people love or hate this place. I love it. Food is always consistent; I have tried and enjoyed much of the menu (minus seafood options) but my hands down favorite is the Mezcal Chicken. so yummy. what ever is in that red pepper marmalade!. It comes with grilled asparagus; now I HATE asparagus but I LOVE these asparagus no idea why but I can't get enough of them. Guac is superb and a personal favorite drink is the pomegrante margarita. YUM!
(4)Sue G.
We moved here not long ago from California. We Californians know, and love, good Mexican food and we missed it terribly. We were told when we moved to Cleveland Heights, how much we would love 'Lopez', and that our search for great Mexican food was finally over. However, nothing could have been further from the truth. The food tasted ok, but it wasn't anything special, nothing like that which we had been promised. Unlike the real Mexican food, from real mexican cooks (such as in Painesville, OH) this was just more of the same old chain-style Mexican food...just more expensive ingredients and a nicer display on the plates. It looked pretty and our hopes were high. BUT... two of our meals were cold and one seemed to have an "off" taste...not quite right, but our 16-yr-old son ate it anyway; and then THREW UP UNTIL 4:00 a.m., when he finally fell asleep in my lap. When I called Lopez the next day to warn them they had some bad food at the end of the night (we were the last customers); they only wanted my name and number. I wasn't making a claim or complaint; but I gave it to them anyway. We have never returned. Bad food, in more ways than one!
(1)Kimberly K.
i guess thursday is the night to go to lopez. and i know in the summer the place is hopping with their outdoor seating. but with all the people i had always seen coming and going from the place, i figured i'd wait for the hype to die down and check it out whenever. the margaritas are pretty darn good. you can mix and match all different flavors. we did pomegranite and peach. apparently not a popular option, but it was yums to me. and they have a lot of tequila. enough to conquer the bad guy from three amigos. yeah. that would have been funnier had i actually remembered Dude's name. oh well. it's been awhile since i saw it. the place itself is trendy. and i swear they must bio-engineer their wait staff, because there wasn't a single unattractive person on the staff. pretty people. the type of pretty people you gasp and and say "wow. they're pretty". tequila and pretty people aside, the food's not bad. the soup of the day was tomato and white bean with chorizo. crap on toast it's good. my friends go crazy for their seafood stuff, but i stick with the veggies or the chicken. the chicken enchiladas were massive. you know the phrase burritos bigger than your head? well, these enchiladas were bigger than your head, your mom's head, and the horse she rode in on. ...in the three amigos.
(4)Cat S.
Love this place, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All I can say is HALF PRICED TEQUILA AND LOBSTER EMPANADAS!!!
(4)Emily H.
It's too bad that the food and service are so underwhelming, because the ambiance (especially on the patio) is 4-5 stars. For Cleveland, the food and drinks are overpriced. The complimentary chips and salsa would be fine from a Mexican chain restaurant but are disappointing in this context. During one visit I had the lobster tacos and the next time I had the bison burger. The tacos were unmemorable and unfulfilling. The burger was better but I've paid half as much for a higher quality, more interesting product at Symon's B-Spot. Sweet potato fries had good flavor but were the texture of shoestrings. We had the same server during both visits-- he was difficult to flag down when we wanted water refills or to place our food order, and he forgot our drink order-- it wasn't horrible service, but the guy was kind of flaky and it was painful to tip for this on such an overpriced meal. I'd rather go to Los Habaneros in Shaker, which lacks the ambiance but at least is priced appropriately.
(2)Adam J.
Our server brought us drinks and failed to return to our table to take our food order. After a half hour, we got up and left to make our movie time. I've never seen a server just forget about a table like that. She wasn't busy either, we looked over at her a couple times and she was just standing by the bar staring blankly into space. Unbelievable.
(1)Jeff H.
I had the lobster burritos and sampled a bit of my friends' dishes. Excellent food. While I understand the prices to be a bit on the high end by comparison to the area, I managed to have one of the more expensive items on the menu, the bourbon flight and an appetizer for less than I spend for a modestly expensive night out in any other number of cities. So, perhaps pricey locally but actually a good deal. We ate outside, so I don't have a strong impression of the flow of the venue normally. Service was top rate. If the experience is consistent, then Cleveland has a nice hidden gem.
(4)Lin H.
Oh Lopez. I find your prices to be PRETTTTTTTTY steep. Regardless, you've got some solid things going for you. First off, the margarita happy hour and fancy flavor options. That combined with the patio is the summer is a winning combination! Second, the server. He was very friendly, and accommodating with all our "more chips!" requests. Third, the creativity. While they had the usual appetizers any Mexican place has, theirs were amped up. Guac with blue cheese, caviar, or bacon? YES PLEASE! Fourth, overall atmosphere. Very classy casual, you know? Didn't feel out of place, but also didn't feel like I had to try and impress. I want to note as well that they have parking off to the side, but it's limited. So... Maybe not bank on parking there. So that's that, only two complaints (price and limited parking) from me! I have plans to definitely return once I have more money, since the entrees look delicious. I only had the opportunity to try appetizers and margaritas my first visit!
(4)Christopher C.
Very surprised with my latest trip to lopez. I don't understand the 1's at all. I will put it in context - my girlfriend and I walked in at 9:45 on a Friday night... things were slowing down, but we called ahead and they said kitchen is open until 10:30. We sat on the patio, which is wonderful. We both ordered margaritas - she had a pineapple, I had a traditional golden. We both ordered enchiladas, Chicken for me, Steak for her - and we split a side of the jalapeño grits. I was blown away by everything - compared to my last visit here a year ago. Portions were large and we walked away with a doggy bag. Service was awesome, our sever (Tamera?) - was great, she walked us through menu and specials. I was really impressed overall. Food was well executed with authentic flavors, and unlike that mexican place in ohio city the food doesn't all taste like the same chilli pepper... Like I said, previously (a year ago) - I just had an ok experience at Lopez.. Given the latest, I think it will turn into a place I regularly frequent.
(5)Jeanne S.
I have a love/hate relationship with this place. Came in for a margarita and a shot of tequila with the hubs. Brian, the bartender, made a really great quality Herradura Margarita and my hubs said the mojito was fab. Chips and salsa hit the spot with the alcohol munchies. Will return, but maybe just to drink at the bar.
(4)George S.
I cannot say this word with enough joy and happiness in my voice, for I have found a place that made me very, very happy. That place...? LOPEZ. I've eaten at a few places that served Mexican cuisine. This was 1000 times better. And truthfully, I couldn't call it EXACTLY Mexican; it is much much more. Lopez is located on Lee road in Cleveland Heights, just past the library. The parking is either valet, or if you like there's a ton across the street at a local parking garage, but either way, very accessible. Now I've passed this place for years and thought it too trendy/expensive for my taste. However, tonight, my wife and I, after mutual difficult day, decided to celebrate...surviving the day, so we went to Lopez as we'd never been there before. We were happy we did. They serve what could be called Mexican, but with a flair and a blend of tastes that not only work well, but create part of a wonderful taste experience. I had the pulled pork carnitas fajitas, and my Wife had a their mix and match Tacos, (you can choose a variety, but she had lobster, a vegetarian mushroom/goat cheese combo and steak, all of which were SUPERB.) My fajitas were served with smoky sauces and spiced just right. It was GREAT. Lopez also has a variety of drinks, from a multitude of beers to margaritas and a vast array of whiskies. They even had a bourbon sampler and you could also get a sampler of their creative whisky shots. Their bar was quite impressive. We were also struck by the kindness and the service. Our server Andrew was great, and I wanted to mention him here because he was part of the reason we had such a great night. His suggestions were helpful and his whole attitude of looking to our needs was customer service gold. Also, Craig, the gentleman Manager, was very kind and answered a lot of our questions. Everything was great. Now, their prices are a bit upscale; an average entree clocks in at just under 20 bucks, but if you want to take out that special someone, impress a client or just have a nice experience, it's worth it. All I can say if I'm going to take someone somewhere to show them some of the best of Cleveland, I'm going to do so by way of Mexico; Viva Lopez!!
(5)Jeannette R.
I'm still thinking about the catfish taco I had on Saturday....crunchy, well-seasoned with a hint of sweet from the jicama slaw (I assume). Mmmmm. Tina, our server, was on point with her recommendations. She took the time to explain the menu to my husband and I, including all the drinks. The manager on duty (2/28/2015) welcomed us, eventually coming over to our table and chatting for a few minutes. He noticed that my husband really liked the gorilla hot sauce and told him to take it home. Nice. To start, we both ordered margaritas. I had the blood orange and my husband decided on the the mango. They weren't super strong, but not weak either. We both wanted to try the tacos and ordered four total: (1) carnitas, (2) brisket and (1) catfish, along with a side of refried beans. The catfish taco was love at first bite and by the time I finished it - along with some beans and complimentary chips and salsa - I was stuffed. I took a couple bites of my brisket taco and had to take the rest home. They really piled on that brisket so I had a sizable snack for later. My husband preferred his carnitas to the brisket as well and we both thought the refried beans were seasoned really well. Generally, I can take or leave refried beans but I would definitely order them again at Lopez's. We'll be back next time we're in town.
(4)Alia P.
If I was reviewing the salsa and chips this place would get 10 stars. The freebie salsa and chips at this place are so addicting. And the server just kept on bringing more and more and more. It was fantastic. We also ordered some guac, which was good, but not really anything special. Hubs had the enchiladas and I had the fajitas. The food was pretty good. I really liked the mole sauce that came on the enchiladas. Overall, I would definitely go back to hang out and get some drinks and chips/salsa. I would eat here again, but I wouldn't be rushing back.
(3)Jeff D.
Since Michael Hershmann arrived we have been back a number of times and each visit has been enjoyable. It's not that it was bad before, it was just average. The last visit offered a wonderful Salmon special. The Gouda Grits side dish was so good it could almost ( almost) be a main dish. This place has been in Cleveland Heights for years and after that time you might assume a sloppy result. Not so. They remain very on-game.
(4)Nikki H.
Great happy hour spot. The margaritas are amazing and come in a bunch of flavors from (my personal favorite -) strawberry to jalapeño. Plus the complementary chips are served with some the most delicious fresh salsa ever. I've been to Lopez after work for the half priced drinks a dozen times now and have always had great service. The staff really knows the menu and makes you a priority no matter how busy the place is, and everything has always been very clean. As far as the food, it's hit or miss. There's no chicken option for anything, including the tacos, which is hard for someone like myself who doesn't eat red meat. However there are fish choices which have all been pretty great and some A+ guacamole.
(4)Ben S.
Food: The meal started off right with a brown bag of slightly salty chips and flavourful chunky salsa. I ordered tacos (You have to order at least 2). I got 2 of the pulled pork and 1 of the brisket (per a foursquare tip). The tacos were large! Most people will be fine with 3 - definitely 4! They are thick - really stuffed with amazing ingredients. Large portions seem to be a trend. My friend got the BMF Burrito which was larger than a Chipotle one and just as stuffed. There is a good happy hour on Tuesdays from 5-9. You get 1/2 off margaritas - they have 13 flavours and oh so many tequila options (hence the "Tequila Saloon" bit in their name). Service: Our waitress was helpful in making menu decisions, friendly, checked-in on us as much as we would have wanted, and refilled our chips/salsa without being asked. She was friendly and unlike some restaurants where patio diners are forgotten about, she was just as attentive as any indoor server I have ever had. Location: There is a metered parking garage that takes credit card across the street. Also there is valet; on Tuesday night it cost $3. Environment: The inside of the restaurant is not special, but the outdoor patio is simply charming! I loved it! There is a small tree in the center and from it and all around the patio are lights. It looks very inviting. For those chilly nights they have portable heaters. Chairs/tables were comfy, didn't rock or wobble, and are set out allowing for a spacious private feel on the patio. Just don't try to exit from the patio gate - it's chained shut. There are also some booths indoors right next to windows that open so you can have the best of both worlds in those seats. Overall Recommendation: I was walking Lee Road at about 9pm and wanted food. I saw the 3-star average rating of this place and almost didn't go inside, but the patio was full and a good number of inside tables were as well. That was more than could be said for nearby restaurants, so despite others' low rating, I went in and was very glad I did! If you can get in earlier for happy hour definitely do so, otherwise anytime is worth while.
(5)Tyrone B.
The only reason I can justify even giving Lopez a single star is because I felt bad for our waitress, who was nice but even the service was mediocre. If only I could say the same for the food, but quite frankly, mediocre would be a compliment. Not one single person in our group enjoyed their food, the nicest things anyone could say was "it was alright". I guess I could also say that the portion size was large, but that's basically irrelevant if it doesn't taste good...which it didn't. I had the chicken fajitas, and I couldn't even bite through several pieces of chicken. I'd say it was comparable to attempting to chew a catcher's mitt. I took the majority of the chicken home to give to my dog, and when I tried to break it into smaller pieces for him there were several chunks of meat that I didn't want to feed him because it was so tough. Super disappointing, and the prices?! Really!?!? I don't mind paying more money for good quality ingredients and food that is so good it will leave me craving it days later...but none of that can be said for the food we had at Lopez. Despite the other negative reviews, I went into this experience with an open mind and really hoped that this place would impress, but it failed miserably.
(1)Marcel D.
I always want to like this place. Unfortunately the food is mediocre. This may be the reason the drinks are so strong.
(2)Corinne D.
Great for groups and a nice atmosphere. The food is great no complaints there. The service was not good at all. Our waitress seemed spaced out barely checked on us and seemed confused when a simple question was asked. We all ordered fajitas which were very tasty but simple and nothing over the top. Did not like the margaritas at all, they tasted like a mix made straight from a bottle. They did have a summer special watermelon margarita which was delicious and refreshing for the season. We have gone here a couple of times and have always enjoyed the food but hoped for more on the margaritas and service
(3)Yuanjia Z.
This place is actually pretty nice - it definitely made me feel that I was in a nice restaurant. Our waitress was super helpful and nice. She was very honest with everything and she refilled our chips and salsa in lightening speed! I was just telling my boyfriend to stop eating too much chips cuz he's gonna get full then the waitress came around to refill our chips again and teased him: you dont wanna stuff yourself full before the main course! LOL Other waiters in the restaurants were very polite and nice as well. Regarding the food/drinks, I really liked my peach mojitos. It was very well made. It was a giant 12+ fl oz drink for only $8 and a beer is only $4! I would definitely come back for more! We ordered puffy tacos for appetizer. The veal was very tendered and yummy, but overall it was ok. The presentation was not very nice. I ordered grilled skirt steak enchiladas for entree and the steak was definitely awesome and well done but the sauce could need some improvement. DESSERT - we had this baked mexican chocolate. It was SO GOOD! It's a giant melted chocolate with cookies chunks inside with a square-shaped cookie, some whipped cream, and seasoned strawberries on top. It was amazing. soft and gooey yet chewying at the same time. THEN you will have the spicy after taste. It was a great dessert. Highly recommended. Valet parking was only $3 and the dude was super nice and helped us scrap off the snow on the car. The only complaint I had for this restaurant was its price - for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and 2 drinks, we spent around $85 including tips and tax. It was a little higher than what I expected to pay for this place.
(3)Natalie P.
I came here after noticing Lopez every time I visited Dewey's next door. I thought to myself, any restaurant that's next to the greatness that is Dewey's has got to be good! I was a little disappointed however. Lopez has a nice ambiance and the staff and service are all around great. I appreciate the constant supply of chips and salsa when you enter (seriously, they waste no time in getting you to eat!) However, the entrees were just okay. I've tried the butter poached lobster tacos and I found the lobster meat just a little heavy on the rubber for my taste and overall just not extraordinarily flavorful. I've also tried the wild mushroom and felt the same way. It was pretty good, just not so good to make me want it again. Everyone at our table came away feeling similarly. Overall, not a super delicious experience, but I might be back to try the mojitos.
(3)Ritu D.
YUM. Any place that uses a ton of goat cheese in their food is A-OK in my book! 2 friends and I finally made it out to Lopez last night. One girl had been there plenty of times, but the other one and I had been meaning to try it for weeks! We were immediately seated after getting there and they brought by some chips and salsa. The chips came out in mini paper bags, which was super cute. The chips were delicious. the salsa was more of a pico de gallo, super mild. So, we added their "gorilla" hot sauce from the bottles on the table to it and it added a kick. Our waiter came by to get our drink orders and once he realized we were all perusing the marg menu, he commented that every marg was half off and if we were all getting the same thing- to just get a pitcher! UH-mazing - a 45 dollar pitcher for 22??? YES please! Most places I go to with HH usually don't discount pitchers. Anyways, we got a pitcher of the golden marg and it was wonderful. Tart and a bit sweet, but strong and delicious! We decided to start with some guacamole and goat cheese fundido. They were both AMAZING. I've been to many-a-mexican restaurants where the guac comes out tasteless and I end up adding salsa and salt to it. But, this one was great! And the goat cheese fundido... MMM.... came with some fresh fried tortilla triangles. just YUMMY. For an entree, I got the Angry Hippie burrito, which came with smoked gouda and jalapeno grits and a pickled slaw. The burrito was pretty good! Had portabello mushrooms, eggplant, goat cheese, and arugula. The portion was huge. I came home with 3/4 of the burrito! (Part of that may have been due to my overindulgence of chips, salsa, goat cheese fundido, and guac!) But it was pretty darn big. I am not a fan of grits usually - these tasted ok in my opinion, my friends liked them, but I've just never been a fan. The slaw was pretty good, but I love anything pickled :) The service was pretty good. Our waiter was super friendly and funny. The girl who kept bringing our various dishes out was also super friendly. She talked to us for a bit about the menu and was very helpful when we asked about different entrees we were thinking about ordering. There was a loooooong period of time while we were eating our apps, where our waiter was MIA. Our apps were pretty much cleared before he even came by to take our dinner orders. But, once we noticed how quick the food actually came out after it was ordered, we figured it was purposely done that way. As far as price goes, I agree with one of the reviewers who mentioned that yes... it is expensive but you go there knowing the prices - they have them listed on the menu. It's not your average greasy mex place (which I LOOOOOVE too)- so yes, prices are higher. But, in my opinion the quality and the portions make it worth it. (but no, I don't know if 7 to 11 dollars for a single taco is necessary worth it in my book) Overall, we had a good experience and I will definitely be returning again to drink some more margs and try some different things on the menu :)
(4)Todd A.
I've been here several times. The food never disappoints, and the staff is always friendly. Great sugar-free margaritas too, the best I've ever had!
(5)Kaitlin D.
This place had so much potential, but really flopped. Our server was a little overbearing with the "warnings". For example, "Don't call us Mexican, call us SouthWestern." "Not everything is spicy, in fact most things are not spicy at all, so don't worry about spices." "Don't worry, the mango flavor is in the rum in your mojito, don't worry that it's not orange." The way everything was presented as a cautionary statement made me feel weird. I wasn't about to mention the type of restaurant we were in, I actually prefer spicy (do I look weak?!), and I had no concerns with the color of my mojito (I just wanted to drink it). I'm really not sure why it had to be that way... The food we got was a bit of a flop from what we were hoping for. I had the tuna taco and the brisket taco, my fiance had the softshell crab burrito. My tacos weren't really worth the price. No flavors really stood out for me and though I'd say they were good, I'm not anxious to eat them again. His burrito wasn't sealed at the ends, then it was cut into four pieces, so it was nearly impossible to get a bite with the entire combination of all of the ingredients. It just ended up being a mess and not worth the trouble because the flavor wasn't outstanding. My mojito, on the other hand, was fantastic. I'd definitely come back here for a mojito and some chips and salsa, but no entrees ever again.
(2)Sheila B.
Lopez is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Cleveland, and yes, I know some will disagree and favor another delicious Mexican restaurant over in Tremont. I love their chips and salsa, which is always delivered promptly to the table after your arrival. They have a great happy hour with half off margaritas, so be sure to get yourself one! I usually get the Lopez Traditional margarita, but my friends love the cucumber and mango margaritas as well. I usually get their Blu Rodeo burrito. This deliciously blue cheesy burrito is filled with skirt steak, spicy sautéed spinach, and plenty of cheese including blue cheese. It's served with a side of gouda jalapeno grits which I loveee. Their lobster enchilads, while a little expensive, are decadent and rich in flavor. When I feel like a splurge, I go for the lobster enchiladas. I've never had an issue with service here. They are always more than friendly, quick to remind you when happy hour is ending so you can get another round of drinks for half price. They have a wonderful patio when it is warm outside that is surrounded by flowers. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the food isn't 100% consistent. The last time I went it wasn't quite at it's A game, but I've been there many, many times before when it was delicious. Everyone is allowed to have a bad day once in a while right? Overall, you should check this place out. Get some guac, a margarita, kick your feet up on their patio and enjoy every bite.
(4)Mark D.
After we paid for parking out front, the hostess sat us with menus and got drinks we were finally informed that they don't serve food for another hour! Went there at 4:30 for happy hour. We left because we were so hungry. The waiter was explaining it to us, said sorry and the hostess was laughing as we walked out the door.
(1)J. H.
I've been to Lopez a few times before I joined Yelp. My experiences were pretty much the same: sub-par and overpriced food. My most recent visit was no different. First of all, their draft beers are $7 for a pint, and $9 for a 22 oz. Granted, they have a couple good craft beers on tap, but it seems excessive. Our apps (calamari and guacamole) were the best part of our meal, although $9 for a serving of guacamole is a joke. My wife and I split the P5 BMF burrito. It was BMF, as advertized, but the ingredients were not very palatable. My wife had a fair amount of gristle in her portion, I had some bone, and we both found the pork belly to be way too chewy...and inedible. I will mention that our server was very friendly, so that is worth the second star in my rating. Well, this will be our last trip here. Best of luck, Lopez.
(2)Megan T.
I want to give this place 2 stars...but my husband is advocating I give them 3. I wear the pants in our house so 2 stars, it is! I had the pig absurdity and it was okay but overpriced at $18. My husband ordered the hot sauce flight and a special burrito that we can't recall the name of but it's best they just don't offer it again anyway... His complaints were that everything seemed to have an overwhelming vinegar flavor in both the burrito and the hot sauces. I did enjoy my mango margarita and we both loved the grits that accompanied our burritos. To sum it up - - It's a cute overpriced restaurant that we don't plan on going to again...
(2)Peter C.
This place is the grossest to the mostest. Sorry guys and gals learn how to make Mexican food (biased here since I'm born and raised in California). First off the chips and salsa were super mediocre. We ordered the lobster guac and it wasn't anything special - just tasted like plain guacamole. The pickled veggies on the side were the only good thing that night. I ordered the lobster enchilada. SO BAD. First of all the lobster was so tough and fishy it smelled up the whole dish (isn't seafood supposed to not smell like seafood?) Next up the dish was absolutely drenched in a cheesy cream sauce and there was way too much cheese on top. I think the tortillas were flour? I couldn't tell.
(2)Steven R.
Excellent food, Duck under cover Burrito was phenomenal, the brisket, lamb and fish tacos were also excellent Chef Michael Herschman is one of Cleveland's finest chefs. The watermelon margaritas were spectacular. If you haven't been to Lopez you should definitely make a trip there!
(5)Donnell S.
Came in here for a quick drink before a movie at the Cedar Lee. Bartender hooked us up! We got a pitcher of margarita at happy hour price. It was good and potent. They appreciated that we were in a hurry, so after sucking down that pitcher, they hurried the check to us. A++++++ service!!!!
(5)Joyce H.
Lopez rounds out to be about an average of 4 stars. Keep reading for the full review! Here are the best parts of Lopez: 5: THE PATIO. To kick off what my friends and I call "patiopalooza" (where we go enjoy different patios all across Cleveland), we went to Lopez, even when it was fairly chilly outside (around 55 degrees.) What's so great about Lopez's patio is that they not only have heat lamps, but they have felt ponchos on each seat so that you can wear to stay warm! With their market lights, Lopez was a very festive first patiopalooza experience. 5: The service. Our waitress was really fun and engaging, and we later found out that she worked there because she loved it - the people, the atmosphere, etc. This definitely helps make a difference in our experience! The not so great parts: 3.5: The food. Overall, it was pretty good, though some things could have been done with better finesse. You get complimentary chips and salsa, which is pretty standard. It wasn't too salty and it was pretty flavorful. I ordered a special for the evening, which was a "giant spider roll" -- a huge burrito with fried soft shell crab inside. MMM. Good concept and good flavors, but the liquid inside the burrito made the arugula and burrito wrap really soggy. It was a huge serving though - enough for two meals. 3: The price. Even with the huge servings, it was very expensive. $7 for a taco is overpriced, and even with my softshell crab burrito, I think it could have been less expensive. I'll probably be back for the ambiance, but not necessarily for the food.
(4)T L.
I am here on a business trip ,A fellow traveler recommended this place . Food was pretty good. I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised with the innovative menu . Smoked trout and beef brisket tacos were excellent . I had a sampler of salsas they were all de-lish . I took 2 bottles home . A minor draw back was the waiter ,nice guy ,we just felt a little abandoned when a larger group came in. This doesn't effect the rating .All in all a good foodie destination if you are the Cleveland heights hood .
(4)Robert J.
Never again
(1)Greg N.
My second visit to Lopez and boy was it a treat. Known for their excellent margaritas, this South Western establishment delivers yet again! I ordered the BMF burrito and she had the pulled pork wet burritos. Of course, these were complimented by their delicious pitcher of margaritas. A worthwhile mention is that their margarita pitcher is also 50% off during happy hour! Service: My waiter was Jason and he answered any/all questions we had. He was incredibly accommodating and even offered additional tips as to certain places to shop outside of Lopez for ingredients in homemade cocktails. Food came quick! During our meal a lady offered to bring us some new marg glasses with fresh ice. Hostess was nice even when we disputed whether or not to sit in or outside. Food: Excellent. Tastes great and well worth a wait. Ingredients taste fresh! Price: A bit above average ($38 marg pitcher, $18.50 BMF burrito). However, I would have no problems revisiting this fine establishment as all other aspects are top notch. Atmosphere: Nice interior. Awesome patio. Bar looks nice. They have a clear glass window into the kitchen so you could technically see your food being prepared.
(5)Jay S.
The food at Lopez was much better than it was described on the menu. After extensively reviewing a menu where every description seemed weird or not tasty, I finally decided on two tacos - the shrimp and a fried fish taco, and on the recommendation of a friend, I ordered the corn pudding on the side. It was fantastic!!! The fish was fresh and hot and the sauce was spicy and delicious. The corn pudding was more like a jalapeno corn bread, and I loved that as well. One star off for not having complimentary valet parking - it was really tacky to charge for parking in your own lot, and for not moving our party inside off the patio when it started to rain. I mean, come on!! ** Also, there is a goat cheese queso sounding dish under the appetizer portion - it is NOT like regular queso! Just as a heads up.
(4)Cheryl A.
This is my favorite place to eat on the east side. First of all, I love the atmosphere. The outdoor patio is fantastic. Service is always excellent and you can tell the food is quality and fresh. Although they can be a bit pricey, I don't mind paying a little extra for above standard Mexican food. This place is not your regular rice and beans. Go for happy hour for sure to save a few dollars and get the pineapple margarita, it's heaven in a glass.
(5)S T.
We went once, and that was once too many. I don't mind the wasted money, or the pollution done to my mouth. A good margarita could have cured that. But bad drinks are also part of their shtick. No, what bothers me the most was the wasted time. If I could have that back, I'd give them a second star just to be civil. You'd have more chance of getting food that was authentically south western or mexican at a Long John Silvers. When they finally let the food police out, this place will get cited for nasty fraud.
(1)Carl P.
Well... We went again and loved it. I've been to Rick Bayless' Fronterra in Chicago and I've had fish tacos everywhere from Florida to California. My wife grew up in Texas. We've had southwestern cuisine all over the place and Lopez is fun and delicious. The haters will hate the prices but c'mon... $7 for a soft shelled crab taco is too much? Go to Taco Hell or get to know your porcelain after a visit to ChIChis. I like the margaritas (not like Gatorade, ahem!) and the wait staff are friendly and helpful.
(4)Harry A.
OK Im a 30 year veteran of Los Angeles Mexican food, so first off, this really isnt mexican. Its mexican inspired food. BUT ITS REALLY GOOD FOOD. Have the soup. They make REALLY great soup. I had one of their "tacos" - this was a wolfgang puck sort of a taco definately not a east LA taco. And again - it was really great food. Im just drawing a clear distinction between whats served here and whats mexican because if you want mexican, this isnt the place for you. If you want a really nice dining experience with some very interesting and yummy foods, then this is your place.
(4)Jennifer R.
I would give Lopez zero stars if that was an option. I have never in my life had an experience at a restaurant like this! We had high hopes when we got there and we were quickly seated outside on their very cute patio. We were excited for half price margaritas and when we ordered, the waitress told us the first few we tried to order are not half price. Only their 3 house margaritas are half price, the other 20+ on the menu are not. Oh well, they were still good. We started with shrimp n grits which was AMAZING. I could eat it every day! Then out entrees were brought out and it all went downhill. I ordered a special - the soft-shell crab burrito and my boyfriend got the steak fajitas, cooked medium well. His steak was red and bleeding in the middle - obviously not medium well - and CHEWY. When I say chewy, I mean you could not bite through the steak in the fajita wrap. Not only was it a terrible cut of meat, it was laced with fat and not cooked to order. My burrito was a nightmare! The presentation was beautiful but that was it. They deep fried the crab, with the shell and waste inside of it. So when I bit into the burrito, I also couldn't bite through it because the soft shell was still on it. I opened it up and tried to take the shell off (opening a burrito and eating it with a fork defeats the point of ordering a burrito...) and I found all of the joints and crab waste inside. It looked as if they just put the crab in the fryer and wrapped it up, didn't shell it or clean it. How can you do that in a burrito??? Neither one of us ate our dinner. We waited well over 20 minutes for our waitress to come back and check on us and we told her out problems. She apologized and then said she would get us something else. We explained that we did not have time as we had to be somewhere else. She then said I wish you would have told me sooner so I could have brought you something else. I explained that we had been waiting for her because she did not check on us once we were brought our entrees. She apologized and said she would get the manager and took our plates away. She came back by herself and said the manager would like to offer us a free dessert. I explained that we do not want dessert because we did not eat dinner and also we do not have time, so she said she would bring the check then (my burrito was $20 and his steak was $19). I informed her that we could not even eat our meals so I was not happy about paying for them. She again said she would get the manager. 5-10 minutes later the manager came out and said I saw your plates, you ate half of it, so you can have a free dessert. We explained that we each had a bite and it was terrible, we did not want or have time for dessert and we did not want to pay for food we could not and did not eat. He then started telling me that soft shell crabs have no shell at all so it's impossible that I had any shell because the crabs "walk out of their shell completely." The waitress took our plates so I could not prove to him their was crab poop and shell in my burrito. He continued to argue with us and made a scene on the patio. We were so embarrassed!! He lectured us about how great their kitchen is and they don't make mistakes and their food is great. He never apologized and in the end he said - I'll just take care of your whole bill - and scurried way. We often dine at more expensive restaurants and have no problem paying good money for our food, but this was ridiculous. I have never had someone argue with us like that and I am sure he went inside and yelled at the waitress too even though none of this was her fault. Needless to say, we will NEVER go back, and I will actively let everyone we know to also NEVER go there.
(1)Jen M.
Know what really creases me? When a restaurant removes a less-than-positive review from its Yelp listing. Who's to blame....the restaurant or Yelp? I wrote 2 previous reviews of Lopez...one glowing (which is magically still posted) and one not-so-glowing (one that was removed) on a subsequent visit when I said their service had slipped and their guacamole was served very cold and clearly wasn't freshly prepared. Well guess what? Tonight was the SAME experience. Salsa arrived at the table STONE COLD...I mean, straight out of a cold refrigerator. Come on...get the food temperatures right. It sets the tone for the rest of the meal. So I wasn't surprised when the masa arrived with a flaming hot corn masa with super cold cheese atop it. So, someone needs to get a handle on the food details. The chicken in my fajitas was rubbery. However, the carnitas were good. When the server cleared our plates he dropped the fork on the top of my foot. Accidents do happen but still... This place used to be SO GREAT about 2-3 years ago, and it has slipped tremendously. I think they must have gotten a new manager over that time period. There is some gray-haired due who insists on serving all the food. Perhaps it is him. And yes, we were told when we sat down that they are NOT a Mexican restaurant but rather a South American restaurant. Tell you what Lopez...how about you work on your food execution before you have the balls to tell me how to classify your cuisine. Gee, I wonder how long this review will stay posted...in the meantime I will be eating at Momocho for upscale Mex and Villa y Zapata for authentic Mex.
(2)Vanessa c.
Last night I ate at Lopez's for a third time and yet again Lopez failed! I keep going back because I live around the corner, love Mexican food, and the patio/restaurant always seem to be full - we kept saying "no, it was just a bad night, we made poor choices". However, we're DONE. This place serves tasteless food that is WAY to expensive for what it is. Lopez has a good atmosphere, decent service, a beautiful outdoor area and that's it...the food is really bad, and the margarita's are worse. Another reviewer described the margarita as "gatorade and tequila" and that's exactly what it taste like. Btw- my husband is from S. America and I from Central America, admittedly not Mexican, but this food is subpar (and our Latino friends agree). In summary- save your money and time, go somewhere else.
(1)Matthew M.
If I was stuck on an island with a volleyball named Wilson and had the option to eat at Lopez instead of foraging in the wild for my own food, I think I'd chose the latter. I'd risk my life alone (well, with Wilson in tow), on the island, hunting my own food instead of just popping into Lopez for an easy meal if it ever existed on my mythical deserted island. How is that for describing how less than thrilled I was of Lopez? Now, let me preface this review by saying that the service we had was stellar. Our dude was very hospitable and nice. It wasn't his fault the place stinks. Literally. There was a foul smell coming from the men's room when I used it. It didn't exactly set a comforting tone for the meal that followed. First came a small bag of tortillas and a very watery salsa that lacked any sort of noticeable seasoning or spice. Bland described it to a tee. But it was free, so I let it slide. Next we ordered the traditional guac. Out came a small bowl of browning, less than appealing guacamole. Again, lacking flavor. Salt or lime juice could have brightened this dish up, but neither were present. The brownish color of the guac indicated that it was pre-made, possibly sitting in the kitchen dying until we ordered. Unacceptable. Next we ordered two entrees that were again, disappointing. How does one mess up a "smoked brisket enchilada"? That sounds amazing, right? Meh. Not really. Again, it was bland. I didn't taste any "smoke" either. A smoked brisket is technically a pastrami. The meat in this tasted more like a nitrite free Hormel brand corned beef. Yes there are some redeeming qualities in Lopez. The decor is very southwestern-y. Vibrant colors, tile tables, open dining space, etc. The patio looks pretty charming too with all the lights strung about. But a friendly server and a cute atmosphere isn't nearly enough to make up for the abomination on a plate and ransom they ask for it. The overall theme of Lopez seems to be that it's supremely overpriced. $9 for a basic guac made from a single avocado. $6.50 for a single taco, minimum of two per order. Enchiladas beginning at $18. An 8oz margarita made from a generic syrup concentrate cost $7.50. All of this would be perfectly acceptable mind you, if the customer got the perception of receiving value in return. Which unfortunately wasn't the case. I rarely complain of price. But the food must deliver. Lopez failed to deliver. I'll continue to forage. If anything, it'll be more fulfilling than overpaying for the blandness coming out of the Lopez kitchen. After our meal, I tried to remember the last time, if ever, I was let down by the usually safe Mexican cuisine. I mean, even in the right context or state of mind, Taco Bell can be satisfying. It's not a hard cuisine to make good for chrissakes. I'm pretty sure the infamous Taco Tuesday's, as served by the burly hairnet wearing lunch-ladies in the school cafeteria of my elementary youth was a better experience than what we had at Lopez.
(2)robert b.
Our meals were delicious and service excellent. The trout was as good as always. Another excellent meal with good service on their wonderful patio. A slight problem with the food order was promptly and cheerfully resolved. Another good meal and service, although the menu has more Tex-Mex varieties on the printed menu and different choices on the daily specials. The old menu was better.
(4)