I've been to La Fiesta twice. It's definitely not the best Mexican I've had, not even close. But it's not terrible. I'd say it's average, good even for the Cleveland area. Here's my review for my second visit: One big plus is that our server was friendly and attentive to our 1-year-old. She brought a kids' cup and some crackers for the baby, which kept her occupied while we decided and ordered. Another plus, the baby liked all of our food that she tried. We do like their chips and salsa. A few of the chips tasted burnt, but the others were good. I like that they offer both mild and hot salsa. We decided to share our meals, ordering an appetizer chicken quesadilla (served with no sides) and a trio of two chicken tacos and a chicken enchilada served with rice and beans. I also heard that the owners are planning to open a Chipotle-style take-out place next door. We'll be checking that out for sure.
(3)
Scott N.
The food is consistently good, menu offers an ample variety of choices. Servers are friendly and efficient. The food appears to be made from scratch, is well-flavored and is certainly not in the same league as Taco Bell as other reviewers have suggested. Salad I had was fresh, no preservatives on the lettuce and the house dressing is delicious. There are few Mexican restaurants in Cleveland's eastern suburbs; this is certainly a cut above.
(4)
Mary B.
My husband and I visited this place with our two kids, ages 3 and 5. The margaritas are tasty, but not the best I have ever had. The decor is just OK, but what the place really needs is new flooring. I thought it was kind of gross as the carpeting was literally worn down in spots. There was outside seating which looked nice enough but it was too cold to eat outside the day we were there. The food was good tasting, but I have had more authentic food elsewhere. There was a spicy salsa that came with our chips that we thought was quite good. The overall experience was OK and I probably will go back as it is near our house and the margaritas hit the spot. I just wish they would get new flooring and also give some attention/remodeling to the restrooms-- I visited them 4 times while there with the kiddos so I got to examine them closely.
(2)
Karen W.
So far this is the best Mexican restaurant I've tried in Cleveland Decent enchiladas and tamales I prefer the red sauce over the salsa verde enchiladas The pozole is quite good too- hearty with big chunks of tender pork Good service, and you get a lot of food for your money
(3)
Justin L.
My wife and I love to go to La Fiesta and the catch a movie at Richmond Mall... not because movies at Richmond mall are great, but because it's convenient for us. Our move is to get a pitcher of the gold margaritas, have some chips and salsa, maybe a little hot food, and then sober up during the movie. The gold margaritas are quite good. Very strong. They should be, as a pitcher is $50. But, we've done the math, and really... to get completely loaded on delicious margaritas is not a cheap proposition. No complaints on the price. When the chips are fresh, which they usually are, they are very good. Properly salted and everything. Their salsa is adequate to slightly above average, as far as cheap Americanized Mexican restaurants go. They have a tasty chorizo dip, which we usually get. I wouldn't go much further down the menu... we occasionally do dinner there, and I'm always unimpressed. Their primary seasoning seems to be salt - mounds of it. I like salt more than any healthy person should, and it tends to be too salty for me. Very little spice in anything... I could use some more heat or some more cumin in most dishes. For some casual Americanized Mexican food, it's decent. The food doesn't suck completely, and the margaritas get the job done and taste good in process.
(3)
Michele G.
If you're on the east side and craving non-chain Mexican food (are there any around now that Don Pablo's is gone?), then try La Fiesta. Never been to Mexico, so can't speak to the authenticity of the food, but compared to chain restaurants it's pretty darn good. Service was noticeably quicker today, but we also commented on what we believed was new staff, so maybe that was the reason. This place has been around for over 50 years, though, and we usually see who we assume is the owner. Quality and taste of food is consistent and they're surprisingly quick to get the entrees out to your table. Between the complimentary chips/salsa and entrees, which include a salad or soup - had the gazpacho today (yum!) - you won't leave hungry! I've been getting the same thing the past few times - burritos (one, chicken with salsa verde and the other, shredded beef). Splurged and got cheese on both (which I believe was a whopping $1/per item!), but it made a big difference, in a good way! My husband usually gets the chorizo burrito, which has chorizo and eggs. Today, he switched it up and got enchiladas (chorizo, chicken with salsa verde and just plain chicken). Their beans are fantastic, so I usually pass on the rice and double up on the beans. I recommended shying away from a dinner special they call "seafood burrito". Got it the first time we went there and the burrito filling was pretty mushy and had a fishy taste. I remember just loading up on chips/salsa that night. :) The bar, complete with thatched roof, is usually busy and they have a festive private room with gated entrance for events or large groups (probably seats 15-20). Get a strawberry margarita (or two!) - they're quite tasty (and strong!). Would give them 4 stars, but they're not open on Sundays - boo! I give them a solid 3.5.
(3)
Bob B.
La Fiesta is awesome!! A authentic, family-run Mexican restaurant, 3 generations can be there on any given night. The ingredients are fresh and high quality (West Side Market for many), the food consistently excellent, and the margaritas.....ask the bartender (Jim) for a gold. You will not be disappointed. I always get the simple fare: (chorizo or steak) quesadillas (Chihuahua cheese), chili rellenos (heat will vary with the season), tamales (hand crafted on the premises - a 3 day process), etc. This is not like other Mexican restaurants. If you want typical generic Americanized fare, go elsewhere.
(5)
Andy J.
Awesome Authentic Mexican food. You will be very lucky to have Brian as your server. I definitely reccomend the nacho appetizer. The taco salad with chicken is awesome. The house dressing is amazing. I wish they bottled it and offered it for sale. They now have an outdoor patio which is a lot of fun. The golden margarita pitcher is $50 but it is worth every penny. Almost everything on the menu is delicious! You will not regret visiting this place!
(5)
Kimberly S.
The best authentic 4 th generation Mexican food & best margaritas EVER!!
(5)
Judy M.
Visiting from Tucson, I didn't have the highest expectations but ended up being very pleasantly surprised. The waiter we had was excellent with his suggestions, and was very pleasant. I tried the Huevos Rancheros and found them to be flavorful and excellent. My dining companions had various dishes including tostadas and burritos. Everyone was satisfied. We finished by splitting a flan, which was devoured. Even coming from the plethora of choices offered in Tucson, if this restaurant were located there, I would eat there again. We'll be back the next time we visit.
(5)
Lori R.
Went to dinner last nigh around 6pm.Seated right away.Service was slow(waited a very long time for two entrees).Food was luke warm & A hot pepper was placed (not ordered) in one of the burritos.Not impressed,& will prob not go back...
(2)
Brenda M.
My friend and I went here on a Wednesday night and we had a blast!!! Shrimp quesadilla suggested by our awesome server Liz R was outstanding! But the most important part, the margaritas were amazing and we are very picky. No overly sweet margaritas here! Caroline and April were sweet as pie as our hostesses and accommodated us very well. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
M. A.
THE GOOD: Food quality is good, some of the dishes are unusual (to me), and I would guess this is more authentic that the average American-style Mexican cuisine. Nicer interior than most Mexican places. Cloth napkins etc. Very friendly and well-informed staff, willing to help you customize the dishes for your dietary needs. They know the ingredients and they know what a vegetarian is, as well as what is/isn't gluten free. (They can substitute corn tortillas for wheat flour.) They apparently have a new separate vegetarian menu on request--I have not yet tried it, but am hopeful it resolves some past problems. THE BAD: Considerably less food for a bit more money compared to a run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant. I'm sometimes left hungry unless I want to keep adding more dishes. (Then again, I'm overfull at other Mexican places.) The old "Vegetarian" section of the menu was NOT vegetarian! The servers do know what a vegetarian is, but the old menu did not: vegetarian dishes included beans made with lard (even though non-lard beans were available). The new separate menu sounds like it has probably solved that, as well as adding much-needed variety for vegetarians. I'll update this once I've checked the new menu out.
(3)
Jeff T.
Stopped in for a happy hour drink and a snack out on the patio. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, flavor of food, and how La Fiesta manages to drown out the outside influence of traffic and eyesores. I am rating it 4 stars mainly because there are NOT that many places with nice patios in the area. Unlike Corwin, I enjoyed the salsa but thought the chips were a little crispy, not freshly fried or even seasoned. Salsa is like wing sauce, bbq sauce, corned beef, etc., everyone has their preference and personal taste. La Fiesta is thin, not chunky, but refreshing and not filling. We also got the bean burrito and some guacamole, both were very good. We might just make this our Friday spot before picking up the kid at daycare. Quiet, quaint, and won us over given the other places in the area. Apparently its the oldest Mexican Restaurant in the Cleveland area and I think the decor proves it.
(4)
Susan H.
Staff was friendly but food mediocre. I had the fish tacos.......maybe one step up from Taco Bell? Restaurant was clean. Sangria, dubious.
(2)
Sheri G.
20 years ago we were frequent diners at LaFiesta until three family members received food poisoning from the chicken which had tasted fine at the time. We narrowed the illness down to food poison since all 3 who got sick had the chicken and the other 4 who did not get sick did not have the chicken. Letting bygones be bygones we decided to try LaFiesta again last night and found that while the chips and salsa were tastier than we remembered, the rest of the food was quite lousy. No one from our party of 5 got food poisoning but, 3 of the 5 members were in the bathroom most of the night with upset stomachs. It must have been that our stomachs were not prepared for the "authentic" cuisine of LaFiesta, including the MonteSumas revenge... I will say that bar none, LaFiesta has the best Chili Rellenos around. I wish I could be more positive, but the other foods including the pork tacos and steak Chimichangas just weren't very good.
(1)
Casey S.
Al Pastor is slow-cooked pork on a spit, akin to gyro meat or shawarma. At least in Mexico City it is...This was a quarter-inch thick grilled pork chop with little seasoning. It even still had the hard fat on it! It was mixed with canned pineapple that I do not believe was even heated served with bland beans and even blander Spanish rice. Wife had bland chicken fajitas that were served with above bland rice and beans. Kid also had the requisite quesadilla, and bland beans, rice. Salad on side was nice addition. It was a bland iceberg cut up with one quarter of a tomato and had an Italianny dressing. Wut? Never again.
Positives, the place looks really good on the inside. They have a nice little outdoor seating area. The service is good and friendly. The drink prices are better than reasonable. They provide chips and salsa. All though I am not sure why this is a big deal in Ohio. Anyway, it is there. So, to the food. As has been pointed out, this is some seriously bland stuff. I am not sure why they are afraid to let any spices near. We had chicken fajitas. Most flavorful part were the onions. Seriously, and take my word for it. We also had some Caso Flomiata. Not sure of the spelling. It is a cheese dish. This was the smallest little sampling I have ever seen. Not even close to worth the $6.00. Also has one cheese enchilada. The presentation was good, but they microwaved it. The cheese on the inside was microwaved burnt. Hard and crispy. This is about $3.00. They also do in house salsas, which they charge for. Did not partake. All in all if you are there for the drinks, good choice. If you want to eat something, at this point I would say move on.
(2)
Emily T.
I had really looked forward to trying this place after a friend said it was "THE BEST MEXICAN IN CLEVELAND"...The first time I tried it, it was mediocre at best and the service was horrendous and the prices are high for the portion sizes. I had to ask at least four times for a glass of water to take a pill that I had been holding since being seated. So, I chalked it up as a bad experience and wanted to try again. The second time was no better. Actually, the service was still very poor and the food was nothing even remotely special. I was super disappointed because I LOVEEEEEEEE la taqueria (next door, ran by the son I believe). Over all, I will not being going back. There is far better mexican food around.
(2)
Jen M.
Decent not great. Other Mex places are way better Chicken fajitas were bland. Service was good.
(3)
K J.
The one star was for the decent Margarita. I got the first one made, and it was the top of an the unmixed piticher, and the rest continued to get weaker as the went down the table. As for food, this was the worst meal I have ever eaten at ANY restaurant. 12 people from my work meet here for dinner last night. I was initially impressed by what I saw on the menu. I tried the Carne con Chili, which came with a salad or soup. They had Posole which I typically love. It was a dark red broth, with almost no hominy and very little meat. I ate 3 bites hoping it would get better. The last bite I tried tasted like some foreign type of meat covered in crap. It was not just the worst Posole I have ever eaten, but the WORST ANYTHING I have ever eaten ANYPLACE! The Carne con chili I had was what they called "Mexican Hot". It had the same strange taste to the red sauce, and was not much better. It was again a dark red soupy sauce, that tasted like it had half a bottle of Worcestershire, and with about a cup of small bites of pork. 2 of the 3 biggest pieces were nothing but fat. There were only 3 out of 12 people said they like the food, and 2 said average. All the people who liked it were from NE. I travel the SW doing service, and am an AZ native. I grew up on Mexican food, and am now a Chilihead. Good Chili Verde is one of my favorite things in life. It's getting harder to find.
(1)
Santo C.
Spouse says it was a lot of money and not that great. But it was ok. Take it from there.... We were pleased to see Posole on the menu, since we both lived in New Mexico and that is a special dish. It had lots of pork, but less of the hominy. Good chili base. Needed salt. I had fish tacos. Hot, fresh. Lots of cabbage. But no salsa. I added from the table salsa bowl. Spouse had chili rellenos. Good tasting with lots of cheese. But not much chili or chili flavor. So.... Good stuff for Ohio. But if you want the real thing, I say go to New Mexico.
(3)
Chris W.
Apparently reservations don't matter here and priority is given if the host knows you. Poor service for Yankee Doodle Mexican food. Will not be back.
(1)
Ilona D.
If you are looking for authentic Mexican food this is the place. My Spanish teacher took is here when they were in the Hilltop Plaza. Now across the street the family continues the tradition and continues to serve great food.
(5)
Koko T.
Went here for a first date, and was apprehensive because for this to be a Mexican restaurant there were no Mexicans. Lol, but the food was great, a good amount of traditional flavor with contemporary flair for this Texas girl. My date had the shrimp quesadilla and I had combo platter with chicken burrito w/ mole, tamale, and chicken enchilada. Don't expect authentic Mexican dishes like flan but definitely very good food. Only complaint is the staff would not leave us alone, after all it was a date.
(4)
Sarah Z.
EWWWW EWWW EWWW is that american cheese in my enchilada. Now maybe after years of living in Lorain and eating at many Mexican friends' homes I am spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. And maybe after living in Ohio City and having access to Momocho I am very spoiled when it comes to Mexican cuisine but Mexican or not this place was DISGUSTING! The boy and I ventured into La Fiesta after a movie at Richmond as there were not too many places to choose from especially if like me you don't eat at chain restaurants. It was included in the Cleveland ethnic eats book. .. just a note throw that book away the author wouldn't know good food if it bit her in the. . .anyways. We enter the restaurant and the first thing I notice is . . . no one is Mexican never a good sign. We get seated by a very perky waitress and as of decor and ambience this place kinda felt like applebees. All I really noticed were alcohol signs. The margaritas weren't bad but were rather pricy ($7 really?). The service was fast and attentive and perky. . . too perky. Now onto the food: I ordered- Gazpacho 2 cheese and onion enchiladas 1 chicken with verde sauce enchilada rice and beans The boy ordered: Azteca soup chicken with mole burrito chicken with green sauce burrito *both with cheese rice and beans First came soup. My soup tasted something like cocktail sauce with vegetables. There was no season no spice no heat. The vegetables were crispy but that was the only plus. . not to mention half of them did not belong in Gazpacho. The boy's soup was saturated with cheese (and avacado but that could be picked out). And while everyone loves cheese. .. there comes a cheese limit. It was inedible. Then comes the meals. Now the portions were large I will give them that but if I wanted a large portion of crappy Mexican food Chi Chi's is cheaper. The enchiladas which were said to be stuffed with queso blanco. . . were stuffed with white american cheese. .. YUCK! The chicken enchilada was chicken wrapped in a flour tortilla and cooked til the chicken had the texture of cardboard. The boy's chicken was about the same and his burritos were essentially enchiladas just bigger. And his entire plate was covered in that disgusting excuse for queso blanco. The rice was your standard spanish rice from a box with vegetables from the freezer. . . I think Uncle Ben's 90 second Mexican rice would taste better. And the beans tasted like off brand canned refried beans. YUCK ! The food could be summed up as chain restaurant food with a non chain price and name. Not to miss: Star Trek it was the highlight of the evening. Hit or miss: Margaritas were good but overpriced Avoid like the plague. This sad excuse of a restaurant. Go to Mi Pueblo instead!
(1)
Meg J.
According to a bunch of other reviews, this is a love-it-or-hate-it sort of place, although I'm not really sure why. The food seemed quite on-par with Mi Pueblo's and my enchiladas were tasty. There was plenty of food for me to take home, too. I thought the decor and the bathrooms were just awesome. Excellent ambiance. The waitress, Josephin, was adorable and super-helpful and attentive. Pictures, as always, on the blog: whatsincleveland.blogspo…
(4)
Robert J.
The best Mexican I have found in Cleveland, and I have been to great, authentic places in Arizona and Colorado. We have been long time patrons of La Fiesta and enjoy this family run restaurant. Last night was a great night for gazpacho and La Fiesta is on par with the best homemade soup I have had. Refried beans are made from scratch and very tasty. The Chili Rellenos are very good. The service is always good.
(5)
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Address :5115 Wilson Mills Rd
Cleveland, OH, 44143
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.
Dawn K.
I've been to La Fiesta twice. It's definitely not the best Mexican I've had, not even close. But it's not terrible. I'd say it's average, good even for the Cleveland area. Here's my review for my second visit: One big plus is that our server was friendly and attentive to our 1-year-old. She brought a kids' cup and some crackers for the baby, which kept her occupied while we decided and ordered. Another plus, the baby liked all of our food that she tried. We do like their chips and salsa. A few of the chips tasted burnt, but the others were good. I like that they offer both mild and hot salsa. We decided to share our meals, ordering an appetizer chicken quesadilla (served with no sides) and a trio of two chicken tacos and a chicken enchilada served with rice and beans. I also heard that the owners are planning to open a Chipotle-style take-out place next door. We'll be checking that out for sure.
(3)Scott N.
The food is consistently good, menu offers an ample variety of choices. Servers are friendly and efficient. The food appears to be made from scratch, is well-flavored and is certainly not in the same league as Taco Bell as other reviewers have suggested. Salad I had was fresh, no preservatives on the lettuce and the house dressing is delicious. There are few Mexican restaurants in Cleveland's eastern suburbs; this is certainly a cut above.
(4)Mary B.
My husband and I visited this place with our two kids, ages 3 and 5. The margaritas are tasty, but not the best I have ever had. The decor is just OK, but what the place really needs is new flooring. I thought it was kind of gross as the carpeting was literally worn down in spots. There was outside seating which looked nice enough but it was too cold to eat outside the day we were there. The food was good tasting, but I have had more authentic food elsewhere. There was a spicy salsa that came with our chips that we thought was quite good. The overall experience was OK and I probably will go back as it is near our house and the margaritas hit the spot. I just wish they would get new flooring and also give some attention/remodeling to the restrooms-- I visited them 4 times while there with the kiddos so I got to examine them closely.
(2)Karen W.
So far this is the best Mexican restaurant I've tried in Cleveland Decent enchiladas and tamales I prefer the red sauce over the salsa verde enchiladas The pozole is quite good too- hearty with big chunks of tender pork Good service, and you get a lot of food for your money
(3)Justin L.
My wife and I love to go to La Fiesta and the catch a movie at Richmond Mall... not because movies at Richmond mall are great, but because it's convenient for us. Our move is to get a pitcher of the gold margaritas, have some chips and salsa, maybe a little hot food, and then sober up during the movie. The gold margaritas are quite good. Very strong. They should be, as a pitcher is $50. But, we've done the math, and really... to get completely loaded on delicious margaritas is not a cheap proposition. No complaints on the price. When the chips are fresh, which they usually are, they are very good. Properly salted and everything. Their salsa is adequate to slightly above average, as far as cheap Americanized Mexican restaurants go. They have a tasty chorizo dip, which we usually get. I wouldn't go much further down the menu... we occasionally do dinner there, and I'm always unimpressed. Their primary seasoning seems to be salt - mounds of it. I like salt more than any healthy person should, and it tends to be too salty for me. Very little spice in anything... I could use some more heat or some more cumin in most dishes. For some casual Americanized Mexican food, it's decent. The food doesn't suck completely, and the margaritas get the job done and taste good in process.
(3)Michele G.
If you're on the east side and craving non-chain Mexican food (are there any around now that Don Pablo's is gone?), then try La Fiesta. Never been to Mexico, so can't speak to the authenticity of the food, but compared to chain restaurants it's pretty darn good. Service was noticeably quicker today, but we also commented on what we believed was new staff, so maybe that was the reason. This place has been around for over 50 years, though, and we usually see who we assume is the owner. Quality and taste of food is consistent and they're surprisingly quick to get the entrees out to your table. Between the complimentary chips/salsa and entrees, which include a salad or soup - had the gazpacho today (yum!) - you won't leave hungry! I've been getting the same thing the past few times - burritos (one, chicken with salsa verde and the other, shredded beef). Splurged and got cheese on both (which I believe was a whopping $1/per item!), but it made a big difference, in a good way! My husband usually gets the chorizo burrito, which has chorizo and eggs. Today, he switched it up and got enchiladas (chorizo, chicken with salsa verde and just plain chicken). Their beans are fantastic, so I usually pass on the rice and double up on the beans. I recommended shying away from a dinner special they call "seafood burrito". Got it the first time we went there and the burrito filling was pretty mushy and had a fishy taste. I remember just loading up on chips/salsa that night. :) The bar, complete with thatched roof, is usually busy and they have a festive private room with gated entrance for events or large groups (probably seats 15-20). Get a strawberry margarita (or two!) - they're quite tasty (and strong!). Would give them 4 stars, but they're not open on Sundays - boo! I give them a solid 3.5.
(3)Bob B.
La Fiesta is awesome!! A authentic, family-run Mexican restaurant, 3 generations can be there on any given night. The ingredients are fresh and high quality (West Side Market for many), the food consistently excellent, and the margaritas.....ask the bartender (Jim) for a gold. You will not be disappointed. I always get the simple fare: (chorizo or steak) quesadillas (Chihuahua cheese), chili rellenos (heat will vary with the season), tamales (hand crafted on the premises - a 3 day process), etc. This is not like other Mexican restaurants. If you want typical generic Americanized fare, go elsewhere.
(5)Andy J.
Awesome Authentic Mexican food. You will be very lucky to have Brian as your server. I definitely reccomend the nacho appetizer. The taco salad with chicken is awesome. The house dressing is amazing. I wish they bottled it and offered it for sale. They now have an outdoor patio which is a lot of fun. The golden margarita pitcher is $50 but it is worth every penny. Almost everything on the menu is delicious! You will not regret visiting this place!
(5)Kimberly S.
The best authentic 4 th generation Mexican food & best margaritas EVER!!
(5)Judy M.
Visiting from Tucson, I didn't have the highest expectations but ended up being very pleasantly surprised. The waiter we had was excellent with his suggestions, and was very pleasant. I tried the Huevos Rancheros and found them to be flavorful and excellent. My dining companions had various dishes including tostadas and burritos. Everyone was satisfied. We finished by splitting a flan, which was devoured. Even coming from the plethora of choices offered in Tucson, if this restaurant were located there, I would eat there again. We'll be back the next time we visit.
(5)Lori R.
Went to dinner last nigh around 6pm.Seated right away.Service was slow(waited a very long time for two entrees).Food was luke warm & A hot pepper was placed (not ordered) in one of the burritos.Not impressed,& will prob not go back...
(2)Brenda M.
My friend and I went here on a Wednesday night and we had a blast!!! Shrimp quesadilla suggested by our awesome server Liz R was outstanding! But the most important part, the margaritas were amazing and we are very picky. No overly sweet margaritas here! Caroline and April were sweet as pie as our hostesses and accommodated us very well. Can't wait to go back!
(5)M. A.
THE GOOD: Food quality is good, some of the dishes are unusual (to me), and I would guess this is more authentic that the average American-style Mexican cuisine. Nicer interior than most Mexican places. Cloth napkins etc. Very friendly and well-informed staff, willing to help you customize the dishes for your dietary needs. They know the ingredients and they know what a vegetarian is, as well as what is/isn't gluten free. (They can substitute corn tortillas for wheat flour.) They apparently have a new separate vegetarian menu on request--I have not yet tried it, but am hopeful it resolves some past problems. THE BAD: Considerably less food for a bit more money compared to a run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant. I'm sometimes left hungry unless I want to keep adding more dishes. (Then again, I'm overfull at other Mexican places.) The old "Vegetarian" section of the menu was NOT vegetarian! The servers do know what a vegetarian is, but the old menu did not: vegetarian dishes included beans made with lard (even though non-lard beans were available). The new separate menu sounds like it has probably solved that, as well as adding much-needed variety for vegetarians. I'll update this once I've checked the new menu out.
(3)Jeff T.
Stopped in for a happy hour drink and a snack out on the patio. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, flavor of food, and how La Fiesta manages to drown out the outside influence of traffic and eyesores. I am rating it 4 stars mainly because there are NOT that many places with nice patios in the area. Unlike Corwin, I enjoyed the salsa but thought the chips were a little crispy, not freshly fried or even seasoned. Salsa is like wing sauce, bbq sauce, corned beef, etc., everyone has their preference and personal taste. La Fiesta is thin, not chunky, but refreshing and not filling. We also got the bean burrito and some guacamole, both were very good. We might just make this our Friday spot before picking up the kid at daycare. Quiet, quaint, and won us over given the other places in the area. Apparently its the oldest Mexican Restaurant in the Cleveland area and I think the decor proves it.
(4)Susan H.
Staff was friendly but food mediocre. I had the fish tacos.......maybe one step up from Taco Bell? Restaurant was clean. Sangria, dubious.
(2)Sheri G.
20 years ago we were frequent diners at LaFiesta until three family members received food poisoning from the chicken which had tasted fine at the time. We narrowed the illness down to food poison since all 3 who got sick had the chicken and the other 4 who did not get sick did not have the chicken. Letting bygones be bygones we decided to try LaFiesta again last night and found that while the chips and salsa were tastier than we remembered, the rest of the food was quite lousy. No one from our party of 5 got food poisoning but, 3 of the 5 members were in the bathroom most of the night with upset stomachs. It must have been that our stomachs were not prepared for the "authentic" cuisine of LaFiesta, including the MonteSumas revenge... I will say that bar none, LaFiesta has the best Chili Rellenos around. I wish I could be more positive, but the other foods including the pork tacos and steak Chimichangas just weren't very good.
(1)Casey S.
Al Pastor is slow-cooked pork on a spit, akin to gyro meat or shawarma. At least in Mexico City it is...This was a quarter-inch thick grilled pork chop with little seasoning. It even still had the hard fat on it! It was mixed with canned pineapple that I do not believe was even heated served with bland beans and even blander Spanish rice. Wife had bland chicken fajitas that were served with above bland rice and beans. Kid also had the requisite quesadilla, and bland beans, rice. Salad on side was nice addition. It was a bland iceberg cut up with one quarter of a tomato and had an Italianny dressing. Wut? Never again.
(1)Amanda L.
Wow, this place really redeemed itself in my eyes! The kidlet and I met the spouse for a lunch. Because of my past experiences here, I wasn't expecting much. I aimed low. However, I had nothing to fear! La Fiesta has their act together now. We ordered from the ample lunch menu: fried beans, rice, kid's quesadilla, chicken tostada, chicken flautas, and chorizo enchilada. We also ordered beer, blended mango margarita, and kid sprite. First, out server was nice; and she was efficient. The restaurant was clean, not overly noisy, and comfortable. The drinks were good. The food was very fresh! It was presented neatly and attractively. The food was prepared and delivered quickly. I don't know what happened, but this food is now on par with the old Luchita's in Shaker Square back in the day. Complimentary salsa and hand cut tortilla chips were excellent. The menu is diverse and includes molé and other choice entrées. If you haven't been here in a while, it's worth the trip back.
(5)Robert M.
Positives, the place looks really good on the inside. They have a nice little outdoor seating area. The service is good and friendly. The drink prices are better than reasonable. They provide chips and salsa. All though I am not sure why this is a big deal in Ohio. Anyway, it is there. So, to the food. As has been pointed out, this is some seriously bland stuff. I am not sure why they are afraid to let any spices near. We had chicken fajitas. Most flavorful part were the onions. Seriously, and take my word for it. We also had some Caso Flomiata. Not sure of the spelling. It is a cheese dish. This was the smallest little sampling I have ever seen. Not even close to worth the $6.00. Also has one cheese enchilada. The presentation was good, but they microwaved it. The cheese on the inside was microwaved burnt. Hard and crispy. This is about $3.00. They also do in house salsas, which they charge for. Did not partake. All in all if you are there for the drinks, good choice. If you want to eat something, at this point I would say move on.
(2)Emily T.
I had really looked forward to trying this place after a friend said it was "THE BEST MEXICAN IN CLEVELAND"...The first time I tried it, it was mediocre at best and the service was horrendous and the prices are high for the portion sizes. I had to ask at least four times for a glass of water to take a pill that I had been holding since being seated. So, I chalked it up as a bad experience and wanted to try again. The second time was no better. Actually, the service was still very poor and the food was nothing even remotely special. I was super disappointed because I LOVEEEEEEEE la taqueria (next door, ran by the son I believe). Over all, I will not being going back. There is far better mexican food around.
(2)Jen M.
Decent not great. Other Mex places are way better Chicken fajitas were bland. Service was good.
(3)K J.
The one star was for the decent Margarita. I got the first one made, and it was the top of an the unmixed piticher, and the rest continued to get weaker as the went down the table. As for food, this was the worst meal I have ever eaten at ANY restaurant. 12 people from my work meet here for dinner last night. I was initially impressed by what I saw on the menu. I tried the Carne con Chili, which came with a salad or soup. They had Posole which I typically love. It was a dark red broth, with almost no hominy and very little meat. I ate 3 bites hoping it would get better. The last bite I tried tasted like some foreign type of meat covered in crap. It was not just the worst Posole I have ever eaten, but the WORST ANYTHING I have ever eaten ANYPLACE! The Carne con chili I had was what they called "Mexican Hot". It had the same strange taste to the red sauce, and was not much better. It was again a dark red soupy sauce, that tasted like it had half a bottle of Worcestershire, and with about a cup of small bites of pork. 2 of the 3 biggest pieces were nothing but fat. There were only 3 out of 12 people said they like the food, and 2 said average. All the people who liked it were from NE. I travel the SW doing service, and am an AZ native. I grew up on Mexican food, and am now a Chilihead. Good Chili Verde is one of my favorite things in life. It's getting harder to find.
(1)Santo C.
Spouse says it was a lot of money and not that great. But it was ok. Take it from there.... We were pleased to see Posole on the menu, since we both lived in New Mexico and that is a special dish. It had lots of pork, but less of the hominy. Good chili base. Needed salt. I had fish tacos. Hot, fresh. Lots of cabbage. But no salsa. I added from the table salsa bowl. Spouse had chili rellenos. Good tasting with lots of cheese. But not much chili or chili flavor. So.... Good stuff for Ohio. But if you want the real thing, I say go to New Mexico.
(3)Chris W.
Apparently reservations don't matter here and priority is given if the host knows you. Poor service for Yankee Doodle Mexican food. Will not be back.
(1)Ilona D.
If you are looking for authentic Mexican food this is the place. My Spanish teacher took is here when they were in the Hilltop Plaza. Now across the street the family continues the tradition and continues to serve great food.
(5)Koko T.
Went here for a first date, and was apprehensive because for this to be a Mexican restaurant there were no Mexicans. Lol, but the food was great, a good amount of traditional flavor with contemporary flair for this Texas girl. My date had the shrimp quesadilla and I had combo platter with chicken burrito w/ mole, tamale, and chicken enchilada. Don't expect authentic Mexican dishes like flan but definitely very good food. Only complaint is the staff would not leave us alone, after all it was a date.
(4)Sarah Z.
EWWWW EWWW EWWW is that american cheese in my enchilada. Now maybe after years of living in Lorain and eating at many Mexican friends' homes I am spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. And maybe after living in Ohio City and having access to Momocho I am very spoiled when it comes to Mexican cuisine but Mexican or not this place was DISGUSTING! The boy and I ventured into La Fiesta after a movie at Richmond as there were not too many places to choose from especially if like me you don't eat at chain restaurants. It was included in the Cleveland ethnic eats book. .. just a note throw that book away the author wouldn't know good food if it bit her in the. . .anyways. We enter the restaurant and the first thing I notice is . . . no one is Mexican never a good sign. We get seated by a very perky waitress and as of decor and ambience this place kinda felt like applebees. All I really noticed were alcohol signs. The margaritas weren't bad but were rather pricy ($7 really?). The service was fast and attentive and perky. . . too perky. Now onto the food: I ordered- Gazpacho 2 cheese and onion enchiladas 1 chicken with verde sauce enchilada rice and beans The boy ordered: Azteca soup chicken with mole burrito chicken with green sauce burrito *both with cheese rice and beans First came soup. My soup tasted something like cocktail sauce with vegetables. There was no season no spice no heat. The vegetables were crispy but that was the only plus. . not to mention half of them did not belong in Gazpacho. The boy's soup was saturated with cheese (and avacado but that could be picked out). And while everyone loves cheese. .. there comes a cheese limit. It was inedible. Then comes the meals. Now the portions were large I will give them that but if I wanted a large portion of crappy Mexican food Chi Chi's is cheaper. The enchiladas which were said to be stuffed with queso blanco. . . were stuffed with white american cheese. .. YUCK! The chicken enchilada was chicken wrapped in a flour tortilla and cooked til the chicken had the texture of cardboard. The boy's chicken was about the same and his burritos were essentially enchiladas just bigger. And his entire plate was covered in that disgusting excuse for queso blanco. The rice was your standard spanish rice from a box with vegetables from the freezer. . . I think Uncle Ben's 90 second Mexican rice would taste better. And the beans tasted like off brand canned refried beans. YUCK ! The food could be summed up as chain restaurant food with a non chain price and name. Not to miss: Star Trek it was the highlight of the evening. Hit or miss: Margaritas were good but overpriced Avoid like the plague. This sad excuse of a restaurant. Go to Mi Pueblo instead!
(1)Meg J.
According to a bunch of other reviews, this is a love-it-or-hate-it sort of place, although I'm not really sure why. The food seemed quite on-par with Mi Pueblo's and my enchiladas were tasty. There was plenty of food for me to take home, too. I thought the decor and the bathrooms were just awesome. Excellent ambiance. The waitress, Josephin, was adorable and super-helpful and attentive. Pictures, as always, on the blog: whatsincleveland.blogspo…
(4)Robert J.
The best Mexican I have found in Cleveland, and I have been to great, authentic places in Arizona and Colorado. We have been long time patrons of La Fiesta and enjoy this family run restaurant. Last night was a great night for gazpacho and La Fiesta is on par with the best homemade soup I have had. Refried beans are made from scratch and very tasty. The Chili Rellenos are very good. The service is always good.
(5)