El Tango Latin Grill
14224 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH, 44107
El Tango Latin Grill Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
14224 Madison Ave
Lakewood, OH, 44107 - Phone (216) 226-9999
- Website https://www.eltangogrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
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 : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
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.
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kik k.
I'm shocked to see so many positive reviews. Maybe I caught them on a bad, fly-infested day because my experience was both of those things. I came here with my father looking forward to trying the burritos. The guy behind the counter basically carried the attitude that he didn't want to be there and was nothing short of obnoxious with us. We would have left but we made a pretty long trip to get there. The burritos weren't that bad (hence the 2 star rating) but were grossly overpriced. The environment itself made the entire meal more unappetizing. My dad and I sat by the window and we had this lovely view: msu.edu/user/kimkevin/SS… Those little lines are flies, and the entire window was covered with them. How this place has passed any department of sanitation inspections is beyond me.
(2)Sarah S.
My friend and I were really craving chips and salsa one day and I'm not talking tostitos style, but the real deal. We stopped in El Tango one afternoon and it ended up being the best decision ever. They give you 3 different types of salsa...salsa verde, hot, and a spicy pineapple. My favorite was the spicy, chunky pineapple, but I enjoyed them all. The guy cut and fried our tortilla chips as we were waiting, so they were as fresh as can be. This place is close to my new apartment so I'll definitely be back to try an actual meal and a marg.
(4)Jessie B.
Yes it is a strange place. The way everything is run is weird and the food sometimes takes too long...they are understaffed and yes it can be quite pricey...you may even have a bad service experience, although it seems as though they are trying to hire more staff. BUT the food is absolutely out of this world, any and every time I have ever been. The blend of vanilla bean, honey, spice and agave that he incorporates into his dishes is so unique, I have never had anything like it. I have been here many times, most recently Monday 6/25. The food was AMAZING. We had carnitas/veggie queso, hacienda salad (which has potatoes, green beans, avocado and squash!!), and one of their dinner plates the Honey Cinnamon Chicken. Everything was spot on and I seriously can not rave enough about the food. So in conclusion, go here and eat.
(4)Jennifer H.
Delicious! Don't be alarmed by the walk-up counter. Order your food and pick a seat. BYOB. I got the sun-tea, and was provided with free refills. We got the salsa and some guacamole to start. We both agreed that the guacamole was the best either of us had ever had. The salsa: three bowls. Pico de gallo, pineapple-tomatillo, and a cinnamon. The first two bowls were delicious, and the third bowl went mostly untouched. I wasn't very hungry - I got a chicken taco ($3). It came on two tortillas, presumably to prevent tearing. The chicken was perfectly prepared, and there was a tasty drizzling of what I have concluded was agave nectar. He got the $7 burrito. It had a nice portion of black beans in it, and he wasn't able to eat it all. He was very impressed with the quality and portion. I will definitely be going back!
(5)Lynne B.
It's a fun little place and it's not what you're expecting but if you like good food, you'll like it. It's not your typical "mexican" restaurant because the food is more unique and fresh. When I first went in, I was confused because you order at a register. Then I was confused because they only have canned/bottled drinks. That was sort of bizarre but I got over it fast once we took a seat because the atmosphere is fun and the food was really good. We will definitely go back.
(4)Steve M.
El Tango is like no other Mexican/Latin restaurant i've ever been to. If you are looking for the typical mexican experience (endless chips and salsa, table service, various dishes with piles of refried beans, rice, lettuce tomato and sour cream) Then this is NOT the place for you. Lets start with the downside: Soda in cans, water in bottles, and pretty much a complete lack of service outside of what you could expect at your local fast food restaurant. Your order is placed at the register contained within the open kitchen and you can expect a reasonable wait for your food because everything is freshly prepared. But lets be honest, you arent going to go to El Tango for a dazzling display of decor and waiters in black ties, you are going to go there because you want to eat great food. If you want the best Mexican/Latin food you have ever tasted, in gigantic portions then this is a cant miss experience. A simple order of chips and salsa gets you an enormous pile of freshly fried tortilla chips with freshly made Pico de Gallo, Chipotle Cinnamon, and Tomatillo Pineapple salsas. Large burritos, quesidillas, and other dishes served with generous portions of marinated meats including beef, chicken, red snapper, and even vegetarian options. My personal favorite is the California Lime and Avocado burrito with delicious meaty and creamy innards, wrapped in a freshly grilled tortilla shell which has been rubbed down with salt, sugar, and spices to make for a taste that you would consider trading an organ for. Last but certainly not least are the drinks and desserts, considering you even have room left for any of them (id suggest doing food and desert on separate days). They have margaritas made with mango, fresh squeezed lime, cactus-pear, even Jalapeno infused flavors.They also have a fantastic Vanilla Lemonade that will take you to another place. All these are freshly made and unbelievably delicious. For dessert, Pumpkin Chipotle pie a sweet dessert with a bit of a kick. In all, ive tasted flavors here that i have not had anywhere else. All of the ingredients, the homemade sauces, drinks, and desserts leave you begging for more even though the portions will fill you up fast. The one big downside is that this restaurant seems to keep irregular hours. I've come by on weekday evenings and weekends to find the lights out and the door locked even though the hours sign indicates it should be open. The owner in his white cowboy hat, certainly is not a crafty businessman nor does he have a big fancy restaurant with incredible service. You'll pay more for your food here than going for a burrito at your local Chipotle. But with food this good, its an easy 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5 .
(4)Samantha F.
Smallish restaurant but does boy does it have style. Food is made-to-order and you can watch the prep if you really need to. Vegan and Vegetarian friendly, the owner is helpful in describing ingredients in dishes. I think this place may have had the best chips & salsa, make that salsas, I have ever experienced. And Horchata! Haven't found a place in Cleveland before or since that had it. For those of you who like the drinky drink its BYOB so bring that tequila with ya!
(4)Meg M.
This place is hands down the best Mexican I have had since being in cleveland It's a new twist on old favorites and if you are in Lakewood, make sure you check this gem out
(4)Dena M.
The most amazing flavors combined! The food is super fresh, and trio of salsas make any day better!
(5)Curtis R.
I visited this Restaurant on May 29 based on a recommendation of a friend. When I arrived at around 2 pm the place was locked up with a note on the door which read, "Be right back". I waited for about 10 minutes and a man with a cowboy hat showed up and asked me if I was there to eat. I'm guessing he was hoping I was looking for a job since there was a "Help Wanted" sign in the window and he was working by himself. From previous reviews I had read my initial thought was that he treated his employees as bad as his customers. I later found out he was the owner. When I entered the restaurant I found a table and sat down like I have at most of the other Mexican Restaurants I've been too. Then he told me I needed to order at the counter. I went to the counter and saw black boards with some items priced around $14 and up, then the owner finally told ma about some paper menu's and handed me one. I tried to order what I normally order in a Mexican Restaurant and which is a meal and a drink. I had come by myself around 2 pm expecting there to be lunch prices and I was sadly mistaken. My total bill including tax came to $23.92 for a lower priced meal, chips, and salsa (not free), and Iced Tea. This price did not include a tip. When I sat down at a table among the "mismatched furniture and Latin-American knick-knacks, fake flowers, and fountains" as another reviewer called them, I was still irritated by the price I paid since I'm on a budget. The first thing I was brought was some very hot and tasty chips with 3 different sauces. I think the chips were made to order because they tasted so fresh. I asked the owner if these sauces were spicy and was told, "uh, it's Mexican, what do you expect?" So I figured I was going to have to figure this out on my own. I tasted the sauces and they were delicious but not overly spicy. I may return someday for these alone. I had to return to the counter to ask for my tea which when he finally brought it to my table, it tasted a little sour like it was on the verge turning bad. My meal was brought to the table and it was piping hot with beans, rice, and shredded beef enchiladas. These also were very delicious and included a few what I'm guessing were home-maid toppings. The meal was a very generous portion and more than I could eat so the owner wrapped it up for me to go. He even brought me a refill on the iced tea during the meal. When I was leaving I did have a nice conversation with the owner about how good the food was. Alright you're probably asking by this point if the food was so good why did I only rate it 3 stars. Well I rated it 3 stars because of the atmosphere and price of my meal. I've had meals that were just as good at other Mexican Restaurants at half the price and the chips were free! Would I return and would I recommend this restaurant to anyone else? I might would return and get every thing to go because of the atmosphere. The food is way overpriced but it is delicious.
(3)Angela M.
This place has awesome food. For whatever reason the chips are to die for. I've eaten there twice and thoroughly enjoyed my meal, HOWEVER my stomach did not. The first time I ate there I felt a little ill but figured it was my sensitive stomach. The last time I ate there I was vomiting the rest of the night and into the next day. Even though the food was so yummy, I can't bear to go back there. Cleanliness is definitely an issue. If you're willing to risk a vomit party later that night, then go for it. The food really is good, why else would i give a place that makes me vomit 2 stars?
(2)Simon I.
El Tango is a true hole in the wall place of Latin food & let me tell you, IT IS GOOD! I can never get enough of El Tango. You have to order the food at the counter and you will need to wait. El Tango rarely pre-prepare heat and serve. But the wait is so worth it - don't miss their chips and salsa(s) - a combination of in house baked thick chips with cilantro salsa, hot salsa, and cinnamon based salsa. The chips and salsa alone can be filling, but please don't do injustice to your taste-buds with just their chips and salsa. The inside is a fun atmosphere filled with bright colors that make you feel warm (or could be the hot salsa too). Their kitchen is open to the ordering area so you can see them preparing all the tasty dishes. Their price ranges between $8 to $15 and for the portion served this is excellent pricing. El Tango have some of the staples of Latin foods - huge burritos, quesadilla, etc but they also have some rotating Latin items and each time I've tried these items I could not have enough - the only problem, well good for the wallet - their portions are quite large almost to the point where each dish can be shared between two. They have a BYOB policy - mix it up Latin style with their food and a nice red wine and spend the hours away in this little hidden escape.
(4)Caressa M.
I had the WORST dining experience of my life here. 1) There are cobwebs and dust at the counter where you place your order. 2) The glass that my overpriced margarita came in was chipped at the lip. 3) The tables were all dirty and sticky. 4) We waited a ridiculously long time for the food to come out. 5) When my burrito finally did come out, it had beef in it - I'd ordered fish. 6) Upon taking the burrito back up to the counter, I was told that I'd ordered wrong and that I would have to wait another 15 minutes for my food. I told the guy in the crumpled cowboy hat that I had not ordered wrong, he had made the wrong food and that instead of waiting, I'd prefer a refund. Anyone with any business sense or common decency would have said something like, "Sorry, we goofed, we'll make it better." He, instead told me that he doesn't give refunds, that actually, my burrito was there, behind the counter, but lacking the avocado I'd asked for and he still did not take responsibility for his mistake. I will never go to this terrible restaurant again and I will tell everyone I meet never to go. Everything was too expensive, we spent $56 and ended up walking out, after only drinking half of our drinks and eating one tiny $10 appetizer. Do yourself a favor - don't waste your time here. Other reviews say the food is good. Maybe so, but there are other good Mexican restaurants and this place is not worthy of your patronage.
(1)Craig C.
El Tango was the latest stop on a local Taco Tour some twitter friends and I have been doing. 10-12 of us all sat down and pretty much ordered at the same time. We did stain the kitchen a little bit with that many people even though we called ahead. But that really is my only complaint. The two guys running the place were extremely friendly and as quick as they could be while taking orders, cooking & serving. With almost a dozen people we realized afterwards that no two people got the same meal and everyone was happy with the food. I had a fish taco & Mole chicken wings. I would certainly eat either one again. We also tried the chip/dip sampler which had 3 salsa's including a regular, pineapple/tomatillo & chipotle/cinnamon. they were tasty. I'm looking forward to going back soon!
(4)Dan S.
Went to El Tango Taqueria for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I was the only one in the restaurant, i am guessing because the weather was so horrible outside (high winds and raining) I was greeted by the owner of the place who was personable and sported a white cowboy hat. I ordered a beef burritos. I was told this was an "LA Style" burrito. It was very good ...beats the heck out of a Chipotle beef burrito. It was made with a lot of different spices which gave it a unique flavor that is probobly pretty hard to find anywhere else in Cleveland. It was a healthy portion that I could only eat half, I wrapped up the other half and took it home for dinner. The only drawback was I ordered a diet coke that was given to me in a can. I wish that it was a fountain drink because by the end of the meal I was thirsty and didn't feel like paying for another can. All things considered, the environment was definitely unique, the food was very good and I would definetely go there again.
(3)Jen M.
LOVE IT! Colorful, fresh, fun, and dare I say, "creativity on a plate" Latin/Mexican fusion food. There is no other place like this in Cleveland. Antonio (the owner) greeted me at the counter wearing a cowboy hat. He proceeded to multitask by talking to me while cooking my lunch. He has such charm about it him, and we got to talking about his other restaurants and the places we have lived that we have in common. I originally wanted the Yucatan Conchinita Pibil (Mayan barbecued pork) but decided against its dinner-size portion because it was only 11am. I opted for the grilled red snapper taco. It was love at first bite...the perfectly layered flavors, grilled fish, triple wrapping of corn tortillas and chipotle cream was simply delicious. I cannot wait to go back and explore the other items on the menu. **Update** went back during the week and some jackass kid was working there. Totally rude and full of attitude. And there was a FRIGGIN' HAIR in my salad to boot. Don't go in this place if Antonio (the owner who wears a cowboy hat) isn't working.
(3)P W.
El Tango is a good option in Lakewood for something decent and relatively cheap. The inside is dark and weird. There are a lot of plastic cacti. I have tried a very variations of the hand held burritos and enjoyed them. They are pretty large and filling. I haven't seen the guy in the cowboy hat for a while. He was always a kind person. I prefer the burritos here to Chipotle or Ohio City Burrito. My brother comes here sometimes and gets vegan food, so I guess their menu has stuff like that. I would recommend coming here.
(4)John B.
A group of my friends and I walked in here one night and were the only ones in the place. It was very dark inside, but it was still a pretty nice atmosphere. The staff was nice and our food was very good. As with Dan, we got our drinks in cans. With the amount of money that I paid for that can, I wish we would have gotten fountain drinks. I spent a little more money here than I was hoping, but it was still a pretty solid place.
(3)Melissa P.
Our experience was similar to the one Swank S. had below. It was our first time at El Tango, we came in and found our own seat. After sitting for about 5 minutes, we were told there is no wait service, we have to order at the counter. My fiancee and I both ordered burritos grande, a beef and pork. My fiancee requested no beans, but the guy taking our order said, the beans make the burrito, so he got the beans. We ordered a side of chips and salsa and then two margaritas. The guy said he would bring our drinks out and deliver our food to our table when it was ready. And then we waited. And waited. We waited for about 15 minutes for drinks. And these weren't normal margaritas. They tasted as if they were carbonated with ginger ale or sprite in them, with little to no actual liquor. And then we waited another 15 to 20 minutes for the chips and salsa. Wait for CHIPS!? They should have a huge bucket of these all prepared, ready to go! When we got the chips, they were fresh and hot with three choices of salsa, but not worth the half hour wait and not worth the $5.50 price tag. And then we waited some more, about 20 more minutes for our burritos. And then I could see why they said the beans made the burrito, because it was practically all beans! It was hard to find any meat whatsoever. So they make no effort to try to entertain special requests so they can get away with giving you more cheap ingredients. I could have gotten that same burrito at Chipotle, with much faster service, there was nothing special about it. The bill was over $40, for very simple food, everything was way overpriced. I will probably never go back, as there are other places with better Mexican food and faster service.
(1)Irena G.
I did not read any of the previous reviews before coming here, mainly because the guy across the street recommended this place for good food and drinks and because I love the signage. We started off with chips and salsa and a couple of cactus pear margaritas. The chips and salsa come with three different salsas- a pineapple one, apple chipotle, and a regular pico de gallo. They were all very delicious. I got a quesadilla- it was great, cheesy and sweet on the tortilla. My husband got the California burrito, and loved that as well! The cactus pear margaritas were SOO good. We will definitely be coming back! As far as the service goes, I understand where people would think Anthony was rude, he's definitely blunt, But I love the irony of walking into a Mexican place and seeing a definitely white man in a cowboy hat and boots making quesadillas. I loved the atmosphere, I adored the margaritas and the food was beyond satisfying! We will definitely come back. Check out Play It Again Sam's right across the street for some records or a turn table to go with your Tex Mex.
(4)Carolyn C.
MMMMMMM! The honey chicken is so moist, delicious, and the sides are fantastic! Don't expect to be waited on, enjoy the fact that you pay....find a cozy table, and relax. No one breathing down your neck.
(4)Erin R.
I wish i could give this 4 and a half, it was so good. Pan-Latin & Mexican food that is fresh, original, and really demonstrates the effort that is put into it. Small place inside and you order at the counter, but they let us know they will have outdoor seating in the next few weeks and finally get their beer license! My mom and I had chips and salsa (salsas if we're being correct) and the pineapple-tomatillo was by far my fave. Totally refreshing. The pico and the smoky cinnamon chipotle were also very good. We split the avocado lime burrito w/chicken and it was HUGE. i still have a half of my half left to eat. Great flavors, good ingredients. We also had the vanilla lime-lemonade which we were informed would 'change our lives' - I hope it did, my life needs some changing. I can't imagine what its like during a rush as it was only one solo dude working there, but for a mid-afternoon it was excellent. The kitschy decor in the restaurant doesn't hurt either.
(4)Mike H.
Best Cheese queasdilla!!
(4)erin w.
I love burritos. I love Latin/Mexican food in general. Enter El Tango. We walked in last night, not knowing what to expect. It was kind of strange to order at the counter, but not terribly off-putting. Like I said, my dining partner and I did not know what to expect, so we ordered: Chips and salsa (which comes with 3 kinds), Quesadilla Hongos Al Ajillo, and a California Avocado Lime Burrito with veggies, all to share. Perhaps the girl who took our order could have warned us? Maybe she just thought we were hogs? Whatever, she was nice enough and I don't suppose it's her job to talk people out of ordering more food... Holy crap. We were definitely not prepared for the amount of food that was about to be presented to us. The order of chips and salsa could have fed like 8 people, but the pineapple tomatillo salsa and the smoked cinnamon chipotle were super inventive and delicious. The pico was just meh, but with the other two we didn't even care. Next, let's talk about the quesadilla. YUM. Normally I could care less about quesadillas, but this one was super garlicky (read: spicy), and whatever sweet drizzle was on it was delicious. It was definitely not something you could get at Taco Bell or Chipotle (ugh). The Burrito was HUGE. I mean, it probably weighed as much as my cat (which by the way, is kinda hefty). But it was awesome. Limey, as promised, with tons of real veggies including sweet potatoes and cabbage. It is definitely not a traditional burrito, but I am more than ok with that. One of the dishes came with this amazing cabbage, salsa kind of salad that was sort of sweet and spicy and made a great accompaniment to the quesadilla. Now, let's talk about how much food we actually ate. We finished off the pineapple salsa, each ate one piece of the quesadilla (there were 4), and not even half of our half of the burrito. There were also enough chips left to last a normal person for at least a week. We did, however, finish the cabbage salsa salad (which is clearly not what it's actually called). Whoa. I am definitely looking forward to finishing it off today, or at least trying to! Oh, and I will be back to try the cactus pear margarita.
(4)Rated R.
The food at El Tango is excellent; many flavors and the owner prepares them with many different ingredients. No complaints there. However, the service and policies are some of the worst in the city. They had a teenage girl working there on Friday night who clearly had no clue what she was doing. You have to come in, wait in line (took 20 minutes JUST TO ORDER) with only three couples in front of us. After you order you can choose to sit at one of the five tables. If there are a couple of people already sitting in there, and the people who order in front of you then sit down to eat, there will be no tables open to sit at!!! After waiting forever to order, we finally sit down at a dirty table. The person who we ordered with came out with half of our food (forgot my beer and my girlfriends salad) and finally cleaned up the table. I asked, "is this busy for you tonight?" and she said, "nah this aint nothing" clueless to my motive regarding the slow service time. Oh yeah, bring your own water; it costs $2.50 a bottle for some Nestle garbabe bottled water. Beers are like $4.50. Yikes. Here's a novel idea; hire a server; a compotent one. Also, heard a lot about unsanitary conditions; the kitchen actually looks neat and clean but it wouldn't suprsise me if they kept certain things around longer then they should. I guess we got lucky. The food is a 5 but the service is a 0. I'll give it three stars total. I'd suggest calling your order in and taking it to go.
(3)Jay M.
Amazing food. Amazing lemonade. The service is hit and miss, depends on how nice you are (tip - be nice). I love the dark mole.
(5)Dav and Doug H.
Ah, I enjoy you El Tango. I remember you in the early years of your Lakewood digs. I wasn't sure you were going to make it, though the food said you should; there just never seemed to be a particularly large crowd gathered for you. Alas you have survived, thrived even. I have since moved, but have not moved on, and look forward to the day we meet again.
(4)Maria M.
Every time my friends and I go here, we have an absolute feast. Dinner is always good with unique flavors (the 3 salsa's are amazing). I crave the key lime pie. It's the best that I have ever had...
(4)Mike C.
El Tango offer some fantastic pan-Latin American cuisine. The portions are generous, most entrees could provide two meals, but they are more pricey than your average Mexican joint. Think Luchita's vs. Nuevo Acapulco. They DO accept credit cards for payment. They are in a perpetual process of getting a liquor license (for the past 3 years) but the BYOB policy can make for a fun (and cost effective) experience as we have previously brought our own tequila and margarita mix. No corking fees. The flavor is fantastic! Most everything I've tried has a taste that pops. They also offer something for every taste (avocado lime beef burrito, cochinita pibil pork, chicken, vegetarian, etc). The fish tacos are one of the least expensive items on the menu but never disappoint. Service can be slow because they staff only a couple people at a time. Open until 10pm weeknights, takeout order are usually ready in 25 minutes. Definitely worth trying before any other cookie-cutter Mexican restaurants.
(4)Traci M.
does anyone out there know what happened to this place? i believe it changed hands recently and sadly, i can really tell. previously owned and operated by a very lively and creative chef that took the place to great heights in its lakewood neighborhood, now he is nowhere in sight.. seems to have left his cowboy hat behind and someone else is wearing it. watch the cleanliness of this place and if you are hoping for that certain touch that the food had previously, you may have to remind them.
(1)Alex Z.
This place is a strange and unique restaurant. It's vaguely Mexican, but it seems to go off more in its own direction--the food is unlike anything else, and very good. Everything I have tried here has been both excellent and unique. You order at the counter, but the service is always slow. A great deal of effort is put into preparation of the food. You must wait a while, but the food is worth the wait, if you have time. The menu is not particularly large, but there is still enough variety to keep most people satisfied. It changes from time to time. The small menu makes it a bit less overwhelming--the food here can be a bit different, to say the least. The atmosphere is a bit odd, but very nice. Bottom line: this is a strange restaurant. It serves good food, but there's something about it that doesn't mesh. It's pricier and has slower service than most places with "Taqueria" in the name; the character of the food as well as slow service time doesn't really fit with the order-at-the-counter setup. It feels like someone came along and just magically crossed a fancy gourmet restaurant with a cheap taco place.
(4)Melanie B.
So, turns out I'm wrong in my assumption that Mexican food is supposed to always be bland. My friends and I stopped in to El Tango today when we were visiting Cleveland, and it was fantastic. From the chef in the cowboy hat who knew where the record store is that we were looking for, to the eclectic and creative dishes and the sassy decor - yessss. The burritos are HUGE, so bring an appetite. My two guy friends and I got burritos, and none of us could finish more than half. Mine was the fish california avocado lime burrito, which was outstanding. It was so flavorful, and included shredded pork and beef as well as generous amts of grilled fish and chunks of avocado. My other friend got a quesedilla, which was the most appetizing quesedilla I have ever seen ever ever (I'm generally not a huge fan). It was shredded beef, and was very thick, and although she didn't finish it, it looked well worth the effort. We had originally thought the place was a bit pricey, but one of my friends has been to El Tango before and says he dreams of it (we live in Columbus) and so he insisted that we stop - what an amazing recommendation. The prices are not at all expensive for the quality of this food, nevermind the unfinishable portions (if we hadn't been so full, I think we would have taken it home, but at the point, it was actually unthinkable). Considering that we were in Cleveland for a funeral, this was a welcome surprise for lunch, and an easy, friendly and warm place to be in a town we're mostly unfamiliar with. It made the day momentarily brighter! Thanks, El Tango!!
(5)Rick P.
This is the slowest restaurant I have ever patronized. It is the tastiest Mexican food I've ever found, but on a Wednesday night a quoted takeout time of 25 minutes actually equates to 90 minutes. On a Friday or Saturday night, plan on 2.5+ hours...
(4)Matthew N.
So a couple of weeks back my wife and I met another couple out at El Tango. Being as we paid with a credit card I had to leave my tip up front as there are no servers to wait on you really. Glad I didn't leave anymore $ than I did. The side of rice that came with our meals was still crunchy and completely inedible. Later on while we were eating one of the cooks was smoking in the kitchen. It was completely obvious since the restarunt is essentially one giant room and the smoke drifted to where we were dining at. I shall try it one more time but first impression left a lot to be desired.
(2)Charlie B.
The food is great -flavor and taste are excellent. These should be your expectations. Otherwise, pretend you're going to a cantina in Mexico: not much service, kind of slow, the seats aren't all matched and the flowers aren' t bought daily. And the price fits, so go enjoy some good food.
(4)Jim P.
El Tango and Cash (Only) THE UP-SIDE: Great tasting Mexican food in a homey, eclectic atmosphere. THE DOWN-SIDE: Cash only. THE SUM-IT-UP: A must try for its tasty food and quirky atmosphere!
(4)Claire R.
Vanilla Lemonade: I don't like Mexican food, but I like lemonade, and I LOVE the vanilla lemonade at this place. Apparently the food is good as well, but I didn't have any of it; I just went for the lemonade and that alone is worth the trip.
(4)Virginia D.
I still have dreams about this place. I've yet to find a replacement in Seattle - in flavor, price and portion. The vegetarian burrito has sweet potatoes and occasionally green apples in it - to bring out the flavor of the refried beans. The standard side salad was the perfect compliment. I would sell my soul for this burrito. They also have an amazing chipotle pumpkin pie (spicy!).
(5)Crain S.
It's a cool laidback setting. Nice and toasty, cash only, pay when you order, very fun eclectic South American music playing. BYOB, I found a new food/beverage pairing. Framboise Lambic and Taco Pina. Mexico meets Belgium
(4)Shawn R.
I really, really like this place. Great salsas, high-quality ingredients. One-man operation - so it can be a little slow and hours are spotty. It's worth it if you catch them open. Baked Burrito is excellent - with either sauce.
(5)Stephen H.
12 minute wait time, 20 minute ticket time, nobody in the joint. Two other couples got drinks while we waited. They have no staff. They keep the lights off I guess to save electricity. Very festive inside. Waitress asked me three times what I wanted to drink. She reminded me of Moocher from the movie Breaking Away. Tacos served with corn, onion, cilantro and slaw. Coated with thyme and oregano on the outside. Wow. Delicious. Ill be back. Free parking in the rear.. Chips and salsa are $ 5.50.
(3)Rick S.
We have lived in Lakewood going on 17 years and have never set foot in this place until yesterday. I liked it from the moment I walked in. The chips and salsas were the freshest I've had and the tacos were outstanding. The Margaritas are huge and the décor is eclectically Mexican. The owner/chef/server/artist actually painted some of the pictures that are hanging on the walls and he was quite accommodating. I can see that you would not want to come here when in a hurry since he is by himself and he prepares nearly everything from scratch. But, I can tell you that the wait would be worth it. I can't wait to go back and try some other menu items, everything we had was wonderful.
(5)Laura S.
We were going to go to another Mexican-ish place down the street, but if it's only 5 and there's people waiting outside in the rain I'm going to go somewhere else. So we drove around and found El Tango. I'm glad we did. I had a California burrito. It was a little less dense than what I'm used to, which is strangely nice since now I don't feel like I just swallowed a brick. Big ol' chunks of just-right avocado in there. Shredded chicken that was a great texture and cut right. Dee-lish. We also got chips and salsa. $5.50 seems a bit steep, but when Dude whips out a big bowl of chips and 4 VERY different salsas, the price is right. There was a nice standard Pico with plenty of cilantro (I like cilantro), a pineapple pico- I don't usually like fruit in my salsa but I kept going back to this. The Barcelona Cream looks confusing but it's crema, jicama, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, and some other seasonings. NOMZ. The only one I wasn't impressed by was one with cinnamon in it, but I'm not crazy about cinnamon. 2 beers, 2 entrée burritos (with meat and cheese), and an interesting and generous chips & salsa plate. $33 and some change. I The door opens inward BTW, which is weird, but I'm just telling you so you don't feel like a dope like I did. We only waited 10-15 minutes for our food, but we started the dinner rush so I don't think the wait was out of line. I got my money's worth.
(4)April K.
Best mexican food, hands down. But forget everything you know and expect from a typical restaurant experience. You have to understand that nothing is typical about this place. Rule number one: Only go if you aren't in a hurry. Food this great takes time. Rule number two: See rule number one. Let's start with when you enter. Immediately turn right and order from the counter. You will likely order from a guy in a cowboy hat. This is the owner/chef/server/busboy. The guy is doing everything. By himself. Why? I don't know. But don't worry about why. Just order something that strikes your fancy. You can't go wrong. Now order a margarita made from fresh fruits and juices. It will keep you company while you sit down and wait for your meal. And yeah, you will wait. But that is because he is making it to order right now. Hear that chopping from the kitchen? He is cutting up your meats and veggies right now. Right now! Nothing is prepared in advance. Even the chips and salsas are homemade.Trust me, you can taste the freshness. This isn't chipotle, people. When your food is ready, the lone chef (now server) will bring out the best tasting mexican food ever. It will be piping hot and insanely fresh tasting. You will have waited a little longer than at a typical mexican spot but it will taste better...waaay better. And you won't mind the wait, because you wanted an excuse to try a second margarita, anyway. Relax. Slow down. And enjoy.
(5)Ferris B.
I had a terrible experience is attempting to dine here. I walked in and before I could so much utter a request for a table for two I got barked at, "I'll be with you in like and hour!" He did an about face and I was left there standing wondering what I did so much to piss him off when I never said a word to him. I understand they have a small kitchen but I couldn't 4 open tables. I was so shocked I will never go back. I will also tell every one what a nasty man runs the joint.
(1)Mandy R.
One of the best meals I've EVER had. Had chorizo, chicken and apple tacos, so many flavors and textures. Came with 3 different salsas. Everything was super fresh and delish.
(5)Jean S.
Above average cuisine. Great atmosphere and services. Enjoyed the Camarones! Pricy but good!
(3)George M.
El Tango is my favorite Mexican restaurant and Best.Margaritas.Ever. Is def a must try everything on the menu even brunch on Sunday's and would give five star but no consistency on business hours so call before arrival to make they are open.!!
(4)David S.
Everything was fresh and super good. No complaints- the burritos seemed pricey at first, but the fresh salsa (4 kinds!) more than made up for it. I couldn't decide between the chipotle/cinnamon, green salsa with pineapple, some white cream sauce called Barcelona cream, and a straight forward pico de gallo that was perfectly balanced. The burrito was wetter than I would have liked, but I ate every last bite!
(4)Nathan R.
I met Antonio at a bar which was very new at the time. It's in a place where many other businesses have failed, and he wished them the best. He told tall tales of cooking in San Francisco, allegedly having single handedly made amazing food for the 50th anniversary of the golden gate bridge. We talked about Mexican joints and the restaurant business. And politics. And religion. And booze. I thought he was a cool guy that probably ran cool restaurant. He does in fact make excellent food. Almost certainly the best burritos I've ever tasted. However, he's a much better cook than restaurant manager. He won't give you a glass of water, you have to buy bottled. His staff us constantly turning over because he's a tyrant. He may be slow, he may be rude, but damn those burritos rule. Good luck.
(3)Milos M.
Honestly, if you EVER want to run a successful restaurant let alone a successful business, you need good customer service, and you definitely want your customers to feel welcomed to this fabulous location. Yet both are extremely unsatisfactory. Also this place likes to open whenever the owner feels like it. Half the time it's closed in the middle of the day. I've ate here 3 times and the food has always been extremely above average, it's definitely good. All 3 times the guys there just seemed extremely rude and careless about us. It's just sad to see such incompetence from an owner that I'd rather eat shoe leather from someone else then fork over $$ towards someone of his nature. I don't think I'm harsh either by any means, I've tried it once, tried it twice, and tried it a third time hoping I might of only just caught them on a bad time previously and all 3 times it was like I was talking to grumpy little children. I do not recommend going here.
(2)Lauren S.
So in all honesty, I partly tried this place because of the amusing posts everyone wrote about the sour owner and his contradictorily sweet recipes. I was expecting to either love my experience or hate it, and to have as passionate a response as everyone else seems to. However, for me, the food was just...forgettable. I only remember that we got something for takeout, it was HUGE but overpriced, and we didn't feel especially welcome in the restaurant. For these prices I can't justify adding it to my go-to take-out restaurant list, so we probably won't be back. =(
(2)Yolanda R.
They just recently opened for breakfast and my family stopped in to try it. Let's say...YUMMMM. Definitely a place to return to. The hit for our family was a HUGE burrito named THE BIG ASS BURRITO. . And that it was. Enough to split. The fresh cactus margarita worth the trip. Our visit was complimented by a sweet waitress named Jenny/Jennifer. Look forward to going back. UPDATE..Sadly I went back and the owner was a bit rude. No water brought out to tables in glasses, purchase only. Didn't like hearing him ask waitress "if that was all we were ordering" very indignant. We ordered 4 meals one wasn't hungry.
(3)Jenny S.
The atmosphere was amazing. The food was AMAZING! The drinks were amazing. The only reason I give it 4 stars is that for the price (fajitas for two, chips and salsa and two margaritas - 60 bucks) I would like it to be a full service restaurant. Paying for a nice meal is not a problem but I would at least like to have a glass of water or be able to order a second margarita. But with that being said still one of the best meals I've ever had, every time I've gone.
(4)Suzanne V.
First time visitors here. Ordered the salsa and chips, lime shrimp tacos and beef torta. For my taste the 3 salsas were interesting but I felt they needed a little pop to change good/interesting to great (my opinion). The shrimp tacos.. Heaven! Excellent shrimp not overcooked, fresh corn and slaw awesome texture and flavor! The beef torta beef was tender and also not overcooked. The beans and corn add the flavor brightness you need with mole'. Owner is very friendly and rightfully proud of his products! We will be back!
(4)Rebecca C.
We live very close, eat out three nights a week at least, and I love authentic Mexican, but we won't ever go back because the service was so profoundly terrible. It was not that busy however we waited for an hour and ten minutes, which is excessive. What was worse though is that during that whole time nobody even said a word to us - not even a "hey I know it's been a while, but ..." or a "Do you guys need anything else? Sorry bout the wait". NOTHING. I could even get over that, however when I said something to cashier/server it was evident that he did not care at all. It was just a weird and rude exchange. It was so bad that this is my first Yelp review! In brief, if it's going to take a while, that's fine, but at least acknowledge that we are there and/or see if we need anything and don't be rude on top of it. The food is really good, but there are lots of awesome places to eat in our neighborhood so that is not enough to bring us back. I'm going to check out El Barrio.
(2)Gina M.
Might be the best food in town, but not worth the hassle of waiting forever to even get someone to take your order. It was a Tuesday night and we walked out without our food.
(1)Brittany P.
I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and am glad I finally did! The food took a little longer than I'm accustomed for tacos, but I could tell it had just been freshly made. Everything tastes better when it's made from scratch. I really liked the ambiance. The lights were low in a way I found to be cozy and inviting. I have no idea what anyone meant about rude service. We found the server to be super nice. No complaints there. Overall the place just feels warm and friendly, and the portions were generous. And this place has the best horchata I've ever tasted, hands down. I did take off one star because I did see a fruit fly or two running around. It was a little off putting. But it won't keep me from going back.
(4)Laura M.
This place just makes me sad, it used to be so good. The food quality has taken a hit along with the service, which has just taken a nosedive from what it used to be. Now that we have El Carnicero in our neighborhood we go there instead, and hey, El Carnicero has better food AND doesn't charge for water (WTF?).
(2)B C.
Best burrito you can get, period. It is not like any of the others in town. I used to go a lot back when they first opened and didn't have a liquor license. They let you byob. But now they have really good margaritas. You have to try it, I just wish it was open for lunch!
(5)Orrie B.
This place was one heck of a find. Definitely has the hole in the wall feel as I'd say this place could fit 20-30 people max. The food was really good but pricey. The chips and salsa don't come standard and are a side but are totally worth it. These were the freshest chips I've had and they came with three awesome salsas. The water here is not free as it only comes in bottles which was kind of a bummer. Other than that, the chef brought out food right to the table. The guy was nice and talked a little bit to us. The food had fresh ingredients and after seeing/tasting it, it made sense why it was a little more pricey than the average Mexican restaurant. Definitely worth trying out.
(5)Dave S.
Great meal last night. Calamari bacon tacos, Santa Fe tamale pie and enchiladas were all killer. Excellent flavors, really fresh ingredients makes it worth the cross-town trek.
(5)Simon D.
Just to clarify, he is an a-hole because he threatened me with violence to the point a police report was filed against him. Dont know the guy, just walked by his restaurant at the wrong time...probably caught him 2 bottles of cheap wine into his evening.
(1)Mike G.
I live just down the road from el tango. I drive by all the time. It seems to not be very busy. After trying it for the first time yesterday I can't believe why. The regulars know what a great place it must be. I think once you try it ,you'll be a repeat returner. You place your Order at the counter and they bring it out to you. It took awhile for the food to come out but after you get it you will know why. I'm looking forward to going back to try the tacos and salsa.
(4)Kelly H.
Went back again. Even more moths, even more delicious food. It's like a mind f***!!!! So delicious but so nerve wrecking!!!!!
(3)Nina T.
We passed the place and thought it looked cool from the outside, so we decided to grab a snack! I got one fish taco which was really good. Went well with the corona beer as well. The guy working there (in some review described as the a-hole with the hat) was super nice. You place your order at the desk and then pick it up. Actually-in our case he brought everything to the table and cleaned everything up after us. For desert I had some kind of lime cake..forgot the actual name;...best cake I've ever eaten! Tastes like cheesecake, lime and cream at the same time... I was stuffed after all that! Will be back!
(5)Normajean L.
Its been 3 years since we've relocated from Southern Ca and we now lament every moment we've spent without having had this extraordinarily delicious little restaurant in our lives. Went on a Saturday date -night and had an amazing meal. We were delighted that the owner/chef came table-side to ensure that we were enjoying our meal, which we wholeheartedly affirmed. The tortilla soup was delicious. The chorizo chicken apple-taco was incredible. The queso fundido was divine. Thank goodness somebody finally figured out horchata here in Cleveland, as we've been waiting 3 years to find a latin restaurant that serves it here. Decor is adorable. What a wonderful meal we had. So glad to know you El Tango Latin Grill, we will definitely be back.
(5)David K.
I was visiting a friend on the West Side of Cleveland when we decided we wanted some Mexican or Tex-Mex for dinner. My friend said he had driven by "some mexican place" many times and wanted to finally try it. So we went there and... well, I have no idea what the food tastes like. Atmosphere seemed fine. Prices were more than standard junk Mexican food, but it seems the food here is a notch above standard fare. Well, the cashier who takes the order did not know what was on the Tamale Pie (which was the special and it's not on the menu) and deferred to Antonio. Turns out Antonio lacks all people skills and was incredibly unprofessional and rude. I asked another question about the huevos rancheros and received an even ruder response. Oh, and while I'm trying to order, the cashier, as I'm talking to her, answers the phone. Right in the middle of me trying to order. Now, I've never had serious complaints when eating out, other than slow service or something like that, and I've never complained, because I like to think of myself and pretty easygoing. Im certainly not demanding. But between both the cashier and Antonio treating me and my friend very unprofessionally and rudely, we walked out. I've never walked out of a place like that and I've never been that angry about rude service. And, really, I have no idea why I received such rude, unprofessional service. I just asked about the special and another dish. That. was. it. And, seeing here on Yelp, apparently I'm not the only one with complaints about their service. Given the awful service here, there's no chance I would consider going back.
(1)Marques M.
The owner is either racist or just completely insane. Would not open the door for me (after 4pm, during business hours). I called on my cell phone and he repeatedly hung up on me. Got in touch with him later, and he told me there had been a lot of sketchy characters at his place, then hung up on me AGAIN. I seriously feel like I can sue or something. I urge you to not support this business.
(1)A H.
I grew up eating burritos in California, these are LEGIT mission style burritos. Chipotle may taste good but it's still fast food. Yeah the service isn't the fastest, but well worth the time. The flavor and attention to ingredients totally makes it a 5. I will absolutely return and bring others.
(5)Leo M.
I kid you not, best food you'll prob ever have, and margaritas are ridiculous good. Dont expect much for service or quick food time tho. The owner is as close to the soup Nazi from Seinfeld as you'll get. Just walk in put your head down say your please and thank yous when you order and just trust that it will all be worth it when food and drinks arrive. The guy opens and closes when he feels like it so don't let the 4-10 open-close hrs fool you.. plan on like 6:30 to 8 o'clock daily.
(5)Joe S.
Biggest day of the year for Mexican restaurants and this ding dong isn't open his posted hours. Left work early knowing its Cinqo and get to El Tango at 4:30. All advertising indicates open at 4pm. Well pardon me I walk into a dark restaurant to be informed its so busy they are closed until 5:30pm. Nice. Never going back, not sure if it will be staffed and open stated hours. Several parties of four got the same greeting who were right behind me.
(1)Laura R.
Find somewhere else; The food isn't half as good as it used to be, and the service somehow is even worse than before. Luchita's, Momocho...both have a higher level of Latin food for the same prices - with better service. Hell, Taco Bell treats their customers better, and is far more sanitary to boot.
(1)Jennifer D.
I just moved to Lakewood and remembered how much I loved El Tango from 10 years ago, when I used to stop here for carryout on my way home from work in downtown CLE. I was really excited to be so close to what I remember as my favorite mexican restaurant. I read the yelp reviews and figured we could put up with a rude owner in exchange for the great food as I recall. OMG! This recent experience was crazy! We called at 8:45 PM on Tuesday night to order carryout. We ordered for two. In the middle of placing the order, the owner hung up on us. We called back to complete the order then asked how long it would take. The owner (and I know he was the owner because I recognized his crappy attitude and voice) said it would take an HOUR for carryout because he was slammed. Yet, there was no noise in the background, so we wondered where the crowd was? However, we said ok, we'd be there in an hour. We arrived at 9:45, 15 minutes before they closed at 10:00 PM. And, THEY WERE CLOSED!! We could not believe it. What a jerk!!! After reading the Yelp reviews and my experience with the owner from years ago, I believe the owner has a serious drinking and bi-polar problem. He needs psychotherapy. I wonder how he's been able to survive this long. Yes, his prices are very high. I could not believe he lied to us AND closed the restaurant that night early; leaving us at almost 10:00 PM wondering where to go for mexican food. Having worked as a server/bartender during my college years (and making a boatload of $$ in tips) I rate restaurants on customer service first and food second. This was the WORST experience I've had at a restaurant in the last 20 years. I feel sorry for this owner...he needs serious help psychologically, professionally and in the customer service dept. Too bad because on a good day, his food from what I remember, was fantastic and we don't mind paying the overpriced for authenticity. So now I wonder where to go in Lakewood for authentic mexican/latin american? Momocho was just OK, but outside of the amazing guacamole, I don't love this place. Luchitas perhaps? I wish I could recommend this place. I hope the owner gets help.
(1)Rachel B.
I am puzzled and intrigued by this Mexican restaurant. The kitchen area takes up at least half of the space, which is cool but also strange. You order at the counter, then find a seat among mismatched furniture and Latin-American knick-knacks, fake flowers, and fountains. You wait ... and wait ... and wait. And then you're brought your food, and it is good. REALLY good. Quite a few negatives with this place. I'll get those out of the way first. 1. The aforementioned long wait, for .. what? A burrito. Well, two burritos. The guy with the cowboy hat apologized and said that they'd run out of rice. Huh? At a restaurant where rice is pretty much the common factor among all dishes? And at 6 pm on a Saturday, when you know you're going to have a high volume of customers? (Yet, another reason the wait threw us for such a loop was because we were one of only three parties in there, and one had already gotten their food by the time we'd ordered.) 2. The flies. Ugh. I hate bugs in general, and am actually afraid of them. I won't eat anything a fly has already landed on. So there were times that I was actually darting flies at the table and moving my plate around so that they wouldn't decide to pop a squat on my burrito. 3. Although the listing claims the restaurant is good for kids (and it very well may be, for older kids) there are no high chairs. So we had to hold a squirmy baby and attempt to feed her from that position. Kind of annoying and probably the major reason we won't be returning. 4. Bottled water only (not free). But actually, thinking of the overall skeeviness factor of the place, I'd probably better count that as a positive because I'm not sure I'd want to drink their tap water. Now, onto the positives: 1. VERY GOOD FOOD! The burrito was ginormous and oh so tasty. I got the avocado-lime burrito with chicken. Everything tasted amazing. My only qualm? It was very, very wet. It came in just a tin foil wrapper plopped on a plate -- which is fine -- but we weren't given silverware and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to pick this monster up and put it into my mouth. Not to mention that it had something on the outside -- it almost seemed like some kind of liquid and then sprinkled with sugar, oddly enough -- so that it was completely impractical to try to use my hands for this. But it tasted great. 2. There were two young women who helped us -- one taking the order and another who stepped in after we'd been there for a bit who got us silverware and wrapped our leftovers. They were very kind and seemed like fun people. So, will I try El Tango again? Not to dine in again, probably ever. It just wasn't really worth it, in my opinion, because it wasn't an enjoyable atmosphere and wasn't appropriate for the baby. And it's not the type of place I'd want to waste on a date night, because it's not special enough. But the food was great, so I will definitely consider takeout in the future. Although I really have to stop thinking about those flies.
(3)Samantha S.
I placed a take-out order via phone 2 hours ago, just arrived to pick it up and was told it would be another 15 minutes. This is after I was already here an hour ago(the time I was told it would be ready). Do I get a sincere apology? No, just a "that's the way it is!" I guess since I'm still here waiting speaks something about the food, but this guy seriously needs to hire more help and learn some customer service skills.
(2)Natalie F.
I was skeptical at first by the customer service, but the food was honestly some of the best Mexican good I've ever eaten. Fish tacos were great, and the cinnamon chipotle salsa was insane!
(5)Robert T.
This place has some serious sanitary issues. I walked in and saw the amount of flies, bugs, and nats and left right away. Over the years I have heard good things about this place, but cleanliness is big in my book. I don't care how "Cool" this Antonio guy is, I'm not getting sick. Two Stars for Sanitation
(2)Carla R.
Everyone is always talking about how crappy the service is here, but I always think it's okay. Not great, but okay. As for the food, it's delicious. The main minus for me is that for the growing number of conscientious and sustainable shoppers out there, you won't be happy to find that they serve bottles of water (which is just cafeteria-esque and out of place), and the only fish they serve is the highly endangered and overfished red snapper. Ugh.
(2)Rob S.
Dadgummit, this place is great. I went here with a friend on Saturday at 6. It was empty when we got there and ordered our food, and as we sat outside, we watched about 1,000 people come in after us. We definitely hit the sweet spot, time-wise. Service was fast and friendly, ambiance was very nice, and the food -- my god, the food is great. I got the avocado burrito, while my hetero lifemate got fish tacos. The burrito was about as big as a newborn baby. (Mmm...newborn babies.) It was as fresh as fresh can be. The next time you contemplate making a run for the border, skip Taco Bell (and Chipotle) and hit this place.
(4)Swank S.
WEIRD. That's really the most accurate word I can find to describe this place, which is half-kitchen/counter, half restaurant, and half great food, half crazy prices and stinky service. Weird. Immediately upon entering the restaurant, I was confused. There is a counter near the door with a queue. A teenager working the counter called out that the restaurant doesn't have any wait service; you're supposed to order at the counter, and they bring it out to you. He pointed us to some menus, and also to a board listing specials. By specials, I mean 18.95 for fish and veggies and $8 for a margarita -- not what you'd expect for a tiny cafeteria-style place -- but I thought, perhaps there is a mystical reason why these prices are so high. Weird. Now, my husband is very particular about his food when we eat out. Essentially, he doesn't like most vegetables, and he always asks, when a menu is vague, what comes on a particular dish. At El Tango, tacos come with some sort of homemade slaw. "It's not a taco without the slaw," the teenager told us. They refused to give him a taco with just meat and cheese, so he ordered a quesadilla ($9.95) instead, and I ordered the taco with the required slaw ($3), as well as the aforementioned $8 margarita. The bill came to almost $40 -- weird, but read on. If you're one of those people who find yourself feenin' for Mexican food, and look forward to feasting on chips and salsa before your meal, this is not the place for you. They do offer chips and salsa -- for $5.50. For $1.50 more (each), you get a homemade salsa: choices include pico de gallo, pineapple tomatillo verde, smoked cinnamon chipotle or hot tango. My husband often orders a side of queso dip for the chips. This place wanted to charge us a whopping $14 for that. For CHEESE. We asked why, and the teenager at the counter said it only comes in a pint. I really don't understand how this kid actually thought we wanted a pint of cheese to go with our meal. So, miffed at how difficult it was to order here, we nixed the chips altogether. Again, weird. We waited quite a long time for our order to come out. While we sat there, admiring the many paintings of avocados, the owner, described below in many other reviews as the dude in the white cowboy hat, came around the corner from the kitchen. He headed toward the restroom, but entered a door next to it instead. We realized the freezer/stock room is located beyond the restroom. You have to walk THROUGH the entrance of the restroom to get to it. You have to walk THROUGH the restaurant from the kitchen to get there. And this guy did, and came out with a handful of shrimp. In his ungloved, non-sterile hands. A few minutes later, he did it again. Here's a tip for the suggestion box: On a Friday night, when presumably, your restaurant may be busy, how about you take a BOX of frozen shrimp out and keep it in the kitchen, so you don't have to make constant trips through the restroom to get it? Or, if that idea is not acceptable to you, perhaps you should at least put the shrimp in a BOWL as you walk through the restroom and past your customers, so it doesn't look like you have absolutely no regard for simple sanitary standards? INCREDIBLY WEIRD. At this point, we were ready to walk out. We were expecting crappy food that we paid an arm and a leg for, there was no service whatsoever and we'd witnessed some gross behavior from the owner/cook. But when the food came out, we were pretty pleasantly surprised. The taco was delicious (slaw and all), and so was my husband's quesadilla. My taco came with a "hacienda salad" that has shredded cabbage, avocado and chipotle-lime cream. It was a revelation. There were veggies in it that I don't even normally like, but I couldn't stop eating it. Everything was slightly sweet, as if it had honey and/or cinnamon on it. Portions were rather small, so we left hungry--- something I have never said after leaving a Mexican restaurant! Weird. The margarita was a total waste of time. It didn't taste like it had an ounce of liquor in it, and it was fizzy, as if it had Sprite or Squirt in it. I've been to Mexico and never had a carbonated margarita, so this was weird. My husband had the homemade vanilla lime lemonade ($2.75) and it seemed to be lacking vanilla and lime. No refills, of course. No one to get you one. Weird. I feel it's important to not just share my experience, but some other information about this place. The cuisine is not your typical tex-mex fare. It's more Latin, and some of it actually seems creative. But the prices!! Specialty dinners like mole chilcken and ropa vieja are $18.95. Most other entrees are around $10. Sides and "extras" like beans, rice, potatoes, sour cream, jalapenos, limes or hot sauce all cost $1.50-$4.25 EXTRA. Although we really enjoyed the food, I doubt we will be back. It's just too weird for us.
(2)Phil T.
Ambiance: 3. Tango is lacking -- has some run-down Mexican character to it, but lacks the following: appropriate amount of lighting, appropriate amount of tables, appropriate amount of kitchen space. Their kitchen and tables are unfortunately reversed, 80% of the restaurant is kitchen (for one dude, the owner, I may add). Cost: 5. Quality Latin/Mexican at a great price for freshness and quality. Burritos more expensive (~$9) than tacos and other options, but they also make Chipotle burritos looks like they're featured in a Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Burrito movie. Food Quality: 4. Burritos pretty good, tacos very very good. Try the chicken or fish tacos. The owner (Antonio) claimed to me he flies the red snapper in fresh every 3 days, which in Cleveland is about the best you can get. They DO serve beer here, contrary to other reviews (thank goodness). Service: 3. Antonio was only one working which was fine, but was doing random things when we walked in and it took him at least 5 minutes to at least say hi and take our order. When to return: Pick-up, not dine-in. If you want a cheap, high quality meal. When you don't want Chipotle.
(4)Brian D.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Lakewood. The other reviewers are correct about the cowboy-hat owner guy being on the eccentric side, but that just adds to the experience! Very casual and unpretentious. I like the fact that you order at the counter. And best of all, the food is really excellent. This is not your typical mexican food, the burritos have fresh herbs and really interesting flavors. Excellent margaritas also! Strange chef, unique atmosphere, fantastic food! This place is the real deal and I hope it stays around for a long time.
(5)