Cafe Olé
959 S Cooper St, Memphis, TN, 38104
Cafe Olé Menu
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Address :
959 S Cooper St
Memphis, TN, 38104 - Phone (901) 343-0103
- Website https://www.cafeolememphis.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Mary Jo W.
We have a 2 strike rule that we use at restaurants. Big strike last year after the new ownership. Awful in all areas of play. Tonight was a big strike after the new renovation and menu. They are outta here in our book. Chips were grease filled and salt covered as was my stomach. Seriously! Awful and more awful. It might have been acceptable if we ate the cheese dip as a soup. How can a Mexican restaurant screw up the basics? The food was bland and blah. We are locals who only frequent local restaurants but we found the food was limited, tasteless and cheesy. It also surprised me that the vegetarian menu was lacking. They few items they did offer were priced the same as meat filled. They definitely score price wise there. We would never recommend this restaurant. Service okay but they were way over staffed.
(1)PJ H.
I am a former Cooper-Young resident and loved to visit Cafe Ole whenever I pop back in town for a visit. I was visiting family in Memphis last week and popped in with girlfriends hoping to get our beloved Razzmarita Pitcher. Sadly disappointed when we found out the new owners have removed this option from the menu. What Mexican restaurant doesn't offer a pitcher on the menu?!?! Everything I loved at this restaurant was no longer available. I hope they will re-think some of the changes they have made. I was saddened to see this place changed so much. It was one of my favorite local spots when I lived in Memphis. I will not return when I'm back in town.
(1)Rob B.
I remember the old CafeOle.....which sucked horribly! This is the new Cafe Ole, New Chef, New owners! The place is AMAZING!! Seriously, the food is fantastic now, the margaritas are fantastic. I cannot say enough good things. Go, enjoy!!
(5)Shelby S.
Don't waste your time. I went back home to Memphis for the weekend and decided to have brunch with my fiancée, sister and her boyfriend today. Our choices were Local Gastropub or Cafe Ole. Although my sister has repeatedly told me how awful Cafe Ole is, I chose to go there because of the awesome drink specials. We get there and sit on the patio and are greeted by the oddest server I've ever had. I'm not sure if he was stoned out of his mind or just strange. He had a very hard time taking our food order although our only requests were fried eggs instead of sunny side up. We waited almost 30 minutes and he finally said our food would be up soon. I asked for a sprite and he brought it out in a clearly cracked glass. He returned about 10 minutes later, without our food, and I told him the glass was broken. He then picks it up and stares at it and says "Oh no...What's wrong with it?" Like I said earlier, either stoned or just wacky. I repeated what was wrong and he brings another one a few mins later, still with no food. Offers us queso for free if we "didnt say anything to anyone." He said our food was taking so long because our orders were too complicated. 1. They were nowhere near complicated. 2. I've been a waitress for years, you don't say that to your customers!!! Finally after 40+ mins of waiting we decided to leave enough cash to cover our drinks and get out of there. I asked for the manager and he was also strange and non-apologetic. He then peeked in the kitchen and said "Well we're plating it now if you want to wait." Uh NO I don't want to wait any longer, I'm already halfway out the door. There was a waitress named Isabelle who was awesome! She was very polite and quick to get the manager when I asked. She was more concerned than he was with my issue. You go girl. Anyway, We ended up going to Local in Overton Square and it was great. Rant over!
(1)Paul O.
Me and two buddies felt like eating a big lunch since it was already 3 pm. There was enough parking space and when we entered the restaurant it was pretty much empty. The waiter was very attentive and gave us plenty of refills and chips and salsa. Two of us had quesadillas and one a burrito. All three good quality with fresh ingredients. The check was around 40 total which i think is good value for money!
(4)Curtis B.
Lots and lots of great changes! I had lunch today with a friend at the "new" Cafe Ole. If you missed it, Sandy Robertson (of AutoMatic Slim's, Dyers, etc) has taken over the restaurant and made sweeping changes. ( commercialappeal.com/new… ). We were both very pleased with our lunch. I had a quesedilla chocked full of beans, mushrooms, and fresh avacado, and my friend had the tacos. Both were excellent. Unfortunately we were the only people there for lunch that day, so I'm writing this review in hopes more people will come check out the new Cafe Ole and keep this Memphis institution open and thriving. They are still making some tweaks to the menu according to our waitress, but from what I could see there are a lot of really great choices already. The corn that came with the tacos (and you can order alone as a side) was excellent, and although we didn't order it, the bacon wrapped shrimp are still on the menu and are supposed to be very good. If you haven't been to Cafe Ole in a while, please go and check it out!
(5)Laura R.
I give it 3 stars only for atmosphere. This restaurant has been remodeled and looks great. It has always been a great place to sit outside and listen to music over drinks. It still is. Just don't order food. It is bland. Although the menu looks exciting, the taste just isnt.
(3)John G.
Very good dining experience on our first trip. Our food was very good. We had steak fajitas and a chicken quesadilla. Our server, Ashley, was very attentive and took really good care of us. We will definitely be going back.
(4)Rodney M.
First time here. The food was excellent. The wait staff was attentive. Definitely coming back. Tried: Spicy guacamole, vegetable tacos, fish tacos, and ground beef burrito. All were top-notch. The crazy corn was super fun and tasty.
(5)Karen L.
I've been here exactly once, and I will never, ever go back. The cheese dip was the highlight of the meal, by which I mean it was the least offensive. My fish tacos (tilapia, I believe), were bland, bland, bland. I doused them in salsa, which failed to make a difference. Our table on the patio was awkwardly placed next to a giant fan, and our server was terrible, randomly disappearing for long intervals. My understanding is that people go here to drink, and that if you drink enough, you either won't realize how bad the food is, or you won't be hungry anymore. Either way, that's not enough of a reason for me. Adios, Cafe Ole.
(1)Eric N.
I will do my albeit humble part to boost the ratings, because I was not a fan for many, many years. The place just got tired, the menu was too much, food was okay, etc., so we stopped going for years (I'm not really sure how old the establishment is, but I think it had been more than a decade since we gave up on the place). Then the rejuvenation happened. I was blown away! The atmosphere they re-created in here is absolutely perfect for the corner of C/Y. Nice open room, great family-style seating in the middle, bar looks great, and their best asset is well-preserved (the patio!). We went for brunch, and I must say, it was killer. $2.50 drinks--awesome. So I was willing to take a chance on the menu for our reboot experience. I had the chicken and waffles, and they were phenomenal. Rach had the jalapeno waffles, Justin the breakfast pizza, and Hannah the Kahlua French toast--everyone loved their entrees. And the chips are some of the best in town. Cafe Ole is ready to win you back.
(4)Chris M.
They have put some money in the place and opened it up quite a bit. It now seems clean and smells good but the food unfortunately still isn't good. The staff is nice and the look and feel of the place is much better. $2.50 Tacate 16oz. This place is awful. Bad, food, bad drinks, service can be really bad. To be fair, I have had one OK chicken sandwich one time and have had a good time drinking there many times. That's all I would recommend this place for and I wouldn't get margaritas as they are the super sour dry mix type. I would stick to beer and not even draft. ( It can taste like the lines are dirty and is usually not cold ) It usually smells like grease and unclean kitchen, and the bathroom is nasty. They get two stars because of the patio and the fact that they sell bottled beer.
(2)Juno S.
!Cafe Mucho Terrible! So sad to report my yelpers....but the food is no better than before. In fact, the service is worse, but hey! they have a new sign out front. Where to begin...how about with middle management...i'll just say it... the managers are incompetent neanderthals. Next topic....It took over 1 hour to order our food and drinks and another hour for it to arrive. Mi amiga ordered a taco salad with beans..it was awesome except it was missing... beans! Another amigo ordered fish tacos (which is always a bad idea if you are in a landlocked city at a mediocre establishment)...How do you say yuck in Spanish?? On the the positive side, the patio and entertainment was pleasant, the servers were very nice, apologetic and even painfully embarrassed that the "chef" is lacking in... culinary skills and the management is... lacking in customer service skills. Maybe the new owner should stop spending money acquiring properties and start spending time in the front of the casa, in the back of the casa and inbetween every nook and cranny in the casa. Adios!
(1)Mike A.
We took our son and family there for his birthday since I'd heard they'd changed ownership. They've still got a LOT of work to do. The whole time his birthday was never acknowledged, even after mentioning it multiple times to the waitress. We constantly had to ask for drink and salsa refills. They're still doing community bowls instead of letting people pour what they want, eliminating the dreaded 'double dipping' with large groups. The portions were small and overpriced; don't bother with the bacon wrapped shrimp. The fish tacos were a 1/8" Mrs. Paul's looking piece of fish in a tortilla. Now I remember why we stopped going to begin with.
(1)Lloyd E.
I have to update my previous review because I got sick here last time. I think it was the salsa - may have been left out too long.
(2)Rich L.
I just moved to Memphis, so I have no history on things. I'm learning though. A bunch of us stopped in for dinner last night. I was told that there is new ownership, management & chef in place - the formers needing to be turned over. None of us had been there since the turnover, so it was new to us all. The place was clean, but loud. They had live music in the far room where the bar is, and with all the hard surfaces and poor acoustics, one couldn't have a conversation there. We sat in the front room where we could chat, and the staff was happy to pull together a bunch of tables for us. The service was excellent. The waitress was terrific. Very attentive without hovering, and as gracious as she could be. Her use of Sweetie, Honey, and Baby was endearing. They make there own salsa, which was pleasantly hot, though a bit salty. Your lips smacked of the heat, but you wanted more. And more. The chips were great, too. I had the mixed Chimichangitas. (Sp?). The portion was smaller than I expected, but they and the mole sauce were very good. The mole also had more spice than expected - a good thing in my view. (You're in a Mexican restaurant. Kick it up!). One friend had the burrito which was huge, and mouthwatering. (Yes, I coveted the burrito.). The margarita's were also good. Would I go back? Yes.
(4)Gwendolyne A.
First time at Café Ole' Since the new owners new managers and new menu. I was very pleased with the food, which is much better than before. The service and the drinks were also great. They improved the looks of the place it's a lot cleaner & much nicer. We sat on the patio where there's sometimes live music but tonight they were showing college football on a big screen TV it was fun. They have completely changed the menu, but don't worry - they did keep the bacon wrapped shrimp!
(5)April S.
I don't recommend the food at Cafe Ole'. Even though I visit pretty frequently, I hardly ever order anything to eat. However, Cafe Ole' is great for drinks with friends. Just grab a seat on the patio and order yourself a big ol' margarita. If by chance you over do it and are in need of substance to balance the alcohol, the bacon wrapped shrimp are a decent choice. No, it's not very Mexican... but they are quite tasty and trust me, the rest of the menu is very Mexican either.
(2)Sam D.
Great happy hour friendly waitress and good food. I had the fish tacos. Others at the table had the fajitas which were also good
(4)Bobby P.
Wow! Have you tried the new Improved Cafe Ole?!! The new chef has produced fresh delicious entrees that have had us passing our old favorite Mexican restaurant to have Cafe Ole lobster tamales and blacken grouper fish tacos! We love the new decor and palm trees on the best patio in Memphis. Good job Cafe Ole...glad you're back!
(5)Shaina G.
Cafe Ole is now under new ownership so I think we can expect great things! Try the fried avocado strips for appetizer and the mexican pizza with a margarita and you will be a happy camper. Warm weather? Sit on the patio! Cold? The bartenders inside are friendly and fun! It's a win-win at Cafe Ole!
(3)Tania C.
The atmosphere is really nice, I like the style of the restaurant. The food was nice. The rice was pretty good, but it could have been better. They have the best chips, salsa, and queso. The staff was very nice and the waiter kept checking on us.
(4)William F.
Wanted to give them a shot, since the new owner took over. Big mistake. Ordered Chicken Fajita's. For the price...it was pathetic. The sides...quacamole was dark and old...not fresh. Hate the chips with the salsa / queso. Looks like they buy them from Las Delicias. I like to break mine in half, not so big a bite...no double dipping. They friggin fall apart. Went there because my wife wanted to try it again. Even she said it was a mistake. Sat on the patio....beautiful nite...as soon as the food was delivered, we were swarmed by flys. It was miserable. My wife said she will never go back.... Oh, I forgot, they charge $5 to park in their lot and then give you $5 off your bill.
(1)Grace G.
Ordered a quesadilla and was pretty disappointed with how bland it turned out. The shredded chicken didn't appear to have any flavor at all. My boyfriend ordered tacos which he couldn't even finish because of how tasteless they were. Wouldn't really recommend this spot.
(2)sterling h.
I love mexican food. However, this is not the best place to get it. The service was pretty terrible, it took them nearly an hour to bring us the meal and it was early afternoon and not busy at all. The food was also pretty atrocious. I only ordered a brownie because i already didn't like this place from past experience. But they even managed to screw that up. My brownie had bits of uncooked rice in it. I'm sure if i had bit into one, i'd have chipped a tooth. A terrible experience.
(1)J N.
The food is terrible. It's sloppy, the seasoning is never quite right but if you're famished it will do. Because the margaritas are strong. I prefer to order a pitcher & commune with friends on the patio while the dj spins. The service is spotty at best. Although I do miss the band that used to come on Thursdays & the crowd they always brought out.
(3)John M.
Tiger just want apologize for not eating at Y.A.D. Mexican No Started out nice appearances were clean and not as dark as before. Swung in for a quick bite before a movie. Yes they kept on top of the Chips and Drinks. Queso(Velveeta) Guess that's the Tex part of the Mex? Guacamole high end bagged type. Daughter quesadilla in her words Chicken Tasted "freezer burned or old" Sons chicken Fajita only saving grace from the same comment was that it was cauterized in the iron skillet! My Nachos...well the Jalapenos were hot..as for the rest don't know what they cook the mystery meat in, but I'd stop if I was them. Note: Maybe warm the beans on the nachos they were colder than the lettuce and whatever type of canned cheese they use maybe rethink that also? All in all when said and done got out for just under 80.00. WTH? (the other "MEXICAN" establishments only run me $40.00 and I don't have to pay to Park!)Better get a New Game Plan Cafe Ole' Knew we were in trouble wait wise when we overheard his sales pitch for the Margarita's at another table as "The margarita's will really get you drunk". Once we finally got our food the waiter was no more.. Seemed to be more interested in back room business(goofing off) as to the customers...I am Curious when did it become acceptable to leave the bill and stand and wait for me to pay you? Then when paid not to receive a receipt? I'm not one to rip a place like this but was very displeased! and to Pay $5 to park and then be told they will take it off my(sub par) meal...Would prefer park for free or just give me my money back. This maybe a good place to get your drink on but as for food I'd say stick to the chips and salsa.. Hope the owners pay attention to these reviews. I wont be returning to risk another poor experience. Would rather take my chances with Fast Food! Good Luck!
(1)Mandy H.
I can't stand this place. The food is sub-par and the service is terrible. Great location, great patio, great space overall. But you can't fix stupid, and this place is just terrible. Even the staff thinks they can do better and don't last long. You will only find me here if someone I'm with wants to go. It's such a shame...this place could be fantastic...but it's just missing some.....soul, I guess.
(1)Barrett R.
I haven't been to this place in years, but I must add to the wretchedness of a place it is. The ONE time I ever went inside, it smelled of a locker room and hair activator. That place is FUNK! AND...the parking guys out back are rude.
(1)Colleen G.
Talk about prime location! At the intersection of Cooper & Young, Cafe Ole does some serious business. In my opinion, it's because they serve some mean margaritas and an addictive sangria. Chips and salsa are plentiful, which is helpful when you guzzle about a half gallon of the sangria. The food is so bad! Its super bland and very disappointing. The one saving grace on their food menu is the bacon-wrapped shrimp. They are the only thing I've really enjoyed eating here. I've tried a few different plates, and they are all underwhelming. I'm always so disappointed by the food...I've given up, and I just go there to drink now. Start your happy hour here, and move to one of the better restaurants for dinner. Enjoy the patio, too.
(2)Crystal C.
Went here after a color run this past weekend and had decent service. I was weary of going back to Cafe Ole to eat since the only thing that used to be decent there was their margaritas. However, this time I could tell that the new management has a better idea of what they are doing. I had the lobster tamales and they were divine. However, the rice was a little over cooked. Their salsa was almost too hot for me to eat and I love hot food. One of the members of our table couldn't eat it because of the heat level. We ordered some queso and it was really good and mixed some of it in the salsa to calm down the eat and we usually do that anyway because we like the mixture of the two together. The margaritas were still good and the others at the table ordered one of those huge things of beer and really enjoyed it since we didn't have to ask the waitress for one any time someone's beer started to get low.
(4)Meg K.
I've been here twice in the past week. Once for the drag show to show support or friends. Well, the show was decent but the service at the bar was AWFUL!! My boyfriend was buying drinks for everyone and I ordered 5 drinks and the bartender said he "DID NOT HAVE TIME TO MAKE THAT MANY DRINKS". Um... A) don't be a jerk B) am I paying??!? Yes. C) you work on tips do you think that is ANY way to treat someone who tips you??!? Let alone someone who has waitressed/bartended all through college and beyond who always tips well. Um... No. I don't think so. Oh and they weren't even that crowded. Oh and a side note. They don't care about the environment at all. Every weekend I see them pour piping hot fryer grease into the street and down the sewer. I've been trying to catch a picture of them doing it to report them. No luck yet.... But wow. Really??!?
(1)Nathan S.
I frequent this place often....solely for the alcohol. Cafe Ole's food sucks, plain and simple. Their margaritas and sangria are superb, which is the only reason I keep going back. The patio is a great atmosphere in a great location, but don't count on satisfying your appetite. Drink prices aren't terrible; Cafe Ole is good solely for numbing your brain after a hard day of work.
(2)Laura B.
sat on the patio for lunch, waited 20minutes and gave up. for a place that hires so many people, could they not get one to do their job? sorry but quality over quantity. and its summer! its patio time. so get out there
(1)Coach K.
The chips were greasy, the pizza was the same, I ordered a burrito which was okay. To say I was disappointed was an understatement having been here before but rest assured this will be the last time. Don't waste your time here!
(1)Steven J.
Service was good, but the food was nearly inedible. We had to send back a basket of tortillas because they were so tough and chewy. The replacement basket was not any better. The salsa was the highlight of the meal. The Yucatan Grouper was so overcooked it was more like chicken than fish. The vegetable side with the cheese and sour cream had a tangy flavor...not something you want with veggies or dairy. The kids' dishes were even sub par. The quesadilla was cold and dry. The beef taco was too spicy for a kid. The manager comped the grouper dish, but really nobody ate anything.
(1)Chris G.
The service is good. The location is excellent. The atmosphere is lively. The patio is great. HOWEVER, the fajitas are the worst I have eaten in my life. The measly amount of chicken is not seasoned well (if at all). The peppers and onions are way undercooked. The onions in any fajitas should be cooked until they are darkened and carmelized. These onions were half raw. I doubt that this was a one-time error because the same thing was served to me approximately 5 years ago when I had previously eaten there and it was in the same undercooked and wrongly seasoned state. My final verdict is that this is a drinking place, not a eating place.
(2)Kelly G.
I had a great time here Saturday PM, with the wait staff was excellent, kept my tea full , and Jessica made a recommendation of her favorites, so I was all in. I enjoyed the shrimp rolled in bacon appetizers, and the modified Burrito Mexicano... I nixed the BBQ sauce, and had them put on queso instead, oh yum cheese overload~! Hey it was so tasty I didn't even get so upset the SAINTS lost to SF~! ;) Bring a friend, and dare them to eat the whole shrimp ball in one bite :D
(5)Amanda C.
I frequent Cafe Ole quite a bit, but not because if their food. I went for the umpteenth time last weekend and decided to finally give them a review. Cafe Ole is one of those restaurants you go to with friends simply to drink margaritas and feast on salsa and chips. Yes, you get food normally, but you kind of expect it to be mediocre. I have yet to have anything on the menu that really "wowed" me. I do love the atmosphere at Cafe Ole, and the margaritas are fantastic, but the service is mediocre. The restaurant is a bit over priced in my opinion too. I have heard the bacon wrapped shrimp are awesome, and I WILL be trying those soon. If you go, I suggest you get a margarita and enjoy the atmosphere.
(2)Jed P.
Having established by common consensus certain inalienable standards of Mexican restaurants and having seen such standards grievously ignored by one Café Olé, it is resolved by this Yelper that these egregious substandard conditions be brought to light. 1. Whereas the salsa was watered down 2. Whereas the vegetables were both raw and cold 3. Whereas the taco was not even warmed and 4. Whereas the beans and rice were from bags It is resolved that no Memphian with any taste buds shall become patrons of Café Olé. Do not eat here.
(1)Misty R.
Lot's of people love Cafe Ole, I have to say I'm not a huge fan. I try to like it, I've been several times but I have not fallen in love with it. My favorite thing about a Mexican restaurant is the chips and salsa and theirs fall short. The chips are not light they are actually kind of heavy. They do have a big outdoor patio which I would go back to for a margarita to meet friends.
(2)Miaya G.
I went in there last night with a friend and sat outside. It took over ten minutes for someone to ask us for our drink order. Then it took over another ten minutes for her to come get our food order. We never got chips and salsa. The only time she stopped by to ask us something was to ask what we ordered- again! She never came to check up on us after that. After an hour of waiting we just got up and left- the final straw was when people who sat down after us got their food before us. She saw us walk out and didnt even ask why. Terrible service and I will never go back again.
(1)Jolynna M.
The best thing about Cafe Ole, sadly, isn't the food, but the location. They are on the southwest corner at the intersection of Cooper and Young, right in the middle of one of the coolest districts in town. And they have a happening patio. On nice afternoons and evenings in the warmer months, you'll find a happy crowd of locals gathered around with their margaritas and munchies. It's a fun spot and the bar inside is nice too. But that's about all the love I have for this place. And I wish it wasn't so, because I would come here more often if the food was just better. It's not bad, certainly not terrible, but it's just so-so.
(3)Kathryn M.
Service is hit or miss. Food is standard Mexican fare & a bit overpriced. What keeps me coming back? 1. Awesome patio with plenty of shade! 2. 3 words: Bacon. Wrapped. Shrimp 3. Great margaritas & good tequila selection. When I want margaritas on a patio, I come here. When I want great Mexican food, I usually go elsewhere.
(3)James F.
When I want to go for Mexican food, what I'm looking for is a good margarita and some tasty fare. I personally don't like what Cafe Ole has to offer. I'm not sure how to describe it, but I've never particularly enjoyed the margaritas here. I guess they are kind of strong, but I like a strong drink, so I never noticed that with the margaritas here. The strengths of this place, as people have said, are the location and the patio. If you just want to go someplace quick to have a couple drinks and have some chips and salsa, this is a decent place to go, especially in the summertime (if there's an open spot on the deck!). if you're looking for dinner or the like, i'd say young avenue deli is a better bet (i know, it's bar food, but it's some delicious barfood) - along with a number of finer dining restaurants in the area. I also have had some bad experiences with service here, but I come here so infrequently that I can't say I didn't just have a server on his/her bad day. As someone else said, every time I go here I wonder why and vow to not return for a long time. It's that damn location that gets ya.
(2)Pete T.
Not the best place. Nice bartender but not very good food. Server spilled their crappy salsa on my friend. Chips were old and tasteless. There are plenty of good places other than this place in the Cooper Young area.
(2)Robert F.
The best frozen top shelf margarita's in Memphis. I don't there for their food, just for drinks. Frida's is runner-up to Cafe Ole margarita's. They something special about their drinks there, that I can't find anywhere else.
(4)Chris L.
WTH? Are people just so drunk when they eat here that they think its good? It is always gross to me. And I love Mexican food. I am not a drinker so I only rate places based on the food so maybe the alcoholic beverages are the appeal. Certainly it is not the food.
(2)Beth S.
Good enough. But not great. A previous review said the best thing about this place is the location and I agree. I had Aztec Chicken, which was very good. As with most Mexican restaurants, the wine list is ... notsomuch but the Woodbridge Cab was darn good. I think you don't come here for the food, you come here to have Mexican food in Cooper-Young. And for that, it's awesome.
(3)Shannon L.
I have had a couple of bad experiences here, but I decided to give it another shot. Here's what I thought: 1.) The great thing about the cheese dip here is that you can either get white or yellow, and you have the choice of adding spinach or chorizo to either. 2.) Nachos are okay, but nothing special. 3.) Bacon-wrapped shrimp are possibly one of the best appetizers I have ever had. 4.) Fish tacos are not good. Do not get them.` 5.) Great beer selection, and the margaritas are really good. 6.) Service is hit or miss. 7.) Great patio
(3)Cullen J.
I don't understand all the negative reviews here. Sure it's not the best food out there, but it's very good. It's not authentic Mexican, but it's good Mexican-inspired food. I don't know what folks are comparing Cafe Ole against, but most Mexican restaurants in town are basically Mexican fast food. I like that Cafe Ole takes care to impart a bit of flavor into their food. Is it as good as I used to get in southern Arizona? No, but where are you going to find that around here?
(4)Ben B.
The margarita and the bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp is what earned Cafe Ole that 3rd star. The salsa is also really good with the chips being just like any other Mexican restaurant. But MAN I could have made a meal just on those bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp. However, the rest of the food was simply just "ok". I think I could have went to Taco Bell and got a quesadila as good as the one I ordered. I don't think I will be back to this place just to have a meal but it seems to be a great place for a big group to hang out to have some drinks and snack on some bacon wrapped shrimp.
(3)Carter C.
The atmosphere is great - probably one of the best patios in Memphis. I didn't realize they had this nice, tucked away patio until a friend exposed me to the location. My sangria and my friend's margarita were great, but the food was sub-par at best. I hate to say worst, but I think I did have the worst steak fajitas I've had in a long time. Very disappointing. Nonetheless I will go back for the drinks, the atmosphere, and the good service. Maybe fajitas just aren't their specialty.
(3)Natalie P.
Black bean soup is excellent! Cozumel enchiladas, vegetarian n not too spicy. Listening to Hall n Oats in the outdoor patio- nice
(3)Deen W.
I'm not surprised to see that Ole has less than stellar reviews. I was a hostess here back when I was 18-19. It was nasty then, and I don't expect that it's improved that much. There were fruit flies in the prep/kitchen area, and the washclothes that are used to wipe tables down are so gross. I would assume management has changed throughout the years, and I did see that they'd added on to the patio area. I'd rather go next door to the Deli, though. At least I've never worked there, so if it's nasty I don't have to think about it. There's something to that whole "ignorance is bliss" theory. On a positive note, though - how about those bacon wrapped stuffed shrump? I wish I could make those at home!
(2)N. P.
This cafe is tucked in the center of Midtown and looked like a decent place from the outside. I love Mexican food and I was psyched to try this restaurant when my family came to town. The interior is very simple, and left a little to be desired, but wasn't a big deal -- we were hoping for good food. Unfortunately the service was very slow, but the staff was pleasant. Our food was pretty good. Did I love it? No. Would I go back? If I had a night where I could take my time, I would give it another shot and I'd probably go for drinks.
(3)Alma E.
As a Southern Californian visiting Memphis for the first time, I tried to keep an open mind about this place. That all changed when we walked in and sat at a table in the bar and soaked in the surroundings. I couldn't get over how dirty the place felt, and the women's bathroom was downright disturbing! Maybe this acts as a Mexican style cantina for the locals, I wouldn't know and I kind of hope that's not the case. I can't speak for the food because I wasn't even tempted to eat a chip from the basket yet alone order from the menu. The two stars are for our nice server and the cheap sangria.
(2)Tiffany R.
Okay so I am officially a feign for Cafe Ole' now! Their bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed shrimp are OMG!.. Fabulous! As though the shrimp weren't enough...the jumbo frozen margarita's are the perfect topper to keep you sippin' during their karaoke and open mic nights! If you go when the weather is pretty the patio area is the perfect setting for date night, or just a good time out with the girls!
(4)Philip C.
We ate there this past Saturday. My girlfriend and I both got sick. I had a chimichanga that was terrible. I didn't even finish it. There were flies all over the place. The margaritas and chips/salsa were nice but honestly, how do you screw that up?
(1)Cal M.
Took my son there for dinner. We had the fajitas for two, chicken and shrimp and a side of white cheese dip. The dip was lumpy and bland..nothing like El Porton. Plate was piled high with onions and bell pepper...loads of shrimp and a very small portion of chicken. The shrimp tasted old and were either steamed or under cooked..chicken had some grill marks but tasted bland. The tortillas were awful..smelled like they were steamed in steamer that hadn't had the water changed in months. I will say the side items..sour cream, onions, tomatoes and guacamole seemed fresh. Margaritas were great ........Waiter was friendly and good. Oh..we did have a gift certificate..they automatically add a 20% tip to the ticket. So...u be the judge....I might stop in for a margarita, but I will pass on the food.
(1)Cristina H.
They have the best chimichangas I personally have found so far!!!!! they have margarita deals of course and really friendly waitress....the only complaint i had was my strawberry margarita had way to many strawberries so i got them to blend it alil bit more....other than that i will definitely be back!
(3)David C.
Probably the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had. Terrible everything: chips, salsa, guacamole, refried beans...dreadful fish tacos, horribly sweet and cheap tasting margaritas; the list goes on and on. I gather the only reason the place is busy is because of the good location. But don't be fooled by the crowds: it's positively AWFUL.
(1)T S.
Every time I go to Cafe Ole, I swear, I will never go again - and yesterday, I whined when my brother said, "Let's grab a margarita at Ole" "Wouldn't you rather grab a beer at the Deli?" No... no he didn't. So in we walked and stood and stood and stood while the hostesses, who looked 15, scrambled around trying to figure out which end was up. "Excuse me... can we just... go grab a table near the bar? We just want a margarita..." "Oh... you want a table?" the girl asked back - I guess not understanding that that's typically what you want when you walk into a restaurant. We were told that we could get a table near the bar, but since we weren't ordering food, that we might be asked to give our table up to other diners. Fine - the front room looked pretty packed... so yeah, we'd move if other people wanted to eat. But when we walked into the bar area, there were plenty of tables. And continuing further out onto the patio, there were even more - and with people sitting at them and *gasp* only drinking! We didn't get what the big deal was. We found a table outside and honestly, that's probably the only thing Cafe Ole has going for it. It's got an awesome patio. Ordered two margaritas and some queso and chips. The margaritas were STRONG - my brother's literally brought tears to his eyes when he took his first sip. I didn't finish mine - it was supposed to be frozen, but came out in this weird soupy state. The chips were stale and the queso was cold. A little bit before 7, we were told that they were doing 'last calls' for the bar and the kitchen. At 7???? On a Saturday night????? So we paid the check and left and I'm going to say it again, this time on yelp, I will NEVER go back again. I honestly don't see how this place stays in business.
(1)Liana K.
Dallas definitely has better Mexican restaurants, but this place is pretty good. Their chips are just ok, but their bean dip is amazing. I also love their Mexican pizza. It's pretty big, so you could probably split it if you aren't too hungry. I had their skinny margarita and it was just ok....get tired of it when you get about half way done. I would rather have vodka.
(4)Allyn B.
Mmmmm margaritas! The food is good here, the margaritas are even better :-)
(3)Elle S.
I'm taking a star away because again, its not amazing. But the food is good, just like any other Mexican place, I mean how can they go wrong... I assume most people love this place because its in mid-town, and it has a nice patio. The white cheese dip is good when they haven't burnt it :D
(4)Tracy M.
In a word, disappointing. We visited during the Thanksgiving break and having eaten here many times before when we lived in Memphis, the decline in food quality is disturbing. The ONLY thing decent were the bacon wrapped shrimp. Everything else, burritos, wings, quesadilla, fajita that our group ordered were NOT good. Daughter ordered ACP (arroz con pollo) without all the toppings. The chicken looked like barf. Not chunky, not even pulled, just completely broken down in some pale vaguely chili like sauce. She (rightfully) refused to even taste it. I did. Inedible. Chicken from the week before and rice from yesterday. Just awful. Service was good enough to get them up to 2 stars. Beer on the patio and skip the chips (they were stale too!).
(2)Tanya T.
Whether you're winding down from a long week at work or enjoying a lazy day out in the sun, there's no better place in midtown than Cafe Ole to go for yummy margaritas and sunny outdoor ambiance. One of the most popular patio restaurants in town, Cafe Ole offers a full service bar, signature meals like bacon wrapped shrimp, spinach and mushroom quesadillas, tacos al carbon, fajitas and more, as well plenty of opportunities to visit with friends in a fun and relaxed atmosphere as you dine on the patio. The food is not authentic Mexican cuisine, but it's definitely worth the visit, especially if you're into the social atmosphere. There's also a large indoor dining room and a great bar so take advantage of this area as you wait to be seated. Located in the trendy Cooper Young area, take some time to enjoy a little window shopping at some of midtown's most unique specialty shops as well. Have some fun as you sit back, relax and soak up the sun this summer at midtown's favorite Mexican restaurant.
(3)Megan C.
Really crappy overpriced fake Mexican food. I can go to my local Mexican restaurant and get a huge plate of homemade guacamole for the same price as their pathetic little two spoonful bowl. I liked my margarita, but a good margarita isn't worth it. Basically, I just need to restrict myself to authentic Mexican food and not eat at places like this.
(2)Scott S.
It's always hit or miss here, and more often than not it's miss. Service is almost always spotty and the food is nothing great. Margaritas aren't bad. The worst is that when I pay with a credit card, more times than not they change the tip amount by a few dollars when they run it through after I've left. If you go I'd recommend paying with cash.
(2)John G.
We walked in around 8PM, and the person at the front told us that they were closing and we should go down the street. But the bar was nearly packed, and people were still ordering food in the booths. We explained that we just wanted to grab a drink at the bar and then would move on, but she denied us. I thought it was pretty odd. We walked by an hour later and the bar was still mostly full. Well, screw them.
(1)Michael F.
Nice patio and strong margaritas. But relatively poor food, even within the genre of "party mex." Taco salad was kind of gooey, chimichangas only OK. There are other places to eat in Cooper-Young.
(2)Brian B.
I've eaten there three or four times and thought the food was kind of blah. Some of my vegetarian friends really think well of the restaurant.
(2)Todd S.
If you are a fan of waiting forever and a day for drinks & food, then this will be your favorite restaurant. Location is the only reason this place is still in business. The worst part about it is that the staff is fully aware of how slow they are and they just don't care. I will return to this restaurant, but only if someone else is paying.
(1)Sarah N.
my sis and i just ate there tonight. one word...horrible...on every level. the 15 year old sassy hostess that couldn't break away from her ipod long enough to greet us, coupled with the roach infested patio and the fact that we had to wait 17.46 minutes for our WATER was a serious buzzkill. the fact that the food was cold and miserable was reason enough to not ever go there again. the fact that it took FOREVER for everything that we ordered was double enough reason to NEVER go there again. the fact that the ritas were so WEAK that we had to order shots to add them to the drinks was triple the reason to never EVER EVER EVER go there again. AWFUL!!!!!!!!
(1)Ali B.
Horrible service! My friend and I visited on Thursday night. We sat ourselves in the bar since there was no one in trh front, no hostess, no one. Sat at a dirty table, waited 20 minutes for our drink order to be brought and taken. Then come to find out our waitress was outside smoking the whole time. Our food took even longer to get there. There was so much noise in the place and our waitress even complained about the noisy tables to us. Finally after enjoying nothing about the experience our bill comes and there is a $7 tip added. Excuse me? there were two of us? not a party of 6 or more. The waitress never evens comes back for us to pay it. We had to flag down another waiter who gave us attitude. Then waiting for change took forever. finally my friend asked to speak to the manager who, guess what, was smoking girl from outside who couldn't care less. I live in the neighborhood and I will NEVER go there again.
(1)Zipporah BelongstoGod M.
The food would have been good if not for the flies!!!! I watched in horror as a fly died while I waited for the server to come and wipe my table off. As I looked to my right there was a whole table of flies!!! They danced and played throughout my entire meal. I had to send my drink back once a fly landed in it. I had to fight away flies my entire meal which ultimately made me lose my appetite. This was not a pleasant eating experience and I will not return!!!'
(1)Lauren D.
The best thing about this place was our server Tommie. She was very accommodating to us and asked the kitchen about everything to make sure it was vegan. Other than that, the place was okay. The salsa was good but I didn't care for the chips. Some of them tasted burnt. There was nothing vegan on the new menu, but our server had the kitchen make us veggie fajitas. They were pretty good, but nothing to write home about. The patio was cool, but I wouldn't recommend this place.
(2)Gen M.
This place is right next to a few other seemingly Memphis staples, so I was thinking it would be a lot better than it was. Maybe growing up in Miami and spending a few years in Denver spoiled me when it comes to basically any latin/south american cuisine? The salsa was good. Not too spicy, great lime kick. I decided to order the build-your-own quesadilla, thinking how impossible it would be for anything to go wrong. Asked the waitress what the "chihuahua" cheese was, since I've never heard of it. She said it was really sharp and tangy, sharper than cheddar. Awesome. I went with it BIG MISTAKE. I still don't know what "chihuahua" cheese is, but what it tastes like is processed american cheese, but mushier. Which, when you're expecting mexican food, is so not what you want in your mouth. Also, the pork was totally bland and didn't have that fantastic falling apart quality that I'm used to braised pork having. And I'm not sure if the cheese absorbed the tomatoes, avocado, and grilled onions I also requested or what, but I couldn't find any in the quesadilla. The waitress was nice. Patio was great. Other people's food, especially the fajitas and something that looked like shrimp wrapped in bacon, looked awesome. Great place to shoot the shit with some friends for a few hours. Will give it another try, just not any time soon.
(2)Tony F.
Very nice change at this place. Much more open layout. Staff is very nice. Food is tasty. But, it's very limited on choices for food and there is no lunch menu.
(4)Carlos B.
The remodel really opened up the place. The bar looks so clean & brand new. Good chips thicker than most. Salsa tastes fresh and has just the right kick. Bartender is very friendly seems like somebody you would like to hang out with & watch the game. I was very impressed with the menu It is not the standard taco meat 16 ways menu. I had the Mexican pizza. I thought it was a little pricey at $12. It was good and there is a lot of it, but $10 would seem like a fair price. My future fiance had the grilled shrimp taco. I thought it was wonderful, some of the best shrimp I have ever had. She has spent time in Houston so she wasn't impressed with the shrimp. I look forward to visiting this restaurant again
(4)Ramona P.
If you want good magaritas, this is the place to come to. Usually, after one small magarita I'm tipsy. This place is great for groups or even some alone chill time. I love the patio....some good "people watching" could be done from here. The bacon wrapped shrimp is delicious...be aware kind of spicy. The salsa is too spicy to enjoy.....it's good, but just extremely caliente! The Mexican corn is really good as well. I like spending summer nights at this place. Great vibe, good food, and awesome drinks!
(4)Andy S.
I like customizing my quesadillas. However, they aren't the best ever. Their chips are awesome. The salsa is spicy. House margarita is weak. I added two shots of tequila to mine. Patio is awesome. Service is good.
(3)Camille W.
I'm sorry but our waiter can't handle groups very well we all order drinks and it took 20 mins to get the drinks water and chips and salsa .....
(2)Tiffany B.
They have really upgraded the place real nice. The waitresses was real friendly and helpful. I enjoyed the food and drinks. Food was seasoned real good.
(5)Stephanie C.
This is definitely by far one of my favorite spots for weekend brunch! So far I've tried the chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, breakfast tacos, and the sopapilla pancakes (not all in one visit, but tempting). EVERYTHING has been fantastic. Also, I'm not sure what it is about their scrambled eggs, but they are the best. Another thing I love about their weekend brunch - they open at 9 AM! So that means I can get my mimosa fix earlier than the standard 11 AM brunch at most places. Mimosas and bloody marys are just $2.50 during brunch, so you can get your hangover cure here without breaking the bank. They also have Mexican coffee (which is dangerously delicious, but be careful because it has tequila in it) and a super tasty mimosarita, which is exactly what it sounds like, a bubbly margarita. Try it! Cafe Ole isn't really a happy hour or dinner spot for me, mostly because I'm not a midtowner, so if I'm in the area it's usually on a weekend day. I've been for lunch and dinner a few times and really enjoyed my meal.
(4)Joelle P.
New owners, new renovations, new Cafe Ole (thank heavens)! I mean, they have a mimosa bong, y'all. And their bar with a giant TV is pretty sweet. I'm excited Cooper-Young has a new option because it has stayed pretty stagnant over the past few years. I mean, the restaurants there are oldies but goodies...just no new flow (minus the revolving door across the street) and I like trying new things! Anyways, I went here for brunch on Sunday (they open at 9 am!!) and was in heaven with their breakfast tacos, pancakes and bacon...yeah, I'm a fattie...err, foodie. And for you alcohol lovers they have a full bar and a very nice bartender. Plus they are open until 3 am some nights...I looooove me some late night. Seriously, y'all, give it another chance if you haven't been in a year or two. The renovations and complete rehaul have been major.
(5)Rip W.
Being from this area I've been going to Cafe Ole' for quite a while. Due to new owners / management, It has gone through some changes the last couple of years. A redo of the inside, patio, menu & pricing. Like most change it took a while to accept but I think they have worked the bugs out and I'm ok with it. The best part for me is the bacon wrapped shrimp and they kept them on the menu yea! These babies are one of the best kept secrets in town! They take a shrimp, pack a golf ball size of spice cheese around it, wrap it in bacon and deep fry it! How can you go wrong? Well except for biting into one before it has cooled down you can't! They are awesome! The service has been spot on and they stopped charging for chips & salsa another big step forward. All in all I think the management has listened to the patrons and made the right moves! 5 stars!
(5)Chelsea P.
I always want to eat at Cafe Ole. They have the best patio on nice days, an open bar window to patio weather permitting, and obviously great food. I love meeting friends and getting the giant mimosa bong- it rocks. I usually order the cheese dip and build my own quesadilla, because those are on POINT. 10/10 recommend this place!
(5)Chelsea H.
BEST tortilla chips (fresh & made in house ) & best salsa in Memphis! Margarita bongs ($35) and a classic Midtown patio!
(4)Mary Kate M.
Thank goodness for new management and owners -- what it used to be and what it is now are two completely polar opposite things. They definitely gave Cafe Ole a facelift, and well, they did a damn good job if you ask me. I stopped in here for a couple of margaritas which were pretty solid and quality. I chowed on some chips and managed to run into a couple of old friends who were there with their kick ball league team drinking $28 100 oz beers. That my friends, is a frat boy's dream. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves quite a bit for a sleepy Thursday night in Cooper-Young. OK, maybe not that sleepy, but CY wasn't hopping. My friends said they really enjoyed the steak fajitos they got and my other friend got some fish tacos. Fish tacos to me are questionable in itself, but he didn't have a problem scarfing them things down. I called him 2 days later to make sure he was still alive -- he is well with no troubles. Cafe Ole, please stay alive and keep thriving and chive on!
(4)Veronica L.
Looking for a different take on typical Mexican fare, my husband and I headed out to Cafe Ole on Saturday night. I was worried it might be packed, but I was thankful when we got there and the place was half-full at best. Maybe I should have taken that as a sign. We were seated at a booth right by the door, giving us the treat of having a cold gust of air blasted at us every time someone stepped out. I'm unsure why anyone would have been seated there when the place was so empty, but I used my coat as a blanket and soldiered on, as we had already ordered drinks. I was told repeatedly by the (very kind and attentive) waitress that the Mexican Cosmo was small, but just as strong as their 24-oz. margarita, so I went for it. The chips, salsa, and queso showed up. The chips were thin and crunchy (in my opinion, a good thing), the salsa was flavorful, but the cheese could have used a few more spices, as it was rather bland. My cosmo was good, but didn't seem strong. I was hungry and expected a slight buzz with no food in my stomach, but it never came. The waitress told us the special: rabbit enchiladas, and she felt the need to warn us that it wasn't gamey at all. Kris ordered it and was super excited that it was only 8.99. I went with the duck empanada appetizer. We were both in the mood for something non-standard, I guess. I wish I could say that we were impressed...but the meal fell way flat. The rabbit was not only not "gamey", but lacked in any flavor. It was bland (I'm talking shredded chicken cooked in water bland) and he found tons of tiny rabbit bones among the 3 enchiladas. And they were really small. That may have been ok if the meal came with any sides, but a small portion of red cabbage was all to be found. My duck empanadas didn't fare any better: the duck didn't have much seasoning and the most noticable flavor was the flour of the pastry. I never tasted the ghost pepper BBQ sauce that was supposedly present. I ate two of the four and my husband ate the rest, still hungry from his small portion. I scarfed down more chips and cheese to try to fill up. To top it all off, about halfway through our meal, the (surprise to us) musical act began. He played covers of country tunes (not my thing at all) directly behind my head. (Seriously, he was RIGHT behind me. Why were we seated there?!) He had a table full of family and friends next to us, screaming requests and making inside jokes with him chiming in on the mic. If the meal had been great, I could have overlooked it, but it only added to my grumpiness. I guess the decor was nice. The waitress was attentive. The drink wasn't too bad, or expensive. That's about all I've got. Oh, and the duck reminded me again of my experience at about 6 am when I woke up with a horrible stomach ache. Ugh.
(2)Amanda E.
I used to hate this place but yay to the new owners. The menu is limited but covers the basics. I got the lobster tacos, which came with one side and the bf got the quesadilla. One thing unique about the quesadillas here is all the stuffing options. I enjoyed my tacos but they're not my favorite in town. The queso and salsa are good just not to my personal taste, I'm not a fan of some of the spices used in tex-mex vs California style Mexican food. What would interest me in a return visit is the patio, very nice and easily one of the best in memphis. On Thursday night they had live music which was very nice. Excellent ambience for dinner with friends or a casual date. Price point is reasonable, a little higher than your average Mexican place but this is one of the more affordable places in the neighborhood.
(4)Samantha B.
I came here tonight with a large party as part of my friend's surprise engagement. Her fiance set it all up so after he popped the question they'd walk into the restaurant they'd had their first date at and see everyone. I missed seeing her walk in (I went to the wrong restaurant!) but luckily I figured it out. There were about 29 of us there and our party got to use the outside dining area exclusively. The fiance showed the engagement video on the wall of the place for us all to see and the atmosphere was in general jovial. After he played his video, they started playing music for us outside. The food itself... was ok. The salsa was excellent, as were the chips. The queso was ok, but my husband loved it. The carnitas were not what I expected. I'm far too used to actual carnitas so when they brought me basically pulled pork, aka barbecue, I was disappointed. The side that came with it, the papas con chorizo, was excellent and made with fresh vegetables (a big plus!). My husband's sopapilla was also great. The shrimp wrapped in bacon was ok, but there was so much cheese I couldn't taste the shrimp. It was a lovely night but it's just not my type of food so I doubt I'll be returning... except when friends have parties here. Which happened again! Once more I wasn't impressed though. The food is just tasteless to me. Maybe I overloaded my quesadilla with too many vegetables but it just didn't have much flavor to it. Loved: - Papas con Chorizo - Salsa and Chips - Sopapilla - Queso Fresco (a type of cheese to put in quesadillas) Ok: - Shrimp wrapped in Bacon (check name!) - Quesadilla (build your own) Grilled Chicken, chihuahua cheese, corn, tomato, avocado, jalapeno, green onions, charro beans, red & green bell peppers - Queso (hubby liked) Disliked: - Carnitas
(2)Teddy C.
I live in the neighborhood, and I would love for this place to be good, but I seriously don't know how they stay open. The food is mediocre at best. Service is slow and inattentive, and their prices are high. The only redeeming quality of this restaurant is its location!
(1)JeAnna R.
Good tex-mex. Relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. We had ala carte tacos on "taco tuesday" and they were every bit worth it!
(4)Patrick T.
WOW, this place had kinda the worst service I have ever seen! Our server was pretty chill but man he was not to quick on ever getting back to us to see if we wanted more drinks or needed something! But he was quite good at playing drums on the door, and sitting in a booth looking bored! On the Upside the Guac was pretty amazing and the out door patio rules!
(3)Shaun B.
My brother, sister in law, their two 3-year old daughters, my gf, and I decided to go out to eat together, since it had been a while since we've seen each other. We were initially going to go to Young Avenue Deli next door, but forgot the college crowd was going to be there (Thursday night) so we opted to try Café Ole. We sat on the patio by a tree towards the back so the kids wouldn't go stir crazy from being seated for hours (we weren't around anyone so they could walk around a little bit). The musician they had playing outside was exceptionally talented and definitely enhanced the experience. For an appetizer we had the queso dip which was fairly good (not quite as thick in texture as I would like, but I digress). The chips and salsa were definitely good here. For my dinner, I had a steak quesadilla with onions and avocado. I like how you can add as many vegetables as you would like for free, but wish they'd chop the vegetables up more (some bites I had were straight-up onion or straight-up avocado. The quesadilla wasn't bad but I wish it had more cheese and meat with the veggies blended in. The price point also seemed a bit high, but this seems to be norm in the Mid-Town area. Overall the ambiance was great and the food was satisfactory but not necessarily excellent. If you're looking for a casual place to enjoy a nice night of music and good conversation with loved ones, this is a solid spot. If you're looking for top-notch Mexican food, I'd probably recommend other places over here. Either way, it was a fun evening and wouldn't object if the group wanted to come here again.
(3)Neek C.
So...yea. Uh...this place has changed. I don't know if it was for the best or worst. I like the new interior and the patio. However, the food choices are limited. This has to be the smallest menu I have ever seen at a Mexican restaurant. The Mexican pizza was good. Drinks are good. Don't like the menu changes but interior design and patio can stay.
(3)Zachary P.
This place is not impressive even with the new renovations. I mean don't get me wrong, I love what they have done with the place but it is not enough for me to come back.... Ever.... The service was great! The food was not good. Some of the saltiest chips I've ever had. So salty that it had a kick to it. I don't even know how to explain it but it just wasn't good. I ordered the chimichanga or whatever the call it. Those were actually good. They were paired with some really bad rice, which looked like white rice with a yellow tint and some garbage I mean cabbage type stuff. DONT GO!
(2)Mary H.
Shrimp tacoes are delicious. Very nice place to watch a basketball game on a Tuesday nite. The bartender is very accommodating. I like congenial service with a smile.
(3)Joel H.
Food sucks... No flavor to ANYTHING. Only come here if you want to get drunk and see girls flashing their boobs on friday and saturday nights. Cause the food tastes like doo doo
(1)Amanda M.
I was so excited to see the renovation of Cafe Ole - it looks great inside, and I'd heard they had a great new menu. We ordered take out and got two kinds of fish tacos, crab cakes and some kind of cheesy-vegetable thing. I was supremely disappointed. The $12 crab cakes were 3 super tiny, tuna-tasting, semi-burnt lil discs. The fish tacos were good though. The major issue was that as we were unloading the food, the last box we opened was left over food that someone had obviously been eating beforehand - the fork they had been using was still in it (the picture I'm posting is *exactly* how it was found...) We returned it, and the manager was mortified and gave us a post-it note with his name on it promising us "one free item." While I really wanted to love it and have a great place in the neighborhood to hang out, this was a very bad first new impression. I'm giving it two stars because the servers and manager were really nice about the situation, and the fish tacos were not bad, but I can't say I'll be back.
(2)Raymond B.
Cafe Ole has been redecorated and revamped. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting out on the patio, having a few Pacificos on draft, and chowing down on fish tacos. That's exactly what I want out of a Mexican restaurant. I did go here once in the past, and it wasn't great (think: 2 stars)... and this was certainly an improvement. I don't normally write a review after just one experience... but I'm doing so now. Judging by what others are saying about the new management... I've got to give it a try one more time and see how the pass/fail criteria fall out once again.
(4)Caroline V.
I just realized I'm the duchess of this place. I swear it's only because it's close to work, and my boss likes to go there. As the 3-star review indicates, it's "a-ok." Or maybe take the "a" off and just make it ok. The bad: The margaritas seem kind of weak and heavy on mix. Even on "top shelf Tuesday," they are neon green which is always a red flag for me on too much mix/not enough liquor. Prices seem a bit high for what you get, which is pretty standard Tex Mex. $10.99 for a quesadilla, no sides? $9.99 for 2 veggie tacos, dry corn on the side. The sides are largely vegetarian-unfriendly and/or unremarkable. (I'll never understand why places in Memphis take what could be a solid vegetarian option and then cook it in meat juice or with meat bits in it). The beans are cooked with meat, the rice is cooked with chicken stock, and the corn pales in comparison to what you can get at an Overton Square competitor. The ok: new ownership has refreshed the menu and may be refreshing the interior as well. Service is generally friendly if a bit slow at times. AND props to this business for educating its waitstaff about the meaty additions to its dishes so I don't wind up "accidentally" eating chicken juice because of misinformation. I like the veggie tacos with sautéed squash. The queso is almost always a winner. Great patio set off from the street. I know I'll go back here, but it won't be a first choice. I am excited to see Cafe Ole evolve and regain its decade-old status as a great place to hang out in CoYo.
(3)Shu J.
Updating my review because I feel my old review no longer applies. Due to what happened last time, I wasn't about to ever visit this place again -- however, I wanted my $5 for parking back (apparently they own the entire back parking lot), which you can do by getting it subtracted off of your tab. Plus my friends wanted to try out this place.. It looks like Cafe Ole has undergone renovations and had a complete change in staff. We sat at the bar, and were taken care of right away. I tried the Sangria, while my friends had wine and cocktails. Everyone enjoyed their drinks, and service was attentive. The live band played some nice covers of 90s songs which was a good touch. I did not try any of the food. Overall, it looks like it has become a decent late night place in the CY neighborhood.
(3)Christina N.
Good potential, but sadly disappointing. Visited last night and enjoyed the atmosphere. The place has a great outdoor patio and a young edgy sort of staff. Sadly the excitement ended there. The service was slow at best, leaving us waiting for extended periods or needing to get our own plates/utensils. The food was bland as well. We had quesadillas and the margarita chicken. Both seemed to have potential which was drowning in oil. So really all the flavors blended and left me with a stomach ache. I might come back for happy hour (2 for 1 margaritas!) but not likely to make a point to visit again.
(2)LaShonda H.
I only had a margarita but it was pretty good!
(4)Dana J.
Great food, great atmosphere, great employees. Everyone very friendly and food came out fast
(5)Candace B.
I give this place 3 stars based on the upgrades to the place. The renovations are great and the place is a lot cleaner. I would not be going back to this place if it was not for new management. We have just been in for drinks and some chips and salsa so far but I may give the food a try in the future. I can say the chips are great and taste fresh but i have had a lot better on the salsa. But, if you are in the mood for a quick snack and drink or something late night this would be a good stop. The strawberry frozen margarita is great and they do have a lot of beer specials. They do have the large projections screen so it would be a good stop to watch a game with football starting up.
(3)Shawn S.
Bummer City. Visited this joint on a whim with two friends and were all truly disappointed. We ordered the 100 oz. Margarita Bong to share. It was filled 90% with ice and the rest was merely sugar water. Judging by the poor quality margarita and the watered down salsa - we opted out on ordering food. Our server, however, was fine and informed us that 20 oz. of tequila was used and the rest was Ice, Orange Juice, and Margarita Mix. lol. In closing, don't order the Margarita Bong if you're trying to get turnt.
(1)Reginald W.
I went to this establishment last night it was supposed to be under new management. When I walked in the door the waiters are sloppily dressed. The first waiter didn't know if it was happy hour. The waiter went away to ask and never came back. We got a new waiter . I ordered a Mexican beef pizza, but a third waiter brought me a chicken pizza. My waiter never came back to the table so I had to grab a fourth waiter to find the waiter who took my order. The waiter accepted it was her fault, picked up the pizza and returned two minutes later with something that looked like a sloppy Joe on a tortilla chip surrounded in a puddle of grease. At this point I decided to cut my loses and ask for my check. After waiting an additional 30 min I flag down a fifth waiter and asked for my check. Waiter number two who took the order comes back an agrees to get our check. After 30 min more she finally comes back with the wrong check. I should have just paid walked out but I pointed out the error and requested the correct check. The waitress says" oh f@##!" Takes my credit card and runs off. She is trying figure out how to correct the check for 15 min so I suggest can you give me back my card and I'll go to the ATM and get cash. She starts screaming at the top of her lungs sarcastically "I'm sorry for your wait, I'm sorry for your wait!" This is when I get a sixth waiter to get a manager. The manager comes and doesn't apologize but makes an excuse that we are still trying to figure things out for the reopenings. He brings me a new check and I pay and leave. I spent 2 hrs there didn't eat and was out $30.
(1)Amanda H.
Half off margaritas on Mondays! Love their chips and queso.
(5)Ashley H.
If you haven't been to Cafe Ole' recently you need to stop by. The place looks awesome and modern, unlike the old Ole'. The staff were quick and friendly. The food came out fast and fresh. We got the spicy guacamole, make your own quesadilla, and the steak fajitas. We were overly impressed. The half price margaritas on Monday didn't hurt either. We dropped in to watch the World Cup game and they had it on all TVs with sound.
(4)Candy Y.
Service was fine, and the atmosphere was what you would expect for a Mexican joint in Midtown, but the drinks were weak. We ordered a margarita and I was like "Where's the tequila?" The chips & salsa were so-so. Nothing on the menu food wise impressed me. From what my friends say that used to go here regularly tell me it's really not what it used to be. Sad.
(2)Milton S.
Today being Monday on a visit to Memphis I forgot my favorite barbeque joint, Payne's was closed. Since I recently had reason to recall Cafe Ole's bacon wrapped shrimp, we swung over to the Cooper-Young neighborhood to see how the restaurant was faring these days. Wonderful timing as Monday is Half-Price Margarita Day. A battery of commercial margarita machines turn out a fantastic margarita, wonderful frozen slush consistency, and generous 16 oz serving in a frosted mason jar. One of the best margaritas I've had in at least a week. The bacon wrapped shrimp were still as memorable as ever. Good sized shrimp, stuffed with ample cheese and jalapenos, breaded, wrapped in bacon and fried. The chipotle dipping sauce is the perfect finishing touch. Have been enjoying this dish in this restaurant at least 30 years. The restaurant has gone thru a major remodel since the last time I was there. Much roomier, lighter, open and inviting.
(5)