The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

ambiance	76.25% positive	“lousy food, inconsistent at best, remote location” “Wonderful tortillas and great atmosphere.” “Having eaten at the original Ninfa's on Navigation once a week for the last ten years, I feel somewhat qualified to unreservedly recommend this location as the best Mexican restaurant in town.” “There is a better family run mexican restaurant across the street that seems to use much more fresh ingredients, but the atmosphere is more family oriented and not as "fun" if you're out with a young group.”
drinks	0.0% positive	“The prices are skyhigh, the tables are crowded together, the lighting so dim I had to ask for matches to read the menu, drinks TERRIBLY expensive” “The food when I finally got it was cold portions are much smaller than they ever were and my drink was watered down.”
food quality	83.03999900817871% positive	“Good restaurant - maintains authenticity the food is consistently good but a bit pricey.” “My family went out for a nice meal and ended up with probably the worst restaurant experience ever.” “The food is fantastic for those of you that enjoy the ultimate "Tex-Mex” “Fresh, tasty with great service by servers with over 20 yrs service.” “Great tacos, a really good seafood enchilada, the best Caesar salad I have ever had, and a carne steak that melted in your mouth.” “My meal is always great and the margaritas top it off.” “Personally, I think it's hard to find "bad" mexican food in Houston.” “This might be THE best Mexican food I've ever tasted in my life.” “For GREAT mexican food you cant beat it!” “The service was great, the food came out fast, it was piping hot, and tasted exquisite.” “and the sceanery is great nothing fancy this restraunt is as authentic as is food!” “Great food for a weekend afternoon!” “They have great tacos and enchiladas, but the cool things were bacon wrapped quail, redfish with a great green sauce (think it was tomatillos), crabcakes, and my dad even had a lamb shank with mole sauce.” “As a hispanic with Mexican heritage raised in Texas, there couldn't be better, more authentic Tex-Mex than Ninfa's on Navigation!” “Maybe "back in the day" this was a nice place with good food but let's face it - today, Ninfa's on Navigation is old, over-priced, and with nothing special going for it other than it was the original restaurant of a now unsuccessful chain of mexicanameric” “great place to get margs and good food” “The Ninfa's chain has failed because the food quality doesn't match the (high) price.” “There is a better family run mexican restaurant across the street that seems to use much more fresh ingredients, but the atmosphere is more family oriented and not as "fun" if you're out with a young group.” “This is absoultely the best mexican food outside of Mexico City.” “the food was great and the service was quick.” “Very unique, authentic flavors.” “Love the food and the environment, but the prices are inflated when you consider there are so many great Mexican Food places in Houston.” “The food is great and it is reflected in their prices.” “Tex-Mex is my fave food tho.” “good food, good margaritas” “Wow - wonderful food, powerful margaritas” “The food when I finally got it was cold portions are much smaller than they ever were and my drink was watered down.” “Aside from my abuela's cooking, this is my favorite place in Houston for Mexican food.” “This place provides great food and adequate service.” “Tender, delicious, with no fat, cartilege, or tendon.” “the food is great and service is just as good.” “lousy food, inconsistent at best, remote location” “The food isn't nearly as good as it used to be and the service is worse.” “most of them have more authentic food, and WAY better prices.” “the food was good.” “I'm a hard judge when it comes to Tex-Mex and Ninfa's in hands down the best place I've ever been to for Mexican food.” “We had a chicken mole special, some great tamales and a large grilled platter with bacon wrapped shrimp, quail, ribs, fajitas and sausage.” “Great food!” “The food is great (queso flamiado and flan) and the setting is what makes it a real adventure.” “The menu provides great variety--tacos a la ninfa, enchiladas, combination plates, appetizers, and grilled items.”
menu variety	50.0% positive	“The menu provides great variety--tacos a la ninfa, enchiladas, combination plates, appetizers, and grilled items.” “The prices are skyhigh, the tables are crowded together, the lighting so dim I had to ask for matches to read the menu, drinks TERRIBLY expensive”
overall	78.5699987411499% positive	“I'm a hard judge when it comes to Tex-Mex and Ninfa's in hands down the best place I've ever been to for Mexican food.” “guess the customer is paying for the outdoor addition, which is not a great place to sit with the flys and stray dogs.” “My family went out for a nice meal and ended up with probably the worst restaurant experience ever.” “Oh my god,,, I can't believe how great this restaurant is, and how different from the other Tex Mex places in town.” “Maybe "back in the day" this was a nice place with good food but let's face it - today, Ninfa's on Navigation is old, over-priced, and with nothing special going for it other than it was the original restaurant of a now unsuccessful chain of mexicanameric” “great place to get margs and good food” “Having eaten at the original Ninfa's on Navigation once a week for the last ten years, I feel somewhat qualified to unreservedly recommend this location as the best Mexican restaurant in town.”
service	75.0% positive	“This place provides great food and adequate service.” “The wait staff is HORRIBLE; slow, poor, inattentive, and arrogant.” “And a terrible waitress!” “Ninfas on navigation rd. is the real deal and if you dont know spanish its alright the wait staff is "user friendly” “Our waiter was rude, never even looked at us!” “Not only is she a great waitress, but she can give you the history of the resteraunt and she has a dynamite voice.” “It was a pleasure speaking with you Kady and keep up the fantastic customer service.” “Fresh, tasty with great service by servers with over 20 yrs service.” “For a real value, great prices, service and the BEST margarita's - checkout Cinco de Mayo in Conroe.” “the food was great and the service was quick.” “The service is great and it's close to downtown.” “The food isn't nearly as good as it used to be and the service is worse.” “the food is great and service is just as good.” “Add waiters who have been there for decades and you've got the best spot in town.” “The service was great, the food came out fast, it was piping hot, and tasted exquisite.” “The Ninfaritas never disappoint and the service is wonderful.”
value	56.66999816894531% positive	“The food is great and it is reflected in their prices.” “The food when I finally got it was cold portions are much smaller than they ever were and my drink was watered down.” “most of them have more authentic food, and WAY better prices.” “For a real value, great prices, service and the BEST margarita's - checkout Cinco de Mayo in Conroe.” “This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had, at any price.” “Good restaurant - maintains authenticity the food is consistently good but a bit pricey.” “The prices are skyhigh, the tables are crowded together, the lighting so dim I had to ask for matches to read the menu, drinks TERRIBLY expensive” “The prices would be expensive even if it were a fancy place in the 'burbs!” “Love the food and the environment, but the prices are inflated when you consider there are so many great Mexican Food places in Houston.” “The Ninfa's chain has failed because the food quality doesn't match the (high) price.”
wait time	33.3299994468689% positive	“the food was great and the service was quick.” “Service was very slow the last time we were there.” “The wait staff is HORRIBLE; slow, poor, inattentive, and arrogant.”

09/26/11

Beware of the Seafood

Took friends to Ninfas for dinner and was very disappointed. Ordered the seafood ceviche as an appetizer and beef taco carbon as an entree. I noticed that the seafood ceviche tasted a liitle strange, but I assumed it was just the marinade. I had eaten the tacos carbon before with no issue. Little did I know that I would be in for the worst night ever. I had stomach pains at night and all the next day. My husband had the appetizer as well and had some stomach issues. This was one dinner that I regret. Avoid the seafood and you should be fine.

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04/14/11

Houston's Worst Mexican Restaurant

by danztillucry

Drove a long way to eat at the original ninfa's mexican restaurant on navigation street only to get the very worst service...not the first time it happens but since I had guest's from out of town that had heard of this FINE DINING MEXICAN RESTUARANT I chose to give them another chance to hopefully impress me. I once again had the same lady take our order and once again was overcharged by $30. Got home tonight and when I looked at the bill I noticed I had been overcharged yet again. It would have been fine if the Beef Fajitas were good ..but they were not. The Beef Fajitas were dry and overcooked and extremely hard to chew, it felt like chewing on plastic! The Tortillas De Harina were not even cooked...one side only and the other side was not...you could still see the lard and flour thru the middle of them. I was so embaressed with my Out of Town guests that are Professionals at eating at a Fine Mexican Restaurant since they live in San Antonio and own a very prestigious Fine Mexican Restaurant. It's a shame that Ninfa's is not the old Ninfa's that once had good food or for that matter even good service. If you do decide to go even after reading this honest review make sure you drink several margaritas so you won't notice the overcharge on the bill and the bad food and service. Good Luck, you will need it!

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03/12/11

Not Like It Use To Be

by Crooky

Poor Mama Ninfa is probably turning over in her grave.

When her empire collapsed, she could often be found back where at all started on Navigation.

Even with a bum leg, she would still do the meet and greet stuff...it made you feel special, the food mybe because of her larger than life persona made the food glo as well.

This corp version with a just good enough taste isn't worth the trouble of getting there.

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02/05/11

Love this place!

by looloo83

such great food and atmosphere!

all the reviews say it's not what it used to be, but to me its still wonderful!

highly recommended!

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01/02/11

Catering to a different palate...

by El Pinolero

In a nutshell, the "original" Ninfas of years past is LONG GONE. Over our last few visits (breakfast and dinner) the quality of the food and service leave MUCH to be desired, especially when "authentic" mexican or tex-mex is always around the corner. Let's say that: the salsa has lost its kick, the staff is spotty in its service (to say the least), mexican hot chocolate has been replaced with cappuccino, and they'll happily bring out substitutes when ingredients run out the door. Surprisingly, 'gringos' and others love to frequent it. Are they not tex-mex connoisseurs? or are they led there by a somewhat lively atmosphere? or did they come in from the Woodlands for a game and got caught in downtown?

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Meredith Deliso

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Editor's Tips

09/26/11

Beware of the Seafood

by foodie anonymous

04/14/11

Houston's Worst Mexican Restaurant

by danztillucry

03/12/11

Not Like It Use To Be

by Crooky

02/05/11

Love this place!

by looloo83

01/02/11

Catering to a different palate...

by El Pinolero

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