Spanish Village

Doesn't Recommend

swyzlstyx

Joined 5 years ago

Save your money and go to Taco Cabana..... My girlfriend and I stopped in, thinking it would be a great place to have a couple of Margaritas and some appetizers. After all, this place is a major dive...the kinda place you'd expect to do this. However...

In order to avoid the dreaded "split plate" charge, and the fact you're not allowed to have a margarita unless you purchase an entree, we ended up ordering 2 plates...way more food than we wanted...and more money than we wanted to spend.

Food wasn't terrible, and not as expensive as the high-end Tex-Mex places, but the food wasn't really worth the prices they were charging. You'll get similar food at Taco Cabana...and MUCH better prices.

Then there's the alcohol thing. Margaritas sucked, and cost $6.50 EACH!!! We both had one...thinking they MUST be awesome! Wrong. And since the Margarita's were done by the time the food came (which arrived pretty quick), we ordered a beer...$4.50 for 12 ounce cans of Bud and Lite.

Funny menu notes:

Pitcher of Margaritas: $65

Appetizer: Shredded Cheese: $3.00

lol

Waitress wasn't bad, until we sat there like idiots waiting FORVER after she gave me the check, and I stuck my credit card in the little holder so she'd see it. Finally we realized you're supposed to pay at the counter by the front door. She could have mentioned that to us. lol

The Taco Cabana reference might sound silly, but I can't think of a better way to make my point. Taco Cabana is a "fast food" place, but the food is better than Spanish Village, their Margaritas are better than Spanish Village, Rita's and beer are WAY cheaper than Spanish Village, Taco Cabana is nicer, there's no issues with service at Taco Cabana, salsa is way better than Spanish Village's...and you actually have a big selection of them at Taco Cabana, you can order any darn thing you want at Taco Cabana, and we would have saved about $35 if we had ordered the same items at Taco Cabana.

We won't be going back to Spanish Village. ;)

Doesn't Recommend

lightappetite

Joined 5 years ago

Horrible customer service, bad policies, manager scolded us on our way out the door. Never go here!. My girlfriend & I stopped in for a quick bite, because she had heard from her husband that he & his family had been regulars for years. We had left an event at the Parador where we were served appetizers, but wanted to enjoy a little more to eat and have a few minutes of conversation. We had to wait 10 minutes after receiving water at our table to order. When we finally ordered an enchillada plate to share the waitress told us there would be a split plate charge. Which we said would be fine, saving us the trouble of splitting the meal ourselves. She then explained that it would actually be an "extra Plate Charge." She said they would not split the meal, but actually charge us to bring an extra plate. UNBELIEVABLE! What kind of restaurant charges its customers to bring an extra plate to the table. I understand they want the revenue from every person ordering a full meal. But, is that the way to do it? Because of the way we were treated, we would never return there & give them our future business or that of our families. Who knows how much future revenue they lost out on because of this crazy policy?

The waitress then told us we could order something else that came with an extra plate & avoid the charge. We decided to order queso with our enchilada meal. We were then told we could not do that.

After asking to speak with a manager & noone coming to our table, we decided to have dinner elsewhere.

As we were leaving a man at the counter (presumably the manager or owner) asked the waitress why we were leaving. And just as we made our way to the door he said "Next time bring your appetites with you, Ladies." Next time??? After that experience, do you think there would EVER be a next time? Absolutely not.

If you are interested in a restaurant with good food, good service and a pleasant atmosphere- STAY AWAY from SPANISH VILLAGE! It is awful. After 5 years as a server, I can honestly say, I have never seen such horrible treatment to customers. I will never go back!

Recommends

htown_liberal

Joined 6 years ago

Great food, Okay ambiance, Interesting client base. I live about a 5 minute walk from spanish village down almeda, and have been there 3 times.

What my wife and i suspected the first time, we have now found to be true - this place serves a very regular, very upper-class customer base.

The area is a poorer african american area, yet somehow on friday nights, the parking lot is filled with cars ranging from lexus, to mercedes and porsches, and the place is filled with well dressed white people???. I think this is because spanish village has been there for over 50 years, and has many of the same customers (the managers/help says hi - by name- to almost every customer that comes in). I think this is somehow the cause for the strict alcohol policy about not being able to order drinks only. Their margaritas are great, but also fairly pricey, if i remember right, a pitcher was $55!!! The place itself is on the more expensive end for mexican food ($10+ for enchilada plates)

I'd go to this place if you are in the mood for more authentic tex mex, and a quieter, more relaxed restaurant experience. My wife and I are in our 20's, and probably prefer a place with a little more of a night life or fun atmosphere. If the drinking rules were more laxed, we would definitely be more frequent patrons, but we like to have margaritas :). Also, contrary to what you would expect, the service is rather mediocre.

I occasionally order takeout when I'm in the mood for their enchiladas con juevos which are absolutely fantastic (I highly recommend the cheese enchiladas)

Doesn't Recommend

bigbobbolden

Joined 6 years ago

Bad food! Bad service! Bad interior!. Terrible food, rude staff and shabby interior. Place needs to fade into Houston history. Bulldoze the building and build a Taco Bell. This place is disgusting in everyway!

Doesn't Recommend

hurlinmexicanfood

Joined 6 years ago

Bad Food & Bad Attitude. Rude staff!! Horrible food!! I should have stayed home and had a frozen mexican dinner. Floor and tabletops were NOT clean!!! What is up with the fridge in the dinning room? Will the fridge not fit in the kitchen because of all the animal traps (cat cages)?

Doesn't Recommend

pukinallnite

Joined 6 years ago

Half price for leftovers. The cook must have scraped it off the dirty floor. Maybe it was leftovers from another customer?s plate? This is the most repulsive food in town. Great for people with no teeth.... food has already been chewed!

Doesn't Recommend

onthepot

Joined 6 years ago

GREAT!! Weightloss system!. The disgusting food goes right thru you! I am sure I did not absorb any of the calories and may have passed my breakfast! Thanks Spanish Village!!!

Doesn't Recommend

foodfoolin

Joined 6 years ago

At your own risk!. The neighborhood is up and coming but the food is down right awful! Food was flavorless and poorly presented! At first, I thought the waitress brought me a potpie. I have never been served beans with a hard crust. My enchiladas looked more like chopped hash. I have eaten better at a homeless shelter!! The owner needs to clean the windows and put some money into updating everything.

Doesn't Recommend

hurlnfoever

Joined 6 years ago

Why me? What have I ever done to u?. Please have all my mail forwarded to my bathroom, I can not leave here!

I was in a large party and the dissapointment started when they brought the queso. I am sorry I mean goverment cheese. It reminds me of the food the serve in prison movies. I am sure they have a Mexican food night there. Ole!

They got our orders wrong, it was funny look'n, is there supposed to be celery in enchilladas now? and the smell...oh for the love of baby Jesus what is that smell......

Run don't walk to another restaurant!

Doesn't Recommend

loserforu

Joined 6 years ago

Holy Guaca-moley!. Oh how my tummy churns and burns! I am simply amazed this place is able to operate on a daily basis? I am even more amazed they have been around so many years. There is a dead animal smell in the street lofting from the restaurant......I love a good mystery but not when it comes to the contents of my entree!

Back to the restroom I go.....