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Me and Julio - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
2095 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5N 4B1
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 696-9997
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Me and Julio
Review Highlights
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"The tacos and tostadas are all delicious (and ample) too." In 12 reviews -
"We started out with Tres Salsas which is smoky warm..." In 2 reviews -
"I livening homemade tortilla chips, the plantain chips and..." In 3 reviews
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Lex B.
4/19/2011
I swooped into Me and Julio's for lunch with a couple friends one afternoon because it looked like casual, affordable Mexican style foods, and we were all down. We were partially right.
The food was pretty good. The prices were off-putting. The appetizers seemed partially reasonable, but all entrees were all $14. $14 for Mexican food on the Drive. Seriously? Sod off. Me and a friend split the Enchiladas after both wrinkling our noses at the price, and we did enjoy them. Lots of good veggies, and covered in a tasty sauce - I'd eat them again if I were splitting them, not super hungry, and too lazy to walk further. My BF had a beef and chorizo burrito and seemed to enjoy it - although to me it just looked like a giant mass of ground meat. But I am not much of a carnivore.
At the bottom of the menu it warns that a gratuity of 17% is suggested for parties over 6. That kind of seems like a dick suggestion when the standard is usually 8 people and 15% and you're sitting in an empty restaurant that oozes casual. I just hate being told what I should tip. Tipping is a courtesy, not compulsory.
So really, if you're going to be a pricier restaurant, step everything up and change your signage and style overall. If you're going to be casual, get some more moderately priced choices, and make your grande portions more grande.
It was tasty. The service was fine. But everything else just didn't sit right.
It says they'll be under new ownership soon, so hopefully it'll turn into a good restaurant. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
Where is the love? I know that Me & Julio's has suffered some bad reviews in the past year, but man oh man, was I ever pleased with my meal there today. I ordered 2 tacos and was expecting two the size of the ones at La Taqueria (love that place). These taco's totally dwarfed those and came with a side of beans and rice! They tasted delish and went well with our 'side' of chips--an overflowing bowl of crisp plantaines with two tasty dips. Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about.
Our server was great--friendly, real and helpful. My friend and I were sharing food so it wasn't like we were the big spenders, but she treated us well just the same.
My virgin raspberry 'margarita' wasn't blended, so I was a wee bit disappointed, hence only four stars. Perhaps this is the authentic way? My drink had real raspberries muddled in it though--nice! None of that straight up syrup. I think M &J does quality well.
I like this place for a date (the hanging star lights and candles set the mood) as some of the taco joints in town have great eats but lack sexy atmosphere.
My two (and perhaps unpopular) cents!Listed in: Fun Date Material, Your Mom, The Drive, Taste of Mayheeco!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/15/2010
I love this place. Mexican food with a twist. The food is upscale-ish, fresh, creative, and oh so… Read more »
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Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
12/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
One word: unimpressive.
We went here for brunch because the menu looked pretty good - and I'll never go back. Not only was the food mediocre at best, but the service was downright shocking. The server brought the wrong dish out for me, leaving my boyfriend to eat his breakfast first, then wait for me after mine finally came out. We ate at the same table, yet separately.
I could go on about how crappy the whole experience was, but I'm pretty sure 'unimpressive" just about covers it. The fact that we still had to pay full price for our meals is what tipped it over to 1 star. If you can't provide reasonable service, I shouldn't have to pay for your mistakes. End of. -
Review from Sara M.
12/3/2010
By far the worst brunch experience I have ever had. In life. Pout.
I don't want to type forever about some whiney story. Synopsis: pretty much everything that could have went wrong during a dining experience did. And when the food finally went in my mouth, it absolutely sucked. I could have made something beyond superior at home. And brunch is supposed to rule.
I am giving them two stars instead of one, as the manager was very cool about the whole situation and we didn't have to pay for anything, att least that part of the service was good. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
I had been warned away from this place by several different people who told me it was expensive and that it wouldn't cater to my diet. Finally, however, I capitulated, because I wanted a margarita and I was in the area, and sometimes I get the "margarita grumps" where if I don't have one right that second I will kill a puppy.
We sat at the bar and got delicious margaritas for $5. A bar special - awesome! K was hungry so we decided to order the bar special of chips and salsa, too. It was $3 so I was expected some jar salsa and a small bowl of tortilla chips, but I was pleasantly surprised - a HUGE basket of freshly deepfried tortillas sprinkled with chili and housemade salsa!
The margaritas were great. The chips were out of this world. Two guys next to us ordered beef tacos (another bar special for $3 each) and they were MASSIVE, super super huge - I mean, way bigger than the mini-tacos you get at Bandidas or Havana.
Yes, the menu is pricy. It's also not terribly vegetarian friendly. I probably won't ever sit at a table and order from the menu - but I'll hang out at the bar again for sure. -
Review from Jenna H.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2011
I had always been a little skeptical of this place because of the poor reviews, but I have to say it was pretty darn tasty! My friend and I split tacos and plantain chips with delicious dipping sauce and it was more than enough food. While menu items are not cheap, the portions are plentiful and for Mexican food it wasn't too greasy.
The server we had was very sweet and although the atmosphere is not at all Mexican, it was not bad for a Commercial Dr joint. -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
10/20/2010
Toxic enchilladas! Cheesy yumminess spilling over. Fresh warm hand-cut chips. The food: excellent but pricey.
Hard to flag down waitress but sweet as pie when she stood at our table. Not forced-sweetness either.
A very good late-night drink spot. Meet a date here. A special evening out for dinner also works.. Just can't afford it regularly.. at all.....Listed in: Alive on the Drive
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Review from Tabatha Anne Y.
Richmond, BC
10/15/2010
Just got back from a lunch date with my friend. There's nowhere to eat around our office at the Tech Centre on Broadway, so we drove to the Drive (har har)
We were in the mood for Mexican food and I'd had Me and Juilio before, so in we went.
It had just opened for lunch at 11:30 so we were greeted and seated right away. The service was fast and friendly and we were in and out of there within our alloted lunch hour.
Amanda had the chicken burrito with salad and I opted for the veggie tacos with rice and beans. We both enjoyed our lunches with a "glass" of sangria. Mmm, everything was tasty and I had a great time. I love the corn taco shells, they're soft warm and fresh and have that AMAZING smell that so few places have.
My only beef is that there aren't very many veggie options. The ones they have are good though. -
Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
3/27/2011
We spend a lot of time on Commercial, but mostly hang out between 1st and Venables. Since we were going to check out a store past Broadway, we decided to have breakfast closer than our usual haunt.
We walked in right behind another couple. They knew another couple already dining so they went to go say hi to them and stood in between the tables talking to them. I think the server was aiming for us to sit by the window, but since they were in the way, she sat us at a different table. When we came in, there were two other couples (and the couple that came in to talk to them). By the time we left, most of the restaurant was full.
Of course I did not order breakfast. I am always scared that unfamiliar chorizo is going to too spicy for me. My fiance ordered the eggs benny and I got the guacamole dip. Yum, guacamole... and bean dip. It was so good. The guacamole was buttery and not too limey. The bean dip was thick and was really tasty with the chips that tasted homemade. I ate the whole thing. After a while, I stopped using the chips and just used my fork instead. Yeah, it was that good. I had a coke and it was okay. My fiance had two coffees... the first was lukewarm, but the second cup was piping hot.
The restaurant was pretty dark for a sunny day. I love the bar. It looks like a beachfront bar... -
Review from Lex C.
Coquitlam, BC
7/6/2009
Ugh, what a mistake. The boyfriend and I are walking up Commercial, in search of food. It's hot as hell. I see me & Julio, I see the patio. I like Mexican. "Ugh, but it says MODERN Mexican" says the bf. Yeah, but... "We should try that little hole-in-the-wall across the street. It's Mexican. You know the only good Mexican comes from little hole-in-the-wall shitboxes." Um, not exactly my rationale....
But he gives in, for once. So we sit out on the patio, of course. It's okay out there, but I think the whole idea is you're supposed to pretend you're somewhere nice, instead of staring out at the sidewalk of Commercial Dr.
I ordered the chicken tacos, my boyfriend the steak, the idea being - I know this sounds weird for a couple to do and all - that we would share them. Yeah, not happening. They were brought out and we stared at the plates in confusion. Chicken drier than the sidewalk, mixed together in a taco with various soggy toppings that I can't even identify for you now, and chewy, overdone steak done the same way. And all the fillings were piled on top of two lone tortillas, both of which had soaked through to the point of barely existing. My boyfriend and I looked at each other in horror. This can't be right. They can't actually be SERVING this shit to people for MONEY.
I took about two tasteless bites, declared my hate for this restaurant and that was that. Trust me people, SKIP this bloody laughable establishment that dares to call itself a restaurant. There's three things wrong with this title: it's not modern, it's not friggin Mexican, and it's definitely not cuisine. If you like Mexican food, or hell, if you even like food, at all, there's a bajillion places on Commercial to eat.
Oh, and PS: not like I don't have enough to work with here, but when the server was putting our food on the table, she swung around to talk to another table for a sec and full-on SMEARED our plates across the handrail that runs along the length of the patio. Our food was shoved over a couple inches on one side of the plate cuz it had been pushed over by the handrail that dozens of people have mindlessly run their scummy, sweaty, bacteria-filled hands across. Now, I'm not really THAT squeamish, it's not enough to deter me from eating, but my boyfriend and I both winced as it happened. Message to me & julio servers: Pay attention to what the fuck you're doing. Or at least dump something on someones head or something and make it worth my bloody effort to walk in this hole.
And oh yes, that's right - I was throwing up all night after eating here, as well. Thanks a heap. -
Review from Kyrsten J.
New Westminster, BC
6/27/2010
I keep coming back because the food is good. Their tacos are excellent - the beef, the chicken and the others are spiced perfectly and they give you enough corn tacos to properly eat the filling.
My main problem is the price. $15-17 for two tacos, some side greens, bland refried beans and dry Spanish rice isn't really a good price. Compare it to "Bandito's Tacqueria' down the street (awesome food, amazing price, but really only veggie tacos available - no meat), and it falls flat.
Me and Julio's has decent cocktails, but again, the expense is just a bit much - A pitcher of sangria came with more ice than actual liquid (and cost $20+).
It probably wouldn't be so bad if they actually gave you decent service, but every single time I've been here, whether on the patio or in the restaurant, you have to practically trip a waitress to get some service. -
Review from Sarah O.
2/13/2009
Cute place but the food is horrible. Please don't go here if you're looking to eat something yummy. I ordered a bunch of stuff but I could't tell you what I ate.. the flavors, taste, texture, everything was all over the place. Needless to say, they won't be getting my returned business.
They get an extra star because their sign outside is cute. Other than that, don't bother.Listed in: The Drive
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Review from Dani B.
11/2/2010
Been living on the drive for a while but for some reason Me and Julio never grabbed me. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I went there for a sunny lunch.
It's a little pricey for what you get but they have a nice ambiance and lovely patio so I was happy all around. This is not a bad place to hit up on a week night either, they always have good music playing. I'd definitely go back for drinks but as a veg. I'm not lusting for anything on their menu. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2009 3 photos
I've seen this place on commerical for awhile. Finally, I made it in on a chilly saturday evening.
I had some hesitation about going here after hearing and reading so many bad reviews. So, when I walked in with my friend, I ordered my entree based on what the server had told me. It was well worth asking.
I had the Turkey Tostada which is found under their appetizer list. She had suggested that or the tacos which you could choose in 2 styles. I ordered the Turkey Tostada - it was the size of an entree and was the staff favourite. HOw could I go wrong?
I'm a small person so maybe that's why I felt so full after eating this dish but I had leftover, too. It is deifnitely entree size. That being said, I would give this place another try. -
Review from Ramon V.
2/21/2010
Turn that frown upside down.
At first I was surprised to read so many negatives about this place. Now I think I get why people are disgruntled. Do yourself a favour and don't think "Mexican food" when going. "Mexican food restaurant" to me is a negative in itself, especially in Vancouver, and Me and Julio delivers a greater expectation than that term would allow. Think of it as modern dining with a Mexican influence - more creative, less burrito-n-beans-'n-rice-n-hot sauce. Just writing this review makes me crave the sasparilla glazed ribs with jicama slaw with smoked gouda mac and cheese. The tacos and tostadas are all delicious (and ample) too. Thank you very much, I'll be licking my lips, down by the schoolyard. -
Review from Cody S.
2/6/2011
Couldn't be less impressive or inviting. The service here is sub par and borderline ridiculous. I am not a Mexican food snob but the menu makes me wonder. What formal Mexican restaurant charges for chips and salsa? Really??????? I like to go to a restaurant that is warm and inviting and not trying to be some 'fusion' concept that caters to people who have no idea what Mexican Food should taste like. Not good at all.
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Review from Awesta M.
7/13/2010
The question I must ask myself is: why do you keep insisting on trying to get Mexican in Vancouver? It's not a lost cause per se but once you've had really good Mexican, it's very disappointing to eat bad stuff.
So all of this is pretty much to say that Me and Julio is closer to the bad stuff then the really good Mexican we all crave. I'm thinking of giving up and just waiting for when I go down to Mexico or even Seattle. It's a sorry state of affairs when good Mexican is found in Seattle. Following up on Krysten's comment, the price is a little ridiculous. I'd say save it and make everything at home. You'd be better off. -
Review from Chester L.
North Vancouver, BC
9/2/2011
This restaurant closed it's doors several months ago.
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Review from Amanda W.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2009
I have visited this place on 3 separate occasions, and not because I particularly wanted to go back. I ended up going back the other two times because when you live on the Drive, people who come to visit you always want to try out "the mexican place on the drive that looks like an outdoor tiki bar". For a Mexican infusion restaurant their food lacks spices and well, TASTE. What's worse, every time I have been there my food has been served to me luke-warm at best. I must say the only good thing about this place is the ambiance. It's dark interior and large bar make this restaurant have an almost loungey-like feel.
All in all, forget about Me and Julio's because its decor does not make up for it's food. -
Review from Vincci L.
11/20/2009 7 photos
J and I first visited this place in the summer of 2008, after a long day of canoeing. Since then, we have visited this place several more times. This is a place, perfect in the summer. Its patio and relaxed vibe makes it a loungey-restaurant feel.
This first time, it was a busy Saturday night and we chose a spot with stool seats, that faces Commercial Drive.
Their drinks list is extensive, many with tropical fruits. They also have a lot of imported beers. I ordered a Pink Taco cocktail-mango or berries, pink grapefruit & guava nectar, blackberry cluster & silver tequila. It arrives, with a cute umbrella on the rim of the glass. Cute.
We decide to start off with the Tres Salsas, which were essentially tortilla chips with 3 different types of salsas. It arrives, and the chips are light and crisp, with a hint of spices dusted onto the warm chip. The salsas are fresh, my favourite being the mango salsa.
For the main course, we order the Julio's Corn Tacos. We are allowed to pick 2 from the 5 available. I choose the crispy pan-seared halibut & mango salsa, with the battered prawns, chili de arbol aioli, jicama & grilled pineapple slaw. J chooses the battered prawns, and the second choice being carne asada (grilled steak) & pico de gallo.
The plate is colorful, a large portion, with a healthy serving of greens. The portion is large, enough for 2 light eaters to share. It also comes with rice, which is a nice addition to the tacos.
My halibut taco is nice and juicy, the mango salsa complements the fish, and bits of cabbage adds crispiness to the taco. The battered prawns taco were also good-two large prawns, not too much batter, and a little spicy.
I tried J's steak taco, it's a little dry. He also prefers my halibut taco.
Service is prompt, the waitress checked on us enough so that we got what we wanted, and left us alone the rest of the time.
A nice place to relax in the summer.
We revisited this restaurant in the winter of 2008, and again in the summer of 2009, August, to be precise, during the heat wave.
This time, we started off with a pitcher of white sangria, to cool us down from the sweltering heat. My only complaint is that there was a little too much ice in the pitcher, diluting the sangria. We ordered the Tres Salsas again this time, one of the salsas was a fresh guacamole.
I got the paella, and J got tacos again. My paella wasn't great, just ok. The mussels weren't too fresh, and the rice was lacking flavor. The rice a bit overcooked, almost to the consistency of risotto. I would stick to the tacos here. -
Review from Simon R.
BC
11/11/2008 1 photo
Located dozens of blocks away from any beaches worth swimming in, Me & Julio still aims to be the tiki lit bar you wear your hula to and get smashed at while listening to the crashing of the waves.
With its Caribbean theme and exotic menu, it may well be your best chance to at least pretend you're on vacation for an hour or two. While the prices are not quite as cheap as the beach bars in Latin America, they are still reasonable, especially if you enjoy looking at fake parrots.
Worth noting is that despite the reference to the song, it's not a gay bar. -
Review from Evilyn T.
6/28/2010
I have passed by this place numerous times, and finally decided to stop in for a late brunch. Me and my motley crew were a little tender from the night before, but we are at the point in our lives where we wear our hangovers like war wounds with our heads held high.
I loved the decor in this restaurant, probably more than I liked anything else. I figure if they want to succeed, they should just move the tables, and throw in a disco ball and get some hot dj to turn that place upside-down. I should have guessed the food would be sub-par considering the Drive was packed with Italian World Cup fanatics, and this place was almost empty.
I ordered the vegan-tofu veggie scramble thing, and it was okay, there were definitely more veggies than tofus and I wasn't a big fan of the chipolte sauce they used on it. The BF however, ordered the banana-stuffed french toast, which sounded amazing on the menu, but I was scared of how sweet it would be since it was covered in a coconut syrup. It was actually just as heavenly as I had suspected, it was good, but it was more of a dessert than a breakfast. Perhaps I'd have better luck going here for dinner and drinks? Especially since it felt like forever before we got our breakfast, at least if I had gone for dinner I would have had some drinks to keep me happy, and not a headache to keep me grunting. I am willing to try this place again, but maybe on a sunny evening, when I can order a pitcher of mojitos and sit on the deck. -
Review from Jessie J.
8/8/2009
Having a really hard time grasping how this place has 2.5 stars in this city, especially on Commercial Drive. I mean, I know there isn't a lot of great Mexican in town, but surely we can do better than this?
1) It's way too loud. My friend and I actually couldn't hear each other speaking at our indoor table, and had to move to the patio in order to have a conversation.
2) Expensive!!! $9 for guacamole?!?!?!
3) The food's just not that great. We shared the guacamole and the prawn tacos (more than enough food for the two of us, so i guess that's why it's so pricey? excessively large portions of mediocre food?), and the only thing I really remember enjoying was the slaw that came as garnish. The guac was unexciting, the prawns battered beyond an inch of their lives...
In other words, not impressed. It's the drive for pete's sake, eat ANYwhere else! -
Review from Debbra V.
Vancouver, BC
7/8/2010
LOVE the halibut tacos. And the fact that they come with a real salad, greens in a slightly sweet dressing. Not a fake salad of shredded iceberg lettuce and pale tomatoes.
The problem is that I invariably order the same thing, because it's so good. If I'm with someone who has a big appetite, we'll share the guacamole. (Of course! Warm, lightly spiced housemade chips!). And then the halibut taco, and a glass or two of JoieFarm Noble Blend. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
8/26/2008 1 photo
Me and Julio's has a great vibe to it. Whenever I've been here, it's always been busy and everyone inside has always been happy! It's a guaranteed good time whichever time you choose to go!
My favorite dish is the Enchiladas Verduras. They're filled with yummy veggies and leave your tummy super satisfied! And there are so many drinks to choose from here; not to mention the bar area is always bumping! Next time you're around Commercial Drive, definitely take the time to check out Me and Julio! -
Review from Richard D.
Vancouver, BC
10/9/2008
I'm writing this more than a month after I visited this place, and it doesn't stand out as one of those places that I thought, "I HAVE to return here."
What I do remember is that I was surprised that a soup was $8. That's really steep, and sort of a turn-off. Soup shouldn't be THAT expensive, and the sopa de tortilla certainly wasn't worth the price.
The food was OK, but again, it's not a place I'd be dying to return to. The placed did have good mixed drinks. -
Review from Megan S.
11/19/2008 1 photo
I never know what to think of first when I hear the name Me & Julio: a cute restaurant on Commercial or the Paul Simon song. Usually the Paul Simon song wins. But this place is really cute. It has a lot of really nice Mexican/Latin American elements- like those big metal multi-pointed stars with lights inside, and nice stained glass above the door. I've never been here during the day- which makes me sad because I want to go sit on the patio in the late afternoon. However, I've been a few times at night and really loved it. Every time I go it's for drinks and snacks. And when I go around 9ish, that's what I see most other people doing too. Many times I get my favorite cerveza: Dos Equis. I've also had the Coco Cabana- which is a nice strawberry/coconut drink. My friend had a Pink Taco- which was some kind of grapefruit and berry drink that I know she enjoyed.
I don't like that you have to buy chips and salsa. If a restaurant wants me to stay and keep ordering drinks, then I think the chips and salsa should be free. So on principal, I've never bought the chips. However I have tried the queso fundido- which is wonderful! It's a cheese dip served with tortilla and onion rings. It's amazing! Me & Julio's won't satisfy cravings for authentic Mexican food- but it's better than most Mexican restaurants in Vancouver. The ambiance and attitude make it a great place to relax and hang out with a cold drink! -
Review from Robespierre R.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2011
I'm on the fence about this place. On one hand the food is very good, though their veggie options are limited. I livening homemade tortilla chips, the plantain chips and the queso fundida. Mixed drinks are great and they do an awesome ginger beer. Based on food alone I would rate it 4 stars, 5 if it was cheaper.
What I'm nit crazy about is the atmosphere. Waitresses are hit or miss; some super nice, others downright cold. And I've never seen the same staff twice, which to me is a sign of bad management. I like getting to know the servers at the joints I frequent.
The general atmosphere leaves something to be desired too. Can't quite put my finger on it but something just feels off.
My last gripe: loud music on the patio, even in the middle of winter when NO ONE is out there. Makes me feel sorry for their neighbors as I can hear it half a block down 5th.
So, yah, good food, good drinks but a bit...shallow? Yeah, shallow. -
Review from Joyce D.
Burnaby, BC
8/27/2009
I have to say I was shocked to see the negative reviews on Me and Julio, it is definitely modern mexican cuisine and that might be why but we loved it. Went in Feb and it was awesome. We started out with Tres Salsas which is smoky warm homemade corn tortillas and 3 different salsas and of course we added guacamole. They were so good and refreshing that they were nice and warm. Went down good with those margs I inhaled. My boyfriend had the Beef Taquitos, for 10 he had smoked beef brisket rolled up, very good. I had the best dish though it was the Quesadilla de Pollo, 11 bucks and I loved it. Empanadas with smoked chicken and sweet potato. They were addictive. With the tortillas 7 and 21 for entrees that is still under 30 bucks and drinks are drinks who cares what they cost. Still a lot cheaper than Havana and I thought the decor was charming. I would go back hands down.
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Review from P G.
Richmond, BC
1/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service sucks, food was mediocre. Ok place for chips/salsa and beer.
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Review from Carolyn Y.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2010
It was close to 2pm. No breakfast. Munchkin sized dinner the night before. It was time for me to feed. I had a gnarly craving for a spicy lunch yesterday. The Man and I were trying to decide on a few options along the Drive and decided to give this place a try, since neither of us had been here and a good friend of mine really enjoyed this place.
What I should have borne in mind was that he's good friends with the girl who worked that night.
The server who seated us was nice enough, all smiles and sunshine but she didn't stick around. I guess our section wasn't hers, so instead, we got someone who didn't seem to know how to smile and disappeared after taking our drink orders. I noticed there was a $3 chips and salsa or beef taco special on the bar menu but it said "Bar Only", so after waiting around for about 10 minutes for her to come by, I asked her about it. Apparently you can't eat chips and salsa and/or beef tacos unless you're within arms' reach of booze. She gave me a look as if to say, "You read the sign. You're not sitting at the bar." Not one to take undue attitude, I said, "Well then can we sit at the bar?" To which she said, "I can probably get you one if you really want one." Uhh...yeah. I'm not inconveniencing you, am I? I didn't think I was being super demanding here. God forbid I make you do the heavy lifting and delivering of an effing beef taco. And don't worry, lady, we'll be ordering more than a $3 taco and two $8 caesars (which tasted watered down, btw).
The Man asked if the beef taquitos came with anything and she said no. Just two Beef Taquitos. Ok, fine. He'll go for that. I went for the Quesadilla de Pollo. I noticed there were no utensils on our table. Our server was nowhere to be seen, so I stole the ones from the table over. The order came quickly enough, and I was pleasantly surprised that there were two beef tacos. The flavour was there, with enough filling heaped on top to fill the two soft shells. Although I don't really get why it was heaped on top of one shell....oh well. I was too hungry to care. They were basically inhaled in 15 seconds, and yes, they were very delish and satisfying!!
Beef taquitos came with salad and pico de gallo. Huh. Imagine that. the Man approved of the flavour and the right degree of smokiness in the sauce. The portion was also very decent, and he came away nice and happy.
My order? It looked pretty. And....it looked pretty. The texture kind of reminded me of deep fried frozen pastry and the chicken was a little dry. Albeit, it wasn't greasy, which is a huge pet peeve (Nothing worse than being able to ring out grease from your meal). The sweet/slight tart of the okanagan fruit garnish was a really nice contrast to the saltiness of the empanada. And the fresh little salad was a nice touch as well.
I was *just* starting to get into the whole thing when I noticed....a hair. A blonde hair. Right in the between the salad and the fruit. Down came the fork, and away was the plate pushed. I showed my server the hair and she just said, "Awesome," and took the plate away. No, I don't want to try something else. Sigh.
With the drinks, beef tacos, and beef taquitos, the bill came to $25. Good value? No comment.
I'm sorry I'm not sorry to say I won't be back. There are better joints in the hood for "Mexican" eats. Well, I might come back for the tacos. But I'll make sure I sit at the bar next time. -
Review from Kristine B.
Vancouver, BC
12/9/2010
M and J's is expensive, and the coctails are very watery. I had a tasty little appy - some kind of stacked up minature crab caky or corn cakey thing, but it was $13 which was wildly expensive for the bland taste. Two stars are for their wonderful chocolate pudding with cinnamon, after the other parts were so disappointing. Share it with a friend unless you are a hungry chocolate fiend.
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Review from Hayley B.
Burnaby, BC
4/24/2009
I like this place. The enchiladas are always yummy!
