Update 2022: With new ownership, two dishes have been added. And. They. Are. Excellent. Be sure to order a bowl of the shrimp soup. And the birria tacos. The chips are no longer burned. The two salsas are delicious. Rice and beans are good. See photos.The tables at the restaurant are admirable. I'm not sure how old they are but they have inset bits of tile and look really retro. The waitstaff couldn't be nicer. Spanish Village is a Houston institution and is historically significant, one of the older Mexican restaurants still in existence here.Back in the day, the combo plate that featured things such as a taco, chile con queso, a chalupa and/or guacamole salad was known as The Ladies Special or The Summer Special at many Mexican restaurants around Houston. I would recommend you forego the enchilada/tamal/rice/beans plate and stick with these summer items piled high with crisp lettuce and diced tomatoes. The selection is served as the starter on the Alfonso Pico Special: Chile Con Queso, Guacamole Salad, Beef Taco, Veracruzana and I would stop there and not go on with the hot plate of tamale/enchilada/rice/beans.That would be my recommendation for your first visit. AND...my rating of four stars is based only on the items in a Summer Special type meal.
Everything had great flavor! The charro beans were the best. The drinks were fire. So good. The quesadilla was cheesy and filled with fajita meat. The fajita plate was awesome. We will definitely be back.
I went with a friend for 5 de mayo, as it was recommended and it had really good reviews. We got there before a bunch of people started a long line. There was several seats open, but they wouldn't seat us because it was beside a huge table.Our waiter never came, as he was taking somebody else order for more than 10 minutes. No notepad in hand, and would go back and forth to only that table. So we got chips and salsa from other staff there when we were seated. Our margaritas came in a different flavor, no ice on it, very sour/bitter.. mostly water. So we left the drinks almost untouched, and decided to leave. I left $10 to one of the staff for their troubles.Recommendations to owner:1. Get tables that can easily be put together/apart to accommodate different parties.2. Divide the load of waiters, so they know their tables/parties.3. Have a system in place to take orders.4. Train your staff, so they don't stay more than 10 minutes at just one table.5. The bar area should have someone making drinks and taking orders in case someone wants to eat something.6. Have a hostess to greet and organize.7. First impressions count... we didn't get a good one based in our experience.
I came here for my niece's 20th birthday. The food was awesome and very delicious but I was not happy when the waitress lied and said we wanted a whole bill together when no one was notified about it. A few members of our party went in the men's bathroom and said it was nasty. I do NAWT recommend.
Just a little history before I share my review. My husband has been dinning at Spanish Village since he was 10 years old and he’s 63, I’ve been dinning there since 2005. We, my husband and myself were/are HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED with the quality of the food we were served and the poor changes to the menu choices. The quality our food was poorly prepared, I had chicken quesadilla I was able to get through half of one slice because the chicken was so hard that my jaw bones hurt from chewing. I ended up (excuse me) spitting it out, it was served with less than a table spoon of guacamole, pico and sour cream my husbands had enchiladas they were also hard and gouged with what tasted like can chili and a slice (not shredded) a square slice of cheese that just laid on top. Mr Rogers you’ve taken this once fine, warm, authentic work of art and turned it into low budget, poor quality Tex Mex restaurant and I’m telling you it shows. The margaritas were horribly bitter (tasted like rhine of lime) and water. We are highly disgusted and will never return alone nor with our family. It’s really sad that the blood, sweat, sacrifices and hard work the original owners dedicated to build this resturant (Spanish Village) has been disgraced. My family had one of the largest catering companies in Nola and My mother always told me when it come to food service it is very important to serve food the way you expect to be served with love and care. The Love and Care was not there! As for the question below, did I take pictures; I wish I would have.
Wait time was extreme. Staff didn’t properly sit people. People in the back start talking to the waitress and convinced them to sit them before people that had been waiting over 1 hour in line. Things got so bad people started cutting in line. Several tables was open and nobody was able to sit. Customers in line begin to argue. Terrible experience.
Margaritas are small but potent...be careful! Birria tacos were excellent as was the service. The charro beans were the best I ever had.
I had really high hopes for Spanish Village, the restaurant is beautiful and service was great. The food was okay and we tried quite a few things so I don’t say that lightly.It’s definitely more style than substance for me. We ordered two of the small paella - one with scallop and one with seafood. I’m not sure what it was but something was definitely missing. The scallop one had the thinnest slice of chorizo that I’ve ever seen. I’m used to seafood paellas but this was missing just overall flavour.
The food was great and a very reasonable price for a great atmosphere overall good experience would definitely have to come back soon they have happy hour Tuesdays and Thursdays Margaritas $5
I have never tried all the years living in 3rd Ward. I heard it was under new ownership. That day 12-21-21I was in a car accident afterwards hungry and frustrated about the incident. I decided get something to eat. I went in talked to ladies that severed me. I told them what happened. They gave me a margarita ? to calm my nerves. It was probably the best margarita Ive have ever had. The ladies was extremely nice and friendly. We discussed what happen to them after covid. I took my food home. My family has ordered there almost six times since then. We love Spanish Village. My daughter really does. She loves Mexican food. Please try you wont be disappointed. The food is fresh, prices are reasonable, and staff is great. The new manger takes good care of the restaurant. Black owned establishment