Mesa Familiar — Restaurant in Victoria

We stopped by this little, local shop for our last meal before returning home. The street it sits on has easily available parking for up to 2.5 hours for free. There are murals on the sides of nearby buildings and it has a very cozy, neighborhood feel.

There is fascinating artwork on the wall, which can keep you engaged for longer than the wait for the food, which was very little.

We each ordered a burrito bowl due to allergies. The bowl was massive. You could easily feed three people with the amount of food in there. It was filled with rice, cilantro, Pico, fresh made beans, pork and more. Fresh, simple food equals good flavor and a full tummy. It was also steaming hot, which was nice on a cold, drizzly day.

We drank water...which was good and clean tasting (no metal or salt aftertaste as a few places have had). We ate fairly quickly as we arrived the last hour before they close and didn't want to keep them. If I had the opportunity to take home the leftovers, I would gladly have done so. As is, we were staying at a nearby Air B&B, so I didn't have the opportunity. We briefly spoke with who I believe is the owner and he was friendly, genuine and caring. We discussed the center art piece. He says it's from an artist in the US, depicting the steel mill employee in Detroit. That was interesting to learn.

There is limited seating inside, but the care with which the food is made and the friendly company will bring me back again. I...

What an unexpected treasure right across from the Belfry theatre.

The atmosphere is delightful. Colourful and warm and the mellow beats play at a level where you can enjoy a conversation.

I was instantly greeted with a warm smile and kind service. I got to choose my own seat which is a nice touch because I'm particular. My server, a young woman, made eye contact throughout my meal to make sure I was contempt. there's nothing worse then spending your meal whipping your head around looking for your server. I truly felt waited on. But in a laid-back way, if that makes any sense. let's just say it was my kind of service.

Prices are below average for Victoria and the portions don't disappoint. (Heaping chips and house made salsa $8, burrito bowl $18.) Think authentic Mexican with delicate cremas and reductions. don't expect your meal to be smothered in 2 inches of cheese, American style. This is a real taste of Mexican.

I'd say if anything this quiet restaurant is almost too unassuming, and they deserve to give themself more credit. I'll...

We wanted to like this place, it looks like you will be getting authentic Mexican food, but unfortunately, it fell short in several areas. The best thing about it was the location.

We ordered chips and queso, but they never arrived. I didn’t pay, so I’m not sure if we were charged or not.

The meals were uninspired, lacked seasoning, and arrived lukewarm, which was quite unsettling. My mole dish tasted like the chicken had been boiled a day or two earlier; it was dry, chewy, and unappetizing. I even joked that I might get food poisoning from it.

Surprisingly, I didn't get sick, but my stomach is doing summersaults. Unfortunately, my wife has been ill all night and into the morning. She did have two drinks, so we can’t be certain it was the food, however our friend who ordered the same dish also feels horrible and queasy. We can't say for certain its the food if I were a betting person, id say its the food.

Given this experience, we won’t be returning anytime soon to...