Ceviche Taqueria & Margarita Bar - Alpharetta — Restaurant in Alpharetta

We are here in the middle of a Sunday afternoon (2:30p.m. ish). Service was good and not very busy. We had no trouble parking behind the restaurant with approaching the back of the restaurant from Roswell Street. Great covered patio space, which we noticed had great big heaters for when it is a bit cooler. They have a good selection of margaritas. We got a pitcher of Texas (tasted tart as expected) and one of our group had a large frozen raspberry 'Shaq-arita' - it was 32 oz in a huge glass (very good taste and not overly sweet). The Dragonfly Cocktail was good, if you like a little bit sweeter cocktail (but not sickly sweet). The empanadas appetizer allowed for selecting meat so we got 1 chicken and 1 beef. Both were good having a nice well cooked dough and tasty fillings. The salsa that came with them was smokey with medium spicy heat. I preferred the medium spicy red salsa that came with our chips. The Chicken Taquitos were very good. The chicken filling was tender and not dry from over cooking. The tacos on 6" flour tortillas were bigger than street tacos with the lettuce & pico overwhelming the chicken and any other flavors. My husband had the Miguels Especial that had a crispy beef taco and a chicken enchilada topped with red mole, which he thought was very good. Being a bit nostalgic, I ordered Fajitas Nachos with ground beef (had choice of also pulled chicken, fajita beef, chicken or shrimp) had peppers and onions as found in fajitas but no jalapenos so ask for some when ordering, if you like yours spicier. Topped with a nice fresh pico, a bit of lettuce and nice portions of quacamole and sour cream they were what I expected. The chips, meat and cheese under the topping were not hot. The other 4 guests with me got hot food. So I know it was just a problem with how orders came up. Once they put the cool toppings on they can't keep it under the warmer while other plates are prepared. I will go back because good service, great patio for a sunny day, Margaritas, Cocktail, chips & salsa, red mole sauce with chicken enchilada were...

Hardly ever write reviews so take this one genuinely. I frequently was going to this restaurant but will not be returning anytime soon. Don’t mind waiting 20 minutes to sit outside with my dogs but after we were greeted 15 minutes later we immediately ordered food and drinks. 15 minutes later a coke was brought out and I reminded the waiter about my Tecate. He said the bartender was slammed (how long does it take to grab a can?). 10 minutes later our food came out. The declining quality of $2 tacos is no surprise and difficult to complain about but the empanadas were awful as well (still no tecate). 5 minutes later I was brought a Stella and told that the tecates ran out (how does management run out of something that is always their special the same night of the week?!). This struck a nerve as I noticed 2 ladies next to me had Stella’s (instead of tecates) next to me before I even sat down, showing the waiter had no train of thought going on. Disappointed, I asked for my check without finishing our food or drinks. We wait, go to the bathroom and 15 minutes later still no check. Anybody else would have walked out without paying. I go to find the “manager” and express my dissatisfaction. Instead of being offered a discount, coupon or sincere apology, he blames the “nice weather”. As a logical person who happens to be in management I cover my bill and leave him with some tips/words of wisdom- if your staff cannot keep up with the customers, stop seating tables. If the demand for “specials” is too much, stop the specials. I hope the owner reads this and really asks him/herself who is running their restaurant/the face of the place.

On a positive note the hostesses are always sweet...

Great service and drinks, ok food. Ok, maybe I'm a bit a bit biased coming from Southern California and the land of excellent Mexican food, but this place missed on the food. Kids ordered beef empanadas which turned out to be pastries filled with ground beef with an unpalatable taco seasoning. We sent it back... Andrew asked if we wanted him to comp them... Um, yeah, don't ask please, it's awkward.

Scallop Ceviche was decent but surprisingly freezing cold and not chopped??? Scallops should be chopped in Ceviche and maybe not covered in quite so many tomatoes. Also, more onions and cilantro please. Fortunately we had the trio dip starter and adding mango salsa to the ceviche gave it a little more balance. Surprised we weren't offered hot sauce for the Ceviche which is a staple oh, and they have a dozen varieties. I just got up and grabbed some. All good.

Chips are good as is the salsa, but the kids don't really like yellow corn chips so, bummer for them.

The pork barbacoa was tasty with an interesting kick and they accommodated a keto request with lettuce cups.

Free sopapillas for leaving this review so the kids are happy. And Andrew just brought the check with the empanadas comped which was nice of him.

Oh, and great tasting margaritas, though sadly, after 2 I feel nothing which means they're pouring a measured shot or a short shot... Boo in my book.

So a 3 and probably not a return visit. See...