Axolotl — Restaurant in Camarillo

I regret to say that my recent experience at this restaurant was less than satisfactory. Based on my interactions with the owner, it seems there's a significant misunderstanding of the restaurant industry. I'm not particularly optimistic about the future of this establishment, and here's why. My wife and I visited on Taco Tuesday, only to be left waiting for 10 minutes before anyone bothered to seat us. Once seated, we were served water with ice, which disturbingly had a soap-like film floating in it. We ordered beef tacos, the only option for the Taco Tuesday deal of buy one set, get one free. The price tag of $18 for two sets of hard shell tacos was exorbitant. The side of white rice we ordered was unpalatable, tasting as if it had been left in broth for an extended period. I requested a less sweet margarita, but what I received was overly sweet and lacking in alcohol. It also took an unacceptable 20 minutes to arrive. We were served a complimentary soup in a small salsa bowl, which had a peculiar taste, akin to a mix of spaghetti and chicken noodle soup (imagine chicken noddle spaghetti-o's. We asked for a side of chips and were charged an additional $6. My wife's horchata tasted oddly like soap, which was concerning, especially after our initial water experience. The only redeeming qualities were the decent service from our waiter and the acceptable ambiance. However, the pricing, food quality, and menu were all subpar. I'd strongly suggest considering other options, such as Blue Agave, which offers a superior happy hour and...

We ate here on a Sunday afternoon. Started off with the empanadas. These were exceptional. The Masa wasn't dry, and the filling was generously stuffed with shrimp, which were well-seasoned and sauced. For the main, we had the steak with the shrimp on a slate. The steak was medium rare, nicely marinated, and a good portion for two. Also, I had a custom margarita with pineapple juice and fresh jalapeños with their well tequila. Again, exceptional. The atmosphere was calm on a Sunday afternoon but with lots of vibrant colors on the walls, a cool bar that was well-stocked, plenty of tables, and authentic music playing in the background. The owners seemed to put a lot of their budget into the atmosphere. The one criticism I have is with the plates and silverware. It cheapened the whole experience to have very cheap cutlery and plastic plates that would be acceptable at $ and pushing it with most $$ Mexican restaurants, but totally not acceptable for a $$+ restaurant like Axolotl. Overall, I think this place is a more premium Mexican restaurant, but they have some way to go to dial in their customer base and the menu. My wife and I will eat here again, and it is a good place to bring...

Update! Previously rated this place very high. The food, service and the ownership changed. This went from a place I LOVED to a place I’ll probably not return to. The menu, once VIBRANT, UNIQUE and DELICIOUS. Is now boring, over priced and disappointing. The previous owners along with the old axolotl will be greatly missed.

I brought my whole family to this place only to leave embarrassed and disappointed.

I’ll leave my previous 5 star review here to pay respect to once great restaurant this once was…

I’d say this place is unique! In a great way.

Named after the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, the axolotl has been an important symbol of Mexican culture for centuries. The use of this symbol and the style of food is truly unique. I’ve tried a lot of Mexican food in my life. From LA to Mexico to my wife’s delicious cooking. This place not only has good Mexican food. It has unique flavor profiles that I can truly say I have not had anywhere else and it is delicious. If you’ve had Mexican food you know it’s similar every restaurant you go. If you want to experience something truly different, I welcome you to give this place a...