BANDITO Food Park + Cantina — Restaurant in Cincinnati

Vegetarians beware-if you do not love corn-bean salsa, there is nothing for you here. I don't like that salsa combo but we were there on a "try a new place" night for dinner. Nowadays it's rare a new place doesn't have a couple veggie options, especially Mexican, so I didn't check my options before going. I ordered a bowl in hopes I could mix the corn-bean salsa and rice enough to deal with the corn because there's no option to remove it. After waiting way too long for tacos, one of the wait staff came out and apologized for the wait but they ran out of rice (making my son's bowl) and I would be getting tacos, if that was okay. Since I had no other choice, it had to be okay. The staff who was sent to ask about getting tacos instead of a bowl didn't offer money back but did add, "The owner is in the back. He said next time you come in, your food is on him." She didn't get a name or anything else that made that seem a serious offer but also, why didn't the owner come say that OR offer to refund my food immediately? We can confirm my son got the last of the rice-it was the sticky clumped stuff scraped from the bottom of the pan. My corn-bean salsa taco didn't have much else on it, just salty zucchini/onions, cilantro, and green salsa. After making the drive and excited to try something new, I left all 3 salsa tacos on the tray after one bite. My son ate most of his bowl (except the clumped rice) and my husband ate his burger but left his fries. We suspect by the temp of his fries they sat cooling for a few while the 3 corn-bean salsa tacos were sorted. I'm typing this review hangry as I now cook myself dinner at home since I left Bandito as hungry as I arrived. Cool concept but overall bummer. If anyone would like a free meal for 3, tell the owner you're owed it on behalf of the "Random" family that paid full-price but...

Bandito, a casual and quick Mexican restaurant, has been open for nearly a year now. My family and I have visited a number of times, and we will continue to do so. Parking can be tight at times, and the restaurant can also be busy, but we have found for lunch tables are nearly almost always readily available.

Orders are placed at a counter and then later picked up from a nearby window. A large bar occupies a good portion of the opposite side of the space and features a good selection of draft beer, craft cocktails, and wine.

My favorite things on the menu include the nachos libre ($12) with a choice of verde chicken or ground beef served on top of a bed of corn chips topped with crema, cheese, pickled jalapenos, pico de gallo, tomatillo sauce, and manzano salsa. We also like the chips and dip sampler where $9 gets you a choice of 3 dips from a list of 8 plus a large platter of chips. As far as the tacos go, I really enjoy the buenes tardes amigo ($4) which combines verde chicken, cotija cheese, pico, and jalapeno cream sauce. The porkopolis ($4) is also a favorite with al pastor pork, green pepper sauce, cilantro, red onion, radish, and pineapple.

Our kids enjoy the cheese quesadilla, ground beef taco, or even the hamburger (all $7 with a side). We have had a quick visit in under a half hour or we have spent the better part of an afternoon with multiple families catching up and watching sports on the TVs. We all enjoy Bandito and will keep it in our rotation of...

ORDERED AT 7PM FOOD CAME OUT 8:20PM WHILE I WAS AT COUNTER TRYING TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION FOR A REFUND... My wife asked about our food 10.min earlier before I was at counter they young guy basically said they forgot it and it would be right out... When my wife told me I was like no this is not how you handle this ... At this point I was so mad I would not enjoy my food and frankly did not want sloppily thrown together order... it kinda looked that way too. So I asked for a refund returning the food trays and they asked do you want a to go box for the food they just brought out "thank you for trying to shew me away" I said no I'm so mad I would not enjoy it ... I felt ran off and the food was thrown together in the few minutes between my wife asking and me standing there trying to get someone's attention for a refund... It was kinda obvious as I was holding the table number holder with number waived it around trying to get their attention... I have eaten there before and It was ok... They were busy when I arrived which is why I was so patient but 45 minutes in the while place was emptying out and people who came in long after us were eating... Their table number system seems to have no order to it ... maybe they should use a different system... because I have seen other reviews complain of horrible waits... Atleast the picante...