Macho Taco Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Foley

I've long been saying "the last thing Foley needs is another Mexican restaurant" because I swear there must be 50 with 10 miles of downtown, especially if you count the taco stands, to-go counters in stores and all that. But I guess I'll have to eat my hat (with salsa and a nice queso fresco) because this one is worth seeking out.

The menu's more or less traditional Ameri-Mex type cuisine; while there are a nice handful of tacos to choose from, there's also a full menu of other standbys like quesadillas, burritos, fajitas and all that mariachi.

I haven't actually tried a taco here (yet!) but I can say the Capechano Burrito I had here (with steak and chorizo) was a banger. What really set it apart from other restaurants in the area was the sauce which was clearly homemade and savory as all getout. The steak was (mostly) tender, the chorizo was (mostly) a flavor bomb without being overly greasy. But that sauce was the ace in the hole. The rice and beans were good, perhaps better than average, too.

The Quesabirria Quesadilla got a thumbs up from my dining partner thanks to the juicy shredded beef barbacoa, although he did complain that some of it was tough to chew, as shredded beef can be. It was also quite fatty. The birria soup (dipping sauce) was beefy goodness.

Another dining partner tried the Torta Cubana, but had it altered so much I can't say how it is right off the menu. I did steal some of the ham (salchica) and fries and both were pretty good if you're in the mood for a sandwich.

Of interest is that the complimentary salsa is one of the mildest I've ever tasted. It's far from a plain tomato sauce (looking at YOU, [insert name of that forgettable place north of Loxley that is somehow still in business when El Paisita exists]. It's mild, but there's flavor here. Still, if you expect a salsa to bite back, you'll want to add some hot sauce. Or a lot.

Service was friendly and attentive. My only non-food related complaint would be the fierce afternoon sun blazing in through the front door and windows was quite annoying for everyone sitting on the left side of the restaurant. They need some shades to cut back on the glare!

Food-wise, I have no complaints, but one suggestion: the burritos come in a myriad of choices, but one that's lacking is chicken and chorizo. There's just chorizo, and the steak and chorizo one I tried, but chicken and chorizo is the flavor combo you don't know you love yet. I'm sure they'd do it if asked but it'd be nice to see it on a menu somewhere.

I didn't think I'd ever need to try a new Mexican place in this area since we have so many already, but I'm glad I did. This is worth trying if you live in the east Foley area, and worth a drive from other parts of town to see how they do things just a teeny bit different from your...

First time here and as the server was taking us to our table she asked if we wanted cheese dip. There was no greeting, or drink order. I politely said, "no" and when she came back to take our order I asked her if the cheese dip was free and she stated no. I find it odd for that to be the first thing a server says to customers and also not to mention it cost extra. I asked what was in the burritos and she stated they all came with rice, beans, and cheese inside except for the Loco one that had extras. Well, our burritos only contained meat. There were no other fillings inside so I asked the server if it was possible the chef forgot and she replied, "I don't know." She never went to check so I have no idea if she was incorrect in what was supposed to be in the burritos or they actually forgot the fillings. Also, my plate was full of what appeared to be grease, possibly from the beef. When I asked the server if it was grease she said, "I don't know." Servers should know about the menu and if they don't know something they should go ask. I asked her several questions about the menu and she wasn't able to answer most of my questions and she didn't go to find out the information either. I didn't like that you only get one free basket of chips as most Mexican places the chips & salsa is unlimited. However, the salsa was excellent, the rice & beans served on the side had great flavor, but the food wasn't very hot.

When I got the bill there was a transaction fee. I asked the server if it was a credit card charge because I could pay cash or use a debit card. She said it was because the restaurant got a new computer system. I asked her what that had to do with charging customers a transaction fee and she said it was just something the computer charges. I find this ridiculous if it's true. It was a frustrating experience having a server that didn't know about things and being charged a transaction fee for who knows...

Very cold, plain, sparse space, w/unprofessional haphazard service. The house margarita has virtually zero tequila & a very cheap, syrupy chemical-lime color + flavor. Nachos Supreme was gross w/very watery-liquid grease, flavorless ground beef + runny, watered down "sour cream", very little off-brand Velveeta style "cheese", day-old unseasoned guacamole & pickled (NOT fresh) jalapenos. There were zero tomatoes, pico, nor onions anywhere on the dreadful plate. To top off the absolutely terrible food, drinks & service the bill arrived w/totally different prices than the listed menu prices ??!! After waiting a full 10 minutes, I was told that the prices on the bill included a "2%" surcharge for using a credit card. Well it was way more than "2%" + I was trying to pay cash. She told me to just subtract "2%" and pay that amount. My calculator determined the new prices were precisely 10.5% higher than those listed on the menu = very dishonest practice. It took her another 19 minutes to finally return w/a bill listing the actual menu prices. I paid, tipping 20% & will NEVER return. Such an absolute shame as I live in the neighborhood & had such high hopes for this lil place. Btw: there is a new, fantastic Mex spot just across the street @ OWA called Cozumel I believe, that has fantastic food, drinks, service, and cheaper prices than this place, El...