Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Fort Lee

I am not one of the people who dishes out 5 stars just for the heck of it (check my history) but when I do, the place fully deserves it. anything under 4 stars and I don't review.

I love Yelp to help me out and steer us to the right place. So last night, wife and I wanted Mexican. Our go to place is Rosa Mexicana but we didn't want to go to Manhattan so I looked around the area for something near but decent too.

We read a few around here but when I came to the review here, I wanted to see why the low ranking (rubbernecking). After reading almost all of the review, the negatives were mostly from people complaining about delivery service. All of the positive reviews focused on food and atmosphere.

The place is on Lemoine Ave and you need to park right in front of the place or around there. Which is fine and we did park right near it. The place is certainly not a hole in wall. The place was clean and certainly not dingy. It's not a fanfare restaurant and certainly nothing extravagant and if you want something with white linen clothes and really gauche place, this isn't it. However, if you want a very homey, comfortable environment, this is the place. On top of the place atmosphere the homey environment is helped tremendously by the service.

Now that we get parking and decor out of the way, let's talk about food. The guacomole appetizer (not unlike Rosa Mexicana's) is a MUST. Fantastic flavoring, excellent balance of avacado, spices, and everything else that makes up that masterpiece. People complain about the price? Trust me, it's worth every penny.

My wife had steak and I had shrimp fajitas. Both were fresh, juicy, surrounded by the right type of "supporting cast" of onions, spices, and juices. The right balance is what really makes these dishes unreal and really very authentic Mexican dishes. The shrimp were not "fishy" at all, very crisp, cooked to perfect texture and taste. I've tried my wife's steak and it was just fantastic. The meat was perfect in every way (not too soft but definitely not too hard).

The beans! Oh my, you folks have to have try their beans. I know it's a simple dish, but trust me, if you get it with your dish or you get it as a side, you will be glad you've read this suggestion.

The service was personal, it was NEVER ever pushy and rushed. It was just like being in your own restaurant with your family owned environment, one of the best services we've had in many months (and we go out a lot).

Overall, if you want a great atmosphere and thfantastic food, this is the...

Decades ago I used to frequent a bar in the Village called Burrito Loco. We always had the same server/bartender. I went there A LOT. Fast forward to about 10 years ago. I was living in Pal Park and I had a craving for Mexican food. I saw this place in Fort Lee and I decided to go there to eat. It's a moderately sized place with nice decorations. Festive, clean and well lit. I'm not sure what I ordered (probably enchiladas or a shrimp dish) but I do remember it being pretty good. During this visit our waiter (the owner) said to me "you used to go to Burrito Loco right? I remember you". What?! I could not believe it! It had been over 2 decades since I had been there! I guess I left a lasting impression back then and hadn't aged much (yellow don't mellow lol). To this day I am still shocked! Anyway, while living in Pal Park I ordered from here once in a while. Delivery always took forever! Currently I live back in my hometown of Englewood. There are a few great authentic Mexican places nearby (no, not Blue Moon. It's not "authentic", it's Tex-mex......I worked there for 4 years a long time ago). I was in the mood for a different Mexican place so I decided to order from here through GrubHub. The food came earlier than estimated and was still nice and hot. Portions were great, order was packed well, and they sent free chips and salsa (I hate when places don't send chips and salsa or bread for free when it's free when you dine in). Everything was very good, but fell short on a couple of things......the shredded beef in the tacos was surprisingly bland. I felt horrible for my man because it was the only thing he had (he doesn't eat rice & beans). My burrito Poblano was awesome BUT not nearly enough of that delicious mole sauce. They need to put some of that sauce inside the burrito too. Overall I will definitely order from here again. Maybe I'll even stop in to say...

Cinco de Mayo in Fort Lee offers a pleasantly calm and inviting atmosphere, making it a good choice for a relaxed meal. The decor is quite nice, contributing to a comfortable and authentic feel without being overly loud or flashy. This tranquil environment is likely enhanced by the fact that they don't serve liquor, ensuring a more serene dining experience. The standout of our visit was undoubtedly the service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and efficient, making us feel well-cared for throughout our meal. It's clear that customer service is a priority here. When it came to the food, it was okay. The dishes were decent, but perhaps didn't quite reach the level of "memorable" or "exceptional." It satisfied our Mexican food cravings, but didn't necessarily leave us wanting to rush back for a specific dish. A particular note for horchata lovers: while I usually adore the drink, the horchata here could have been better, missing some of the rich, sweet, and spiced notes I typically seek. One of the big positives is the reasonable pricing. You get good value for your money, especially considering the comfortable setting and excellent service. Overall, if you're looking for a quiet, calm spot in Fort Lee for Mexican food, where friendly service and reasonable prices are top priorities, Cinco de Mayo fits the bill. Just be prepared for a BYOB experience and manage your expectations for...