Maria's Mexican Kitchen — Restaurant in Fort Worth

Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to drop a review so glowing, it might just spontaneously combust. We're talking about Maria's in Fort Worth, and let me tell you, I've tried. I've really tried to find something, anything negative to say about this place. I've squinted, I've scrutinized, I've even employed my highly attuned "Mexican Auntie Discerning Eye" (it's a real thing, look it up). And you know what? Nothing. Nada. Zip. This place is so good, it's almost infuriating. A Little Slice of Paradise (Seriously, I Checked My Passport) Whether I'm basking in the Texas sun on their patio or cozied up inside, the decor at Maria's is pure magic. One minute you're in Fort Worth, the next you're convinced you've been teleported to the vibrant streets of Veracruz or a charming cantina in Acapulco. The colors, the art, the general vibe – it's all meticulously crafted to make you feel like you're on a mini-vacation, even if you just came from a particularly soul-crushing Tuesday meeting. My Ancestors Are Weeping (Tears of Joy, Of Course) Now, as a proud Mexican (or at least, someone who can whip up a mean guacamole and knows the difference between a good salsa verde and dishwater), I consider myself somewhat of an authority on authentic Mexican food. And Maria's? They nail it. I've devoured their mole (rich, complex, and utterly divine), their sopes (perfectly thick and flavorful), their quesadillas (the cheese pull alone deserves an award), their ceviche (fresh as a sea breeze), and their enchiladas (each bite a warm hug). Every single dish has been so spot-on authentic, I swear my ancestors are doing the Jarabe Tapatío in my honor. It's like my abuela herself is in the kitchen, whispering secrets to the chef. The Unsung Heroes: Music, Service, and Those Chilled Glasses But it's not just the food that makes Maria's a standout. The music is always just right – lively enough to make you tap your foot, but never so loud that you can't hear your dining companions (or your inner voice screaming "ORDER MORE TACOS!"). And the service? Oh, the service! It's beyond superb. These folks are ninjas of hospitality. They're doing things like chilling your glasses for all beverages – and believe me, in this Texas heat, a frosty glass for your agua fresca is a game-changer. They make sure you're never unattended, anticipating your needs before you even realize you have them. It's those small, thoughtful details that truly elevate the experience and make you feel like you're not just eating out, you're being pampered on vacation. The Bar Vibe: My Happy Place And don't even get me started on the bar. It has a fantastic vibe, whether you're grabbing a pre-dinner drink or settling in for the evening. I've never had a bad experience, never a poorly made drink, never a moment where I didn't feel completely at ease. So there you have it. My utterly futile attempt to find fault with Maria's. If you're looking for an authentic, delicious, and genuinely delightful Mexican dining experience in Fort Worth, stop looking....

NOT FOR LARGE GROUPS— I will preface this by saying we were a large group (12 people)…. When I made the reservations (3 weeks in advance) I had asked if they would split checks amongst the couples- I was told that this would be no issue, and the only stipulation for our group of 12 was that we would be seated on the patio. The night started out with being sat 20 minutes past our reservation time- when I checked on when we would be seated, the host seemed annoyed that I was asking. When we were finally seated, we were sat inside (this wasn’t a big deal but foreshadowing for how the night would go) the place is LOUD but beautifully decorated. We ordered drinks first, then appetizers… the appetizers came out after about 10 minutes but our drinks still hadn’t been served. The waitress came to take our dinner order, and the drinks still hadn’t arrived. I asked and she went to go check- someone else came back and said they only had enough frozen margaritas for one side of the table, not the other. Once the drinks were served the side who did get the frozen margaritas were almost completely melted. Later in the night I saw other tables being served frozen margaritas- including people at our table. Our table was served their dinner at different times, after waiting for so long, the manager did come out to apologize and the people who were still waiting for food told those of us who had food to go ahead and eat… almost everyone who had food had finished their plates before some people even received theirs. The waitress would disappear and it would take forever to get service. She brought the check out and when we asked her to split it, she said she’d have to ask their manager if she could because they don’t normally do that (again- I asked if they would when the reservation was made). This became a HUGE issue…. We had multiple servers and the manager coming to talk to us about how we wanted the check split. We offered to write down what we got, number a receipt, print individual seat receipts whatever we could do to make it easier… every time they came up with a new plan, they would be gone in the back for 10-15 minutes. The manager got snippy with some of the women at our table, said they got confused because we all were changing seats (which we didn’t), they added food, drinks, and shots that we didn’t order. It was just a huge huge mess- it took almost an hour to get the check situated. We were there for a 30th birthday celebration and I was embarrassed and mortified with how poor the service and management was. Especially for the price of everything on the menu! The fish and shrimp tacos were not very good- but those who ordered the enchiladas and fajitas really enjoyed theirs.

At the end of the evening, it seems like the restaurant has staff and management problems- and are very proud of their food/drinks. I’m sad we had such a terrible experience- may be best if you go in a group of 2-4 and expect to...

Not a fan.

I don’t think there’s a single restaurant off of university that I do not like with consideration to their respective price categories except for this one. Maria’s was something to look forward too when the old steakhouse moved, but i was sorely disappointed. I meant to write this review when it first opened but forgot until i went through my phone to clear out old photos.

Maria’s “hot sauce”, tasted like they opened up a can of tomato paste and added some water and salt to it. Had no flavor or texture; possibly the worst sauce at a restaurant we ever tasted. Presentation of the meals were nice, and my husband’s meal was ok. I however, ordered an entrée that included fish, and the fish had clearly gone bad. It had a really gross consistency and even worse flavor. I was highly disappointed as I really wanted to like this place because it looked cute.

The aesthetics of the restaurant are on point however the atmosphere is not great in that they did not take into consideration any sound absorption when designing. They pack so many tables into small spaces that it gets unbearably loud for dinner. Not a great place to go on a date.

The service was OK, but nothing spectacular, and it is the main reason for the one star rating. While the waiters were nice, it took so long to get any attention, especially in light of my meal being completely bad. By the time they came back to check on us, my husband was half way done through his food, and was sharing his meal with me. Additionally, the only reason we aren’t giving it a second chance is the valet service. Parking used to be free here. Tell me why in the world you would charge customers to valet their cars that your valet parks only a few feet from the entrance, while consequentially blocking ALL parking spots and forcing your customers that opt to park themselves to walk from much further spaces down the street? Makes no rational sense, right up there with tipping for fast food.

So glad...