El Carrizal Mexican Restaurant & Cantina — Restaurant in Hartselle

Gave this place a week after opening as to give them a fair chance. Well, it was a regrettable to say least. First off give them credit for decor and cleanliness, but sadly that’s where the praise ends. The “complementary” chips and salsa was lacking. Chips were average, the salsa (both bowls they brought out to the table initially) were diluted and watery. Menu is not diverse or different than anything can be found and surrounding similar spots. It was a party of 3 of us, all the food came out in 5-8 minute intervals, nothing together. Food was average and didn’t stand out in any way to the same type restaurants that were 5 miles away. The only way El Carrizal is different was in price, same/similar food at the previously mentioned places was 25-40% higher. The service was slow and unresponsive, and like I said, we went week after opening and pre-dinner hours 430-500 PM. We had to get our ticket corrected, but only after several attempts to flag our waiter down who we observed only having 2 other tables. Hope the best for this place, but will have to do without...

Authentic mexican food lol maybe if all you have ever had is taco bell. If your gonna pick a mexican restaurant in hartselle this should be last, i have been 3 times first week of opening out of 4 people at our table not one persons food was correct, so figured we would give it a second chance the orders were correct but food was very bland no flavor, tonight after a year of being open we figured well go give it a shot, didnt feel like driving to Casa Santiago which i would highly recommend 5 stars our favorite i ordered a shrimp dish which was supposed to be grilled shrimp with onions and garlic served with tortilas rice beans and avacodo salad. It was terrible there were no onions shrimp were over cooked and just tasted like lemon lime with no tortilas and the salad plate was a joke . Needless to say 3rd time was not the charm will...

I went today, on their third day being open. The restaurant is beautiful, but the food is Mid at best. And so pricey! I spent $40 for food for one person, the food was cold when I got it, and the mushroom quesadilla I had was not great. It was just mushrooms and cheese in an undercooked tortilla. Also a small cheese dip was $6. The food wasn't terrible, but for the price, it was underwhelming. I hope they get better as they progress with their business.

Update! I went back with my family and tried it again and the food was much better. I think the first day was a fluke, because all of our food was really good today. It's still pretty expensive for what you get, but I would recommend it for a date night or dinner...