Don Mario Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Lakeway

I would honestly give Don Mario 3.5 ⭐ if it was possible.

We received a coupon in the mail for BOGO enchiladas and/or a free small queso with purchase of two entrees so we decided to take the family and try it out. We went on a Thursday evening around 6:30, and the restaurant was quite busy. The waitress promptly took our drink order and served us complimentary chips and warm salsa that was more runny and tomatoey than chunky. Although the salsa was good, it wasn't exceptional. My stepson didn’t like it at all.

We saw on the menu that they had additional salsas that seemed more appealing, so we asked if we could taste them. The waitress did indicate that those are only served when you order their Mexican Street Food, but was really nice and let us try them - way better than their complimentary salsa in our opinions. The chips were good and we did enjoy the plain queso.

A little after we got there, the live music started playing. It was nice, but I would argue it was too loud. The music was performed inside, so we were literally yelling at each other over the table just to communicate. It made it a little less enjoyable since we went there to enjoy dinner as a family, but this is my fault for not realizing they have live music from 7-9pm Thursday-Saturday. It would have been tolerable if it wasn’t so loud, or maybe was performed outside.

Our meals arrived in a reasonable amount of time and were visually appealing. However, we found the taste and flavor of the dishes to be pretty underwhelming. I ordered the Mexican Street Tacos, and athough they were decent, they needed the additional salsas to make them flavorful. My stepson ordered chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce, but found them unimpressive and said he wouldn't order them again. My husband ordered two tostadas with ground beef and felt the same way. They both commented that there was potato mixed with their meat, which was unexpected (but, the authentic part).

Given the prices, we expected more from the food. We just didn’t feel it was worth it. The tostada plate was $14, the enchilada plate was $14, and the 6 mini tacos were $16 plus $1.99 for avocado added to the mini tacos. The queso would have been $6, but it was free with our coupon.

The service was good overall, but we did experience a delay in receiving the check and paying the bill. We actually waited significantly longer to get our check and pay than we did at any other point during the process.

Overall, the atmosphere was nice before the music started up, the restaurant was clean and the food presentation was good. However, we were disappointed with the taste of the food, which did not live up to our...

To say the food was disappointing would be a crime. From the outside and the reviews we were moderately excited to try this place (my daughter and I)

Quick easy and fast service to get a table, good size crowd and patrons. The ambiance and decoration were ok nothing special but it was open and free so we didn’t feel crowded or to close to others

The chips and salsa which were brought out were the highlight of the meal, the chips were fresh and warm with a fresh crunch and good flavor. The salsa was the first warning sign, bland without much spice. We ordered a side of guacamole plain with lime (basically avocado mashed up with lime juice). The avocados were fresh, flavorful and made the chips amazing!!!

We asked for the spiciest salsa and were brought three types of salsa each supposedly increasing with spice and flavor. (I am not a champion spice eater but do have a higher tolerance than 75% of the people I know. I tried all three and they all tasted pretty bland and not very different on the spice level. I would say the spiciest of the three was not even as hot as mild sauce at Taco Bell. So I asked again for the spiciest and they brought a new one to me not on the menu but even this one was lacking any spice (you could drink it without problem it was lacking so much spice.

Either way we moved on

I ordered 4 tacos Carnitas, Al pastor, lengua, and bistec. I would rate them 2/10 and the bistec was so bad it tasted like liver I couldn’t even eat it all. None of the tacos I would rate above a 3/10. Would not order again if I was to ever go back(which I’m not planning on returning)

My daughter got 2 enchiladas with sour cream sauce and black beans. She gave it about a 4/10 wasn’t bad but she would not return to eat them again either.

Finally we got the curri and helado. The churros were fresh and the ice cream was a natural vanilla. I would give the desert about a 5/10 lots of cinnamon, a chocolate and condensed cream sauce and a descent ice cream but nothing special.

In the end If you like food with minimum seasoning and no spice this maybe for you, if you have eaten anywhere before with Tex mex or Mexican then I would...

Alright, buckle up, because Don Mario Mexican Restaurant in Austin, Texas, is about to take your taste buds on a wild fiesta!

Let me start by saying, this place rocks! If you're in the mood for some authentic Mexican flavors that'll make your taste buds do the cha-cha, you've come to the right spot.

First things first, let's talk about those tortillas – fresh, warm, and practically hugging your taste buds with every bite. It's like they just rolled out of tortilla heaven and onto your plate. Seriously, forget everything you thought you knew about tortillas because Don Mario's just redefined the game.

And don't even get me started on the salsa – it's like a flavor explosion in your mouth. The warmth of the salsa adds that extra oomph to the already fantastic dishes. It's so good; you might catch yourself wondering if you can take a tub of it home. And try their chicken soup!

Now, let's talk drinks. The Pina-horchata is a game-changer. If you're into that sweet and slightly creamy goodness of horchata, this drink is your new best friend. It's like sipping on a cinnamon-infused cloud with a sprinkle of magic. Sure, it's a tad sweet, but hey, life's too short not to indulge in a little sweetness, right?

The vibe at Don Mario's is as lively as a salsa dance floor. The colors, the music, the aromas – it's like a mini Mexican getaway in the outskirts of Austin. The staff is as friendly as your favorite abuela, making you feel right at home.

So, if you're on the hunt for a Mexican food haven in Austin, look no further than Don Mario's. It's the kind of place that makes you want to shout "¡Olé!" after every bite. Trust me; your taste buds will thank you for this...