Jalapeño's Restaurant — Restaurant in Lexington

My family has been eating at Jalapeno's since they opened on New Circle Road in the 70s. I also ate there regularly with my IBM lunch bunch a lot during the 80s. And then even more after my son was born in 1996. And now I eat at South Broadway location regularly. I'd say an average of once a month, sometimes once a week, for all these years. It's been consistently great service, very good food, and it's just a very welcoming place. If something isn't right, they make it right. The place is always very clean, and the service is really fast for meals that are prepared to order. I'm a very very picky eater, and for example, we ate there this week for my nephew's 36th birthday (he picks Jalapeno's every year for his bday dinner) and I wanted something I just made up - rice with grilled chicken, and their queso, and some tomatos added in; it was delicious. The staff knows our family and what we order and who wants no quac, who wants extra sour cream, who wants their drink in a To Go cup, and a bag for the leftover chips. It's just a very service oriented establishment that is our whole family's GO TO place, our THIRD place, if you will. The owner/manager is almost always there, but there is no need as all of the staff have been with him for many many years! And they have Game Day specials! Oh and their marguaritas are exceptional. And in good weather, the patio seating is awesome. They also go out of their way to accommodate both my parents on...

I might have just experienced the worst service I have ever had at a restaurant and I was the ONLY patron in the whole establishment. There were at least 6 gentlemen working tonight and only 1 patron, myself. The order was fast, the food came out immediately. I wasn't taken by my entrée selection, that's my fault. I've eaten here before and enjoyed the food. I was going to order something else, problem was no one ever came to check on me after the entrée was served and my soda refilled. That happened almost simultaneously. I would have been happy to pay for 2 entrées to enjoy my dinner. I often do. Sometimes you just make a bad selection. Trouble was, I can't abide poor service. They left me there for 22 minutes, and it wasn't until I got up and walked to the staging area in front of the kitchen to grab a box, for the food I wasn't eating, that any one noticed the only customer in the restaurant. Even then, it was the cook, not my server. I turned back to my table to get my jacket and only then did my server show up to drop off the check. As it happened I was too frustrated to stay long enough to box the food. They lost money on the extra entrée I would have bought. They lost all future revenue from me, because I'll never enter...

It was really good! Not too busy, so service was attentive and quick. The food was hot and delicious and met all expectations of what you expect to enjoy at any sit down Mexican dining establishment. I only give 5⭐ when I'm really blown away by something, but if I could give it another 1/2 a star I would because they did do a bit better than just meeting expectations. Unfortunately not enough better for me to be"blown away" so the 4 star rating will have to stand.

But I'd recommend for sure. This is a solid bet to place if you're in the mood for authentic Mexican dining, with a budget that says even though you wanna go out and enjoy a meal that's satisfying, you want it to be affordable but it doesn't have to be cheap. This and the host of small independent Mexican restaurants just like it that you tend to find in this part of the country all seem to live in that sweet spot of being budget approved but still being an outing that ticks all the boxes to feel like a bit of a treat to give yourself as a hard won personal lunch or the whole family when you decide to go out for dinner. I'm pleasantly reporting that Jalapeno's Mexican restaurant is...