Tequila Modern Mexican 2 — Restaurant in Manhattan

TL;DR if you ever find yourself standing in front of Tequila Modern Mexican with a craving for Mexican food…get back in your car and head 3 minutes up the road to El Tap. Enduring 30-50 drunk K-State students is worth it.

My experience here began simply: I like to try the new local restaurants. So, I walked in to Tequila Modern Mexican and like many others I was impressed by the atmosphere (save a giant neon pink sign reading ‘Good Vibe’s Only’ and no that apostrophe error is not mine). Things didn’t begin incredibly as I stood up front for a good two minutes or so with various staff members staring at me from across the restaurant, and the one who did come by seemed someone confused that I was following the posted sign to wait to be seated. Despite this small hiccup, service was fine overall - very attentive and kind staff.

The real trouble with Tequila Modern Mexican is the food. Chips and salsa came quickly, alongside a bowl with a white substance in it that I initially thought was queso. Dear reader, it was not queso. The Sauce had a strong mayonnaise taste, with perhaps a hint of ranch dressing. I simply could not identify it. Upon flagging down a waitress she informed me - somewhat shamefacedly - that The Sauce was mayonnaise, fresh cilantro, and vegetable seasonings and was “more of a creamy sauce.”

I will give it that. It was certainly creamy.

Once the mystery of The Sauce was put to rest, I was able to pay attention to the chips - very thick and stale, and lacking salt. Which, like spare napkins, is not located conveniently on the table. I did not ask for it, and I do not blame the staff, but it is something to keep in mind if your dish may require more napkins.

My drink came, also quickly - again the staff is great - a strawberry daiquiri in a very cute little pineapple glass. It was served with a novelty curly straw and a maraschino cherry, the stem of which I was unable to discard on account of the aforementioned lack of extra napkins. The flavor was fine, however the drink had not been blended enough to make drinking with a long, novelty straw remotely feasible. It was hardly feasible with the regular straw I transferred from my water cup. I then thought to just drink it the old fashioned way, a feat made extremely difficult and very silly looking by the shape of the glass - the vase-like top is not conducive to drinking without a straw.

And then my entree came. I ordered the Tacos Petras which, per the menu, is meant to be served with “carnitas, grilled pineapple and onion, fresh cilantro, onion, and Petra’s salsa.” I will grant, I did not ask what Petra’s salsa was. My tacos arrived, sans the onions, fresh cilantro, onions, and (maybe) Petra’s salsa. Unless The Sauce is in fact Petra’s salsa, I couldn’t tell you and I didn’t ask.

“How was the flavor?” You may ask.

“What flavor?” I reply. “There is only The Sauce.” Which is a bit of an exaggeration, because there was also a fair bit of grease - which is expected with carnitas, but made the lack of napkins ever more troubling.

As I write this an hour later, the only taste in my mouth is still The Sauce.

Perhaps it was a bad batch of The Sauce. Perhaps it’s meant to have a stronger cilantro taste, or even a lime zest to it. Less Hidden Valley Ranch, more crema. Perhaps the other food options, lacking The Sauce, are better and more flavorful. I couldn’t tell you.

What I can say is that Manhattan has no shortage of Mexican restaurants. I don’t...

Glad to finally try this place; a new west side dining establishment! On our first visit, we decided to go elsewhere due to the long line and a 45 minute anticipated wait time. This visit there was still a line but I think they were actually trying to get a table set up for a larger group that was waiting.

Upon check-in, we were loosely greeted and I informed the hostess we had two in our party. I wasn’t really sure if she heard me because she didn’t respond or acknowledge in any fashion. She just continued to work on what appeared to be carry out orders. Not sure, but a dedicated greeter would’ve been helpful and more of a pleasant exchange. After a few minutes, another staff member approached us and led us to a table. The decor is unique and cool and the furnishings appear quality and well thought out. Considerable and appreciable effort was taken with the space and finish. I was, however, disappointed to see that the bathrooms are one-stalled, so that could lead to some inconveniences.

Our waitress was really nice and attentive. She checked in with us routinely and kept our chips and salsa (good but really small portions) available. Due to the small serving size of salsa, you seem to chase your chips around trying to get a sample. They also serve a white, creamy, vegetable mayo dip that kind of tastes like ranch dressing. I thought it was okay but my son didn’t care for it. Anyway, we ordered our food but, when it arrived, we noticed it wasn’t correct or complete. My son ordered a combination meal that had a chicken burrito and a cheese quesadilla but asked for chicken to be added to the quesadilla and I ordered a combination meal and an a la carte addition of refried beans. My son’s quesadilla was missing the chicken and the chicken burrito now somehow was a shrimp burrito. My side order of beans never arrived. We did share these details with our waitress and she was apologetic but we decided to not request corrections at that point. I’m sure she would’ve obliged.

At checkout, we returned to the front desk area and, again, had to wait several minutes while the hostess continued to work on something with the computer. I fully understand and expect that she was working on other needs, but it does feel strange to just stand in a relatively tight space for an extended amount of time. If other patrons would’ve approached to pay, it would’ve been especially awkward. It didn’t feel like an option, but perhaps you can pay from the table?

In all, I’m still glad and excited for this restaurant, but our first experience was unimpressive and bumpy at best. I suspect they’ll work out some...

I go, I sit, I wait. And then—magic. The chips arrive, warm and crisp, the salsa bold with just the right kick. This is no ordinary salsa; this is poetry for the palate.

I order enchiladas—what do they bring? Enchiladas! Exactly as I ordered, exactly as they should be. The sauce is rich, the cheese perfectly melted, the chicken tender. They understand precision. They understand art.

And the margarita! Oh, the margarita! It is not just a drink; it is a revelation. Balanced, smooth, with tequila that whispers elegance.

The waiter asks, “How is everything?” I say, “It is magnificent.” He laughs. No joke! I mean it. Tequila Modern is not just a restaurant—it is an experience.

5 out of 5 stars. Manhattan, you are lucky to...