Urbano Tex-Mex Restaurant — Restaurant in Merrifield

Overall: 2/10. Would not recommend as-is. I hate leaving a bad review but this was a ridiculous experience. Ambiance and location are the only positives, but everything else was severely lacking. Food was overly salty, safety measures were a bit concerning, and service was either slow, misinformed, or frustrating and we interacted with 8 different employees. I go into detail below for insight into the experience.

Ambiance: 10/10 Probably the biggest thing working in their favor. The location, outdoor seating, and bright and fun decorations/murals are all working in their favor and were what drew me to try the restaurant but it’s not enough just to be pretty in a prime location like Mosaic.

Safety: 2/10 Indoor seating was socially distanced, but that’s because outdoor seating was extremely busy and packed into one part of the patio. There were tables open in the front but they chose to put everyone in one section w/ tables close to each other. Many employees were not covering their noses with masks.

Food and Drinks: 1/10 the one point is because the margaritas were good. We had classic margaritas so it’s hard to mess that up. Sangria was mostly ice and a half filled wine glass, also had an overpowering cinnamon apple taste that made it hard to finish. Food in one word: salty. I’m a huge fan of sour and salt, but this was TOO MUCH SALT. The chips, salsas, guacamole, tacos, beans, rice, and quesadillas were just so salty. We ordered off the HH menu. Chicken tacos were okay at best, simple but came with sides—rice, beans, and guac. Our waiter recommended the chicken quesadillas over the chicken taquitos but then brought out a cheese quesadilla WITH NO CHICKEN and filled with only salty cheese that was no longer warm. Very disappointing and hard to eat.

Service/Experience: 0/10 every single employee we encountered was misinformed, confusing, or frustrating. Both my friend and I called ahead and got different responses about everything. I called to ask if I could reserve a table outside and they said they couldn’t do that. I ended up reserving on OpenTable but the my friend called again and was told they have HH from 4-6 M-Th(which apparently is the right timing). I called to confirm the reservation and was told happy hour was 3-6 Weekdays.

We get there and let the hostess know we have a table but I also asked if we would be able to do happy hour outside(some places in mosaic do bar only HH). She said she doesn’t know and to ask our waiter when we get outside. We go outside and a waiter(#1) brings menus. We ask for a HH menu but he says they do not have a HH...I ask if he’s sure since we called ahead and he goes to check. Another waiter(#2) brings us chips salsa and water. I ask if they do HH and he says yes but he would check since the other waiter said no(#1). About 5 minutes later, waiter(#2) says yes we do have happy hour and brings the menu but says it’s bar only let me check if you can stay outside. Waiter(#1) comes back and says yes we have happy hour 3-6(wrong!) and leaves. 10 minutes later, as we’re ordering with waiter(#2) he says no, it’s bar only— so we move to the bar.

The bartender(#3) takes our marg orders. Get the drinks and 10min later a different waiter(#4) takes our food orders and recommends the chicken quesadilla(that was served without chicken). Food arrives and realize we have no silverware, wait a few minutes before bothering another employee(#6) behind the bar fixing the TV if we could get silverware and hot sauce. Waiter(#1) brings hot sauce and 5min later a different waiter(#6) brings utensils, the food already cold . We realize there’s no chicken in it and it’s just salty cheese. When we point out the missing chicken, the bartender he says “no, HH is cheese only”. I quickly point out where the menu says grilled chicken and how waiter(#3) said chicken so he says “Ok, I won’t charge it”, but no explanation or offer to fix it. We just want to finish drinks and leave but no one is around. 10min of waiting, we ask for the bill and another 15min to get the check & run...

Well, after a run of all positive reviews of other places; we’ve come to a screeching halt. Grab a chair, kick up your feet and get strapped in, this one is a doozy.

I wish i could say the issues started from the moment we walked in, but they started way way before that. No, the problem began right when i tried to make the reservation. It’s not that difficult of a process. You tell them the date, the amount of people, your phone number or email, and your name. BASIC INFORMATION. The hostess on the phone was inept and kept asking me to repeat my information. Why did i have to repeat my name 5 times? Zach should be simple enough…. This reservation was a part of my birthday celebration, i was going to the gym with some friends and then drinks and dinner after.

Now let’s take it to about 25 minutes before my reservation. They tried calling me, interrupting my gym class. I hit decline; they then proceeded to try calling me again another 3 times…

We showed up right in time for my reservation. When i gave my name; the hostess informed me, there is no reservation. i had to pull out my phone and flash the screen to her, her response: oh, i had it under a different name. HOW HARD IS IT TO ENTER IN ZACH?

I wish i could say service got better. It did not. None of the waiters checked in on us. I can count on one hand, the amount of times we were helped Once for water and drink orders, once for food orders, once to ask for the check, another to pay the check. Oh, and 3 of those 4 times, we’ve had to flag the waiter down. One of my friends was literally waiving her arms around like a lunatic, and no one came to help….

The ONLY saving grace was the guacamole was amazing, the rest of the food i didn’t care much for. Oh… and the cherry on the cake was a 20% gratuity tacked on for a party of 6… now, I’m not cheap, i tend to be on the generous side of tipping anyways. Did the servers intentionally not try as hard since they knew they’re already getting paid? The place was not packed, and they were not deserving of 20%. Since I was with company i didn’t cause a scene, but had the circumstances been different, i would’ve fought tooth and nail to had that 20% removed. I might have to come in a separate time just to talk to a...

Margarita I ordered was alright not anything to gush about. But I am spoiled these days by the bar down the street at Parc de Ville that is crafting outstanding drinks (their sazerac is WoW) and further on down the street, at Gallows and Avenir Place, Inca Social makes authentic Peruvian Pisco Sours.

Urbano serves ultra thin corn chips that are made in-house and they are sensational in my opinion. The freshness factor puts them at the head of the pack. Two salsas come with the chips and each is terrific. Topping it off the chips and salsas are complimentary.

I ordered combination fajitas (flank steak and chicken) that were perfectly prepared. Steak and chicken were tender and flavorful. I appreciate that the onions were nicely charred. That is what I am looking for when ordering fajitas, char flavor. The fajitas entree comes with rice, refried beans and 4 high quality flour tortillas.

Urbano has flan on the menu for dessert but they do not have coffee. I was stunned. But as adaptable as many of us have become in the last year, knowing that Dolcezza coffee at Mom & Pops not far away, I ordered flan to go and enjoyed it with black Dolcezza coffee.

Portions are generous at Urbano and I boxed half of my dinner otherwise I would not have been able to have flan for dessert. The restaurant is a corner location so their alfresco area is sizable though I dined inside at a high top table butted up against the bar which is a typical accommodation in restaurants these days. Tables are spaced far apart and there is a good amount of open floor space.

The kitchen is an open kitchen and the business is well staffed. There were more than a dozen people in various roles - bartenders, servers/order takers and runners on the floor and a handful of kitchen staff preparing food. Because of the open kitchen design the space has bistro acoustics of rustling silverware and clicking of plates. But those sounds are challenged by high volume of the music. The music volume is my only strong criticism that I fully recognize is a personal preference though I am sure there are many who enjoy loud music...