Fiesta Tapatia — Restaurant in Mishawaka

Fiesta Tapatia is a vibrant spot that serves up a feast not only for the palate but for the eyes as well, especially when it comes to their dazzling drink menu. The margaritas are the true showstoppers here, with an impressive array of sizes and presentations that can cater to any preference or occasion. The playful touch of mini liquor bottles floating atop the drinks like buoyant, boozy baubles adds a whimsical flair to the already festive atmosphere.

The food, while it might play second fiddle to the drinks, holds its own with commendable quality. The mole, in particular, deserves a shout-out for its expert seasoning—a rich tapestry of flavors that is a testament to the kitchen's dedication to authenticity and taste. The portions are generous, ensuring that no patron leaves without a full stomach and the feeling of having experienced true value.

The ambiance of Fiesta Tapatia is lively, perhaps a bit too exuberant for those who prefer a quieter dining environment since the music tends to be on the louder side. However, this contributes to the restaurant's energetic vibe, which is perfect for those looking to dine in a place that pulses with life.

Service at Fiesta Tapatia doesn't skip a beat; it's both quick and efficient. The staff ensures that food arrives promptly, a feature that is particularly appreciated when hunger strikes and you're eager to dive into their delectable offerings.

As for the pricing, it's a pleasant surprise. Expect to pay less than what you might at other establishments, which is a refreshing find, especially when considering the quality and portions of the meals and drinks served.

In conclusion, Fiesta Tapatia is a delightful destination for anyone in search of a lively dining experience with standout drinks, tasty food, and an unbeatable value. Whether you're there to savor their exceptional margaritas or indulge in their flavorsome dishes, you're in for a treat—just be prepared for a side of spirited ambiance to accompany your meal.

Note: this establishment has a separate 21+ entrance for the bar, which adds a layer of convenience for those looking to enjoy the spirited ambiance of the bar area.

However, for newcomers, this setup may lead to a bit of initial confusion, especially if the goal is to dine in the main area rather than the bar. My experience began with this slight mix-up, as I entered through the bar side. Thankfully, the attentive staff, including a particularly helpful bartender, remedied the situation by promptly finding us a table in the dining area.

For future patrons, a pro tip to ensure seamless seating: if the bar isn't your destination, opt to enter from the corner entrance. This will guide you directly to the main dining room hostess stand, bypassing any potential for misunderstanding and...

I don’t normally write reviews, but after a lot of thought about our disgusting experience last night I think it’s only right to share so others can be aware. We tried Fiesta Tapitia last night for the first time, it was around 8pm and they were not busy, but it was apparent very quickly that the hostess was annoyed with having to seat us although there was no one else in the entry. We were seated quickly, in a large and incredibly loud and echoey room with about 7 other tables seated. Our server was very nice, and quickly brought us our chips, salsa and drinks. The menu is very large, so as we looked through the pages we munched on our chips and salsa, talking about what we might get when about half way through our basket of chips we made a horrifying discovery. At the bottom of the basket was TRASH. Opened sauce packets and USED NAPKINS! I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I’ve never experienced something so disgusting in a restaurant. I have worked in plenty, I understand accidents happen, but there is absolutely no way that this was an accident. The trash was completely covered and hidden by chips. There was no way we could have known before eating the chips without actually digging through them to check, which isn’t exactly something you expect to need to do when out to eat, but believe me.. I will be doing it now. How in the world do you manage to give customers a basket of chips with used napkins in the bottom?? Either they care so little that they are just taking uneaten chips from tables, plopping some more on top and just recycling them to new customers, or an employee legitimately saw the trash and purposely covered them up and served them. Both options are disturbing. We immediately informed our server and showed him the trash, expressing how upset we were about it. He removed the basket from our table and apologized, and then asked us if we were ready to order. We told him absolutely not, we are done and won’t be ordering food. I mean we just found trash in our food, why in the world would we order more?? I’ve been trying not to think of the worst, hoping that the used napkin was to wipe up a spill and not a Kleenex, but who knows. I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I plan on calling the health department on Monday to express...

Initially I was skeptical based on the menu, but the reviews seemed to reflect a fantastic eatery at 5 stars. My father and I initially came in just to test the waters, we went to the bar and got a margarita flight which was presented very thoughtfully with a snack pairing elegantly with each of the four different flavors of margaritas along with different rims on the glasses. I’m not much of a tropical flavor person, but I must say they were very well prepared, no complaints from me, and I would highly recommend the blue raspberry one, it was delicious. We had the flight paired with an appetizer of guac and another round of chips and salsa, which yes is an additional cost unlike most other Mexican restaurants. Without comparing it directly to other restaurants I’d say just chips and salsa as a stand alone I’d give a strong 8/10, was a bit watery for my liking, but definitely made up in flavor, probably one of the better salsas I’ve tasted. I honestly can’t say much for the guac, it was good, but I wouldn’t consider myself a proficient guac taster, I would gladly get it again. We eventually did stay for the full course and got ourselves some tacos. They come in a set of 3, and are surprisingly quite filling. I had the carne asada tacos and my father had the chicken tacos. The meat is minced up along with all the other ingredients and served on corn tortillas. When I say these were full, let me tell you, just picking them up and pinching them closed overfilled the tacos and caused a decent amount of filling to be left on the plate. I can’t complain though, the tacos are served with Mexican rice and refried beans which both tasted great especially paired with all of the taco droppings. It was like having an extra burrito bowl as a finisher. If I were to do it again however, I would’ve eaten all of the tacos and saved the sides and droppings as leftovers for another meal the next day. That being said, I had an overall pleasant experience contrary to my expectations going in, highly recommend at least giving them the good ole college try at least, they might just...