Fonda on 12th | Nashville — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

We looked up Mexican food & this was highly recommended. So we paid it a visit a few nights ago & on entering, I loved the ambience. We got bar seats & the bartender ladies were at first attentive. We ordered chips/guac, fish tacos, shortrib quesadilla & a tortilla soup. When we got the chips, we both remarked that they were too greasy. The guac was made on a trolley nearby & was great, but the chips were terrible. Too many of these chips I could tell would upset one’s stomach. Then all the food arrived at once. Not spaced out with soup first, followed by the mains, but all placed down at the same time. The soup I was excited about, as I love tortilla soup. Sadly it had a film of oil across the surface & was again not what we were after. My partner even said geez, this is so oily & so wouldn’t eat the soup. I did try eat it, but felt I was eating spoons of very oily broth. Then the shortrib quesadilla was actually really tasty. We liked that. Then fish tacos were also just too much batter. We like battered fish tacos in general, but these were more batter than a typical Mex restaurant & the fish was small inside & kinda fell out of the batter. So too much oil in that too. Then it was hard to get the attention of the bartenders for water & they didn’t look up enough to check on their bar & customers, who may need something. So all in all we weren’t too happy or impressed. It was overall a greasy meal unfortunately. I do hope they can remedy this & try to make some changes. Chips & salsa are the first sign of a great Mex place sometimes & when we saw the chips, it was a kind of Oh No moment. So my rating is good on atmosphere, but food definitely not great & I’ll probably search elsewhere for Mexican...

On food: Ordered the small $29 "birria enchiladas" with the greens suiza sauce that claimed to be shared with 1-3 people. Which upon getting the food it was really more of a 1 person serving. Unless it's being eaten as an appetizer. It was really delicious! Since the cooks are Latinos, but otherwise it wouldn't serve the 3 people it claims. The portions weren't up to par. You'd still be hungry afterward. The rice was basically not shareable, it was definitely only meant for one person consumption.

Drinks: we got the "Mexican ground coffee" and the michelada. The coffee is just Nescafé cafe de olla, so not exactly actual ground coffee and the coffee cup was dirty. The michelada was actually good paired with the modelo negro. A bit small for what the drink is though, usually it's served in a bigger glass jug / mug. Again seems a bit stingy with portions.

Service was less than desirable. The young man tending us, Shalik was his name, was very unprofessional. Seemed like he couldn't care less that he was serving us, ie leaning on chairs, slouching on the table, poor manners and etiquette. No friendliness was very dry and ill mannered. We felt rushed as well while eating. Also we noticed that when a group of all white women came in, his demeanor changed all of a sudden, smiles and friendliness was all he radiated. So maybe don't be biased towards customers and presumptuous.

The place is nicely decorated and alright atmosphere. BUT the service definitely ruined the experience. To me if my waiter/waitress is rude and not friendly my dining experience is ruined. Regardless how good the food is and ambience is, if the service is bad, it leaves a bad taste...

We’d heard good things about this spot for Mexican food and finally decided to check it out. We showed up on a Friday evening around 6:30 pm and the place was already buzzing with energy — every table full, conversations flowing, and a lively atmosphere. Luckily, two seats opened up at the bar just as we walked in, so we slid right in without a wait.

Food & Drinks: • Pacifico: I started with a Pacifico, the classic Mexican pilsner. It came out ice-cold, crisp, and refreshing — exactly what I like in a beer and the perfect start to the meal. • Fish Tacos: These were a highlight. The fried cod was cooked beautifully — tender and flavorful inside with a light, crunchy batter on the outside. The tortillas were warm and fresh, soft with just the right chew and a nice corn flavor that tied it all together. Definitely one of the better fish tacos I’ve had. • Carne Asada: The skirt steak came medium as ordered, juicy and perfectly seasoned. The char on the outside gave it that extra smoky texture we love, while the fresh chopped tomatoes added a burst of brightness, sweetness, and balance to the savory steak. Every bite was delicious, and this dish ended up being our favorite of the night.

Overall, dinner was a hit. Everything we tried was flavorful, fresh, and satisfying. Between the lively vibe, the friendly service at the bar, and the food that really delivered, this place is one we’ll definitely be back to. Next time, we already have our eyes on trying more of their tacos and maybe a...