Carmen's La Hacienda Novato — Restaurant in Novato

3/16/15

My brother-in-law's cousin is visiting him from Hawaii, so my husband and I drove to Novato to meet her and take them to lunch. After an enthusiastic "yes" from me for Mexican food, Jon suggested La Hacienda. He and my sister used to come here and he said the food was very good.

The food IS very good. The service was really one-two star worthy; but the food makes up for it, and the fact it was a Sunday afternoon and we had nowhere else to be.

It took a couple tries to get drinks delivered to our table. A young man brought chips and salsa (pico de gallo and a hotter one) - I asked him if they had a secret hotter salsa in the back and he said yes, but then just brought another small bowl of the same hot salsa. No comprendo. But the hot salsa was tasty! Especially after our drinks arrived.

I ordered two veggie tacos - Jon's cousin ordered a veggie burrito (they have two types of these also). ONe of the veggie options is beans, lettuce, sour cream, and the other one has roasted vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc.). I ordered one of each and enjoyed them both. Especially the broccoli one, since that's my favorite food! The veggie burrito comes with a sauce which the waitress said she'd put on the side for Sandy, but even after Sandy reminded her it wasn't brought until the meal was done.

My husband had two carne asada and one carnitas taco. He said carnitas was the best. He had to go inside at one point (we sat out front) to get his drink refilled. He also had to go in when it was time to pay to take the credit card up, since it was really hard to get service at our table. A giant wasp visited us more often than our server. My brother in law ordered a quesadilla that was bigger than his appetite - it looked pretty good!

I would definitely return, but not it I were local and needed a spot for a lunch break - service here definitely made this place a great spot for a...

Delicious Food and Excellent Service at Carmen's La Hacienda

On our recent visit to Carmen's La Hacienda in Novato, we had another enjoyable experience. Having been there three times over the past eight years, we were happy to find the quality and atmosphere as delightful as ever. We decided to sit outside, taking advantage of the beautiful weather. The outdoor seating was comfortable and offered a relaxed ambiance, perfect for a casual Sunday lunch.

We started with guacamole and chips. The guacamole was fresh and bursting with flavor. I chose a cold Mexican beer while my significant other enjoyed a hibiscus tea.

For my main course, I opted for the Carne Asada plate. The thinly sliced steak was cooked to perfection and packed with flavor. The accompanying refried beans were rich and delicious. My significant other ordered the Quesadilla Suiza, which was generously filled with melty cheese, making for a satisfying and comforting meal.

The service was outstanding. Our server, a young man, was both professional and attentive throughout our visit. His friendly demeanor and prompt service added significantly to our positive experience. This visit solidified why we have returned to Carmen's La Hacienda. The consistent quality of the food, the pleasant ambiance, and the excellent service make it a top choice for Mexican cuisine in Novato. We left feeling completely satisfied and already looking forward to...

The owners of La Hacienda Taqueria are smart. They know that the clientele where the set up shop are mixed - the very white Novato and the very brown Novato. Where else can you find traditional Mexican fair mixed (burritos in the tradition Mexican way with cheese and sauces on top) with the Americanized Mexican version (aka the plain eat in your hand type) and Fajita's which, although great are not really Mexican but Texican. In other words, a style for everyone.

My friend recommended this place and I'm glad he did. It's really nice to sit outside as they have a great sidewalk spot right on the main drag of Novato. It's charming and comfortable. I thought the food was very good. While not La Taqueria in the Mission, it's great stuff - especially considering it's in Northern Marin. They have Mexican beer on tap which so few Mexican restaurants do. The meat flavor was spiced in a traditional way and the refried beans very good. Seriously good grilled/cooked veggies - probably my favorite detail. About the only thing I didn't care for were the chips and salsa. The salsa was pretty good but the chips tasted outsourced.

The servers were great - way on top of it - they definitely know their craft. I'll visit again when...