La Barquita Restaurant — Restaurant in Phoenix

Up until tonight I was willing to consider this restaurant as one the best Mom and pop Mexican restaurants in Phx. We've been coming here at least once a week for about the last 8 months and yeah we use the 20% off coupon when we do, so what, we always tip accordingly. Anyways about the first two visits were amazing, food was excellent, hot and plentiful, I almost felt like I was being undercharged. Service was great too even though our server was pregnant she never let us go thirsty. Then we noticed the last few visits, food and service starting to go downhill, I was in denial because I love their fajitas so much. Beans were coming out first and weren't really hot almost cold. My wife and I don't eat rice so when we say hold the rice just double the beans, they never come out double. Other things started slipping like refills on tea and getting our check in a timely manner but tonight sealed the deal, NO MAS! It was my sons girlfriends birthday and we could have went any where else and been treated better than we did here! First of all my son didn't get what he ordered but ate it any way. His girlfriend was satisfied with what she got. I was satisfied with the supreme fajitas (lots of shrimp) my wife ordered the same and I was going to take her shrimp but she was only served a couple, and both of our beans were cold and not doubled, Fail! Then they ran out of tea for my wife's refill, so the waitress(owners niece) offered to bring something else to my wife since it was too late to brew more, w/o disclosing she was going to charge us for it (never assume!) I had already got a tea refill and unbeknownst to me she was charging us for tea refills (menu says free tea refills). Then the guitar man comes around and I usually brush him off but tonight felt good, we're celebrating, he finishes the song I'm gonna slip him a couple of bucks and he says it's 5 dollars! WTH, Applebee's would have sang to her for free! And she would have got a free dessert which comes next in my story, the family ordered a cheesecake just like we got last week welll they brought out some sort of tres leches cake and charged us the cheesecake price! They also charged us for one chips refill, cmon this ain't Boston where corn has to be flown in, no one charges for chips in Phoenix of all places! Well when we confronted the owners niece about the bills inconsistencies she resorted to lecture us that they always charge for tea / chip refills, that they haven't had the cheesecake in over two months when we explained we just had it last week! And showed disbelief that we didn't want to get charged for cheesecake instead of the tres leches Cake price. And that we should have expected to pay for the "Jamaica" water that my wife got instead of a tea refill. All in all it wasn't worth piddling over a few dollars from an owners niece perspective, we have told untold numbers of people about this place, one in particular, my daughters boyfriend from Columbia won't eat Mexican except for here! Well this place won't EVER see us again, like I said...

My dad has been raving about this place and trying to get me to visit, and finally, I did. What I discovered was an absolute gem of an authentic Mexican restaurant. It may not catch your eye from the outside, but the moment you step through its doors, you’re in for an extraordinary experience.

First and foremost, the service here is exceptional. It’s like being welcomed into a close-knit family. The staff is incredibly attentive, sweet, and they make you feel right at home. Their warm hospitality adds a unique and heartwarming dimension to the dining experience.

Now, let’s talk about the food - it’s nothing short of unreal. Every dish bursts with flavor, and you can tell it’s made with the freshest ingredients. From the first bite, you’re transported to the heart of Mexico. It’s a true culinary adventure, and I can’t get enough of it.

This place might not have the flashy exterior of some restaurants, but trust me, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Once you step inside, you’re enveloped in an atmosphere of authenticity and warmth that’s hard to find elsewhere.

If you’re on the hunt for the best authentic Mexican cuisine and a dining experience that feels like family, look no further. This hidden gem has it all - incredible food, top-notch service, and an ambiance that will keep you coming...

Great stop. I was in the area to meet someone for lunch and we decided to check this place out. I’d been nearby in the past for coffee (same lot) so easy to find. The parking lot is fairly small, but at 11 on a Tuesday it wasn’t too hard to find a spot. The front door faces McDowell where you walk into a small hostess station. We waited to good few minutes before being greeted, but were then taken right to a table with some yummy chips and salsa in no time. Our drink order was taken while we looked over the menu. Sodas are canned and they brought us cups of ice. There were so many good things to choose from but we settled on carnitas and chile verde both with their homemade corn tortillas which were phenomenal. I loved that they didn’t skimp on how many like ALOT of other Mexican restaurants. All of our food was so good. My chile verde was full of flavor and I left so full. Service was great our entire visit and we even enjoyed their live music while we ate. Don’t let the outside building fool you. It is quite old looking, bars on the window, but it’s worth the stop. We’ll definitely be back when...