Pitic Restaurant and Lounge — Restaurant in Phoenix

This wasn't terrible by any means, but was a reminder/lesson that it's usually not the best idea to pick a place based on the Google description. My chum and I came here right off a plane from the nearby airport (literally a two-minute drive from the rental car garage) because we were pretty hungry, had a long drive ahead of us, and a quick perusal of the Google Maps of the nearby vicinity identified this as "award-winning Mexican." Call me skeptical.

I don't know Phoenix well but I don't get the impression this neighborhood is the best (though in its defense, I'm hard-pressed to think of too many areas near airports that are). It was actually a little difficult to locate Pitic and its entrance because it has two separate businesses - the darkest bar I've ever walked inside of and a regular sit-down restaurant - and only the bar has any signage identifying itself. One of the employees at the bar immediately realized we were in the wrong place and nobly pointed us in the right direction. Both sections have bars covering the windows as well, which I usually associate with gun stores in NJ, but it's possible that's just a common feature around here.

I ordered the chicken enchiladas (about $11), with beans and rice on the side (an extra $3 or $4 I think). I've been to my share of Mexican restaurants, and this is definitely the first time the rice and beans wasn't automatically included as part of the meal. Interestingly, the waitress went out of her way to suggest/offer them as an add-on, so I certainly got the impression a lot of people opt for them, in which case why not make it officially part of the entrée? It's a good thing I did though, because the one half of the enchiladas that I was able to coat with rice and beans was pretty tasty. Unfortunately, they ran out at that point and my first bite of the second half of the enchiladas was my last. They were SUPER dry and tasteless without those sides - pretty easy fix though.

Beyond the specific food issues, the service and price point were excellent. Our waitress was very, very nice, and the other female staffer came by a few times to helpfully remind us that some of our dishes were very hot. Everything came out within a couple of minutes and we both did a double-take when we saw how low the bill was.

You have a lot of options in the Phoenix area for generic Mexican. I'd probably go somewhere else where the food is a little tastier and the neighborhood a little...

When you go in you are not seated if you look like you have no money or if you have children they will look at you if they are disgusted with them. Also the food price went up and the food went down tapaquena is a steak and 1inchelada with no lettuce and tomato or love in its food I used to go there my whole life but things change including the Damas that work there. Wait a minute there was one she was a red haired lady very nice and she was giving us everything we needed. I wish I knew her name but we had 4 of us they gave us 2little bowels of chips we ask for another and the heavy set woman told us we had to pay for the other chips I asked how much? She said $3.50 a small I was no thanks. She spoke with the red haired woman and her whole demeanor changed.. but we did not tip for the poor service we had, and food was cold and my to go cup with my water was $2 and they did not tell us that they just put on our bill.... I recommend highly recommend poncho on central baseline.or Guadalajara on central...

I recently visited Pitic Restaurant and Lounge for the first time, and it exceeded all my expectations! The cozy yet chic atmosphere set the perfect tone for a delightful evening with friends.

We kicked off our meal with the freshest guacamole and chips, a true flavor explosion. Moving on to the main course, the carne asada tacos were a standout - tender, juicy, and expertly seasoned. The shredded beef tacos were a real treat, reminiscent of homemade goodness, just like my family used to make. The cheese enchiladas were also a hit, bursting with flavor. The red and green carne options were fantastic, and the combination plate of tamale, enchilada, and tostada was a generous feast. The salsa served with the light and crunchy chips was a delicious accompaniment to our meal.

What's even better is that all this came at a very reasonable price, just under $30 for two people including drinks. Pitic Restaurant and Lounge is now a must-visit spot for authentic Mexican...