La Carreta Portsmouth — Restaurant in Portsmouth

Five stars hands down! Atmosphere: daytime- it's sunny and comfortable with cushioned leather booth or table seating. Nighttime- is a moderately slightly golden dim lighting, good music at a pleasing volume. Very clean and nicely decorated.

Environment: I have experienced a lively and upbeat environment as well as a very comfortable and relaxing environment. A great place for a fun night out for drinks or dinner. They provide a mood in this place that allows for either a lively night out with friends for a relaxing time. The energy of this place is very adaptable to whatever you bring to the table. I've been here when there has been larger groups that were out for a good time & the restaurant adapted very quickly by providing some upbeat music and great volume. There is a lot more that goes into this place then most people give credit for.

Food: I can't say enough about The quality of the food. Everything is super fresh and each ingredient is treated properly. The vegetables are super crisp, fresh and juicy, the meat is seasoned perfectly tender and juicy. My go-to drink: if you're looking for a drink that's as fun as it is refreshing, look no further than their Watermelon Margarita! It's the perfect balance of sweet and tart coming filled to the brim in a mucho glass! It is truly juicy and refreshing, I only wish they offered pitchres or towers, because after one sip you're going to want another!

My go-to appetizer: The deluxe nachos- The majestic Nacho Supreme: a sumptuous, flavor-packed masterpiece that will ignite your taste buds and leave you craving more.

A crunchy foundation of golden-crispy corn chips freshly fried and arranged in a rustic, textured landscape generously topped with a rich, savory tapestry of slow cooked ground beef so unique and unimaginable, I have not tasted anywhere! Truly original and absolutely distinct from any ground beef I've had complimented with deliciously seasoned shredded chicken, paired with creamy refried beans, carefully woven & blending harmoniously to create a hearty, comforting flavor profile.

But that's not all: a generous sprinkling of melted cheese – a velvety, golden blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and perhaps a hint of creamy queso? – is lavished over the top, binding the flavors together in a sumptuous, indulgent harmony. crowning glory: a vibrant, fresh medley of lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and sliced tomato is arranged atop the nachos, adding a burst of cool, creamy texture and a kaleidoscope of colors to the dish. The crunch of the lettuce, the tang of the sour cream, the silky smoothness of the guacamole, and the juicy sweetness of the tomato all combine to create a truly transcendent flavor & regal nacho experience!

My go-to entree: The 3 majestic quesabirria tacos- a symphony of flavors and textures that will leave your taste buds singing. Seasoned tortilla, crispy & pliable, dipped in the slow cooked stew broth of the meat then crisped outter exterior on the grill, serving as the foundation for this masterpiece. Generously Stuffed with a rich, velvety birria meat that has been slow-cooked to perfection in a fragrant broth of aromatic spices, chilies, and herbs. But that's not all: a generous sprinkling of creamy, melted cheese is woven throughout, binding the flavors together in a delightful harmony of textures. And then a sprinkle of fresh, zesty onion, a sprinkle of bright, herbaceous cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice, all combining to add a burst of freshness and depth to each bite.

Service: impeccable attention to the smallest details and friendly attitude! I've never had bad service here! They go above and beyond to make you feel that your number one! The entire restaurant pays attention to the overall energy of the place and adapts very quickly to provide a more streamlined experience for their customers. If they feel that the place is a little quiet they lower the music, if they feel the energy uplift, they raise the music. They provide a true experience and match your...

I rarely write bad reviews, but wow — this had to be the worst service I’ve ever experienced at a restaurant.

To start, the place wasn’t even busy, so there was absolutely no excuse for how slow and inattentive the service was. I was with my daughter, who works as a server at a very busy bar/restaurant, so she knows what good service looks like — and this was the complete opposite.

It took 15 to 20 minutes just to get waters. When our server finally came over to take our orders, she was cold, and curt, and didn't crack a single smile. We tried to be understanding — maybe she was having a bad night — but things didn’t improve. She brought the drinks but forgot mine, and the Dr. Pepper was a watery syrupy mess. When she returned with another Dr. Pepper, she again forgot my Diet Coke. Still, no smile, no apology, no engagement.

The only bright spot was the gentleman who brought our food — he was kind and professional. Ironically, the food came faster than our water. Unfortunately, the food itself was underwhelming: bland, poorly seasoned, and not at all what we’d expect. (We’re from Southern California and are used to great Mexican food — this was far from it.) To top it off, my daughter’s order was wrong.

Trying to get our server’s attention to fix the issue was frustrating — she seemed to be actively avoiding us so my daughter just decided to eat what she was served. After finishing our meals it took another minutes of waiting, we had to ask another server just for a take-home box. Our server never once checked in on us after dropping the food. It then took another 10 minutes to get the check. When she finally returned, she muttered a thank you, but it felt strained and forced.

We’re not demanding or high-maintenance customers, so for me to leave a review like this really says something. My daughter even commented that, at her restaurant, this server wouldn’t have lasted a single shift. I still left a 10.00 tip as I stated I'm not a difficult person however, it was about 5.00 short of what it should have been. As we were leaving we heard to other tables complaining about the extremely slow and lack attentive service.

Disappointing from start to finish. We definitely do not recommend this restaurant, there are plenty of substantially better options...

Great service and good food 👍! They take cleaning very seriously with a sanitation station and cleaning a table as soon as customers leave. I got a taste of the disinfectant when a breeze blew in my face while eating:). Umbrellas over the tables and Wifi available. I ordered the 6 piece chicken wings with the hot sauce. My sinuses paid the price! I had the Steak Mexicana as my main course, but, they forgot the guacamole for my salad. For dessert I had the Xango, with cheesecake filling. Fresh unsweetened tea with lemon, with free refill, was my drink. I enjoyed my meal. Complimentary nachos and salsa were offered. Though service was friendly and my wait time for my food was reasonable, service was a little slow. But, I definitely didn't feel rushed, but, they forgot to process my Coutopia certificate correctly and took awhile to process my bill. I enjoyed my view 😊 because I kept marveling at how Portsmouth has changed for the better over the decades. A dog was allowed to sit with its owner at the table and was very popular with fellow patrons. The 🐕 was well behaved. I recommend a visit. Update: Saturday afternoon, January 2021; I was seated at the bar and service was good. I had the lunch special#5, taco 🌮 and a burrito 🌯, both with chicken 🐔, with Mexican rice. It tasted good. At the shift change, both bartenders checked on the customers around the bar. They had a little trouble processing my coupon from the Hippo 🦛 Press newspaper 📰. Update: Saturday afternoon, May 2021; Outdoor dining has reopened. I ate at the bar. Lunch Special#8, burrito, tostada and Mexican rice 🌾. A lot of lettuce 🥬 on the tostada but I enjoyed my lunch. I couldn't finish. Large portion. Wifi was working. Friendly service from the bartender. Refill on drink was offered and accepted. No trouble processing my Hippo 🦛 Press coupon. Really nice bathroom. Update: Saturday afternoon, August 2021; Lunch Special #3, Taco 🌮, enchilada and Mexican rice. A good lunch. Taco 🌮 could use tomato 🍅 and lettuce 🥬. Service is still good! Update: Saturday Afternoon, February 2022; Special Lunch#9, tamale, burrito and Mexican rice, good 👍! Update: August 2025; Special Lunch #12...