Olivia's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Riverside

I’ve been coming to Olivia’s Mexican Restaurant for over a decade. When my wife and I first started dating, this was our weekly date night spot. It became part of our story, a place tied to some of our happiest memories. Fast forward to today: after a nearby graduation, I suggested we come here with our three kids and a party of about 20 people to celebrate. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the worst customer service I have ever experienced anywhere.

We arrived to a mostly empty restaurant, maybe four other guests total, and were seated fairly quickly, which I appreciated. Drinks, chips, and salsa came out after a couple of minutes. The first server we interacted with (the one who took our drink orders) started off reserved but warmed up and was genuinely pleasant. Then the experience took a turn.

The waitress who took our food orders was impatient, short, and visibly irritated with us from the start. Not once during the entire meal did we have a positive or even neutral interaction with her. Our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, and a longtime staff member I’ve seen for years helped serve it. He was friendly and welcoming as always, one of the few bright spots of the evening.

We had about six kids in our group. They occasionally got a bit loud (as kids do), and we reminded them to settle down. Then Olivia herself came over. Instead of approaching us politely or with any understanding, she was blunt and rude, telling us we needed to quiet down because “other guests” complained. Keep in mind, the restaurant was far from full. She even made an odd comment about having one lollipop to give to “whichever kid was the whiniest.” It didn’t come off as a lighthearted joke, it came across as condescending and unnecessary.

That moment ruined the entire dinner. We finished our meals in a cloud of discomfort, and my family decided right then that we will not be coming back. I understand Olivia’s has been around forever and that losing us as customers won’t make a dent in their business. But after 10 years of loyalty, date nights, and memories, it’s disheartening to see how quickly all of that can be overshadowed by one rude encounter.

Thank you for the good years, but after today, I hope the...

A True Gem – Olivia’s Mexican Food

About a week ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Olivia’s Mexican Food, and from the moment we walked in, I knew this place was special. There was a bit of a wait, but it was worth every second. While waiting, I noticed the walls covered with awards, photos of the owner alongside famous chefs, and an undeniable family vibe that immediately set the tone.

Once seated, the experience only got better. I ordered a michelada, and let me just say—it was hands down the best michelada I’ve ever had at a restaurant. The food was equally impressive. Between our table, we tried the bacon-wrapped shrimp, tacos, tostadas, a burrito, enchiladas, and tamales. Every dish was packed with flavor and beautifully made. The enchiladas and tamales especially stood out—they’ve clearly earned their many awards, and after tasting them, I completely understand why.

The chips and salsa (which they’re famous for) set the bar high right from the start, and even the beans and rice were unforgettable. Truly, everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked with care.

Olivia’s is also very kid-friendly, which was such a pleasant surprise. They have a solid kids’ menu with burritos, tacos, tostadas, chicken nuggets, and even a burger — plenty of choices for picky eaters. The servers are wonderful with kids, joking around and making them feel included. And the best part? At the end of the meal (with parents’ approval), they walk the kids to a freezer where they can pick out their own ice cream. My daughter came back with the biggest smile — it was the perfect ending to an already great meal.

What stood out to me most was the atmosphere. The staff treated each other like family and made every guest feel welcome. The highlight was seeing Olivia herself sitting in the back, keeping a watchful eye on her restaurant—clearly proud of her team and her customers. That personal touch is rare these days and made the experience even more meaningful.

Olivia’s Mexican Food isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a place where food, family, and tradition come together beautifully. I’ll absolutely be back....

I made a reservation for 15 at Olivia's for my family. We were gathered because my mother's funeral services were being held at the Riverside National Cemetery on the same day. They accommodated my same day request for a big party and placed us in a "banquet room". However, the table in the banquet room was set to seat 12 and there was no space between the chairs. Honestly, it would have been more appropriate to seat 8, maybe 10, at these tables. Another table was set with all three highchairs that we needed. I have service experience and immediately began trying to rearrange the tables horizontally across the room so that all of us and our children could sit at one long table. The server asked us to stop insisting that she wouldn't be able to reach and serve people across the table if we weren't arranged the original way. We ended up spread out across three tables. The "banquet room" did have a wonderful view of the street, but it was all tile and abnormally loud with all of us and the children trying to have normal conversation. Two of my family members had to turn off their hearing aids because the echo of conversation was so loud. Aside from seating issues, the food was really wonderful. The chips and salsa were great, and everyone enjoyed their food. The manager even brought out ice cream cups for all the little kids when we were getting ready to leave. The staff was friendly and did a decent job although at least ten minutes passed between the serving of the first guest's meal and the last. The kitchen may not have experience with large parties or possibly was understaffed because we arrived at 330pm before a real dinner rush would typically be expected. I'm not local to Riverside, and I chose this restaurant based on it's Google reviews. I'm not disappointed, but it was definitely a "local" type of experience - not the seamless sort of experience that I could have anticipated if I chose a national...