Mesa Tacos and Tequila — Restaurant in Royal Oak

Okay, it's been awhile since I've made a post about a restaurant but it's time. First of all, the food here is absolutely awesome. I don't even eat Mexican food and it got me liking it. That being said I understand why this restaurant has a 3.7 rating. It's because they hire kids to do the Servicing. We went for my sister's birthday, everything was great. Except I wanted to do the birthday churro thing. When I told her the waitress this she proceeded to just bring me a regular order of churros instead of doing the whole birthday part of it. On top of that they have drinks that the waitress said you could not change the liquor. The bartender said the same thing. Then a older bartender that was there told us that we could just build our own drink and it would be exactly the same. Like I said, they hire young servers. They do not seem like they know enough. We went on a second day. I spoke with a manager about the birthday thing and they got it right this time. But the server who was training someone else by the way, forgot my wife's street corn. We had to ask them on three different occasions for queso. Three different waiters also. And it took us about four separate tries to get my wife's strawberry lemonade. The time it took in between the waitress checking on us was quite extensive which we kind of expected we ordered a lot of things. But then it was time to get the check they took a nice amount of time getting to the table to bring the bill. I eventually stood up like I was going to leave and was watching my waitress standing at the front counter with three other guys just holding a ginger conversation that I watched for about 10 minutes before she noticed me and then came over and apologized, to which I replied I was watching you. So do with this information what you will. The food will be awesome, but be prepared in advance to deal with the level of service teenagers would actually give. If you're patient and not in a hurry, it will be fine. I can do without ever visiting again as I do not eat Mexican food often. PS. The ice creams were quite good, but the shakes were very very Bland. It's been a year and we came back again for my sister's birthday. This time everything was absolutely awesome the service was so fast we barely even noticed we were waiting, and on top of that they had fire dancing in the middle of the floor. Our waiter Bruce was amazing. Now I shall...

If you’re looking for just another average night out, keep walking. But if you’re on the hunt for the Mexican spot where flavor, vibes, and dangerously good drinks collide—you need to drop everything and get yourself to Mesa Mexican Restaurant. This place isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience. One you’ll be dreaming about long after the last lime wedge is squeezed.

Let’s start with the chips and queso—because oh. my. god. These aren’t your basic, mass-produced chips that sit under a heat lamp for hours. They arrive piping hot, lightly salted, and perfectly crisp. Every bite feels like it was made just for you. But the real MVP? The queso. Creamy, rich, with just the right amount of kick. It’s the kind of queso that makes you want to dip your finger in the bowl when the chips run out. (Not saying we did that… but also not saying we didn’t.)

And then there’s Rick. Bartender, mixologist, margarita magician—whatever title you want to give him, just know this: he’s the reason I’ll be back. Rick doesn’t just make margaritas; he crafts them like he’s painting a masterpiece. The balance of tequila, citrus, and sweetness was so on point it made every other marg I’ve ever had taste like juice boxes in comparison. Whether you go classic lime, spicy jalapeño, or something custom off-menu (ask him—he’s got skills), you’re going to sip it and immediately wonder why Rick isn’t world-famous yet.

Not only were his margaritas chef’s kiss, but the man has personality. He’s the type of bartender who makes you feel like you’ve been coming there for years, even if it’s your first visit. Charismatic, quick-witted, and genuinely invested in making sure you’re having the time of your life—Rick is the heartbeat of the bar. Honestly, if Mesa had a “Rick Cam,” I’d watch that live stream like it’s Netflix.

The ambiance at Mesa seals the deal. Think warm lighting, colorful tiles, a buzz of laughter and conversation, and a vibe that says “stay awhile.” It’s equal parts cozy and electric. You can come here to unwind, catch up with friends, or pregame your night out—and it’ll always deliver.

Final verdict? Mesa isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a hidden gem turned obsession. Come for the queso, stay for the margs, and raise your glass to Rick—the man, the myth, the margarita legend. Your taste buds (and your group chat)...

We have been wanting to try Mesa for a little while now out of curiosity. We thought what better time to try than cinco de mayo! We thought wrong. Starting with the menu (I understand why they would do a special menu for cinco de mayo) - but we thought this would include special prices. The prices were especially high. In regards to the menu also they should not label things tacos if it only comes with one taco… just say taco be upfront! Starting with our service - our waitress was a kind person, I think she may have needed more training. I asked for a mezcal margarita and she explained they were only doing drinks from the menu - but the menu also listed mezcal’s and tequilas (subbing mezcal for tequila in a regular margarita should not be a foreign concept) she then suggested doing a margarita with mezcal instead so i think by the end she understood what i was trying to say. Additionally they had salsa/guacamole/queso for $18 and salsa/guacamole for $18 both listed on the menu - we asked the waitress what the difference was since they were the same price and she couldn’t give us a reason. The drinks came after the appetizer (we tried chips and queso). The drinks themselves were decent but didn’t have salted rims (they were both margaritas - granted I requested no salt for mine so maybe she got confused). For our mains we each did two tacos, my fiancé added the beans and rice. He said the beans tasted canned. The tacos themselves weren’t terrible tasting but very small considering the price of $6 per taco. The overall vibe of the place was kinda what we expected but the drinks outside were served in plastic cups and the tables could use a refresh. If you have to serve the drinks in plastic for whatever reason you shouldn’t be charging over $14 for a cocktail :( we’re not on the beach here :( Not trying to be harsh or nitpicky here but for the price point they are charging you expect things to be at a certain standard. We walked out paying nearly $100 for 2 margs, queso, and 4 tacos (with one set of beans and rice).

Unfortunately due to the amount charged combined with the quality of food and experience we do not plan to be back. If they did a happy hour maybe we would come...