Margaritas Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Tampa

I believe in signs. I pay attention to other people’s conversations with a keen ear. If curiosity killed the cat, and I were a cat I would be killed too many times a day and in various painful ways. I would look like road kill. Frankenstein’s bride with too much eye make-up.For a couple of weeks I kept overhearing people raving about a chicken soup. These innocuous comments happened randomly and were not actual recommendations made to me even when my friends know me to travel long distances for particularly great food. The first time I heard of this sopa de pollo, I was among friends who had just moved to Davis Island and had gone to Margarita’s. They did not mention the name of the place, it was simply a nonchalant: “I was exhausted about all the moving and wandered into this place close to home. I loved the sopa de pollo. It was exactly what I needed…yada, yada yada” and she moved on into a digression about house contracts and moving expenses. The second time this sopa de pollo returned to my life it was a nightmare. I had not listened too closely at the original appearance of “la sopa” in my life and had misconstrued the place I could find it. You see… at that time, my friend had two homes. I had assumed it was a Mexican place that had just opened by one of the two homes. I went mouth-salivating, anxiously pre-tasting the sopa, but walked into a Mexican place I did not know. I read, re-read, and reread the menu in complete disbelief. I called V.’s husband and asked him about it. He laughed maliciously as he added an “Oh, si!!! V. thinks it tastes like her mother’s soup. She loves that soup… but you are not only in the wrong place. You are in the wrong island. Good luck with trying a new restaurant that just opened up” (which is a no-no in my culinary safaris. NEVER EVER go to a restaurant and become their guinea pig). The third time the haunted “sopa de pollo” popped up into another conversation, I was trying a Mexican restaurant I had never visited before. My mouth was happy. House margaritas were flowing. Tequila bottles lined the bar. A man I barely know mentioned “la sopa de pollo” and how many times he drives his wife there just to have the soup. No other entrees. Just soup. He mentioned how tasty and large it was, and he did mention that I could find it at Davis Island. So, the signs were obvious and the universe aligned. I visited Margarita’s last week during lunch hour. The parking issue remains tough at any of the restaurants and stores of Davis, but eventually one was found. The place was packed. Mexican Artisan furniture and colorful woven tapices hanging from the ceiling took you elsewhere. Mexican music in the background which I love. If you claim you are going to take my mouth somewhere, elsewhere, please take my mind along for the ride as well. For a moment I became confused and believed I was a Mexican town amidst a medical mission. Blue scrubs everywhere. Margarita’s seems to be a favorite with the Tampa General staff. I was promptly seated. Menus were given and an order of margarita on the rocks promptly expedited. Refreshingly boozy. Just the way I like it. Of course I ordered the “sopa de pollo”… and yes, it is worth driving to. Plenty of fresh pico de gallo. Crunchy onion, fresh avocado and chicken… lemony… cilantroish… garlicky… for a while I delayed trying the mole in the enchiladas with Poblano sauce just because I wanted the sopa taste to remain in my mouth as long as it could. The mole was good, mild and rather on the sweet side. As most rice in Mexican restaurants, the one here was nothing to go crazy about. The rice is just a side order to fill plate space, but the enchiladas did shine by contrast. Servers were friendly and attentive. The place deserves many chances. Lots of food I would enjoy tasting. But… if they decide to not cook anything but the sopa de pollo. That’s...

I have eaten at this restaurant once a week for the past four weeks and in my experience any review complaining about the poor service does not adequately explain exactly how atrocious the service actually is.

The good: The food is fantastic. Evenings, in particular when cooler weather is here, are a wonderful time to sit outside and enjoy the live music when it is available. I presume he is the Owner but the older gentleman who appears to do a little bit of everything is great.

The bad: The service is atrocious. Of the four dining experiences so far only once did I have a server who appeared to have a basic understanding of what even an average level of service is and in all honesty he was above average.

The other three dining experiences, and two of these occasions there were ten tables seated or less with at least four servers that I counted, were terrible.

In each of the three referenced poor experiences each server apparently believes that once they drop off your chips, take your order and bring your food that they should never check on you again until you desperately flag them down or ask the manager or another server to find them for you after waiting twenty minutes for your check. No checking to see if you require a refill of drinks or chips or if your meal is good. You no longer exist once you receive your food.

The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is nice but absolutely not worth dining in until they either find or train a waitstaff that understands the bare minimum of service that should be part of a dining experience.

2/5/24 Edit: I order food out weekly but dined in for the first time in two months. I don't know where they found him from but Leandro was our server and did a fantastic job. Hope the rest of the service staff can learn to match Leandro's quality and...

I enjoyed my visit to Margaritas, but I wasn't overwhelmed by the food. The service was good. We had a new waitress that seemed a little overwhelmed, but her attentiveness made a huge difference in my dining experience. I love Mexican food, but I'm not a huge fan of corn tortillas. She was aware enough about the menu and options to ask what I preferred so I was very grateful for that. The salsa was very underwhelming. It was so watery that I feel like tomato juice has more consistency. Very few if any fresh cilantro or onion remnants. The chips were ok, but a little stale. The "house" margaritas were very disappointing. I'm glad I got them on happy hour as 2 for 1 otherwise I would have felt really ripped off. They seem to be made with a mix as opposed to using fresh lime and natural sweeteners. During happy hour you get the deal I mentioned, but you have to get them at the same time which causes your second mediocre margarita to get watered down. The waitress asked if I wanted them staggered, but the manager vetoed that. The food lacked seasoning. Salt, cumin, pepper, etc..... very lacking traditional Mexican flavors I experienced in Baja and California. My food looked great and the portion sizes were appropriate. The exception was the kids chicken tenders. It was like they took 4 ounces of chicken and cut it very thin to make the basket look full. I would have rather my daughter had 2 nice portions instead of mainly eating flour. The thing that kept me from giving 2 stars was portion size and service. The decor is nice. The location is amazing, but the food and beverage...