La Botana Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Thornton

Ordered a Mar y Tierra molcajete, (which is a land and sea) meaning seafood which was not present!!! beef pork and chicken was the only thing on the plate other then 3 shrimps at the bottom of the plate. Ordered a lime to go with my molcajete and got charged 2 dollars, ordered more tortillas since they only gave me 3 and that was another 2 dollars got charged a “convenience fee” of 4 dollars. I ordered one molcajete $30!! That was skimped and got charged for a lime. I’m Mexican we eat everything with lime so to pay extra for lime is insane!!! Also got an extra side of frijoles charros. Al it had was the beans and the weanie, no chicharon, no bacon, no Chiles. Ordered a michelada it was $20 dollars!! That’s right 20 dollars for a red beer! 🤣 my girl ordered a beer tostada and it was bland and had very minimal seasoning, no salsas were available for her tostada or offered. All together the bill was 72 dollars for a molcajete, a red beer, ONE TOSTADA and a coke 🤣. If you’re gonna charge premium fees provide premium food. If you make hand made tortillas than I see why charging would be a good fit. Offering lime and salsa is a given, we didn’t ask for extra. If you’re gonna charge, then tell your patrons. Also very cheesy to put that you don’t pay your employees and the patron should also...

Personally, I love the fact that the menu is conducive to those times when one person wants a full-on feast of Fajitas or some other large, heavy meal-- while I, on the other hand, may simply have a sweet tooth. Of course, this could go the other direction as well.

Regardless, the staff greets kindly, provided excellent, prompt service, never made us feel rushed, were very attentive to anything we may have needed, yet also managed not to be intrusive (this balancing act in the service industry is seemingly difficult to handle for some; these folks have no problem!).

On later visits, we ended up trying various options on the menu, and weren't as impressed as the first time around. It could be due to any number of factors-- different cook? Chose an item that isn't as tasty as comparable choices at other locations? Timing? Who knows? Nonetheless, it's a quaint, small place that definitely has a "local feel" to it.

All in all, it's always been a great little spot, has a comfortable ambiance, and the food is decent! I'd certainly give them yet another visit, even though I can't say they'd be a "go-to" spot when wanting Mexican fare. For many, however, it is...

I am sad to give this place such a terrible review, but I am going to give an honest opinion.

I have been here 4 times now. Once when I was new to town... 3 times I was invited here. Every time I come here it is worse and worse.

The last time I visited here I nearly vomited when I was presented with my plate of tacos de asada. First the meat looked like ot had been cooked with other meats. It was mixed with some type of pink or brighter colored meat. I am amusing it was pork. I am allergic to pork. Next the amount of meat they slap on your plate over some tortillas is massive. I didn't ask for the whole cow. I asked for tacos. How can you ruin tacos. The tortillas they have me we so thin, there was literally no way to hold the meat in it to try and eat it. AND they tasted like cardboard.

When I tried to ask for something else the waitress acted like she didn't want to deal with and had someone else...a guy... comenover to the table, who also didn't care that this was not pleasing their customers. Obviously they do not understand customer retention at all.

Needless to say. I WILL NOT BE BACK HERE....