El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

Maynstreme

Joined 4 years ago

Head to Vaquero's if you enjoy being insulted. My friends recently visited the newly opened Dublin/Columbus location on 161 near Sawmill Rd. Their waiter repeatedly swore at them in Spanish throughout the meal.(replacing amigo with another word) They realized what he was saying, then listened closer to make sure they were hearing him correctly. I've been going to this El Vaquero's a few times a month since they've opened, the service is mediocre it takes forever to pay and the food is average. I wonder how many times I've been tipping 20% to have the waiters call me and my friends derogatory names.

Recommends

Jeneblake

Joined 4 years ago

"The Vacq". "The Vacq" is one of my favorite mexican restaurant. When home, I frequent the recently renovated location in Shawnee Hills. Great service, friendly faces and yummy queso!

Doesn't Recommend

cbuslady

Joined 4 years ago

Worst Service Ever. I recently visited the Hilliard-Rome location. We arrived around 6pm on a Friday evening and ordered a margarita pitcher. However, this is not enough to constitute decent service. Around 730, our waiter Nacho, told us that there were other people waiting to be seated and we needed to leave. The gall! Apparently, my money is not wanted at this restaurant. This is UNACCEPTABLE behavior for someone in the service industry. Apparently El Vaquero?s want to fall prey to the economic downturn. I will also be writing to the "Consumer Choice" award folks. As this restaurant has somehow fooled them in to thinking they have great service.

PLEASE DO NOT VISIT THESE LOCATIONS!

I'll be going to Chipotle, where at least I won't be asked to leave...when I'm a paying customer!

Doesn't Recommend

Josecol

Joined 5 years ago

impolie waiters and horrible family restuarant. We go there almost every week and each week, even if we order the same dish, it never taste the same. The waiters were very impolite when we stay there for a long time. One of them even mentioned that they don't care if we come there, b'coz they have other customerts who pay more. Btw me and my friends always spend around $150 every week over there. This was a big shock for us. They need to hire employees who care about the name too.

Recommends

PaulW1973

Joined 5 years ago

Fantastic Food!. Great prices and fantastic authentic food. This one can't be beat. Food is ordered by the number, and you gotta remember to get a beer to go along with it.

Recommends

chris1961

Joined 8 years ago

Not authentic, but one of the best around. Been to Mexico many times, once for 2 months, and while this food is far from authentic, is is one of the best around here, and I have been to all their locations in central Ohio since they opened. Menu is rather static, but food is always cooked correctly, and served hot and fast. Coupons are always available, making their low prices even a better value. Service is also top notch...the mostly ethic specific staff is always hustling, and working hard to please you, however, if you don't know Spanish, there can be a language barrier, especially trying to order something special or custom. There chicken tacos are the most authentic, adding hot salsa (free, just ask for it when they serve the complementary chips). I actually prefer Casa Fiesta for food, but Vaquero's bars are better equipped for happy hours and the Friday after work social.

Recommends

Ritaly333

Joined 5 years ago

Yummy. My family and friends Love it there, always great food, fast service, great prices. We go at least 2 to 3 times a month. Very good place to eat and relax with family and friends.! YUMMY

Doesn't Recommend

Justmemegan

Joined 5 years ago

Might be good, if you have no taste buds.. The only thing I'd go back for are the Margaritas. The food is no more authentic than Taco Bell. Service was quick, salsa tastes like it came from a jar. The taco shells appear to be the same kind they use at Taco Bell.

Recommends

mary3815

Joined 6 years ago

Become a regular. Unlike other newly expanded regional chains, El Vaquero lost nothing when it expanded from this original location. The best cheap eats and drinks in Columbus. Grab a pitcher of the Texas Margaritas on the rocks, choose just about anything for a meal, and enjoy. The service is crazy fast and attentive, especially during lunches. Flat screen TVs throughout show sports. Food is not perfectly authentic but so good you won't really care, frankly. Fajitas are generous, anything with chorizo here is a winner, and the newer fish items are pretty good. Get a side of guacamole and some pico de gallo, which is occassionally hot enough to slowly lose your mind. You'll need that margarita. Environment is fun and often loud, good for parties. Great for after work stress relief, not for romantic evenings. Cinco de Mayo is a madhouse here. Weekends are slow: the perfect time to spend a hot (or cold!) Ohio afternoon. Grab a flan for dessert. If they made homemade sangria this place would be very close to heaven.

Recommends

luv2finedine

Joined 7 years ago

El Vaquero hustle bustle. My husband and I recently dined at El Vaquero for the first time on a Thursday night.

At first glance, the bar is hard to find b/c it's lowered down into the floor. We grabbed a drink before dinner and I would recommend the Texas Margarita. The Sangria is bad, not authentic at all. Once seated, the menu is a bit overwhelming with so many options but we decided on the Camerones Rancheros and the Hot/Spicy Chicken. The chicken dish was not spicy at all and tasted like chicken swimming in a red bbq sauce.

The shrimp dish was much better. Having a drink with dinner? I would skip the regular margaritas b/c they were extremely watery. Next time, I'll stick to a Corona or Negro Modelo.

Overall, we enjoyed it. Would go back to try different dishes and snack on chips & salsa. Drinks are less to be desired.