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Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

MY REVIEW: On the plus side, facility was reasonably nice and food was at least average Tex-Mex. On the negative, and this is a HUGE negative, the noise level made a return to this place totally out of the question. We went on a Fri night, and it was just typically loud when we got there; then the live music started, conversation became impossible, and our heads started throbbing. Why people in the restaurant business think dining should be a high decibel contest instead of a social occasion where people can interact with each other in conversation continues to confound us.

NAME: john
SUBMITTED: 9/12/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: September 2012
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Don Julio's is the greatest Mexican restaurant around! We dine here every Friday evening for a friendly atmosphere and great food and drinks. We order the fajitas smothered in white cheese and veggies, definitely the best item on the menu. The homemade tortillas are another reason we love Dons so much. YUM FIVE STARS!

NAME: Stacey
SUBMITTED: 7/10/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: Friday 7/6
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: My husband and I tried this out for date night on a Friday night, and were seated at a tiny table up against a wall, in a high traffic area. There were lots and lots of families with kids there, so there were children crying and yelling, and running around the restaurant. I felt bad for the servers, because they were having to carry out trays of food and maneuver around numerous unattended children who were behaving as if the restaurant was a playground. I love kids. I have two young children myself. This was a parent problem, not a restaurant problem, but unfortunately it affected our experience and that's what we'll remember, an overly loud and chaotic experience. The food was good but not so much that we will hurry to return.

NAME: TXwritergirl
SUBMITTED: 5/25/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2012
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Went for early Sunday dinner, about 5pm. Restaurant was nearly empty. The three TVs over the bar were showing a football game (not the Texans or even a Texas team). We sat around the corner from the bar but the TV audio was blaring throughout the dining room. It was impossible to have a conversation and even difficult to hear the waiter. Waiter became surly after we asked him please turn down the audio, and we sat for 15 minutes before he returned to take the drink order. The manager later came by to explain the dining room's weekend policy: sports coverage at blaring levels. The restaurant has a sports bar upstairs, so I wonder why they insist on sports coverage in the dining room. Honestly, I don't remember if the food was any good - it was a horrible dining experience. They don't deserve my repeat business.

NAME: ESB
SUBMITTED: 1/10/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: Jan 2012
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: This Mexican food is some of the best my husband and I ever ate. There was so much on the plate we could not eat it all. The stuffed poblano peppers are out of this world & the sauce over them is outstanding. The beans & rice was the best I ever ate. We will be back & very soon.

NAME: Cindy
SUBMITTED: 12/22/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: November 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: First visit & wanted to like the place, since it has a great location.

Arrived early on a Sunday afternoon, & the parking lot & restaurant were only about 25% full. Does this say something to management?

Sat at the bar to order drinks & look at the menu before being seated. Unfortunately, not only were they out of the 1st Mexican beer we ordered, but they also did not have the 2nd, or the 3rd, or the 4th. After the 4th try we looked at each other & knew it was time to move on. A Mexican Restaurant that is out of not 1, but 4 Mexican beers -- really? Where is management at this place?

NAME: eatoutjoe
SUBMITTED: 12/6/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/4/11
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The staff are very helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, the food was marginal and the margarita was weak--we thought they might have forgotten to add alcohol, although the lime juice tasted fresh, and as requested they used no mix. This is probably the wrong location for this type of Mexican food. It belongs in a area where fewer good restaurant choices exist. For some reason, Montrose can't seem to get a great Tex-Mex restaurant.

NAME: houstonalle
SUBMITTED: 12/3/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/11
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: We went to Don Julio's again and I can't say enough about this restaurant. The staff is friendly and food is great. We tried the Carne Asada this trip and wow it was full of flavor and Spice had a little kick to it. The meat was tender and cooked to perffection. The flour tortillas were really fresh. In talking to one of the owners we found out they may their tortillas fresh. They roll them and cook fresh each time an order is placed. We also tried the White Sangria and I will most diffantly have many more of these drinks. They to make this fresh on site. I am not a big Sangria Drinker but this stuff is really good.

Easy Access from all directions. Although they do offer valet parking we drove up and opted to park our car without any problems there in the back parking lot. Not sure why the previous reviewer Chuck had issues with the Valet as we always park in the lot without Valet Service and have had no issues.

I will recommend this place to everyone. You really need to try it. They are not like most other Mexican Restaurants. See you soon.

NAME: DJ's Fan
SUBMITTED: 10/17/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Saturday
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I had enjoyed my first two visits to Don Julios and suggested it for some margaritas and mexican food to friends this past Sunday. We arrived and parked in the half empty parking lot. As we got out of our car a young man drove up and told us the parking was valet only and would cost five dollars. We got back into our car and drove five minutes down the road to Cafe A*dobe and parked for free with food as good or better and better margaritas. Really five dollar parking...give me a break...won't be going back to Don Julios.

NAME: Chuck
SUBMITTED: 10/14/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: Oct, 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Great margaritas, so-so service, terrible food.

We were excited about this place opening up on Westheimer. Came on a Thursday night and asked to be seated upstairs away from the crowd/noise. We were the only party up there which may explain the slow service. The margaritas are fantastic! Just delicious - I had a peach one which is the house frozen with a shot of peach schnapps. I would come back just for the margaritas.

However, the food is pretty bad. We both ordered Tex-Mex combination plates. No matter what the item - enchilada, tamale, taco, etc. - the only flavor there was SALT. Other than that everything was bland and not very high quality ingredients.

I'll take the food at the "neon" place up the street any day over this. But I'll be back to Don Julio's soon for the 'ritas!

NAME: Jim A.
SUBMITTED: 8/19/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: August 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I'm excited that Don Julio's has come to the neighborhood!! I've eaten at their 290 and Seabrook locations and loved the food, but I'm happy they are now close to home. The service at the Westheimer location has been excellent, the atmosphere is great, and everything I have eaten there so far has been awesome. LOVE the Texas Mud --you have to try it! Oh, and I can't resist their margaritas. :) This is definitely a new favorite!

NAME: MidtownGal
SUBMITTED: 8/14/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: July/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: This was my third visit and I am happy to say I really like this restaurant. The food is very good as well as the cocktails and especially the service. The prices are incredibly reasonable. They also have a happy hour during the day along with lunch specials on the menu. Try this place. It may not be the most upscale Mexican restaurant in Houston, however, it should certainly be on your list of restaurants to try. The quality of the food and service along with the prices should make this restaurant be around for a while.

NAME: Christopher
SUBMITTED: 8/11/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/11
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I took a few friends to the new Don Julios restaurant in the Montrose on Saturday night and had one of the best darn margaritas I've ever had. They call it their Blue Agave and it was awsome! Must also brag on the food.

we ordered chicken fajitas cooked in a chile arbol sauce. Bring on the spice! We are looking forward to returning to try some Mexican style seafood. We were greeted with a smiling face and our waitress was attentive and very sweet. The manager also came by the table and told us of upcoming events (Sunday Funday, Kareoke, and a guitarist that plays Flamingo music on Thursday nights) so we are going back on a Thursday for sure.

NAME: JJ
SUBMITTED: 8/8/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/6/11
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: If you want to give the new Don Julio's on Westheimer a try, please do. However, do not park on any street (notably Avondale) near the restaurant because you will be towed. It costs us $100 CASH to get the wrecker driver to "drop" our car. It would have been $260 cash at the impound lot if we hadn't got to our car in time. To add insult to the injury there was a guy in a City of Houston vehicle who also gave us a parking ticket for $70. We complained to the management for not informing us and the other numerous patrons who also had their cars towed. The management comped our meal. As we were leaving they were posting signs on the doors about the towing problem. Please pay the few extra bucks for valet parking. (I've never seen so many tow trucks on one block - swarming like vultures! What a scam.)

NAME: S. Robertson
SUBMITTED: 8/7/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: What a great new place to have in the neighborhood. Family owned and very friendly staff. The decor was fun and colorful pefect for a summer drink spot, esp the up stairs patio. The food was superb the SW Can Asasada (sp?) were cooked perfect to order and well seasoned. The Texas Mud was the best by far, I would return just for that dip. House margaritas were good, and had an even better price at $5.50, I would like to see happy hour prices. I'll be back.

NAME: Coryster
SUBMITTED: 7/26/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: July/2011
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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