About this place
Yes, Lawrence has yet another Mexican restaurant to choose from with this one's opening in Fall 2007. But we didn't just get any other ordinary joint... this one will likely become a town staple of the La Familia ilk. The vibe of the space doesn't betray its strip-mall location-the interior is bright and spacious with comfortable seating, and the bar area is lively and fun (drink specials are erratic but usually a real deal).
Right after opening, the food isn't quite as good as that of Lawrence's top shelf joints-Ixtapa and Cielito Lindo come to mind-yet anyway. That said, it's a solid, affordable menu with none of the watered down salsas and cheese sauces that have become increasingly common at many of the more established joints (we're thinking of those whose core clientÃle is now composed of loud sorority girls getting loaded on cheap ass Margaritas ... we won't name names, but you know of whom we speak).
The service is attentive and polite (as contrasted with the aforementioned Margarita joints so accustomed to obliterated customers who don't notice their apathy and, at times, unveiled resentment).
The chips and salsa are likely the best in town (though, granted, that honor is constantly in flux) and, yes, they're free like chips and salsa outta be.
With a few years under its belt, Tres Mexicanos could go two ways-that of Los Margaritavilles El Cheapos or that of the venerable Ixtapa. Our money's on the latter.
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Comments
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ifihadahammer (anonymous) says...
First, I'd have to say the food is good. If it weren't so good (and cheap-ish), I wouldn't have put up with the horrible, horrible service I've received nearly every time I've visited.
Several times going in with friends, we've not been acknowledged - not being seated for 10 minutes (when it was empty), not being served for 20. Then waited more than 30 for things like quesadillas. It's meat and cheese in a flour tortilla, if you don't know. It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, especially when they're clearly not cooking anyone else's food because there isn't anyone else there. No one ever refills your drink. I would understand if it were a "European" dining experience. It's not. If you're a table of all females - hope you get a male waiter. If you're a table of all males - hope you get a female waiter. Selling your sex is apparently the only way to get serviced at 3 Mexicans.
Like I said, I put up with that several times. I even put up with the girl they try to pass for a waitress/hostess when she literally did the "bend and snap" - putting her butt right in my husband's face as she bent over and then leaned over him trying to look coy as she "apologized".
But after the last visit, we will no longer visit Tres Mexicanos. It was busy. It was a Friday night around 7-ish, so a wait could be expected. I walked in, my husband following behind. As I walked up to put our name on the waiting list, the hostess shooed me and looked over my shoulder to get my husband's name. She LITERALLY SHOOED me. After I informed her that not only did I walk in first, but that he was with me - she decided she guessed she could speak to me. As I asked her how long a wait - she hatefully barked - "I don't know! There are people in front of you!" Well duh. Like I didn't see the half dozen other people waiting. I guess it could be just me. Maybe it's just me they don't like and therefore treat horribly and serve badly - but that kind of rudeness and disrespect is enough to keep me, my husband and all of our friends who previously had spent quite a lot of money there away.
It's not worth your time. You can make a burrito just as good as their's at home - or better yet - visit the Taco Bell. Sadly enough, you'll get better service there too.
September 26, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Magpie (anonymous) says...
I agree that the prices are too high--for the food anyway. It tastes okay but the portions are comically frugal. I ordered the fish tacos, which cost about $10-$12. I got what amounted to a single frozen fish stick divided among three minuscule tortillas. The cook even left the tacos spread open to create the illusion of a plate of food. The chips and salsa were not very flavorful or fresh, but at least they were free so I didn't have to leave hungry.
That said, the restaurant is surprisingly inviting for its strip mall location, and you can get $1 beers on Friday. The server was friendly and attentive, too.
July 23, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
frittata65 (anonymous) says...
Wow, what a disappointment. Small portions, poor service and high prices. Once was enough for me.
June 29, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Feents (Caterina Benalcazar) says...
On a lunch break, three of us went there today. It took them five minutes to acknowledge we had walked in there, five more minutes to be seated (the place was half empty), and twenty minutes for our server to take our order. We ordered two dishes from the specials board, and one plate of tacos. It took forty minutes to arrive at our table. We maintained our politeness and asked for our food to go, since two of us had to get back to work. We were charged full price for our trouble, got very little in the way of a smile, eye contact or friendliness, and eventually, we were handed three ten dollar gift certificates as we were walking out the door. The "mexican style" soft tacos with chorizo were tasty enough when I got them home, but nothing that Burrito King doesn't do just as well, if not better, for half the price and in a tenth the time every day. Tres Mexicanos made a profit off of us. We will not go back to redeem those gift certificates.
June 18, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brotherskeeper (anonymous) says...
Wow! Real carnitas...real tacos...real tamales.
Good for a change up of the Midwestern Mexican food that is the normal choice.
I recommend it.
January 10, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
omegapoint (anonymous) says...
High prices? compared to what Taco Bell.
I think this is the best mexican restaurant in town, great food, authentic, very reasonable prices and friendly prompt service.
December 12, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
aeroscout17 (anonymous) says...
I have to agree with davidborys; thought the menu was overpriced for what you received.
December 10, 2007 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zettapixel (anonymous) says...
Yeah, I would definitely consider Cielito Lindo top shelf. I've tried every single Mexican restaurant in Lawrence, and Cielito Lindo is the only one I'll go to on a regular basis. Tres Mexicanos is a good place if you're out near Haskell, but the food seems to be a bit more expensive than the other places here in town and it's just not as good.
December 5, 2007 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
murderama (Rob Gillaspie) says...
Cielito Lindo is considered "top shelf"? Someone needs to get their head checked.
November 29, 2007 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
davidborys (David Borys) says...
I think the prices are too high and the menu is too small. The atmosphere is nice but I dont see what they offer over the other staple mexican restaurants in town. Food was ok, service was ok, but I will stick with my other town favorites.
November 27, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DVECC (anonymous) says...
Best Mexican food in town.
November 26, 2007 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smerdyakov (anonymous) says...
Indeed no Ixtapa just yet... but damn good and priced right.
November 19, 2007 at 2:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )