Lopez SouthWest Kitchen & Tequila Saloon

Upping to five stars. Consistently great service and food. The watermelon margarita and corn fritters (on special) were excellent.

We have been to Lopez at least 25 times and my cousin is the daughter-​in-​law of the owner (I also attended their rehearsal dinner here). We absolutely love the food and atmosphere. Our only issue is the manager. On every occasion we have dined in, we see him visit every table to check on guests. He has never once visited our table or checked in with us. I believe it is because we look very young– but this sort of bias against patrons is not a good look, especially when we have been loyal customers for many years. It’s almost a game we play now– will the manager visit our table? Every time the answer is no.
Keith Clapacs

Oh hey there, Lopez, stepping it up!
I can’t bring myself to upgrade to a 4, though I’m close based on happy hour alone — yes, the prices are great, but the food and drinks were amazing too!
A friend and I decided to mix things up and go to happy hour here instead of our usual haunts and we were wowed by the margaritas we got! Our server made some suggestions that we followed and they were so good! We had the pineapple with a spicy rim and it was perfect, then we went for cactus with a little spice as well and it was delicious!
The food was also amazing. The goat cheese fundido was probably all we needed. It was cheesy and delicious and the chips and salsa were tasty as well. We each got a brisket taco, too, and while my taco was STUFFED with beef, it was a little dry. I would have been happy with less beef, with a little more moisture or sauce or something.
I’ll definitely be back for some margaritas and queso. Soon.

Not Mexican food! Most boring burrito and tacos ever. Chipotle does a better job. So sad that the burrito was also the most expensive, 17 dollars. I think their favorite spice is water. The carnitas seemed boiled. Maybe they should call their burrito a wrap to avoid confusion with real Mexican food? My girlfriend wanted to cry, she was born in San Francisco, and our favorite tacos came from a truck on East 14^th in Oakland California. She said the food from Lopez tasted like how a wet dog smells.
I give them two stars, because they played awesome music the whole time, such as Pixies, Bowie, Radiohead, and our server was good, and made reasonable excuses for the food, like it’s SouthWest, not Mexican. And the atmosphere was nice, we sat outside, friendly staff that works very hard.

I went to Lopez for the first time last night and I will not go back. I am giving two stars rather than one, only because our waiter was great. It was the food and prices that were horrible. First off, the menu is very confusing. One taco costs between 7 and 9 dollars and they require you order atleast two tacos. I was expecting the tacos to be amazing because of the price. They were a disappointment. The flavors were boring, they did not taste fresh, and although I was still hungry, I did not even finish my second taco because of its lackluster taste. The drinks we ordered were decent but the chips were stale. This may be aggressive, but the friend I went with and I decided that taco bell would have been better.

Haven’t been here in years but it’s still very good– can’t complain at all– price is right

The best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. I will be back. The corn grits were amazing, nice fresh salsa, and very friendly people

Update to my previous 5 star review. OMG — I have been to Lopez about 40 times for dinner since moving here — even more for drinks. Never at a restaurant have I been treated like I was on my most recent trip. I ordered their special margarita @ 17 $ USD it was horrible. Basically roses lime mixed with high end tequila. Not sure why this would be acceptable to anyone — let alone a place that would call themselves a «tequila saloon» — when I told our waitress I thought the drink was horrible — here are some actual quotes from her; «it’s pre-​made», «I don’t know what you want me to do» and «I don’t know what you like» and later in the conversation «I don’t know what you expect me to do» — it was all so confrontational, we all felt so uncomfortable we wanted to leave. I don’t even know if I can give justice to how awful we felt — the two women at the table could even look the server in the eyes afterwards — it was just pure awful. I don’t think I have ever been spoken down to like that in my life — let alone at a place I am paying to eat at.
We actually were ⁷⁵⁄₂₅ at our table of 4, just like a hung jury in a murder trial I was the lone holdout and said let’s carry on. We struggled through — after convincing her to remake the drinks and a long uncomfortable explanation that she doesn’t drink tequila and doesn’t know our taste buds… (We didn’t care)
I just don’t understand the confrontation — we are customers at your establishment, we tasted the drink — it wasn’t good. You need to fix. I don’t want attitude, I don’t want explanation of how you make your pre-​made margaritas, all I want is friendly service, a good drink and good food. It is that simple. You master your craft, I master mine. It was like the drink was being deducted from her paycheck. It was just so awful — we had a full view of her conversation with the bartender — which looked like an interesting conversation filled with colorful language about what a great table we were.
Dinner came — it was ok, but because of all the stress it could have been wonderful, we all just wanted to leave. Our waitress kind of ignored us because we questioned the drinks earlier, so we went without water, additional chips and really any acknowledgement we were human beings.
We wanted out — I wanted to talk to the manager, but I felt so uncomfortable, I felt like it was going to turn into a Dr. Phil episode.
Lopez is like a roller coaster that never seems to end — I have had great experiences, and I have had the worst experiences. Unfortunately service trumps almost anything, especially in Cleveland where there is so much competition and good food is easy to find. I love Cleveland Heights and hate to see vacant storefronts but it would not surprise me if one day I see a «for lease» sign hanging in the window.
Lopez, you’re dead to me. Good luck.

Amazing how after all these years Lopez continues to dish out some of the best Mexican food in the area. Lopez has always taken a nonconventional approach with a sense of humor. Note the bottle of water on the table or the plaque up front with the other «locations» around the world.
Lopez is a bright loud room with plenty of cool looking art on the walls. On a busy night it can be hard to have a conversation, but the great food and outstanding drinks more then make up for it.
You start with a little bag of fresh chips and a dish of bright salsa. Order up one of the best Margaritas in town and peruse the menu.
The calamari appetizer is a cannot miss dish. Perfectly fried pieces of squid are served it an expertly balance sweet and hot sauce with some diced carrots, peppers and fruit. I have to order this every time I am at Lopez.
The entrees offer an interesting mix, with some excellent taco choices, way overstuffed burritos and fajitas. The trout is always excellent, nicely cooked and with a tasty stuffing. The portions are generous and the food quality is excellent.
Yes the prices are more then if you go to the neighborhood Mexican place, but that is because this is a chef driven restaurant serving high quality food. When you compare the prices to similar places such as Momocho, they are similar.
Lopez has been doing this for decades and never disappoints.

Lopez is a great spot for a party atmosphere. It’s lively, the food is hot, the portions are large, and the service is prompt. I don’t drink, but it is easy to become intoxicated with all the energy. I tend to prefer a quieter setting, and Lopez can get a bit loud at times, but I find myself letting go and having fun when I’m amidst all my friends. Prices are somewhat reasonable too.

Lopez is not your average TexMex restaurant. They have thoughtfully crafted, refined, modern dishes. I do recommend you check out the menu before visiting, because it may not satisfy everyone’s typical craving for Mexican food. Service is excellent, the staff are friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately, the price is a little steep compared to other comparable Mexican restaurants I’ve visited. That being said, food is high quality and worth a try. I was also impressed by the wide selection of tequila and margaritas.

The food is good but the price point is high. Drinks are fairly expensive and the white sangria tasted more like a Bellini than a sangria. I will say the brisket taco along with the mushroom tacos were amazing. The fajitas were delicious with large portions, probably the only thing worth the price. Guacamole trio wasn’t worth it.

One of the best places to get quality Mexican cuisine in Cleveland. Went with my family on a Saturday night and they were able to seat us right away. The drinks are always fantastic, especially the specialty margaritas; they actually taste like real drinks, not just sugar mixed with alcohol.
The food is always great, too! I tried something a little different and I loved it! The eggplant enchiladas we really tasty and fresh.
Service was a bit slow at times (our waitress seemed to have a lot of tables) but they were all very kind and welcoming. Great environment for parties of all sizes and ages. Looking forward to grabbing a drink or meal here again soon!

Thought the food was uninspired. everything was cookie cutter mex. guacamole was mediocre at best

We had a very good experience last night and many other times in the past. I don’t understand all of the bad reviews. The atmosphere is great and in nice weather their patio is the place to be. Their margaritas are probably my favorite in the city (the jalapeño is awesome!). I had the BMF Veggie burrito last night and it was very good while my husband had a chicken dish which he enjoyed. We also shared the hot sauce sampler which I highly recommend. The server was great and gave us a free order of guac because the kitchen made an extra one. My only complaint was that the chips were not fresh last night. Other than that, everything was fantastic, as usual.

This place did really really bad tonight. Service was terrible and the food was not much better. Everyone around us got served quickly but for us 45 minutes passed before we even got our soup. Some guy in a polo circled the patio handing out blankets which was a nice touch, but our waters sat empty most of the meal. Too bad, Lopez.

I don’t know why people are giving this place 5 stars it was delicious and totally worth every penny… Let me explain more

The quality of the food was great! Full of flavor, I could taste the garlic, cayenne, salt, pepper all in equal parts not overpowering at all. The food here is not like your typical Mexican/​Latino fare style food– greasy, salty, makes you feel like blah after you eat it. This is what I refer to as higher end Mexican/​Latino style meals. ++++ Their happy hour is 4 – 9 pm ! WHAT A DEAL! MARGS WERE HALF OFF!
The Price– My guest and I ordered two burritos the SW Ruben and The Bleu Rodeo and they were each roughly $ 16 – 17 with cornmeal grits & sw coleslaw
Service– Excellent, I asked for a margaritta with my dinner and they actually remembered and asked if I wanted one! Plus they were promt with filling our drinks, helpful in explaining their opinion of best menu items and the manager came around and inquired about the quality of our meal. Last, they box your meals for you and not hand you a box like you may have at your typical family style mexican resturaunts.

One of my most favorite restaurants to eat at. I am never disappointed. Their pineapple mojito-​is sooooo good. I usually get the seafood enchiladas and they are always packed with lobster.
The portions are generous. The staff looks happy and really know their stuff about the menu.
Most of the staff has been there for years. This place is great to your meet friends or to take a date.

I had the lobster burritos and sampled a bit of my friends’ dishes. Excellent food.
While I understand the prices to be a bit on the high end by comparison to the area, I managed to have one of the more expensive items on the menu, the bourbon flight and an appetizer for less than I spend for a modestly expensive night out in any other number of cities. So, perhaps pricey locally but actually a good deal.
We ate outside, so I don’t have a strong impression of the flow of the venue normally.
Service was top rate.
If the experience is consistent, then Cleveland has a nice hidden gem.

Oh Lopez. I find your prices to be PRETTTTTTTTY steep. Regardless, you’ve got some solid things going for you. First off, the margarita happy hour and fancy flavor options. That combined with the patio is the summer is a winning combination! Second, the server. He was very friendly, and accommodating with all our «more chips!» requests. Third, the creativity. While they had the usual appetizers any Mexican place has, theirs were amped up. Guac with blue cheese, caviar, or bacon? YES PLEASE! Fourth, overall atmosphere. Very classy casual, you know? Didn’t feel out of place, but also didn’t feel like I had to try and impress.
I want to note as well that they have parking off to the side, but it’s limited. So… Maybe not bank on parking there. So that’s that, only two complaints (price and limited parking) from me! I have plans to definitely return once I have more money, since the entrees look delicious. I only had the opportunity to try appetizers and margaritas my first visit!

Very surprised with my latest trip to lopez. I don’t understand the 1’s at all.
I will put it in context — my girlfriend and I walked in at 9:45 on a Friday night… things were slowing down, but we called ahead and they said kitchen is open until 10:30. We sat on the patio, which is wonderful. We both ordered margaritas — she had a pineapple, I had a traditional golden. We both ordered enchiladas, Chicken for me, Steak for her — and we split a side of the jalapeño grits. I was blown away by everything — compared to my last visit here a year ago. Portions were large and we walked away with a doggy bag. Service was awesome, our sever (Tamera?) — was great, she walked us through menu and specials.
I was really impressed overall. Food was well executed with authentic flavors, and unlike that mexican place in ohio city the food doesn’t all taste like the same chilli pepper… Like I said, previously (a year ago) — I just had an ok experience at Lopez. Given the latest, I think it will turn into a place I regularly frequent.

I have a love/​hate relationship with this place. Came in for a margarita and a shot of tequila with the hubs. Brian, the bartender, made a really great quality Herradura Margarita and my hubs said the mojito was fab. Chips and salsa hit the spot with the alcohol munchies. Will return, but maybe just to drink at the bar.

I’m still thinking about the catfish taco I had on Saturday… crunchy, well-​seasoned with a hint of sweet from the jicama slaw (I assume). Mmmmm.
Tina, our server, was on point with her recommendations. She took the time to explain the menu to my husband and I, including all the drinks. The manager on duty (2÷28÷2015) welcomed us, eventually coming over to our table and chatting for a few minutes. He noticed that my husband really liked the gorilla hot sauce and told him to take it home. Nice.
To start, we both ordered margaritas. I had the blood orange and my husband decided on the the mango. They weren’t super strong, but not weak either.
We both wanted to try the tacos and ordered four total: (1) carnitas, (2) brisket and (1) catfish, along with a side of refried beans. The catfish taco was love at first bite and by the time I finished it — along with some beans and complimentary chips and salsa — I was stuffed. I took a couple bites of my brisket taco and had to take the rest home. They really piled on that brisket so I had a sizable snack for later. My husband preferred his carnitas to the brisket as well and we both thought the refried beans were seasoned really well. Generally, I can take or leave refried beans but I would definitely order them again at Lopez’s.
We’ll be back next time we’re in town.

Great happy hour spot. The margaritas are amazing and come in a bunch of flavors from (my personal favorite -) strawberry to jalapeño. Plus the complementary chips are served with some the most delicious fresh salsa ever. I’ve been to Lopez after work for the half priced drinks a dozen times now and have always had great service. The staff really knows the menu and makes you a priority no matter how busy the place is, and everything has always been very clean.
As far as the food, it’s hit or miss. There’s no chicken option for anything, including the tacos, which is hard for someone like myself who doesn’t eat red meat. However there are fish choices which have all been pretty great and some A+ guacamole.

If I was reviewing the salsa and chips this place would get 10 stars. The freebie salsa and chips at this place are so addicting. And the server just kept on bringing more and more and more. It was fantastic. We also ordered some guac, which was good, but not really anything special.
Hubs had the enchiladas and I had the fajitas. The food was pretty good. I really liked the mole sauce that came on the enchiladas.
Overall, I would definitely go back to hang out and get some drinks and chips/​salsa. I would eat here again, but I wouldn’t be rushing back.

Since Michael Hershmann arrived we have been back a number of times and each visit has been enjoyable. It’s not that it was bad before, it was just average. The last visit offered a wonderful Salmon special. The Gouda Grits side dish was so good it could almost (almost) be a main dish.
This place has been in Cleveland Heights for years and after that time you might assume a sloppy result. Not so. They remain very on-​game.

I cannot say this word with enough joy and happiness in my voice, for I have found a place that made me very, very happy. That place???
LOPEZ.
I’ve eaten at a few places that served Mexican cuisine. This was 1000 times better. And truthfully, I couldn’t call it EXACTLY Mexican; it is much much more.
Lopez is located on Lee road in Cleveland Heights, just past the library. The parking is either valet, or if you like there’s a ton across the street at a local parking garage, but either way, very accessible. Now I’ve passed this place for years and thought it too trendy/​expensive for my taste. However, tonight, my wife and I, after mutual difficult day, decided to celebrate… surviving the day, so we went to Lopez as we’d never been there before.
We were happy we did.
They serve what could be called Mexican, but with a flair and a blend of tastes that not only work well, but create part of a wonderful taste experience. I had the pulled pork carnitas fajitas, and my Wife had a their mix and match Tacos, (you can choose a variety, but she had lobster, a vegetarian mushroom/​goat cheese combo and steak, all of which were SUPERB.) My fajitas were served with smoky sauces and spiced just right. It was GREAT.
Lopez also has a variety of drinks, from a multitude of beers to margaritas and a vast array of whiskies. They even had a bourbon sampler and you could also get a sampler of their creative whisky shots. Their bar was quite impressive.
We were also struck by the kindness and the service. Our server Andrew was great, and I wanted to mention him here because he was part of the reason we had such a great night. His suggestions were helpful and his whole attitude of looking to our needs was customer service gold.
Also, Craig, the gentleman Manager, was very kind and answered a lot of our questions. Everything was great.
Now, their prices are a bit upscale; an average entrée clocks in at just under 20 bucks, but if you want to take out that special someone, impress a client or just have a nice experience, it’s worth it.
All I can say if I’m going to take someone somewhere to show them some of the best of Cleveland, I’m going to do so by way of Mexico; Viva Lopez!

Food: The meal started off right with a brown bag of slightly salty chips and flavourful chunky salsa. I ordered tacos (You have to order at least 2). I got 2 of the pulled pork and 1 of the brisket (per a foursquare tip). The tacos were large! Most people will be fine with 3 — definitely 4! They are thick — really stuffed with amazing ingredients. Large portions seem to be a trend. My friend got the BMF Burrito which was larger than a Chipotle one and just as stuffed. There is a good happy hour on Tuesdays from 5 – 9. You get ½ off margaritas — they have 13 flavours and oh so many tequila options (hence the «Tequila Saloon» bit in their name).
Service: Our waitress was helpful in making menu decisions, friendly, checked-​in on us as much as we would have wanted, and refilled our chips/​salsa without being asked. She was friendly and unlike some restaurants where patio diners are forgotten about, she was just as attentive as any indoor server I have ever had.
Location: There is a metered parking garage that takes credit card across the street. Also there is valet; on Tuesday night it cost $ 3.
Environment: The inside of the restaurant is not special, but the outdoor patio is simply charming! I loved it! There is a small tree in the center and from it and all around the patio are lights. It looks very inviting. For those chilly nights they have portable heaters. Chairs/​tables were comfy, didn’t rock or wobble, and are set out allowing for a spacious private feel on the patio. Just don’t try to exit from the patio gate — it’s chained shut. There are also some booths indoors right next to windows that open so you can have the best of both worlds in those seats.
Overall Recommendation: I was walking Lee Road at about 9pm and wanted food. I saw the 3-​star average rating of this place and almost didn’t go inside, but the patio was full and a good number of inside tables were as well. That was more than could be said for nearby restaurants, so despite others’ low rating, I went in and was very glad I did! If you can get in earlier for happy hour definitely do so, otherwise anytime is worth while.