Ricardo’s Original Tavern House

I do not like to give one star ratings in this case I am really tempted. The service was ok, food inedible, cleanliness deplorable, I would never return.

I went with a group of 14 people on a Sunday around 1:00. The wait staff couldn’t have been more attentive, everyone enjoyed their meals, and the staff gave us separate checks without complaint. I’ll definitely stop in again when we’re in the area.

I am from Southern California so I have had more than my fair share of Mexican food. All things considering, it’s pretty authentic for its location! One bonus is it’s one of the only places I can find Dos Equs Amber when visiting PA. Their flautas were very good, rice was nice and the salsa and chips were great. It’s pretty much like every Mexican restaurant in Southern California. I wonder if most of the poor reviews are from people who are used to «Taco Bell» style Mexican food (read: not authentic).

You may not get the best service, but the food makes up for it. Taco Tuesday is one of our favorite, the deep fried tacos are delicious. The homemade salsa and chips are tasty. They are not opened on Mondays just an FYI. Great place lots of locals nothing fancy.

Your best bet is to sit at the bar as Brenda is always attentive! Service can be slow at the tables. Best margaritas around and food is always made to order and delicious!

Great service, tasty margaritas and fresh salsa… try the Cheesesteak Burrito, delicious!

The place may have been here a while, but that is the problem. They only pay attention to the regulars. This leads to slow service, cold food, and a pissed off diner who won’t go back.

It just seems different now, not as good. When I saw they changed their menu a few years back, and didn’t sell chicken tacos anymore, I was bummed. On my last visit, the meat in the ground beef taco seemed over cooked or a little burnt.
Overall their food is OK, and the cream of mushroom soup I had that night almost made up for the taco! There are many other good items; try the cheese-​steak enchilada! Service is a little slow, like almost every Mexican restaurant…

The best aspect of this restaurant is the location due to living in Hellertown. At first I thought it was a dive bar, and once entering I wasn’t too far off. The atmosphere isn’t the greatest but the locals and bartender are friendly. The price is right for tacos and drinks on Tuesday. How can you go wrong with 3 16oz beers for $ 6? The décor is old and the tables need to be fixed or at least attached to the base. (5 year old nearly flipped the table by just leaning on it, major safety hazard.) I think this establishment has great potential, it just needs a few updates and pristine cleaning job.

Our visit last evening, after many in the past, was a complete turn-​off. I am not a fan of mexican food, but have left here happy and full many times. Usually I sit at the bar, but last nite had a table near the bar. Food on the chairs we sat on, food slop on the menus we ordered from, and the filthy mirror we sat next to were all gross. I had the corn dinner (one taco, one cheese enchalada, rice and beans). What was not mentioned in my dinner entrée was the STONE that I found in my beans. Yes, an actual piece-​of-​tooth looking ROCK. Gladly it was not a piece of my tooth, and I showed it to the waiter, but never got any explanation as to why it was in my food. I will suggest other mexican restaurants in the valley next time friends are hungry for it.

I have been going to this establishment for more than 25 years. A long time ago I would guess that my frequency of patronage was at least once a week. In recent years I would say that my frequency has been once every 3 or 4 months. Well I am very sad to say that I will probably never go back there again after tonight. The green hot salsa is now different, it used to be top notch and now it is absolutely terrible. When I inquired about this with the server she informed me that they changed suppliers and were unable to obtain the same ingredients as previously. Tonight the refried beans were also really bad, very dry and looked like they came out of a can. I had a taco combination special and the meat in the tacos seemed very dry. The chorizo was so over cooked there was zero spicy flavor to it. This was my absolute favorite restaurant 25 years ago and it is still owned and run by the same couple, I long for the good olé days when they had homemade chips and salsa and the very best buffalo wings I have ever had. I don’t expect that I’ll be going back here again.

Walk away from this place!!! The food was cross… the salsa wasn’t fresh at all the meat have no Flavor or taste… You don’t believe me try it your self!!!

Chicken cheese enchiladas and margaritas. You needn’t know of anything else on their hefty menu, but if this south of the border option doesn’t sate and slake your edacious palate there are plenty of other meat and potato oriented options to choose from. Everything here is worth the modest price and daily drink specials accommodate the budget of even the worst dipsomaniac. Expect typical bar atmosphere, so once the sun goes down it may be best to take the children elsewhere unless you pack the earplugs.

Mexican food circa 1980s. Standard fare like tacos, burritos and — yes — chimichangas. (I thought those went out of style when Chi Chi’s went under.) Chirizo burger I had was decent, though the baked beans tasted a bit too institutional. Wife had a taco selection that she enjoyed, yet the rice and beans were mediocre. Beer selection was lacking in this age of craft brews. Décor needs an update. Overall, an unimpressive experience.

I have frequented this place for years and always found authentic good food until Last Night.
The place was not extremely busy but it took over 45 minutes for entrees to come out. When they did come out they arrived 5 minutes apart instead of all together. To top off the long eIt my tamale combo was stone cold. I longed for the great tamales they serve here but whomever sent these out should have been ashamed. Whether it was the waitress responsible or the kitchen it was inexcusable. Then my son in laws entrée came out steaming hot I surmise microwaved to the max because of my complaint.
We were heading to a show so needless to say after waiting 45 minutes for the food there was no time to reorder my entrée and I did not want it microwaved.
However the biggest complaint I had last night that bothered me the most was the waitress nor the owner showed much compassion for the experience I had.
This may be harsh but I will never go back.

I have frequented this establishment many times over the past 10 years and this is my first Unilocal about it. Heidi and I both ordered the same entrée, Beef and chicken chimmy they were OK but we have had better meals here over the years, They have two types of salsa red mild and green verrrrrry hot, good thing they have cold Mexican beer, and margaritas I always get the green hot.
All I have to say in finalizing this review is this place was GREAT, now just OK.

Here’s the scoope on the Tavern House a.k.a. Ricardo’s.
Let me start by saying I have never been disappointed with a meal at the Tavern House. You just have to ratchet it down if your looking for ambiance.
The Tavern House is something between local dive and gin mill. The place probably hasn’t seen a face lift since 1972, so, if your looking for atmosphere, you won’t find it here. However, you can come in after a ball game or be wearing sneakers and jeans and not have to worry about it. It’s a trade off folks.
If your looking to be waited on as if your were at the Four Seasons, I’d adjust my expecctations downwards a bit. These are local people trying to make a living sometimes college or high school kids. The servers may not be professional, but, they are always friendly, so, be kind, they are trying.
But, what about the food? My opinion is that it is pretty good Maxican. Is it «authentic Mexican»? I don’t know, I’m not Mexican, but, the food is tasty and you get generous portions. So, If you are looking for a casual Mexican restaurant that serves good food, a place where you can relax, suck down a few beers or marguerita’s and get fed without breaking the bank, you will probably be happy.

The place is very dark. The atmosphere is slightly dive-​y and you get the idea that it’s a locals place. The service was mediocre and the margarita I had was not good — too much ice and barely any tequila.
The Mexican food was great but the beer selection was pretty bad: only five taps of nothing great — boyfriend and I moved across the street to Braveheart to keep drinking once we’d finished dining at Ricardo’s. Only went in to try something new and wouldn’t go back or recommend.

Well, I must admit I was very surprised to see such up and down reviews of this place. I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of Mexican food but when I’m slummin’ in jeans and a tee, this place suits my needs perfectly.
Great size portions with awesome prices to match. Fresh salsa with your meal and cheap beer… does it get any better when thinking of Mexican food?! I should think not. The cheese steak enchilada is a meaty cheesy heaven that will definitely send you into fatty shock, just before you pass out into a food coma! However I must say I am boring… I love their standard hard shell tacos, ordered with extra fresh jalapenos and sour cream… mmm I’m drooling thinking about it and it’s 11am… geez. I need to talk to a professional.
The only problem I have with this place is the staff. Not very friendly, you can see the disgust on their face that they have to work and actually do their jobs. Other than that, this place is A-​OK in my little black book of food affairs!

I’ve only been there once, and that was enough.
The ground beef had no flavor, the rice looked like it was out of a Lipton’s bag… it’s typical midwestern fake Mexican food. I’m told they make a decent margarita.
Service was awful the night we were in there. There was only one server, an older woman who had no business being in the waitressing industry.
There is parking back behind the building, if you can’t find a spot on Main Street in front of the building.