La Nueva Posada

I hadn’t been to this Mexican restaurant in years and decided to give it another try. We arrived around 6:15pm on a Friday night and it was pretty full on né side of the restaurant already. We were the first to be seated on the left side of the restaurant. The ambiance is fun but kind of dark in some spots with just Christmas lights strung everywhere and colorful pinatas hung around the perimeter of the restaurant.
The menu is your typical Mexican restaurant menu with combinations, burritos or a la carte items. I ordered the 2 taco combination and it was very tasty. They advertised on their menu that they have a full bar but there was no bar menu to be found which was a big disappointing.
The biggest pet peeve of mine was that the service was incredibly slow. For a Friday night, I don’t understand why so many restaurants are understaffed. The poor server was running around like crazy. We had to ask for a to-​go box and had to ask again for our check. It’s just kind of a turn off for me, hence the 3 stars. I’ll probably be back but only because it’s super close to home and does satisfy my Mexican food cravings.
Parking: small free lot on the side of the restaurant

Been to this place twice, Peter was nice both times. The food was decent and the service was great. The margarita was great as well. I did not see any roaches and the service from the rest of the staff was great as well. This place is quickly becoming my Friday spot for a night and relaxing night. We came at 6:45 and the place was getting packed and it was completely packed by 8:00. I’ll definitely come back. Here’s to many more.

This place is great. Attentive service; beautiful decorative atmosphere. The fajitas were decent, and the salsa was missing a kick, but the margaritas are outstanding. My wife and daughter enjoyed their soup and quesadillas. I’m definitely coming back to try other items on the menu.
I saw their bar on my way back from the restroom. It looks comfortable, cozy and private. I want to crawl in there with some cerveza and Margaritas like a snug leather glove and watch a ballgame. It’s a hideaway cave inside the restaurant.

Love this place! Peter is the man!!! Went back after a large hosted party. The food and margaritas are so good. The pork enchiladas are great!

Love this place. Good food and hospitality abound. The pork enchiladas are delicious!

Been coming here a long time. Love the chips and salsa ask for the hot one it’s amazing. Beans and rice are always amazing and burritos are tasty the cheese he puts is yum! He has great guacamole and service is always great! Would recommend highly I believe it’s dinner service only now…

The food is ok, but we’ve never felt welcomed here. It seems like a tight family business that caters to old-​time patrons and friends of the family. We’re generally pleasant patrons; we eat out often and know how to behave ourselves. We don’t have screaming children, we don’t bother other patrons, we know how to order, buy drinks, and we tip well. I don’t understand why the owner is so rude and sarcastic. He offers good service and hugs to his favorites, but everyone else is treated poorly. There are better places to go.

I have a lot of Japanese friends who I wanted to introduce to good Mexican food, knowing that they would love to return (as well as could afford to). So a couple of years ago I splurged from my Social Security budget and got two LivingSocial coupons, planning to take them out. However, when I took someone the first time, the service was AWFUL and the food nothing like good Mexican food I have enjoyed many other places. I was so disappointed and embarrassed that I let the other coupon lapse.
After all this time, still unable to afford to give up the $ 15, I still recalled how customers on the other side of the restaurant, who had a waitress, were laughing and having a good time, so today I talked myself into trying it out again. I thought there might be a problem despite the fact that the coupon said the amount I paid would «never expire.» Today I was very rudely informed that it was my problem. However, when I asked if I could order anyway, the waiter (Peter?) turned his back and went in the kitchen. After ten minutes, I decided enough is enough and left. Down the street at El Torito I had the dishes I had planned to order, and I’m sure they tasted much better.
It can’t be my age; other customers were older than I, and also «American.» But Peter obviously plays favorites — the first time I went he had also left us waiting. I thought his surly mood was because I had somehow wandered in the back door, but no, that’s the only door to the place. Hard to believe a restaurant with no visible front door.
Perhaps Peter is the reason the restaurant has to resort to Groupon and LivingSocial coupons to stay open.

I hadn’t enjoyed a meal at La Nueva Posada, since I moved out of the state over 10-​years ago. Visiting the area, I stopped in for dinner, and had one of the best meals of my life. The favors and textures of authentic Mexican home cooking, with a perfectly-​mixed margarita resonated with my palate, making me feel home again. The staff, and Peter (the owner) were warm, friendly and attentive to our party. A magnificent meal with great service — it doesn’t get any better than this.

I should had read the reviews before coming but oh well. It wasn’t hard to pin who was Peter, listed in the other reviews. It seems he’s only friendly to a certain group (ethnic) of people. The guy does have eye contact problem. Dropped of my margarita and didn’t looked at me. The hand placed the margarita down into the table but body was already turned to leave. Good waiting service. The margarita was ok but missing a flavor like lime. Peter could of been a little more polite instead of barking «don’t touch» (because the plate was hot) when he dropped off the food. I ordered asada burrito and have never had a one with such big chunks of steak not to mention the meat was bland. We had to asked twice for the check. Had better luck flagging down the other guys to run my cc. I was surprised when he came by to check on us and said bye when we left. Yeah, there was crazy decorations. Overall, this place, food, and experience was ok. And definitely not coming for a second time.

Always exceptional service. All the food is authentic Mexican Food. Generous portions and amazing drinks. Prices are reasonable and the chips and salsa is delish!

Roaches.
Came in just for a margarita tonight. Three words for what we found in this place.
Roaches roaches roaches.
We had to point them out, crawling on the bar under our salsa… So sad. Love the people, but this was disgusting. Will never return.

Peter and the Fam back to work, one of our families favs, luscious chile relleno, perhaps the best, or best 2, in Pasadena… best carnitas, hands down, generous portions, great setting and style, friendly atmosphere, a fantastic family dinner spot…

This place was great!
Peter makes this place! And for any other reviewer who mentioned his attitude you must not have a sense of humor because this man is everything the resteraunt business needs. Every person that walked in after me was greeted like they were old friends and with hugs.
He is witty, slightly sarcastic but more so very accommodating!
If your searching for something to try many times I heard him say «the special is great that’s what your having»
When he came back and asked how was the food the woman responded with «it’s ok» (referring to the special) he took it back, apologized and asked what she would like. And got her order out ASAP with apologies. Some people may not like this type of attitude in a place of business or resteraunt but I think it’s wonderful and really makes the place stand out from your boring monkey see monkey do places like Chevys or el torito where staff is kind of bland.
Drinks were strong! I had a margarita over ice and I don’t think I could have drank two.
Food came out FAST and PIPPING hot! The beans were fantastic!
The rice was pretty basic, nothing to write home about
The crispy shredded beef taco was delish!!!
Only complaint was the guacamole tasted store bought which was a let down because I am a huge guacamole person. I understand you can’t make big batches and let it sit around all day and get brown but maybe it would be better if they offered table side guacamole vs whatever they have now :-/​
I shall be back!!! And maybe next time I’ll try whatever Peter recommends :-)

I should have read the reviews before coming here. Went with a few co-​workers for lunch since we work right down the street and were looking for a Mexican place we could regularly hit up, but we’re never coming back.
SERVICE:
— The owner (apparently named Peter) was very rude and it was uncalled for. He made snarky comments at me when I had forgotten for a second what I had ordered and even after I had apologized for it, and I felt extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed about the way I was treated. Even my co-​workers had reactions of silence and then surprise at how awkward and unexpected his behavior was over something so small.
— They served us a small scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert which was a pleasant surprise — except that they served everyone at our table except one of our co-​workers, who didn’t do anything to provoke this. It was very obvious that he was missed especially since we were a small party and yet the waiter just walked away without saying anything.
— When it came time for the bill, we had to keep looking around to try and flag down a waiter to help us. Then when we asked Peter if we could split the tab using a couple of credit cards (we would’ve been fine if that wasn’t acceptable, but wanted to check), he curtly told us to walk our tab to the back of the restaurant so that apparently we could pay our bill.
FOOD
— I ordered the 2 tacos + rice + beans platter from their lunch menu:
— Literally half of my plate consisted of low quality shredded lettuce, the type that reminded me of what I was served in my elementary school cafeteria.
— The «hard» taco was flimsy and greasy throughout. Not kidding.
— The beef and chicken were in meager portions and weren’t that tasty.
— Actually, the whole taco itself wasn’t tasty. The tomatoes /​onions /​cilantros felt like they were just rinsed, diced, and sprinkled onto the taco and not in a fresh way. It didn’t have flavor or have any remnant of pico de gallo.
— Beans and rice were pretty standard.
Also, what kind of Mexican restaurant doesn’t serve horchata? Sadness ya’ll. Sadness.

How the hell is this place packed? I’ve never had greasier or more unappetizing food.
The décor looks like the local craft shop threw up on the walls. The place is hideous. The food makes Taco Bell look like Spago. We were afterthought and our food was slung at us while other customers were treated like family. I’d rather get a frozen burrito from 7 – 11. Never going back.

I have mixed feelings about La Nueva Posada because every time my family and I come here it is closed. Granted, we usually have a family lunch on Saturday and never seem to remember that this place is only open for dinner on Saturdays. Doh! Though I remember coming here on a time/​date they should’ve been open and it was closed! Regardless of the bad timing, I like the food and service here. First, service is great. Servers are pretty attentive without being overbearing. Person taking your order is always upbeat and friendly. Second, the food is good and plenty. Third, atmosphere is fun. I like the spacing of the place and the fun decorative surrounding. I like the booths. I feel like I am in a fiesta every time I walk in here. The chips are good and the salsa isn’t bad.
What else? Really can’t go wrong if come in with an open mind. Price is decent, but I would say a bit much. Regardless, it’s nice going out and the restaurant has this aura of welcoming and home-​style.

Peter is so rude. Avoided eye contact and treated us like kids. We were respectful and he’s was being extremely disrespectful! Never coming back to this place. Food was good but Peter is unprofessional and lost 1^st time customers because of this.

Our first and last time here. The waitress had an excuse for everything that went wrong.
When our food took about 50 minutes to get to our table, she said it’s because it is hard to make. It was an order of tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas.
When she got the order wrong, she insisted that’s what we ordered/​said.
When she gave us the correct order, she said he — the kitchen — got it wrong.
Food was mediocre and I am SHOCKED it was so crowded in there. Way better options around the area.
I’d rather go to Taco Bell.

My aunt Dorothy and I have been dining here for 20 years. Peter and his family have tested us like family and his food is one of best in Pasadena.
Love his guacamole and chips are not greasy like most restaurants.
His Chili Verde is succulent an flavorful.
Love the crispy tacos and the ambiance fun !!! Great family atmosphere.
I highly recommend. The Gonzales Family