Don Jose Tequilas

Came here for a friend’s birthday and made reservations for 8:30pm. We arrived and were told to wait at the bar. We were told that they would seat us after two parties left, both of whom were only just served water and chips. Part of our party was told that they were in the way of the bar. We then were seated at 11pm. Service was polite but very slow. We did not get refills on our drinks/​water and the food was cold. There were patrons there who were walking around and talking loudly on cellphones, and inappropriately touching (petting heads, poking sides) of several of the female customers in the restaurant. The manger did not apologize for the wait and did not try to make up for the poor experience whatsoever.

What a great Mexican restaurant! Had a
gift certificate so came with a few friends. There was a special where you got an app, dinner, and dessert for $ 19.99 so we all went with this option. So many things to chose from! We all got the nachos which had a lot of toppings on it, each chip was covered, no stragglers with no cheese so that was perfect! There were about 6 choices for the entrée, I went with the fish with rice and salad. Chose to have it baked not fried and it tasted really good, the others got the enchiladas and the buffalo chicken quesidilla which were both great.
Desserts — all got the fried ice cream! YUM!!!
So the place inside is a little dark so more of a nice nighttime setting, they do have a small bar and parking is all on the street, we went on a weeknight and have no issues finding a spot. I love that they give you free chips and salsa (this was a little spicy which I love!) and the food is great if you are looking for authentic Mexican food. Would go back again and try the margaritas as they have won some awards for this!

I’m that strange diner who takes pictures of everything they eat. The fact that I didn’t means this was an amazing dinner experience. We started with the ultimate margarita pitcher. At $ 44 it was delicious and served us each 2.5x. I can definitely see how Don Jose’s was voted best margarita. We started with chips and salsa. The salsa is thick, smooth, and very spicy. It probably wouldn’t be for everyone with the level of spiciness but it was delicious. The chips were homemade and fresh. The table side guacamole was excellent and custom made to perfection. I love to get jalapeños on the side since those dining with me don’t usually enjoy my love for extreme heat. For my dinner the mahi mahi tacos were on the smaller side but so tasty and well balanced. These were so flavorful I didn’t miss the typical XL tex mex portion. My dining partners burrito and salad were also very well put together and tasty. I’ll definitely be back to Don Jose’s.

Came for drinks only, so this review doesn’t speak to food. Personally love a great margarita, but this place does not serve great margaritas. They are fine, but overpriced. They don’t have very good bartenders unless I was there with the B shift. The bar fruit was old. Yes, old limes at a place that purports to be a tequila bar. Yikes. Our bartender kept trying to push food on us. It wasn’t busy or close to a full bar, she was borderline rude about it. Employees were texting in front of customers and having their own conversations while customers waited. It seemed like our bartender was punishing us for repeatedly turning down her trying to sell us menu items even though we told her we were just there for drinks. All around terrible service. I definitely won’t ever be back here.

A great place a couple of blocks from my apartment. Best Mexican food i’ve had in a while. Often Mexican places tend to be a little watered down for the mass consumer leaving the food a little bland. The food here is flavorful and yes, SPICY! I had the small Nachos Machos and the serving was huge… 6 bucks… not bad at all. My friend had the ceviche and she loved it as well. We both had margaritas, which were good as well. The only negative is that we felt a little rushed when the waitress asked if we wanted the ceviche in a doggy bag, when she was only halfway done with her plate. I understand it was busy so no biggy. We will be back!

It was alright. The waiter had far too many tables (maybe people called out) making him almost unavailable to us. My sangria and my friend’s margarita were terrible. Overall the food was good. My entrée, a slow cooked pork shank (I can’t remember the name of the dish) was delicious! Others at the table were underwhelmed with their dishes. If I do go back it will be during slower hours, not a diner rush Friday night.

Not terrible but not good. The first time we went here we thought it was pretty good or at least good enough to return for a bday celebration however, I must have been mistaken. I ordered the fish tacos thinking, «you can’t go wrong with this selection», but I was wrong. It was bland and somewhat Americanized. El mariachi’s in Taunton is far superior and Fiesta in Somerset is not far behind that.

I’ve been here twice… Great service, great food, great drinks. However, the price is a little much. I’m from California where the Mexican food and drinks are superb and the real deal… This is the closest you’re gonna get in Rhode Island, so I guess that’s why they’re pricier. They’re pretty dead at around 2 so if you need some quiet time and a drink, it’s the best time to go since it gets pretty busy at night. However I would recommend this place

My husband & I have been here several times, and it’s been great every time! Took the kids with us tonight and they loved the tacos. Service is always excellent. We tend to go earlier in the evening (like 6ish) it’s gets way busier after 7ish– it’s a smaller place, so tables fill up quick. We are big fans of Mexican food, and this place tops our charts for one of the best places with food and atmosphere… Highly recommend. Margaritas are fabulous! Free valet parking is also a bonus on the busier weekend days when parking is hard to find.

Can’t decide between 3 Stars or 4. First of all, we were kind of surprised to learn of a TEX-​MEX restaurant on Federal Hill. But this place was recommended by a foodie friend, and we were dying for good fajitas, so to Federal Hill we went in search of them!
The restaurant has wonderful valet parking, and nice parkers, to boot! We were greeted by friendly staff at the front door and seated immediately. A friendly waitress came by with menus and took our drink orders. There were SO MANY different types of margaritas on the menu, we simply ordered the one most like an original!
We then ordered some guacamole to go with the chips we were served (very stale and hard). A big production was made by a young man making the guacamole at the table with a bowl and pestle, telling us what he put into it and making cute jokes. The guacamole was quite pricey, but it was definitely good and we finished the whole serving before our fajitas for two (which was what we came here for) arrived.
The platter was exactly enough for two persons, and there were two of us so that worked out fine! We are accustomed to larger portions in Tex-​Mex restaurants in DC where we used to live. But it was still not a big deal because we each had an ample serving. The beef was good and very nicely cooked. It did not have enough of the marinade flavor we were accustomed to, but every place is different, so I’m just mentioning this. The fajita steak was good, but could have had a little bit more flavor.
All in all, we thought the food was good, the service was excellent, the guacomole was pricey, and we thought that the restaurant seemed a bit on the «touristy» side. But not sure why tourists would go to Federal Hill for Mexican food. Just sayin’! :-)

The food was amazing every time I go here. The paella was perfect! Shrimp, mussles, clams, calamari, and chicken in saffron rice with tomatoes! Perfect. And funny seeing as Im not very into spicy food lol they made it to order perfectly. The staff are nothing short of amazing attentative and sweet! The drinks are to die for! They have the most amazing mango margaritas!
The time before that I had like a seafood stew! They brought it over in a big cast iron pot, and even used the carcass of the lobster as a decoration sticking out of the pot!!! The rice was perfectly cooked!
The only possible critique i could have for this place, is that they could do with a bit more lighting.
Otherwise, 4 stars!!! I recommend this place to everyone I know that likes spicy authentic mexican food!

As a Southern California native, I was convinced that I would not be able to find a Hispanic restaurant that would meet the caliber of flavor I am accustomed to. Don Jose Tequila proved me wrong!
The staff are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are attentive, friendly, helpful, and informative.
The food is mouthwatering good! I highly recommend the nachos with chicken. Go with the large and I assure you that It will fill both people up. There are layers of flavor and they don’t skim out on either quality or quantity. Best Hispanic restaurant in Federal Hill hands down!

If I could give less than one star, I would. The food was absolutely disgusting. The mild salsa tasted like Spaghetti-O’s sauce. The nachos were just gross. The margaritas were too sweet and very weak — basically just sour mix. When our food came, it was inedible. The worst part about our experience was that, after I complained, the waitress, manager, and one of the cooks came to our table and tried to convince us that we were wrong about the quality of the food. Now we’re home and both feeling incredibly ill. Not really how I wanted to start out my 4^th of July weekend! Do yourself a favor and drive to Hope Street and go to Tortilla Flats! Normally I’m not one to leave such a negative review, and I am an avid Mexican food eater, but the semi-​harassment of the restaurant staff was just awful and unacceptable.

A group of friends and I went here for Cinco de Mayo. Despite being crowded, it didn’t seem like they had any festivities for the holiday
Margaritas are absolutely deliciously sweet. Food was ok.

The hubs and I went here on a Fri after a long week and were greeted by the friendliest waitress (who didn’t stop buzzing around to her many tables) and the most delicious Mexican food we’ve had in a while! The bill wasn’t inexpensive but the food was delicious! I think we’ve found a new go-​to!

This is a solid 3. Nothing spectacular. Small and dark inside. It is maddening that when serving fajitas, all you get is a thimble size of sour cream, and guacamole. We were billed for the additional sour cream we asked for, which, believe me came out in another small container. The sides for the fajitas: lettuce, tomato, re-​fried beans were also a smaller size serving then we are accustomed to. Nothing here to rave about.

Deep fried ice cream, need I say more! This is what sets Atwells Ave apart from other places like Little Italy and the North End, being able to get amazing Mexican food just a few doors down from all the great Italian restaurants. My fiancé and I love coming here whenever we have a chance, the margaritas are fantastic even if you just get the house. No matter what you get though be sure to try the fried ice cream. Enjoy!

Readers Digest: Come here for great apps and superb drinks. Best drinks around Federal Hill. The dinner menu, it is on par with average Mexican places.
Full Version: Federal Hill is a great place to head when looking for a place to eat. We happened upon this place while in search of dinner.
The inside is quaint and quiet. Which is really a plus IMO as I really dislike loud places. Sometimes you find a small place that has music playing, and then everyone tries to talk over the music and then the next thing you know you can barely hear yourself speak. Not here.
The waitstaff here also is worth mentioning, as they are incredibly attentive and courteous. One couple had a frustrated child who decided to scream most of the time, and even someone from the kitchen tried to help. While his efforts failed, it was nice to see. Although the family and the member of the staff was speaking Mexican, so I am not really sure what was said in the conversation.
The drinks are a little on the pricier side, but any qualms about this goes out the door once you try them. I have had hit and miss situations with Mexican restaurants and Margaritas. This place was SPOT on and I would rank them with the highest and best Margaritas I have had. Not that it is a bad thing, but I am fairly certain we spent more on drinks than food.
The dinner meals however were somewhat disappointing. Do not get me wrong, they were fine. And the prices were very reasonable. However after having set the bar so high with the appetizer and drinks, I guess I was expecting the meals to be a bit higher quality. Or perhaps this is more or less authentic than the Mexican food I have become used to. On the meals alone, I would have given this place three stars, but everything else combined makes this easily a four star place.
All and all, I would come back here and try the food again regardless. Maybe it was an off night. Maybe it was what I ordered.

I came here with the intention of getting real Mexican food — and I was pleased! Everything was good from the homemade chips and salsa, to the Don Jose margarita, to the enchiladas I ordered. I ordered my enchiladas with the green sauce, which I had never had but it was delicious. I’d be willing to go back just to order the same thing but with the red sauce. There were plenty of affordable options on the menu and the drink prices were unbeatable! I’m just going to knock it down a star because it was a little too dark in there. But everything else, from the food to the service, was wonderful!

Best calamari I found in RI!
Margaritas are balanced w/​flavor & tequila.
I alwys get the pollo chipotle and it fills me right up when you’re hungry.