Flaming Fresco Mexican Restaurant

Excellent and unique!
If you like huge honkin burritos wrapped in tin foil for $ 2.99 and a mariachi band playing in your face then dont go there!
If you like simple cheap food and fast then dont go there!
If you DO appreciate more complex and subtle flavors in a more upscale dining room then GO there!
I’ve never seen Mexican cuisine done like this anywhere else and I love it!

I’ve been back here several times since with another Unilocaler and the food has been really good. However, I am sticking to four stars because recently the ownership changed and I’m not sure how that will affect the menu. And on a recent visit they had a large party screaming and shouting, so we finished our meal and left early, and as we walked out, they cheered that they had cleared the place and shouted obscenities at us. We’re regulars, and shouldn’t be treated that way by drunks. The staff just seem to let anything happen in here, despite the nice setting and high prices. I don’t get that.
That said, my enchiladas were like butter, my mom’s sopes were well-​seasoned, and we always enjoy the chili verde and the vegetarian options.

I had been wanting to try this place for awhile… I’m slowly working my way around the «new» restaurants in downtown RWC. My friend and I went for dinner and when we first arrived there was only one other table there (which always makes me a little nervous) but the woman serving us was friendly and our food was quick to come out. We didn’t order anything exciting — enchiladas and tamales. We had also ordered an appetizer but we never received it. The food was good but I felt for the price it definitely wasn’t worth returning. There is no shortage of good Mexican food in this area.
When we finished, our plates were cleared and we waited for our check. And waited. And waited. And waited. We were trying to not be impatient and kept turning around and staring at the woman and trying to wave her down but she never again looked our way. I do take some responsibility and know I’m a complete idiot for waiting FORTY MINUTES before finally getting up and demanding our check. One of my biggest pet peeves at restaurants is waiting too long for the check… especially when I’m waiting so long that I want to start throwing things :-)
I’m still on the hunt for good service and reasonable prices in downtown RWC but not having much luck so far. My advice is not to waste your time with this place. If you want sit-​down Mexican downtown I’d opt for Margaritas.

If we’re comparing Mexican restaurants in the RWC area, this is not a La Vic’s. It’s more like Milagros. Nice ambiance, linen, and food on big white plates.
While perusing through the menu, we asked the waiter what «tingan» was (if you’re going to search for it online, it’s actually «tinga») and he had trouble describing it. What we got out of his attempt was that it was some type of chipotle based sauce. We weren’t 100% satisfied but about 10 minutes later, he brings out a little plate of it! And it was delicious. It almost swayed me into getting the Burrito de Pollo (which is where this tingan is placed) but if I ever see enchiladas, I will not say no.
So I ended up getting the Enchiladas de Pollo and the portion looked a lot smaller than I expected. When I eat at Milagros, I almost always have to bring leftovers home but today, I gobbled that plate up. Surprisingly, the portion ended up being just right because I felt pretty full. The shredded chicken wasn’t overcooked and the white sauce was creamy but light. It came with rice and black beans which is nice because most of the other dishes had pinto beans.
We got some top shelf margaritas which tasted wayyyyy better than the ones at Milagros. They take time to make it here and don’t use cheap stuff so it tastes 10x better.
Last but not least, the flan. This put me over the top and is precisely why I’m giving them a 3.75. The flan had varying firmness throughout. It was medium on top but got firmer at the bottom. The sauce was SPECTACULAR and made me feel like I was eating chocolate, taste wise not texture.
I saw a bunch of people eating solo here with a book which is doable since the place is generally really quiet. Aside from those few, there weren’t other people there so eating in a large group was no problem.

I’ve been here several times. The best way to describe this restaurant would be upscale Mexican food. The food is very tasty. The service each time I’ve been there was a little slow… though the waiters were definitely nice. It is a very small place… so when it gets a lot of people in there, it can get quite loud. It can be a bit pricey if you are going in there thinking it is just standard Mexican food. Of course, I usually use
as they are on there which helps a lot.
I would say, overall, the reason I keep returning here is for the food. It is in the right proportion (I dont feel stuffed afterwards, but I am full). They always give something free… usually a sample of one of their foods. And they have some unique sauces on their foods which make then very tasty. I think the menu is small because they really focus on making each dish perfect.

When people say this is the BEST mexican food they have ever had, I have to wonder where they’ve eaten before after trying out Flaming Fresco the other night. The service was friendly but sadly did not make up for the lackluster food.
We ordered a sopes appetizer which was tasty but not a very large portion. There were only 2 other couples dining at the time we were there so it’s not like the kitchen was busy, yet the appetizer was barely warm. Our entrees came out shortly afterwards, and again they were barely warm. The portions were small and the flavors of both the shrimp dish and the beef enchiladas were quite bland. To top it off, an appetizer, 2 entrees, one glass of sangria and a soda came to about $ 65 with tip.
Buen dia to you, Flaming Fresco, we will not be returning.

Yummy, fancier alternative to the counter-​style Mexican restaurants that abound down here in the RWC. The margaritas are pretty yummy, they have a decent Tequila bar, and the food is FANTASTIC. It seems like all of their sauces were tried and tested until they reached perfection. The ingredients in everything are super-​fresh and the salsa is to die for. Portions aren’t ridiculously large so you leave feeling just full enough.
Expect to spend a little more than your typical Mexican meal, but it’s worth every penny.

Delicious!!!
I was looking for a place to have lunch in between doctor’s appointments and Unilocal led me here. The décor is quite nice on the inside, and it wasn’t overly packed. The chips that were brought out with a tomatillo salsa were very fresh and made in-​house.
The menu itself is sparse, but with good reason. It seems that every dish has been perfected. I looked around to see what others were having, and ended up coveting my neighbor’s steak enchilada (broke the 11^th commandment). It was seriously one of the best enchiladas I’ve had. I’m going to be coming up with fake illnesses just so I can go back there for lunch.

An authentic whole in the wall, the owners are incredibly friendly and they are willing to accommodate large groups. Lots of food options including three large vegetarian friendly plates to choose from.
Not a ton of seating so I would suggest making reservations, but this is a nice little place over by the new theater district where you can get authentic food. Have I had better, yes. But it is a pretty decent place with good service.

To sum it up-​ok, but not great. Even though this restaurant is close to home, I won’t be returning.
The good– Nice, quaint atmosphere. Reasonably sized portions. Great service.
The not so good-​Mediocre food. I had the seafood enchiladas and my friend had the mole. Both of our meals were just «there». Nothing to excite the palate or make me exclaim in glee. Just blah. I thought it was a tad overpriced given the quality of the food as well.

Fan… tastic! This is just what i’ve been looking for, a mexican place that’s very authentic that doesn’t serve gluttonous proportions, while having some of the freshest flavors around.
No joke, this place is better than most places i’ve been to in Cabo and Cozumel.
My new favorite mexican restaurant.
DO IT!

Everything I could ask for in a Mexican restaurant. You Unilocalers would be crazy not to bookmark this one.
As my mother knows my penchant for sit-​down, margarita-​serving, fish taco abundant Mexican restaurants, she brought me to her «ladies night» haunt.
Tucked away off of beautifully renovated Central Redwood City, this hole in the wall Mexican restaurant is quite a find.
Margaritas made with agave, anejo tequila, and fresh limes are worth the trip alone. (Did I mention they were $ 5 for a huge seriving?)
Homemade thick-​cut chips and green tomatillo salsa merits its own spot on a «things to eat before you die list.» (*ahem* Papalote).
Breakfast menu is served at lunch and comes with $ 5 Chilaquiles (your choice red or green sauce) — the flavors are out of this world.
My mother had a vegetarian dinner dish which included roasted vegetable stuffed chile relleno, enchilada, and something Mexican-​potato latka-​esque. The sauce that covered these was nothing short of gourmet– definitely not class Mexican red sauce.
Ambiance and service are top notch here as well. Beautiful décor with tiled floors and seemingly family-​run; I cannot wait to return again and again.

Have been here a few times, but my most recent experience prompted me to write a review in thanks for their late night service. Entered after 9:30 on a weeknight, fully expecting that they might turn us away. No other patrons came in after us, yet they did not rush us or make us feel like we were forcing them to stay open. It was a remarkably mellow experience! The owner pleasantly acknowledged and chatted with us before she left for the evening.
If you’re ever staring down the ‘Closed’ signs elsewhere, and you don’t want to end up at a pub or fast food joint, keep this place in mind.
Portions are kind of small, but the sauces are gourmet and _​unusual_​. You can earn airline miles if you’re participating in United or American’s dining rewards program. Food presentation is more upscale than Fiesta Del Mar in MV, but FF’s vibe is not full house/​crowded. Service is waaaaaaaaay better here than at Café Del Sol in Menlo Park; FF’s food is more refined as well.

Sitting in a secluded corner in downtown Redwood City, this place is definitely one of the better sit-​down Mexican places I’ve been.
There isn’t a very big drinks menu, but their margarita and sangria was good. We ordered the chile relleno with seafood, and also the chicken enchilada, and they both feel like they were very freshly prepared. The rice and beans are also very well made, with great flavour.
I’ve always like Fiesta Del Mar down in Mountain View, and one obvious comparison between that place and here is that Fiesta Del Mar do their sauces better — they’re more flavourful, complex, and interesting. Whereas this place prepares their food better — it’s fresh, well-​cooked (chicken is tender instead of stringy), and well-​seasoned.
It’s a hard balance to strike but I’ll always come back for the fresh food.
On the last note, their flan is very rich and yummy! Definitely something to get.

Fresh and tasty. I had fish tacos that were quite delicious. The salsa and chips were homemade and tasty.
The place is really cute and clean. Service was great. I’d have given it 4 stars if they’d have had fountain Coke but only cans.
I would definitely return.

I have dreams about their vegetarian blanco, verde, y rojo platter, and the filet mignon with huitlacoche cream.
The tortilla chips are scrumptious, as is the tortilla soup.
My husband adores the ceviche and the salmon.
I can’t wait to bring my foodie in-​laws when they visit next month. I think this place will blow their minds.

Before going to see the movie Watchmen we stopped by at Flaming Fresco for dinner. This place is pretty quaint run by Michoacanos. The waitress very friendly and attentive through out the meal.
We started off with the Ensalada de Berros y Callo de Hacha. I mentioned to our waitress that we where gonna split the salad. Like any other place, I was expecting them to bring the salad and two clean plates. Instead she brought us two small individual servings. I was impressed, because the servings where not small at all. Very healthy salad I might say. Seared baby scallops with water crest greens slices of avocado, segments of orange and drizzle of a lime vinaigrette. The greens where seasoned perfectly and the vinaigrette gave it a vibrant fresh taste. Contrast with the warm scallops you would get many different textures. For my main course I had the Corte al Huitlacoche. I didn’t this dish as exciting as I thought it would be. The Rib Eye was a good cut of meat and cooked perfectly. The Huitlacoche was not as predominant as I expected it. It tasted more of a heavy cream sauce then Huitlacoche. I guess I was expecting the taste of Huitlacoche which I had in Mexico a few years back. For dessert we had the Flan de Chocolate with jalapeño but could not find the heat. I was expecting to be an actual chocolate flan but it was a regular flan sitting on top of a chocolate cake.
Over all the meal was good, I did taste the Seafood Chile Relleno and thought that was better then what I ordered. I was happy with the salad and would probably come here for lunch but would rather skip on dinner.

I think others have said it. Their Guacamole is just amazing! Its fresh, moist and has very good flavor. Its the 2^nd best I’ve had so far (Best one by far is Dos Caminos in Las Vegas)
Its a small place, with around 10 tables in it. We were greeted and seated immediately.
Their chips are also thick, and freshly fried. Not the standard, run of the mill, packaged chips
We went for their Vegetarian Combo plate. We were surprised to see 3 different vegetarian options, and that too non-​standard fare.
The one we ordered, had 3 different items:
— Enchilada, with carrot, zucchini and black bean sauce: Very tasty, and light
— Chile Relleno: Big Chile stuffed with vegetables, rice and sauce. It was very flavorful. The rice, chile and veggies blended together very well
— Potato Gratin: Slices of potatoes, spiced and roasted. Made me remember some Indian dishes
One surprising part was, the food wasn’t heavy or greasy. It wasn’t loaded with cheese (In fact, I don’t think I saw any). Also, the food presentation was really nice.
5 star rating for having great tasting vegetarian options.
BTW, its a stone’s throw away from the Redwood City Caltrain station.
We will surely be back, to try out their other veggie options and their dessert.

We just happened on this place — and what a little gem!
This restaurant is a respite from the usual hustle and bustle lunch places in downtown Redwood City, tucked away on a little side street.
A bistro like environment that is very calming. I had a green salad with mango and scallops tossed with a citrus/​cilantro vinaigrette. S ordered two chicken tacos with rice and refried black beans (very cool, most places serve refried pinto beans!). My salad was light and refreshing and portion sizes were just right. S commented on how deliciously savory the chicken was on his tacos.
This isn’t your usual Mexican-​style restaurant. I liked that everything wasn’t covered with cheese.
It didn’t matter to us that they don’t have a full liquor license — We’re happy having glass of wine or a beer with our meal.
Service was very attentive and quick.
I’m going back to try more…

9÷9÷07 update
Had to take a star away this visit. Service was lacking.
Arrived on a Sunday at 5:30 with a party of 4, only one server, serving 8 tables, no other staff til 6:30pm. Had to ask for tortillas and extra chips and the bill, never got the tortillas. Took a good 30 – 40 minutes to get our entrees, another table was served before us, and they ordered after us.
Ordered chile rellenos, excellent, snapper had great seasonings-​2 and the salmon, for 4 entrees and 3 ice teas, around $ 78. The food was still excellent, the service was quite lacking from my first visit. Hope they staff accordingly in the future. The server apologized for forgetting but that was all. Others at the other tables were waiting for their bills and refills.
— — — — —
Had an excellent experience at the restaurant, arrived at 6pm on Sunday, sat right away. Only a few tables were occupied. It is deceptive where it is located, hidden away, near the train station at the end of the block. The sandwich board sign helps locate it. Nothing else really on the block.
Was a much nicer atmosphere then you expect from a Mexican restaurant, dark woods and glass, the entrees were priced from $ 12 – 21. Even the chips are higher scale with zigzag edges. Ordered the two enchiladas with scallops and shrimp, then the salmon dinner and then the scallop salad for an entrée. All were done to perfection, not overcooked or dried out. The portions are small by American standards but usual per European standards. For 3 entrees and two ice teas, $ 60.
The menu is quite small, only two pages but everything is quality not quantity here. Restrooms are clean, the staff is attentive, we had 3 different people check on us and offer us more drinks, chips and tortillas. They genuinely asked how our meal was.
Would definitely come here again.