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  Location
Selection
Price/Value Service Atmosphere
Overall Rating
La Casa
2.7
3.7
2.7
2.3
4.3
3.1

Los Portales
4.7
5
4
3.7
3.3
4.1

Carlos O'Kelly's

4.7
3
3.7
4.7
3.7
4

Los Cabos

4
3.7
3
3.3
3
3.4

El Dorado

3.7
3.7
3.3
3.3
3.7
3.5

 


Rater comments:

La Casa (3.1)

The atmosphere was the only good part—I felt like I was actually in Mexico. The service was very slow. It took forever for them to take our order and then they didn’t bring us all of our food. By the time we got the rest we were almost finished. And, it didn’t taste good. It was also somewhat overpriced. They charge you $2.00 for chips and salsa, which is complimentary almost everywhere else. - Tory 
Lindsay La Casa was probably the most authentic of the Mexican restaurants we went to, which was refreshing both because the food was very tasty and the atmosphere was really fun. Our service wasn't the fastest in the world, but it was very friendly. My only major complaint about La Casa is that it's a little pricey for the serving size - if you're looking for the most authentic Mexican food you can find around here, though, the price is probably worth it. - Lindsay 
This may be one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Iowa City; granted, the price of food is costly. The service was amazing and the food tasted fresh. Their décor and atmosphere is a bit more old-fashioned, not very contemporary, but the food makes up for it. - Krishna 

 


Los Portales (4.1)

This restaurant is a wonderful place to eat, and the food was delicious. The décor and the entire atmosphere seemed very modern but didn’t take away from the Mexican culture. Not a fan of the fact that Carlos O’Kelly's is right in front of this restaurant, but I guess if one place doesn’t work for you then there’s always the restaurant across the street. I loved the food here and the music and the service. It’s a great environment to bring family, friends, and colleagues. - Krishna
Lindsay I might be a little biased because Los Portales has always been my Mexican restaurant of choice in Iowa City, but this was my favorite of the restaurants we reviewed. It's by far got the best price for the amount of food you get, and on top of that, it's just a fun place to be. The waitstaff are friendly, the service is fast, and if you go on a Friday night, you can even participate in or watch some karaoke. - Lindsay
Los Portales has an excellent vegetarian menu that is decently priced. I went on a Saturday evening and the music was blasting, making it hard to have a conversation with my friend. The service was not good at all. The server never once came to our table after we ordered. We had to go find someone to get a box and when we went up to the register to get our ticket, the hostess yelled all the way across the restaurant for our server, who should have brought it to our table in the first place. - Tory

 


Carlos O'Kelly's (4)

Lindsay Carlos O'Kelly's is kind of the T.G.I. Fridays of the Mexican restaurant world. The environment is very family restaurant-esque, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't much call to mind Mexican cuisine. I had the hardest time finding a vegetarian option here out of any of the places we went, but when I finally found something, it was surprisingly tasty - also, the serving sizes were enormous, so you'll definitely get your money's worth. - Lindsay
Everything was great! Our server was super nice and my nachos were really good. My only problem is that they did not have a very good vegetarian selection and all of the rest of the food seems to be the same. It’s also pretty expensive. - Tory
There is a greater selection of food at this restaurant, but if it’s an authentic Mexican restaurant you are looking for then Carlos O’ Kelly’s may not be your best choice. You’ll find everything from healthy choice food to chicken fingers. - Krishna

 


Los Cabos (3.4)

There was a good variety of food and the service was really good! The waitress was very friendly. However, it’s an extra $1.99 for another basket of chips! - Tory
Los Cabos has a great location right along the Coralville strip, and the service is wonderful. The food was wonderful too, and I didn’t feel like it was ridiculously greasy. It’s very affordable for the amount of food being provided. It’s really convenient for families visiting during sporting events because they have flat screens tuned into sports. It’s more of a casual place to eat. - Krishna
Lindsay Los Cabos was surprisingly small, but it was kind of a comfy atmosphere - the booths in particular were very fun to sit in. Prices were reasonable, but as far as food quality and service, it was somewhat unremarkable; neither great nor terrible. I did notice that they had some good weekday lunch specials, though, so it might be a good place to stop by if you have time during the week. - Lindsay

 


El Dorado (3.5)

The service was a bit slow, but then again the quality of service is always changing for restaurants. The food is wonderful, although again pretty pricey for the portions being served. If you are looking for a hefty meal this may not be the place, but to satisfy your taste buds for Mexican food then this place is a great choice. The location is really convenient and I like the fact that the nearest Mexican restaurant isn’t a block away like in the case of most of these other eateries. - Krishna
Lindsay El Dorado was my least favorite restaurant we patronized, primarily because I just didn't enjoy the food all that much. Besides that, it was kind of in a hard-to-find location, the service was slow, and I didn't really dig the atmosphere. It's possible I just happened to go on a bad night, but there wasn't a lot going for El Dorado in my experience. - Lindsay
I always like eating here. I didn’t see much of a difference between this place and Los Cabos. - Tory

 



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