Johnny Sanchez

We went to Johnny Sanchez before the Beyoncé concert, because we assumed that the casino restaurants would be prepared to handle that kind of volume. We were wrong.
We had a reservation for 6:30 but arrived at 6. I checked in with the person at the front (who turned out to be the manager). I asked if there was any chance we could be seated early, and she said she would checked… And never returned to the hostess stand for 30 minutes.
We were finally seated after 6:30 (and after groups who came in after us were seated before us). Our server, Felicia, was very kind and apologetic and it was clear things were out of her control.
What we realized was, the mayor was in the restaurant, and it was clear that everyone dropped everything to take care of her party.
We placed our order as soon as we were asked (3 appetizer and 3 entrees) and it was more the 1 hour before any food hit our table. Not only that, but our guacamole was served In a to go container!!!
Many diners were going up directly to the bar to get their drinks and my friend was served the wrong drink twice before she just went up to the bar to get it herself.
We thought our appetizers were tasty but the tacos were inconsistent. Some were really small and some were big.
It would have been nice to have gotten an apology or a discount for our experience. Sorry to say I won’t be returning.

Wednesdays 5 till 8 pm., 2.00 domestic beers and 2.00 tacos… Best deal around!!! Will always stop here when I’m in the area.

I am actually surprised at how many bad reviews this place has. After two unsuccessful attempts to eat at the casino (one being guy fieri, the other at Jack’s) we crossed our fingers and hoped Johnny’s would work out and it did. We had a wonderful meal.
Y’all are being a little too critical on the food. This isn’t a bodega, you’re not on the streets on Mexico so don’t take words like street tacos on the menu for literal and then get upset it’s wonderfully prepared on your plate. They do carry Valentino hot sauce which if I could give you an extra star I would just for that.
The real reason though I’m giving 5 stars is because of the fast, attentive, and quite frankly best service I’ve had in Baltimore. I wish for the life of me I could remember our servers name (she was a young African American lady) because I hope management appreciates her or she at least gets a weekend off every now and then to spend with family and friends. I have eaten at all the fancy pants places in Baltimore-​Woodberry kitchen, The Food Market, Pazo, Wit n Wisdom, etc and never once I have heard this sentence with such genuine nature and a smile at the end of my experience as I did from our server at Johnny Sanchez last night, «It’s been my pleasure serving you tonight». And that right there, that really made my night because she had just finished up a large table of 15 plus people and the nimrods made her split the check God knows how manys and it’s like she didn’t even miss a beat!
I’d write about the food but this isn’t an essay. It was worth it. The drinks are well balanced.
You one stars need to get over yourselves.

The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is for this malarkey i had to go through to get a reservation. We wanted 7:30 on Open Table and were refused. we got there at 7 and the place was EMPTY until 9!!! Grr.
However, great service from Rachel (sp?) She was attentive and lovely.
The food was great… I had redfish — sooo good. others had various tacos and tostadas and all was perfect. Not sure why other folks had issues. Cost pp was around $ 45!
Go and have fun! Free Parking, lively (although pretty poorly dressed patrons) casino…

Amazing food flavors. This is not Mexican food, this is gourmet. Carne Asada is a meal in itself. Free chips and authentic salsa. Best tequila selection anywhere I’ve been (other than Mexico). Thursday night is Salsa lessons and fun for all.

We went on Christmas and the service was wonderful. Everyone was so welcoming of us and happy that we were there. Our server (I wish I could remember his name but he was a young, African American gentleman) was very friendly and came over immediately after we were seated.
The chips and salsa were average, nothing special. The guacamole was good. The tacos come a la carte ($ 6 each) or you can order 2 or 3 taco combo meals. I think $ 6 is a bit much for these small tacos. I got the beef barbacoa and papas con rajas tacos, along with beans and rice. Everything was delicious, but a bit too spicy for me (I am a wimp).
The four of us all loved our dishes and enjoyed our visit. I will definitely go back.

I really wanted to LOVE this place…
Came in here late on a week night (around 9PM), and obviously didn’t have any issues with a table. I hate eating so late so I knew I didn’t want anything huge. Was excited to see you could order a la cart tacos! I just love Mexican food.
The salsa and chips were placed on the table instantly. The chips were fresh and great. Not too salty not to thin. The salsa had quite a kick to it. They brought over a green– mild version which was good but not as good as his spicy counterpart.
I have a gluten allergy and panicked a little when I saw that the tacos were made with flour tortillas (I didn’t know this for sure but one of the first ones mentioned it and the others didn’t). When the waitress came by I said. «Can I order corn tortillas for my tacos? I cannot have flour». She assured me they were all on corn. I pointed out what I had read and she said it was «just that one.»
I ordered the pork belly and the squash/​cheese (there is a much more ethnic name for this but I’ve misplaced it. My fiancé ordered a burrito with ground beef.
The food came out rather quickly which was good and expected for Mexican cuisine. When I looked down on my plate, I noticed one taco having paper thin tortillas… and one having thick fluffy ones. Hmm.
My waitress came back. I said to her, «Are you sure these are corn? They look different.» She looked at my plate and said yes… and walked away.
A few moments later a manager walked by to check on us. I asked her the same question. She needed to go check… when she came back she was very apologetic and said the one I suspected, was flour.
Now I HATE complaining. I don’t make scenes, and I don’t like to put people on the spot. But the whole experience just frustrated me, only because I asked so many times.
The tacos were okay. They are about two bites each, and SEVEN dollars about, a piece. So unless you’re not super hungry like I wasn’t. I wouldn’t order them. Or fill up on the sides.
The rice was really good, the chips and salsa, and the fiancé loved his burrito.

I feel really bad about this because I know that JS and Horseshoe in general loves Unilocalers, but the experience was just so awkward and uncomfortable and frustrating that I have to say something.
I stopped by a few Sundays ago with my mom, whom had not yet been to Horseshoe and was excited to play some slots and try some celebrity chef cuisine. It was our misfortune that there was a very popular outdoor concert going on; the place was packed and the parking garage was madness, already leaving a bad taste in our mouths.
We walked around briefly and then headed to JS for some a la carte tacos. There was no one at the host stand, but there was a large number of people waiting. Some walked away, some went to the bar, and finally a hostess came by after about 10 minutes, taking a party of ⁴⁄₅ people to a table but telling the rest of us waiting that they «weren’t seating for at least an hour because they were understaffed and only had two servers.» Whaaat? On a busy Sunday? Most people walked away at that point, but my mom and I decided to stop by the bar and see if we could get served there.
We managed to grab two seats at the busy bar (there was also a good band playing inside as if things weren’t crazy enough), and someone behind the bar asked us if we would rather be seated at a table. Huh? We thought we couldn’t do that. She went to check and sure enough, no table seating. She then gave us some menus and told us she would have a bartender come take our order. Well we waited and waited. The bar staff seemed completely flustered and overwhelmed. Two men came up next to us and grabbed a bartender’s attention and started placing an order. Excuse me? We had been patiently sitting and waiting for at least 10 minutes by that point, so we had had enough. We spoke up to someone behind the bar and said that we had been waiting and still no one had stopped to take our order but these two people were already being helped. A manager was brought over (at least I think she may have been a manager, she was not in uniform) but by then the bartender had heard us and came by to assist us (which was difficult because it was so loud in there). We ordered one of each taco and I got a roasted jalapeño margarita.
The margarita was good, but lacked the roasted pepper flavor that I had been hoping for. I wouldn’t order it again for the price vs. quantity. Of the four tacos, I liked the pork belly and the barbacoa the best and I would get those again. I found the chicken to be flavorless and the carne asada was tough. My mom didn’t like any of them, but said that if she had to choose one of them she disliked the chicken the least. She thought the barbacoa was too greasy (it was but it was tasty), and she did not like the salsa with the pork belly and also found the carne asada tough and chewy. She did like the margarita, which we shared. We didn’t question it, but we never got any chips and salsa either. I saw that others had it, but it wasn’t offered to us and I didn’t see where you had to order it from the menu either.
We could not wait to get out of there, after about 45 minutes from start to finish (most of which was spent waiting for a host or a bartender) and $ 40 later for four tacos and a margarita. The crowd and volume had multiplied overlooking the concert on the balcony area, and people had brought in food from other places in the casino to sit and eat while listening to the music (pretty sure that wasn’t allowed). I would be willing to give JS another try for a quick bite, as the food did come out quickly and I did have a few things I liked. We were just really disappointed with the overall experience.

I have been here twice, both during Salsa night which is a hit. Nothing wrong with sitting by the bar and listening to good Salsa music. Lessons are also giving, and i think it runs from Thursday thru sat. good deal. I have tried their carafes both the sangria and the margarita. Sangria too sweet probably from a mix, and the margarita weak as hell. Chips and salsa was good. I havent tried their food tho i did try their fried oysters at a Unilocal event that was yum. I think their food prices are high $ 19 for three tacos emm next… and no thanks. Will still go and soak in the Salsa tho.

Great HH specials. The Barbacoa taco’s were tasty and who doesn’t love 2 four 1.

I came here recently to pre-​game before Jazzy Summer nights.
They were running their Happy hr specials. I ended up getting the 3 tacos for 5 bucks (I got the Barbacoa) You can actually get 3 different flavors but, the slow cooked beef was calling me. I got the guacamole which was 5 as well. You receive a complimentary order of chips with salsa and queso.(which was so good by the way, they got crushed immediately) Who doesn’t love Queso?
Lastly I opted for the 2 for 1 Margarita. Charles my bartender was very pleasant and makes a mean drink.
If I’m ever in the area again, I’ll be sure to stop here 1^st.

I must say my second time eating here was more enjoyable than the first. I am sure it’s because my first visit was a very busy Friday or Saturday night when the casino first opened and it was packed. It took us an hour just to get seats at the bar and the service wasn’t that great. The food was pretty good so the restaurant redeemed itself. This time we went on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The casino and the restaurant were slow so there was no wait. Wet sat on the patio across from the stadiums and listened to the Orioles game as the played in Bmore. Our server Larry was wonderful. We ordered the fish tacos which were scrumptious. The chicken burrito was pretty tasty as well. All in all a good meal!

I returned here with a colleague and found the food to continue to please, but the service has room for improvement. The restaurant wasn’t particularly crowded at the time, but the service could have been more attentive. That being said, the nachos, which I hadn’t tried before were good, and we each enjoyed our entrees. Other than that, I’m almost sure I’ve split ticket when paying before, but apparently it isn’t possible? Rather inconvenient.

Since the Horseshoe Casino opened, I’ve been wanting to try Johnny Sanchez. I have a group of friends who love Mexican food as much as I do. When we were deciding on our next Mexican adventure, I suggested heading over to Johnny Sanchez. It was a Friday evening, and while the casino was buzzing with people, the restaurant was surprisingly empty. I usually take an empty restaurant on a Friday or Saturday evening as a bad sign, but we were all craving Mexican food and fortunately decided to stay.
When we were seated, we were given complimentary Chips and Salsa. The chips were great, and the salsa had a nice spice which made us very excited for the rest of the food we ordered.
As a group, we decided to start with an order of the Guacamole. This version of guacamole came with serrano peppers inside which added a nice spice, but definitely was not too overpowering. I’ve tried guacamole at a few different restaurants around Baltimore, this was probably the best one I’ve had so far. The chef was more thoughtful than mashing up a few avocados, sprinkling on salt & pepper, and calling it a day.
Two of my friends decided to share an order of the Fajitas, They opted for the combo platter and got Chicken and Steak. The fajitas came with your typical sides which included: herbed rice, grilled onions and peppers, roasted tomatoes, flour tortillas, sour cream, pico de gallo, monetary jack cheese, limes, and cilantro. My friends really loved this dish.
Another friend ordered the Quesadilla, inside was chicken, mushrooms, and rajas. The quesadilla was then coated with cheese and topped with salsa verde. This was definitely not your traditional quesadilla. In fact, it was significantly better. The exterior cheese crisped up nicely and really made this an interesting dish which was different than a typical quesadilla.
For my meal I went with two tacos. At Johnny Sanchez, you order each taco individually which is something I prefer doing because then you have an option for a wider variety.
I ordered two tacos, two or three would make for a decent meal size (depending on how many chips you ate.) The first taco was the Slow-​Cooked Beef Barbacoa. The taco came with tomato-​guajillo chile sauce, roasted garlic, onion, and cilantro. The beef inside the taco was very tender and the sauces were delicious.
The other taco I ordered was the Carne Asada which was grilled & marinated skirt steak, pickled jalapeño, and guacamole. I was thrilled to have more of that delicious guacamole in my taco and I also enjoyed this one very much.
If you’re looking for inventive Mexican food, Johnny Sanchez is sure to have something that delights your senses.

I’d like to give my compliments to the chef for doing the impossible, making pork belly inedible.
You’ve been chopped.
The pork belly ($ 6) was cut in thick cubes, fat trimmed off and burnt ends.
Wait, what? Pork belly minus the fat? Yes, that’s right. Maybe if the fat was left on the meat would have been edible? Nope, probably not. It tasted as if it were left under a heat lamp over night with sauce poured on right before serving.
I also had the asada taco ($ 6). The sauce was delicious on this one but again the meat was tough but edible.
I was going to give one star however the waitress removed the pork belly taco since I didn’t eat it. She was also the only one working during lunch rush.
Food: D
Service: D
Environment: C
Overpriced.

Admittedly I’ve only been here for the happy hour special at the bar. But it is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in baltimore. The bartenders are skilled and friendly. Watching them work is entertainment in itself. The attention to detail is unsurpassed– from twisted lime rind in Martinis to hibiscus rim on margaritas. Ian, Charles (who won best bartender in Bmore) and Aldrus will take care of you. They are knowledgable, extremely likable and handsome! The drinks are strong and delicious and at 2-​for-​1 during happy hour, a pretty good deal.
Now onto the food: the complimentary chips and salsa are delicious but the tacos are the real star. Everything is fresh and delicious. A few weeks ago I ordered some kind of queso which came with warm tortillas. It made for a very filling appetizer. I haven’t had an app I didn’t like. This is real food made with fresh ingredients. Enough said.
A suggestion: check the Horeshoe casino website often for the latest happy hour deals. We went the first week of January and enjoyed the drink specials and half priced apps. By the first week of February the deal had changed. We were a bit disappointed not to see our favorite drinks on the special menu, but Charles took care of us! And that’s why we will keep coming back!

–Food–
Even though this restaurant is supposed to the result of a collaboration between two mega chefs, the food was overwhelmingly disappointing. Prices are steep but not above what you would expect from a «upscale» Mexican restaurant.
–Queso Fundido–
For $ 12, this cheese dip was just really salty and greasy.
–Blue crab tostadas–
These were actually mostly crab (placed on top of some corn and avocado) but was heavy on the mayo.
–Tacos–
The majority of the table ordered tacos which were ~$ 6 each. Everyone seemed pretty underwhelmed with what they got and when someone asked if they should order more, another person replied that we should just order a pizza when we got back to the hotel.
–Pork belly burrito–
~$ 18
The tortilla had an odd almost gummy texture to it so we ate around it. No real complaints about the filling itself though.
–Service–
Reading over some of the other reviews, I feel like poor service is somewhat of a consistency here. I came here on New Year’s Eve for a friend’s birthday party and no, the place was not busy yet. So the impatient, flat attitudes of our servers was absolutely uncalled for. A couple people also noticed the waitress rolling her eyes. I understand working NYE isn’t ideal, but there was no excuse for having an attitude towards your guests.
Food: 2
Value: 1
Service: 1
Overall: 1

We came back to try it again, feeling guilty about our lowered star review — and it was WORSE.
Well, after an email response from the manager for our last review (albeit a form response), we did agree that we’d give the food another chance because we really did enjoy it that much.
I’m not using hyperbole or trying to be mean, but… we really should’ve just gone to Chipotle.
His plate: local greens salad (asked for extra dressing on the side); free range grilled chicken with rice and beans
Her plate: tuna tostada (same as September, with); three taco plate with one crispy gulf shrimp taco and two carne asada tacos
The first issue we’ll address will be his orders, since they were the new foods we tried. The salad was over dressed. It came with his side of extra dressing, but was already so thoroughly drenched that we split it — picking at the lettuce. The pumpkin seeds were great, but, perhaps if you would like to try it, you should order dressing on the side. The chicken — it’s unfortunate that we were surfing reviews right after ordering, because I read a review of how tiny and strange the chicken entrée is, and then the tiny and strange entrée arrived. It’s a quarter chicken — just the thigh and drum, and is a quite small portion for $ 21. The skin was slimy, the chicken itself was so dry that it was pretty much inedible, and the flavors were muddled. We took home the rice and beans, which made a decent breakfast — he didn’t like the rice as it’s very floral and full of cilantro.
The more major issue was the consistency and changes with the dishes that I’d ordered, as they mirrored our August order but had changed significantly.
The tuna tostada was a different cut of fish, and had a grainy, fishy flavor — off, not fresh, and not delicious. It was also missing the jalapeño and garlic chips, and the tostada itself was stale and hard to bite through. Seriously? This is the quality at a high end fusion restaurant? Please look at the below pictures and experience the difference with us.
The carne asada taco was less changed, though noticeably less flavorful than it was before. The beef was still tender, but this time it was overcooked — bland and not the beautiful rare (or mid-​rare) that the cut should be.
The gulf shrimp taco featured one shrimp-​sized piece of frying that had no shrimp in it, and two soggy fried shrimp. Not the delicious, crispy experience we’d had before.
This time, we really don’t feel like we’ll be craving the food again and just overlooking bad service or flaky hours. Sorry, but we had much higher expectations!

My boyfriend and I wanted to adventure out to Bmore and see the new casino, Horseshoe. While Unilocaling in the car to see where we should eat, I literally was stumped by all the bad reviews for the restaurants in this place. Johnny Sanchez was our third and final stop.
I decided that I was going to order for the both of us. After scanning the menu I was starving, it all sounded so good! And when looking at the prices I thought, wow! This is going to be some good food. NOPE. We started off with two beers and then waited what seemed forever for our complimentary chips and salsa, for a while I figured that you had to pay for them since some people had them and some did not, and we still weren’t told or asked. When they finally arrived I asked the bartender who was taking my order if the grilled chicken breast was a decent size and if it was a fillet style chicken. She wandered off to ask the cook, which I thought was very responsible and I liked that, I even liked the fact that she was honest with me when she said she was not sure and that no one has ordered that from her the entire time the place has been opened. So I definitely wanted to try it after she said that, I love being the «first» at anything food wise. When she came back she said that it was a fillet style grilled blackened chicken. So with that said, I ordered a chicken burrito ($ 18) and the chicken entrée ($ 21) for us to share.
I was so PISSED when the food came out. The chicken was smaller than 4 oz. (the size of your palm, which is the standard size for an entrée). In fact it was beyond small AND IT HAD A BONE IN IT. Obviously NOT a chicken breast. Not only was it small and had a bone sticking out, it was slimy and horribly seasoned. My boyfriend who is a chicken fanatic wouldn’t even try it. He stated that he wasn’t in the mood to get food poisoning. The chicken entrée came with beans and rice, the rice was slimy too. The chicken burrito was a shredded chicken and they used what tasted and looked like the dark meat of the chicken. We both looked at each other and said we will never eat here again and would rather have CHIPOTLE over this anytime.
Please note that they do not have bathrooms inside the restaurant. You must use the casino restrooms which are way down the hall alongside the wall. So if you decide to drink but want to wear heels: choose wisely.

I was pleasently surprised.
We went here for lunch before the Panthers @ Ravens game.
It was not crowded at all at 1130a on gameday.
We were seated immediately.
The weather was so nice they opened the large glass walls to let in the air & sun.
I had the Arroz Con Pollo which was exceptional.
Taylor had the Queso Fundido; chorizo; roasted poblano peppers w/​cheese.
James had 3 carnitas tacos.
We were all pleased with the food quality and service.
Very casual and a great game day food option before football.