Rosita’s

I was traveling through Barstow on 2÷19÷2016 and took to Unilocal to find a restaurant for an early dinner. Rosita’s has some very high reviews, thus making my decision.
My First Impression — The restaurant itself is terribly dated, however, as it seems that a lot of places in Barstow are dated. Even though it was dated, I thought, «look at the Unilocal reviews, don’t worry, just get some great food!» We were seated and began to order. After our order my companion encourage me to try the restroom. He came back smiling and wouldn’t tell me why and that I just had to do to the restroom and look at a the décor. So I humored him, returning moments later nearly laughing. The restaurant as a whole is a dated, very large, Mexican adobe type of theme. The men’s restroom was a modern blue, black, and stainless steel Hollywood theme with a large red and grey portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Of all the types of décor I was expecting, the restroom took me by surprise and I could barely contain my laughter. That surprise deserved a star for a good joke. At least something was updated in the last 50 years in this restaurant.
The Food — We ordered three chicken tacos, one carne asada taco, and chicken fried steak with baked potato and broccoli. (I know, American food at a Mexican restaurant, but that is what he wanted.)
They delivered chips and salsa to the table along with two very large ice teas. Since we are tea drinkers, this was good as it took longer for us to drunk and need a refill. The homestyle fresh tortilla chips were great, however, they filled the bowl with few of those, the other chips in the bowl were nothing more than store bough tortilla chips. The other reviews are correct, that the fresher, thicker tortilla chips are rather good. We didn’t use the salsas as they had been sitting out in their containers for a while due to the dry salsa on the outside of the container. They looked like salsa from a general restaurant supply bought in bulk. However, this could not be confirmed by taste, only by visual observation.
The chicken fried steak was a decent size and a standard baked potato with some broccoli. However, I have not seen a chicken fried steak with thin brown gravy. Usually this dish would have a cream gravy (white, think gravy). The plate was extremely hot which could mean it was in an oven too hot instead of warm, and the gravy was crusty and around the edges with small crusty air bubbles (most likely the plate was microwaved after plating.) Upon tasting the chicken fried steak, my companion asked me to take a taste. Extremely salty. Then I had to taste the gravy by itself. Also fairly salty. The gravy was nothing more than canned which also explained the salt for preservation. The batter used for the steak also included a great deal of salt. A cream sauce would have made the meal better instead of uneatable. However, my companion ate it all because he was hungry and we had to keep on schedule to get to our various commitments.
I ordered the tacos because I love tacos and search out great tacos. My plate came the three chicken tacos and a small plate for the carne asada tacos. Like many places, the chicken tacos had some meat with a great deal of lettuce and shredded cheese flowing out of the tortilla. It was weird how they used shredded lettuce and cheese to also garnish the plate. Why waste the product? The chicken meat was extremely dry. I had to use sour cream to provide some moisture. There was nothing impressive with these tacos. At this point, I wish a «zero» stars was an option. But then, I tried the carne asada taco. Forget the fact they melted extra cheese all over the meat. The carne asada was rather good. Unfortunately, the only good thing we ate while there.
The Service — There was nothing stellar about the service, however, there was nothing bad either. It was interesting how the waitress did not ask about the food and I am not one to complain about the food, mostly I am unsure of the chef’s attitude in new restaurants. When I went to pay, I assume it was the manager who was the cashier. He didn’t ask about the food quality or our experience. Just indicated that we must now be full. I chose to not respond as he only made a statement, there was no question. I then paid and left.
Unilocal Confusion — Unilocal on the iPhone app only showed these incredible reviews and at that time, 4.5 stars with over 380 reviews. This was a time when Unilocal failed me because I did not look thoroughly through more of the reviews. I am sure to travel through Barstow every couple months, but Rosita’s was a waste of time and money.

Best restaurant in Barstow. The food is great and the service is excellent. They make you feel like family from the moment you go inside.

I would give 0 if it would allow me to… horrible horrible horrible you might as well go down the street to los Domingo’s to get better foodand drinks!

Best Resturant in the area and this is coming from someone who traditionally does not eat Mexican food on a regular basis! Quick service, great food, nice atmosphere! Highly recommended!

Terrible food. Why didn’t I read the reviews more carefully? Because we’d been on the road for five hours, and we did not want «fast food.» So we drive down Main Street and see Rosita’s. I ordered the chile relleno and cheese and onion enchilada combo ($ 12 or more), and it came with a cup of soup, she called it ‘albondigas’ but it turned out to be a tomato-​base vegetable soup with one meatball the size of a marble. The rice, the beans, the large amount of melted cheese and the small part of a chile hidden in its batter was bland and tasted as if it had been pre-​prepared at the beginning of the week (we were there on a Saturday night). That was just my order, but everybody in my family reacted in a similar fashion. At least the waitress could have refilled my cup of coffee, but even that did not happen.

Ok, so a friend of mine really wanted to have dinner at Rositas. So we went. I must say the food was much better than my previous experiences. My companion also commented how good her food and margarita was. Service was awesome. Prices were still a little high but worth the quality of food we were served. Good job Rositas, keep it up and I will be back.

Best freaking margaritas! !! Really enjoy the ‘flower’ chip and salsa. Food is also pretty good. But again, those margaritas are awesome. Nice place to stop on the way to Las Vegas (in all places. .Barstow)

If you are looking good authentic Mexican food, this is it. Everything from the margaritas to the salsa, all is good. I recommend the beef chimichanga. Also the house dressings are good as long as you like some heat. The service was good.

This place is great!!! The flour chips are amazing and the food is fantastic. The staff is very friendly and prompt. I’d make a stop here anytime.

The best stop on the way to anywhere! We have been coming here for 14 years. Always wonderful food and service. Family run for 4 generations. Well worth the stop.

We love this place! Best chips and salsa I’ve ever had! Margherita is awsome. We loved all food we have tried. They have been renovating interior to update but not loose the founders charm. Roasted salsa delicious.

This restaurant used to be awesome back in the day. Now the food is TERRIBLE. Too many «short cuts» are taken. There is NOTHING authentic about this restaurant. The food served is OLD, beans are NOT homemade, the rice is DAYS OLD and BURNT, Enchiladas are OVER COOKED, and now, now they charge for chips n salsa. They give u a corn tortilla sized plate for free, to start with, after that YOU PAY. I DONT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE

Only eat here if you like flies in your salad and enchiladas with burned cheese. I don’t expect much from restaurants in Barstow, but this by far was a disgusting experience. I would not recommend this place to my worse enemy.

No– keep moving! We went in for lunch — it was about 30′ inside. They were ripping up carpet so dust everywhere. Hammering. Loud Vacuumes. Food was less than desirable. Salsa was ok. The young server was good– about the only positive about this place.

Since 1954 this place has been serving Mexican food and its still family run, its now in its third generation. I was driving by to go to the original Del Taco (since 1964) down the street so I made it a point to come back for dinner. Once you walk inside you are sent back in time, very old school inside. Now to the food, flour tortilla chips were ok but we asked for corn chips which were better. The burrito and varies other things we ordered were ok, but not great, so I will give the food 3 stars, but the atmosphere gets 5 stars, so I will equal it out at 4 stars. The food just didn’t have the spicy and hot flavor I’m used to getting in the restaurants in Los Angeles area.

I randomly popped in (not checking any online reviews) going simply off their sign…“Since 1954″. I’m thinking if they have been able to keep their doors open that long it must be pretty good, yet I went in with pretty low expectations, because the sign does mention something about American/​Mexican. This place certainly has an old school Mexican Cantina flair about it. I hope they never remodel or update it. Lots of older pictures and portraits-​many of family members it seems… gives the place some soul. I went conservative with my order and got the burrito/​chile relleno combo ($ 12.99). The burrito was smaller than I was expecting… but the flavor… WOW! The filling was beef (cubed-​not shredded) and potato… clearly been simmering to a savory complex perfection for quite sometime. The combination of flavors was masterful. I wish I could describe it writing… just a wonderful combination of spices melding together to make the wonderful filling. The chile relleno was a little disappointing… not great, not horrible. I think the chile was small, making for too much outer crust. The rice and beans were also very good… and I’m not a big rice guy. The rice was delicately seasoned and brimming with flavor. As mentioned in earlier reviews… the tortilla chips are outstanding (maybe a corn/​flour combo?)…as well as the 2 house made salsas. One was a milder pico de gallo, and the other made from what seemed liked a rich smokey dried chili base. Both were excellent. I suggested this place to a friend and his family for a stop from our Big Bear Lake weekend trip to Las Vegas. He’s kind of a pick mo’fo’. So I was a little concerned whether he would like it. He texted me several times with things like «best beans and salsa I have had», «Delicious», «The chile verde is completely awesome». So I guess chile verde will be my next dish when I make a LA/​Vegas road trip. Friendly family run spot worth the detour from the 15 on historic Route 66.

Really wonderful food! This is the ONLY place I have found Sopaipillas outside of New Mexico! They make homemade mild and hot salsa and I am ADDICTED to the mild! Its soooo good! I also LOVED the creamy garlic salad dressing! I had the shredded beef tacos! Yummmmmm! They give you flour and corn tortilla chips! I also love the décor. And on Wednesday they have a buffet for $ 7.99 and Sundays CHAMPAGNE brunch for $ 9.99. We will definitely be back! Plus its a Pepsi place which is a BIG deal because my husband hates Coke. I am fine with Coke or Pepsi, and I’m also an Iced Tea lover so its not a big deal.

This restaurant should be on those scary movies. it fits it so perfectly.
Stopped by here for lunch with the fam on the way to Laughlin. It’s big, it’s empty, it’s dark, it’s freakin’ creepy.
Right when I walked in, this little girl with a blanket just walks passed me and goes into the dark room/​hall. O. O
Our group of 8, we were the only customers there. I had to use the restroom. so on I walked.
SCARY​.CREEPY​.NO. Right when you walk in, it’s like a powder room from the 20’s. 3 mirrors, chairs, pink paint. it’s just. something isn’t right. I felt this really weird creepy energy.
Walked to the bathroom area, and there was one door closed with no one inside. I used the restroom as quick as possible, and washed my hands as fast as I could. I felt like something was going to pop out of the door!
Finally, kind of running out of the bathroom, I turn the corner and ran into this little girl and I screamed LOL. I was so freaked out. All the gals agreed that it was creepy, too!
On to the food.
Not bad. their chips and salsa were actually really good. We were served 2 different type of tortilla chips, and one seemed to be more home made. It was like a wonton like texture, really crispy and crunchy. Delicious. Their salsa was also very chunky and flavorful. I like how they give you multiple cups to put your own salsa in.
I ordered the carnitas plate. The meat was pretty bland. A little upsetting. The guacamole is nothing fancy. it’s literally mashed avocados with no seasoning.
I wanted out of that place ASAP. Food took a while to come out, and it was definitely mediocre.

I went to Rosita’s tonight for a fundraiser, so there was no great expectation of good food, just a good time for a good cause.
Thankfully I had no great expectations about the food because if it had not been for a fundraiser I would have sent my food back and left the restaurant.
The food was bland tasting, there was no flavor to anything that was served, which was rice, beans, enchilada’s, salsa, and pork.
A child could have made better food than this restaurant.

I have to let you know that I am a bit biased when it comes to this restaurant. I grew up in Barstow and going to Rositas was a weekly tradition for my family. I will try to be as honest as possible.
The food is decent, not amazing, but not gross either. The chips and salsa are to die for however. Not many places give you flour chips along with corn. It is such a good combination. They also have two different salas to choose from. Hot and mild. Both are very good.
The margaritas are OK. They are very strong, but some people may like that. I prefer the tequila to be a little more hidden.
The décor is cute though and it is very clean. It hasn’t been updated since I was born I’m sure, but kind of ads to the authentic feel. It is family owned and they are well known throughout this small town. If I still lived in Barstow I’d definitely continue to go.