El Encanto

This is a well run operation. It’s a big efficient restaurant with a young friendly helpful staff. Great tortilla chips with a flight of salsas — all fresh & good. Had the traditional shrimp cocktail with spicy tomato broth & chopped veg. Very tasty. Then wonderful tamales — I loved the green tamale especially & our waitress happily added refried beans & good rice to make it a dinner. Wonderful.

Excellent food and excellent service! Just a warning it gets crowded on weekends but they really have a good staff to handle the volume of people!

Love the atmosphere, live guitarist, food great. We were there on a Friday night and had a 50 minute wait for a table. Suggest making a reservation, go early or on a weekday.

We arrived at El Encanto at 7 for our 7:00 reservation and we were seated at 7:30, it would have been longer but we said we would sit inside. The server was pretty nice and the margaritas were actually pretty good. The food was about average except the pollo fundido which were delicious. The fajitas were alright. I think it would be more enjoyable at daytime as the lighting isn’t the greatest and maybe another item would fit better than the fajitas.

I’ve lived in cave creek for 15 years and El Encanto used to be a restaurant we are at weekly. I’ve seen the restaurant change over the last few years. El Encanto has always been slow service wise. Tonight was the first time we came for dinner in a few years with a large party and over an hour wait to be seated. Sorry your pollo fundido isn’t good enough to make up for the horrible service. Highly disappointed.

Super delicious! I love El Encanto! I went with a friend on a busier night but we were able to quickly get a spot at the bar. Their margaritas are amazing, food was exceptional, and staff very friendly and attentive. This place has something for everyone. I got a shrimp dish with a cream sauce that was so good there was nothing left. Overall great place that accommodates everyone. Can’t wait to go back!

I’ve been coming to El Encanto for 20 years. It’s a beautiful place with pretty good food. I’ve always expected to wait, but on my first time back in years with family from out of town we waited 90 minutes to sit while others have come and gone.
We tried calling in to make reservations but were told they weren’t taking reservations. Upon arriving and putting our name down we were asked why we hadn’t called in a reservation. After explaining the situation we were told it would be 30 minutes. Not a bad wait but 90 is uncalled for.
It’s sad to see service suffer so badly but I have to say this will be my last trip here. Not worth the drive, not worth waiting this long.

Great restaurant, a must for all our visitors. I love the prickly pear margaritas… beautiful outdoor seating and the service and food is always good

El Encanto has the prettiest, most picturesque patio! It is so lovely. Problem is we didn’t get to sit on it unless we wanted to wait for quite sometime. Everyone in our party was hungry so we opted to eat inside. It’s a large restaurant but inside had very little ambience, not even music playing! I would like to return and the next time I will wait to sit on the patio.
Food was very good but there are similar Mexican finds closer to us in the valley. Wouldn’t drive up here just for the food, but a nice stop when in the area. The Mole Enchiladas and Pollo Fundido were favorites.

Even though they have an outdoor patio they are not pet friendly. They would let my wife and I eat there because we had our little poodle. We went up the road to El Sans Souci, they had no problem with it. We ate on the patio.

I had heard about this place from multiple people but it’s practically the other side of the world from us (over 40 miles), so it took awhile but we finally made the drive. It was very dark on the outside and we weren’t exactly sure how to get to the main entrance at first, but we walked through the outdoor patio with heaters and found the hostess desk. Only waited a minute or so before we were seated. The place is a lot bigger than I realized. After adjusting the crooked table and sliding into the booth, I felt the back of my pants were damp. Obviously they had just wiped down the seat with a wet rag and didn’t dry it off. Gross! What I also didn’t like about where we were seated is that it was right under the air handler which was very noisy and then my allergies started acting up during dinner.
There were 3 types of salsa: mild, medium, and hot (not hot). I liked the mild & «hot» together. The medium salsa was green and tasted like lawn clippings. I appreciated that our server pointed out a few items on the menu since I was looking for regular chicken enchiladas. I got the Enchiladas de Queso with chicken (1 red, 1 green) and no onion. When our food came out, I found that the enchilada sauce was just room temperature, not hot. The rice had peas and carrots which I have never seen in Mexican rice before. The meal tasted pretty good but it wasn’t cheap and I really don’t think I can justify driving that far to eat here again.

Won’t be back.
Loved this place for many years.
Charming environment.
But, it is getting more and more pricey.
Bill was just under 40.00 with tip for 2 for dinner (no dessert, no appetizers and no drinks-​just water)
Starting to nickel and dime you for everything.
Cost .99 cents for more chips that are complimentary everywhere else.
Any garnishes are extra for your 14.99 entrée (sour cream, etc) Doesn’t come with anything.
My husband was even charged for enchilada sauce on his entrée (and we were never advised)
My entrée was wet on the bottom like they put it on a plate of water and it was so salty I couldn’t finish my dinner.
Waitress Misty was very attentive.
Unfortunately, going to spend my money elsewhere.
Blue Agave is AWESOME in Scottsdale and ½ the price (and free chips and salsa)

Enjoy the experience! We go out to eat for good food and atmosphere. This place has it all. This is a nice change from the mundane. There is a lovely duck and turtle pond surrounded by lush greenery. You forget that your are in the dessert. Enjoy the food, beverages and entertainment. This is a great place for families and large parties, there is a lot of seating possibilities inside and out.

Great food, great atmosphere. All deserts are made in house. House margaritas are tasty, lacking a lil alcohol but still yummy. It’s a rustic yet high quality product in the sleepy western town of cave creek, AZ. Carnitas are my recommendation, your local mexi resturants probably don’t slow cook the pork like they should.

The atmosphere is delightful! What a hidden gem! There is a beautiful duck pond surrounded by outdoor and indoor tables as well as a patio with live entertainment. Today they had a musician and a flamenco dancer! My son loved looking at the ducks, turtles, and fish in the pond.
The food was delicious! I had the pork carnitas and they were satisfying but didn’t leave me feeling overly stuffed. The chips they served at the start were good although I had a hard time deciding on a salsa. They serve a mild red, medium green, and hot red. None in their own worked for me, but salsa is an individual preference. I appreciated all of the gluten free designations on the menu. The waitstaff and hostess were friendly and helpful.
Why 4 stars? The bathrooms and foyer/​bar need some work. There is a very strong odor. I personally think that the bricks, tiles, and grout– just in the front area and bar– need to be pulled up and replaced. It smells so strongly of stale beer. Fortunately you only pass through this area on the way to the gorgeous main eating areas, but it is enough to mention this in the review in the hopes the owner sees it and makes a note that yes, the customers do notice the smell.
Despite this small flaw, I look forward to returning soon with my family. What a great local joint!

Stopped in for lunch today. I’ve wanted to try this place for a long time.
1 — Frozen margaritas were very good, even at $ 7 each.
2 — Chips and salsa were great.
3 — Service was very good.
4 — Atmosphere nice with view of pond and turtles.
4 — However, entrée was awful. My chicken (pollo fundido) was extremely salty.
5 — I won’t be back.
6 — Do yourself a favor; stop for cocktails and move on.

This place was a super fun stop for lunch while we were exploring Cave Creek! My girlfriends that live in Buckeye had been here before, and wanted to take me and our other girlfriend while we were out visiting, and I’m soo happy they did! What a cool, unique little spot! The perfect place for lunch and margaritas on a hot Arizona afternoon!
This is a huge restaurant, and when you walk in they have a nice little area with palm trees and a walkway that leads you to the main restaurant and their duck/​turtle pond! Its inside this little courtyard, and the seating is all around this neat pond area. There were lots of mallards around, and also at least two different species of turtles sunning on rocks and swimming in the water! Also they had a little station where you could buy feed for the animals, just put in a quarter and you get pellets to feed them! When we did this, we saw there were also huge koi fish living in the water as well! Very beautiful and large fish, really cool to see!
Anyway, about the restaurant… we asked to sit at a table by the water, so we waited a bit, but decided to go to the bar and get margaritas… they were REALLY good! My margarita was definitely top notch, and it was perfect to chill in this nice little room by the bar while we waited for our table. Once our table was ready, we got chips and salsa, which were also very good… I really liked their salsa especially, it tasted like it might have been homemade? I ordered their Plato Burro, fried, with chicken, and it was good. Came with rice and beans, and did have a lot of chicken in it which was nice. Typical Mexican food, but good! Our server was also very sweet and friendly, and was quick with drinks and food as well!
El Encanto definitely excels in atmosphere and the feel of the place is very special… my girlfriends and I had a wonderful time, with good food and drinks, and would definitely go back next time we are in the area!

The Complete Lowdown: El Encanto Edition.
I live five minutes away and have been here countless times. Here is what you need to know:
–Ambiance: spectacular. El Encanto has a large outdoor and indoor seating arrangement decorated with authentic Mexican titles and trinkets. It is quite lovely and makes you feel as if you are in a Mexican village. For the full experience, I recommend sitting outside next to the pond or on the strip of indoor seating that has windows to view the pond. That way, you will get the opportunity to be enchanted by the pond creatures (adorable turtles and ducks) and to be entertained by the children feeding them. You will also be touched by the warming and relaxing sunshine overhead – glorious.
–Busy: Be aware and warned – weekends are busy. You may have to wait 30 minutes for a table and scrounge for parking, but it is all part of the fun, excitement, and liveliness of the experience. Grab a margarita at the bar to enjoy the wait!
–Food: every table is served chips and three sauces to start – all of which are very tasty. There is a standard red sauce, spicy chipotle sauce, and a green tomatillo sauce. Try the queso Guillermo for a starter – it is delicious. Being a health freak, I normally order the fresco salad or fish tacos. They are quite tasty but nothing mind blowing or fancy. If I am feeling indulgent, I go for the small portion of the cheese enchilada which comes with rice and beans. I recommend it.
–One word: Margaritas! I have tried nearly every flavor and would have to recommend the original, mango, or raspberry. You will not be disappointed. Just remember, they are strong so I would advise not having more than two – drive safely and responsibly!
–Service: I have experience the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would say 75% of the time the service is friendly and reliable. However, the more less than positive occasions I have been waited on by slow and standoffish servers.
All in all, I come here for the ambiance, margaritas, and convenience. It only gets better the more you come due to its charming and appealing qualities. There’s no denying – me encanata El Encanto! It is truly a special place.

Fundido! Fundido! Fundido!!! Must try the Fundido sauce! It is truly the best compared to any other Mexican restaurants around here and even compared to ones in California. It’s amazing!
The Pollo Fundido meal is my favorite meal here. It’s a good sized portion – my husband and I share this meal and are completely content.
They are self proclaimed as having the best margarita in town and my husband agrees. Lots of parking around the back. Something we just recently realized.
Enjoy the man-​made lake with ducks, fish, turtles and an area to feed them too. Perfect entertainment quality if you bring children. Beautiful ambience.

One word: meh.
The end.
Just kidding! Service was kind of bad. I had to ask for lemons and coke FOUR times. Rice was decent. Vegetables were good. Shrimp was good but the habanero sauce was kind of bland. Salsa tasted like pure tomato sauce and cumin. Where is the flavor? Corn chips needed salt.
Pond was pretty, though.
Nice try guys but I probably won’t be returning on my own terms.