El Vaquero

Service was slow even with 5 people standing around
Food was cold.
Even the plate was cold.
Getting a beer in this place well you can forget that.
I’m sure Columbus has better Mexican spots

Decent Food and tasty
Reasonably priced
Friendly staff

This is my favorite Mexican joint in Columbus and had been for quite a while. I like what I call the «original» Riverside Drive location the best, but will also frequent the Olentangy River Road location, as well.
El Vaquero is certainly not the BEST Mexican food I have ever had (that distinction goes to Los Dos Molinos in Phoenix), but it is consistent, reasonably priced, and always has terrific service.
The lunch specials are a great value and I especially recommend the carnitas, the smokey red sauce of the Chicken Rosqueto, and the tamales. The staff is always friendly, fast, and flexible, and each restaurant is always clean.

Ok, so I’m giving 3 stars instead of 5, for a few reasons. Honestly, I REALLY wanna give this establishment 5 stars! And overall, I really wanna give this company as a whole 5 stars. But because of my reasons, I just can’t. So here are my reasons for 3, not 5.
Hang in with me. This is a long one! LOL
* For this location specifically, my husband and I frequently come here. And while we appreciate the rejuvenation that has occurred here (such as their nice temperature controlled patio, the updated décor, etc), the service is sometimes subpar, UNLESS you are sitting at the inside bar.
When you’re seated at a table or booth, you quickly can become overwhelmed at attempting to guess WHO is actually YOUR server.
* This brings me to service actually. Because of the multiple people that will come by your table/​booth at any given time during your dining experience, this makes for a communication FAIL. As well, out of the 5 different servers that check on you, what happens when one ticks you off and that one just so happens to be the last one to visit your table? Personally, I want my FULL TIP to go to the servers I had a decent exchange with vs the one that ticked me off. But how do I know? Fact is, I don’t.
* Also, by way of servers– on more than one occasion, because of the lack of communication between the small village that takes care of the same table, getting something as minor as a refill for your soft drink, turns into an insulting experience. I have witnessed more than once, multiple staff members going by tables where people are heavier in weight, and picking up their soft drink and asking MORE THAN ONCE, «Diet?», when they know it’s not. Then the same server will go to the soft drink dispenser, speak in Spanish and look at the overweight patron and literally laugh at them.
Sorry, but overweight people come from all walks of life and nationalities. And if I’m being judge-​y– some of them are even the «weight staff» right there at this establishment. And to add insult to injury, those overweight servers at this establishment are clearly in denial of their bulge, because their shirts look like they should fit a 3 year old, thus making them appear to be a can of busted biscuits.
But I digress. All I’m saying, is to the staff at this location: You’re not slick or funny when you attempt to get a dig in at someone overweight by your obnoxious question of whether or not their drink is «diet». Just remember, that overweight person contributes to your paycheck.
* The last time we were in this location, we had a full bottle of salsa left over from our dinner. So naturally, I wanted a container to pour it into to take home with the rest of our leftovers. I was shocked to see the Mexican guy tell our American bartender to CHARGE US $ 5.00 for the salsa that should have/​would have been thrown away anyway. It became SUCH an ordeal, that we were actually forced to do a SECOND transaction for the salsa. Sure, I could have left it. But my husband being the nicer of the two of us, just went ahead and paid it to avoid conflict. I understand the difference between ordering specifically some salsa to go and pouring your leftover salsa from your table into a container too.
Lastly, let’s talk about LOCATION CONSISTENCY.
I get the #54 every time I go. Literally, like its my job. My order NEVER CHANGES. However, this much I can guarantee– the #54 at this location is the best. But when I go to any other location, it’s nowhere near the same. It’s so off from the «original», that it feels like I’ve ordered a completely different dish. Train the staff better, so that I can go to any location, order the #54, and KNOW for certain that I will be getting exactly what I know I’ve ordered. I only say that to this location, because this location has admitted that everyone at the other locations, were trained at this location first.
Stay consistent, tell your staff to be nicer to those customers they may see as being overweight, let ONE server work with one table at a time and don’t try to charge people for their leftovers and I will continue to stay a loyal customer and even come back and adjust my stars!

Great food, great service. Good lunch specials and happy hour prices. Menu has traditional tacos and burritos but also offers a good variety of seafood, salads, and specialty dishes.

This was our go-​place on Friday nights, usually packed. Food always WAS excellent, service WAS good, ambience WAS good. Food, service has gone downhill, it’s like they are rushing to get you in and out. Not the same

This is my fiancé’s and my favorite Mexican restaurant in Columbus. The margaritas are excellent! I also haven’t had a bad dish there yet. My only criticism is that the service is a bit slow.

I have been here several times and have had some good meals and experiences, but after tonight I know I will not be back. There is always a good crowd on a Wednesday, but not so packed you cannot get a table. After being seated quickly I was approached by 5 different servers to get my order. This repeatedly occurred to the point where it felt like harassment to order, eat, and leave. No one ever returned to refill the drinks and the food was bland. I left feeling irritated and displeased.

Great selection, pretty good crowd for a Tuesday evening… Came in to Columbus to meet up with a group of friends, and while this might not have been my first choice for a dinner spot, but we got EXCELLENT service, cozy seating in the enclosed patio, and no rush to leave as we sat and «yacked» the night away!!! I wasn’t too excited about my choice (spinach quesadilla, plffffft, I make ‘em better at home!!!) but that was my own fault for going «off the grid…» My friends did well with their taco choices, and Mr. M&P seemed to enjoy the taquitos I «delivered» a hour or so later!!!
Stick with the basics (and the menu appears to have 42 pages or so of choices – «basics» to AY DIOS MIO!!) and let the FIESTA roll… !!

Never will I ever return to this place! Horrible service, the food was not that great, my drink was disgusting. Do yourself and your wallet and do not come here.

Below average food. Been here several times and I’m never impressed. Service isn’t particularly friendly or speedy, either.

This location has slowly declined or at the very least developed a consistency problem. I’ve been going here for about 20 years. In the past your drink never came close to being empty and the food was perfect. In the last few years the drinks run dry and the food leaves something to be desired… like actually making sure the cheese in the enchilada has melted before serving it. I also do not know why their chips are basically cut in half tortillas. Is it that had to cut them in quarters?
I give them three stars because on a good night the service is great and food is right. The riverside dr and 161 locations seem to better than the others.

I have been going to this el vac consistently for about 5 years. I never had a bad experience. The cheese dip is a must. The jumbo lime margarita is a must! Any type of fajita is a must! Other items I have had that is amazing are the fajita quesadilla, chimichanga, soft tacos, fajita salad, and their new seasonal menu is good too!
The service is amazing. You are served within 2 minutes tops. They notice if you need a drink refill (another margarita please!) or even more chips and salsa. I have been able to be in and out for lunch with my fiancé in 30 minutes, no joke! Lots of parking and super cheap! Cannot get any better. Love el vac, and I will continue to go to this gem location!!!

margaritas are addicting, the staff and owners care. been coming here for 20 years

This particular location gave me food poisoning. I have never been back, nor have I ever visited any El Vaquero around Columbus since then

Best Mexican restaurant in town! The servers are wonderful and the food always arrives quickly. You never feel rushed and the food always come out piping hot. It’s the best food in town!

Great food and happy hour deals. Also a lot of Mexican beers on draft which is awesome.

I can’t say enough about #171/​the El Morro special. Chorizo, chicken, pineapple, and cheese. Oh. My. Goodness. It’s my favorite dish in any Mexican restaurant by far and I’ve never had anything that compares elsewhere! Try it. You’ll like it! The chips and salsa are always delicious and the food always comes SUPER quickly. Definitely my favorite Mexican place in Columbus.

We ordered takeout while visiting friends this past weekend. I can’t ever remember ordering takeout from a Mexican place before, but I was surprised at the quantity of chips and salsa they included with our order. Everyone enjoyed their food. My friends are big fans of the hot salsa. I liked the variety on the menu.

El Vaquero has somehow weaseled its way into Columbus as the go-​to spot for Mexican food even though it’s pretty much on par with what you’d expect from any Mexican chain restaurant. I’ve been to a few locations and they are definitely consistent with food and experience. Also, great job on the renovations to this location (although I do wish the patio felt a little more patio-​like).
Service is remarkably fast. Like, I think our food arrived 5 minutes after placing the order. I appreciate this, but most of the time I want to relax and enjoy a meal so it was a little too speedy for me. Almost felt like they just wanted to turn the table (which I’m sure is what happens on busier Friday and Saturday nights).
The food is good and portions are huge, but El Vaq seems to have their prices hovering a few bucks above what I see at other similar restaurants. I can get basically the same meal down the road at Rancho Allegre for quite a bit less — and their margaritas are stronger (also cheaper).
I’ll probably keep toggling between this place and other Mexican restaurants in the area– bf loves his Mexican feasts. There’s nothing mind blowing about El Vaquero, but it’s a place to go when the fiesta craving hits.