Acapulco Cafe

Great lunch. 3 of us stopped in and asked for a recommendation for a good experience. We got great advice and great food!

This was our first visit here. We brought our son and his family here for his birthday.
We had a $ 25 gift certificate from
. you had to spend $ 50 to get the $ 25. There was 6 of us so no problem.
The server was moderately friendly. He did refuse to give us lemon or limes for our water because «they use them to cook with», odd but ok. The chips were extremely salty. There was 2 sauces on the table, a Verde and a red sauce, neither very appetizing. The food was mediocre at best for an authentic Mexican restaurant. Everything was very salty, guess that’s the only way the cook know to add flavor.
When the time came to pay the bill they refused the gift certificate. The cook, who I’m guessing was the owner came out from the kitchen very hostile. He was claiming that he had tried to get them to remove that coupon and can’t get them to do it so he wasn’t going to take it. My wife tried to explain how we obtained the certificate, which only agitated the owner even more. He even began yelling at my wife and my son, at this time I stepped in. This only agitated the man even more, he began calling us names and even appeared to want to get violent with me. They eventually threw us out. As we was getting in to our car, we looked at a little window that was in the kitchen, only to see a man giving us the finger. Pretty classy Acapulco Café, you really know how to treat a customer.

Me and my family have been coming here since I was a little kid (I’m 26). The food is ALWAYS good, but the portion size is really hit-​or-​miss. Sometimes the portions can be really chintzy ESPECIALLY the cheese! However other times you go and there’s so much food you have to take it to go.
The chips are to die for, they are too salty sometimes but still tasty! I don’t mind paying 60 cents for extra chips, that’s a pittance.
Overall we love that place!

There were many ominous signs about this place before I even ordered, and while the burrito I had for lunch was pretty good, it didn’t make up for the overall failure.
I walked in and was greeted by signs that read, «Cash Only,» «extra chips 60 cents,» «refills for Pepsi products only,» and «One free refill.»
I was greeted by a waitress who seemed upset that I interrupted her day. I was given a cereal bowl of chips and two bottles with salsa. One green. One red. Nothing to put the salsa in. I ordered water to drink and a bowl. I was given a bottle of water (50 cents). This kind of freaked me out. Why couldn’t they serve tap water?
The chips were delicious and seemed homemade. What came out of the red bottle was a disgusting reddish water. I asked the waitress about it, and she told me «you have to shake it up.» After getting me a new bowl, I shook up the bottle (with my finger on the end so it wouldn’t splatter all over. I only assume very other person that are there also had to put their finger on the bottle). What came out next was a slighter thinker disgusting reddish water.
I’m not sure why at this point I actually stayed to order food. The burrito could come with rice or fideo (pasta). I ordered the pasta because I felt adventurous. The burrito was actually pretty good, and the only reason there are two stars.
Overall, a pretty disappointing experience.

I usually love hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants and walk in with an open mind. Plus Mexican food is my favorite. The ambiance was shabby as soon as you walk in, all tables were empty and the handwritten sign that they only accept cash should have been a good indicator to turn around and leave right then. The waitress neglected to inform us that there was a charge for chips. To say the chips were over-​salted is an understatement and the «salsa» was as thin as water; not good. Our food was bland, over-​cooked, and could not be eaten; in spite of the fact that we were both very hungry when we arrived. It really is unfortunate that I cannot rate this place with greater than one star because I really do commend small-​family businesses; but I must caution others on what to expect if they decide to try this place.

This place is something like a 5^th generation family restaraunt. I thought the food was by far some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in the Quad Cities. The downside is that chips aren’t unlimited nor are they free. 50 cents per bowl, but they are homemade and delicious, just like the food. It’s small, quiet, but on a busy street corner, which is surprising. Can’t beat supporting a small, family run business though!