08/31/09

Great food, nice upstairs lounge, good prices

by Jayare

I've eaten at El Cid 2 several times, and thought the food was great--nice marinated shrimp, really good steak tacos, lots of salsa and chips, bartender let us sample a few different tequillas. Upstairs lounge really relaxed atmosphere, sofas, fireplace, no-rush vibe for dates or to just hang out, not too noisy either like some places get later on weekends. Prices not bad either.

• Pros: Nice ambience in upstairs lounge

10/12/08

very disappointed

by asper12

I'd been a resident of Logan Blvd. and patron of El Cid's for many years. Having moved away, I was excited to dine at El Cid's again and enthusiastically described the place to the friend I brought along last night. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so we sat in the back patio. The atmosphere seemed pleasant, but as we sat an odd smell began to permeate. We thought it might be someone's perfume so we asked to move to another table. Sadly, it was not another diner's perfume, it was an incense El Cid's was using throughout the patio. Cooking 101 might tell us NOT to use incense or scented candles while dining!!! It was awful. We stayed, however. I was sure the food would make up for the uncomfortable ambience. NO. Someone in the kitchen forgot spices. It was bland. It was served at room temperature. I was embarrassed. Don't bother going there. There are many many better Mexican restaurants in the city.

06/30/08

Patio is great but food lacks seasoning and service was lame

by maura1171

I was extremely excited when we arrived and went to the back patio, it seemed perfect!! Then we waited, and waited and waited. I thought okay it's Saturday night they are busy but the servers were sitting on a bench gabbing and laughing and finally one of them decided to come over. The drinks, starters and entrees all arrived at the same time and no room to put anything so they took our entrees back into the kitchen. The tamales for starters were good but when the entrees were brought out for the third time well, obviously they were cold, but my main complaint is that they were bland. Very bland. I had to ask for pico, sour cream and guac and I got a paper plate with a spoonful of each slathered on it and charged a buck for each!! We waited forever for a second round of drinks and again the waitstaff just hanging out . It took our server forever to get us the bill. Sorry but it was a let down. The atmosphere is great and the drinks were great, I could live with the bland food if I just ordered apps and they brought extra pico etc... but the service ruined the chance of a return. As a server myself I can sympathize with a busy section but this was just a joke, I really think they were drinking some of the pitchers themselves!!

• Pros: Great patio area in the back
• Cons: The servers act like a group of teenagers hanging out