Restaurant Review: Food and Service are on Point at El Mariachi in Watertown

According to statistics, the average American family eats out “a few times” a month. My family falls into that category.  When we dine out, we’re looking for an experience. Good food, good atmosphere, and to enjoy each others company. At the time of this posting, there are well over three dozen restaurants in Watertown, not including some of the pubs that serve food. As a born-and-raised Watertownian, I’ve been to all but a few. Join me as I review Watertown’s dining spots, starting with an establishment that always exceeds our expectations – El Mariachi.

The Atmosphere

On a recent visit to El Mariachi, I was pleasantly surprised (blown away actually), to see they had added a large, stunning mural that fills the entirety of one wall. It is impossible to miss. They added a second piece of art in a large span of windows. It depicts a farm scene, and I regret not snapping a photo. The dining room has soft lighting, and feels warm and cozy no matter what time of day you visit.

The Food

Let’s start with the complimentary basket of chips and side of salsa. Their chips are seasoned perfectly, and the salsa is full of flavor.

I LOVE seafood and find that El Mariachi cooks it to perfection. For years, I wouldn’t stray from their shrimp tacos, but a few visits ago I gave the 5 de Mayo Tacos a whirl and added another favorite to my list. The dish is three tacos made of grilled shrimp, scallops, fish, and crab, and topped with cilantro (I skip the onions). It’s served with a side of beans and rice. It is perfectly grilled and seasoned.

My husband bounces around the menu a little more than the rest of us, and ordered steak fajitas with corn tortillas on our last visit. They were perfectly cooked along with peppers and onions, with a side of beans, guac, lettuce, and tomato.

My oldest son has stuck to his order for over a year. He always opts for the enchilada supreme – one ground beef, one chicken, one shredded beef, one beans and one cheese enchilada topped with cheese, enchilada sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. Somehow he manages to eat this massive meal without any leftovers to take home. I’ll blame it on the fact he’s a 16-year-old cross country runner.

My younger son is a picky eater. He’ll venture as far as chicken tenders, and ordered exactly that from the kid’s menu for as long as he could. He aged out recently, and it took some convincing to get him to try authentic Mexican food. Once we got him there, he never looked back. His favorite dish is the Quesadilla al Carbon – an 8” flour tortilla stuffed with cheese, grilled steak or chicken (he chooses chicken), served with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomato and special sauce. He can eat about half, and enjoys the rest the next day.

For drinks, my husband and I typically order a house (lime) margarita on the rocks with salt. They know their margaritas!

Service

I can honestly say I have never had poor service at El Mariachi. They are very consistent with getting the orders right and making quick corrections when needed. The food comes out fast and hot, and the servers are always pleasant and knowledgeable.
I think it’s safe to say I highly recommend El Mariachi in Watertown!

Stay tuned as I taste my way through Watertown. Next up – Sake House!