El Novillero Restaurant
| Address: | 4216 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95820, USA |
| Phone: | +1 916-456-4287 |
| Site: | elnov.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | Closed 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–7PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
CA
Carmen Buchanan
I had high expectations for this restaurant seeing so many good reviews but I was very disappointed soon after arriving. The parking lot is large and the venue appears to be well taken care of and nicely decorated. It was not clear to me once entering the restaurant whether this was a Spanish or Mexican restaurant because the decoration such as posters and the design of the menu feature symbols of Spain (I am half Spaniard half Mexican so trust me, I know!) Also, there was no music playing at all so I did not get to relax or have the music set the mood on the restaurant, all I heard is all the people surrounding me being loud. The restaurant is supposed to be authentic Mexican food but in reality this was Tex-Mex. I ordered some enchiladas and they used American cheese, the salsas tested like those you find in cans and not make yourself, and the salad on the side had a pickle and ketchup (NO REAL MEXICAN EATS THIS). Although the portion of the food was relatively bigger than in other establishments, it did not justify the high price. I paid 15 dollars for 3 enchiladas. In all honesty, Mexican food does not contain any expensive ingredients so I am unsure how they can charge that amount especially when is obvious they are not making food from scratch. The pricing was the same for all other dishes as far as I could see in the menu. My husband had another dish that required corn tortillas and they were not hand made either. The salsa that is given with the chips upon sitting down was terrible, too much taste of ketchup instead of a actual salsa that has peppers on it... Another big flaw that I found was the alcoholic beverages limit. They will not serve more than 3 drinks per person. Although I am not a huge drinker myself (especially considering the pricing), I felt that the limit is unnecessary as I am sure many other people would. The service was not great either. Our server was nice but he forgot about us often. The food took a very long time to arrive, he never checked on us once until I basically called him in and show my credit card to be like "the check please". I understand the place was packed (no idea why), but for the pricing of eating at this establishment I was hoping for a little better. I would also like to point out that even though the restaurant was fairly busy on the day I went for dinner with my husband, all of the customers where white. This in itself is indicative that if you are looking for authentic Mexican food, you will not get it here.
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A Private User
first of all i want to say i used to LOVE novillero,food was so good and huge portions,service was right on and the atmosphere very nice and it was always a treat to go,,,my then future husband took me there on our first valentines date in high school 17yrs ago.,,good memories,..fast forward to now, theyve made some fancy renovations, and expanded ..but the food was to GAG..the salsa had the consistancy and flavor of of salt free tomato sauce,no exaggeration!.chips were nasty and stale..the servers used to be fast,friendly and courteous,the last time we went the guy looked and acted bored and uninterested and looked as he was being forced to work there by family obligation or somthing,the food was flavorless as heck! how can u mess up beans and rice?!.the tamales i orderd had little meat and i could taste the raw grainy mushy cornmeal,as if not cooked thoroughly,and tasteless!!...husbnd ordrd sum super burrito or somthing,,also very tasteless..and the service,omg,the guy couldnt have been less helpful! the menu only lists a few beer selections and house margaritas then states " please ask your server for more selection on mixed drinks"...so when we finally manage to get the guys attention we ask "what other mixed drinks do you offer?" the guy responds "uh,,i dont know"..and walks away!! that was the end,not even a "idk,let me check for you though"..my husband and i looked at eachother like "wth!?".this is the worst service and food ever! .needless to say that was our very LAST visit ever..the best years of novillero are far behind...i was so embarassed because i had recommended this place to a friend after a few yrs of not having gone,,she said she went and didnt want to tell me it was awful,,so i guess this is the norm now for novillero..A little advice to the owners,.focus more on the quality of the food and professionalism of the servers and less on the fancy faux finishes and decorating..authentic atmosphere yes,,authentic food ,NOT!!......id rather be home eating a tv dinner.....
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Diana Watson
The short and sweet: Ambiance: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Food: 3.5 stars with an explanation The summary: The restaurant itself is gorgeous. You really get the feeling you are dining in a bistro located in Guadalajara or Mexico City. Lots of colors and flair, but not in a pancake house kind of way. it all is just so tastefully done. The service is the best Ive ever had at any restaurant, hands down. Not five seconds after my husband and I empties our complimentary bowl of chips did a server oh-so-silently slip by with another. Our drinks were replaced before they were completely empty. Our server was kind and warm. He also managed to really balance his time with us. He came by to make sure we were satisfied, but didnt constantly bother us while we were trying to enjoy the meal. The food was okay, pretty good. I ordered the Chuletas de Puerco Ranchero (pork chops w/ potatoes in ranchero sauce). I have to admit that Ive never had this dish before, so Im not sure how its supposed to taste. It was okay. I mean, I ate enough to fill me up, so it wasnt bad at all. It was just missing... something. I think a little cilantro might have gone a long way. However, my husband ordered the Carne Asada Fajitas, and raved over them. I can say this, with his dish came fresh tortillas that were too hot to handle when they first came out, and were so chewy and delicious. Yes, I stole some of his tortillas, can you blame me? Anyway, when I return to El Navillero (and you can bet I will return), I will order something with which I am familiar, so that I can make a fair comparison. I will update my review then because Im sure this restaurant deserves five stars, I just need to verify it first.
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Denise Richardson
Within a few minutes my food was ready. I went for the Taco first.....devoured it in 3 bites.....it was amazing! The Carne Asada is marinaded with the same flavor I remember back in So Cal.....I think I found Taco Nirvana! Then I went for the Burrito.....its a nice size for $3.99, great value. The Burrito didnt disappoint either! It was amazing! A quick note for the Gringos....if you order the Burrito with "Everything", it will already have Hot (Red) Salsa inside the Burrito....and its pretty spicy, so if youre sensitive to that, tell them without salsa. The Burrito had Carne Asada, Beans, Rice, Salsa, and Onions in it.....good proportions of all ingredients too. Just like the Taco, the Asadas flavor was just right. Overall, this place has just launched itself to the top of my mexican places to eat. Thanks @Jennifer R for that review! Will I return? Of course!
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A Private User
I dont know where or what some of the other reviewers were eating when they claim Novis, as many locals call it, is overpriced and overrated. The most expensive item on the menu is less than $20 and most meals run between #12 and $14. I have personally been back to the kitchen (I often take a walk into or through a kitchen during slow periods) and the sauces are prepared fresh, I have seen the beans cooking and the rice as well. Both are made and served fresh daily. My favorites are the carnitas which are made every day and I haven not had a dry batch yet, as well as the chile verde which is screamin, and the chile colorado which is mellow and nice. This is old school Mexican, like your Momma next door in Boyle Heights Mexican. Dont go there expecting Rick Bayless Mexican. Keep it real and you wont be disappointed! Novis is the best.
