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CaribQueen

Compliment CaribQueen (15-07-2008) ••••

Went here recently for the lunch deal of two beers with a main, only the price was increased to £11.50. Still, it’s a decent value lunch deal and may get a second visit from me. I had the Alambre Tepoztlan, a “spicy casserole” of steak, pancetta, onions, and cheese, that sounded fab but was just ok. Not only was it not at all spectacular, and too tomato-ey, but it also came with an overly thick layer of mozzarella cheese (authentic? i think not) that screamed coronary bypass before age 30.

I wouldn’t call the place in-authentic straight out, but I do have to disagree with previous reviews. To me, Cafe Pacifico is much more authentically Tex-Mex than authentically Mexican. That said, the decor very much looked the part. The wooden furniture and colourful stuff on the walls was what you’d expect a casual and popular Mexican(ish) food joint to look like, and would probably be fun for after work drinks.

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malkay

Compliment malkay (11-07-2008) •••••

Cafe Pacifico is the best and most authentic Mexican Restaurant I’ve been to in London so far. Don’t fall for those other cheap chains with inticing 2 for 1’s or the tex-mex wannabies that pop up every now and then. Chimichangas are always a winner, burritos, enchilladas and quesadillas are all awesome, guacamole is top notch… be naughty and try a sopapilla for desert. They also serve tex-mex incarnations, such as nacho cheese platters, which I’ve tried but not really enjoyed. Although their homemade salsa is very nice.

As for drinks, Mexican beer is so underrated… and No! Corona is NOT a Mexican beer!!! Negra Modelo seems to be the drink of choice for most of Pacifico’s patrons, as it was mine, until they brought in Bohemia. I’d only had it once in San Diego a few years ago but my tastebuds have longed for it ever since.

They have a special lunch deal where you can one of the popular mains for about half price at £6 or you can have 2 beers with you main for £10. Otherwise mains will set you back around £9-13 excluding service charge… pocket change for the orgasmic taste you will be rewarding your stomach with. 5/5, I’d give it 6/5 if i could.

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Compliment alexhunter (27-05-2008) ••••

Quick summary: the best Mexican food I’ve had in London so far.

As those of you who follow me know, since moving been to London I’ve been in a never ending search for good Mexican food. As the U2 classic goes, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. But Cafe Pacifico is damn close.

We couldn’t get into the (mediocre) Wahaca so went off in search of alternative Mexican delights. We had heard rumblings of Cafe Pacifico and a quick check of the Qype iPhone app yielded the address and some good reviews. We found it nestled in a relatively quiet street in Covent Garden. As soon as we walked into the place I had high hopes. It FELT like a Mexican restaurant. Like a cheesy, tacky Californian Mexican restaurant that you’d find in Ensenada or something. I have to admit, I got a little emotional.

As far as I’m concerned, restaurants live or die by there ambiance/atmosphere and Cafe Pacifico had nailed it. The place was buzzing with energy, the staff were smiling and having a good time, the walls were covered in nick-nacks and chotchkes that made the place feel like a real Californian Mexican restaurant. And we hadn’t even ordered.

We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table but that wasn’t a problem for two reasons 1) it gave us a chance to check out the bar and 2) it was 50 minutes less than the wait at Wahaca. The barkeep handed us a menu and I was immediately impressed with the Mexican beer selection. The Mexicans do great beer. Negro Modelo, Sol, Mexicali, etc are all fantastic and Cafe Pacifico had at least 8 different Mexican beers.

We quickly got our table and the menu had some impressive treasures. Burritos, Chimichangas, etc were all there. My one piece of advice to Cafe Pacifico would be to ditch the haute cuisine stuff (duck, soy, etc) - you don’t need the foodies, concentrate on your already good Mexican food and you’ll be in great shape. LOVE the fact that they have Eastern Mexican food on the menu as well.

My barometer for any Mexican restaurant is two fold: burritos and refried beans. Cafe Pacifico delivered both with aplomb.

Way to go guys, you’ve now officially been awarded the alexhunter “Best Mexican Food in London” award.

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ahunter

Compliment ahunter (25-05-2008) ••••

We rocked up at Cafe Pacifico after being told there would be a 45 minute wait at Wahaca (typical). I was really craving some Mexican food and i though the next best bet would be this place. I was intrigued by the mixed reviews of Cafe Pacifico. Some say cruddy service and food, others say great value and one of the best Mexican’s in London. Well, i’d say it falls somewhere between. I actually really enjoyed the food and i think everyone else did too. Delicious Nachos, tasty burritos and a great selection of Mexican beers. You pay about £10 for a main course here, which seemed reasonable to me. This isn’t gourmet mexican and we did have to wait 10 minutes for the bill to come, which is why i am knocking off 1 star. I will definitely come back though.

All in all a good, affordable Mexican meal. Something which is hard to find in London…..

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Almex

Compliment Almex (25-02-2008) ••••

This is not an authentic Mexican restaurant, if you see enchiladas made with flour tortillas or any mention of duck and soy sauce, you can safely say that you will not have a an authentic Mexican meal. The food is overpriced, 5 pounds for squashed avocado. You would think that for those prices they would make their own maize tortillas, it isn’t exactly rocket science. I struggled to find anything in the menu that reminded me of good old home cooking. If you are a Mexican then stay away, if you’ve never tried Mexican food then this restaurant will not change this. If you want a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine you would be better off walking to Wahaca instead.

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KizzieFK

Compliment KizzieFK (17-02-2008) •••••

Though the wait at Pacifico can be forever on a Friday night -- I think we waited about 2 hours despite a good deal of negotiating with the hostess -- you can at least hang out in the bar and get some drinks and appetizers. Careful, though, the bar area will be packed, too.

The 25 year margarita was my favorite, though there were some others that sounded good, especially since they had a decent tequila selection. They also had a decent selection of Mexican beers, including Negro Modelo and Pacifico.

Though some of their menu items are decidedly inauthentic, and they know it, the fajitas are good and the salsa is spicy.

I'm still looking for a place in London that makes its own tortilla chips, though.

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hartberg

Compliment hartberg (30-11-2007) •••••

The £10 lunchtime special at Cafe Pacifico is pretty hard to knock. A choice of main courses and two bottles of beer (or a margarita) will satisfy most people. The Chimichangas are superb, as are the Enchiladas. But no matter how good the lunchtime special is, it is the full menu that will tempt most people to return.

The Taquiza, although on the pricier side, is awesome. The Street Tacos, Burritos and Alabre Tepoztlan are too. Even basics like the Chilli-con-carne are top-notch but might prove somewhat fiery to many palates.

Vegetarian options are available, but limited. Best bet to non-meat-eaters will probably be the Tostada. The bill can sometimes take a while to arrive but then that's probably because the staff know that movement shouldn't really be attempted on such a full stomach!

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stardust

Compliment stardust (25-11-2007) ••••

This place has great mexican food. The restaurant is fantastic. It is often very busy at night but the marguaritas are the best. They have a big range of food from which you can choose from. When I was there I didn't know what to eat as there were so many things to choose from. The waiter recommended our meals and it was fantastic. The cocktails were great too. The atmosphere is vibrant and fun. This is the place to be.

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Compliment Rob Hinchcliffe (23-11-2007) •••••

When I worked in Covent Garden this place was a cultural institution thanks to its £10 lunch deal which consists of a large plate of decent Mexican fair plus two (count them...two!) bottles of beer.

The grub here isn't anything outstanding or revolutionary, but it does the job and the mojitos are very good. Even if you don't eat here it's quite a good place to just sit at the bar for a few hours, although the smells coming from the kitchen might mean you end up sitting down to eat after all.

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jojeba

Compliment jojeba (06-11-2007) ••••


How do I love thee, Cafe Pacifico? Let me count the ways…..
This fabulous restaurant is not only the source of the best Mexican food in London, but it’s fun, energetic and OH those marguaritas!!
Due to its popularity, Pacifico is often packed to full, so expect to wait at the bar – I recommend any of their cocktails on this occasion… it will make your wait an enjoyable one!
he Fajitas, Chimichangas and Quesadillas are all favourites of mine, but their range of options is extensive, and whatever you order on the menu, you will not be able to finish what is on your plate (take that as a challenge if you will).

Unfortunately at around £8-£12 per main, and £6.50 per cocktail it’s not a cheap night out. But perhaps that’s just as well, or I would be going there three times a week.

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