Mexican cuisine is a tough one for me. I have enjoyed it in some places whilst others have left me confused about the authenticity of the fare on offer. I haven't been to Mexico so that makes it difficult to judge if a place is offering the real thing or not. Singapore has had two popular Mexican joints for years : Margarita's and Cafe Iguana. Newer kids on the block have sprung up in recent years but they yet have to make a name for themselves.
We've been regulars at Margarita's for a few years now. Ambience is Tex Mex with subdued lighting and Latino, Mexican music playing in the background. Mosaic inlay tables accompanied by grill structures on walls lend the place a somewhat Arabic feel. If you are unsuccessful in securing a table, you can grab a bite at the bar perched on bar stools which are surprisingly not that uncomfortable.
True to name, the traditional margaritas are a must-have. At SGD 15 each, they come in different fruity flavours and can be had frozen or on the rocks. They also offer variants like Blue Margarita (with a touch of Curacao). There is also a decent wine selection but I haven't seen many people sipping wine here. Sangria and daiquiris are the other popular drinks at Margarita's.
Fajitas and nachos are the most ordered dishes at Margarita's. I am not a fan of nachos but can vouch for the fajitas. I almost always order Shrimp Fajitas here (you have a choice of chicken, vegetables or beef too) and the portion size is super generous with plenty of shrimps cooked with caramelised onions served on a sizzling hot pan and served with 5 Fajitas. At SGD 36, I think this is pretty good value for money.
Another dish I recommend are the Chicken Enchiladas with Green Tomatilla Sauce (SGD 18). The dish comes with sour cream topping like most dishes at Margarita's and is quite a filler. Occasionally, I've tried the Fish Burrito which is touted as an unusual preparation. Whilst it is good and the portion size decent, I wouldn't call the dish 'unusual' by any yardstick. In fact, most of the dishes at Margarita's taste a bit generic (in a nice way) due to the common tomato and sour cream sauce they all come topped with.
Margarita's is very popular with Indians in Singapore as the relatively spicier taste appeals to the Indian palate. Plus, there are plenty of options for vegetarians. Reservations are a must for dinners especially on weekends. The place is popular for large groups celebrating birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc and hence can get quite noisy. So if you want to enjoy a quiet dinner with your better half, this is not the place. Also, their last orders are early relative to closing time. For lunch it is at 2:30 pm and dinner at 10:00 pm.
Staff at Margarita's is polite though a tad untrained. Some can be quite intrusive too. Don't be surprised to see two waiters coming up to clean your table and having a conversation right there ! Also, I don't quite relish someone standing on my head while I clear the cheque. They are ready to take away the cheque folder just at the very moment you've managed to place your cash / credit card in it. I've observed it many times to be the case at Margarita's and this is one aspect which hasn't changed over the past few years. Maybe they've had cases in the past where patrons enjoyed the meal and then quietly walked off without settling the bill! Other than this, I see no reason why staff should get your cheque and breathe down your neck while you settle it. Very annoying behaviour.
Overall, I would definitely recommend a trip to Margarita's. Especially if you have an occasion to celebrate and are looking for venues which can comfortably host a large group at one table. Just remember to book a table if you are going on a weekend. Enjoy!
We've been regulars at Margarita's for a few years now. Ambience is Tex Mex with subdued lighting and Latino, Mexican music playing in the background. Mosaic inlay tables accompanied by grill structures on walls lend the place a somewhat Arabic feel. If you are unsuccessful in securing a table, you can grab a bite at the bar perched on bar stools which are surprisingly not that uncomfortable.
True to name, the traditional margaritas are a must-have. At SGD 15 each, they come in different fruity flavours and can be had frozen or on the rocks. They also offer variants like Blue Margarita (with a touch of Curacao). There is also a decent wine selection but I haven't seen many people sipping wine here. Sangria and daiquiris are the other popular drinks at Margarita's.
Fajitas and nachos are the most ordered dishes at Margarita's. I am not a fan of nachos but can vouch for the fajitas. I almost always order Shrimp Fajitas here (you have a choice of chicken, vegetables or beef too) and the portion size is super generous with plenty of shrimps cooked with caramelised onions served on a sizzling hot pan and served with 5 Fajitas. At SGD 36, I think this is pretty good value for money.
Another dish I recommend are the Chicken Enchiladas with Green Tomatilla Sauce (SGD 18). The dish comes with sour cream topping like most dishes at Margarita's and is quite a filler. Occasionally, I've tried the Fish Burrito which is touted as an unusual preparation. Whilst it is good and the portion size decent, I wouldn't call the dish 'unusual' by any yardstick. In fact, most of the dishes at Margarita's taste a bit generic (in a nice way) due to the common tomato and sour cream sauce they all come topped with.
Margarita's is very popular with Indians in Singapore as the relatively spicier taste appeals to the Indian palate. Plus, there are plenty of options for vegetarians. Reservations are a must for dinners especially on weekends. The place is popular for large groups celebrating birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc and hence can get quite noisy. So if you want to enjoy a quiet dinner with your better half, this is not the place. Also, their last orders are early relative to closing time. For lunch it is at 2:30 pm and dinner at 10:00 pm.
Staff at Margarita's is polite though a tad untrained. Some can be quite intrusive too. Don't be surprised to see two waiters coming up to clean your table and having a conversation right there ! Also, I don't quite relish someone standing on my head while I clear the cheque. They are ready to take away the cheque folder just at the very moment you've managed to place your cash / credit card in it. I've observed it many times to be the case at Margarita's and this is one aspect which hasn't changed over the past few years. Maybe they've had cases in the past where patrons enjoyed the meal and then quietly walked off without settling the bill! Other than this, I see no reason why staff should get your cheque and breathe down your neck while you settle it. Very annoying behaviour.
Overall, I would definitely recommend a trip to Margarita's. Especially if you have an occasion to celebrate and are looking for venues which can comfortably host a large group at one table. Just remember to book a table if you are going on a weekend. Enjoy!
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