Mama's Mexican Kitchen
(206) 728-6262
2234 2nd Ave
Seattle,
WA
98121
47.6137
-122.3447
Neighborhoods: Belltown, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Mama's Mexican Kitchen
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Festive tiki lights hang outside the patio and eclectic artwork adorns the walls inside. In business for nearly a quarter of a century, Mama's enviable Belltown corner location, outdoor dining and slightly seedy Mexican-fiesta decor attracts a clientele of artists, rock stars and regular folks.
The Food
Big servings of reasonably priced, American-style Mexican food, great margaritas and that elusive quality that makes the place a clubhouse keep people coming back. More delicate palates can try the prawn or black bean-and-spinach quesadillas, but most people come for a strong, slushy cocktail and tasty cheese-and-meat-filled gut-busters like burritos, chimichangas and enchiladas, served with heaping piles of refried beans and Mexican rice and topped with a cooling dollop of sour cream.
User Reviews
missdickson
April 17, 2009
I've been here before and to be honest, only put up with the terrible service cause I really do enjoy the food, but tonight was the last straw. Our waitress seemed cold and despondent, as did most of the other wait staff. I placed an order for a margarita, and apparently she said she'd be back to check my ID, but I didn't hear this. When she came back she got short with me because I didn't have my ID out. I apologized and quickly got it out, but before I could even hand it to her she walked away from our table. She ended up coming back and checking it. During this time however, my water cup had been empty and not once did she offer to fill it. Those chips they give you make you really thirsty! and it wasn't until after she brought me my margarita that she finally filled my water. And all I could think was "Gee, thanks" When we were ready to leave my four friends and I had to split the check. There was a line around the register that we weren't really sure where it began. We decided that two of us would wait in line while the other two waited outside. As I'm waiting in line with the rest of the small crowd of people I was trying to do my best to stay out of the staff's way since we were standing in the way of a kitchen entrance. And that's when one of the staff walked past my friend and I and very rudely said "Standing there isn't such a great idea". As if we had much of a choice! I thought it was completely disrespectful and was really offended by this and rather than cause a scene when they were so busy I decided what I really wanted was just to pay and get the hell out of there and never come back. When they get a better staff maybe I'll come back. Until then, I'm done.
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AmandaF
April 01, 2009
I've been to Mama's many times and have always been underwhelmed. The environment is cool, but the food is just so blah. So, if you don't mind blah food and just want a typically Seattle "cool" place to eat, go.
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dariabunny
March 30, 2009
I have worked in the restaurant industry. I ask that my food is tasty, my service adequate, and that the food is priced based on its quality and portion size. I have no problem eating at a truck stop. Nor do I mind paying extra for higher quality food or larger portions. Service: We were seated in the Elvis Room, but were asked to move because of a forgotten reservation. When we placed our orders my husband mentioned we would prefer to split the check. Service was slow. My friend asked for salsa multiple times. Drink refills were a wait. Coffee was never refilled. The check was not split up and added 18% gratuity for a group of 6 (most restaurants parties of 8+), and she'd MISCALCULATED our total, EXTRA $10 to her gratuity! She returned with a pen and paper so we could split the check ourselves! Handwriting was tough to read and she'd scribbled the order all over the ticket. She had the nerve to mention she had given us the happy hour prices on our drinks (even though she wasn't sure about the time). What!?! We got there at 5:30pm and happy hour ends at 6:30pm. Our drinks were ordered in time. We were still there because of slow service, not order time! Value: I paid $6 for a small weak strawberry margarita, 1 enchilada with beans and rice was almost $10, tiny portion and looked like a kid meal. I would have gotten 2 quality enchiladas for the same at Azteca. Salsa is extra. The menu on their website is NOT up to date. Prices were higher. Food: The quality was low. My beans had chunks of burned cheese. Made me wonder if they reused cookware without washing thoroughly because the cheese on my enchilada was not burned at all. The beef in the enchilada was alright, but not much flavor. Stale chips. Location: Little parking. We noticed a disproportionate number of creepy homeless guys. Area seemed sketchier than I remembered. While we ate we watched three squad cars responding to an incident across the street and a police officer pulling contraband from a man's pockets. There was a homeless guy shouting unintelligibly in front of the restaurant's entrance when we walked in, not a place to walk alone. Conclusion: I must assume that this was once a better restaurant. They have many positive reviews and have apparently won local awards. That said, it is currently a mismanaged establishment lacking in service and food quality, charging a higher price than other Mexican restaurants in the area.
read full reviewThe Details on Mama's Mexican Kitchen
Know Before You Go:
It's not always mentioned in the menu descriptions, so lactose-sensitive and vegan diners should watch out for the huge amounts of cheese smothering nearly every entree.
When to Go:
Summertime outdoor seating is festive and fun, especially for groups who want to enjoy potent margaritas before a show at the nearby Crocodile.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Date Spot, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Bar Scene
