Mama's Mexican Kitchen
(206) 728-6262
2234 2nd Ave
Seattle,
WA
98121
47.6137
-122.3447
Neighborhoods: Belltown, Downtown
Reviews & Ratings for Mama's Mexican Kitchen
65 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 65 reviews
Not worth it
by 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.
- Pros: decent food
- Cons: rude wait staff, poor customer service
Terrible Dining Experience
by 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.
- Pros: Close to the Crocodile Cafe
- Cons: Bad Service, Poor Food Quality at Higher Price
Oh please, it's Mama's
by lproper
January 31, 2009
Yes, it's not "real" Mexican - who cares? If you want real Mexican go back to LA/Phoenix. Mama's is great. And, yes, I do know what "real" Mexican tastes like and I still love Mama's and I love the spotty service and no one is better than Bella. Mama's is "real" Seattle and I hope it stays that way.
- Pros: Great ambiance, good is good, even though it's not authentic, service is, well, Mama's service and I like it
- Cons: None
Consistantly good food and prices. by Dan T. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 25, 2008
Been there 3-4 times a year for 35 years. Food is always great. Lost some charm now that the water glasses match. Summer dining by the sidewalk is good entertainment watching the locals.
Good Food! by Sandi B. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 19, 2008
I am not a big fan of Mexican food, but I really enjoyed myself at this restaurant. The food was good and you received a lot of food for your money. The staff was exceptionally nice and friendly.
Absolutely horrible!
by katyss
September 27, 2008
My husband and I met his children here for lunch today and the service and food was so bad, that I felt compelled to write a review immediately so that some other poor suckers would save themselves the misery of a meal here. I'm not snotty or snooty and don't care about the decor in a restaurant, but I do expect decent food and service. This was beyond bad.
We were seated in the Elvis Room (there were 7 of us) and were promptly forgotten about. Finally, one person had to leave our table to hunt down a staff person, who said "Oh, I didn't know anyone was in here". Okay, so we ordered beers and nachos while we decided on what to eat. It took at least 15-20 minutes before our waiter came back with the beer and nachos (hello? couldn't we have our beers while waiting on the nachos?) and it was the wrong type of beer and we were shorted a glass. Our waiter then asked to take our orders and when my husband told me to go ahead and order out of courtesy, the waiter said "Okay I have to leave for 2-3 minutes to check on my other tables if you are not ready to order." What? We politely told him that we were ready and everyone ordered quickly.
The best meal of the table was bland slop. The worst, which was mine, a fish taco (and he forgot the rice and beans that were supposed to come with it) was inedible. I took one bite and that was it. It was fishy, cold and covered in some kind of mayo sauce. Someone else got the chicken sope which was like a hockey puck. The waiter NEVER came back: we ran out of water, I wanted to order something to replace the food I could not eat, and he never brought the extra salsa we asked for. Nothing, nada. We figured that since we were a large group they were tacking on the gratuity and he didn't care.
This place is seriously bad. As we were leaving, I felt like standing on the corner and warning anyone who might be going in. I'm not kidding, this was the worst meal I've had in years.
- Pros: Not one
- Cons: Everything you go to a restaurant for is wrong here.
Great Food
by bizzness
August 17, 2008
We went to Mama's while vacationing in Seattle. We went on a Monday night and had to wait a few minutes for a table, but it was worth it. We had water and chips & salsa at our table as we were sitting. The chips keep coming, but try to limit yourself as the portions are huge. We had chicken fajitas, beef burritos, and a beef taco. The fajitas were great, real good juicy, flavorful chicken. The beef in the burrito and taco was good, just a bit dry (it's more of a shredded beef style). Service was great. I would recommend.
- Pros: relaxed atmosphere, good food
Not Worth It by Tess T. at InsiderPages
Contributor
May 13, 2008
This place, like many so-called Mexican restaurants in Seattle, just wasn't good. The salsa was like pace picante and the enchilada's I had tasted funny.
My fave place in Seattle
by RaleighTom
May 01, 2008
I've been going to Mama's since I was 16, but most of my Mama's time was when I was in Seattle in the early 1990s, and Belltown was seedy-hip. Now it's condo-land, but Mama's hasn't changed. Ate there twice on my last trip to Seattle--best thing there is the Chicken Tacos, with the homemade tortillas and the amazingly yummy guac--the first night our server suggested squeezing lime on the taco before the hot sauce, and it was really great. Second night we had the sweetest server, and one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen, as our server, and she was really great. Service here can be a bit indifferent sometimes, but most of the time it's friendly and really quick. Only regret--too cold and rainy (April) to sit outside.
Many of my friends order the screamers, and on night 2 my friend ordered the black bean and spinach quesadilla, which looked really good, . Yummy maragaritas too, and, for post dinner lounging, there are fun bars along 2nd Ave. Oh, and get the Elvis room if you can. Very fun.
- Pros: Fun staff, friendly service, good food, bizzare-fun decor, great location
- Cons: Parking is terrible in Belltown these days--take the bus, or find a cheap pay lot nearby.
