El Torero - Palatine

Some of the standout dishes include the steak options made with skirt steak, particularly the carne asada and its various versions. The chiles rellenos are also quite impressive. Additionally, the shrimp dishes are exceptional; my personal favorite is the Shrimp Diabla, along with the tilapia variations. On the downside, the traditional Mexican-American items available at lunchtime tend to be rather uninspiring. While service has been inconsistent in the past, it has improved significantly lately and is now quite proficient.

I imagine the service is good for regulars, but for newcomers like us, it fell short. The hostess wasn't very accommodating when we requested to switch to a different table in a mostly empty restaurant with just one server. After we were seated, another couple who seemed to be regulars arrived and were attended to right away. The server spent about five minutes with them, taking their drink and appetizer orders, before coming over to us. The food was decent, but the rice was on the dry side. Unfortunately, no one checked in on us until I waved someone over to ask for more napkins. Even then, they didn’t inquire about how we were enjoying the meal, which made it seem like they didn’t care. I might return if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to revisit.

I've been visiting this restaurant for years, and it seems like each time I come, there's been some update or improvement. It's one of the few Mexican restaurants in the area that truly feels authentic. The decor is quite nice, enhancing that genuine atmosphere. The place is always clean, and the staff is extremely friendly. They remember regular customers and are very efficient. The outdoor seating area is lovely, making it a great choice on a pleasant summer day. The food is fantastic for a Mexican restaurant, and the prices are reasonable. The fajitas are consistently delicious, and the chips and salsa are outstanding. Overall, I've enjoyed coming here for years, and I look forward to returning whenever I'm in the area.

We should have known better. My husband and I have passed by this restaurant numerous times, and perhaps we should have just kept going. I ordered a fish entrée, while my husband chose the steak tampiquena. Our meals arrived promptly, but that’s where the positives ended for us. His steak was incredibly thin, overcooked, and overly salty—so salty that each bite left a pronounced taste of salt on his tongue. The cheese enchilada that accompanied it was dry, and the sauce tasted straight out of a can. As for my fish, it was charred and bitter on the bottom, with an excessive amount of salt. The minced garlic on top was clearly from a jar, and the mixed vegetables underneath were clearly frozen. When it was time to ask for the bill, we waited ten minutes for our server to return from the bar area, where they appeared to be watching TV. Overall, this was the worst dining experience we’ve had, so we won’t be returning!

It used to be my favorite restaurant until Portofinos came along and changed everything. I visited over 40 times, and they knew me very well!