Las Manitas Restaurant

This wonderful emporium is NO MORE and HAS BEEN for 16 months now.\r Terribly missed, it was simple, great food for fantastic value. Love in every pot.\r WHAT KIND OF LOUSY WEBSITE LISTS OVER YEAR OLD, OBSOLETE DINING DATA?!?!?!?\r \r THIS ONE?!!! CITISEARCH IS A WASTE OF TIME!!!!!! THANKS FOR NOTHING, AZZHOLES!!!!!! Pros: Ridiculously out of date data Cons: Ridiculously out of date data more

This restaturant CLOSED permanently on August 31, 2008, and yet Citysearch is still listing it 8 months later as if it were still open!!! And there is no obvious way to report that a business has closed! Isn't the whole internet thing about current information? Citysearch - you are quite literally OLD NEWS. Pros: CLOSED Cons: CLOSED more

I do like the nachos but at what cost? I can forgive the overpricing, it is what it is, there is obviously a demand... What I can not forgive is the overwhelmingly rude staff. They don't care if you come back or not. My last waitress might just as well have spat in my food right in front of me. None of them ever smile; you get more customer service at a drive through window. Pros: When you finally get your food it isn't terrible Cons: The atmosphere and service brings you down more

I know this place has had some bad reviews, and I'll admit that it is SUPER busy, and you might always get constant attention from the wait staff. But the food is AWESOME. And you get it really quickly. And it IS reasonably priced. It's all scratch-made and you can tell. I have had several servers who were very attentive, and you can always get what you want/need rather quickly. I personally like that they leave you alone to eat! And they make their own corn tortillas!!! And they are so thick and they stay together really well. (and they will package them up so you can buy them and take them home) I recommend it to most people... the ones I don't recommend it to are those I know are a little snooty about restaurants. You definitely have to be laid-back to enjoy your visit here- and know at least a little bit of Spanish! The first time you go, if you are worried, try it during the slower times- in-between breakfast and lunch. Going between 10 and 11am is vastly different than going between 11:30 and 1:30. And I recommend going with only a few people. It's a small place, so there isn't a lot of room for large parties. But GO! It's good! Pros: The food! Cons: A little small, a little rushed, but still worth it. more

This place is good, but it's expensive for what it's worth. We were charged for chips and for tap water. Bizarre. Pros: food is decent Cons: no margaritas, expensive more

Our visit wasn't spectacular, to say the least. I will give that the food was good, but this was offset by the long wait, and then the even longer and less professional wait staff experience. Waiting for a table during restaurant rush hour we don't mind, but when one finally gets a table, we would actually like some prompt service. In addition, the chips and salsa we ordered came at a cost (have the owners realized this is not the custom in all other tex-mex establishments?) and the guacamole we ordered was tiny for the price. So, overall the experience was not worth the bother. There's better tex-mex at a cheaper price at a faster pace. Pros: It's a local establishment and not a chain . . . Cons: . . . . but that doesn't make up for bad service and pricy food more

These recent reviews are wrong. After two years away from the Austin life, I returned, and, within 10 minutes of my arrival in downtown Austin (via Cap Metro's awesome airport flyer service), I was at Las Manitas. Why is that? For the migas. Whether it was the best migas within 2000 miles or the oddly intoxicating refried beans, I left happy. Nothing has changed, it is still the best. Cheers to Las Manitas. Order the migas con queso, a small fruit plate and a cup of coffee. There's nothing better. And I'm going back tomorrow. And the next day ... Pros: Food. Cons: Crowd. more

No stranger to the genius of Mexican food dives, I returned to Las Manitas recently after several months of opting for other, less rudimentary, Mexican food eateries. Upon arrival,Ii immediately remembered why I had sworn off this Austin ""legend"". The wait staff is rude and is clearly overworked. The restaurant appears dirty and run down more resembling a Matamoros flea market than a Congress Avenue institution. The space is cramped and the silverware is consistently dirty. I received a less than gracious response from a waiter when I dared to inquire where my lunch was after a 25 minute wait for a seemingly elusive order of crispy tacos. The waiter reminded me that the back patio was full of people. Oh yeah, the patio that sits under a plastic heat magnifying tarp that everyone has to walk through the kitchen to get through? I was so angry with his rude response that I considered sending back my chips and salsa and leaving.. .but that would have been a colossal waste of $2.50! You heard me. Nothing's free at Las Capitalistas. Maybe ownership/ management should focus less on maximizing profitability and many their financial imbroglios and focus more on improving their bland,disatisfying, and over priced Mexi-Gruel. more

Las Manitas serves up an appetizing looking plate of Migas, well at least in terms of the Migas part of that plate, which only actually accounts for about 40% of the plate and the plate wasn?t even all that large (with the tortillas on the side). The vast majority of the Las Manitas plate of Migas was occupied by refried beans, which I did not eat (important note: this was because the beans were not vegetarian. The Migas themselves had the familiar look of a pile of Migas that were going to be alright, but not much more than alright. The Migas were the standard foundation of eggs and tortilla chips with a thin layer of cheddar cheese that hadn?t really melted, smothered in ranchero sauce. If there was a veggie in the Las Manitas? Migas I sure didn?t find it (maybe they were hiding under the beans). The menu states, in its description of the Migas that the dish contains two eggs, and that right there is the problem: there were not enough eggs in the Las Manitas? Migas, and this attributes to most of the Migas? problems. The tortilla chips were there and they were pretty crunchy, okay they were very crunchy, perhaps a bit too crunchy, and the problem with this is mainly that the egg to tortilla ratio was not sufficient. While the cheese layer was thin and had barely melted, so that by the time I got to the lower layers of Migas they were lacking completely of cheese . The ranchero sauce was pretty good, and there was plenty of it, and as there was salsa on the table I can?t criticize them for being un-saucy, and I?ve got to say the tortillas were darn good. I understand that many people like beans with their breakfast these beans kind of ruined much of the Migas actually touching them. If the Las Manitas Migas had 1 more egg, and an increase in the cheese to reflect that, the Migas would have probably been quite a bit better?and in all likelihood they also would have taken up more than 40% of the plate. \r More Migas reviews at www.themelbournemethod.blogspot dot com more

I went to Las Manitas a few years ago while I was working downtown and was not impressed with the food. However, my fiance had never been and so the other day we decided to give it a try. When we walked in, it was almost like the staff was purposely ignoring us. There were three signs at the entrance. One said ""Please wait to be seated,"" another said ""Please seat yourself,"" and the third said ""Please sign your name on the list for a table."" We looked around, obviously confused as to which to do, but each waiter would make eye contact and then go back to what he/ she was doing. There was a woman behind the counter that was too busy conversing with somebody to take the time to acknowledge us. Since the list had names on it, we began to add ours. As we were writing, a couple came in behind us and a waiter told them to sit wherever. So, they took the only available table (not exactly a ""Texan"" thing to do). I can't say whether the food was good because we promptly left and walked to Manuel's and it was fabulous. Cons: Very rude and inattentive staff more

I've lived in Austin over 30 years and still can't believe all the hype this place gets. The food is BAD!!!\r If you want true Tex Mex avoid Austin altogether and drive down to San Antonio!! more

Tastes okay--which is damning with faint praise, considering the many, many great Mexican restaurants in town. A little pricey. Small portions. So, why the hype? I honestly couldn't tell you. Maybe it's because it's downtown. Pros: downtown location Cons: Just okay more

Food is good, delicious even, made with quality ingredients and lots of love from the cooks. Much better, in my opinion, than the multitude of trendy, Mexican food hipster spots that overcharge and under deliver (see ""SoCo""). So, what's with all these ranting, whining cry baby reviews that aren't really reviews? How do these qualify as reviews of an establishments food and service? Or does everyone just need an outlet for their whining? I bet that's it. more

WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME!! THE OWNERS OF LAS MANITAS HAVE FINALLY THROWN IN THE TOWEL ON THE FORGIVABLE LOAN FROM THE CITY. THEY CAME UP WITH SOME LAME STORY ABOUT THE ""fine print"" IN THE LEGAL DOCUMENT. I THINK THEY WERE MORE WORRIED ABOUT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS DUE TO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM EVERYONE IN TOWN. I THINK THEY ARE FEELING THE HEAT. THE WOMEN THAT OWN THIS BUSINESS ARE FINACIALLY CAPABLE OF MOVING INTO A BUILDING THEY ALREADY OWN DOWN THE STREET. THEY SHOULD QUIT CRYING FOWL OVER THE LOSS OF THEIR LEASE TO MARRIOTT (WHICH THEY KNEW WAS COMING) AND S U C K IT UP AND MOVE ON. Pros: THEY FINALLY WOKE UP!! Cons: THEY THINK THE TAXPAYERS & MARRIOTT OWE THEM LOTS OF MONEY!! more

if your an austin tax payer that is...that 750,000 came out of somebodys pocket and you can bet it wasnt the sisters....\r \r There are lots of Tex-mex restaurants, locally owned and operated who will appreciate your business far more than Las Manitas....the absolute BEST breakfast tacos are at El Borrego d Oro...they are a family own business who used to be on 1st street until a truck drove into the buidling and forced them to move...funny, where was City Coucil when this tragedy befell this independent business...the people who work there are friendly and accomodating !!\r \r Sorry, las manitas...I will never reccomend you to anyone again... Pros: able to hijack city coucil over an alleyway Cons: able to hijack city council over an alleyway more

Finally tried this much hyped local Austin restaurant and was severely disappointed. The food was bland, the service was poor -- definitely not what I was expecting. Our silverware was filthy, lots of food particles stuck on all of it, and when we requested clean sets we were treated rudely from that point on. I guess you are not supposed to ask for clean silverware here. I'd hate to think of what was lurking on the plates under all that bland Mexican fare.\r \r Do youself a favor and try one of Austin's many other Mexican restaurants instead. I can't imagine why this place is talked up so much. I definitely won't be returning. Pros: Somewhat cheap for downtown food... Cons: Parking, food, service, cleanliness.... all very poor! more

Let's see they must continue to stay in business and pay minimum wage to sling tacos and they get 750k of public funds?! Unfreakingbelievable. Congrats city council on your lifetime supply of free queso. more

I have never written a review or complained about a restaurant, but this place is so overrated that I feel compelled to warn others not to patronize the place. I can't get the ""Rate It"" indicator to work, but this place is ABSOLUTELY NOT RECOMMENDED. After several unsatisfactory dining experiences at this restaurant, my wife and I vowed never to return. This was a couple of years ago. Last week we had friends visiting from Denver. They had read some glowing review of Las Manitas in a travel guide and insisted on eating lunch there, in hopes of seeing a celebrity. We decided to be good hosts and take them there for lunch. It was every bit as bad as we remembered. The service was extremely poor bordering on rude; it seemed as though they wanted to get us out of the place as quickly as possible. The food was served luke-warm, except for the beans, which were cold. We were never offered refills on our drinks. Did I mention that the silverware was dirty? Oh, and the food was extremely bland, not to mention expensive for Mexican food. Our friends seemed baffled by the great review they'd read, and the below average quality of the food. They asked if this was really the best Austin had to offer. I resisted saying ""I told you so,"" and assured them that there were many better choices in town. The next day we took them to Manuel's, and later in the week to Polvo's, both of which were great. With so many excellent Mexican restaurants to chose from, I can't think of any reason to eat at this over-hyped greasy spoon. By the way the only celebrity we saw eating there, if you can call him a celebrity, was our Mayor. Not worth it. Pros: After trying it several time, I can't think of a single ""Pro"" Cons: Rude service, bland marginal quality food, dirty eating utensils, loud, no ambience, no parking.... more

Boycott this restaurant! They are stealing your $750,000 tax dollars, while your taxes keep going up! They do not deserve your business! Cons: crazy owners steal your tax dollars more

I've tried it 4 times because it was convenient for me to do so. They do have good breakfast tacos and refried beans but after that it goes way downhill. The place is small and WAY to cramped, unless you're in a booth there is no room or privacy and expect something to be spilled on you as it goes by. Our city council loves it due its proximity to their offices. (a city council that may face a recall) The food is just no where near top notch Tex-Mex, not in austin. It might play well up in wisconsin or some place and I suggest they take their business and lousy food there. If you want GOOD Tex-Mex there are many places to choose from. My fav is Maudes and they have 3 or 4 locations. Cons: They are here more