Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant

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8471 Garvey Dr 113 (at Durant Rd)
Raleigh, NC 27616

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(919) 872-1127
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Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh, NC
Reviews
( 30 )
( 2 )
( 5 )
( 3 )
( 3 )

Best

The food will have you coming back with your Family and Friends to show off this Great Place to eat. I am glad that I stopped in and tried the food now I can't wait to return for ...

Worst

Had the review been only about the food, I would have given it 4-5 stars...but the service sucks. I moved out here from CA, and could not find a decent mexican place...especiall...

AWESOME SALSA AND GAUCAMOLE 1/16/2008

My family and I have eaten at Cafe Capistrano numerous times and have always enjoyed eating there. My wife always gets the chicken chimichanga and I am stuck on their fish tacos. The food always tastes fresh and the prices are good considering we always have enough to take home. The kids enjoy the kids quesadillas and wedding cake. Good food ... Good servive... Highly recommend it !! Pros: Food and service Cons: Wish they were open on Sundays more
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Make sure you're not in a hurry... 12/17/2007

1. The service is slow and annoying. Our server was irritated by each request and did not want to answer questions. Pros: guacamole Cons: service more
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Best mexican food around 10/30/2007

My friends and I heard about this new place and thought we would check it out. turns out it was the best mexican food we had eaten in along time. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. Very friendly staff. The portinos of food were way more than we could eat. The guacamole was fresh and delicious. I had the fish tacos and they were out of this world... The black beans were wonderfully seasoned. Had a mexican wedding cake for dessert and it melted in my mouth. Everything tasted really fresh. We will be back very soon. Pros: wonderfully fresh food more
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Horrible food, worse service 10/26/2007

Went to Cafe Capistrano on Greg Cox's review/advice. It was awful. The mango shrimp appetizer had stale soggy flour shells with a tiny bit of avocado, a limp shrimp, and was drizzled with a blah mango sauce. Didn't see any real mango anywhere. It was among the worst things I've ever eaten in both texture and taste. Cons: food, ambience, service more
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WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT AND DELICIOUS! 7/4/2007

WE HAD HEARD IT WAS GREAT AND DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUR HOPES UP AS WE HAD SO MAY TIMES BEFORE...BUT FOR ONCE, WE AGREED! THIS FOOD IS SO WONDERFULLY FRESH AND DELICIOUS. IF YOU LIKE CHILI REYENOS, ARE YOU IN FOR A TREAT..DIDN'T HAVE ONE THIS GOOD EVEN IN SANTA FE, NM!! FOLKS, WE REALLY HAVE A GREAT MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN RALEIGH, SOMEPLACE TO BRING VISITING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT WILL MAKE THEM ENVIOUS! TRY THE WEDDING CAKE IF YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH...PILED HIGH WITH FRESH WHIPPED CREAM ..OH MY GOD..YOU'LL LOVE THIS PLACE! Pros: EVERYTHING! more
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Wonderful value 6/10/2007

The price was right and the food was great. It is a departure from the type of Mexican food one can normally get in the triangle... I would describe it as being more ""east coast"". We were pleased with the food and the fast service. When the bill came, we were pleasantly surprised because it ""tasted"" more expensive than it was. Pros: Food, price, service Cons: Slightly small selection, in a strip mall type building more
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Good food-- Odd service 5/27/2007

My wife and I visit this place as one of our favorites. The food is great and the service is usually pretty good. This time the service was, I 'd have to say ""odd"". On our most resent visit , we arrived at 5:00p.m. for dinner (which is when it opens for dinner). We were the first customers to enter the door and from the time we entered, to the time we left, we both felt as if we were being hurried out of there. There wasn't anyone else in the establishment for at least the first 45 minutes we were there. We ordered our food and it came promptly, but before we were even half way done with our meal our waiter asked us if we wanted dessert. I let him know that we probably would be wanting dessert after we completed our meal. I no sooner placed the last bite from by meal into my mouth and he was taking away the plate and asked if we would like our dessert now. We both ordered our dessert with a cup of coffee. My wife ordered decaf and I like the high test stuff. We then received our dessert, but he didn't bring the coffee. A few minutes later he comes over with a cup of coffee for me and then explains that they ran out of decaf and ""she"" (whoever that is) went to get some. The coffee was terrible. If he would have explained that they didn't have coffee before we ordered, we probably would have passed on the dessert. The coffee finally came. By that time we were almost finished with our dessert. Coffee tasted as though it was instant coffee. Before we could ingest our coffee the bill came and before I even looked at it, the waiter asked if he could take it. I don't care what type of restaurant I go to, I like to take my time and enjoy my meal. This time I did not enjoy my meal. Overall, the food was great as usual ,but the servers need to go back to school. Pros: Good food Cons: Not a very large selection. Service was not so good more
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NEWS AND OBSERVER FOOD CRITIC WAS 5/19/2007

After reading the review in the paper, we placed this restaurant on our list of ""must try restaurants"". Are we ever glad we did. The food is excellent, fresh beyond words and seasoned beautifully. Even items that you consider ordinary, like tacos, are a thing of beauty here! Try the ""fish tacos"" - amazing is the only word I can use. Their chile relleno is unlike any I've ever tasted and I'll never be able to eat any other because of it! It was very large and filled with tons of creamy cheese and chicken breast pieces. Yes, white meat in a Mexican restaurant! Most only use dark meat, but not here! We also loved their dessert items, they make them all and we love the Mexican Wedding Cake, its moist and creamy and worth every calorie. Another great thing is the decor, its not ""border town"" decor. It reminds us of Napa or Sonoma, truly feels like California and not Tijuana! Soo nice. The News and Observer food critic really was RIGHT about this place. Its different, its truly delicious and worthy of all the buzz that's surrounding it! Pros: The entire experience was a PRO! Cons: absolutely none more
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Don't go in with stellar expectations and you'll come out OK 4/20/2007

My wife and I live in Raleigh and love Dos Taquitos. It's one of our favorite places and we go there once every 2 weeks. Pros: kid-friendly. food. Cons: ambience. kid-friendly. more
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CAL MEX IS FABULOUS!! 1/18/2007

Hubby and I love this place..eaten three times and everything has been awesome. People.. you gotta try this place..this is no run of the mill mexican restaurant..they make everything themselves..everything..even the desserts..really fresh...not greasy...delicious...this is real food. We love it! Pros: Food-10+ Service - 9 Ambience- 10 more
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FINALLY...REALLY FRESH, REALLY DELICIOUS MEXICAN FOOD IN RALEIGH! 1/15/2007

AHHHH>>>THIS FOOD IS AMAZING! I was wooed by friends to try this place and I was skeptical WOW...was I pleasantly surprised by the AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS FOOD so fresh and and beautifully presented... and very nice wine selection..we had a Spanish Tempranillo that was wonderful.. Check out their website. This is real food, folks. Not premade taco shells, canned beans and meats that you can't distinguish. Raleigh has a lot of Mexican food like that..you know where the chips and salsa are the highlight. not this place... THE FOOD IS THE HIGHLIGHT..I had a (real) crab quesadilla with a delicious creamy lime sauce that was world class and the tastiest black beans I've ever eaten they were practically a meal in themselves! ! Okay, okay so the chips were average, but the SALSA WAS SUPER FRESH AND I COULD TASTE THE GARLIC, LIME, CUMIN AND JALAPENOS..VERY FRESH AND TASTY..these folks are not about chips and thats okay with me because the food is where they put their heart and soul. .. AND THE DECOR IS LOVELY..NO SOMBREROS, NO SERAPES, NO PINATAS...VERY TASTEFUL AND WARM..theirs a lovely water fountain in the center of the dining room..soothing...and smooth jazz playing....I really felt like I was in Northern California...Our server was very pleasant and helpful and the chef came to our table...great little place...If you want amazing MEXICAN food and not just chips and salsa...Cafe Capistrano~ California Style Mexican is THE PLACE. Amazing. KUDOS!! OMG, dont forget to try the FLAN!! Best ever! Pros: EXCELLENT FOOD, EXCELLENT AMBIENCE more
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Ok mexican 1/13/2007

Newly opened California style mexican place in north raleigh not too bad. Good and bad: more
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Excellent!! 12/29/2006

If you're used to the standard Mexican chain and are afraid to try something different, think again!! The standard menu items are there, of course (burritos, tacos, enchiladas, etc....). However, the selections are presented beautifully and are fresh, full of flavor, and not greasy. The upscale casual atmosphere rounds it out for a very impressive dining experience at a very reasonable price. We have eaten here on three occasions and have yet to be disappointed. Pros: Food, atmosphere, something different! Cons: None! more
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This restaurant is the best in the state! 12/23/2006

Having grown up in Texas, I consider myself an expert on Mexican food. I've lived in NC now for close to 20 years and have yet to find a satisfying Mexican food at any restaurant in this state. That all changed recently when my wife and I ate at Cafe Capistrano. It was by far the best Mexican food I've eaten in this state and easily compares, or exceeds the Mexican food at Houston's top restaurants. If top quality authentic Mexican taste and fresh ingredients with the subtle California flair is what you're looking for, go straight to this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. Pros: Best Mexican in the state more
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By far the Triangles best Mexican restaurant. Not your average Mexican food. A step up for sure. 12/11/2006

It is a new spot set off of Durant Rd., but easy to find. Once you walk in the atmosphere is absolutely delightful. The music was very nice Jazz and ambient sounds of the beautiful water fountain in the center of the restaurant added to the experience. Pros: Real authentic Californian Mexican more
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New Location Coming Soon 12/7/2006

I used to love eating at this restaurant, but since a change in ownership has occurred there have also been some changes in portion, and quality of food. They are however opening a new location in Cary that I cannot wait to try. Pros: Great Food, Large Selection, Very Generous portions Cons: None! more
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YOU'LL BE TRULY AMAZED! THIS CAL-MEX FOOD IS UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS! 11/20/2006

This is the kind of Mexican food I had been searching and longing for since I left California in the 80's! There are seafood items on the menu, FISH TACOS done right, Shrimp Enchiladas and Crab quesadillas. They have real shredded beef, and shredded pork items, just like I used to get in San Diego! They use only super fresh produce and all the sauces and salsas were fabulous. Please try the guacamole, its hard to describe how delicious and fresh, and the Tortilla Soup was to die for. I had a chile relleno unlike any I have ever had and I would have paid double what they charged, it was so awesome! Everything is sooo flavorful and delicious, AND SOMEHOW NOT HEAVY OR GREASY and the restaurant was beautiful and warm, very tasteful..not a cantina, not a taqueria, a lovely restaurant check out the website! What fabulous food, what a fabulous place! I will be a regular!! Pros: AMAZING FOOD, GREAT AMBIENCE, NICE PEOPLE Cons: WILL BE VERY POPULAR VERY SOON!! more
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Lovely Atmosphere, Great Food Beautifully Presented 11/10/2006

Don't expect the typical Tex-Mex entrees that are all the same flavors in different shapes crammed against a pool of tasteless fried bean paste! The names of the dishes might sound familiar, but you won't recognize them! The flavors are uniquely enhanced blends of fresh ingredients and spices. The presentation rivals that of fine, much more expensive restaurants. Don't miss the smooth wine-based margaritas, and FABULOUS flan! AND I took home doggie boxs that I had NO INTENTIONS of feeding to the dog (Sorry Fido). After several visits, since they opened 6 weeks ago, I can still say this is a great place to enjoy great food with good friends. Go now, while it's still ""undiscovered"" because I'm telling all my friends and they're telling their friends... Pros: No wait, great staff, great food, sweet atmosphere more
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#1 Mexican Restaurant 11/5/2006

We're new to the area and have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant...this is it! We went on a Wednesday night, and although they were busy, we were seated promplty. The menu is not your typical Mexican food. They take the standard dish and liven it up with their own unique flavoring. I had a tostada and my husband had a burrito. Both meals were delicious and we left with doggie bags. The guacamole was awesome (maybe the best I've ever had) and the salsa was really good...unfortunately the over-salted, bagged chips did it no justice. I had their California Sangria and really enjoyed it. The service was great, price was right and the manager even came by to ask us if we were satisfied...ABSOLUTELY! Pros: Good for special occasions, large groups, kids Cons: Can get crowded more
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Yummy!!!!! 10/29/2006

Excellent food at a reasonable price! The rice and black beans are fabulous! Prompt seating and very friendly wait staff! My sister loved her vegan Mexican salad! I can't wait to go back to try something different on the menu! Pros: Food and wine Cons: Better chips to serve with their great salsa more
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Menu for Cafe Capistrano Mexican Restaurant


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Mexican Restaurant located in Raleigh, North Carolina specializing in California Mexican Cuisine

Owner Message

  • Cafe Capistrano takes great pride in serving delicious California Style Mexican Cuisine. Named after the beautiful Spanish Mission in Southern California where the swallows flock every spring, Cafe Capistrano serves fresh, flavorful, delicious and healthy mexican dishes in a relaxing and appealing atmosphere.

    At Cafe Capistrano our food, salsas and sauces are made FRESH, twice daily. From our fabulous appetizers and entrees to our incredible desserts, all made in-house, to our vast wine menu ... you're certain to enjoy your dining experience at Cafe Capistrano! Bienvenidos!

    At Cafe Capistrano our food, salsas and sauces are made FRESH, twice daily. We promise fresh food, delicious food ... made daily, made healthily in relaxing and appealing atmosphere. Salud!

Editorial

  • In Short
    Casual Californian decor fits in well with the corporate types, families and couples that enjoy chimichangas, with a contemporary twist. Start with some mango shrimp and continue...

  • 10/23/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-2:30pm; 5pm-9pm Sun, CLOSED
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Northeast
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