Ninfa's on Navigation

If you end up with ""Ernesto"" for your waiter, turn around and leave immediately. My family went out for a nice meal and ended up with probably the worst restaurant experience ever. We didn't even see our waiter until he showed up with another table's food. We sat their waiting for him to notice the NINE new people in his section for about 20 minutes before my husband finally flagged him down and told him we were ready to order. He NEVER asked about beverages, forcing us to beg him twice to bring us glaaes of WATER!!!! Thank goodness the food arrived quicly, though he never even asked what kind of dressing I wanted for my salad, so I had to use the green salsa. Once the food arrived we literally never saw him again. IF GRATUITY IS GOING TO BE MANDATORY FOR PARTIES OVER 6, THE WAITER CAN'T BE INCOMPETENT!!!!! Cons: Terrible service, mediocre food more

I've been a few times over the years (usually not by my choice), and with each visit it seemed to go a little downhill . Last time we were in a group of eight, which I knew would be a mistake, but I figured my family members from the suburbs knew of the place and wouldn't be scared to eat there. The dining room was so cramped, we could hardly get up to use the bathroom...which would probably be a good thing since the bathroom was so disgusting I felt like I was at an old truck stop. The floor of the dining room was so slippery with grease that I nearly fell. Service was not good. Food was average....I mean...it's just tex-mex. The prices last time I went were WAY more than what most Mexican food places in that area charge. The prices would be expensive even if it were a fancy place in the 'burbs! It's pretty obvious why. The parking lot was filled with high-end SUV's and I didn't actually see any Mexicans eating there. This place is purely a ""ghetto-chic"" trandy place for out-of-towners to get the Tex-Mex food they know from the suburbs. If you're wanting to impress your friends by taking them to a Mexican place in a neighborhood where they wouldn't normally go to, try any of the countless other places in the area. Don't be scared...just pick any one of them and simply stop in...most of them have more authentic food, and WAY better prices. I mean, really, $18 for some beef rolled up in a tortilla and some refried beans and rice? Pros: Food is not bad. Cons: Dirty and cramped. more

The flour tortillas are hand made at the restaurant which is a nice plus. The perfect margaritas are the best in town in my opinion. I love getting the taco al carbon plate- just so that I can have one beef fajita taco and not eat too much. We live by the warehouse district, so it's really close by our location. They added an outdoor patio, which is nice- although the arrangement of the furniture isn't optimum. The cost adds up, especially with the drinks- but that's anywhere you go. Pros: Wonderful fajitas and margaritas Cons: a little pricey more

Quality and Quantity down, prices up. I guess the customer is paying for the outdoor addition, which is not a great place to sit with the flys and stray dogs. more

This restaurant really was terrific. You can tell that they care about all of the details. It was SOOOO much better than the other tex mex places in town. Everything we had at our table was exceptional, including the service. Great tacos, a really good seafood enchilada, the best Caesar salad I have ever had, and a carne steak that melted in your mouth. If anything, the margaritas were too strong. Omar was our waiter, I would highly recommend asking for him when you go in. (He gave us his card, but I lost it) Pros: Strong Tasty Margaritas Cons: Strong Tasty Margaritas more

Personally, I think it's hard to find ""bad"" mexican food in Houston. I go to Ninfa's when in the following situation a) The weather is nice and I want eat mexican food outdoors b) I'm in the area and want margaritas and want to sit outside c) a native Houstonian wants to relive the glory days of Ninfas and I tag along. The food really is nothing to write home about. I thought the refried beans were horrific the last time I had them- tasted like too much lard- with a hint of bacon greese. There is a better family run mexican restaurant across the street that seems to use much more fresh ingredients, but the atmosphere is more family oriented and not as ""fun"" if you're out with a young group. Pros: Patio/History Cons: Not the best part of town/average food/not worth the wait on the weekends more

It'll never be the same after Ninfa left, but its ""OK."" Nothing to brag about any more.... The new owners have cleaned the place up a bit and the parking is greatly improved, but the food just isn't the same. The prices reflect the changes and are a bit pricy relative to comparable restaurants. Service was very slow the last time we were there. I guess I'm just lost in time. Having been a Ninfa's on Navigation customer since the 70's it makes me sad to see the changes, but that's the way it goes. Other Ninfa locations have better food and more reasonable prices, but just isn't the same. Oh well.. Pros: Some old building, Parking Cons: Changes, Food Quality, Prices more

Oh my god,,, I can't believe how great this restaurant is, and how different from the other Tex Mex places in town. We had 8 people last night and couldn't stop passing around plates because it was all so good. They have great tacos and enchiladas, but the cool things were bacon wrapped quail, redfish with a great green sauce (think it was tomatillos), crabcakes, and my dad even had a lamb shank with mole sauce. We all loved it. Service was A+... Can't wait to go back. Pros: Really authentic food - great service Cons: Little far from my house more

The food isn't nearly as good as it used to be and the service is worse. Our waiter was rude, never even looked at us! He got our order wrong twice and I never did receive my queso appetizer. He charged me for it and at the end when it was on the bill, I had to remind him I never got it. He said I should have said something and it was too late to remove it. I told him he brought the meal to us and at that point I wouldn't have wanted it anyway (that's the point of an ""appetizer""!) When we asked to speak to a manager, he came back instead with a new bill, queso removed. We gave him a 15% which I shouldn't have done but it didn't matter because he padded his tip to over 20%. Cons: terrible service, waiters change the tip amount, more

Ninfa's ruined my birthday. Not only did we have to wait 1 1/2 hours for a table, they ended up giving our 1st table away to another party. They offered us ""free"" drinks for waiting so long but then put them on the bill and refused to comp them. This downtown gal will never go back. more

During our lunch break, we waited 15 minutes to get just our water. The waitress ""Ericka"" was too busy waiting on a table of 8 people to take care of us. By time we got there and left, it took us an hour and a half to get our meal, without waitress service, and leave. The bill for four people was placed on one bill, in which we told her in the beginning, we needed separate checks. Some of us were paying cash, others with credit card. She told us she couldn't do that during lunch. We would have to wait longer to get separate checks. Needless to say, I paid for one meal, and others were charged to the card. We agreed, we will NEVER go there again. Poor service! And a terrible waitress!! She would not even give us the time of day! Pros: Good food Cons: Poor service more

Can we talk? The prices are skyhigh, the tables are crowded together, the lighting so dim I had to ask for matches to read the menu, drinks TERRIBLY expensive ... I'm exhausted, and I've just started. Pros: Houston landmark Cons: Price, price, price -- restroom pigsty more

I've heard that the food and service changed with the new owners. I recently went there on a busy Friday night and the same staff since I was a kid was there. The restaurant was packed, and the food was better than ever. What a dinner, the queso, fajitas, and ritas was great. In fact Omar, our waiter mentioned that they new have weekend brunch, so my family and I came back Saturday morning to try it out ---- WOW! The new owners might have had some kinks in the beginning to work out and some expectations to meet, but The Original Ninfa's was and still is my favorite TexMex in town! Definately will continue to come back Pros: everything is great as always more

I have been going to Ninfa's for over 15 years the waiters and hostess know me by name but i have to tell you it's just not the same. The restautrant recently changed owners and I dont belive it will ever be the same. Tonight it took fifteen minutes before someone took my drink order then another ten minutes before I got it. Another waiter one that I've had for years took my order after he noticed that my waiter never brought me chips or took my order. The food when I finally got it was cold portions are much smaller than they ever were and my drink was watered down. This is the third time that this has happend in the last month. Its just not the same probley never will be sorry to say that after fifteen plus years I wont be going back. Pros: Free Valet Cons: Terrible Service and Food more

The food is great and it is reflected in their prices. Their prices are high for any mexican food, especially in Houston where there are mexican resturants everywhere. The service is great and it's close to downtown. Pros: Great Food and Margaritas! Cons: Pricy more

Went to the Original Ninfa's last week for some Rita's & Fajita's. Rita's were good, however the fajita's were less to be desired. I found a complete thigh ( chicken ) mixed in the fajitas. When I brought this up to my waiter's attention, I was told that sometimes mistakes happen and that if I found it to be enedible, then just put it aside from the rest of the food. I asked to speak with a manager I was told that he was out but that I was welcome to call the restaurant first thing in the morning. We paid our bill and left. We were deeply disappointed in the way the situation was handled. This used to be a pleasant experience, guaranteed !! It was a bitter first time experience for 2 of my friends who came in from Chicago because of the rave reviews they heard or read. Cons: Poor Service from hostess, waiter, food. Non friendly staff, no acknowledgments more

If you want Tex-Mex the way God intended, this is the place to get it. You haven't had good fajitas until you've had these fajitas. All the other ""Ninfa's"" franchise locations try to live up to this one . . . and ALWAYS fall WAY SHORT. ENJOY! more

This place is the best! Every time I come here it gets better and better. They just enclosed their back patio and cooled it. The new menu items are awesome. Great quail, whole red snapper, ribs and ceviche were all enjoyed by our table tonight. Service is fabulous. Pros: Food, more

the original ninfa's was excellent. the food was great and the service was quick. queso is awesome! same with fajitas. if you love great tex mex, this place is one of the best Pros: Service, Fajitas, Queso more

There is something about the food that just makes it *better* than any other Mexican place we have tried. Fresh, tasty with great service by servers with over 20 yrs service. Ask for Jose Cruz! Pros: Great Food, Service, Tradition Cons: Parking, bathrooms more