El Novillero Restaurant

08/23/2008 Posted by rubysky57

I've been going to El Novillero for many years, as most of their patrons so I'm use to the service short comings. THE FOOD IS OUTSTANDING. It keeps me coming back but the service is another story. If your looking for warm and friendly don't look here. Their polite and that's where their warm and friendly stop. Some one will seat you, someone else will bring you chips and salsa, a different person will take your order then it's delivered by someone else, that's the extent of your service. If you want something other than your food order (more salsa, water or another drink), you'll need to chase someone down. If it's busy you'll have to wait a fair amount of time for your food. Oh, and if they think your abusing the "free chips & salsa" policy they will cut you off and no matter who you ask they just ignore you..............just keep in mind, the food is great!!

Pros: EXCELLENT FOOD

Cons: The service is STRICTLY BUSINESS

04/09/2008 Posted by oceg1

The place is great, well decorated and very attractive. The staff is very unfriendly, unproffesional and rude. My boyfriend and I were out to dinner and wanted to have a good time, the only thing we found in this place was dissapointment, the server got our food and never came back. We waited for ever for our food and no one ever came by to see how we were doing. We ended up paying cash because we never got our tab. WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN!

Pros: food

Cons: service and staff

07/28/2007 Posted by coleymoley

Our family of three dined at El Novillero for a Friday night dinner and were disappointed. We ordered the hot flour tortilla chips and they were not very good like we have tasted at other Mexican resturants. They were flat and chewy, rather than light and fluffy. We ordered two different Carnitas dishes because it was a house specialty and were disappointed in the flavor, because there was basically no flavor. It was very bland. Maybe they have better dishes and we should have ordered something else? But, we won't be going back because of the service. During our whole time there we were dissapointed with the lack of service and unfriendly staff. When we requested our check, we paid in cash. The server picked up our check and money, but never returned with any change. We waited and waited, but he never came back. Our dishes were cleared and when we asked up front about our check, no one seemed to know what was going on. We ended up leaving feeling ripped off at having to leave a bigger tip that was over 25%, when we would have felt more comfortable at leaving a 15% tip. We won't be back and have had more flavorful food and great, friendly service elsewhere in Sacramento.

Pros: Well decorated, nice parking

Cons: Poor service, unfriendly staff, bland food

05/23/2007 Posted by cooldaddyd

"Novies" as we locals like to call it is hands down the best authentically Mexican restaurant in the Sacramento area. I' ve tried many. The carnitas are excellent and more than ample portions. The chile verde is phenomenal and consistent. I've personally stumbled back into the kitchen when the restaurant was closed down between lunch and dinner and found one of the owners hand stripping and cleaning the meat for the chile verde and chile colorado. It explains why I have yet to come across a piece of fat, gristle or mystery meat in any meal from El Novillero. Service is always fast, thorough and courteous. Waiters do NOT run down a lengthy list of specials while trying to impress you with their newly found culinary wisdom. However, your water glass will always be full, a fresh basket of chips with salsa on your table, and subtle suggestions of what they believe are the best menu items ( anything with chile verde or chile colorado). The portions are large but not ridiculous. Whatever you cannot finish makes leftovers worth stabbing a fork in the hand that tries to beat you to them. And nothing, nothing here is going to be legal on your diet. This food is rich, it is authentic, it is comforting. If you're visiting, it's definitely worth the taxi ride or rental car with GPS.

Pros: Food Food Food!

Cons: No place to take a nap while you make room for seconds

03/24/2007 Posted by prol1

Yes the Carnitas here are AWESOME, the tacos are the best California style tacos around... but but but!!!! The Chili Verde is the best I've ever eaten and I've had a lot. It's so flavorfull, and not overly tangy like many versions tend to be. The meat is fork tender but still holds up so as not to become just a mush: tomatillo perfection! My mother grew up just down Franklin, and my uncle lives right behind the restaurant now. It started out as a little Taco shack, and then a small 10 table joint and I have watched it grow into a Sacramento icon!. The setting is awesome for first dates or large groups because there are various areas such as booth, open spaces and balconies. The service is spot-on and it has been family owned and operated sense it's inception. but BE WARNED!!!! it's closed on sundays. Do yourself a favor and venture down south (south Sacramento Franklin & 17th ave) and eat some quality food!

Pros: They do everything right

Cons: addicting

07/29/2006 Posted by tom_jerico

I come here for the deep-fried tacos that I can't get outside of California. These are the gourmet tacos handed down by the original inhabitants of California, rather than the recent Mexican immigrants and their minimalist "authentic" tacos or the hard-shelled Taco Bell-inspired ones that have taken over in the rest of the US. Check it out!

Pros: Great food and atmosphere

Cons: More pricey than many

06/25/2006 Posted by lwbarker

Yuck I hated this place. The enchilada sauce is disgusting and reminded me of cafeteria lunches. The salsa is not hot and none of the food seemed appealing. I wouldn't go back.

Pros: Beautiful building

Cons: the food

06/23/2006 Posted by sleuth

I've been dining here for 35 years and the food is always consistant and excellent. Ample portions with great service. The top shelf margaritas are the best in town.

Pros: Great food, margaritas, service

Cons: Gets busy Friday and Saturday nights

03/20/2006 Posted by sanantoniotransplant

This is the closest to real Mexican food I have found in 2 years. I am from San Antonio and although this doesn't quite match the mexican food I'm used to it does come really close. Highly reccomended.

11/01/2004 Posted by techiegirl

This is one of the absolute best Mexican restaurants in Sacramento! The food is excellent, the services is always incredible, and they have very generous portions, so you end up with yummy leftovers! Oh, and they have mild, medium, and HOT salsas!!!! I love it!

Pros: great service, delicious food, lots of parking