I wanted to rate this higher, and to be honest, I almost did. But I'd be letting bias from Guild and Co and the Farmhouse creep into my rating if I did.
The other two restaurants listed above are all part of same family, so we walked into El Cortijo with fairly high expectations. Â Thankfully we've learned not to judge a restaurant by how it looks, so walking into something that could have been a modified Airstream didn't bother us. Actually I kind of dug the weathered diner interior. We also knew that what we were getting into is about as authentic Mexican as Taco Bell, so we didn't have the expectation of getting delicious Mexican this far north. What we had expected? Fresh, balanced flavors with high quality ingredients and above-average to spectacular service, which is what we get at the other restaurants in the group.
What we got? A waitress that seriously couldn't care less about us or her job. She honestly tossed the bill on the table. The restaurant isn't that big, it would have been one or two more steps to get to us.
The food was not as well throught out as we had hoped. The balance of flavors was way off. Our appetizer, nachos were rather sweet. We thought i was sort of a fluke, but then we tried the hot sauces on the table. The red one, also very sweet. In fact, the majority of our food was overly sweet. I expected, if anything, a bias toward salt--common in "mexican themed" restaurants.
The carnitas tacos were decent, slightly overpowered by the sweetness of the pineapple, and the carne tacos did stand out, but we would have expected at the price point, steak not ground beef (though this is clearly indicated on the menu, but it's just a note).
The beans and rice that came as part of the "plate" lunch were OK, nothing spectacular. Madera's version of Spanish rice is much more flavorful and moist. This was a little on the dry side.
The churro was decent, crisp with a light sweetness and some citric bite to it, but it definitely had been sitting for a while.
I definitely walked out of here sadly unimpressed. Sub-par service, and an atmosphere and food quality that don't translate to the price. If it were 15% or so cheaper, I think it'd be fine. It's not fine dining, and not worth a $40 lunch for two.
Excellent concept, high quality local ingredients (some organic), very fresh tasting dishes, actually much more authentic than most "taquerias" which get their "flavor" from trans fats, MSG, and other crap.
This place would do well in Southern California, New York, or anywhere else where there is real competition. Burlington is lucky to have this restaurant. The person who complained about a lack of flavor is probably used to lower quality Mexican food. Yes, you need to adjust to a place that is not going to blast your palate with salt and false flavors, but the result is well worth it. Absolutely awesome.
Finally came at a time where there was no wait, but left unimpressed.
Guacamole - was way over powered by garlic, glad there was a good mild green sauce on the table to make it eatable. Â The warm chips were very good.
Two taco plate -
1. Â fish was fine but deep fried and old oil tasting
2. Â pork was very greasy with same old oil taste, and too few pineapple pieces
Side of beans and rice, nothing special. Â Hubby's salad side had a very refreshing dressing, which he said cleansed the garlic guac from his palate. Â I unfortunately had garlic mouth the rest of the night.
There are so many other restaurants, we won't be back.
Pretty decent food. The place is owned by Farmhouse, so I assume everything is local and organic, it sure tasted really fresh. I had a steak burrito that comes on a whole wheat tortilla,which was tasty yet could use some side items. The service was "meh." We had to ask for chips and pay $3 for salsa. The salsa was chunky and good, but I'm not sure it was worth $3. On the otherhand the hostess was very friendly. I'll be back next time I'm downtown, El Cortijo Taqueria Y Cantina is a nice get away from the typical bar scene resturants.
Review Source:El Cortijo's food was not bad, but seemed very over priced for the quality. The Pollos Enchiladas had a tasty sauce and the Misty Knoll Chicken was moist, but it felt more like a $10 plate as opposed to the $15 price tag that it came with. My wife and I did not get out of lunch for under $50 (with one appetizer and no alcohol). Overall, El Cortijo is good, but not up to the standards of their other two restaurants, The Farm House and The Guild.
WINGS:
The Wingman had to try the special Misty Knoll Chicken Wings with Maple Habanero Hot sauce and toasted almonds. The wings themselves were tender and well cooked. The sauce was very hot and needed a little more of the maple to cut the heat. Â It could also have used a dairy-based dressing to help with the heat. At four wings for $6 it was a little pricey, but tasty. 3 out of 5 stars.
El Cortijo is wonderful. Â I have never had a sideways experience here. Â I try to go as often as I can without it getting dumbed down.
The food is always great and the drinks are always fantastic.
The staff is lovely and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.
Please visit El Cortijo for a satisfying lunch or dinner. Â It is really great.
These are some astronomically expensive tacos. Â Call me old fashioned, but in the past I've generally gotten my authentic mexican food off a truck for $2.50 a taco or less. Â I know that they prioritize high quality, local ingredients--but at the end of the day its not as mind-blowingly delicious as what I'm used to down south, nor something I couldn't make at home for much less money. Â When I do end up at El Cortijo I try to conceptualize it as paying for atmosphere, as it really is a charming environment (especially late at night, no one can fault them on their hours).
Review Source:This place is awesome! I usually skip the margaritas because they're a bit pricy, but they have an amazing beer list. The nachos are delicious, love the queso fundido and pickled jalapeños! Despite what other reviewers have said, I found the portion sizes to be perfect- definitely filling! I'm a big fan of the pescado taco- the fish is fried perfectly with crisp cabbage and creamy sauce- they always have great special tacos that I love to try! You really can't go wrong here, so many great options! I love that they are open late-night, it's a great atmosphere for a couple drinks and snacks.
Review Source:Greatest Mexican in Vermont? Maybe, seeing as Vermont isn't well known for Mexican food. What I can say, however, is that I'm happy whenever I'm here. Ever since I tried the dama verde my happiness quotient has gone up a few points. I'm sure I'll add to this review after eating dinner here again (tomorrow night, actually). Yeah, it gets crowded and yes, I've come in here specifically for a DV only to chug it and run. Whatever man, good times are had here. Deal with it.
Review Source:I love El Cortijo. The food and drinks are tasty & creative, the atmosphere is fun (the old Oasis Diner cart!), and there is nice-yet-unobtrusive background music. I always leave feeling satisfied. I'd call the prices midrange -- it's not cheap enough that I'd go get takeout there. I think part of what you're paying for with the prices is the atmosphere, so I try to go later in the evening when there's not a wait.
My favorite tacos are the chorizo & camote (sweet potato). The ceviche is also nice and changes from day to day. Many of the cocktails are winners (bloody mary margarita!), and they have Hill Farmstead Edward on tap, which is a rarity in Burlington and quite delicious. Now that I think about it, the drink selection here is better than a lot of bars in town...
As for comments from others regarding the size of the tacos and the non-authenticity, all I have to say is that the combination plates (tacos plus 2 sides) are quite filling (and I eat a lot!), and there is nothing on the restaurant's website, menu, or publicity that bills it as "authentic" Mexican food. (I also personally don't care too much about authenticity or adherence to any one type of cuisine, I just like food, authentic or not, as long as it tastes good.) It's essentially high quality local ingredients in taco form. I'm OK with that!
I haven't seen free chips and salsa since Irish Burro left St. Albans, so I have no problem paying for them like other reviewers. It costs money to make them, they are homemade, grocery prices in Vermont are higher than many other states so I don't expect freebies, but am always delighted if anything is offered. The prices are more than reasonable for the area, Chittenden county is always higher than other areas. Even Chilis charges for their chips and salsa.
My teens went with the tacos (trying the fried flounder and the chorizo) and loved them both. He's not big into cabbage, but the pickled red cabbage was amazing and even he happily ate it. There were very large to start and add in the sides of the rice and beans, and there was plenty of food. My daughter had a chicken enchilada, again with beans and rice, and couldn't finish hers. The rest of us had the Carne Asada, the chimichurri was amazing, and again were quite pleased with the portion and price.
Desserts weren't easy to fit in, but I really wanted to see how their spicy brownie ($2) stacked up to Lake Champlain Chocolate's Aztec bars. The comparison is very, very close. My teens split a churro ($1.50) and loved it.
We know the area well enough to know that the tiny traditional diner doesn't have many tables, so we went early (4:45ish) and were seated instantly. The beers are reasonably priced (Sixpoint's lager goes well with Mexican), there are fresh fruit juices, and a range of sodas, including Mexican Coke (made with sugar and not corn syrup.)
I'm impressed and will certainly return any time I feel like dealing with parking at Church Street.
My friend and I went here on a Monday night; it was surprisingly rather busy (we had to wait 15 minutes for a table) but the place is VERY small so it gets filled up quickly.
We each got a house margarita ($6) and while it tasted good (lots of lime!) it was a pretty small drink. Â We were also surprised to see that tortilla chips & salsa weren't automatically brought to the table -- you have to pay $3 for them. Â In my experience, 95% of the Mexican restaurants I've been to provide free chips and salsa . . . that's what makes Mexican restaurants so fun!
In any case, the food we DID get was pretty awesome -- we shared the nachos ($10.50 since and added chorizo to them) and it was a big portion. Â We also shared the chicken enchiladas ($13) which the kitchen kindly split onto two plates for us. Â The portion was BIG and the enchiladas and sides were really good!
All in all, I think this place is off to a good start but the prices need to either be lowered a bit, OR they should offer free chips and salsa and keep the prices where they are. Â And the margaritas could definitely be bigger! Ambiance could use a little improvement as well; it should feel a bit cozier like other Mexican restaurants. Â But the food was really tasty & I highly recommend the nachos with chorizo :)
My wife and two friends ate here for lunch the other day. I had to say that the tacos, service and atmosphere are superb. Our counter waitress was charming, efficient and very informed about the food and the ingredients. We also appreciated the fact that the restaurant supports local farmers--and the taste bore that to be true. In addition we had the tortilla soup which was excellent. Â I would go back there gladly when I am next in Burlington. A GREAT experience!!
Review Source:Stopped in after going to a beer tasting at their sister restaurant The Farmhouse right down the street. The tacos were amazing and we tried 5 different types. The waitress was helpful, friendly and very attentive and we had a great time! The Dos XX's that I ordered was a little flat but that was our only, and a very small, complaint... I will work up the courage try the beef tongue taco next time!
Review Source:Parents weekend in Burlington is about the worst time to find a table for brunch - especially with a large party. After trying numerous places, all with hour + waits, we stumbled upon this place just as it was opening.
Had a good Mexican style brunch, but it wasn't remarkable. Ingredients were fresh, and turn around was quick. I had the breakfast tacos with fresh bacon and eggs.
Guac was very heavy on the garlic, so beware!
What a great place. Â We tried to get into one of the other places in town and they had a two hour wait. Â My stomach wasn't going to do that and the host there suggested El Cortijo. Located in a redecorated old diner this place has charm. Â Wait here was only 20 minutes and we took two seats at the bar. Â The staff was wonderful. The menu consists mostly of tacos and some appetizers. Â Most of the ingredients are from locally sourced farms and the freshness is evident in every bite. Â I'd go back here again and again.
Review Source:We had dinner here last night and loved it.
The tacos were NOT microscopic as some other reviewers have said. I'm not sure what kind of tacos they're used to eating, or how much filling you expect in those tortillas.but I thought it was well worth what we paid for them.
The quacamole was tasty and the chips were served warm. We had the sweet potato kale tacos, pork carnitas, the tongue and the chorizo taco.They were all really good and used local ingredients. Even the salad was great.
The service was great, we had no complaints.
My husband also got the nachos which he loved.
We now eat here no less than twice a week. For someone that eats out over 200 times a year; I'd say I'm a pretty good reference for whats good; and right now El Cortijo is my favorite restaurant in town.
The queso for your chips is super addicting & the guacamole is really good! The drinks (when Jeff is bar tending) are outstanding, and the tacos are the best food you're going to get for $4 hands down.
To inform the general public about the negative reviews on here, guess what? They're fake.
I can personally guarantee you (ask the staff) that nobody has eaten here more than I have, and I have never once had one of the negative reviewers experiences, ever.
1. Not once have we had bad service, in fact, we love the staff here which is half the reason we return so often.
2. Not once has our order been incorrect or "delivered to the wrong table".
3. Not once has the presentation of the food been anything but perfect.
4. Are you seriously complaining about two locally grown, locally produced tacos with two side dishes for $10?! If you're that poor, go eat at McDonald's.
I'm from Texas and every Mexican place I've tried here has been disappointing. This was not much different, but it was one of the better ones. I got a taco which was decent. Everything was just OK. And I got the queso flameado, which made me laugh cuz it was NOT queso flameado at all, and it was a tiny portion. Â The salsa and chips were pretty good. What also makes me laugh is "taquerias" up here. Go to Mexico, come back, and quit saying taqueria. These are not taquerias!!
Review Source:After visiting this place several times and trying several of their offerings, I can provide a more accurate opinion.
There is a good variety of appetizers available. Â However, quantity does not always equate to quality. Â The salsa and guacamole are not very well seasoned but the queso fundido is passable. Â The sopa de tortilla (chicken) could also use some more seasoning.
The tacos on the other hand are more superior to the appetizers. Â This is good as the place is a taqueria. Â I have tried the pollo, carne, chorizo, and pescado. Â They are all good but if I had to rank them, it would be pescado (best), chorizo, pollo, and carne.
As for the cantina side of things, there is also a good selection of alcoholic drinks to include beers (mostly from Mexico and the Northeast), Spanish and Chilean wines, and Sangria. Â They also serve margaritas, cocktails, and offer a decent selection of tequilas. Â
Food service is good for the most part. Â However, if you want a really good cocktail, check if Jeff is working behind the counter. Â He makes the best drinks!
I had high expectations going in here, so that may be why I only gave it 3 stars.
Mexican food in VT is a tough thing to review. In comparison to other Mexican joints in Burlington this is probably the most authentic. I just wasn't blown away.
We started with the chips and guac, which was fresh and tasty. The tacos were good, but I felt like the price point was off. I sampled the tacos, trying the fish and the pork which were both pretty dry.
Beer and tequila lineup was impressive, which I fully expected knowing El Cortijo was owned by the people that own the Farmhouse.
Yep, my continuing saga of reviewing Mexican food in Vermont, because, well, we love Mexican food and will try anything at least twice!
The first time we came here it was meh at best. Â The waitress was friendly and helpful, but the food was unremarkable bordering on not good. Â I agree with many of the other reviewers- too many people work here and the tacos could be cheaper if they weren't so fussy and served by twenty people, and the people who work here overall seem to be on some kind of cool-kid trip which seems out of place in a taco joint. Â And what is up with the 24hr 90s radio? Â I would love to be able to eat in one restaurant in Burlington without having to hear a song off of Nirvana's Nevermind or Blind Melon, but maybe that's personal...
The margaritas are very good.
The second time I came here was just blah. Â The waitress again was fine but the sassy number who brought out our food exuded cold indifference as she plunked down our fully burned appetizer on the table. Â I just feel like if the food is obviously damaged it doesn't need to leave the kitchen. Â Just get the better version and bring that out instead.
My friend's re-fried beans were grey colored and made her feel sick so she did not eat them. Â I ordered the special of the day- an oyster taco, and it was very fishy and turned my tummy, so I didn't eat it either. Â We didn't complain, and the waitress didn't bat an eye when she came back to our table and nary a bite had been taken. Â She just plopped the forty dollar tab down and moved along- I guess they might be used to folks not eating their food here.
My friend and I both had tummy issues that evening. Â bummer :(
After back and forth and up and down the Church Street Market- mostly non-plussed with all the options. Behold- the neon sign lit up the evening sky.
Inside is tiny- but very cozy. You might be elbow to elbow with your neighborhood at the bar, but you'll soon forget and fall head first right into taco heaven.
I had the Lengua and the Pork Belly tacos- both locally farmed. Great and crispy in a soft corn tortilla. The black bean sides, you get heaps. Order the greens- not so much.
Only drawback is the price- $4 a taco? A bit much but considering how great they taste, I can look around it.
the food isn't bad. Its just not good. Not only is it not good, but I don't feel its a good value. I'm not a taco snob, but I want it to taste good and I want it to be constant. I've been here twice and both times I was underwhelmed. but the first I really enjoyed the rice and beans with the combo platter, the second they tasted nothing like what I remembered, too spicy.
The expense is what really makes me not want to go back, the tacos are small, tiny actually and rather bland. The service is consistently bad. From delivering food to the wrong table, and  bringing the wrong order out, there's not much that these guys have to do, its a small place, mainly booths. But still have been neglected and looked over, every time I've been there.
I will not argue with the quality and interesting varieties of the tacos available. I've had the Chorizo, Camote Carnitas, Pollo and a couple of special ones. All of them tasted great and were made with high quality ingredients. My knock is how damned expensive they are. I mean you need to get 3 if your actually hungry and that now puts you at $12-$15 just for some tacos without any sides or guac. Once you add those you are $20 before the drinks. The margaritas are as good as the tacos. The problem with them is that they are also pretty expensive and not even that big.
So while everything is good I won't be making this a regular stop as the price is just too high for what it is.
These are excellent tacos. I've eaten tacos in San Diego, LA, and the Bay Area (taco trucks and taquerias) and these rival some of my favorites. Complaints on yelp about value are stupid--this is a comfortable place with a lot of atmosphere, not a cheap/bare-bones taqueria, so it's not going to be $2/taco. But the tacos are delicious and you can eat really well for $15.
I would vote for burritos being added to the menu at some point, maybe for takeout only. Could be a good compromise for the people looking for a large cheap meal.
Anyway, I love this place. Burlington is very lucky to have it.
El Cortijo has taken over the old Sadie Katz Deli and turned it into a taco shop. My expectations were tempered since there hasn't been a successful Mexican joint in Burlington since...well, ever. The new owners sure have spruced up the place. Everything looks slightly more decorative and brighter; the counter now doubles as a tequila and margarita bar.
I like the simple menu - the focus is obviously on the tacos. The tacos average around $4 each, but I knew I wasn't going to get my value. Sure enough when my order came, they were microscopic. I tried the pollo, chorizo, and the lengua. I'm not sure why, but nobody knows how to make correct chicken for tacos or burritos around here. The bland spice rub and lack of a marinade is one of the problems. The chorizo was better because at least then I could taste some actual flavor. My favorite of the three was the lengua. If you do come to El Cortijo, this is the one to try. The braised beef tongue was tender and flavorful, but it was the acidic crunch of the pickled shaved radishes that made it great. Put your trust in beef tongue to be better than chicken or pork.
The key to creating a good Mexican place is quite simple: make it cheap, fast, and delicious (I guess that could apply to any cuisine). The problem mostly has been affordability and authenticity. Why skimp out on the guacamole? Where is the salsa bar? And why the hell are there waitresses bringing us our food? My theory is that we're just too damn north for anyone to really understand what Mexican food is really about.
Went today for lunch with my girlfriend. Ordered the Cerdo and Chorizo tacos. Also ordered some salsa and guacamole. I got a Smuttynose IPA to go with it, and she got their house margarita.
Delicious meats for sure. The smokiness of the pork shoulder really came through and the chorizo was excellent. I was a little disappointed with the portions though. Paid $4 for each one and they were gone in no time. Down the street a couple blocks you can go to El Gato Cantina and get double the portions for the same, if not less, money.
The beer was great, of course. The margarita was good too, but a little unbalanced for her taste. Too tart. Maybe a better mix will come from the bar next time.
I'll go here again before I make any permanent judgements. But my favorite Mexican in Burlington is still El Gato.
Run by the folks at Farmhouse Tap and Grill just up the block, this little diner cum taco joint focuses (when possible) on local ingredients. I walked in with a small group including a toddler on a very busy Saturday late afternoon.
The food is a great attempt. It's refreshing to eat real corn tortillas in the NE.
We ordered several different types of tacos, a veggie, a couple of carne asadas, a chorizo (local purveyor), special goat meat tacos, pollo asado. Also side order of black beans which were lacking in flavor (probably veggie and so missing that amazing aroma and body from a smoked ham hock). Queso fundido and some chips and salsa.
Everything seemed well prepared if not in some cases bland (as other reviewers have noted). The Chorizo taco was probably my favorite. Also had a couple of passion fruit margaritas among us- those were pretty amazing, but at $11 a pop they should be.
Service was a bit harried given the business and the hostess could have been a bit more forthcoming with information/ welcoming to people trying to pile into the cramped "waiting area." That said, they do cater to families or people with kids, plenty of high chairs available and kid friendly items on the menu including kid-sized juice, etc.
I'd like to try some other things on the menu - appreciate that they're trying to deviate somewhat from the standard tacos and burritos that people are used to. This strives to be closer to Mexican street food but doesn't quite hit the mark.
Definitely worth a try if there isn't a 20 minute wait, otherwise, skip it and try again some other time.
I love Mexican food and this just didn't hit the spot.
We purchased chips and salsa. We weren't fans of the chips but the salsa was great. I enjoyed my Chorizo taco and found the Pollo taco kind of bland. The portions seemed really small for the price. I was expecting a little more food or at least flavor for a $4 taco. We loved the Wedding Cookies but should have skipped the Spicy Mexican Brownie. Â
Our server was extremely attentive, actually she bordered on overwhelming. We were the only ones in there at 1:00 so I'm sure she was just bored.
Next time I want Mexican in Burlington, I'll go to El Gato Cantina. I prefer their food and their larger portions.
Had a great experience here today (food wise). Â The food was quite delicious. Â I ordered the Al Pastor and the Chorizo. Â Also had a side of guacamole and the table shared some queso fundido.
The tacos were great, good flavor and good amount of meat. Â The queso tasted a bit too store bought...but they can improve on that and the guacamole...well it was good just a bit plain. Â
Since it is just the first week I look forward to going back and trying again. Â I will say a friend ordered the sangria and it came in a soda glass...that should be fixed. Â
Last comment...why oh why do you have so many servers? Â There were like 8 people on the floor and only like 6 booths. Â Our whole table was astonished. Â Hire people that are competent or train them as it seems like a waste of money and it is way tooooo crowded in there for extra bodies.
If the rating alone was solely based on aesthetics and how well planned out the theme of the restaurant was, they would receive a 5 star.
Food  + Value = " 2 1/2 star"   5 dollar tacos will leave you hungry and your wallet empty . A normal complete meal for the average person would be 4 Tacos in addition to maybe a side order of chips w/salsa. Total price for one person would be 20 dollars easy..
Sorry but that is expensive for tacos that are just average.
The sauces that I tried were average and nothing special. The Salsa Verde was notable and there best condiment from what I had tried.
I base my judgment more upon the food and value than anything else.
If you want the best Mexican in my opinion, go to at Aztlan Foods. Next to Green Mtn Coffee Roasters Outlet in Waterbury, VT. 8 dollars buys you a Giant Burrito that screams flavor with each and every bite.
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