I"ve been a huge fan of this place for many years. Â Went there last Monday night and it was kind of disappointing. Â They were not busy at all; when they are busy, you get your food very fast...we waited for a long time. Â When the Queso dip came (usually a favorite of mine), it was not medium as ordered, but mild. Â And lukeward. Â When our entrees finally came, the plates were hotter than the food and the food was really bland. Â I'll keep coming here, but maybe they just had a bad night.
Review Source:This household is a fan of the Jar-Jar. Food is always good service is great and now that they have a bar don't get me started..yay happy hour! My favorite is Pablo's enchiladas and the green chili always good. Â In addition they have a good breakfast menu that is worth a weekend stop. Ben keep up the good work.
Review Source:Love good mexican food, the hubs is hispanic, his grandma made homemade tortillas everyday of her life, so we are always on the lookout for great mexican food.
Made a point to make the trek to Commerce City to eat at El Jardin based on reviews here on Yelp. Â Went on a Saturday afternoon about 1:00 pm, place was busy but not crazy. Â We were seated promptly, but I have to admit, we waited several minutes before the server came around and took our drink orders. Â We ordered the queso dip to start. Â Hubby got a beer and me a margarita. Â I ordered a margarita with no salt on the rim, waited several more minutes and the drinks were served. Â Oh no, salt on rim. Had to send back. Â We never did receive the queso dip either, but we were not charged for it. Have to say however, the margarita was strong and very tasty. I forgive thee El Jardin. Okay, sounds like not exactly a great experience, why am I rating it so high? Â THE FOOD ROCKS.
Green chili was fab, the tamale awesome, the chili rellano was badass, etc. Â Yes, the food was amazingly good, some of the best I have had in Denver. Â The service wasn't exactly spot on, but I would go back based on the tastiness of the food.
Went out for our birthdays and took the coupon. Â They refused the coupon as it expired on my birthday (this was only 5 days later). Â
Overall the food is heavily sauced - acceptable quality similar to Casa Bonita food without the entertainment (or the good sopapillas) - it is difficult at best to find something that is light on the menu. Â The staff has changed and the place is going downhill fast. Â I will avoid in the future and would recommend others avoid as well.
Food coma time! I got the chicken chimichanga and my boyfriend got the steak and chicken fajitas. Both were delicious! Our server was very cheerful and attentive. Admittedly we were a bit early for the dinner rush so the servers weren't overwhelmed. Great dinner, will definitely return again!
Review Source:This is my go to Mexican food, lunch, drinks, dinner, you name it. The waitstaff is friendly and FAST! I'm there 2-4 times a week, the chips and salsa are good, the Cheladas are delicious!!!! I can get enough of the indian tacos, the tacos al king. I've never had a bad meal there.
The members program is well worth it! So sign up.
My partner and I go here probably once every other week. Â The food is very good. Â We especially like the stuffed sopapilla - but only order it if you're really hungry because it's huge. Â It's one of the few places in town that makes green chile with a kick that I can feel - but you can order it mild if you want. Â
If you have a larger group, this is a good place to try - they have a large banquet room they'll open up if you want to bring the extended family. Â The place can get busy - it's popular, even among all the Mexican places in Commerce City! Â So keep that in mind.
Prices are very reasonable. Â Drinks are hefty. Â Service is quick and pleasant. Â Just a nice place to go for a simple, fun dinner.
I can't believe I've never posted a review about El Jardin! I've been going there for several months now. For me, it was love at firs bite. El Jardin instantly became my favorite Mexican restaurant in Denver. I've since introduced several friends to El Jardin and they all agree. For most of us, it is almost the only Mexican Restaurant my friends and I go to now.
Yesterday afternoon I showed up there with a group of 11 for my birthday dinner. They were busy and had several really large groups with reservations. Brianna (the mgr) was very accommodating and worked us in, making sure that we got to have our favorite server, Danny, take care of us.
The service has been phenomenal every time I've been here. The food is always fresh and delicious, and the staff always makes you feel like you are at home to enjoy a fabulous meal.
I can't say enough about El Jardin. My only regret is that it took me this long to discover it!
As I drove by many Mexican restaurants on the way to the Commerce City location, I wondered what would separate El Jardin from the rest. Â Well, as I entered an entirely filled lot and a huge crowd of people waiting to be seated, I figured something must be right.
Thankfully, I ordered to-go, as the wait was somewhere north of 30-45 minutes! Â But I can tell you the ambiance is typical local Mexican and the people around the joint looked pretty satisfied.
We ordered (as usual) a deluxe feast consisting of the El Jardin sampler, a Battered Relleno (call protective services), and a Stuffed Sopapilla. Â When I opened the to-go containers, what I saw was mesmerizing - huge portions bathed in sauce. Â The rellenitos (in the sampler) were AWESOME and the main courses were delicious - however, the winner is certainly the stuffed sopapilla!
If you're in the area and want to try some great Mexican or your willing to leave the city limits for a culinary adventure - check out El Jardin.
My husband & I came in for lunch recently. Being in the restaurant biz, we don't get out much and when we do it's at an odd time--2pm-4pm--the restaurant "dead time" as I call it. Given the time of day, EJ was pretty busy, and I was impressed!
I had a cup of the mild Green Chile. Absolutely delicious! Probably one of the best I've had outside of this small place in Albuquerque. Loved it! Then I had the special of the day--Fish Tacos! Again, wonderfully executed. Fish was marinated/seasoned just to my liking. I'm not a big refried beans fan but EJ's beans are yum! I had a side of jalapeno asado with my tacos, I cut that up and put that on my tacos & it gave it a nice bite. Very, very pleased with my meal.
My husband was equally happy with his lunch burrito smothered in their famous green chile.
If we had more time, I would have tried a few margaritas and perhaps one of their desserts but that will have to wait until next time.
Our service from when we were greeted by the hostess and all during lunch was superb. Our server was very helpful with the menu since my husband was asking her all kinds of questions.
Although I've only been here once, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area looking for great Mexican food. I will certainly be back to try other menu items.
Love, love, love this place! My husband and I eat here at least 3x a month. Service is great and food is the best Mexican I have had any where! Portions are huge and prices are decent. I don't get the people who wrote that they were sick after eating here, we have never had that problem in the 6 years we have been going here. And for the people who say they serve Nestea for tea they don't, it is fresh brewed and the tortillas are fresh too. Always a great experience!
Review Source:I went here a few weeks ago with a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a couple of years. The atmosphere was great for catching up, and the server seemed to know when to come check on us. The food portions are huge for the reasonable price you pay, and horchata is delicious! I have been struggling to find a decent place to go for Mexican food, and this place meets my seemingly-high expectations! I will definitely be back!
Review Source:El Jardin is literally the BEST Mexican food I have had in such a long time. Now, i'm an avid fan of Mexican food, but it seems as if everytime I go try a new restaurant, my food is just slabbed onto my plate with that generic type of taste, if you know what I mean. Â Yet, at El Jardin although they do serve the typical rice and beans as a side there is something different about the taste. Â My first time here I ordered a Chicken Burrito with the Green Chile on the side. Â We snacked on some chips and homemade salsa before the food came and the salsa tasted so good. Â I got my Chicken Burrito and it probably had to be some of the most moist chicken I have ever tasted, and don't get me started on the Green Chile. Â I usually am iffy about Green Chile because my dad has accustomed me to his homemade kind, but I would eat this Green Chile every single day!
Another nice thing El Jardin offers (besides its friendly wait staff) is specials every day. Â Although I haven't "participated" in these specials they do have $1.99 Margaritas on Thursdays and also specials of the day (The Tequila Lime Chicken sounds delicious). Â I would definately recommend this restaurant to anyone who is craving delicious Mexican food.
It is a little hard to find, but definately worth the time.
Given that I work in a northeast 'burb of Denver, El Jardin is the usual place for lunch with coworkers. Â The staff is always friendly and I never wait very long for a table during the lunch hour. Â The food is typical Tex-Mex but that is fine with me. Â I love the big booths (comfy and private for catching up on all the office gossip) and the chips and salsa. Â I usually eat all of the chips and salsa before my food comes and then I still manage to eat most of my food - Â a bean burrito with extra salsa on the side. A full tummy is a happy tummy.
Review Source:El Jardin, you rocked my world!
I'm on a constant hunt for great Mexican restaurants, and I have to give mad props to Mary Jo S for finding this gem. No lie, it's a drive from Denver, but based on what we ordered today I can confidently say: I'll be back!
In true ladies-who-lunch form, we ordered margs for lunch: me, an Italian marg on the rocks (because that's in total keeping with a Mexican restaurant, no?) and Mary Jo got the Caribbean version. The drinks were strong, so tread lightly.
El Jardin passed my first test - superior chips and salsa. Plentiful. The chips were high quality and salty, the salsa thin and flavor-packed. We shared the beef fajitas, which came topped with a roasted jalapeno, plenty of tortillas, and a gorgeous plate of extras (beans and cheese served in a mini crispy tortilla, and generous servings of guac, sour cream and pico.) On to the best part: for the love of Pete, order a bowl of posole. Mine was so delicious, I'm wishing I would have ordered some to take home.
We had a wonderful server, who checked on us frequently without being intrusive. We arrived to a nearly-empty house at 11, and an hour later it was packed to a rafters. I've said it before - this many people can't be wrong.
P.S. They have a gigantic side/party room just in case you need to seat large groups.
Go, I tell you!
Not overly impressed honestly. This reminds me of an exact copy of the ubiquitous Colorado chain Three Margaritas. Food quality and waiter/waitress dress are the same.
Chips tasted fresh. Salsa was a disaster and fully gringo-ized ground to a liquid. I like chunks of tomato in my salsa.
Meal was your average quality - again compare to Three Margaritas. There wasn't much that was "homemade" here and the taste proved it.
Weird flow to the dining room with 2 entrances. Two dining rooms connect together and there is a weird, high-ceilinged mega banquet hall also attached to the dining room.
Service was friendly but attentiveness sometimes lacks. Frequent dining program can save you some money but only after a ridiculous amount of purchases (around $100) and returns something like a $10 discount.
Parking sucks here. They try to push the Frequent Diner program down your throat at every visit.
Will I return? Probably, just to support local business.
This, sadly, is a sold 3 and nothing more. You won't get sick here and the place is clean with pleasant staff - just nothing special.
The search goes on...
Apparently saying you are a vegetarian and don't eat meat at El Jardin means please add pork to my meal.
Easily the worst dining experience I had on my trip to Denver. Â We had to wait about 45 minutes to get our food and 2 of my friends had upset stomachs for the rest of our trip.
Avoid this place at all costs unless you like restaurants that screw up your order and/or diarrhea for days.
El Jardin is a nice little place for being in the middle of Commerce City. I always have to start with rating the chips in salsa in a Mexican restaurant: The chips were fresh and warm, but the salsa was bland and watery. Next, I tried to order an iced tea - but they only serve Nestea... yuck. I had a tamale plate topped with green chile. It was really good and I'd recommend it. My girlfriend had a burrito. It was made with a store bought tortilla and the flavor suffered for that. The service was excellent prompt and friendly. Overall, not bad - but I've had better. With a little work this could be a 4 star place.
Review Source:Tried this place recently with a groupon deal. Â It was a Sunday night which apparantly isn't that busy, but on this night they were slammed. Â Needless to say we waited over an hour for our meals and it was difficult with our small children. Â The food was excellent when it did arrive, and they were quite generous by giving us 2 beers, an appetizer and dessert on the house for being so slow which was not expected. Â in the end I think our total bill after the groupon was only about $7. Â Not bad for a family of 5. Â We will come here again even though we don't live in Commerce City - thank goodness!
Review Source:My husband and I probably eat at El Jardin at least once a month being that I drive by on my way home everyday. Living in Reunion its one of the FEW places out our way that has decent food.
I've never really understood why I have to pay $4 to take an extra side of salsa home - but if I dine in I could eat a pint of it and not be charged.
Green chile and everything else on their menu is super delicious. Â Steak and avocado burrito is amazing.
Service is perfect probably 90% of the time - and that's pretty rare these days!
Me an' wifey had lunch here again, and I tried a couple of things I hadn't before.
But before I get into that, a little background: We're on the El Jardin email list, and the owner, Ben Martinez, sends out these humorous missives that always include some kind of special deal. They also mail out various two-fer-one coupons, etc., so the place is always on our radar screen. We usually eat here at least once or twice a month, just because there's always some kind of deal to be had.
On to the food: We had a buy one-get one entree coupon, and I figured, let's give the fajitas a try. Up till now, I'd felt it to be a little pricey at $16.99 for steak and shrimp, but, lemme tell ya, WORTH IT.
I mean, they give you A LOT of food, plenty of steak, and six good sized shrimp. Whatever they season the meat with elevates it to beyond yer ordinary fajita, and that smoky caramelization from the grill just puts it over the top. I am definitely a fan.
Too much to eat in one sitting, so I made up a leftover fajita, and then went and forgot the damn box!
And another thing: I had the flan, and I've never had it as good as these guys make it. It was creamy, caramely, FANTASTIC, like dulce de leche ice cream, but not frozen.
We ate in the big room upstairs, hadn't sat up there before, didn't realize what a pleasant dining space it is.
All in all, a good, no, GREAT dining experience, and they got another star outta me.
El Jardin has been a consistent haunt for my family for about a decade. It's a little out of the way for me but the food is indeed authentic. The staff is friendly and happy to accommodate requests. Side of Sour Cream is $1.50 which really surprised me! Prices seem to have gradually increased but still fair.
The Carnita Tacos never fail. The Stuffed Gordita is good but a little greasy.
Last week I had a big ol' hankerin for some Tex-Mex style tacos. Â Crispy tacos, I whined to Himself. Â So he set about finding me a place that had decent crispy tacos. Â He did not disappoint. Â We took off to El Jardin. Â I went in thinking, ugh I'm going to get some soggy taco. Â Nothing soggy here. Â
The chips and salsa before the meal weren't too bad, the chips were pretty fresh and crispy but the salsa was lacking.... something. Â I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Â It was OK but there was something missing that I just couldn't figure it out. hrm.
Himself had the soft tacos with shredded beef and carnitas, he said the carnitas were great but the shredded beef tacos were lacking some flavor. Â
My tacos were great. Â Just good crispy beef tacos with cheese and lettuce. The only downside was that they did not offer charro beans. Â I don't always like refried beans I prefer charro, in a cup, with a spoon and all salty. Â But the refried beans weren't that bad, they were a little 'lardish' to me. Â So I didn't eat much of them.
I'll be back for sure. Â Close enough to Tex-Mex to make me feel like I was at home :)
El jardin is a nice local place. Â I would not drive a long distance to get there, but as they are close to my home I go occaisionally. Â
The servers are always animated and friendly, the atmosphere is good but I find the food is lacking. Â It is no Casa Bonita bad, but I have deifnately had better growing up in Denver.
The kids menu actually offers something other then quesadillas and chicken strips and my kids enjoy going there. Â The salsa is mild enough that even my kids can eat it and not worry. Â
The best thing? El Jardin is an active supporter of my kids' school functions. Â The come out and put a hot bar together and allow us to offer more then just hot dogs and popcorn at carnivals and other functions. Â For that I will keep going to El Jardin alone.
My Take:
I agree with Raoul B's comments. Â El Jardin definitely has great service, it's clean, and the food is delicious. Â However, it would be better situated in a neighboring city. Â Even though the location is poor, this place does great for itself!
My Experience:
I visited El Jardin on a Friday afternoon for lunch with my wife and mother-in-law. Â We had been out and about all day driving from one side of town and back. Â We decided to stop and have lunch on our way back from which we came and my mother-in-law, being an avid patron of El Jardin, suggested we stop.
I wasn't horribly hungry, but I found myself woofing down a good amount of tortilla chips and El Jardin's mild salsa. Â Yes, it's mild. Â Mild meaning not hot at all.
I ordered the stuffed sopaipilla. Â This was my first time eating a stuffed sopaipilla, served with ground beef, cheese, and smothered in your choice of chili. Â I had mine with green chili.
To my surprise, our lunch was served within 15 minutes of it being ordered and they were busy! Â I was shocked!
The waitress kept the refills coming, but she was kind enough to ask if I wanted more soda and if so, how much.
I didn't make it to desert. Â Hell, I didn't even eat my beans or rice, which is unusual for me. Â But, I couldn't possibly eat anymore. Â I didn't even want to finish my main course, but I couldn't stop!
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