Santiago's is not part of a chain; it is one-of-a-kind and a wonderful dining experience. The staff is attentive, the pre-dining chips are incredibly good, (especially the flour chips...you get both corn and flour) and the food is well-seasoned, but not overly so. I've had the best chili rellenos of my life there. The restaurant is located in a rather remote area and is hard to find if you don't know where downtown Porter is, but it's well worth the search.
Review Source:The previous reviews had stated that this place has the best food in the area and that the service sucked. Lets just say one of those statements is true. The service was poor. We had to wait for a while just to place a order. While we were eating neither my wife or me were asked about refilling our drinks. I noticed dried food on the wall. Â My fajitas were ok but nothing to write home about. My wife's meal was not so good. I normally am not a picky eater but her food was sub par and flavorless. I think this place has potential but they have a lot to work on. Maybe they need a visit from Chef Gordon Ramsey.
Review Source:Seems to be the theme here, food is above average, but wait and service time drags Santiago's down a bit. Fortunately it seems to be worth the wait...
Called in advance with a table of ten. Everything was set up and waiting for us when we got there. The chips and salsa were great, and I especially liked the way they mix up corn and flour tortilla chips. Don't see that often, and it's a nice change from the usual. Waited a bit to place our food and drink orders, and unfortunately waited even longer for something to come out. The problem is obvious, as a sole waitress manned the dining room, phone calls, and take out orders. Luckily the chips and salsa satisfied most and our party wasn't in a rush, otherwise a lack of gratuity and foul language would most certainly have followed. Anyways, we endured a 20 minute wait for cans of pop, 2 margaritas, and a couple bottles of beer. REALLY?!. NOTE TO SELF: Pester about the drinks next time, i.e. what the hell is taking so long...Maybe they will come out faster? A bit later our food came out. Everyone in our party seemed happy with their dishes, which tonight included Cheese Quesadillas, Tostadas, Chicken Fajitas, Burritos, Tacos, Steak Tampiquena, and Chimichanga. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas, which were great. Served on a sizzling cast iron griddle, complete with green peppers, onions, rice, beans, small lettuce and tomato salad, and guacamole... Just how it should always be!! A little on the oily side, but seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Nothing burnt and served at a toasty, sizzling temperature. Looking around our table, the burritos were made in typical, "big as your head" fashion, the tacos and tostadas were loaded, and all the ingredients appeared fresh, flavorful, and void of any complaints from the peanut gallery.
Quick breakdown - Big menu, fresh ingredients, great chips and salsa, quality libations, and good prices. Just don't stop in if you're short on time. The service, albeit friendly, is at a snail's pace and may not be worth it for you. Definitely call ahead if you're bringing a group, as they will set something up for you no problem.
If you are from out of town or have not been to this restaurant before, do not go unless you are willing to accept being ignored for 10-30 minutes. My wife and I stopped in when returning from a trip to Indiana Dunes from Chicago. Â The food was a reasonable mid-western U.S. interpretation of Mexican (it was OK). Â However, the service really caused us concern. Â A group of folks came in about five minutes after us who were obviously local and well known by the staff. Â While my wife and I were ignored, the staff immediately asked the later-coming local group for their drink choice and whether they were ready to order, etc. Â My wife had to ask a passing waitress if someone would take our order before anyone showed interest in us.
Review Source:Decent tasting mexican food with good portion size and great value. Â
The service was below average. Â We waited almost 10 minutes for someone to greet us, and when I asked the waitress about ingredients in certain dishes, she didn't seem to pay much attention or understand the possible severity of food issues.
Nonetheless, the enchiladas I ended up getting were excellent. I think the food is worth the diner-like atmosphere and unfriendly staff.
Were else can you get fresh made warm corn and flour fried chips. Â Awesome shrimp cocktail. Â Almost like a shrimp stew with avocados, cilantro, tomatoes in a delicious broth that you have to pick up and drink its so good. Â Seafood enchilads are the bomb. Â Red Snapper and shrimp in a lite roasted pepper sauce. Â Out of this world. Â Servers are a little young but they know there shit cause their right on top of it.
Review Source:This is really the only place to go within 20 miles of Chesterton if you want something beyond simple TexMex food. I usually get the enchiladas verdes, with a nice tomatillo sauce, but they really have much more. The soups are interesting, the pork with cactus, and also a pork stew - all are good. They even have a mole sauce.
They just renovated the outside, most of the wonderful garden is gone but now they will have outside seating in the Spring. This should be one of the nicer spots for eating outside.