Espinos Mexican Bar & Grill

I have the «Mexi-​Can» Unilocal badge. I love Mexican food. Espino’s on a Monday night was underwhelming (Sorry!). I met a friend and the place was almost full when we got there and almost empty when we left. I know this is how it works in West County but it went from totally full to totally empty. I ordered the Guarache (Homemade masa (corn) shell topped with beans, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, cilantro, black olives, Chihuahua cheese, sour cream and a dollop of guacamole, with Carnitas pork. Served with rice.) This was a dish of individual items and there was nothing that really brought it together. All the components were bright and fresh (except for the masa — I felt it was a little off). It just felt like a salad sitting on top of the masa which was kind of hard and flavorless. It was not bad, just no big deal. Probably the best part of the dish was the carnitas. The pork was nice and tender but felt under seasoned. Even the guacamole probably would have been lots better with just a little salt. It had been a really long time since I had been here and I’m not that familiar with the other Mexican options in that neighborhood but if I’m craving Mexican this certainly isn’t going to be my first choice.

Worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. Asked if I could mix the enchiladas like you can at every Mexican restaurant I’ve frequented throughout the US. Not only did I receive an unexpected «no», I was lectured on why and told to speak with the owner if I had a complaint. He was busy serving customers and never stopped by. I did not order anything, and left. I travel quite a bit and due to my dietary restrictions, usually ask to change something– which everyone does graciously. Not here. And I believe others have experienced similar customer experience and unfriendly policies. Sorry to be so negative but I tried to be respectful and factual without hyperbole.

Today I decided to take my 6 year old got their «Taco Tots» where kids under 10 can make their own tacos but when we arrived during lunch we were told it wasn’t today. My husband and I both received emails reminding us and that’s why I went, but I was told no. I decided to stay anyway and when I got home I reviewed my email once more and confirmed that indeed it was the first Tuesday of the month. I called and asked to speak with the manager who told me that it is happening today and that there are emails and signs in the restaurant. I explained that I knew this and that is why I went today with my son and she said that it was only for dinner. Well that was not written in either the emails or the fliers inside the restaurant and I told her so. I was told that she’d make those corrections. Although I know it’s not the end of the world, it’s annoying that they did not honor what they had offered and I left feeling like I didn’t know what I was talking about and my little guy bummed that he didn’t get to make his tacos in a restaurant.

Lunch
I work in Chesterfield and bring customers in just for the ribs which are awesome. Service is slow but worth it.
Dinner
Blonde hostess at night asked me to wait out side until the rest of my party arrives. I explained that my wife was parking the car. There was no line… She just kept smiling with the creepiest look and shrugged her shoulders. We decided to eat at Longhorn instead! After shearing my experience with a few friends that also have been there for dinner they also had some strange interactions with the weird hostess.
Overall the ribs are awesome (not on the menu) and service stinks!!! For a $ 32 plate of ribs, slow service and rude hostess. I’ll take my money elsewhere!

Ehhh, crap. The chips were so stale and hard, i damn near broke a molar. Everything was simmered in a tomato sauce, which was gross. Really didn’t care for it at all. Won’t be back.

The menu here is creative and exciting! I’ve never had a bad meal here or had crummy service. The only reason I would give 4 stars, rather than 5 is that the prices are rather elevated.

My first Diners, Drive-​ins, and Dives experience, so I went in very hopeful. We were lucky that we were seated right away, even with our large party. Everything was fantastic from the service, the margaritas, guacamole, tamales, and chips & salsa. I would definitely go back and hope to get the chance the next time we visit St. Louis.

Espino’s is a hidden gem! The queso fundido and margaritas can’t be beat. It does fill up fast but that is only because it is so good!

A New Year’s resolution of mine is to try a new restaurant (that isn’t a chain) at least once a month. If you haven’t tried Espino’s, I highly recommend it. Being someone who grew up a little farther south than St. Louis, I finally found a Mexican restaurant that did not disappoint. Not also did we have great food, but amazing service. 5 stars from me.

Great place and atmosphere. The restaurant is decorated very beautifully. Reminds me of being in a cantina in Mexico. The food is very authentic. This was place was featured on Diners Drive ins and Dives.

I had lunch Pork Verde rice bowl, which was absolutely delicious. The pork was very tender and tasty. The price is not ridiculous.

It is always interesting to visit a restaurant featured on a show like Diners, Drive-​in and Dives to see if truly lives up to the hype and flavors described by the show.
The interior is nicely decorated and upon entering the restaurant was rather empty except for the two or three patrons at the bar. The server was chatting away with what seemed to be locals and let me stand in the entrance waiting to be seated for 3 minutes while in his clear line of vision — a rather long time for an empty restaurant.
The chips and salsa were just ok, I do judge a Mexican restaurant very heavily on their ability to provide great chips and salsa and a spicy salsa option. The spicy salsa upon request was basically the Chili Verde sause and not at all spicy, so a let down there. But hey I was informed by the waiter «you can always add some of that neon green bottle sauce on the table to it»… umm ok sounds appetizing enough. Who hasn’t enjoyed neon green bottled sauce on occasion.
The food: a steak chimichaga, shrimp tacos, and steak enchiladas were all very tasty and fresh. The rice and beans were seasoned very well also. The chimichaga, surprisingly had beans inside the fried tortilla, unique but not bad.
Overall, the food was good but the chips, salsa, and entry service can be improved.

Hmmm. I just didn’t care for the food or the service. I ordered a CHICKEN QUESADILLA, how in Gods name do you mess up a CHICKEN QUESADILLA? It was awful, like someone just put chicken and cheese on a tortilla and popped it in the microwave. Oh and the service was subpar at best, there was maybe one other couple in the entire restaurant and the food took forever. Just no bueno.

Our favorite Mexican place recently closed so we went back to Espino’s for the first time in 4 or 5 years. The chips are a bit thick for our taste but a good salsa would have compensated. Alas…
The shrimp tacos were instead «limp» tacos. The Chicken «Especial» was anything but «especial». Frankly, we won’t be back. Prices were a little high for good food much less what we got. Service was slow and inattentive so the whole experience was memorably poor.
Jim

I will never go here based on an experience a group had here concerning a server Christina. Christina was horribly rude because a table did not tip her what she felt she deserved. To make matters worse, management did not make any effort to make the situation better after being informed of what was happening.
What are you people doing over there trying to ruin your business? Wow.

Not totally unfortunate but nothing to write home to mom about. We came here because of Guy from the food network. I need to write Guy a letter and ask for an hour and a half of my life back! 1 hour for the time it took to get our food and 30 minutes for watching his show where he show cases this west county singles bar!
Don’t let them sit you at the bar tables, it doubles as their waiting room. If you do get seated in the lounge get ready to have a side of ass with your meal and listen to someone else’s loud drunk conversation.
If you you are craving Mexican food, go to Taco Bell. This place is a fusion of Mexican and grandpas attempt at cooking dinner.

Yep, this is a one-​star review about an experience where nothing was actually consumed. Wait, make that two experiences where nothing was actually consumed. Think I will give them a third shot? Not even on a dare…
Service is pure crap. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. No third chance will be afforded for these people to piss me off again.

I was eager to try this spot out as it was approved by Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives.
The décor is festive and welcoming. The staff was friendly. But, despite all this, I was very underwhelmed by the food. I ordered salmon tacos. The food was bland to say the least. Simply put, it tasted like unseasoned fish with some vegetables. I would deem this as basic Tex-​Mex food, a step-​up from your standard fast food Tex-​Mex options.
Accidentally, but maybe more ironically, I forgot my boxed-​up leftovers at the table.
I will say, though, the salsas had a nice kick.

My 2^nd time here, and I’ll be back again. The wife got the carnitas, and it was some of the best flavored we’ve had. The one meal I like better than Mexican food is bbq, so when the chefs special of the day was ribs with a jalapeño sauce I had to try. Presentation was great. The ribs themselves were also very good, though a little pricey. While very good, next time I’ll stick with traditional mexican fare. Service was very good.

I never want to try new Mexican Restaurants because they are usually polar opposites for me. I either love you or hate you.
Food was nothing to write home about, decorations leave a lot to be desired, and the place is very small. One person in my party asked to leave green pepper out of dish and got a run around from the waitress. I asked for no onion, and was told that was not possible. Chimichanga was large enough to share.