El Cisne

I should have reviewed this place a lot earlier! It really is a charming little Mexican restaurant that manages authenticity and appealing to the American palate very well. All of the employees are very friendly and they tend to have a lot of drink specials available.
My favorite food here is definitely the tacos. In fact, I think they make some of the best tacos in Tucson. The shells are perfectly fried and the toppings contain just the right amount of everything, regardless of what variety you desire (I’ve tried them all). I’ve tried the enchiladas and tamales as well, and they are pretty standard fare. But the tacos are the real treat here.
They have no problem doing prompt take-​out and the atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. Sometimes you will even find live music playing if you come on the right evening. I am concerned, however, that I rarely see this restaurant full. Most of the patrons seem to be individuals reading books or doing paperwork (much like myself). I hope this restaurant can sustain itself because it really is a lovely addition to the Catalina Foothills restaurant scene and I’d hate to see it go.
Try the tacos! You won’t be sorry.

Lovely room, lovely staff… just bring your own food.
I did not know one could totally ruin sea bass, but these folks succeed. First of all, it came breaded and fried, instead of grilled or baked. Breaded and fried would be expected for fish & chips at $ 6.99 from some greasy spoon, not at a restaurant which charges $ 24 for sea bass. Afterwards, we rechecked the menu and it did say «pan fried,» but they failed to tell you it is breaded. But if that wasn’t bad enough, it was sauced with a vile sauce. It appears they maybe took pickles, threw them into a food processor, added extra vinegar, then marinated the fish in that. I just gagged on the sourness pervading it. How can they do this to a top-​end fish for which they charge top prices – it was the most expensive entrée on the menu! The short of it is, I have not had a fish dish this awful in more years than I can remember, and never for sea bass.
And I am not holding them to some elevated yuppie standard. Back at home, about a mile from our house, we have a lovely Mexican hole-​in-​the-​wall where I can get a baked Pescado Vera Cruz. It costs $ 9 and I keep returning to order it. It’s not sea bass, but some nameless low-​end white fish. But it tastes lovely, unlike the horror at El Cisne.

Good food. Great service. The beef fajitas are very good. Try them out you won’t be disappointed.

Fantastic chicken mole. Service was very friendly. Live music was a pleasant offering.

We got to get certificate here for Christmas for my husband’s work. Last night, we took my parents out to dinner to try the restaurant for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised by how large the place was. We were seated promptly and our drink orders taken right away. The salsa was very good, but the waiter should have told us which one was hot and which one was mild so we didn’t have to find out for ourselves. The chips were okay, and would have been great if they were warm.
All four of us ordered a combination plate and were very pleased with how quickly our order came out. The food was very good, especially the shredded beef taco and shredded chicken enchilada .The chili relleno was very spicy and it would have been nice if the menu had stated that so I could have ordered something different. My mom’s tamale was too spicy for her and she wished there were a symbol on the menu to let her know before ordering as well.
Overall, it was a great place and we will certainly be back.

My favorite Mexican dish is red chili con carne. The problem is unless it’s home made, it’s stringy. I was pleasantly surprised with the red chili con carne chimichanga. So tender and the flavor was just like home made. The service was perfect and the staff very personable. As I was finishing my dinner I was offered dessert on the house. The flan was just as delicious.

Big menu with wide variety. Everyone in our party of four were pleased. Had the garlic shrimp, mole good as well.

Finally, great Mexican food in the foothills. Chile Relleno– spicy, cheesy and excellent, birria, tender succulent and filled with complex flavors, enchilada sauce was dark, rich and just the right amount of spice. Overall this place is as good as many places on the Southside but with a bit more atmosphere and close to home. Prompt service and friendly staff make this a great spot.

You need to go to BK’S on 12^th street south of Irvington. Huero Cane lo used to be good, but they changed. Otherwise the roach coaches have the closest thing to a tacito or caramelo. Places like this are a farce. They know they can fool people who live in the richie areas. I saw this place and new it wasn’t the real thing. I ate in Mexico over 100 times and had a Mexican Wife. Even if I was a millionaire… I wouldn’t pay those prices.

One word: fantastic. The mole sauce is one of the best I’ve ever had. All the ingredients are fresh and the flavors are terrific. The only negatives I use to be objective are the cocktail sauce for the shrimp cocktail could use some horseradish for a kick and the chips are a little flat.

I’m an avid Unilocaler and normally won’t try a restaurant that has less than 4 stars but a friend said some very good things about El Cisne so my wife and I decided to give it a try. To set the stage, my wife is Mexican (born in Mexico) and I have traveled extensively in Mexico and Central and South America; we both know our way around Mexican and Latino food/​cuisine.
We had brunch at El Cisne this morning. On first impression, the restaurant is very nicely appointed, quiet environment, pleasing Mexican music playing, and we were greeted by the hostess (Nancy). I ordered their chili relleno (always my test dish when trying a new Mexican restaurant). The chili relleno was absolutely excellent! A flavorful Anaheim chili stuffed with queso fresco, lightly battered, and fried with a light tomatillo sauce on top. This chili relleno was very comparable to those made by my 94 year old Mexican mother-​in-​law; definitely one of the best I have had and absolutely the best that I have had in Tucson. I followed the chili relleno with a house margarita, which was made from scratch – also difficult to find in Tucson. Many bartenders seem to want to use sweet and sour mix instead of keeping it simple and sticking to the original margarita recipe – it was delicious. My wife had the omellete espinaca, which she raved about. We topped off the breakfast with the coconut flan which was also delicious. I don’t have a negative comment re: our experience. We’ll definitely be back and we highly recommend El Cisne!

Went on a casual date with my husband and found this place to have a nice modern atmosphere for a Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Salsa and chips were brought immediately and the salsa was quite good. Then, things fell apart. I ordered the carne asada tacos… the menu reads «diced Angus Sirloin» but what I received looked like dry leftover diced steak from the day before. Yuck. Husband ordered the Camarones Culiche. 6 medium shrimp and not filling. The best thing about this place is they have «Day of the Dead» porter which is FANTASTIC!

Delicious food and very strong margaritas. Their bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer and their chile rellenos are a must try. I love their chips and salsa as well. Use Unilocal coupon and go for happy hour!

Cinco de Mayo. Margarita and beer. Good food and the best salsa and beans anywhere! Having a fun evening with Frank.

Hidden gem in strip mall. Very nice atmosphere in both restaurant and bar. You can actually carry on a conversation. Ok so that’s the bones. Now the drinks. Oh marvelously mixed and shaken… super fresh mixes that are made from fresh squeezed fruits. The food. Did I already say fresh? Oh so delicious salsa, light crispy corn chips, fresh lettuce, chiles, sauces… Just the right amount of everything! How did I ever miss this place??? I recommend you check it out as soon as you can!

I went with a large group and the first thing was the staff which was incredibly friendly and attentive. Secondly, the food was served quickly and tasted great. We all had a fantastic time. They have quite a variety of dishes including seafood. I feel comfortable recommending this restaurant to anyone.

Very good full service Sonaran Mexican restaurant.
Very good service, fresh food and we’ll presented.
Seriously good salsas and fresh chips are always a winner.
Good steaks and seafood too and ice cold beer.
They also have a nice bar as well.
Will definitely go back again.

I live near by and finally decided to give this place a try. The staff is very friendly which was good and why I give it 2 stars. The food was not so good. I had the mole Oaxaceño. The mole sauce was decent but the chicken was very rubbery and dry, as if it had been boiled for too long. My friend had fajitas and he struggles to cut through the steak as it was also very tough. I was hoping it would be good since it it is so close to my home.

When El Cisne first opened the food was ok, but now, in 2014, this Mexican Food joint has become a big rip off. Beware, when ordering, your waiter ask «do you want green or red sauce with that?». he will follow with «and do you want sour cream and guacamole with that?». Well of course you do, thinking a small portion of each will be put on your plate at no extra cost. What the waiter doesn’t say is that the sour cream and guac. are side dishes that’ll will set you back an extra $ 5.50 for each «yes». Pure dishonesty!
As for the food, it is just OK and will come to you warm, not hot, so that before you have a chance to finish your enchiladas, you’ll be looking at cold cheese stuffed between and on top of a cold tortilla. Not a pleasant sight. Why not start with a really HOT food and a HOT plate?
Oh, and did I mention that we sat waiting 45 minutes for our food to arrive?. The waiter was nice, but was waiting way too many tables at the same time. Even the woman helping him that came around while we were waiting, asking if we wanted more chips but then never brought them, was way over her head. Finally, be warned, the place a really quite talkie noisy; so if you have trouble hearing or just want a quiet meal, forget it!
We will not eat here again.

Everything about my dinner here was amazing. The service was very friendly and fast. and the food was outstanding. I liked the romantic atmosphere, nice decorations and good ambiance.
The food:
For starters, my bf and I ordered the rellenos jalapenos. They were very good, on a nice bed of lettuce, tomato and side of tasty white sauce.
I ordered the Mole chicken, which was outstanding. Very juicy and tender breast with incredibly flavorful mole sauce. Came with choice of beans, side tortilla and some lettuce and tomato.
BF got a chimi, shredded beef, with red sauce and cheese on top. IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I kept stealing bites from his plate!
We will definitely be back next time we visit Tuscon to try more dishes!