El Charro Negro

We came in to the restaurant with high expectations, since they had a detailed allergen list and had some gluten-free options and it looked very nice. The decor is 10/10. However, I wouldn’t go here again. Why? Because this is not Mexican food as I personally know it. No, I’m not Mexican, but my friends are and when they cook for us, it’s different, mainly: more flavourful. Maybe I asked for the ‘wrong’ dish, because I see many positive reviews, however, if a restaurant serves a dish I believe it should be tasty. The melted cheese I had was great, the stuffed jalapeños were not amazing, the chilli con carne was bland and not spicy and the tostadas that I had were fine (see photo) but not great. A bit bland as well, under salted, no spices etc. The service was very friendly though. When I asked for some lemon to make my dish more palatable, it was served. They were friendly too, but seemed a bit stressed/rushed at times. Prices were good, only the jalapeño portion was on the smaller side. All in all; the restaurant’s atmosphere is cozy but the food they serve seems like a less flavourful European adaptation of real Mexican food. Gluten-free option are great. It’s possible that it’s to your taste, but certainly not to mine. In my opinion, it’s better if they create a smaller menu with dishes the people are enthusiastic about.

Good service, good food and well-defined gluten-free options.