Rancho Alegre

I’m writing my review after the most disappointing visit to The Grandview Avenue/​Route 33 store ever… I was introduced to Rancho Alegro by my son and it’s become a place we enjoy together… this visit crushed my commitment.
Never have I experienced such poor, neglectful and rude service here. We were seated and then the dilemma began… forgotten by servers when we were only the 3^rd table in the entire restaurant on a weekday afternoon. We eventually were noticed, received drinks and sat a while before we were noticed again to place orders. We drank water and empty water glasses is all we had for the most part. Food eventually came but silverware was another story as he had to go find it… It took a while before it arrived.
Food was disgusting actually, presentation unlike anything I’d seen before. Flavor was so unlike the exciting flavors I’d experienced in same dishes before.
I’ve never had this experience here before and I’ll go back but I’m cautious.
I became a major fan/​supporter when I thought el Vaquero had gone downhill and note I’m thinking I need to try them on Olentangy again.

I’d give this place five stars but I haven’t had a GREAT FIVE STAR food experience on all of my visits. My last visit I tried the Special Steak Tacos and they’re were fantastic. Good combination of spicy and flavorful. Good presentation too, when you look at it you want to eat it. Really nice portions sizes for both the entrée and the two sides that come with it. The staff are very friendly and attentive (99% of the time).
If you’re in the mood for Mexican put this place on the discussion table. Sometimes the fajitas are a hit or a miss. I can tell you if you get the Special Steak or Special Chicken tacos you aren’t taking any gamble.

Absolutely phenomenal experience. We had a group of 10 (yes we were the loud guys in the corner). The food was excellent and the margaritas were exactly what we expected. Life is truly about managing expectations and this place allows even those with the highest of expectations to enjoy themselves. The service was pristine, which has led myself and my group of friends to declare our evening as the beginning of a beautiful tradition. We’ll see you next Cinco de Mayo!

We have Been coming here for years
This used to be a TeeJays so it is a pretty good size dining room
Easy to get in without a wait and the food is really good here
It does get busy in the summer on the weekends as people who are boating and skiing in the water up the road head this way after a day on the water, but
still never much of a wait
Great food /​excellent service !

Just an ordinary Mexican restaurant that is Heavily Americanized. Our waitress was horrible. Came by our table just twice. To take our order and to bring the check. She looked like she was forced to be there. Not a good service. The food was alright. But I don’t see myself coming back.

Okay, so Rancho Alegre in general is not terrible. The location up in Dublin is actually pretty decent and persuaded me to give this location a shot, but it sadly fell very-​very short to my experience at other locations.
Greeting and seating was prompt.
Chips and salsa were delivered on que.
Waiter – Was… Nowhere to be found. I heard the hostess yell out, and then our waiter magically appeared… after 5 minutes, and he was out of it. Don’t know if it was just a long day, or he was already hitting the happy hour, but the service he provided was very… lacking.

Ordered appetizer — They didn’t have it any longer, but it was still on the menu.
Order just plain queso for the chips… IT never came.
The real kicker is we waited for a long time. We waited close to 30 + minutes for food, and this wasn’t even the middle of a busy dinner rush… and… I know ya’ll know… most of this stuff is just K.P.‘d and ready to go. There were just a few tables seated… most were already finished eating.
The food was finally served, but it was pretty sad. The rice looked like it had all the life sucked out of it. No flavor. Chicken burrito… No flavor. Husband’s ground beef burrito… AGAIN, absolutely no flavor. Tasteless and abysmal.
I don’t get it. It’s just a matter of them not caring what they serve.
I don’t think I’ll understand how people can continue to eat here. It’s pretty much on par with an El Vaquero.
They’ve lost my business… at least from this location. I’m standing up and proclaiming to hell with this bland Mexican food these establishments want to serve us in Columbus. Lets get some authenticity for crying out loud!
Not worth the almost $ 30 tab for some boring food and underwhelming service.

Not from the area, but every time we have had food here it seemed rather empty. That’s not stopping us because so far, this is the best Mexican we can find around. We have swung and missed at multiple Mexican restaurants until we stumbled across this bright establishment. Service seems rather slow, but so far, it’s worth the wait. Queso Fundido, pork, chicken, black beans, refried beans, rice. all delicious. They also have a house spicy salsa that I would recommend trying if you can handle a little heat. Don’t shy away from the lack of cars in the lot and give the place a shot. The Kitchen does a nice job.

I had driven by this place a few times and was curious. It isn’t hipster/​trendy but more old school by atmosphere.
The food on the other hand is top notch. We had the Queso Fundido which was awesome and a lot. The Guacamole was great as well. The waitress suggested we not order more apps as they are large and she was correct.
My friend had the fish tacos which he graciously let me try. Good stuff with a little kick. I had the Chimichangas which were also delicious. The presentation of all the dishes were great and very appealing. The deserts were good (Flan and Fried Ice Cream) but could have done without all the bells and whistles of whipped cream, cherries etc. The presentation on these wasn’t on par with the entries.
And, of course the margaritas. Oddly there are no prices on the menu for these so we had to ask. Price for top shelf pitcher was 22.95 which wasn’t bad.
Price wise I do think the entries were a little pricey.

Don’t sit at the bar. Service was not good. Waited forever to get service. Going to Yabos next time.

We go out to eat no less than 3 times a week, check my check-​ins, you’ll see. However, most places are not review worthy… tonight is an exception. We’ve been here a number of times, but never was it on-​point like it was tonight. The chips and salsa were perfect, the entrees were the best we’ve had, Mexicanwise, in a really long time. The service was fast, the food was plated well… it was a great experience.

This is the best, most authentic Mexican food I’ve found in the Columbus area, up to date. There have been some inconsistencies in the flavors and preparations of certain dishes, but I’ve not yet been all-​out disappointed here. The service can be on the slower side. They’re certainly not breaking any speed records.
I’m sure there’s a five star worthy gem out there somewhere, but I’ve not found it since moving to Grandview last year. I’ve followed many trusted recommendations, but have only found disappointment. I know what Mexican food CAN taste like, but my prized eatery remains elusive for the time being.

Clean restaurant. Very friendly staff. Chip and salsa– tasted very tomato ketchup based. Not very good. We ordered the fajitas. Honestly the cheapest quality and least authentic food we have ever had. This was Taco Bell quality at best. Sorry to be so harsh but Columbus has many other very good authentic Mexican restaurants to choose from.

It is with a heavy heart that I give my former love, Rancho, only two stars. My husband and I have been going here for years — since it first opened. In the early days, it was everything we wanted a Mexican restaurant to be. Not crowded (*cough*, El Vaquero), not made to feel like we had to eat and get the hell out. Good food, really good margaritas, friendly staff.
Over the years, however, they’ve started to get too fancy. The menu changed — but not for the better. Portions got smaller, former rice AND beans became one or the other, and the prices went up. Additionally, the new dinnerware just doesn’t cut it. Large, square, awkward plates — with the rice in a deep square dish rather than on the plate alongside my other food (what? I like to mix it all together. Ha!).
The chips and salsa have lost their flavor. Just generic now. The margaritas that we used to love are now too sweet and bitter (ugh! The dreaded pre-​mix tartness).
If you didn’t know that, previously, this place was an A+ and now is only a C, at that, then, sure, it might seem like an alright place. But we know that it’s steadily going down hill.

We came here purely by chance– happened to be nearby and needed somewhere to eat, and our first choice was closed. Sweetie noticed that we drove past this place, so we stopped in.
It’s definitely decorated in the previous fashion for Mexican places, not the new high-​backed multi-​colored chairs. bright tiles, etc., style. Comfy, not fancy. It’s a pretty big place, with a bar and lots of tables and booths.
The chips and salsa were fine, nothing special. We started with the Texas dip– beef, chicken, shrimp, and veggies in a cheese sauce. Very tasty. They serve it with fresh tortillas, but be prepared for a big mess. The cheese runs out of the ends of any roll you try to make with the tortillas, and drips off the chips if you use those. I’m thinking they should make it a little thicker, or at least bring extra plates and lots of napkins to avoid a cheesy table.
Sweetie had the beef burrito lunch special; I didn’t try it, but she said it was good and really liked the rice and beans on the side. I had the tacos de jicama. Thin sliced jicama subbed for tortillas, and added a nice cool crunch. The filling (I chose coconut chicken) was incredibly flavorful, and had lots of fresh veggies mixed in. A bit messy, but not as bad as the dip.
All in all, we might go back if we were nearby. Very good food. Service was friendly but pretty slow.

Rancho Alegre is a pretty average Mexican restaurant if you ask me. There was nothing bad about my dining experience, but there was also nothing memorable.
Our waiter was friendly and funny. A buddy was drinking his beer from a straw and the waiter told him he would get drunk faster that way. Hmm… need a Mythbuster confirmation.
The menu options and prices were pretty average. They have margarita specials, which I believe is a big draw of the restaurant. Around $ 6 for a large margarita. They were decent too.
I ordered the mixed fajitas and was satisfied. The meat was tender and condiments were plentiful. Overall a solid choice, but nothing surprisingly good. The chips and salsa were average as well.
I’m new to Columbus, but Rancho Alegre seems a bit out of the way. Not sure if I i’ll be back, unless it’s out as a group. They are pretty good at accomodating large parties.

My delightful waiter brought me a delicious half salt half sugar margarita upon request! ! The food omg deliciousness!

It’s everything you’re looking for in a Mexican restaurant. Fast service, hot food, free chips and salsa, tasty margs, and fun Mexican music playing. I like this place better than the local Mexican restaurant chain.
Foods I enjoy here-​chimichangas, enchiladas, fajitas, and nachos! Can’t go wrong with any of those. The rice and beans are also great!

I really, REALLY wanted to like this place. Being a native Texan, Tex-​Mex is really important to me and finding a good Mexican food restaurant is like finding a home away from home. The decorations here are spot-​on, and the drinks are AMAZING but dangerous — they’ll put you under the table! Our food was also really tasty.
So why the bad rating? When I tried to order a combo dinner that included a chile relleno and a tamale, the server told me they weren’t serving either of those items that night because, and I quote:
«Our microwave is broken.»
NOPE. Done. Seriously? You microwave chile rellenos and tamales??? Ugh. Done. Like I said, I really wanted to like this place but just knowing that information means I’ll never be back. I’m sorry, Rancho Alegre!

It’s difficult for a Mexican restaurant to stand out from the rest, and Rancho Allegre, unfortunately, is no different. Props for a clean restaurant and attentive service, but the food was humdrum. Chips and salsa, good; chicken enchilada, good; tamale above average. Plenty of food and chips (i hate when you have to ask for chips at a Mexican place) and reasonable prices. Lunch prices end at 3:30, so take note if you are preferring smaller, lunch portions.
There is nothing wrong with Rancho Allegre, and the experience is reliably consistent – food, service, cleanliness, music. But if you want something different, try another restaurant/​taco truck.

I had the Camerones al Diablo at El Vaquero the other day. Of course I got hooked of it and and once my digestive system somewhat recovered, I wanted more.
Their version here is a little more mild, although I didn’t specify spicy this time. Some habanero verde sauce helped that out. This place serves frijole refritos in addition to the dish and it’s a buck cheaper than El Vaquero.
Their margaritas pack a better punch than El Vaquero’s and the service was about the same.
If you closed your eyes and tried to guess which Mexican restaurant you were in, it might be a hard guess as this looks pretty typical.
That being said, the next time I want heartburn in a good way, this place will be on my list.