Fonda On 12th

I think this may be our new favorite Mexican spot.... Sorry bartaco. I saw something advertised on Instagram and luck was on my side because we went that same night. The restaurant was smaller than I anticipated, but very cute. We didn't have reservations and were able to get right in. I don't remember what we had to drink but I remember it being delicious. We ordered crab empanada as an appetizer; I was kinda hesitant but omg. So good. Table side guac is always a go to. So much guac and so good. We ordered the carne asada board for dinner. Perfect amount of food the two of us and hands down best food. We didn't leave anything on our plates.

All in all, 3.5 stars got the round up for the impeccable service.A new place, as I understand. Found it on Eater Nashville, a solid website for finds when venturing out of town. Located in, as seemingly everywhere else in Nashville is, a trendy part of town, I guess this joint is designed to cater to the Californians who now compose the majority of Middle Tennessee. So authentic-ish Mexican cuisine designed for experienced palates.Was a tourist on this one, so the usual 'order too much' playbook was in effect.When looking just at the dishes offered, the star of the show was, honestly, the tortilla chips. I don't know what controlled substance they sprinkle on to make them that addictive, but these are the crème de la creme of corn chips. Seriously. Buttery, salty, more of a pop than a crunch, if you get my drift, it's layers of thin crisp into a satisfying thick chip. Damned good.The guacamole was good. Made by the twenty year old at a station immediately next to our table, it was done as though he'd won this garde manger position by accumulation of demerits. Nonetheless, the Guac guy turned out fresh Guac with a methodical rhythm, if not panache.The queso fundido was also good. Not sure what the cheese matrix was, but not as light and neutral driven as I've had elsewhere. A satisfying layer of chorizo rendered fat was lurking on the rims of the bowl. The tortillas, flour, were well done.The mains were a bit underwhelming. The octopus tostada, depthy and with latent muted spice of the mole, was interesting. The octopus was cooked exceptionally well- the texture of the meat was spot on. But the semi-chalky after taste (though it may have been exactly what they were going for) wasn't as much to my liking. This is probably more my misunderstanding of traditional mole than it is their variation. The birria quesadilla was the best of the mains, though not particularly different than those I had elsewhere and the portion was a bit on the short side. The consume was wonderful; this saved the dish and made it the best of the mains.The crab empanadas fell flat. This is a dense, doughy empanadas without much lamination of the shell. The density also muted the filling, which I had a hard time getting to the season in order to assess the taste.So what else was good? The parking was directly behind the store and reserved for those dining; this was hugely appreciated.The service and coordination between front and back of the house was fantastic. Our server was incredible attentive, helpful with perspective on the menu, and a delight in table side small talk.The decor presents a wonderful backdrop for enjoying a meal. A lively crowd and fast paced (attributable to the laudable efficiency of operations) environment could be mistaken for hectic, but not crowded. My take is that this is because the management is too notch and brought in from other successful ventures. And it's to their credit that they've brought about this feel.All in all, a wonderful meal.

Service is friendly and fast. The ambience/aesthetic feels fresh and welcoming. Drinks were great. I had the strawberry colada mocktail which was delicious and refreshing! But I wasn't really impressed with the food. For apps we had the guacamole and queso ... hard to mess up. They were tasty enough. But the chicken milanesa torta was a big letdown for me. The fried chicken was over done and dry and the breading had very little flavor. The bread ended up being completely waterlogged by the salsa verde that made it impossible to eat like an actual sandwich. And the house slaw was overly acidic - and as a lover of all things pickled that's saying something. Other folks at the table had the kale salad, a mole bowl, and one of the egg/breakfast dishes. Everything was fresh and plated nicely but nothing in terms of flavor or composition had the wow factor.

Really enjoyed my first time at Fonda. Tried the queso, guacamole, and salsa to start. Got the basic queso and it was great. The guacamole was really good but a little pricey at $16. It is made fresh as soon as you order it, but not sure if I would order it again at that price. There's an option where you can order crispy crickets or chicharrones with it and I decided on the chicharrones. Ended up dipping those in the queso more than the guacamole, but they were great on their own. Salsa comes with the guac and it's more liquidy than most salsa you get at the typical Mexican restaurant but had a ton of flavor. To drink I tried the basic margarita and the naked bandido. The margarita is solid and better than your average, but if you like mezcal, the naked bandido is incredible. It's sweet, spicy, smokey, and the only thing I'll be drinking next time I go.For the main part of the dinner, I got the carnitas taco board, the birria quesadilla, and the ensalada de sandía (watermelon feta salad). You get six tortillas with the taco board, three flour and three blue corn. Both kinds are some of the best tortillas I've ever had. The carnitas were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The board also comes with two salsas, that are both amazing, and some fresh slaw as well as a small dish of refried black beans. The slaw is a little spicy but great, and the black beans are super flavorful. It is definitely a lot of food and for around $20 a pretty good deal to share with someone. The birria quesadilla was really good as well. Great flavor, and the consomme it was served with is awesome too.The ensalada de sandía is plated beautifully and tastes amazing. The watermelon is salted and pairs really well with the feta. Honestly didn't think I would like this dish as much as I did. The service was super fast and everyone was really friendly. It does get a little loud in the restaurant, which can be too much for some people. Some dishes may be a little expensive, but overall it was a great experience and I will definitely be back soon!

When I think of an amazing dining experience, it's more than just the food! A true restaurateur knows that success isn't just about making customers happy--everything has to be spectacular. And honey, Fonda does it all. This place is exactly what Nashville needed to spice up its Mexican food scene.Picture this: vibrant atmosphere, tantalizing cocktails, and service that's not just explorative but downright fabulous. Fonda is a fiesta for your senses!We arrived just after 5 PM on a Thursday evening, right before the night's hustle and bustle kicked in. No reservation? No problem! We cozied up at the bar, which filled up quickly, as did the rest of the restaurant. Trust me, reservations were scarce, so snag one if you see it! But Nicole treated us like royalty, crafting the best cocktails, including my after-dinner special request: an espresso martini with reposado that was out of this world!Our meal started with the Taquitos de Pollo, fried to a perfect golden brown and dressed to impress. These taquitos are the star of the show! Next, the Tostada de Pulpo offered the perfect balance between a satisfying crunch and octopus wood-grilled to succulent perfection. And the Birria Enchiladas? Not your typical enchilada, darling. These will have you crawling back for more!The only miss? Desserts. But babes, you're probably STUFFED anyway. There were options, just none for me. I'd love to see a gourmet Choco Taco!Will I be back? Without a doubt! Fonda might just become my weekly Mexican spot. And to top it off, Pennington went above and beyond to make my experience exceptional. So, if you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience that's a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds, head to Fonda. Thank me later!

Best enchiladas of my LIFE. The margaritas are on point, the guacamole-amazing. The service is fantastic and the atmosphere is so fun! I will certainly be back many times.

Fonda in 12S is a true gem! They offer a shared plate experience where you can exploring a variety of items with your desired taco choice. Start with table side Guac and their perfectly crispy deep fried chips. The steak tacos are a must-try. They also have creative drink options and I went with the hibiscus spritz mocktail, love that they offer non-alcoholic beverages that are equally tasty and creative . The ambiance is chic yet welcoming, making it an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and seemed to genuinely care about us having an enjoyable meal & evening. If you're looking for a place that delivers on both taste and style, Fonda is the place to go!

I went for dinner on Friday night. The design of the restaurant is very nice and attractive. Our waiter was great. I had put in the reservation note an allergy and he asked about it as soon as we were seated and ensured we knew which menu items had that item. We had the guacamole which was very good and so fresh as they make it to order. The chips were great too. I had the tall margarita which I enjoyed. We shared the chicken board. The chicken was in a skillet cooked with tomato and had melted cheese in it too. It came with beans, slaw, salsas, pico and corn and flour tortillas. We both loved it. At the end of the meal the waiter mentioned it was his first day at the restaurant. You would have never known. He provided us with great service. I will be back soon. The food was so good I didn't even think to take pictures.

This place was an easy 5 star experience. Sitting where Josephines used to be on 12th south. The inside is super modern and has great vibes to it. The service we got was incredibly fast. The food came out in 2-3 minutes which blew our minds.The chips and salsa was the best we've had in Nashville by far. The chips themselves were unique and different. The taco board with chicken was incredible. Everything was nice and warm, plenty of chicken for 6 tacos between two people, and very flavorful.This place is a must-try for any foodies in town!

I love Fonda!! It's one of my fave places in nashville to grab a marg with some girlfriends and small plates to share. I LOVE the table side guac! It's perfectly seasoned, spiced and everything in between!! Their chips are nice and salty just how I like it. 10/10!