Flores Emeryville

I stopped by Flores on a Thursday evening for happy hour and had the best experience!The hostess was super friendly and my server was super nice and attentive.I love that they give out the wheel chips for the table and I love that they brought more out when we were out!I got both the carne asada and carnitas tacos and I have to say the carnitas was chefs kiss. I'd come back for the carnitas tacos alone.I had my server pick out the margarita flavors for me. I got to try out two different margaritas, the classic and the Paloma. I typically don't like Paloma's but I definitely loved this Paloma margarita. I stopped by with my boyfriend and it definitely gave out romantic vibes with the dim lights and the booth we were in.Definitely coming by again!

Unfortunately, not much has changed since my initial visit. In my most recent experience, the same lackluster service was present. I was ignored at the bar for 10 minutes. Other patrons had to instruct the bartender to assist me first. I ordered my drinks and food which both took a long time to come out. The patrons to the left of me even stated that they'd been waiting a while. The food was okay, very oily with the cheese seizing up quickly. The tortillas were good though! After eating my food and old drinks sat in front of me for 10-15 minutes. Someone i assumed was the manager (?) came and cleared my area quickly and offered to put in a new drink order for me. He was the only saving grace but it just wasn't enough. Overall, there is an issue with service and food quality. I hope it gets fixed as Flores has a lot of potential. Would I come back? Not yetWould I recommend it to a friend? No

Dined at Flores to celebrate a friend's birthday. The reservation process was straightforward, with plenty of availability for a Sunday evening. But, that's where the pleasant experience ended abruptly. Despite the restaurant being pretty empty, my party was left waiting at the entrance for 10 minutes - no host in sight. Finally, we were seated and then served complimentary chicharrones de harina, flour pinwheels that taste similar to Fritos. Definitely a unique touch that deviates from your standard free nacho chips. And, that became the last instance of thoughtful service we received the entire night. From that point forward, the restaurant was plagued by inattentiveness and inefficiency. For nearly two hours, our water glasses remained empty, requests for chip refills were ignored, and placing our entrée orders required multiple attempts to flag down servers passing by (almost each of whom actually did glance our way only to then proceed as if they didn't see us).The most egregious failure came when it was time to settle the bill. Flores employs a POS system (which in theory should streamline payments) yet when our server brought the card reader, she couldn't bring up our bill. After that, sh disappeared for another twenty minutes without any follow-up. I understand that malfunctions happen but we would've appreciated some communication rather than waiting into oblivion. My friend was left so frustrated that she seriously considered leaving without paying. Such an extreme thought that speaks volumes about the abysmal service.As for the food? Not a redeeming factor. The menu offers upscale Mexican fare that is neither inspired nor memorable and the portions leave much to be desired. They did bring out a free kids' tres leches for my friend's birthday which was nice but otherwise, nothing was done to acknowledge nor rectify the poor service we endured.Suffice to say that I won't be returning. For a far superior Mexican dining experience in both food quality and service, for sure recommend Puesto, another locally owned chain that outperforms in every respect.

Food (4.5/5):My friend and I ordered the Plantano Macho (5/5) as an appetizer and it was great! It came with five fried plantains and a sour cream-like sauce. I loved the vegetarian tacos (4.5/5). They were flavourful and a perfect spice level. The salsa was also good. My friend said the carne asada tacos were solid (4/5) but there could have been a little more kick to them. Ambience (5/5):The restaurant was very well decorated. The tables were large and it was very spacious. There was also a big bar seating area. Service (5/5):The servers were friendly and checked up on us regularly. Our food and drinks came out very quickly. Overall (5/5):I would definitely recommend Flores if you're looking for a slight up-scale Mexican restaurant. I would definitely come back for the tacos and plantains!

While the food was good and atmosphere inviting, the service left a lot to be desired.Food was decent (chilaquiles was my personal favorite), but they would not allow any protein accommodations -- my halal dining partner could not substitute any pork with a beef or chicken alternative, so something to keep in mind.The atmosphere is bright and really sells the vibe of warm Mexican cuisine.We arrived at 1pm on a Saturday (most of the dining room was empty following the brunch rush, but still plenty of servers and a few other tables). While the staff was friendly, they missed the mark on adequate service. Our two meals were brought out 10 minutes apart, and despite ordering coffee and reminding the waiter once both meals were finally brought, the coffee never came.At the end of the meal, we told the waiter to not worry about the coffee as the meal was over and we had wanted it earlier, and the waiter protested -- he told us he had put a pot on just for us and it would go wasted if we didn't take it. We reminded him that we were ready to leave and had asked for it at the beginning of the meal. It was frankly -- and surprisingly -- unprofessional, particularly the bartering that he continued well after we had confirmed that the coffee hadn't yet arrived and we were ready to leave.Overall, it was good food, but not good enough to put up with the lackluster service and extremely rigid menu for a casual dining spot.

I will never tire of saying that I'll return, again and again, to Flores restaurant--it truly feels like coming home. The flavors, fresh ingredients, ambiance, and atmosphere are unmatched. The music, warmth, and colorful decor create a uniquely inviting space, but above all, the exceptional service sets it apart as a must-visit destination.My go-to recommendation will always be the green pozole, yellow plantains with sour cream, a serving of Mexican rice, and a refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail. Joan, our server and bartender, goes above and beyond to make every guest feel like family, adding a special touch to an already incredible experience.

The overall vibe of the place is gorg with heated lamps outside. It felt very romantic. But downstairs (not their fault) but the DJ was blasting music so loudly it messed with the vibe a lot. Our server was very nice and attentive.I do feel like the food was very mid. I liked the chips and guacamole and ate every last bite of those. The steak plate was very disappointing. The steak tasted very porky for some reason and was cold when we got it. I had one bite and could not eat the rest. Luckily my husband ate most of it. At that point we cancelled our carnitas taco and got the check. Would likely not go back.

Was in the mood for Mexican food and one my colleagues suggested we come here for lunch. She had tried them out on a past visit and recalls how really good her meal was.Walked in on a very quiet Election Day and got seated immediately. Table for 3 was available right away. I automatically took notice of the amount of Tequila Brands the bar had. Was I thinking of Margarita's or what! Complimentary chips were served, it had a light vinegar flavor to it. I ordered their Enchiladas Rojas de Pollo. The menu said it contained spicy salsa ranchera, but it was mild flavor. We ordered a pitcher of classica margarita which was about 4 servings, perfect for a simple happy hour.Our food was delicious. Service was very friendly. Location was perfect. Price is affordable. I'd return here on my next visit.

Flores in Emeryville is a great addition to the Bay Street area! I've been to the sf location and the emeryville one was just as good if not better!We got some free crunchy snacks complimentary which were delicious. Our waitress was super friendly and kind! We got the chips and salsa to start and all the salsas were unique and delicious. The habanero especially had a strong kick! We got the mole poblano and carnitas for mains. The mole was so tender and flavorful and it came w tortillas which was very appreciated to make it into a lil taco! We also got the small plate of carnitas which were smoky, tender, and melt in your mouth delicious. We will be visiting again! Thanks for the great meal!

Cute location on Bay Street!FOOD: I had the fish tacos. They were tasty but they felt like they were missing some sauce. I think they can kick the flavor up a notch on these. I really enjoyed the free corn chips they give you. They were tasty! SERVICE: The service was decent, food came out fast but then we did not see our server for awhile. AMBIANCE: This place is decorated really cute! I enjoyed the modern Spanish style decor. Overall, will I be back? Probably not. However l, if you are in the area and craving Mexican I think this place is worth trying!