JoToro Kitchen & Tequila Bar

I did expect a little more from this place. It wasn't bad by any means but different. The food was good but very heavy on the smoke flavors. Almost too much. Now I enjoy a good smoked brisket and other food as made but the whole dish seemed to be overly smoked. Even my wife's chicken just had an overly smoked flavor. Not sure if this was from the grill or marinated in something. Probably both. Now the steak enchiladas was good. Again I like smoke flavors. It had some great richness with it and the enchiladas sauce was great. The down side is the cost of sides. $4 just for some rice, beans and lettuce is a little steep on such a small plate. I guess that the down side of this place really. They seemed to nickel and dime you for almost everything. I normally see this at high end restaurants but this is not that type of place.Now would I come back. Yes! The drinks here are amazing. If you are doing a bar crawl or in the area looking for a drink. Stop by! I had 2 drinks one being The Bull. Rich in coconut flavor and light on the tongue. The other was a play on manhattan with tequila. This was on the sweeter side but the flavor is very refreshing as it rolls off your tongue.Last the service. We had Big Papa! My guy was awesome and on top of everything. He came around often and made sure everything was good. If you bring a party here and he is working request him if he is available.

Came here on a Thursday evening and was able to be seated quite quickly! Our waitress greeted us and made a few suggestions on drinks. From there, she let us have time to look at the menu. We ordered the trio chips & dip. I thought the queso & guac were delicious! The salsa was ok. I also ordered their chicken verde burrito! I thought it was decent! Definitely a large portion! I ended up taking half of it home. The music selection was nice and I enjoyed the decor within the restaurant. Overall, a pretty good visit! I'd likely return in the future.

Pros:-Big Papa! Shout out! Fantastic waiter! He was friendly and super on top over everything!-Salsa was unique and flavorful! One of the best I have a had in a long time. The chips were also super fresh and crisp.-Drink were well made and really good.Cons:-Main Dish: Chicken Fundido Burrito. This is where the stars were lost. The chicken was quite fatty, I got a few bites with gristle (which is a huge turn off). The burrito was also incredibly smokey, which I personally do not care for that flavor profile and really wish that was well-stated on the menu. Smoky flavors are often very strong and if you are not a fan of it, or expecting it... it can be surprising and a bit of a let down. My hubs also had a meal he said was smoky too. Which is fine, but please put something on the menu to let people know (that way they can pick something else if not a fan of those types of flavors).Overall, it was an okay experience. I think this was be a good bar hopping place to experience but not sure about meals unless you really like smoky flavors (which many do like and love, just not for me) and I think they could do better on meat selection/cuts.

The chips and salsa is still amazing, but I'd try something other than the Mexican Cobb Salad next time.Future Christina, next time try another salad. The Mexican Cobb Salad had great dressing, but I think I should have mixed it all together. It's all very pretty, but it comes separated, so I think I ate all the things I liked and ended up with just lettuce. However, there was another salad that looked good, so next time I should try that. The chips and salsa are still absolutely delicious. It's perfectly seasoned. However, I learned I can't eat it by myself. My friend only ate a little, so by the end I was feeling slightly greasy from eating all the chips. I should only order it when I'm with my husband who I know will eat half of it (at least).On a Monday at noon on a holiday (MLK day) I thought it would be packed, but there was still tons of seating. By 1 p.m. it got a little more busy, but still not enough that you would need reservations. Service was still great and parking is plentiful at the Garrison lot. I will definitely be back.

All I can say is yum. Between the drinks, apps and birria. Our server was a little snappy but food and drinks came out in a timely manner even though they were busy. Cute restaurant. Only complaint is one bathroom for women in a busy and large restaurant? Not cool.

Came here on Saturday at 4pm before a concert at Amalie. Our waitress was super friendly but drinks did take 20 min or so to come out. The marg flight was super fun to try but I'd only recommend if you like your drinks on the sweeter side! Classic house marg was bomb, definitely my fav. Chipotle chicken tacos were average, but got a side of guac with them that tasted delicious! Overall, not my favorite Mexican food in Tampa but a solid option if you're down in Channelside.

Food: 3Service: 4Ambiance:3I wish I could give this place a 4 because the team is awesome but the food and the atmosphere was not. I came in on a Friday afternoon hoping for an early happy hour but this place was dead.Food was bland and even the bartender felt bad because we didn't eat our food. She offered to get us new options but we passed. I see this place busy on the weekends so was surprised it was fairly empty. Did enjoy the service. Everyone was friendly and chatty. The margaritas were a good size and taste. Maybe worth giving it another shot.

The atmosphere was absolutely amazing - vibrant, colorful, and full of energy. The decor was fun and exciting, making the experience even more enjoyable. They also offer outdoor seating, which is a great option. The place was spotless, and the restrooms were immaculate. Our server was one of the BEST we've ever had! She was sweet, professional, and incredibly patient. She took the time to offer thoughtful recommendations, and I was thrilled with the choices. The chef did an outstanding job with the food and even brought it to the table personally. After we finished our meal, the manager stopped by to check on us. She was so sweet and radiated positivity, making the experience even more memorable. I couldn't have asked for a better dining experience!

Great quick lunch at JoToro. Mid day was a great time to come, no wait and got our meals quickly. Our server was friendly and efficient. And the food was delicious. You can sit in or outside which is nice as well. The Mexican Cob was great, a bit salty on the shrimp seasoning but still delicious

I sat at the bar and got drinks and some food before the Lightning game. The food was amazing (taco salad was so good and big) and drinks were great! Services was also great and fast!