Desperados

Visited April 2015: «Accommodating Owner»
We were admiring the menu on the window, when the owner approached us to try his food. He stated a deal, free drink or appetizer, which we couldn’t refuse. My friend and I order margaritas, and they were delicious. We ordered nachos, shrimp fajitas, and a dessert to share. I requested spicier salsa to be made, and the waiter happily obliged.

What if your favourite beer was a restaurant? I bet this was what the asked before opening this one and it seems to be a winner.
The food was delicious, juicy and full of flavour but without being too hot. I had the chicken burrito, which already came with cream and guacamole (not like those other restaurants you have to order it extra) and my friend had chicken with mustard (forgot the proper name) which I really liked but he found it a little too strong (intense flavour not heat). I definitely recommend both though.
Complimenting the food, the décor and music created a very upbeat atmosphere and to top that off the staff were all very friendly and helpful. It was great to see them smile and be happy to help and I firmly believe that their attitude makes the place.
All in all I would love to go back there again. This is definitely one that deserves to be a chain!

It’s not great… but that’s because it was recently found to be a front for a gang using it to sell drugs.
I give it 2 stars though because I really enjoyed the nachos here, and I once met a really cute girl who I dated… so it deserves a little something.
Hell, if you want a true Breaking Bad style dining and drinking experience, DESPERADOS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU.
(But no, seriously… it’s being closed down at the end of the month for all of the illegal activity. I’m not just making this up.)

Very good food, massive portions for good prices and very alcoholic cocktails (be warned!!).

I liked this place a lot! Shame about the negative reviews. I actually fancied the waitress a little bit she was so beautiful and kind! The chilli con carne and nachos were awesome and my parents loved their meals too! Our food was certianly not bland! Great vibe and amazing location and view of the cutty sark!

Large portions, tasty chicken burrito, cheap price. Ask for tap water and you’re definitely getting a bargain dinner!
This was my first time in the Greenwich branch and I have to admit, it’s not up to the same standard as its Islington counterparts! The service is relatively hit and miss, with half of the waiting staff beaming with friendliness and half who are feisty and argumentative — we even saw some mains come out on the table next to us before the table had finished their starters. When the customer complained, they were met with an argument and a ‘the steak was ready though’ attitude. Luckily, she was polite enough to us.
The presentation of the food is also not as good, they don’t serve everything in separate dishes at this branch, and I do think it makes a difference.
In terms of personal experience, though, it was OK, not as good as others, but I was full on £10… Next time, I’d probably tube it up to Islington instead, for the same bargain, but a much better experience!

Estábamos dando un garbeo por el precioso barrio londinense de Greenwich cuando nos llamó la atención el cartelito en la puerta de un restaurante anunciando a bombo y platillo «Spanish Tapas and Tortilla Española». Nada mas leerlo se nos hacia la boca agua y sin pensarlo dos veces decidimos entrar. Nos recibieron con un parco «Hello, good afternoon» y todo ello sin esbozar ni una sonrisa. Se lo habrán guardado en casa, en el congelador para no gastarla. Con un gesto de la mano nos indicaron una desnuda mesa sin mantel ni hule junto al ventanal.
Con la carta del menú entre manos nos dimos cuenta que aquello era una especie de Tex-​Mex pero no nos importaba mucho, que lo nuestro era «Beer and tortilla española for four, please!» Mientras estábamos esperando que nos servieran el ansiado manjar recorrimos visual– olfativamente el local. La Decoración resultaba cargante y desordenada. El aroma que predominaba en el ambiente era una mezcla de fritangas de cocina y una una reciente juerga etílica.
Ya íbamos por la segunda cerveza para hacer tiempo cuando por fin llegó la… ay mi madreee, nunca vi una tortilla mas cuadrada y menos española que yo, que ya es decir. Todo se quedó en una miniración de algo sin papas ni cebolla acompañado de una socorrida ensalada de col aliñada con el clásico french-​dressing de bote. No sabría decir lo que era, se parecía a huevo cuajado con berenjenas y pimiento rojo de lata. No es que sabia mal pero nuestra desilusión era grande. Estando aún pensando si pedir algo mas, me salvó el efecto de la cerveza. Bajé al baño que se encontraba en el sótano y cuando ya me disponia a reunirme con mi gente me topé con una puerta entreabierta. No sé porque, pero hay puertas a medio cerrar que tienen la torpe costumbre de poner a la vista lo que preferiblemente no se deberia ver.
Pedimos la cuenta, pagamos mas de lo que realmente valia aquello que habíamos comido y con lo mismo nos fuimos. Puede ser que sea algo tikismikis pero en mis recuerdos el local se quedó como anécdota de mi visita a Greenwich. Si te he visto, ni me acuerdo… ni muerta de hambre ni desperada.

I know Unilocal is awesome —
but sometimes, despite the bad reviews you have to give a place a go.
Wrong.
The food is bland. Really bland. I ordered the burrito with refried beans and rice. The rice tasted like that dried packet of savory rice you buy from the supermarket and add water. The burrito itself was fine, but bland and soggy on the bottom because it was placed on the beans. The beans, bland again. Salsa was less salsa, more tomato.
The Mrs had the fajitas which she said was OK — but not as good as we make it. I think, how wrong can you go with frying up some veg?!
There’s a big drinks menu, but the soft drink options were barely existent and cost as much as they cocktails and beers.
Service was just awful. Moving your stuff around the table, cleaning around you in mid conversation when completely unnecessary. No smile, no chat, leaning against anything while taking your order. You can tell they don’t care not only by the attitude of their staff but by their ‘hilarious’ little note in their menu ‘Service obsessed co’ — any feedback write to Acapulco.‘
The décor is bold and tacky. At first you think, cheesy and fun, then realize it’s just cheap and unappealing really.
Wild horses couldn’t drag me back here for all the Meh in the world.

Another place id only go back to for the cocktail menu! A Mexican run by Turkish people with a African chef! Well the 2 times I’ve been he was in the kitchen!
Chicken satay’s were ok but peanut sauce was a blob of peanut butter! Since been back and I wouldn’t even go back for the cocktails! Felt very uncomfortable

While meeting a friend before going to Greenwich Theatre, she had plenty of time to look around and decide what she wanted to eat. Therefore, we ended up here. It was empty when we sat down (about 18.00), but it was a Tuesday night so I wouldn’t expect it to be crazy busy. Our waitress was very helpful and did not rush us in any way. We ordered drinks and food at the same time, and our starters arrived before our drinks (and very quickly at that). Nachos were what you would expect, and my chicken fajitas were tasty. Main meals are about £10, starters about £5. I wouldn’t chose to eat her again, but if friends wanted to I wouldn’t say no.

The food here is only okay, but the service was fast which was important because we were going to catch a boat back to London after visiting the Royal Observatory.
We had 2 beers, Tortilla chips with salsa, guac, and sour cream, and prawns in chili lime sauce, and the worst patatas bravas that I’ve ever had. The bill was about 24 GBP or $ 38. This place was busy and they seemed to have many specialty cocktails so that may be the appeal, but it isn’t the Mexican food or the tapas.

The jug of cocktails are a scam, they dont put the same measures in them as in the glass cocktails, ours was at least two shots short of being the same taste, and before you say it i ordered both the jug and the cocktail itself so i definitely know.
As for the food, a burrito is pretty standard fare for a mex restaurant right? Well the one they served here was miniscule. They say 10″, thats bs, its about 4 inch, so either someone is used to exaggerating the length of things or they need their eyes tested. Plus it was pricey, in Soho, im happy to pay £6 for a burrito, but here its £10 which is a jip if you as me especially as most of the plate is refried beans and rice. I mean i am full, but mainly cos of the nachos, which were ok i suppose, just not enough chilis.
They arent Mexican either, and the toilet looked like the M6 if you know what i mean, but if you like panpipe cover versions of The Eagles, then you’re on to one! They also started bleaching the floor while we were there, and after a jug of cocktail that piney fresh smell doesnt sit so good. avoid.
Anyhoo, wont be coming back, so vaya con dios Desperdos

you would have to be desperado to go here.
The food was piping hot in a ‘reheated in the microwave’ fashion and arrived alarmingly quick after ordering, in a ‘reheated in the microwave now get this down you and clear the table for more customers, por favor’ kind of way. The tables were WAY too close together. The waiters were friendly, I can’t argue with that. I think mexican food has to be superb to be enjoyed, this wasn’t superb it was mass catering production line and I did not likey.

Great Mexican restaurant in the centre of Greenwich. Desperados gives its customers dear portions, cheap prices and tasty food. The cocktails are fairly priced and are NOT watered down (fantastic!) The staff and welcoming, the restaurant is clean and the seating is comfortable.
It gets my vote!

We had a BBQ combination and lemon salmon washed down with a mojito and a couple of glasses of red. The service was attentive and friendly. The meat all tasted nice enough but was slathered in sauce so could not differentiate between the taste of steak or chicken. Although easy on the eye it was a little too dim for me to be able to tell what was meat and what was fat. The bill came at £51 so I suggested to the waitress round it up to £55 for tip. She said thank you and took my money. I then noticed the £5 service charge. So I asked for, and got, the additional tip back but do think it was very dishonest of her not to say anything. In summary the food was ok but all too expensive. I would eat here again but only if I could not get in somewhere else

I hate to have to say this, but Desperados Mexican Tapas and Cocktail Bar gets the big thumbs down from me.
The food is so so so very poor and the staff… well lets just say they are certainly not the beacons of great customer service and would struggle to survive working at McDonalds.

Cute place in the heart of Greenwich, good service and decent food. Our group of seven was lured in by the host who gave us two pitchers of Sangaria on the house which was really nice. Not sure how much alcohol (or little) alcohol was in those pitchers but it was a sweet perk nonetheless.
My boy and I split a beef and chicken enchilada combo which was tasty, especially since the meat in each was shredded vs. ground. I didn’t really dig the beans or rice (I prefer mex to tex here). The chips tasted a bit like Doritos and the guacamole was more like guacamolito sauce. Still, prices were ok and everyone was pretty happy with their main dishes, except for the guy who ordered the burger, which was a little too well done (although I was surprised there was a burger on the menu and even more so that someone ordered it.) The sizzling fajita plate is always a crowd pleaser, even their veggie version which includes a rather odd combination of snowpeas and baby corns in addition to peppers and onions.
I’d come back here if I’m in Greenwich to try one of their margaritas, or embarrass a friend by ordering them a «Wild Sex» or «Mexican Sex Monster» cocktail as offered on the drink menu.

Really sub-​par food, poorly presented and over-​priced drinks.

Some nice staff, but not much banter with them. Service was slow, food was average and very expenisive for what you got. Keep it as a last-​resort for Mexican in Greenwich.

The first time I went to this little mexican restaurant in Greenwich, we had to climb a little step ladder to get to our table– a novelty, which to my childlike glee, always makes me want to return. Although these upper tables are not always available, I am always happy to visit anyway for the excellent food and even better frozen margaritas, which are served in goldfish bowl-​sized glasses and come in a variety of fruity flavours including peach and strawberry.
All of the portions are huge and I have taken a mexican friend here who was satisfied by the quality and authenticity — my favourite is the burritos.
The service is also excellent and the place has a cosy but lively atmosphere due to the latin music that’s played. When I feel like a trip to Greenwich, this is one of my top restaurants to eat at.

It’s not bad in here. The spanish/​mexican place has been around for as long as I’ve lived in Greenwich, but it’s never really been on my radar. No one i know seems to favour it.
It’s not that it’s bad. you just get very avergae food and average service. I last came here for breakfast and it was alright, but nothing to shout about.
That said, the freshly squeezed orange juice when you have a hangover is always a bonus.
There are better places to eat in Greenwich, but if they’re full (and they often are) then this place is alright too.