Elsa's Mexican Restaurant

The Dayton Hash House Harriers have been coming to Elsas for 20 years. We visit about twice a year with about 20 to 30 people and have never been treated as badly as we were today. We came in early, as we usually do, and arranged to have the back room, as we usually do. We also arranged for special pitcher prices, as we usually do. When we came in today, Tim was snotty and informed us that Elsas never takes reservations and we could just wait until they could find room for us. The waitresses all seemed to know we were coming of course, and they we all nice, which is more than I can say for Tim. They got the back room ready for us then Tim kept coming back there and glowering at us like we were hoods who were going to steal the silverware. We come in, drink a lot of beer, eat a lot of food, and we don't cause fights . We will not tolerate this jack@ss treating us like scum. Then, to top off the evening, he reneges on the beer prices we were promised for large group, almost doubling what were were promised. You can KEEP TIM, because the Dayton hash will never come in there again as long as he is an employee.

Elsa's is a great place for lunch...I haven't had the chance to eat there for dinner yet but I'm sure I will. Great food and the Bad Juans are the best Margaritas in the Land. Well worth the trip and I'll go again even though I'm in Virginia. KoKo like!

I have to agree with the previous reviewer. While the Bad Juan was potent it was small and overpriced. I ordered a small frozen margarita. It was $4.50 and it came in a shot glass! The food was greasy and bland and the portions weren't great for the price. The queso dip was good but not like your typical white cheese dip. (stringy cheese rather than melty) For great mexican food I would suggest keep to the small Mexican owned spots like La Pinata. They have MUCH better margaritas, food selection, and prices.

Elsa's looks cute from the outside. However, on the inside, it looks like a junky bar restaurant. We ordered margaritas that were over-priced and came in small glasses that were not even margarita glasses. The menu was very small and half of it was not even Mexican items. We ended up leaving after the margaritas.

Greetings from the Sun Coast!

I don't regularly take the time to write reviews but, in this case, I had to make an exception. The food is great - on par with an authentic Mexican restaruant here in Venice Florida. A good friend of mine, former native of the Dayton area, recommended this quaint little spot to me. The Bad Juan lives up to its reputation as the best marguarita....anywhere...period.

By far the best authentic Mexican cuisine in the state. Try the shredded beef tacos, chili con queso appetizer and the BAD JUAN margaritas. Can't be beat!

When in Dayton (my long-ago hometown) last year visiting from DC, I spent a fabulous evening at Elsa's. We had delicious food (agreed by all), great service, and lots of fun. I found it to be one of the best Mexican restaurants I'd been too. (I'm not sure which location I went to.)

Granted, most places in the US are never going to be completely ""authentic"", but this place was so contrived as to be laughable. The salsa and gazpacho were almost interchangeable, and tasted like they had just freshly opened a can of Hunt's diced tomatoes and poured it into a bowl.

And the rest of the food was barely a step above taco bell.

If you want ""Mexican"" food that tastes like you went and picked up Miejer brand taco shells and mixed in some prepackaged seasoning into the meat, then go to Elsa's.