The Bottom Line
Murrieta's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is a nice place to eat. The food is good and authentic (at least to this gringo). I really enjoyed Carlos the strolling troubadour; he played acoustic guitar and had a beautiful voice. I didn't care that he was singing in Spanish.
Pros
- Nicely decorated; felt like a Mexican restaurant
- Extensive menu selections, including breakfast and lunch.
- Strolling troubadour on Fridays and Saturdays
- Sit at a table or booth
- Full bar
Cons
- Too much A/C; it was chilly inside
- Noisy; high ceilings make for echo chamber effect
- Tight parking lot on a busy corner
Description
- There are some menu choices I've not seen at other Mexican restaurants, like crab enchiladas and birria (steamed goat).
- Murrieta's is properly decorated for a Mexican restaurant. This isn't a plastic fast food joint.
- I thought it was a bit expensive for Mexican. Combo plates for dinner start at $8.95 and go up from there.
- Carlos plays guitar and sings. He is very good.
Guide Review - Murrieta's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
Overall, Murrieta's can hold its own among Mexican restaurants. I enjoyed the decor and the staff was friendly without being overbearing. It's hard to chat and enjoy your meal if the server is constantly hovering around. The food was good and arrived in a reasonable amount of time. I had the El Burro steak burrito combo plate and my wife Jewel had Las Suisas (chicken enchiladas with mushroom sauce). We both enjoyed our choices, but neither dish elicited a "Wow" response.
Carlos the strolling troubadour was a real plus to the dining experience. He played guitar and sang at our table, but not without first asking. The man has a remarkable voice and obviously enjoys singing for people.
Murrieta's Mexican Restaurant has three locations:
4997C Longley Ln.
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 829-7888
3060 Vista Blvd.
Sparks, NV 89434
(775) 356-1144
8195 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 827-3585
