San Francisco , California

3 reviews

Sometimes their shredded chicken can be dry (they use white meat instead of dark, always a mistake, in my opinion), but I give them four stars for their salsa alone. Whether you dine in or get your food to go, Palo Alto Sol gives you fresh tortilla chips and three different kinds of homemade salsa, all of them delicious. With the entrees, don't expect greasy spoon taqueria, or traditional fare - this place's specialty is Pueblo Mexico cream sauce and mole dishes. It's awesome to find something different when it comes to Mexican food, and this place doesn't disappoint. I think they could do better when it comes to some of the meat fillings; the chicken is usually dry, and they leave the tails on in their shrimp dishes which I find annoying and messy; but their sauces are delicious and keep me coming back. I like the Nuevas, the Guajillo, and the Verde.

Charlottesville , Virginia

125 reviews

I was not overly impressed with the food here, but I suspect that has more to do with my personal tastes in Mexican food. My impression is that this food is more authentically Mexican and that I've become used to the more generic fare served elsewhere. Give it a try and come to your own conclusions.

56945 reviews

Palo Alto Sol has been one of my regular lunch haunts for a few years, and I've almost always enjoyed eating there. My favorites are their mole and guajillo dishes. Two things stop me from giving this restaurant 5 stars: First, they are a bit pricey. Simple dinners start at $11 and go up from there. I prefer visiting at lunch, when everything on the menu is a few dollars cheaper. Second, the table service can be a bit sparse. But the food is great. As a note, this restaurant is owned and managed within the same extended family as La Fiesta, Fiesta del Mar, and Fiest del Mar Too, in Mountain View. The menus are similar, although Palo Alto Sol does have a few dishes which the others don't. Among the four I like the food at La Fiesta best, with Palo Alto Sol a close second.

107 reviews

Food's above average, but so is the prices! Small and slow, especially if busy. Tried many items, and all were pretty good. But all in all, you can do just as good elsewhere at a cheaper price(like Casa Isabel).

56945 reviews

Family owned (unlike about 80% of other "Mexican" restaurants in this area of chain joints), this is a high quality place for authentic food. Great salsas, with three different versions brought with the chips. Service can be a touch slow when it gets busy, but overall this place is usually a real pleasure.

24 reviews

I love this place -- the moles are very authentic and very tasty. The chicken soup is outstanding, and they have some of the best chips and salsa around.

56945 reviews

It's reasonably authentic (excellent mole, good salsa), friendly, and not a chain or yuppie hangout. A refreshingly different place in a city of homogenous, see and be seen, overpriced, "California/French/Italian" joints.

1 review

Watch this place if you are a vegetarian!!!! They have things listed on their menu as being made from "vegetable broth" that contain animal products! I have asked my server about how the soup, beans and rice were/are prepared each time I have eaten there, and every time I was told, "We use only Vegetable broth/Canola Oil". Last night when I ate there, I was told the beans and rice contain no animal products, but the soup has chicken stock in it. I am glad the server I had last night was honest (but who knows if he really was), but all the same, I don't think I will eat there again because of this.

3 reviews

Food was good (I had enchiladas), except for the beans, which were very bland. Service was friendly but slow.

56945 reviews

Very Good stuff!! I enjoyed the Salsa (apparently made of roasted chillies and tomatoes etc..) I had the Fajita (quite good but not the normal noisy sizzling deal that I am used to) and the person I was with had a steak something or other... (fabulous in their words..). Highly recommended...