Manuel's Great Hills Reviews

The food is amazing here. It's a bit pricey, but worth it. A lot of effort is put into the quality of the food, not just the way it tastes, but the way it looks. It place looks like a little piece of artwork. I had quesadillas. Delicious. The rest of my party's food all looked and tasted amazing too. We sat outside where there's a nice area with a big tree and mini-river that's very San Antonio "River-Walkesque." If it's not a super hot Texas day (or night), I very much recommend you to sit outside. Next time I'm in Austin I'm definitely going back to Manuel's. I'm sure the downtown location is also great, but I really like the dining atmosphere of the outdoor seating area at Manuel's Great Hills.

This is a good restaurant with a very pleasant atmosphere and excellent service. Read the menu carefully and ask the waiter if you have questions or want a variation. They are willing to make you satisfied. The food in general is quite spicy. Even the Mexican rice is hot. If you don’t like things too spicy or hot, then the tostada is a good choice. The fried fish also looked like a good choice.

This restaurant was not our first choice for a graduation lunch. Unfortunately our first choice had a long wait. The food here is presented very well however the taste or rather lack of it is a major disappointment. I can not blame the waiter for the service as he had no help and had to serve all the customers in our section. Total mistake to come here.

Every so often, I get a craving for mole. Manuel's mole enchiladas are the BEST I've had in Austin. You can tell that they put a lot of time and care into making the sauce. The flan is top notch as well - love the little touch of coconut. We've had pretty good service at the north location. It is so easy to get a reservation when you use OPEN TABLE.

We were in this part of town and decided to try this place. They have a lunch menu and we ordered a few things from it. I got the Pechuga Queso; basically chicken and cheese. My husband got beef fajitas tacos. Service was nice and the food was quick. The portion sizes were large. I don't think I would order my entrée again. Personal taste. The place is full for lunch and loud. If we are back in the area we would probably come back to the place. Two entrees and water were $27 pre tip.

My friend and I were seated right away at a very busy dinner hour(8pm). Service was good. However the white sangria was not very good, and sent it back. The margarita was a better choice. Ordered chicken fajita nachos but they were a bit dry:-( The outdoor patio was very serene at sunset .

This restaurant makes anyone feel welcome. All the food is made from scratch and you know that diligent and loving hands were behind the creation of it. It is some of the best mexican food I have ever had. I recommend the pulled pork flautas with chipotle lime, the chicken enchiladas with mole, and the chicken tortilla soup. You will leave wanting more.

Restaurant was convenient and highly recommended. Sadly it did not live up to its reputation for me. With a small party and those who ate from the menu were fine, I have special diet needs and this place could not help. In today's society, catering for people with diet needs should be understood.

Loved the ceviche and chips. And the queso was the BEST I've had for a long time. Highly recommend the cucumber skinny margaritas and pomegranate is soooo tasty. Wonderful outdoor venue.

Very busy, poor waitress was running. Food cold. Manager came out and shut off lights and said something which sounded not very pleasant in Spanish. Why not ask customer to settle and allow the restaurant to close. Was not past closing.

I'm from out of town where we have good Mexican food. This was outstanding! The chicken and pork tacos and salsa were all very very good! I recommend this place and will certainly be back. Rm

My niece is visiting soon but has extreme dietary restrictions (by principle and preference, not by any medical condition). She has had terrible "Mexican food" restaurant encounters: beef broth rice, beans o'lard, non nutritive vegetables and just plain old dietary non-attentiveness by staff. I like heathy modifications...but not so extreme. I went to Manuel's yesterday. I wish I knew my server's name (no name tags). As I was ordering and asking for small changes (cheese on the side; no fried food, etc) my server became more inquisitive about my choices and any certain restrictions I follow. I ordered, uhhh... mushroom enchiladas... whatever. Manuel's Enchilada de Hongos Bandera (sauces) - each bite deserves mindful eating; ABSOLUTELY incredible flavors. These tastes are not a tantalizing as "left overs"; eat, enjoy and share as fresh as possible. Although simple, the garnish grilled, carmelized quarter red onion - just order a plate of those! It seems most people avoid eating garnish especially an onion. Those people are missing out!! Chip salsa...order extra to take home and put on light grilled fish (Blanco River in my case)! I will be driving from the Blanco to the Arboretum when my niece visits. It is well worth the hour drive.

Manuel's (Mexican cuisine) Great Hills, was consistently fine eating at lunch or dinner. Shrimp nachos, fresh fish, pork medallions were wonderful. and obviously not your usual tacos and tortillas. Now it is still consistent...consistently bad, that is. This seems to have happened when there was a huge change in waiters and cooks, about a year ago. Sadly, we have lost a great local restaurant, which we will never waste our money on again after being served cold tacos, horrible "fish" that had to be reheated, which it was, and returned like pieces of rubber, rather than being replaced. Out of four visits, four were mediocre or bad. Go to a fresh taco place and save yourself a waste of time and money. the only good part is the outside area.

I stomped on Manuel's by chance and I am so glad we did. My sales team ( 60 hungry engineers) wanted a place to gather for dinner and drinks. When I called Manuel we had less than 24hrs for the event and I was not sure if they would accommodate us. OH MY GOD, not only the welcomed the team, they WOW us. GREAT food, AMAZING Service and above all, the yes I can attitude that is SO HARD to find. This was our first time in Austin, and I am so glad Manuel's was the first restaurant visited. THANK YOU for an exceptional experience.

Loved dining at Manuel’s on our Austin girls getaway! The service, atmosphere and food were superb. We ended the meal with the coconut flan which was out of this world. I would highly recommend this restaurant

I went to Manuels because it was close to the movie theatre. I wasn't planning on spending $50 for a pre theatre dinner. The shrimp dish I had was tasty and the glass of Malbec was small. The service was indifferent. It was more convenient than good... And for $50, I expected excellent.

This started as a pleasant experience at the bar with 7 of my closest friends... the bar tender was lovely and personable.... and ended with dinner and a waiter that clearly did not want to be here. He wasn't a bad waiter, he was hostile and angry. I hate for this to be my only experience at this establishment but with so many good restaurants in Austin, it's not worth the risk

It was a happy coincidence that I dined here on National Tequila Day. Enjoyed a skinny cucumber margarita to top of the day. They are well recognized for their mole which is delicious. I had it in an appetizer with white cheese and chicken served with tortillas. Very tasty. The service is never great here, but the food so good that I just let it slide. Good happy hour with half price apps (some of which can be small meal size) and $2 off drinks.

Visiting my dear friend Jennifer and her wonderful husband Greg in Austin, Texas and dined in their Mexican restaurant Manuel’s last night. I know my restaurants growing up in a restaurant family and I say Manuel’s is a winner!! Their food was excellent, their salsa very unique & delicious, great chips, delicate special flavors in entrees, beautiful presentation, very attentive staff and service, immaculate kitchen, very beautiful decor by Jenn, sprawling inviting patio, delicious craft cocktails and fab margaritas! Jenn and Greg, your love and personal high standard of caring show in every inch of this restaurant and in the warmth of your employees! Bravo!! Thank you for a beautiful dinner. So proud of you and happy to be here with you! Everyone, plus my friends and family, you must visit Manuel’s when you are in Austin!! Looking forward to seeing their downtown location also tomorrow!

We had on early lunch on Saturday and the place was almost empty. The menu has steak and chicken breast choices, as well as vegetarian enchiladas. Black beans accompany most entrees. The rice is white with carrots and maybe onions but not much seasoning. The service was very nice. I also loved that the have cloth napkins!

We were in the mood for enchiladas, and since this was a place we liked to go to, it made perfect sense to get them here. My fiancée went for the pork variety with the verde sauce, but I decided to go off menu a bit. My favorite dish is cheese enchiladas covered in queso, and our server Parker said he could make that happen. And since we’d started out with an appetizer of queso, there was some cheese heaven going on. Normally we’re coming on time where there could be a lot of other patrons, so we’d gotten in the habit of making a reservation ahead of time. This night, we timed it right as there was no wait and hardly anyone there for dinner. As usual, the place was always clean, the food good, and service friendly.

This place is great for Friday afternoon margaritas or a change of pace when you're in the mood for Mexican food but not the usual tex-mex fare. Chicken Enchiladas Verdes are my favorite!

We have been here several times for dinner. Service is slow inside because the servers concentrate on outside patio customers. We mainly go for the Cucumber martini or the Ancho Chili martini (which we love!) The food is good, but not good enough for the prices.( I suggest the Mole dish) We still have to make it to a happy hour where we hear, even from the staff, that the prices and service are better about that time of day. Other than that we have no complaints.

Just had a great lunch at Manuel's. Started with chip, salsa and guacamole which were all very good. Had the fajita tacos for lunch which was solid but not the absolute most amazing thing I've ever had. The star of lunch was the watermelon margarita, this is a must have! Go get one now!

If you are on this part of town, Manuel’s in Great Hills is the place for Mexican. The venue is beautiful, drinks good and menu vast. We sat in outdoor patio and is beautiful. Our foods were all excellent.

I usually get the tostadas capitalinas or the chili relleno del elote. Excellent taste. The chips and salsa are memorable and you will want more. They have started charging for the salsa after the first delivery. Something that I am very much against and am unhappy with. My wife gets the vege flautas. She says they are wonderful. THe flan is a must. Recommended.

This is. It inexpensive Mexican fare. The chips and salsa are some of my favorite. The sales needs a straw or is so good. I usually get the tostada capitalinas. It is two large tostadas with guacamole on it. Really tasty. The chees chili relleno is also really good. My wife usually gets the Flautas. The flan is the best you will ever get. Excellent food.

My husband and I have enjoyed going to Manuel's over the years. We love their happy hours and the service is usually really good. This evening, we had a different experience. We were not very hungry and my husband did not want to drink so we ordered one large nacho dish with big lumps of crab to share and one cucumber martini for me. When the nachos came out, it was not hot, just luke warm. I saw our server preoccupied with setting up a large table and she let our food cool down. And the service was not friendly like we were used to. It was a little disappointing because we like Manuel's very much.

Manuel's had been one of our favorite restaurants, but we noted a considerable deterioration in quality on this visit. It has always been noisy, and with a recent change in the seating arrangement (more chairs, with the built in upholstered booths removed), the noise level was much louder. Most of the noise was coming from the kitchen. One of our favorite dishes there has been the garden salad. We really liked the shredded jicama and the fresh greens, with just the right amount of dressing. Not this time. The greens were soggy from too much dressing, and they were a bit wilted. The nachos we had for an appetizer were nothing I would reorder. I ordered black drum with spinach. The price tag on that one shows that Manuel's is proud of it. The delivered plate was disappointing. The portion size of the fish was small: two lonely looking pieces of limp fish on top of warm spinach. The flavors were good, but I was wondering who ate the other half of the order before it got to our table. My wife's enchiladas were really not very good. I sampled the beef enchilada as she didn't want it after having a bite. The best part of that was the soggy tortilla and cheese. The meat tasted just like the roast beef I make at home in my pressure cooker, but with a strange, almost earthy flavor. She would not order that again and neither would I. The service was good, which is why this rating is average. The server was knowledgable and helpful. As we drove on to our next destination, my wife and I both agreed that Manuel's was not like it used to be, and we have no real desire to go back. There are other non-Tex-Mex places in town that serve much better food at half the price.

We went here by chance. Lovely outdoor seating area. It was a sunny day so made the most of it. But indoors was also very nice. The food was the best authentic Mexican food we’ve ever tried. Tasty, fresh and a good varied menu. The cocktail list is great and I had the best ever sangria cocktail. It’s not normally my drink but this was very different. The waiting staff were friendly and attentive. Service was fast. I would highly recommend this place. A special mention to our server on the day, Elizabeth’ who looked after us so well. Thank you. Try it out. We were staying in the Renaissance Hotel and it’s literally a 5 minute walk from there. Enjoy!

Manuel's has a great happy hour, but stick to the house margarita or beers. I thought I'd try something new and different. Their cucumber-lime martini sounded refreshing, but it really sucked. The glass rim is loaded with salt - which I think was celery salt with a "pinch" of chili powder. It was nasty. The salt and the chili powder or whatever they put in it to add a "Mexican" touch was overpowering and you couldn't taste the cucumber or the lime. Not to mention the chili powder adds heat to what a drink that was supposed to be refreshing.

Great food and awesome margaritas. A bit too expensive. But a very nice location for a couples visit. Would absolutely recommend it if you want to eat in downtown Austin. Try the fajitas. They were perfect. The ceviche was also nice. But a bit lacking in spiciness.

Manuel's has long been my favorite restaurant in Austin, but for some reason I haven't visited it in a few years. So, I was surprised to see that it had been remodeled and has lost some of its charm. A sofa area has been put in the middle of the courtyard, which is very odd since that means there are fewer tables outside (the best place to eat). The inside has also been rearranged to no advantage. All that said, I was happy to find that the food and service remain excellent. The margaritas are the best ever, which has always been the case. We had shrimp encilladas, mole, and shrimp veracruzana--and all were behond excellent. The waitress was fun and helpful. This is not the least expensive place you can dine, but the excellent and authenticity of the food makes it well worth while.

This place is great for real Mexican flavors ( Texas usually it’s all Tex-Mex) , love that they have a variety of dishes and a full bar with happy hour, ambiance is nice , staff is friendly, you’re able to see all the action in the kitchen and its clean. I’ve only been in Austin for a 1 1/2 months and I’ve already eaten here about 5 times with family and friends. We love their sopes, enchiladas are delicious, the chile in nogada is delicious and the Palomas ( Tequila drink) are great! I didn’t like the beef fajitas, but everything else has been flavorful and delicious.

We enjoyed the Chicken & Beef Fajitas Quesadillas along with the Chicken Flautas. Their Guacamole is very good

It is mediocre at best. Food was flavorless. Drinks over priced watered down. Wait ridiculous ended up eating at bar. Over rated in our parties opinion.

I've eaten at many Mexican restaurants and this one exceeds expectations. My meal was one of the best I've had at a Mexican place.

Pleasant atmosphere outside where the large tree serves as an umbrella. Excellent service, great margaritas, and good food too.

I've been frequenting Manuels for many years and am impressed with the professionalism and conscientious service, eclectic decor, and top notch Southwestern cuisine. They're challenged these days by world events, as we all are, with mandatory capacity reduction, but they've come back better. Also, I find I can still enjoy their food via their efficient Curbside Pickup service.

We really enjoyed Manuel's. We don't get Mexican food like this in Washington. The spices were tasty. Fajitas were excellent and generous. Not a bad thing eaten. Definitely a place to try.

Have always enjoyed the Mexican dining experience at Manuel's downtown location. This one is much larger and more family-friendly. Mole is the same and always delicious. Am not a fan of their salsa, but chips and sides are terrific. Give it a try for a casual dinner or lunch.

Manuel's is by far the best interior Mexican restaurant in the 183 Austin corridor. The atmosphere, food and drinks are excellent. Happy hour is a fantastic as well. Make this place a regular go to.

Service was on point. Good selection of tequila and other cocktails. Salsa was runny but flavorful. Chili relleno Nogada was delicious. Don’t see this is in just any menu. Shrimp Vera Cruz looked great. Did not want to reach over someone’s plate. Overall I would recommend this restaurant

With barely a week's notice, I was tasked with finding a venue in Austin that could host a dinner for 100 people. During the Holiday Season. When none of us live in Austin. Not exactly a winning assignment. After dozens of "we don't have room" I connected with Jane from Manuel's. Not only was Jane able to accommodate the last minute request, she quickly realized that I needed help with the operations of this scope. So she helped me pick out a menu of spectacularly delicious options as well as even looking for transportation options (moving 100 people by uber was not going to be cheap). The staff was incredibly kind when a large number of my team failed to arrive due to weather - The entire event was a success. And did I mention that the food was simply marvelous. Can't wait to go back by myself and try it all over again. Side note: Oh My Goodness. The Campechana???? Phenomenal!

Every time I am in Austin, which about 4 times a year, I always eat at Manuel's. I never look at the menu because I always order the Chicken Mole Enchiladas. I love the Mole. The black beans and rice are also delicious along with chips and salsa. Guacamole is also a great starter.

We have been to both downtown and great hills locations. The food downtown is usually better and so is the service. Our server at great hills had very few tables as it was still early for their crowds there - but took forever to get our drinks to us and to take our order. Contrast that to how promptly the kitchen took care of preparing and delivering our food. The kitchen delivered a very tough ceviche that did not taste fresh but very delicious black drum which is one of our favorites at the great hills location. Good thing we were not in a rush because we would have been very unhappy with the slow server. Next time we are there we will either go out on the patio or actually ask not to be seated in that server's area as this was not our first slow service with that server. The food is the draw for Manuel's and our meals there overall have been really good food in an inviting, comfortable environment.

We have visited Manuels off and on since it first opened. The "off and on" schedule is because we've never found it to be a great value or outstanding enough to come to on a regular basis. Our most recent stop didn't change our minds, either. Having not been there in a while, we were pretty shocked to see a plate of enchiladas costs $16 - $18, for example. OK, that's 50% more than what Trudy's charges, but it might be worth it if the whole dining experience justifies the charge. It doesn't. The atmosphere is nothing special - black, noisy, and stark, mostly. It just feels cold. Service borders on awful, considering the cost of the meal. Our server was very rushed, and we got the distinct feeling that she was doing us a favor to tolerate our presence. We got our drinks fairly quickly, she took our order (a little impatiently), and we never saw her again until the food arrived. We had to ask for more chips and salsa from the guy who refilled our water glasses. (I didn't ding her on the tip, b/c I think it is the manager's fault for under-staffing and poor training.) I will say that the mole enchiladas ($18!) were as good as I've had in Austin, and are large, but c'mon, it's just Tex-Mex: a plate of beans, rice, and enchiladas. My dining partners had fajitias ($17!) which included a generous serving of meat (tasty), and shrimp tacos ($15), which included, I think, 7 medium shrimp and two tortillas - hardly generous. Bottom line, the food is four-star, the prices are 1-star, and the service is 2-star at most. All as usual, from our experience, except the service has been better in the past. "Not Recommended" for the family if you're just looking for Tex-Mex.

Delicious food and excellent service! Had a wonderful meal there last night following a movie. Had the mushroom enchiladas, with added spinach as requested, with all three sauces. It was excellent! I have had the flan in the past and it was delicious. Great service from a lovely waitress named Victoria. I highly recommend it.

Our very first time to Manuel’s and we liked it. The dining hall is very large and spacious; seating is appropriate and we were not crowded in. Note: They have a nice outdoor seating area, and a shared seating area with u-shaped sofa to wait for a table. Nice ambiance outside. We ordered the small guacamole appetizer and enjoyed the taste. It was the right size for the two of us. Chips and salsa rounded out the pre-meal items. I had a grilled shrimp over rice meal - Camerones a la Plancha - and liked the grill shrimp a lot. My wife had the Ensalada del Jardin with grill fish added. It was a large sized salad and she took about half the fish home (and she absconded with one of my grilled shrimp too). Overall - good food, good service, nice atmosphere and a tad pricey with the seafood options - a nice average experience. We will go back if in the area again.

The tostada I ordered was soggy and had to be eaten with fork and knife. Rice was significantly under-seasoned. Service was friendly, but slow.

Downtown location closed so we went out to arboretum .. had cucumber lime and watermelon martinis.. tried shredded chicken mole and traditional ceviche . Delicious and a meal For 2 In itself. My husband tried Chile relleno which had elote corn and rice..very spiced. Sever w fresh cold fruit. So nice .great service , large space, good AC , clean restrooms, plenty of parking and nice outdoor patio although way too hot to sit out today

We have ordered takeout on four occasions, even trying different delivery services. The order has been wrong (specifically, completely missing one or more entrees) all four times. There is gross incompetence at this place. In each instance, the ticket stapled to the bag lists the entire order, and, of course, we are charged for the entiire order. Their response, when calling, is always the same. "We're sorry you won't get to eat tonight, but we can't do anything about it. Please contact the delivery service to get a refund even though it is our fault and negligence, not theirs". Ok, enough with the experiment. Never again. Most incompetent restaurant in Austin can clearly incapable of putting even the simplest of systems in place to verify that what is in the bag matches what is stapled to the bag.

Back in 1984 we visited Manuel's oriiginal, downtown Austin restaurant frequently, and always enjoyed the food, drinks, and hospitality. Recently we were near their Great Hills location and decided to try it for lunch; great call. We were greeted at the door and led to our booth, where our server, Fernando, arrived to take our drink order, For our semi-late lunch, we ordered huevos rancheros (available, but not on the menu) and calabacita rellena, a variation of the typical chile relleno consisting of a spicy pork and cheese stuffed zucchini, served with really good black beans, (not mushy and not too al dente), rice and guacamole. Everything was delivered to our table, hot, apparently freshly prepared, and delicious. We ate it all and enjoyed every bite. Fernando checked on us 3 times during our meal to see if we had any problems or needed anything; attentive but not too much. While eating we read about Manuel's happy hour offerings (half-priced appetizers and reduced price drinks), and made a mental note to come back soon. All in all it was great to find that their dedication to providing a great dining experience was still intact after over 30 years in town. Thank you. calabacita rellena,

We were looking for a place to eat close to Fujiyama, and after reading the reviews here, we decided on Manuel's. As previously noted here the "Ceviche Juan" is quite nice. A little bit of a bite, a lot of fish and it's large enough to share and still have a decent portion. At $17 it is a good value. The Chicken "Mole Enchilada" got a "same as Los Palomes" and at $19 is not a good value compared to $11 at Los Palomes. The "Verde Enchilada's" I ate were slightly sweet which I didn't expect but they were eatable. At $16 they were a little better value but again higher than most places serving similar or better plates. One thing a bit different was that the Beef in my enchilada's was pulled barbecue. One last thought and something that would likely have changed our mind about eating here had we known it. They only serve black beans, no Charro or re-fried beans are available. Also, the rice is plain white rice with a few bits of carrot and peas added in. Even without eating the beans and rice I found myself full from the cerviche and enchilada's.

We hosted a Client Appreciation Event here and it was very nice and well done. Margaritas and their Flan are the best! Jennifer who is one of the owners was very professional and accommodating. The north location has a beautiful inside dining room, and all our clients seemed to really like the food and the setting.

Skinny watermelon Marquita was wonderful . Bartender was friendly and fun. Informative on the drinks. Ordered food at the bar. Enjoyed the food as it wasn't your typical Tex/Mex. great place for a Friday after work.

Manuel's is a great restaurant. Their Mole is to die for! But with their Happy Hour pricing, you can try all sorts of appetizers really affordably and make it a meal. Try the Tortas de Papa y Masa, Sopes and anything with Mole. You cannot lose.

The guacamole was different with pomegranate to add a slightly different flavor. This was good, but quite small in size for the price. They have three different Chili Relleno dishes that are very good and very unique. Outdoor seating is really nice. Shaded and can be quite pleasant.

I like Mexican food so it was all good. The menu offered a lot to choose from so it took a while to make my selection. It was better than I expected so I was happy. We had a large group and they seated us quickly. It was noisy inside because it was crowded which shows it a favorite for the locals. That's a good sign.

Great Happy Hour, daily from 4-6 featuring half priced appetizers and drink price reductions. Many a time have we loaded up on 4 or 5 appetizers (my wife digs the ceviche) and a drink or two and called it dinner, and gotten out relatively inexpensively. Nice outdoor area when it's not 105+ degrees out. Friendly waitstaff, and free soft drink refills (always a plus in my book)!

Our waitress was very attentive. But the server served us the wrong soups. He even asked if I ordered the Crema de Elote and then served me the chicken tortilla soup which being a vegetarian is not good. Once I saw the floating chicken pieces, I realized his mistake. I asked again if my friend’s soup was tortilla, but he didn’t understand my question. He poured and left. Maybe the servers need to be trained a bit more as to which soup is which. And they padded my tip. I suppose 20% wasn’t enough. Won’t be visiting here again.

Excellent ceviche and entrees - especially the Black Drum. Will absolutely return when we are back in Austin next month.

Manuel's is definitely a nice place to go. Interior is attractive and service is impeccable. It has a great reputation for superior interior Mexican food. While I don't quibble with the quality of the ingredients, I just don't see the lure. Food was good. Not spectacular, but good. Not so good that I would make an effort to come back, although the Bloody Mary was superb. Grinch that I am, I found the live music distracting for Sunday brunch, so if I do go back, it won't be then.

Manuel’s Great Hills has some of the best food in Austin - actually best food anywhere. The Chicken Flautas with Suiza sauce are fantastic and nothing like you get anywhere else! The happy hour 4-6 M-F gives a chance to try the delight of half price on all the appetizers. The best thing these Christmas-time visits for me, though, was the opportunity for service from the kind, knowledgeable, and wonderful server, Ivan. I will always remember him.

I was impressed by this restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was excellent for a Saturday brunch private party.

Food was cold. Server was rude. Manager didn’t care. The place was practically empty but they couldn’t seem to be bothered. Don’t waste your time

I had my daughter's baptism at Manuel's Great Hills. And we all have the best time we were around 45 . The food,the drinks and the service were Outstanding . I AM SO HAPPY that we Choose Manuel's for such an impirtant event that we will be cherrised all our life.

My wife and daughter built this restaurant up to me, making it seem like it is "the" place to eat Mexican food in the Austin area, so my expectations were a bit high. But, after visiting, I think I will look elsewhere. The service was a bit annoying - slow, methodical, and did I say slow? Food was average, the tea had a funny flavor (anise?) and the place was a bit loud due to the concrete and ceiling. My group loved the margaritas!

Yes, the food is excellent, but I think it's a little pricy. If you lunch with wine and a flan you easily reach the US$30.00... plus taxes and the tip (they suggest a 20% tip).

Happy Hour here is great! All food here is great! My favorite things are the Guacamole! Chicken Flautas! And Flan! Go if you haven’t! Go, again, if you have!

Wow! Try the Lomo de Res and the Relleno en Nogado—both are delicious. Many other fantastic choices, too. Fresh ingredients, a wonderful staff and reasonable prices for superior food make Manuel’s a real treasure in the Austin dining scene. Not to mention the beautiful patio at the north location. Try it!

I get it that everything is expensive in Austin even MEXICAN food. But when you pay more you expect more. So Tortilla soup with no chicken and shrimp cocktail with tw small pieces of shrimp? This is unacceptable.

I am in Austin, Texas at least 4 times a year and my favorite meal is Chicken Flautas with Suiza sauce, rice and guacamole at Manuel's North at Great Hills! The seasoning and preparation are perfection. The atmosphere is welcoming, modern and well appointed. Appetizers are half price during their "Happy Hour" and it is a great time to explore that part of the menu! Recommended to all!

Fantastic traditional dishes with great service. My favorite items are the steak fajitas and the chicken flautas.

Under new management, Manuel's now has poor service and they've jacked up their prices while food quality has declined. There are dozens of better Mexican food restaurants in Austin. Don't waste your time with this one.

Very good Mexican style, staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Only draw back was they only have bottled beers. Decent selection but would prefer draft. They do have a great selection of tequila drinks.

We visit Austin often and Manuel's is always a restaurant we visit. Downtown Austin is crowded and parking is often difficult and expensive and we actually enjoy the larger space of the Great Hills location. The service is always efficient and the wait staff pleasant. How's the food? Well, it is consistently delicious and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Check out their menu and you will agree. Who knows, it may become one of your go-to places as well!

Went here for dinner after a long day at a conference. (6 adults) I love the water features when you first walk in. It was a bummer that it was raining so we couldn't sit outside. The inside is just fine... warm welcoming environment. Our server Welton (sp?) was wonderful. Answered all of our questions, gave suggestions, and had fun w/our group even while he was trying to manage several tables. Drinks: Our group made alcoholic & non alcoholic choices. My colleagues loved the margaritas & mojitos. I was DD so I had iced tea w/ orange slices. The iced tea is nice, it has a hint of cinnamon. 2 other colleagues ordered the nada colada & nada mojito w/ cranberry they were happy w/ their drinks. Apps The guacamole was super fresh! I could have eaten it out of the bowl w/ out chips. My group also got a queso/vegetable tortilla app. I added some of the homemade salsa to this.. It was amazing!! Entrees: 3 of us had the fajitas 2 chicken 1 steak. The chicken was flavored and cooked perfectly. It had a bit of a grilled or smoked flavor w/ out being overly "saucey" 1 had the tilapia w/ spinach. She like her dish...said it had a lot of flavor 2 shared the chicken flautas. They are simple but incredibly flavorful. Add a little guac/salsa...amazing! I visit Austin regularly b/c I have family that lives here. It was fun to try some place new!

We just had my mom's 70th party on their outdoor patio and it was the perfect cozy setting for a gathering of around 30 people. The event manager, Eddy, and her team were so thoughtful and thorough. They made sure we had everything we needed to pull off the perfect celebration. We've loved Manuel's for decades and were glad to be back for such a milestone celebration!

I have the Fajitas, great flavor, service was wonderful and it was close to my hotel, you could walk there, great place

A notably above-average place, with good service, above average food and many items one doesn't find normally in the States. I lived in Belize for a year and a half and traveled in Mexico over 20 times during that period. The chips were made on premise and were fresh and they offered an array of very good salsas with them. They also had very good black beans- cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of salt. For some reason, US places often mess up frijoles, which are very important to a Mexican comida. They also had excellent zucchini stuffed with beef that had been cooked long and slow with mild chiles, comino (cumin for you non-spanish speakers) and garlic- yummy!

Manuel's is one of our regular restaurants. It is upscale "Mexican Food." The service is excellent and the chef is very attentive to the patrons delights or comments. The seafood is their specialty. We always bring visitors from out of town to Manuel's for a memorable dining experience.

The patio was amazing. It is shaded enough so during lunch you aren't baking in the sun. Lunch specials are phenomenal. My steak was a little overcooked, but it was still tender and delicious.

I decided to try this restaurant since it bears my name . Ha. I ordered the shrimp tacos, and it was fresh and good, but the so-called homemade tortilla looked and tasted mediocre and the texture was stiff. The black beans lacked salt and was also bland. The star was their coconut Flan --- mmm mmm yummy!

Just a brief note. Food was descent, but service was slow. The restaurant was not busy, but we waited log bits of time when requesting drinks, chips, and for water. It was odd. Food was good, but the service was extremely lacking. Never checked to make sure everything was OK as well.

They have an amazing patio out front. The inside is very pretty as well. The salsa tasted more like spaghetti sauce to me, but all the other food was amazing. We had guacamole, civiche, tortilla soup, and then several enchiladas the spinach, chicken and the blue crab). The blue crab enchiladas are the best I have ever had. Highly recommended! Great martinis and black beans as well.

Manuel’s Restaurant is like going home. They treat you like family and it is the best food ever. Very clean eating ! Try the great cocktails as well, Many to choose from. If you haven’t been on the patio that is a must!! Enjoy

We love the staff and food at Manuel’s Great Hills! We are here ever week and they know us by name. The patio area is gorgeous and will be great once it cools down again. Nichole (Manager) is so sweet is hospitable. She takes great care when I’m with family or clients. The waitstaff has always been friendly and attentive. No bad service here! I always love their happy hour and really like the beef here on anything! Highly recommend this Arboretum gem!

Second time in Austin. We decided to go for Mexican and drove 25 minutes from our Airbnb. Absolutely worth it. The place was easy to find with ample parking. The restaurant is large and well decorated. I ordered the Chili Relleno En Nogada - an elevated Relleno with very subtle flavors, very good! Finally the flan was one of the best I've ever had (it's not easy to make it properly). Excellent staff and excellent experience overall. Highly recommended.

Three of us had three different entrees for lunch and all were pleased. Mine was the shrimp kabobs and they were delicately cooked. I do not agree that it is trypical TexMex. The choices were more interior or New Mexico types. Service was good but watch asking for a simple glass of house chardonnay. It came at $ 12, same price as the entree!!

I needed to come back to try other food. Best Mexican I had in Austin TX. Well done, buenisima comics gracias

This is another one of my favorite places to eat ...... The food isn't your traditional Tex-mex, and that's a good thing. The ambiance is wonderful and the service is impeccable. Definitely put this on your list to visit!

Had not been to this location until today. Have been to the Congress Ave. location 700 or more times. Some of my favorite mole. Same great mole flavor at this location. Fast efficient service, helpful staff. Outdoor dining area. Excellent selection at the bar. Great to know this is available out North of Austin.

My wife and I are just getting back to in person restaurants post-COVID hiatus. My wife wanted to sit outside, and the patio at this restaurant is fantastic. Service was friendly and prompt, as usual. They have a great menu. We ordered the guacamole which was among the best I have ever had. My wife ordered the crab enchiladas. I sampled them and they were good, as were the black beans. My black drum on spinach was superb, full of flavor, especially the spinach which was well seasoned with garlic. Our specialty cocktail, the Amado (not sure if spelling), is a drink we always look forward to. Not an inexpensive meal, of course, but well worth it in my opinion.

Jolleyville-Arboretum location has good parking. Plenty of seating and a nice bar. Food is excellent. For Appetizer I love the Sopes and Queso w/chips. I also like the chicken Flautas with Verde sauce. Very light and tasty. Mexican food generally seems very "heavy" but Manuels is really good and I left without feeling stuffed. The staff is very helpful and always seem to be available. very professional. I really recommend this place.

My friend and I had dinner here last night. We had the Juan Ceviche and the PARRILLADA ( served Sunday thru Thursday Evenings A family-style mixed grill with citrus-marinated natural beef tenderloin, chicken breast, skewered shrimp & nopal cactus paddles chargrilled & served with black beans, rice, salsa de aguacate &; salsa chile de arbor.) Ceviche was good but the Parrillada was amazing. I couldn't stop eating! Our server was Savannah and she was on point! I was very impressed with her!

I chose Manuel’s Great Hills almost weekly for their wonderful ceviche-both Juan’s & Classic. No trip would be complete without a few good Margaritas🍸 Wait staff are both attentive & professional.

Recently tried Manuel's for lunch to give them a try. Very good salsa and chips. The fajitas tacos were very tender and well flavored. The pechuga de pollo was good but not great. While lunch prices are fairly reasonable the dinner time prices are rather high. Plating is attractive.

The prices are reasonable and the servings are generous but the service is slow, even when they aren't busy. I had the white sangria and it was very refreshing on a hot day. The outdoor seating area is covered with Wisteria vine and has a really nice water feature - we found it quite relaxing.

OK !!! Yea!! Manuel’s is still opened on Jollyville Road in NW Austin. That has been our go to restaurant for years.......but to be honest for the past couple of years we have not been there. It’s been going down hill.....last night was our second try this Summer. It was way too hot to eat out side, which happens to be our favorite spot, ( now except for the very large couch out there under our favorite tree). So inside we went. Greeted by two friendly young ladies and even though at that time there were only two of us out of the six that were coming. Seated immediately since they were almost empty, it was only 4:30. Sat down and in come our number three person. No one looked at us, greeted us, smiled at us, nothing. Ten minutes later with waiters walking up and down past out table. No one looked our way. Finally I noticed a waiter kinda looking at us and I called him over to help us and he was fantastic. Nick was ours the rest rest of the night. If it wasn’t for him the night would have been ruined. The food was great because our plates clean. All I can say is thank you Nick for saving our night out. Thank you!

Loved the food at this excellent Mexican restaurant. The mole dishes were delicious and the service, warm and accommodating. The serving portions were large and the menu was so diverse.

We love Manuel's! We have gone there for years and have never had a bad experience. Our favorite time is Manuel's happy hour with half-priced appetizers from 4 to 6 every week night. The crab nachos and campechana are marvelous. The entres are a little TexMex and a little interior Mexico - a nice variety with some very interesting and tasty plates. The drinks are good and the service is very good, even when crowded. This is one of the few restaurants I know where the wait staff stays around for 10+ years in many cases. Must be a good place to work!

Attended a business dinner meeting here and had great food and service. Everyone happy with their appetizers, cocktails, and meals. I ordered the ceviche tower-style and LOVED it.

The food is always excellent and the people are outstanding. I always enjoy seeing how happy the staff appear to be in their work. Sitting outside is fantastic.

Manuel’s is the best Mexican restaurant in northwest Austin. The location is outstanding, especially outside in the courtyard. The service and food are very good.

From the moment you enter, you start your experience with fantastic staff greeting you and getting you to your seat as soon as they can. Drinks arrived shortly after they were ordered. The limonada is their version of a mojito. Very refreshing and delicious. I had a sip of my other half's Mexican Martini which was pretty awesome too. We arrive right in time for their happy hour specials and enjoy their house ceviche and guacamole for half price! Both were very tasty. Dinner was perfect. I had a bite of the beef tenderloin and y my mole enchiladas and I was very happy with both. It was pretty quiet on this Thursday evening and it was perfect. I've walked in on an early Friday to an empty restaurant and walked out to a huge line of people waiting. Thursday it is! Enjoy!

A spur of the moment shopping trip to Austin , Tx turned into a very enjoyable experience for my wife and I. We were shopping in North Austin in an area we called Arboreteum. We searched for a restaurant and thankfully found Manuel's. The drinks and food were wonderful. We had chicken fajitas for one and it was perfect for the two of us ( both dieting ). I had a margarita on the rocks and it was also very good. We highly recommend Manuel's.

Manuel's is located on a very nice property and the restaurant has a beautiful interior. They serve Mexican coastal cuisine, so if you like fish/shell fish, this spot is for you. All sauces are made from scratch here, and have a subtle, wonderful flavor. Even the salsa and chips are outstanding before you tuck into your meal. I had yellow fin tuna that was offered up with a choice of 3 sauces. Everything was cooked to perfection. Excellent and friendly wait staff attend to your needs. You cannot miss with this place. And try to save room for dessert. They even make their own ice cream. Thank you to my great server Alex, who patiently explained all menu items thoroughly and with a smile.

Last month was in Austin in the great hills area and we ate at Manuels twice. Once was for lunch and the food was excellent. We have need of Gluten free, and found the waiter to be understanding. (He assured us the food was prepared on a GF area of the grill in the kitchen) The margaritas however ( which they offer several) ...were REALLY excellent on our lunch time visit so we went back a few days later for happy hr. and brought additional family with us. The food was good, but we ordered food from the afternoon menus, not a happy hr menu..the happy hour price for the drinks($2 reduction) however was reflected in the margaritas. They were definitely not the same as the ones we had during the regular afternoon lunch. Sorry to say...They were notably weaker. So you may not really experience Manuels excellent margaritas at the full level if you go for happy hr. and order one of their special margaritas. We don't know if it was intentional...or a fluke and inexperience of the person making the drinks that day. Our family likes the real deal margaritas and the earlier version that week...was much better. I'll give it another try next time I'm in Austin...l

Manuel's is a gorgeous restaurant inside and out. The patio offers comfortable seating for cocktails or a meal under a sprawling Oak tree canopy with a water feature that drowns out any road noise and a chic mural wall that blocks the parking lot from view. Diners will feel like they are in a charming courtyard. The interior of Manuel's is just as lovely with high ceilings, spacious seating and comfortable banquettes. The decor feels modern and upscale with being fussy or intimidating. The menu offers elevated Mexican food with choices for vegetarians and omnivores. Everything here is delicious. Cocktails and mocktails are on offer. I love the margaritas here, but also enjoy an aqua fresca when I want to feel festive without the alcohol. The service here is usually excellent without being obsequious. Manuel's is a favorite date night spot. Bonus: often we like to time our dinner so we can catch a movie at the Regal Arbor Cinema just across the parking lot.

Manuels is one of the best Mexican food restaurants in Austin. They have 2 locations, one downtown and one northwest. The Jolleyville rd location has a gorgeous green patio complete with water running into a little mini stream. Waitstaff are friendly and the food and service are excellent. One of their best soups is the Crema de Chile Poblano. It is a roasted chile poblano bisque garnished with queso Asadero & tortilla strips. They have a full service bar and great selection of margaritas. Parking is never an issue. If you want to spend an afternoon or evening at a great Mexican restaurant on a beautiful patio with friends or family enjoying great food and drinks then Manuel's is the place to go.

Our waiter was very pleasant and nice! We had family visiting from out of town and had their mouths watering for authentic & flavorful Mexican cuisine. It was all too average. We ordered Chile relleno de elotes, chicken fajitas (needed more flavor), ensalada de pollo achiote (this was probably the most flavorful),and fish tacos (tasty!!). Hopefully, it will really knock up the flavor profile in the future.

Fantastic chicken flautas with Suiza sauce and rice, a baked onion section and a little guacamole!! Really good! My Vegan friend and I shared an appetizer of guacamole at half price during happy hour and she enjoyed a great salad for her entree, too! Wonderful atmosphere and food and great service from Jody!

I ordered grilled fish tacos that came with maybe 2 or 3 ounces of fish for both tacos. They serve them deconstructed so you have to sparingly a lot fish to each tortilla they bring. I guess all the beans and rice are supposed to be enough. Their chips weren’t that great either.

The service was mediocre. The food was not memorable. The margaritas are tiny. I don't care to return. VERY EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT YOU GET!

This is our old time favorite place to relax and enjoy the food. We also go there with grownup friends for their happy hour: wonderful appetizers and or course, margaritas! Our kids love their Sunday brunch as well. The love mariachi band is great. Nothing is cheesy. You get what you pay for every penny solid!

Enchiladas verdes filled with spinach and some onions were delicious at lunch. Comes with chips/salsa, rice and black beans for $12. Excellent and we sat outside on the patio, nice breeze, beautiful oak trees.

We ate on the patio outside, it was a beautiful setting! The service was excellent, the food was excellent, and the "famous" margarita was pretty good too! I recommend this place - the price was also very reasonable!

Great atmosphere and good service awaits Mexican martinis mixed and served at the table From appetizers to entrees, all were delicious and well presented

Manuel’s is a wonderful choice. They are very accessible, great menu, very good service and food excellent. The vent is beautiful both inside and out.

One of the problems with growing up in Texas is that we become so accustomed to eating Tex Mex. If a restaurant attempts any variation to what we are used to, we generally slam them for not knowing how to properly prepare quality Tex Mex. In this restaurant's defense, I don't think they are attempting to serve Tex Mex. I think they have a more traditional (with a progressive slant) Mexican food menu. My rating of this restaurant may be based on the above. It's not that the have bad food, they don't...it's just not what I was expecting. I would encourage you to give it a try to formulate your own opinion. It might just be your cup of tea.

Manuel's used to be my "go to " spot for upscale Mexican-style food. After being gone for several years I went back. Big mistake. I ordered queso for the table and it was so thick and gooey that it was inedible. Like eating cheese blobs. The garden salad (Ensalada del Jardin) is now a "chopped" salad" that was kind of mushy and had very little bits of lettuce. I ordered the Tortas de papas and masa (corn and potato gorditos), an appetizer as my entree. There was sufficient food and the salsa is excellent but too much mashed potatoes and not enough substance to the tortas. My husband ordered the pan fried scallops, also an appetizer. Again the serving was a decent size but he said they were closer to deep fat fried. I'm vegetarian and appreciate that Manuel's has several choices. I just with the food had stayed the way it used to be. I probably won't go back. Service was attentive without being overbearing.

I can't tell you how beautiful their patio is with that 200 year old double Oak Tree. I love their happy hour too. Half off apps and $2 Off Cocktails. I could sit out on their couches under the tree all day.

The mole is the best I've ever tasted, and the coconut cake was heavenly. The cake was very moist and I wouldn't have known it was coconut if I hadn't been told. It had a caramel sauce with nuts, as well as a giant strawberry on the side. Will come back here for the mole and cake if nothing else!

Manuel's is one of my two favorite Mexican restaurants in Austin. I've been to this location at least a dozen times and I can remember only once when things were a bit off. The flavors of the food are wonderful, and presentation on the plates is nice, too. The kids love the lime-aid, and the adults have no complaints with the margaritas. The mushroom appetizer is a favorite. The patio has plenty of shade and can be a nice place to enjoy your meal.

Outstanding food, drinks and service! We had a lunch for twenty people and it was fantastic! There are many food choices, including vegetarian. Many thanks for a great time!

Great atmosphere (we were able to eat outside), great service. Good selection of authentic drinks and menu choices. Servers all worked together to make sure everything was delivered to table on time. A good choice.

What a fabulous restaurant experience! I love Mexican cuisine and it was a delight to see so many regional specialties and such a range of fresh and delicious seafood. The restaurant is large, very comfortable but still with an intimate feel. The staff are friendly and so knowledgeable about their menu. The bar and lounge are welcoming and spacious. You must try the Manuelian Sunset blood orange margarita! I very highly recommend Manuel’s - for a great night with family or friends, or a large party.

As a surprise date night, we went to Manuels for Valentine Day. There was a special menu for the occasion but we opted to order from the regular menu and had the fish tacos. They were good but the fish serving was very small, almost not enough to make 2 tacos. It was too noisy to be able to talk to each other. The service was good and the Margaritas delicious.

I went for lunch and at first I was surprised that such a huge place had so few people (4 tables with couples). But maybe it was deserved considering what I experienced. My server was quite ineffective, and did not fulfill my expectations. I got no refills, and he did only check in with me at the very end. I had to ask for extra “salsa” to another waiter, in order to get one. The food was OK, but there was really nothing extraordinary about it. The portions are decent although the whole menu is way expensivo.

Regretfully, the outside service has not any type of warming the area with tables. But you have an excellent food and superb service with Antonio, our waiter.

My non vegetarian friends like this place but it does not even have beans for vegetarians. Once I had to sit there just with drinks and ice cream as it was an official meeting.

I enjoyed brunch on the patio today early before the crowds. I had migas which at $10 seemed a little pricey but when they brought my dish, full of black beans in a totilla bowl, along with plate of sliced bananas, pineapple, cantaloupe and wstermelon I was pleased with the amount. The flavor was great and the bloody mary as well.

Manuel's is one of our favorite go-to spots for mexican; we go here at least 2 times a month. This is more authentic than typical tex-mex in town but also has an upscale twist. Nearly everything on the menu is great and they try to use local and fresh ingredients as much as possible. They are consistent in their high quality and attention to detail. They have the best mole in town; I strongly recommend their mole enchiladas if you enjoy mole.

We enjoyed the delicious Margaritas and Enchiladas at Manuel's last night. The service was excellent and outdoor dining on the patio was an option. Try it.

The food at Manuel’s was as tasty as always at lunch today. However the service, portions and presentation were sub par. Sadly this was a business meal so it hurt more than it normally would. The venue, parking and outside dining were excellent. I might return but not for a business meal.

Been dining here for past 15 years. The HH is amazing with wonderful food. Dined tonight with horribly slow service with prices increased significantly. Worst part was being charged for refills for chips AND salsa for a table of six....unheard of for an upscale establishment. Change of management?? Bring the old Manuel's back with great food, great prices and exemplary service!

I was already hooked on Manuel's Downtown, but recently got acquainted with the North location, Manuel's Great Hills. I have become a regular because of their beautiful patio and the fact that there is a parking lot, and I don't have to deal with the downtown parking. The same great food is here.. Interior Mexican Cuisine at it's finest, prepared and presented beautifully. Manuel's uses top notch ingredients. It is healthy and delicious. I am hooked on happy hour on the patio. They have really great drinks and some of the best guacamole in town, (garnished with pomegranate seeds). The margarita selection can range from watermelon, prickly pear, mango, to many others. There is also a Watermelon Mexican Martini, and a Cucumber Mexican Martini, plus many other wonderful and creative drinks. Not the same ole same ole here. The food is amazing, and the atmosphere beautiful and relaxing. Both Manuel's locations are great with some of the best Mexican food in town.

Manuel's continues to serve some great alternatives to traditional Tex-Mex by offering numerous selections of interior Mexican cuisine. The beef sopes were outstanding, as was the traditional tortilla soup. There is little atmosphere in the main dining room and the high ceiling and hard surfaces can create a noisy environment during busy periods; so try the bar, or in nice weather, the outdoor patio.

It was like gourmet TexMex. I had a healthy dish, great service. Will be back. They have live music that worked well without being overbearing.

... Manuel's is about the very, very best!!! Every dish at our table was good - yes, we all shared. In fact, my love for mole was seriously challenged by their cream sauce. Try it, you'll like it!

There is indoor dining but our favorite is the outdoor, enclosed patio dining. Variety of great margaritas, great guacamole, suisa on enchiladas, bkack bean side, seafood dishes, etc. to satisfy a range of diner tastes.

I had a craving for good Mexican food place, and as this was a place my fiancée and I drove past often, we decided to check it out. We arrived at the tail end of the Saturday evening dinner rush, so we didn’t need reservations (our wait was short). The interior was spacious, and not at all noisy (as is common for Austin venues). We started with an appetizer of chili con queso, and my fiancée had never devoured so much cheese product. That’s how good we thought this was, with the right mix of tomatoes and chiles. My main course was the ranchera enchiladas (cheese) which had a tangy flavor without an over-powering spice level. She had lomo de res, and the Black Angus beef never tasted so good. My fiancée said this was one of the best cuts of meat she’d ever gotten in Austin. She also liked how the garlic butter soaked into the rice, which just enhanced the flavor even more. With a great wine list, and awesome top-notch service from Welton & Connor, my fiancée has found a brand new favorite restaurant that we’ll be returning to frequently. Our only quibble was the AC didn’t seem to work as well as it could’ve (so it would get hot for a few minutes now and then). We didn’t let that detract in any way from the excellent experience we had here. Thank you very much for such a great meal!

I recently visited with some friends. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. They have a great outdoor patio area. They have amazing specialty Margarita's, I had the Prickly Pear. We had the mushroom quesadilla for an appetizer and it was good. For dinner I shared the Chicken Enchiladas and Shrimp Veracruz which were exceptional. And for dessert we had their famous Flan. I would come back here again and highly recommend it for any occasion. They have been in business for 30+ years and there is a reason why!

Sangria Sunday. If you’re looking for a delicious in house made sangria this is the place! Excellent food! I recommend the crab enchiladas with the chipotle cream sauce! Definitely a welcoming establishment!

The Wild-Caught Black Drum fish w/Chipotle Cream Lime Salsa & Mexican Rice was fabulous! The fish itself was so light and flaky with a great texture, and tasted so fresh… but add to that flavor of the sauce that accompanied that is just the right combination of tangy with a great flavor to enhance the fish. The guacamole is some of the best I’ve ever had. I also enjoyed the cactus salad. It was so unique and delicious- cactus! Who would’ve thought?! Knowing that everything I ate was organic and freshly sourced locally made me enjoy the meal all that much more. My friends, and I shared a bite or two of each other’s meals and everything I sampled was very delicious and I could tell was carefully prepared. Great service, and a very tasteful and warm decor that creates a relaxing and rich ambience. This Mexican restaurant dining experience is at the top of my list! I am definitely coming back to try some of the other dishes- very unique to what she would find for Mexican food, but others are a traditional type of food. You have to try this place!

Great food and service with a nice, big, and today, very convinient patio with fair physical distance among tables.

I was here in Austin for a work conference. 10 of us went to dinner. Given that the restaurant was in a shopping center, I did not expect much. But he food was very good and the service was great. Margaritas were first rate.

Large property on edge of a shopping center. Plenty of free parking. Family eating place. Wait staff very good. Very noisy. Food is average Tex-Mex.

Decided to have lunch at Manuel's Arboretum yesterday. Nice surprise that it was actually cool enough to eat on the patio, when the forecast was in the high 80's. Our waiter was Alphonso, and he had a new employee Jose, with him. Both were exceptionally pleasant, told us about specials for the day. Attentive, and not at all bothersome. We both had chicken breasts with the house mole sauce which was fantastic. No desert. No liquor. Just a great meal with a nice patio atmosphere.

Manuel’s has easily become my favorite spot for traditional dishes made to order with some of the most sustainably sourced and freshest ingredients around! I started my evening with an order of Manuel’s homemade guacamole paired with a Mario Maraca Margarita - likely the smoothest Margarita my lips have met. The Parrillada is the perfect option for your main course, especially to share amongst a date, friends or family. This flavorful feast came loaded with marinated beef tenderloin, natural chicken breast, skewered shrimp straight from the Gulf, and grilled nopal cactus paddles – absolutely amazing. To satisfy my sweet tooth, I always make room for a slice of Manuel’s Signature. Manuel’s should be toward the top of your list of places to go. An unforgettable Austin atmosphere mixed with the finest Mexican cuisine you can find!

Really impressed with this place! Our first time there, and both my wife and I walked away loving it. I ordered a cup of the tortilla soup to start, and it was seriously the best soup I have ever had. The staff was prompt and courteous. It was raining pretty hard when we went, so we couldn't sit out on the patio, but the inside is great too. As we left that evening, my wife and I tried to think if we had ever had better Mexican food in the United States, and we couldn't think of anywhere that was better! We will definitely be back.

Our party of 6 each had different dishes, so we sampled around the table. The black bean flautas were excellent, as were the cheese enchiladas w/mole sauce. I had Spinach Enchiladas w/Suiza sauce, which is rapidly disappearing from Mexican restaurants around Austin. They were quite good. The atmosphere was nice, and the service was great. There was a lot of free parking. I recommend you give it a try.

We’ve eaten here many times and have never been disappointed. Favorite entrees are the mushroom soft tacos, beef enchiladas and chicken fajitas. The happy hour is one of the best – 4 to 6pm daily with half price appetizers. Ask for a seat on the patio, then order some guacamole, classic ceviche, and quesadillas along with a couple margaritas. Enjoy!

I was visiting a friend in Austin and she suggested Manuel's for dinner and drinks. The pomegranate cosmopolitan was terrific and a great start to a great dinner. It was nice to order from a menu that wasn't just standard tex-mex fare. The food was great and different from most mexican restaurants I have found in TX which was a nice surprise. The restaurant was busy and a little noisy but no more than you would expect for a Friday evening and we never felt rushed.

Recently, I took my mother and partner out for a late afternoon meal at Manuel's after a day of shopping and errand-running. I have to say that for a mid-day meal when most restaurants are not very busy, and sometimes not very attentive, we were all pleased at the level of service that we received at Manuel's. Though not very hungry when we arrived, we treated ourselves to a round of drinks, nachos, and then we split an order of fajitas. All were very good. The fajitas were some of the best that we've had in Austin and we absolutely consider ourselves true connoisseurs of fajitas! We sat on the patio and unwound while our waiter attended to every detail. What a great way to treat ourselves after a day of shopping! We will be back very soon.

Manuel’s is one of our top choices for Mexican food. We met couples here for dinner. We love their outdoor patio but the weather put us inside. The venue, menu, service and food were excellent. We will return.

Love this place for years. Great patio or indoor dining. A bit quieter in the bar area. The Tortilla Soup is very complex and well thought out. Not you mom's Tortilla soup! More of an interior Mexico theme than the other places

Charged with hosting a political fundraiser, I knew just where to go. My favorite restaurant, Manuel's in the Arboretum area on Jollyville Road. They handled my group of thirty with ease and grace. Everyone was allowed to order their own selection off the menu which was a big hit. Also the drinks were promptly served (and served again) and the prices were quite reasonable for food and ambience of this quality. I recommend Manuel's and Nichole for your next important occasion

Incredible fresh tuna ceviche, portobello mushroom fajitas, Chile rellenos and distinctive margaraitas, in an upscale atmosphere with good friendly service

This is a place we’ve frequented, as it’s (to my knowledge) the only place in the city you can get “interior Mexican” food, as opposed to Tex-Mex. The parking here is always ample, the interior always clean, and the staff always friendly. Making reservations on OpenTable is always good, especially for peak times. What was odd on this visit, it was a Saturday evening (thus “peak time”) and it was barren. We commented that the hostess, who’d pointed out how unsual it was. We always get the queso, as the hot melted white cheese (with some bell peppers thrown in) is very good. That could be quite the meal in itself. On this visit for my main course I got the chicken fajitas for the first time. The meat and peppers were sizzling when it came out, and the sides of pico, quac, and cheese were ample. (I could use more cheese, because I like cheese.) One thing I’ve always liked about this place is how the ric has carrots in it. Everything was tasty and fabulous. This is an example of how good food can still be found in this city.

Wonderful Service. Pablano soup was excellent. Flauta’s were perfectly done and great taste. The flan is a must

The food was suppose to be authentic Mexican food which may have swayed by vote as I'm used to Tex-Mex. I had the 2 fajita tacos off the lunch menu for $10. The tacos were small and not all that flavorful. Black beans were ok.

I have lived in The Austin,Texas area for 21 years. I first was exposed to Manuel's restaurant in the downtown area. I always ordered the beef entree, Lomo de Res. It was a beef tenderloin filet with a special goat cheese sauce over a bed of rice with black beans. It has always been excellent. Last night my wife and I went to the Arboretum area Manuel's, referred to as the Great Hills location. We both ordered the Lomo de Res entree. The beef steak tasted great, but parts of it were tough to even cut with a sharp knife. The cost of the entree is $29, so it ought to be tender. Our total bill was $110 with tip, so the dining experience is not cheap for the Austin area. We ate outside which is a beautiful area for dining on a good weather night. I asked the waiter what cut of meat was used and he replied that it was a shoulder cut of meat, which explains why it had some chewy tough spots. Overall the quality of food is excellent, but this entree has gone south in quality relative to the cut of meat. I hope that they fix it, because I won't be going back.

Four of us enjoyed a variety of fish and Mexican dishes. All were delicious and beautifully presented. The Margaritas were exceptional, especially the premium ones. We dined under a beautiful shade tree on the patio but there is also plentiful indoor seating with air conditioning. Prices were very reasonable given the quality of the food and the atmosphere.