The Tortilla Press

12/07/08

Good food by RON D. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

Nice restaurant, but a bit noisy. Too many hard surfaces! and tables are jammed in... many conversations fill the room.

The food was good. The chef/owner came out and asked us if we enjoyed the food, we did!

Citysearch Editorial Review

by Tara Nurin at Citysearch

“Mexican influenced” is how chef/owner Mark Smith describes his cuisine, which, as Smith’s rabidly loyal South Jersey following could tell you, translates to an American-style take on “Mexican” food (read: artichoke bean burritos, pan seared tuna steak with pineapple salsa, etc…) seasoned with somewhat authentic South-of-the Border herbs and sauces. In the mid-2000s, this popular family-friendly BYOB outgrew it corner digs and expanded into a two-room anchor to Collingswood’s downtown; it remains one of the few South Jersey restaurants Philadelphia foodies know by name and, gasp, may even cross the bridge for. The atmosphere might be best described as approachable – the chairs aren’t plastic and there are no tacky cellophane flags flapping in the interior breeze but there are also no table coverings or cloth napkins, and one shouldn’t worry about stumbling over the pronunciation of ceviche.

11/02/09

Can't get enough of this place

by colnago at Citysearch

There's just something about Tortilla Press...I mean, besides the food. The place is buzzing with something - I always feel it when I go there. Plus I love all the events they have - it's always something new and fun to do with food. Great specials, great staff - they look like they really want to be there. Just an all around great place to be and eat.

• Pros: Guacamole, ceviche
• Cons: Weekend crowds

10/31/09

Wonderful meals there for years

by Jose43 at Citysearch

I've been eating fairly regularly at Tortilla Press since the first week it opened. It was excellent then, and it has gotten better and better. Without a doubt, it's the best Mexican restaurant in South Jersey. The chef uses fresh, local ingredients to concoct outstanding meals. Particularly tasty are the scallops, but everything on the menu is delicious! Try the delectable flan for dessert! I wholeheartedly recommend Tortilla Press.

• Pros: Great food and great service
• Cons: Having to wait in line to get in

02/19/08

Beware of the help staff - not sanitary

by JDIPS at Citysearch

I enjoyed eating here in 2006 but recently the quality has not been the same. We ate here in Feb 08 and not only was the food mediocre, but one of the help staff (a female who prepares but not serves) was licking her fingers when dishing out chips and salsa. Then she would serve you the chips with the same hands...

It was pretty disgusting. We were going to say something but decided to leave it alone and never go back.

01/12/08

Terrible, terrible, terrible.

by aumphy at Citysearch

TP is trying to set itself apart as the restaurant with the longest waits, worst service, and blandest food. After calling ahead at 6 pm on a Saturday evening, we were told that they did not take reservations, but that "it's not that busy" and "it would take no longer than 20-25 minutes to be seated after [we] arrived." Our party of four arrived at 6:30 pm, and we were told that it would be no more than a 30-45 minute wait.

Upon returning 45 minutes later, the hostess told us that [she] "was so, so sorry but [we'd] have to wait at least another 15-20 minutes. It's REALLY busy tonight and we didn't do a good job estimating how long it would take." Seeing that we'd already wasted 45 minutes, we figured that another 15-20 minutes wouldn't be the end of the world. After those 20 minutes were up, we checked in again with Ms. Unempathetic who told us that "You guys are next on the list and we're just waiting to clear a table for you. But we're going to send over a free guacamole once you're seated for being so very patient."

As we were finally being seated after our 90 minute wait, I asked to speak with the manager whom the hostess promised to send over. Our server told us that she'd been instructed to give us a free appetizer because "[you'd] patiently waited for an hour and a half." The manager finally came by 5-10 minutes after we'd been seated and brought with her two appetizers (ceviche) that we hadn't ordered and informed us that they were on the house. She swung by only long enough to apologize - apparently, she felt that by gracing us with her presence and wishing us a great dinner, she was off the hook from discussing our 90 minute wait.

Despite our hope that our entrees would redeem our wait, we were sorely disappointed. The chicken mole was as dry as another grilled beef dish was flavorless. Jumping in a vat of scalding vat of refried beans would have been more pleasant than this dining experience. Talk about an over-rated restaurant.

• Pros: They give you the check pretty quickly.
• Cons: Long, long waits.

12/05/06

My favorite.

by mmaad at Citysearch

Food is always great. Being that this restaurant is "Mexican influence" the chef always prepares wonderful specials that identify with authentic Mexican cuisine while accommodating to the American palate. Food is always fresh and they support local South Jersey farms. The service is friendly, fun and attentive.

• Pros: Fresh squezzed lime margaritas.BYOT. Service and ambience
• Cons: No waiting area

06/30/06

Great food, not so great service

by annettechanning at Citysearch

I've been here many times and I've always loved the food and the ambience. The past two times, however, the service has been extremely slow and inattentive. Our waitress last night never came by to see how we were doing or if we needed anything. We finished dinner and sat waiting for our plates to be cleared. This was the case on New Year's Eve also. Our waitress completely catered to the larger party next to us and we were all but forgotten the entire night. This never happened when it first opened but since the restaurant expanded I have enjoyed going here much less. It's a shame because I think the food is excellent.

• Pros: ambience, BYOT, take out
• Cons: parking is difficult, service is usually slow

01/20/06

Average Mexican food

by nirag at Citysearch

Tortilla Press is a nice place for people who have a lot of money and don't want particularly great Mexican food. I'm from Texas, so my standards for Mexican food are high, but the food here is just not worth its price. If it were $8 a plate (like in San Antonio), it would definitely be worth it, but it doesn't--it costs around $17 for an entree (more for seafood), and $10 just for an appetizer. The ambience is cool, so it's a nice place to bring someone, but the value is subpar.

Also, it's in Collingswood, which means it's BYOB. This I have a no problem with. What I do have a problem with is bringing your own tequila and ordering a "pitcher" (of Margarita mix and ice to make your own margaritas) for FIFTEEN dollars. $15 is an acceptable price if the tequila were included, but it's not.

• Pros: Ambience, Service
• Cons: Bad value, Average food