Distrito Reviews

When it first opened years ago, Distrito was a funky place with innovative food. We hadn't been for a while but returned for happy hour last week. Both the decor and food aren't nearly as interesting. The happy hour had $5 margaritas, which were decent, and the food was still good, but this place seems to have lost its original luster. The food is pretty standard Mexican fare, and the fun swing chairs upstairs that added to the fun ambiance were no longer there (there's just one left downstairs by the entrance). The VW that once graced the downstairs entrance has also been moved to the back of the room. The guacamole is way overpriced ($13 for a very small bowl). Tacos were good, and the Burrito Suizo for $12 is enormous--definitely enough to take home. Distrito is still decent, but it seems to have lost the wow factor that made it worthy of 4-5 stars. I'd give it 3.5 stars--fine if you're in the area, but no longer worth trekking up to University City just to go here.

Went with a friend while visiting Philadelphia for Sunday Brunch. At noon, it wasn't very busy and the sever was friendly. The food was tasty but greasy. I would not recommend eating like that everyday! The nachos were buttery and cheesy. We both had fish tacos which came on small corn tortillas, just enough for lunch. I felt stuffed after sharing the nachos and eating my own tacos. I was happy to see Micheladas as one of the drink choices, but decided against it for Sunday lunch. If I go back, I'd love to see if they are authentic. The price seemed reasonable. A two course brunch is about 20 USD. The location is close to my family in University City Philadelphia, which for some people is out of the way. If you are staying downtown, may be not worth the travel. Not bad at all.

We are frequent flyers at Distrito. We love many of Jose Garces' resturants but this one is a favorite. The staff is really great, attentive and friendly, and that goes for the bar tenders, servers, runners, managers etc. The food is amazing and with small plates that are priced accordingly, we always leave feeling well fed with top notch food. Where we always go overboard are the drinks. We order top shelf margarita pitchers which go down smooth so our bar bill is usualy more than our food bill. Desserts are usually shared because we've done ourselves in with food and drink, but should not be entirely passed over. There are so many options, and variety for vegetarians as well (we always have 1 veggie with us and she can attest to the variety and taste/quality). Some of my favorites dishes are Huarache : short rib (DE COSTILLAS) or mushrooms (DE HONGOS), you cannot go wrong Nachos- holy cow, these are amazing in either veggie form (IGNACIO) or meat (ENCARNACIÓN) Veggie enchilada (ENCHILADA DE VERDURAS) - outstanding Side corn dish (ESQUITES) a beautiful mix of sweet and spicey Butternut Squash Soup (SOPA DE CALABAZA) amazing And the decor is outstanding- we love the Lucha libre theme. And the best part is that there are so many dishes you can go and try them all over many visits!

This is a vibrant restaurant, and obviously gets a lot of traffic due to the Iron Chef owner. It's a fun scene, certainly loud - so expect to be doing lots of leaning to hear your table mates. The food was good - unique flavors and served in quantities that are management so that you can try many. Our group had multiple tacos (kobe beef, mahi mahi etc) as well as scallops, guac (YUM!) and finished up with Churros. The AVERAGE rating is due to the service. We came in early on a Saturday and while the place was starting to hum, our service was MIA. It took forever to get drinks, and our server wasn't on top of refreshing them - I would have had at least two more margarita's if he'd been by the table. He got confused on menu descriptions, and one of our tablemates had to wait for scallops (which should have been the least timely to cook) getting served as the others were getting their final dinner plates taken away. They were nice enough to bring her 2 finally, as a "sorry from the kitchen", but it was really the icing on the cake as far as determining that the service is (or was that night for us) poor. I'd come back, maybe - after trying out the many other great restaurants in Philly.

We had a good sized group of family members 8 folks including two youngsters. Everyone enjoyed their food and Zach the server did a great job, very attentive. For appetizers we had the nachos and the guacamole was outstanding. I had the shrimp fajitas with fresh jalapenos on the side. It was great. Another person enjoyed the chicken fajitas. The atmosphere was light and pleasant and clean. I would recommend the place for a family meal.

We tried to go here before but they were closing and we are glad we got in because the food is excellent. I had the beef tacos and my wife and son had the nachos which were great.the food and drinks came very quickly and the service was great even though our waitress was very busy. There seemed to be a lot of student types and the atmosphere was kind of hip .

I was under-impressed. Really cool atmosphere, great service, but the "modern style Mexican tapas" was just a nice way of saying "we're charging you $65 for a couple tacos and some fancy shaved corn and pig's belly" It was obscenely overpriced. But as usual it's very deceiving at a tapas restaurant because you have to order 23 things to make a meal. Really wishing it were better. Wish I had a reason to return. It's a waste of a cool looking restaurant.

The tortilla soup was excellent, but the torta milanesa (fancy for chicken sandwich) was disappointing and somewhat tasteless. The atmosphere is lots of fun though, and the prices very reasonable for lunch.

Its a college bar/restaurant and the parking is terrible and the food average. We usually love his restaurants, but probably won't try this again. Just not what we thought --waiters rush you in and out

Fun atmosphere. Reasonable service. All of the food we had was good, but nothing spectacular. Fajita servings were relatively small. Mexican Poutine is definitely worth trying. Citywide is served with tequila.

Went here with my husband and step daughter while we were visiting Penn for a college tour. We had a reservation and sat right away. Service was very attentive and food was delicious. I ordered the Mahi Mahi tacos and they were amazing! Funky decor and great energy!

a week night but we found a parking spot right outside....there were parties booked in all the rooms except the main dining area so space seemed a bit tight...but the food was just right...we had visited on restaurant week and are still laughing about trying to decide what to order from the special menu....when the server told us "no choice, you get it all" we repeated that over and over between laughs...a mini nacho platter was my appetizer.....my beef burrito was smothered in chile sauce and topped with cheese...humongous!..my dining partner ordered the restaurant week special and was simultaneously delighted and overwhelmed with all of the food she received.....take a look at the pictures....

Its too overated.. Draw is Jose Garces Iron Chef Food Channel but there was nothing special about Chefs menu. Portions were small and there is an attempt to show creativity but flavors were just not there!

Distrito offers a very tasty and modern twist on Mexican food. The decor is very hip modern and the restaurant buzzes with an excited vibe. Here it is best to dine tapas style and share a bunch of small plates. Almost everything we ordered was a hit, especially all the beef dishes which were cooked to absolute perfection. Flatbreads combine some great tastes. Desserts are limited but good. Churros would have been better hot and the spicy chocolate was bitter. Margaritas are strong but value could be a bit better on the drinks. Service was a tad slow but likely the kitchens fault. Overall, price and value seemed a bit off but we are not skittish about the cost of good food and this was good. We enjoyed ourselves and would come back

I've been to Distrito many times. It's great! They have great guacamole and even better margaritas. The plantains are to die for, as well as their ceviche. Garces is by far my favorite chef so I'm a bit partial to his restaurants. It's a really nice place, but not his best. It's a bit over priced for south american food that you can get at other places, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it's really great food, but I suggest some of his other restaurants for a really nice night out.

Wow. Even the simplest taco or enchilada is a huge amount of tastes wrapped up in a tortilla. All is great. Don't shy away from the flatbreads or the desserts.

This place has great mexican food. It's a bit noisy, but fun and laid back. We had a selection of tacos which are all great. We also had ceviche and a grilled octopus which was superb! Different margarita specialties and an overall good atmosphere.

Food great & nice atmosphere,but we couldn't stay to long with my autistic son.We go to restaurants a lot and most are sensitive to my sons disability and they try to seat us as far away from crowds as they can to the best of there ability.But when visiting this establishment they could care less.There was a seat that was further away from the crowds that sat 5 people or more when I inquired about us sitting there the answer was absolutely not.For those reasons I will not return with or without my autistic son.

Quirky yet charming. With the booth inside an old-school VW bug or the table with porch swings, Distrio showed us unexpected delights from our entrance to to our entrees.

My wife had read about Distrito and we were near the Penn campus. Luck was with us as it was a Tuesday and they have "Taco Tuesday" which featured three excellent tacos with filling of your choice for $9. My wife had pork and i had fish tacos. Very tasty in this casual place. Friendly staff.

Nice decor and atmosphere, however the food was poor. The skirt steak lacked flavor, the refried beans on the plate were miniscule. The huevos rancheros were fresh but bland and did not even come with a side of tortillas or chips and salsa. Overall very expensive meal lacking value. I think this restaurant trades a lot on its young hip crowd who is more interested in the large bar rather than the food.

This was my 2nd time here. It's one of the better places to eat in West Philly. The only problem is that it's not a place to go if you want to get your eat on. A lot of money for a little bit of food. Small plates/Tapas but they're overpriced. The atmosphere is energetic. Drinks are good. Overall, a very good hang for what it's supposed to be.. a place to chat and chew. However, I would still go elsewhere for a full meal.

This is our go-to restaurant for fun but seriously delicious Mexican food in Philadelphia. We’ve probably been here more than half a dozen times since 2011. It’s a nice experience from start to finish. Wait staff are all friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. We’ve sat upstairs and down- both are lively with a good mix of students, visiting parents, faculty, and locals. Some of our favorite dishes follow, but you won’t go wrong asking your server for advice. Guacamole is hand-made with chunks of fresh avocado. Various huarache dishes have been excellent. Atun (tuna) ceviche is an uncharacteristically small and light dish that goes well with some of the richer offerings. It and the Mahi mahi tacos are probably our favorite dishes- the ones we hope are always on the menu. For more formal Mexican cuisine and an upscale experience, we also like Los Catrines on Walnut near Rittenhouse Square. But if you’re in West Philadelphia and want informal & delicious you won’t be disappointed with Distrito.

Husband and I visited for lunch. Chef is from Iron Chef so w knew it would be good, but wow it was great! Was afraid about being on the west side of University City (Penn's campus) but this place was actually in a decent area. Once inside, you have a great feeling of it being so fun; and it was but what's more is that it is DELISH! We had the pre fix lunch for $15/pp. Started with butternut squash soup topped with lump crab OMG, awesome! Then fish tacos; two mini friend fish tacos with yummy sauce. Everything was so fresh, and well priced. The decor is terrific, and fun and bright. Our server was terrific, and so helpful. I cant wait to return!!! Loved it!

Went for dinner I only wish the service was as good as the food. They had several large parties and they seemed a little overwhelmed. The staff was very nice and they eventually got on track. We will definitely be back

Traveled an hour to celebrate my daughter's special birthday to a restaurant that we remembered as a very neat, upscale place with fantastic food - a Philadelphia destination restaurant. Apparently things have changed - they first tried to seat us at a picnic table and then crappy metal chairs in a very austere downstairs - the hostess told us the upstairs "real" restaurant is only open on occasion. Very disappointed, we left.

I had a cancelled flight and only hotel available was in the cool Universal City area. Front Desk person recommended this spot, so gave a try at 930P. I’d agree with some of the previous reviews...I also felt like the price just quite didn’t justify the food experience. I had the Guacamole with Crab - no reason to get crab, waste of $5, but Guacamole was good and enough for 2 people. I also had the Fish Taco and Crispy Carnitas Tacos - both were good, but not great like taco experiences found in TX or at Fronteras in Chicago airport. Finished with a Plantain side dish, which was good. Overall, the El Hefe Margarita was good, but a bit steep at $15. Overall, good but wasn’t memorable enough for me to want to come back again.

Had a great dinner here with work colleagues. Loved the kitchy decor and the atmosphere. Almost felt like I was in an Austin, TX restaurant. The waitstaff wear "Hecho en Mexico" hence the title of this review. The food was yummy and the tapas style is great when dining with friends who don't mind sharing food.

I have Celiac Disease so I was looking to go to a place in Philly that I wouldn't have to worry about getting sick. This place gets high marks in my book. The drinks from the bar were fresh and flavorful! The main dish was on point and delivered on all levels! And the staff was extremely friendly! To top off a great dinner with drinks, the atmosphere was really unique! I want to see how you can sit at the table with the swings, or the car turned into a booth/table. Distrito was definitely one of our best decisions all day! I got the Super Nachos, with a taco on the side, and a Pina Colada. Wow. My other half got the Chicken Enchiladas and a margarita. No complaints! In terms of having Celiac Disease I did not get sick, and the server was very knowledgeable. Please give this place a try!!

We love Mexican flavors and enjoy all levels of Mexican cuisine. Distrito's food ranges from medicore to good, nothing we have ever had was great! The place is interestingly decorated, tinging on a bit too odd. The service is poor at best. Generally overprice on all items including mediocre drinks. Unless you find your self in the hood, choose Lolita for a much better South of the Boarder experience. Oh and it is also very loud most of the time!

Gracious-so good! We went for lunch-we got four different dishes and shared everything! Burrito, nachos, quesadilla, and chicken burrito. Each with a different filling-the adobo chicken and carne asada were delicious! Super fresh, great portion sizes, great atmosphere-we ate inside the vintage VW bug-it was awesome!

I had a great experience at the Distrito bar. There are rows upon rows of tequila from cheap shooters to $100 vintage. The bartender was very helpful pointing me in the direction in the flavor I was after. I settled on a flight of tequila with their sangrita (which was delicious) and was very pleased. Highly recommended!

Dined here a few years back and had an amazing experience that we've raved of dozens of times since. Returned this month and wow, what a letdown. Slow inattentive service, there were 6 of us who each had something different and all entrees were mediocre and went unfinished. Read reviews after, learned of changes since last visit. Wished we'd read them sooner, would have gone elsewhere.

The servers were accommodating, prompt and unobtrusive. They kept our water glasses full, plates cleared. Some attendees were late and they noticed them, addressed them, seated them and quietly took their orders.The food was a bit spicy but delicious

It's parents weekend at Drexel! My daughter and I lunched at Distrito...my second visit and just as good as I remember! The guacamole and homemade chips are to die for...amazing (and surprising) chicken tortilla soup and outstanding braised beef tacos. Friendly, unpretentious with attentive service. We'll be back.

The food was also excellent, especially the nachos with the hot stone bowl of quacamole. It gets pretty noisy, however, due to the large student population.

I'm giving this a high rating since the one time we had lunch here it was fantastic- we still talk about the tacos (and we did got to El Vez- this place wins hands down). BUT- the next time, we have res and the place is closed, this time, it serves a fixed price brunch with eggs (which we already had breakfast so this was not what we had in mind). We don't live in Philly so this last visits were a true bummer :(

Great mexican food, even better with a group so you can share more dishes. Lamb chops are awesome, kobe beef tacos were great. Margarita's were exactly as they should be. We have eaten at both the upstairs bar and downstairs. Would recommend requesting an upstairs table. Be prepared - food comes out as it is cooked, so you can experience moments where there is too much or too little food on the table. The portions are not big and it is a little pricey at non-happy hour times, but we were with a group and it is a fun night out. Reservations are highly recommended at peak times.

We went to this restaurant thinking that it would be as good as the Distritos in Morrestown; boy were we disappointed. It started off with a "premium margarita" at the bar which cost 16 dollars! Nothing was premium about it, just average tasting and way too sweet. Then we sat down to dinner, had guacamole (10 dollars) which tasted simply like mashed up avocado with nothing added. So we asked for chips and salsa which were extra, and the salsa was bone dry and tasteless. Also ordered nachos which were just ok ( my wife and son felt nauseous after having them ). We proceeded to dinner and ordered enchiladas. My wife had the mushroom ones which were more like flatbread with mushrooms on top, and I had the vegetarian one which was actually good , but so tiny! A single 4 inch enchilada with nothing on the side !! We had to order a side of plantains which wasn't bad. The point is that I have never been to a Mexican restaurant and not had complimentary chips and salsa or beans and rice included with the entree. At this point we were so disgusted with the quality and quantity of food that we skipped dessert (something we never do). The waiter also forgot our extra jalapeños. I don't mind paying premium or above premium prices for dinner, and I don't necessarily mind if portions are small, but the food quality has to be above average. This restaurant serves microscopic portions with average quality at astronomical prices; this is the first and last time I pay 16 for a margarita in a glass!

Had my first experience at Distrito this weekend - amazing food, drinks and atmosphere! Simple, yet flavorful mexican cuisine. Mushroom flatbread with black truffle a must try!

Ate at the booth in Spruce Street Park. Quick service, and tacos were ok. I got soft corn, and the tortilla was right out of the bag, so kind of dull. The filling was excellent, however.

It's a shame that a restaurant that serves such amazing Mexican inspired food has such bad service. Jose Garces himself should read this review and put some attention on his kitchen and wait staff at this great restaurant. I arrived for a 7pm seating on a rainy Friday night. The restaurant was crowded, but not full. I was able to request a table upstairs after being seated at a table right by the front door. The hostess was very accommodating. We ordered our food and drinks about 10 minutes after being seated. By 7:40pm, we had been ploughed through our entire dinner that included: a yellowtail ceviche appetizer (delicious), Kobe steak tacos (ok, lacking flavor and steak was chewy), mahi mahi tacos( delicious but note that the mahi was deep fried ) and a mushroom and black truffle huarache (amazing!!!). That's a lot of food for 2 people in 30 minutes. And given that everything was hot, you felt rushed to eat it wouldn't get cold. It was ridiculous and it's unacceptable. And for that reason I would never order more than one thing at a time because clearly the kitchen and wait staff are untrained. Finally, the churros are not good. They have no flavor and the sauces they come with are no better. This dessert option needs some serious work. I recommend the chocolate cake. It was everything it should be, delicious! So go at your own risk. Order one or two items at a time. Otherwise you will be choking down your food. And don't they know that people will spend more money on drinks if the lace is slower? It's just basic customer service. Oh, and by the time 8:30 rolled around the place was almost empty. What does that tell you? They lost all their customers that could have been spending money on more drinks and food.

Dainty portions for a large price. Food was fine, but menu was a little confusing to navigate. Sweet corn appetizer was tasty.

Took my family here last week for the first time. Another Garces place and lives up to the reviews. Located out of center city and near Penn. Cool ambiance, outstanding "Tapas" style menu perfect for sharing with whole family. Tacos are very good, the guac and chips terrific. Lively and young atmosphere and the service was good.

We really enjoyed the decor, the mango chile margaritas were fabulous, the tuna ceviche very tasty. We each ordered an "entree" and the waiter explained to us that both of them were very small. I had the blue crab and my husband had the Camarones Al Ajillo. At $14 and $19 respectively I really did not expect them to be small. But we went ahead and ordered chips and salsa and guac. Everything was delicious and the waiter was right....the portions were very small. I can't tell you our surprise when we saw that the chips and salsa and guac was $17!!!! Now it does say that on the menu but we had no intention of ordering it so didn't really look. Who would ever think that it would cost $17!!!! The menu makes it look fairly inexpensive but the portions are very small so the bill keeps getting bigger because you are not full yet. Of course the very delicious margaritas are $10 each. As I said, it was all very good but we expected to be a reasonable dinner ended up over $100 for the two of us.

Great tapas-style restaurant. Mahi-mahi tacos, gorditas, spare rib tacos, and lobster ceviche were all fabulous. Could be considered upscale Mexican food. Also - great selection of tequila.

We reserved the Private Dining Room for a work dinner. While the space was kind of disappointing compared to the atmosphere and look and feel of the rest of the restaurant, the food did not disappoint. We had a tasting menu and the food just kept on coming. They cater well to dietary restrictions, bringing special dishes to accommodate. I will say that as the food was served, it was hard to get an explanation/description for the dishes. I understand the servers / food runners are busy, but I felt for having a dinner in the Private Dining Room, better attention could have been paid to this detail. We also seemed to have trouble getting drinks refilled. Aside from those minor things, everyone left happy and VERY FULL!

We love this restaurant. Its casual, hip and delicious. The service is always top notch and the food is incredible. This time it was just two of us. I got the house margarita and my husband got the Michalada which is like a beer bloody mary. We ordered the tuna ceviche, steak nachos, shrimp tacos, tamales and duck mole. By far the tuna and duck were our faves. I wouldn't have ordered the nachos had I known they were going to be big. Not sports bar big but big for a tapas restaurant. They were delicious though. W 2 margaritas, 1 beer and the food the total was $80 and we were stuffed. I can't wait to go back and try other items.

Ate here last night with a group of four. We had a variety of things, sampling from all sections of the menu except dessert. Loved all but one dish, and that one was still okay, just not loved. I wish I had first gone here years ago, so that I could have eaten here many more times by now. Make a reservation. We walked in shortly after dinner starts at 5 pm, and got the last table, which we still had to wait for. The service was not great, but the food makes up for it.

If I had my choice I'd eat here every evening! The Nachos are incredible, Margs are strong and the service is top notch! Do me a favor, gather your 3 best friends, order everything on the menu and have the meal you deserve!

Good fresh food.is what we like.brunch was not that busy but food was fresh. Flavor need a little more kick. Bench need fixed with nail sticking out and clean more

4 of us went for lunch on a Saturday. Was surprised at how empty the place was. Service was great - but not overly impressed with the food. Don't get me wrong - the food was above average but have had much better for the same price point. Very clean with interesting seating choices: A VW Bug converted into a table, picnic tables, stainless steel table & chairs, even a table with swings! We suspect they are much busier at night since they have a full service bar and a second floor with much more seating. I am guessing the this is the kind of place that you come to for the vibe as opposed to the food.

You have to leave Centre City, but that is not a bad thing. Head over to university city and enjoy great Mexican from the guacamole to the lamp chops, but go with a group and have the waiter order for you. We had a taste of the entire menu and it was great

Never eaten such awful food. The waiters totally not interested in atendimento us. Drinks served mixed up. Can’t recomend to anybody.

Chose the dinner for two menu $55 each including sea food and lamb. From start to finish I was impressed. This was not usual fare. This was CREATIVE! All were perfectly prepared. The timing of the many courses was well thought out. The view into the kitchen great. It worked like a symphony. I have visited twice since then and found each time the seasonal food changes to the menu to be wonderful. Expect a trip up the stairs to get to your dinning table. All and all exceptionally clean and well liked by this foodie snob. I give this one a 10 out of 10! For my handy capable friends, there is a street level dinning room/bar room where to dine. One step up to enter a small foyer, sharp left turn to reception desk and your are good for go.

The food and the service were excellent. The decor is attractive. Mexican specialties. Dishes and drinks on the small side. I highly recommend it.

Near Penn campus, this place offers Mexican style menu in an upbeat atmosphere. Some fun seating on swings or in a car makes it family friendly too. Downstairs the menu is more a taqueria with a more extensive menu upstairs.

We love the downstairs, more casual taco bar area. No reservations accepted. There is also a great lunch special.

Took a friend here for her birthday as she loves margaritas and Mexican food. The restaurant was very crowded as there was a wedding going on upstairs, but it didn't affect our experience. We were greeted by a friendly woman at the front desk to whom we apologized as we were 10 minutes late for our reservation. She was very gracious and said it was fine so we felt welcomed. Our server was very friendly and attentive and gave us enough time to read the menu and relax throughout dinner. We ordered a pitcher of the El Jefe margaritas which was great as well as the guacamole with crab which was also great. We shared 2 beef tacos and the fish of the day. Both entrees were well cooked, perfectly seasoned and delicious. Fun place with good food, good services and reasonable prices.

After having one of the best meals EVER years ago, I brought my daughter and her 2 friends for her 15th birthday celebration last night. It was a BIG disappointment! I was hopeful the evening would improve after a rough start, but it got worse. The food was just OK, but there were never enough chips for all the dips we ordered. It felt like we were an inconvenience to the staff. Two girls ordered fajitas and they brought 5 tortillas. An odd number, not enough, and when we ordered more, they arrived after the food was cleared. The churros for dessert were horrible. Tasted like they were made in bulk, frozen long ago and just barely thawed. They also took at least 30 minutes to get to our table. But the worst part of the evening by far was the frigid temperatures in the restaurant. We were dressed for winter, but uncomfortably cold for the whole 2 hour dinner. I noticed that everyone around us was also eating with their coats on, too. I honestly don't think it could have been above 60 degrees, if that. The temperature of the food and air weren't all that was cold. The server was unfriendly, not attentive and a little snarky. Upon arrival, I announced that the young girls were interested in having non-alcoholic cocktails and inquired which drinks could make good "mocktails". She said "any" could be made without alcohol, so when my daughter selected one, the server asked to see her ID. Hmmm. Just one example of awkwardness. What happened to this restaurant?!? How could you hire such an unfriendly server? Your hostesses were really sweet (though they must have been half frozen by the door).

We enjoyed everything. the food was very good. We ordered Duck Fondue and it was outstanding. Black Beans were also delicious. Highly recommend! Fish tacos were also really good.

The perfect place for drinks and great tacos! Went on Monday and had a great time. Met friends and had great service.

The design of the room says "fun" as soon as you walk in, and the $15 express lunch includes two dishes and a beverage, served quickly by attentive servers. My colleague and I both started with the chopped salad -- a nice blend of vegetables dressed in a citrusy vinaigrette. My chicken enchilada was small but delicious and the mushroom flatbread looked great and was big enough that half was taken home. This place probably can get really crowded and loud at Happy Hour near a university, but the atmosphere was fine for a working lunch.

Despite much excitement about going to this restaurant and checking on the website that it was open (all day according to the site) its only open for lunch until 2.30pm then dinner from 5pm despite the doors being open and the lights being on all afternoon. Needless to say we went home hungry at 3pm. Disappointing.

You can't miss out on Distrito! Modern Mexico City vibe, What a cool overall experience, can't say enough about this place. Friendly and efficient waitstaff who works as a team, really unique decor, excellent margaritas (and we are ,margarita snobs), and delicious food. My wife and I did the tasting menu, gave them a few details on what we would prefer not to eat, and they ran with it. Not kidding probably 10-12 dishes later, we literally rolled out of there! Great job iron chef Jose Garces, this is a memorable date night out!

When we walked in it had a nice vibe with very lively atmosphere(we did not have a reservation and almost did not get a table). The restaurant was not big (by American norms). The waiter explained that food was Tapas style and as such we need to select more than one dish per person. The Enchiladas were small portion and very tasty with a rich sauce. The frozen Margarita (Blackberry & Ginger) tasted different from the standard fruity ones. The corn chips were home made very different from what I have ever tasted ever. I would recommend this restaurant and would want to go again.

Talk about fun - this is it! Did not know what to expect - the pink hits you & lifts you up & it goes from there. Host was bright & cheerful, she made us smile when we came in. It was empty downstairs but then she brought us up to a full upstairs. The music was pumpin' & the place was bustlin' - it was a great vibe that everyone seemed to be putting out. Then a cocktail, yum...then the food, even better! Told our waiter I wish we had room for dessert, she said, share one then. Those light fluffy churros are delicioso! We're new to Penn & already found anything better than what we have in Troy.

Went on a Sunday night w my niece & daughter. They can't drink yet, so perhaps it wasn't the best place to take them b/c they have a gazillion types of tequila. Fun drink/Martguerita list. This is essentially Mexican tapas. Food was yummy and filling. Waiter suggested we have 2-3 dishes per person. that was too much food. But we enjoyed taking home the leftovers. The atmosphere is a bit edgy. I think it needed to be filled with young people so perhaps going on a more popular night would be better. Still we had fun exploring the food & drinks. would definitely go again if in the UPenn/Drexel area.

This was my first time at Distrito. The margaritas were really good (and strong). The food was good. We had tacos and crab guacamole (delish!!!). I think this is a good place to go for happy hour and get half price margaritas and tacos. The happy hour menu is very limited but good. By the way one of the most delicious jalapeño corn bread ever! The atmostphere is loud and its a mixed tupe of crowd. Some families, some older, and many young college kids probably due to the location. I would return but only during the happy hour times. Definitely recommend.

This restaurant is owned by Iron Chef, Jose Garces. You cannot go wrong with his restaurants, whether you dine at this one, Tinto, Amada, or his others. This restaurant features an Agave Room, which is the first floor. There are over a hundred tequilas to choose from, or you can try a flight of tequilas, while sitting at the bar, with encased scorpions. The dishes are served tapas style so you can choose several for your table. The mahi mahi and pork tacos are each excellent. The ambiance is quite colorful and fun. Each time I've been to the restaurant, I've been pleased.

We picked up a friend from the 30th St. train station and decided to head over to Distrito for lunch. We were a little disappointed to discover that on a Saturday at 1 p.m. they only serve the limited brunch menu. However, after ordering and eating copious amounts of delicious food we agreed that the options were more than sufficient to fill our various appetites. Gucamole, Chilango Chop Salad, & Nachos for the first course, and Mahi Mahi Tacos, Queso Fundido & Enchilada de Pollo for the second course was more than enough for the three of us. All of it was delectable, even if I was sure I would have a heart attack after eating such a fat, cheese, & carb laden feast. However, we didn't eat again until about 10 p.m that night, so it really kept up going. As always, great food, service, and quality from the Garces Group. Keep up the good work! Loved it!!!!

This seems more like a place for a night out but my SO and I went for Sunday brunch. Pretty empty, but the food was good! And the staff was very courteous. I recommend the short rib flatbread, it has tender flavorful meat and plenty of cheese.

We had not been here for a while so it was nice to find some things don't change. The food was still flavorful and filling. We had guacomole, chips, salsa, and a few Margaritas to start. I thought the guac was really good, but wow such a small bowl for $13. We had burrito suizo, regular burritos, enchiladas and black beans. The tofu chorizo was tasty. They even subbed cheese with more guacamole for my friend who is a vegan. All in all we had a really good dinner. (I do feel that the staff should pay a little more attention to the restrooms and sink area. Both were kinda gross and messy)

Visiting friends at Penn. They said they love this place, & for good reason! They picked all of their favorites: fresh Guacamole, mahi Tacos, Mushroom flatbread, churros, margaritas, little stuffed peppers = wow, wow, wow. I have good friends, who like good food. The service was also excellent. Fun guy, kept our drinks full, kept us entertained. Oh, & when I told him we were from DC he mentioned that Jose garces was coming to DC. I will be the first in line!

Distrito's Mahi tacos are my hands-down-FAVORITE fish tacos in the world! They have an awesome variety of dinners, but if you're looking for a dinner with a lot of food for not a lot of money...then you might not agree with the high reviews this restaurant receives. Distrito's menu is based on quality, not quantity, and mostly tapas. I love this place.

Distrito is a particularly lively place on a Saturday night! We arrived a bit early, and had time for drinks at the bar before our 8 p.m. reservation. Margaritas were freshly made and delicious; they also offer a variety of interesting cocktails, and one of us particularly enjoyed "The Handsome Stranger." We dined upstairs, which was a bit quieter than the main floor. Service was friendly and prompt, but never rushed. The food is quite good--we started with some great (but somewhat mild) guacamole to accompany our drinks and some delightfully spicy peanuts. The shrimp ceviche was good, with ample shrimp and not too much heat; the tacos de carnitas were more satisfying than the tacos de pollo, but both were fine. The rellenitos were surprising--Anaheim chiles rather than poblanos, and seemingly coated in cornmeal rather than dipped in batter. Black beans and rice were very good--perfectly spiced (with achiote?), and served in a small cast-iron dish that kept them hot. But something seemed to be missing. The corn tortillas in the tacos tasted manufactured, not fresh; the shredded radish topping the tacos was a bit too cute. The food had a certain bland quality that disappointed. But food was nicely presented, the drinks were very good, and the experience over all was quite convivial.

The office holiday party was at Distrito. The food was good, and the service was very friendly. It was a very nice experience.

Very good. We enjoyed the meal while visiting our son recently in Philly. Great margaritas. We ate family style and would suggest this approach. You will get a chance to taste many different dishes this way.

we had a business dinner party of 7, I coordinated everything with their event planner. I feel so bad I forgot her name, anyway she made it happen and exceeded our expectations !! from a specially made menu , with both of our companies names , date and theme of event. to the actual location she provided, this was truly amazing, something that most people wouldn't even imagine. We were given the private karaoke room, which is actually hidden behind the wall of the hostess desk as you enter. behind the desk there is a shelf lined with different Mexican soda bottles, this shelf is a secret door to go inside, wow !! The service excellent, the food which was a special tasting menu with all of Chef Garces specialities was incredible, amazing drinks a large selection of Tequila's. We eat and partied for over 3-4 hours, even had access to karaoke, it was a blast. A must experience !!!

I got a reservation here after many of my friends raved how good it was. Not knowing what a single thing on the menu was pronounced-off we went! This place rocks! Just like his other restaurant Tinto, this offers small plates that are deliciously prepared. We started off with the chips, salsa and guacamole. I wish I would of paced myself bc the food that followed was fantastic! 3 of us did the $55 chef pairing, which started with tuna tartar, homemade pork rinds with chipotle mayo, a sorbet dish and more guacamole with crab meat in it. Next came blue crab claws lightly fried in a yummy sauce, lamb tacos (who knew lamb could be so tasty!), and a mushroom flat bread. The main course included a lamb chop, refried beans, a corn of some kind, and another dish that is escaping my mind. All wonderful! I have to say if your wondering if the pairing will be enough food-it is way more then you can eat once you throw in the tasty margaritas! I didn't even mention how cool the atmosphere is here! From the VW bug as a table, to the wrestling masks on the wall, to the swing seats, and the funky bathrooms-it's a great place to hang out. Go try it!

This is a solid option if you're looking for a place to eat in West Philly / University City. The atmosphere is fun and the service is very good even when it's busy. The server was also incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and was very accommodating of a member of our party not eating dairy. The actual food items are a bit hit or miss. The jicama salad and entomatado de pollo were both delicious; however, we did not enjoy the tortilla soup or chicken enchilada at all. Our friends said the shrimp ceviche was fantastic. All in all, if you order the right items, you can have a fantastic meal.

First of all, what Mexican restaurant doesn't have free chips and salsa??? We ordered guacamole and chips ($8) and the quac was ok but the chips were cold like out of a bag and still no salsa. Salsa would have been $5 extra! When they refilled the chips they were warm, so they have the technology for warm chips. The food was tasty but served in plastic baskets. When I spend $9.50 for a burrito I think it could be on a real plate with a side of beans. The place just opened and was clean and inviting. It is right downstairs from our daughter's apartment so we might try it again when we visit... But I still think they should have free chips and salsa!

I may have been here on the one night when the place is not crazy busy based on the popular reviews. A colleague took me here on Easter Sunday for dinner. The food was delicious. We got the mushroom flatbread ("Huarache de Hongos") that I highly recommend. We split it, but I could have easily eaten the whole serving. I got the chicken tacos that were quite tasty and the three small tacos were nonetheless a generous portion. This pretty much filled me up, but we couldn't resist trying dessert so we got the chocolate cake. Yum. The service was excellent, very prompt and paying attention to us throughout our stay. The ambiance at the restaurant is great. I wish I had realized earlier that you can actually sit in the car up front in the window. That would be fun to try sometime.:)

Distrito is conveniently located in University City and there is usually parking on Chestnut Street. Although not advertised as a Mexican tapas restaurant, portions are small and for dinner, you would have to order at least three dished (without dessert) to leave satisfied. Prices are a bit high considering the meagerness of the servings. But, the cooking is creative and everything we ordered was more than satisfactory. Service was friendly. It's a hard call whether you should make a reservation. I suggest you check out their menu on-line and remember, you are getting an entree serving. Hope this helps!

This place is fun! The decor includes a wall of Mexican pro wrestling masks, and swinging chairs on the second floor. The bar is a popular Penn grad student hangout. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly. We have fun with our young kids here, and also enjoy going here for dinner with friends. Of particular note are the fresh fruit margaritas, the fish tacos, and the huaraches (a kind of flat bread - try the mushroom one). There are three tasting menus, each of which is a great way to sample many things from the menu. Definitely make a reservation, especially Thurs-Sat.

This is our favorite restaurant!!! So many good things to say I don't know where to begin. Margaritas, and always always do the tasting menu!! You get the best of the best and will keep you wanting to come back for more. Hoping to have our wedding reception catered by Distrito. Crab guacamole is unreal! And anytime a meal has plantains, my boyfriend is sold!!

This Is not my first visit to this establishment, but my experience tonight was so positive I felt compelled to share. My wife and I were running ten minutes behind and knew our arrival would be more than fifteen minutes late. We called on the road and the hostess was very accommodating and told us not to rush. The decor is very fun; cross between Jack Rabbit Slim and a local Cantina. Our waitress was pleasant and took our drink order quickly. She checked back several times to ensure our experience was positive. The food was great! The menu is not too big so you won't get lost, but at he same time you have great food options if you are looking for a snack or a full meal. The food came out quick and exactly to our liking. The night ended with the manager (Drew) stopping by to see how everything was. I appreciate the extra effort from management. It shows that they care and want customers to return. ...and I will!

I had a lunch meeting here this mm th and the food was fantastic! Get the ceviche it's incredible! I also had fish tacos and black beans which were equally yummy. I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with anything on this menu.

I dined here with 5 others. All at the table enjoyed both the food and the lively ambiance. This is the second Jose Garces restaurant we have experienced. It's menu expands a Mexican theme. We had a flight of tequila as well as a margarita. Would definitely repeat either, but we particularly enjoyed the flight. Each item served was well prepared and delicious, from the ceviche, to a pork belly entree. We tried a dessert billed as a vanilla sponge cake with blackberry something. It was so much more, coated in a baked meringue, with sorbet as well as blackberries. The decor was retro with Mexican influence. It was lively and fun! Definitely plan to return here.

This was the first time for me at a small plate Mexican restaurant. We started with the guacamole and mexican salsa (which was excellent but more like pico). Then, had the carnitas tacos and the tuna ceviche. The ceviche was the preared and presented like none I've had anywhere else. And, was better than any I've ever had......highly recommend.

We enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. Tasty small plates, good service and pleasant room vibe. Plate presentation was very good too.

Amazing tapas-style Mexican. A bit pricy, but 100% worth it. The cornbread is delectable. Restaurant has a very funky feel, which makes for a fun evening out.

Great food, great atmosphere. Very good use of spices, lots of flavors, not nec. heat. Lamb tacos were great, and platano con queso was incredible! A little pricy but probably normal for Philly. Easy walk from Penn. Reservations a Must! Very crowded.

Great food, great service, & great atmosphere. Host sat us right away. Go there for great guacamole and delicious sauces that come with it.

Distrito is a great restaurant with a stylish decor and excellent food. It's affordable even with our teenage children along for the outing. It is a small plates type of menu, but that makes it more fun and manageable to sample more of the delicious choices.

I would come here again for happy hour with friends, not really a place for a date but an interesting place to casually hang out and eat. The food is well presented and good flavor combinations. I dislike tequila, but had a frozen coconut guava margarita and it was so good I would go back just for that.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. Modern Mexican, well presented, and prices are reasonable for the type of food and ambiance offered. The drinks are a bit watered down and I wish the rate for Margarita pitcher was lower. Basically, there is no benefit in ordering the Pitcher and it comes out to be pretty much same as ordering individual regular house Margarita.

We love Distrito. We live in Maryland and make an effort to stop by when we are in Philadelphia. The food is absolutely delicious. The portions are served tapas style and tend to be small (but some items are quite a generous size). When they arrive you think "this isn't much food", but it is filling and very very tasty. I would highly recommend the shrimp ceviche. short rib flat bread (one of my favorites), and any of the tacos. The Queso Fundido is to die for. The ingredients are high quality and wonderfully prepared with a symphony of flavors that are unique to Jose Garces restaurants. Cocktails are well made and delicious. We would not hesitate to recommend Distrito to my friends and family. We will be back!

We visited Distrito for a birthday celebration and they easily handled our party of seven adults and one infant. The enchiladas were excellent as were the large burrito ordered by one of the group. Our 'fussy' eater was taken care of with a quissadilla and she said she actually enjoyed it. The chips were a little thicker than other restaurants but the accompanying sauces were very good. The beer was very cold and others were more than happy with their margaritas. Our server was very attentive and made sure our food was prepared and delivered as requested.

This is like a sports type bar & restauraunt with Mexican themed food. The positive was good service. Nice decor, food was fresh. Added bonus would be for sports fans, they had numerous TV's playing soccer, football and other sports. The service was pretty good. The food was pretty fast. They were pretty accommodating to Our needs. For Me the negative side was. The upstairs & downstairs had different menus. They wouldn't bring from one to another. The food was more like modern Mexican or Mexican themed food, rather than authentic Mexican food. The online menu only had the downstairs menu. When we called there was no warning to this. So it was confusing at first, we had to make changes at the restauraunt with a larger group of people. I don't have horrible things to say about this place. Some people in my group really liked it. I personally wouldn't go back on my own.

We went with 2 other couples. Had a couple pitchers of margaritas, beer and wine. Being a pescatarian the selection of non-meat plates was really good. The mahi mahi tacos were great as was the guacamole. The Mexican nuts served when we sat were nice and spicy. I do not recommend the plantain side, it was too sweet.

I am not a big fan of mexican food, but my kids are, and they love this place. One of the things that i had was the kobe tacos and they were very good! All of the mexican food fans with me devoured the guacamole with crab meat, Queso Fundido, Tacos of the month, hurache de la merced, planto y crema, and poblano corn bread in a flurry of joy, saying that it was the best mexican food ever. So, even if you are not a huge fan, there is something here that you can enjoy while the others with you rave about the food! Nice people and atmosphere too!

Great small plate type Mexican food that is unique & not your typical Mexican food. Our small group tried almost every vegetarian item, & some gluten free items. Don't come here to find heavy cheesy or oily items, but modern Mexican food with unique items to make them special. The atmosphere is lively with colorful art, tables & chairs.

What a pleasant surprise. Mexican TAPAS, creatively prepared ,very tasty ,great service and fairly priced.

We dined here last evening and we were disappointed. The place has a very hip, funky, modern decor. The prices are high, but if the food were outstanding, they wouldn't be. The food is very average. Another problem is that it is difficult to choose what to get, because, alot of things just do not sound that appetizing. I ordered the Garlic Shrimp with Tomato Stew. I asked the waitress how many shrimp would be in the dish. She said that there were 5 or 6 jumbo shrimp. There were 3 with heads on and strong tasting. The first one I bit into was mush, so I sent it back. I was offered a remake, but I was not hungry anymore. They were removed from the bill. My husband got the Spanish Octopus. It was so small of a serving and it was listed as a medium plate. It was average. Others got Tacos and Guacamole, Salsa, Nachos. They were all acceptable but not outstanding. Everything is high priced and I do not mind pricy food if it is outstanding. I believe that this is more of a club atmosphere with Mexican tapas. There is no children's menu and, no provisions for handicapped or elderly people. They are interested in a hip, see and be seen crowd, in my opinion. For an Iron Chef and famous restaurant personality, it was a disappointment.

I met three business colleagues for lunch here, and was impressed by the pairing of great food and fun atmosphere. The lunch menu is small, but the lunch special, with an appetizer and a tasting portion-sized entree was a good way to sample the restaurant's offerings. I had the tortilla soup, wich had great depth of flavor, smoky, tomato-y, with the cumin and chiles adding spice and heat without burning. The ceviche was fresh and delicious. One of my colleagues had the corn soup which looked velvety and wonderful. Three of us had the mahi mahi fish tacos, which were two small fingers of plantain-crusted fish in two, 2.5" flour tortillas, with some pickled onion, lettuce, and a slice of avocado. Quite good, but gone quickly - the portion seemed small. One person had the fundido, which was melted cheese covering shredded duck, accompanied with flour tortillas. It looked good, but seemed heavy for lunch. BTW, the tortilla chips and salsa we were given while waiting for our food to arrive were fresh and tasty.I had the Kahlua cheesecake, which was quite good. The only thing I did not like was the house-made diet soda. The cola had too much orange or sweetener - a few sips was enough for me. Overall, I'd recommend Distrito, and plan to come back - next time, for dinner.

Distrito is somewhat unusual for Mexican in that the food is made for sharing. That's a really good thing as it allows you to try a bunch of really tasty dishes even if you have a small group. Overall the food is very good and nothing that we had was well prepared, well presented and tasted great. Plus the margaritas are pretty good too.

I had my sister's bachelorette dinner party here and we had soo much fun. The waiter was down to earth and loved joking with us. Us girls loved how the waiter was on top of his game making sure we had everything we needed. The menu was very simple and we each got to choose a 3 course meal for $35 per person (it was a special for the week). The food was very good and the white sangria was even better. The food reminded me of tapas but after eating 3 courses my tummy was full. Looking forward to going back!

Portions are qute limited and a bit small... So they warn you that it is TAPAS style. Just be mindful that you need to order a lot of food, if you are hungry! It is nice to have the variety and the stuff really is inventive Mexican and very very delicious.It is a LARGE and NOISY restaurant filled with UPenn students.

I had the Carnitas and Mahi Mahi tacos. The Carnitas were good but the Mahi Mahi was awesome. I would have ordered more if I wasn't so full. Too bad it was my last night in Philly or I would have been back the next night

You are informed a real treat when you sit down for a meal here..as a native Philadelphian i absolutely love that this restaurant is in my neighborhood and also that it is a culinary delight. The tasting menus are delicious and the attention to detail and service are excellent.. whether it's a full sit down dinner or Taco Tuesday you will love this place..jose Garces knows his stuff !!!!

Really cool vibe with really good food. Unfortunately, they messed up our order and the service was very slow to boot! I've been there and had great meals but this time, it missed the mark.

We went for brunch today when visiting my son at UPenn. The appetizer were fine but nothing special to brag about. The second dishes were kind of ridiculous small. My wife and son ordered Steak and Eggs and they got 4 little strips of beef not even 6 oz. For dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Cake and it was also small portion. Instead the bill was high compared to the food or the impression that we got.

Had lunch here and was very pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. It reminded me of when wahaca first opened in London (before it became a chain). The food tastes fresh and the flavours are strong. Cool decor which creates a relaxed atmosphere. I would get rid of the TVs but that is purely personal taste. Will definitely come back

I love Mexican food and this place is great. The decor is fun and if you call ahead, you can ask to reserve an old VW beetle that had been converted into a table or a table with swings for chairs. The food is pretty good as are the drinks. I've now been there twice, both times on a Friday without reservations and they were able to seat us right away. The staff was pleasant and attentive. I will definitely be back many more times and I'd highly recommend it to others.

Great little spot for mexican. Went for lunch. Lunch specials were great. Pick two courses from a variety of choices. Fantastic guocomole.

Didn't really enjoy this place. The ambiance was electric cantina and very over the top. The upstairs dining area was a little better than the downstairs bar area. The food was mediocre in taste. The veggie nachos were by far the best thing we ate and that was fairly basic. Do not get the desserts - we had the Mexican pastries and they were disgusting. It wasn't horrible but basically standard Mexican fare.

Having been to Destrito several times, my workmates and I were disappointed to find a new menu on a recent visit. Several of our favorites have been dropped and what remains is uninspiring.

Had a very enjoyable lunch here two weeks ago. Normally I come here for dinner. This place is amazing! Requested to sit in the car and because the place was empty at lunch was given my request! How awesome! They have a $15 lunch special it includes a beverage (non alcholic), an appetizer, and an entree. Ordered delicious margaritas and got complimentary salsa (so good) and spicy peanuts (my favorite). I had guacamole and for lunch the pork tacos (with no beans). The pork tacos come with pinapple salsa (so good!). My partner had a mexican type taco salad and chicken tacos. We also order mexican short rib flat bread (to die for!). Service was great! What a fantastic lunch!

The atmsosphere is quite festive, but the food was disappointing. Everything seemed to be a bit greasy and no special flavors came through. Presentation won.

Had a quick lunch here and had the burrito. Jake was an awesome server and got the meal out quick and also was helpful with suggestions and a drink. Looks like a nice spot for drinks in the evenings and weekends. Burrito was eh..OK. Nothing special. Nice ambience and staff were quick on their feet!

I had high hopes for this place and was somewhat disappointed. The service was mediocre - the waiter was very nice, but inattentive and not very interested in working it seemed. The good: salsa was yummy and the plantains were very good. Wine selection was weak, guacamole looked like it was from a package, but tasted ok and portions (tacos, shrimp dish) were small and inadequate - - don't come here if you are hungry - - or load up on chips. Place has charm and potential, but I've had much better mexican food and service.

All that pink! Not jarring, but just fun! Ask for the bumper car seating or swing seating - if you don't get it, then it will be as much fun to sit anywhere upstairs. Service was impeccable - great suggestions, glasses refilled promptly, server cam to ask for follow up etc. Creative food and display and extremely delicious too. We ordered house margaritas first; my husband ordered a refill while I switched to Tio Pligroso - strong but perfect. Food is Tapas style. I ordered Pato Con Hibisco, while my husband ordered Cordero with a side of black beans and rice. It was just enough, but on another day, we could have ordered more. Definitely worth the drive to University area...

We went here for tacos and margaritas. It was good, but not the type of place I would normally seek out. The food and drinks were okay, but not memorable.

I love Mexican food, and Distrito is a standout. Not your typical Tex-Mex chain, this is designed by a great chef. Everything is wonderfully prepared and beautiful to look at. Loved the Mexican street corn, the pico de gallo, and the trios of small tacos. The service is friendly and efficient. Never a disappointment.

We meet friends for dinner here on a Friday night. Loved the atmosphere (especially since we had kids with us)! The wait staff was outstanding as well as the food. Will be back the next time we are in Philly/

The quality of the food didn't justify the prices. Also, I found them incomplete /unbalanced. For example, the Camarons con ajillo (sp?) for $20+tax and tip you get 3 prawns with a spicy garlic and olives sauce . But nothing to cool off the spiciness. I've had gambas al ajillo in Spain and Us and always came with bread. The pulpo/octopus was jyst couple of small pieces for $15. Service was not good either. I would not go there again.

Distrito was our 'go-to' place...we came here at an embarrassing rate for years. But ever since the format changed and they transitioned it to a taqueria for the college crowd, it's been a disappointment. What a shame- the food was amazing. The servers/bartenders and staff have always been fantastic which made every dinner we had there a ton of fun. We crave the old menu. But we won;t be back.

I organized a private event at Distrito for my job. The staff is excellent and willing to work with your budget and provide plenty of food and drink options. The event itself was a great success! People had a fantastic time, the bartenders mixed great drinks quickly for all of our thirsty colleagues, and the food was "fantastic". However, if you are expecting the taco shop style Mexican food that you can get in California, you will be very disappointed...this food has some pretension, which is odd for me as a transplant from Southern California. I would never take any of my Californian friends or family here because the food isn't like home and they would just laugh at how pricey it is for food that doesn't taste half as good as cheap taco shops in San Diego. But hey, it's Philly...and the margaritas are great (if expensive).

Our party of five ordered a lot of dishes for our dinner in the upstairs dining area. First of all, Distrito is a tapas restaurant: the portions are small and, despite their high prices, diners are supposed to order many dishes. You know how people say "interesting" when they don't quite know what to say? Well, that would be our description of the food there. Everything sounded appealing on the menu, but unfortunately the menu descriptions do not adequately or accurately describe the dishes. We were surprised by a lot of the ingredients and flavor combinations. Again, "interesting." The huareches were delicious, as were the Mexican dessert pastries. My son enjoyed his tortilla soup, the corn and black bean salad didn't have corn (!), but lettuce instead (?). The ceviche was like a bloody mary with quacamole. Again, "interesting" and expensive.

Enjoyed the food and service. Atmosphere was very loud. Student hangout for sure. Margaritas and Burritos were perfect. Great portions.

I came here on Cinco De Mayo and had both the 2.00 chicken and pork tacos and I was extremely impressed. The pork was excellent and very flavorful, the chicken was good but it was clearly the pork that stood out. It does get pretty crowded but I received good service at the bar

I tried this Garces restaurant during lunch one day while I was around the corner in a class. I did the prix fix lunch where you get one app, one entree, and a soda for $15. I ordered what I remember as being an asparagus gazpacho which was my favorite part of that meal. Then I ordered my entree which was pulled pork and cheese. I thought it was going to be like a fajita so I asked the waitress what it was and she said it was like a "fundito". I have no idea what a fundito is. I ordered it anyways cause it sounded really good.... and it was good... It just wasn't anything that I expected. It was more of like a fondue in a cast iron plate. I just wasn't expecting to finish a plate of greasy cheese all by myself. But hey, I said it was good! Not the best, not the worst. I would probably go here again if someone else wanted to but I don't think I would initiate coming back. I would say it's more fun for families since the place is so colorful and cartoonish.

Now this a mix Mexican restaurant, the food is delicious and quite tasting. We try the chef tasting and it was supper, a little different but delicious. The orchata drink is fabulous, now beware the tacos and mainly all the plates are small. The place is a little Art Deco but unique.

We visited Distrito for happy hour on a Wednesday. It was almost empty at about 5:30, which was not unexpected. We were promptly greeted, and our drinks (a magarita and a beer in a can - no glass) arrived in a reasonable amount of time. We ordered several "tapas": guacamole (really good, very limey), nachos carnacione (yum! although the topping to chip ratio was a little lacking), mahi mahi tacos (fried fish, oh so yummy!), chicken enchilada (thumbs up from the hubby), pork tamales (a deconstructed version - weird, but tasty) and lobster tacos. Until the lobster tacos arrived, I would've given this place a solid 4. But the lobster tacos were really bad, almost gross. The lobster was very obviously frozen, had zero flavor and a rubbery texture. The tacos were topped with a slice of avocado and some crushed peanuts, a very weird combination. For $14, I can say that I was beyond disappointed. Overall, we'd return to Distrito for happy hour, but probably not for dinner.

This place is great, have been here 5 times. The last time was for date night with my wife. Had a great time!! Great fish tacos, great sangria! Wonderful place!!!

This may be the worst place I have eaten in 5 years. There is a nice ambiance and nice presentation, but the prices are exorbitant for tiny portions, even by tapas standards. Food is adequate at best. Would never in a million years go back. I am from DC, so not a small towner horrified by city restaurant prices. The value here is horrible.

Just finished dinner there tonight. The food was good and we shared a number of different dishes. It is a Saturday night and the place was busy. I would say it was annoyingly loud and service was struggling to keep up. My favorite menu selection was the tortilla soup but everything was pretty good. If I were to go back, I would try a week night. It was difficult talking across the table and hearing what other were saying because the background noise level was so loud.

i don't dislike Distrito but the menue of small plates can add up to a very high price for adaquate mexican food. It's decor, style and dish presentation do not make up for the only adaquate food.

A cold and icy night in Philly seemed like the perfect escape to Mexico. Distrito came close, and without the airfare. The staff was welcoming and extremely helpful. Grace introduced us to the approach to the tapas style menu and explained some unfamiliar items. When our cork (we brought our own for a $25 corkage fee) wouldn't budge, the manager saved the day and filtered the cork from our wine. We were able to share some experiences over the vintage with this knowledgable man. Now for the food: We were treated to a great somewhat chunky (the way we like it) guacamole with fresh chips (always a good test). The albondigas were served in a lovely rather complex sauce. The rellenitos were easy to share in their own tomato based sauce with mild spice. Huarache de costillas also excellent as were the carnitas tacos. The latter a tie for first place with the albondigas. This was plenty of food for 2 hungry people. We had a corner table with great view of the room which was not too noisy. Maybe next time it will be worth checking out those yummy looking margaritas!

I was here a couple years ago and thought it was pretty good so when we wanted to go out near 30th Street station, I recommended Distrito. It was okay but not as good as I remembered. We tried to poutine and it was almost tasteless if not for the jalapenos. I had the fish tacos that were good and a carnita taco which was fairly tasteless. My husband had beef tacos that he too said were meh. The margaritas were very good though!

The restaurant was near our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised. The dishes we got were innovative and unique. We had a flatbread dish with mushrooms, and so much more. I'd get it again. The margaritas were good too.

I'm a native Philadelphian (if that's even a word) and have been to this restaurant quite a few times - recently was a week ago and every time, it's a great experience. The pictures speak for themselves - yes, the portions can be small but that's why you order a bunch of stuff together and share! You MUST try the Nachos Ignacios if you go here - best nachos you'll ever have, guaranteed and quite a huge portion size for two to share as an appetizer. But be aware that they do serve chips (just plain tortilla chips) when you are seated so it will be chips overload. Also, those chips don't come with any sort of salsa so you have to order that separately - we got the Salsa Mexicana and although it was delicious, it was $7.00 just for that. This last time we went, my husband had the Carne a la Tampiquena and I had the Salmon a la Plancha - both delicious and portion sizes were small but we were so stuffed with all the chips we had earlier, that wasn't an issue. Regardless, go to the restaurant...food is great, ambiance is great and the concept is funky. If you're lucky, you can reserve the car to sit in and eat on the ground floor. Our server Keenan was really awesome!

Felt compelled to review due to a negative review for Amada (both Jose Garces restaurants). We had such a great time at Distrito. Everything we ordered was delicious and freshly made. Margaritas were the best! Pacing of the several dishes we ordered was perfect. Service was attentive and helpful. Just an overall fun and delicious experience!

Chef Jose Garcias has put his stamp on classic favorites such as guacamole, and nachos and moved them to a gourmet level, same with other dishes, including an array of vegetarian choices. Decor and seating and lively bar scene in this location near Universities.

Unfortunately we ended up here on a Monday which only offered a limited version of the normal menu experience. It seemed much more simple and easier to execute. The portions were really big but not really good. We would have liked to try their normal menu which gets much better reviews but we're unable to make it back. We would not go back here on a Sunday or Monday it just isn't worth it. The plus side though , phenominal tequila selection!

I have visited Distrito a number of times since my last review three years ago. My only question last time was whether to fill in four or five circles...and I settled on five! This time there is no hesitation. Excellent again! Not a huge amount has changed since the last review, so refer to my last review for a thorough description of this splendid tapas-style Mexican place that is so much more than just Mex. brilliant ingredients, fresh and tasty and not back-breakingly expensive (Though you will pay). Go Garces, you outdid yourself with this place.

Last night we had dinner at Distrito Restaurant in University City. It was our first time dining at this restaurant and our party of three had the $55/person chef tasting menu. This was perhaps one of the most disappointing chef tastings that I have experienced and I wanted to share my thoughts with you in the hopes that others will not have the same experience. (I also wanted to say, as a reference point for this review, that I have eaten at other Garces restaurants and have always been pleased by the meal and service I received.) There were a number of confusing and disappointing notes to what one would assume should be a highlight of the menu. The meal started off well, with the crab and guacamole dip being a fresh and tasty introduction. There was a nice jicama salad and a very good tuna dish. Then, during the second course, things began to go off-track. The mushroom flatbread was bland and the queso fundido was too sweet, but those might be personal tastes. It was at the confusing bowl of refried beans and shooter of corn where the meal took its disappointing turn. Both were placed on the table, but we were unsure if they were a side dish to an upcoming main course or if we were intended to eat spoonfuls of refried beans and corn as a stand-alone. Our inquiry to multiple servers only brought confused shrugs and looks. Then came the main courses; a chicken duo which was lukewarm and bland, and a dish which consisted of over-cooked chunks of octopus on a wood plank. The taste was overly fishy (not in a good way) and very, very chewy. I worked on my mouthful of rubber for a couple minutes before finally giving up and spitting it out. The actual necessity of doing this was upsetting, especially as it was observed by a waiter. Our server came over and inquired, and I told him of my concern that the dish off-putting in flavor and unchewable. He offered to remove it from the table and have the kitchen fire another, possibly to take home. I declined, not wanting to experience that mess again. By now it was obvious that we were unhappy and during the remainder of the meal we were basically ignored, which was made worse by a long wait for the desert course. This was, all things considered, one of the worst meals I’ve had this year. (And made even more upsetting when you factor in the price.) Finally, a note about the service. Our waiter, Stephen, was pleasant and helpful but seemed distracted at times. The other servers who brought food to the table spoke too softly and mumbled as they described the dishes (clarity is important when the meal is a chef tasting). We had to request a change of plates between courses to avoid putting the mushroom flatbread into a remaining puddle of jicama juice. This should have been automatic. A simple request for a side of hot sauce required two servers, two reminders, and 20 minutes. Worst of all was the complete lack of concern regarding the over-cooked octopus dish that was returned to the kitchen uneaten. Not only was there no offer to comp it in any way, but the issue was not even addressed by a manager. That’s assuming a manager was on premises, as we were never approached by anyone in a managerial position despite the fact that we were new customers spending a decent amount of money and that we were pretty unhappy towards the end of the meal. I often take the time, when I’ve experienced excellent service (like that at Abe Fisher) and spectacular chef tastings (such as the one we had at The Girl & the Goat), to write happy reviews. But in situations like our unfortunately disappointing meal last night, I believe it is even more important to share my thots with our faithful readers Foodthots.com

Distrito is a unique hybrid - a tapis bar atmosphere with a Mexican (but definitely not Tex-Mex) restaurant twist. As with a Spanish tapis bar, the food items are prepared in small portions, brought to you on individual plates. But the cuisine is decidedly New World. Service was prompt and attentive and the restaurant, while not completely full on a Tuesday night, was nearly so and abuzz with conversation. A great place to go not far the downtown medical complexes.

Great place for Sangria & little plates. All the Mexican dishes well-prepared and good quality. Can get noisy on the wekend!

Grabbed a dinner here while in Philly with family of 4. Mostly young crowd so wife and I felt like old timers but it was fine. Very nice waiter took orders pretty quickly. Really good food, particularly the burritos, both chicken and beef. Worth a stop if you’re craving Mexican fare.

When we sat down, our waitress introduced us and told us that she was also the bartender. We thought that would be fine, but the service itself wasn't great. Our waitress was not very tentative and pretty much forgot about our chips/guacamole/queso order until AFTER our entrees came out. Service aside, I thought the food was pretty decent, nothing out of the park. I got the beef burrito, which seemed a bit lacking. The meat was tender and tasty, but the burrito as a whole felt a bit bland. I thought there was a lot of potentials, but felt very underseasoned. The drinks are pretty good. Overall, I think if the service was better, I would have given Distrito a 4, but bad/lacking service can ruin an experience. I would come here if you want drinks or some decent Mexican food, but don't come here expecting incredible service or food.

left the local movie and wanted a bite, came upon this restaurant with no reservations ..we were seated on a sat. night at 630 without a problem. Ordered the soup for both of us and it was delicious(tortilla soup) and we both had enchiladas to follow, my wife, chicken and crab for me...excellent and just enough to satisfy us. Neither of us had drinks but the drink menu was large. The restaurant is one of the Garces' restaurants in phila..there are 3 big restaurant groups, Starr, Sbraga and Garces and most of them are excellent. Phila is a great restaurant town and this one in west philadelphia is an excellent one.

Jose Garces is perhaps the city's most famous chef and deservedly so for this fine Mexican restaurant. The food is perfectly prepared, often creative, and quite tasty while still being recognizably Mexican in cuisine (for American palates).

I must admit I really liked the place for its feel and experience. After Abuleo's in Columbus, I found this Mexican restaurant to be so well decorated. I do not intend to say that the place has traditional looks, but the space is very neatly and beautifully done. The wall of masks was really cool. The seating is very comfortable and spacious. There are so many sections and partitions which can almost accommodate all types of groups. The bars on both levels were fully loaded and there was very quick service from both of them. The place was busy so you might want to keep some time at hand if you want to cherish it all. The food was excellent both in terms of presentation and taste. The recipes were fairly Americanized but it still had flavor from Mexico. The servers were polite and helpful and it felt like visiting the place again. I tried a couple of chicken dishes and they were all savory.

High level mexican food in a cool and fancy atmosphere. Never hat this great Wagu Beef Tacos before and the corn flatbread was outstanding. Like well known mexican food but with the finest ingredients, very nice decoration and best service.

My son and I were at Distrito a few years ago on a trip to Philly. It was amazing. The food was fun and delicious. I was introduced to new, unusual tastes in a friendly and informal place. We loved it and talked about returning. We came to Philly again and were excited to see what Distirto had to offer this time. Sadly, it is now a college kids hang out offering beer and standard taco fare. I had nachos that were okay. The chicken was barely visible. There were a lot of jalapeño slices which at least gave some flavour to the bland cheese. My son had a sampling of tacos. None was noteworthy. Because we were not drinking, the wait staff ignored us. The restaurant is fine for what it is - a loud, student hangout with affordable, bland food to accompany the alcohol that is the central offering. It is sad because a funky, creative restaurant has been lost. It seems that Chef Garces sold out his creativity to the profits of beer and shredded cheese.

We could see Distrito from our hotel room, and it looked so interesting we just had to try it. On our last day, we finally did. Good food, but my wife was a little disappointed. She had the crab enchilada and read the description over and over and there was NO mention of corn. She had plenty of corn in her dish. She HATES corn! I had the braised beef Burito Suizo. It was very good, but I would have liked a choice in the sauce. Don't listen to my picky words, it was good food!

We had a really nice time at Distrito. We stopped in for a late afternoon snack after sight seeing. The drinks were great and the food tasty!! Our waiter was great too!

Met here for a business meal, but thought it a lot of fun. Contemporary, casual, funky, lively cantina. Artful takes on modern Mexican street food - meant to be shared. Delicious guacamole with shrimp and margaritas.

I was treated to this place as a going away dinner by a friend. I´d have to say that the food is very good: I liked the guacamole which was very tasty and as a main course I ordered the Chilango Chop salad which I also liked very much: it had just the right amount of dressing and it is vegetarian, which is a good option for me. My friend ordered some type of steak, which he said was very good. We also ordered drinks; I cannot recall the name, but it had tequila and some tropical flavors, and for me it was OK. I am not a big fan of tequila cocktails, but I do like Margaritas. So, maybe it was the combination of this particular one. Regarding service; Not very good. Our waiter was Kevin, and he seemed annoyed when we got there, we did get there a little late but again, this was a going away dinner :( and I feel as though he was not sensitive of that. He replied in a rude manner more than once. Overall the food is good, the place is beautiful and the company was great, so basically the one thing that made it a sour experience was the waiter. P.S.I would recommend it to my friends and I would even give this place another chance. Just pay attention to time and make sure you don't get served by somebody that is in a rush to walk out.

The Hungry Gringo found this place a complete letdown. The food was awful. The service typical horrible for college area restaurants. Basically I spent $80 for two people for a handful of chips and two shot glasses of salsa. We had tacos for two, barely enough food for 1. The proteins where strategically placed on top of rice and beans in two little bowls. I can go on and on. Unfortunately this place lured me because it was rated within the countries best 20. It should be closed from our point… just terrible.. sorry

We came with a party of 5 and were seated at a colorful, comfortable table, and advised to get tapas to share, which turned out to be good advice. We had the guac and chips to starts and some Mexican beer (except for me, the driver) and then many varieties of little tacos -- mahi mahi, carnitas, and chicken. I might have wanted a little spicy salsa to add to the tacos, but they were very fresh and nicely presented. Reasonable cost, too.

I love this place from the swings to the secret room behind the hostess which is great for small parties. The food was amazing and the staff were very personable. I look forward to bringing my teenage daughter here I think she will get a kick out of the swing seating.

We went with 4 adults and 4 kids, it happened to be Dining Dollar days. I called in the morning and asked if they would accommodate the kids and allow them to order off of the ala carte menu. The gentleman on the phone was very polite and engaging and said that would be fine. I made a reservation for 6 pm, we arrived and our table was ready. The restaurant is decorated in a very fun hip way. The bathrooms upstairs have a communal sink that was really cool and well done. We ordered just about 1 of everything on the Menu and were able to share with everyone at the table. It was all incredible. We thought we would get smaller portions of the meals, more of a sample size, but the portions were quite large. In fact, the waiter was surprised that the kitchen had decided to give entree size portions on the Salmon A LA Plancha and the Pollo Entomatado. There was a LOT of food. Everything was delicious. Additionally, the food presentation was fabulous. Our waiter started off strong, but as the place got busier he took longer to come back between courses and we waited a long time for the check and for him to return with our credit cards. If I find myself in Philly I would try to eat here. The restaurant is very large. It was full when we were leaving, but it was not too loud and you could easily walk out or to the restrooms. I highly recommend eating here.