Salena's Mexican Restaurant

Amazing vibe, super colorful and interesting. Our server was one of the nicest I've ever had, and made some delicious and creative non-alcoholic drinks. The food was a tad on the boring side, but tasty and well done. Overall a recommendation for good Mexican food.

Located on N. Goodman, right next to Village Gate this Mexican restaurant has a decent size menu. The atmosphere seems like it would be fun and the limited staff I spoke with were very polite. I ordered take out to eat back at S31 Lofts. When I got back to my room I was surprised that they didn't provide me with plastic ware or a napkin. I really wanted to like the food. Unfortunately the chicken in my empanada was dry and fairly flavorless. The rice looked like it has been scraped from the bottom of the pot and was on the dry side. The black beans were ok. The dessert I ordered were churros. Again, not as good as I had expected but not awful either. I would give them another chance however I would get a table and stay a while.

Salenas Mexican restaurant is a great place place to enjoy an amazing meal and experience the great architecture and artsy murals in village gate! I’ve been a customer here for years, they offer top notch dishes with great deals for happy hour and staff that makes you feel at home!

My family and I like to try new places so Selena’s was the choice…huge mistake. By far the worst Mexican food I have ever eaten, in fact didn’t eat. Service was horrible. We had 1:30 pm reservations. We arrived around 1:20 and was Promptly seated, however, 45 minutes later is when our server came to the table and took our drink order and then another 20 minutes later, she returned with our drinks and chips and salsa. Unfortunately, I believe she was one of the Few quite, possibly the only server on the floor that day. So I really can’t blame her for the poor service. She was seated multiple times back to back. However , the food was awful after waiting two hours we finally received our food. The orders were incorrect and did not have the specific items that the menu described. When we finally got the orders correct they still were just horrible. Warm and soggy! Tacos were bathing in grease, chicken was bathing in its own nasty watered down liquid. Total lack of flavor and lack of presentation!! I’m not one to complain about much but this was so horrible from start to finish. The windowsills were filthy with dead flies and the blinds were disgusting. Look like it had never been cleaned.I will never return and highly recommend stay away from this restaurant!! There are so many amazing Mexican restaurants in Rochester and surrounding areas but Selena’s IS NOT ONE!!!!!! When we asked to speak to the manager we were told they had left for the day we could call the next day. I spent close to 300.00 for our family and definitely did not get anything worth what was paid. So sad!! I wish the owners good and hope you can resolve these issues.

We have been here multiple times for date night, the food is always spectacular (from someone who does not usually like Mexican). Our most recent date night we had Jessica the server, oh my god was she amazing. From her bubbly personality to the energy she puts into all of her customers. Just talking to her makes you happy and want to come back! We will definitely asked to be seated in her section from now on.

Staff was friendly but NOT familiar with allergens in their food. Definitely need more training. I didn't feel comfortable with the info that I received so I just ordered a rice bowl. Food was good but service was slow.

It's been a few years since visiting Salenas. In the past I was very pleased however, this visit was underwhelming. The food was mediocre, I ordered the enchiladas which were undercooked and soggy. Our waitress wasn't rude but definitely made apparent she did not want to be there. Best part was feeding the birds that hang around on the patio. Overall 3/5.

Alba was absolutely amazing! I had the tofu tacos which were also excellent. Alba was sweet enough to help me practice my Spanish during the meal. It was a wonderful experience, Alba deserves amazing tips always!

Best Nachos in Rochester. I go weekly and I'm in an out within an hour. Friendly wait staff, great bartender, happy hour specials and clean eats. Highly recommend

Updated review: Sad to say food quality seems to be hit or miss these days. Service is usually good and drinks are good. I've had a few recent experiences where the chips served were stale or overly salty. And food was just ok. I hope the quality comes back. But there is better Mexican to be had in the area these days. Old review: I've not had a bad meal here yet. Eating low carb might be a challenge here or any Mexican spot. Skip the chips and skip the beans and rice if you can! I usually opt for the fajitas but this time I went for the chicken stuffed avocado and it was delicious and filling! But, everything is delicious. Drinks are excellent. You really can't go wrong here!

We ordered chips and queso for the table, and we shared a pitcher of white peach margaritas. First of all, that was the BEST MARGARITA I have ever had. Holy cow. Secondly, the queso was addictive. I got chicken fajitas for my main, and they were pretty good. I have no complaints! I have a lot of leftovers and I'm so excited to be able to eat this again tomorrow. Yum all around!

They make strong drinks and the food is pretty good. It's not authentic but if you want to meet someone for a cocktails and apps great. During the warmer months they have outdoor seating. Staff is good but can also be easily distracted and I've dealt with this a few times. It's in Village Gate.. shared parking It's about a 3.5 outta 5 Honestly better Mexican to be had.

This is one of my preferred Mexican restaurants in Rochester. Service is generally fast but there can be a wait to sit on some nights. Bar area and high tops are first come first serve though. Margaritas and the free chips with salsa are of course my favorite. Last night I tried the empanadas and they were delicious. It was my first time taking my mom there and she had the chimichanga which she enjoyed. Overall, I don't think you can really go wrong here. Is it authentic? I don't know but it's good for what it is.

I went to dinner at Salena's with a few friends for dinner and it was pretty good. We had to wait a bit for a table, which was odd because the restaurant was only half full and we had a reservation. Our waiter was nice though and our food came quickly. The food was pretty good and reasonably priced. I wouldn't say it's the best Mexican in rochester, but it's worth a try.

Not sure why but service was slow today. Asked for cola, waitress brought out a glass that was not cola. Second attempt we got colas. When asked for refills, she waited till we were done to say there was a problem and we could order something else? We go to order Desert and were told the Christmas special was not available. Ordered Mexican cake she came back and told us it was not available. Luckily the Flan was. Food was good, but service was poor.

Enjoyed a nice Saturday afternoon lunch! The service was impeccable and the food was on point. Ordered the empanada, the Mexican rice balls, chicken fajitas, and enchiladas. Everything was fantastic and we were super pleased with the detail in presentation. A++

It's been about a decade since I've updated my review on Selena's and it's for good reason. One thing for sure is that their food is consistent. I'm not a fan of their salsa. The queso is solid and the quesadillas are pretty good with added fajitas. We ordered the carafe of margarita which turned out to be a better deal than the individual pour. Nice date spot, especially for lunch when the crowds are down.

I went here for my birthday expecting authentic Mexican food but it didn't deliver at all. It was also very overpriced and the service was bad.

Chose to come here for my sisters birthday and they did not disappoint! Our waiter who I believe was named Owens was fantastic and made our night! Thank you so much for the great food and even better service!

I haven't been to Selena's in quite a long time. I got a house margarita and Paloma and wasn't super impressed with either. In the past, I usually got a burrito or nachos. Tonight I decided to change it up and get the tostada, i was expecting it to be more cheesy and moist than it was. The taco was pretty good. Overall, okay food & drinks. Nice, friendly environment in a convenient location.

My friend and I came here for a late lunch on a Saturday. It was 3pm, but it was pretty crowded inside. I was surprised. My friend and I had never been here before. I had to park kind of far away, and it was a cold, snowy day. Village Gate is a little confusing, so I wasn't sure where to walk. I went up to Nox's door first and couldn't find a way around. You have to walk in next to Salena's from the direction I came from. I looked at the menu online before we went, and was happy to see the vegetarian options! I got the fried cauliflower tacos. What was in them was very good, but they were in corn tortillas which I didn't really like. I also didn't need the beans, and it said no substitutions, so I just didn't eat them. We got guacamole, too. It was not tableside made guac which I would have preferred, but it was good. The margarita was ok. I was honestly expecting better from the reviews on here. It was not very strong. We were sitting and talking, so we also got dessert. I tried the fried ice cream. It was ok, but the outside was very strongly cinnamon flavored. We shared some of it, and I think my friend liked it better than I did. It was ok, but I don't think I'd get it again. When we got the bill at the end, you could scan the QR code and pay. That was really cool! No complaints. I'd go again, but I also wouldn't hurry back.

Stopped in to have a meal and cocktail before the Brit Floyd concert around the corner. Nice clean place with a choice of either indoor or outdoor seating. Sat at the bar. The staff was absolutely terrific. A nice touch is the chips and salsa they give you when your first sit down. Both are good. My friend and I ordered some app tacos and tostadas. We ordered a couple with chicken and a couple with pork. We both agreed that they were nothing special. They weren't bad, they just weren't memorable appetizers at $5 apiece. The Dos Equis beer is served ice cold... who doesn't love ice cold beer?!

You can see my profile that I rarely write reviews so it has to be really horrible for me to do so. I've been going here since they were a hole in the wall where Polizzis is now. I have probably been here more than 20 times over the years. I will never be coming back. When we first got there the hostess was nowhere to be found and a lot of customers waiting. After almost 10 mins went up to the bar to ask. Apparently she wandered off to get a takeout order but never came back. When she did come back she didnt even have the food and one of the bartenders then brought it out. No idea what she could have been doing the whole time. When were were finally seated it took another 20 mins before the waitress showed up. We were also wonder where are chips and salsa was until i saw a sign with a BS excuse of keeping prices down and now you have to pay. Need a sign or something obvious at the front door this is a major change and something most other mexican restaurants in area provide. Ok so nominal fee to get chips and salsa, nope $5.50 and there menus prices have clearly all gone up too. Ordered food and it took 30 mins to come out and one was cold the other obviously reheated from sitting around. Thats on the waitress and it was not at all busy so no excuse for that. Get the check see a QR code thinking that useful cause the waitress never is around, doesnt work. You could not get a single thing right, complete joke. With about a dozen or more restaurants like this one in the area, go to any others not this one.

Our favorite Mexican restaurant in Rochester! Nothing beats their classic margarita, friendly servers and attentive bar tenders, casual outdoor seating, and vast menu.

Had a nice dinner out celebrating my moms birthday this past weekend with her favorite type of food. We had a party of 5 and made reservations earlier in the week so when we arrived we were promptly seated. I always love the chips and salsa you get before the meal! We then skimmed the menu and after drinks ordered our entrees. Between all of us we ordered a variety of things such as the drunken shrimp tacos, burritos, tacos and enchiladas. We were all pleased with our meals and had decided to order dessert. The only downfall I'd say is that I had my mind on getting sopaipillas and was looking forward to them. We ordered two orders of that and the the waitress also brought out a fried ice cream with a candle for my moms birthday - that was delicious! Unfortunately the sopaipillas were just meh. I remember having sopaipillas and they were fluffy and light. These were very dense and tasted exactly like bisquick biscuits with a hint of cinnamon and sugar. They were not fried and airy whatsoever but more of a baked biscuit. I actually liked the birthday fried ice cream better! To sum it up, entrees and service were great but next time I think I'll get a fried ice cream for dessert instead of a dense biscuit aka the sopaipillas.

We have visited twice and I highly recommend them. The service was exceptional both visits. The outdoor deck dining area is very comfortable and inviting. Someone has dropped the ball on developing the village gate courtyard here. There is room for a stage and live entertainment which could be a great draw for the several restaurants which are located around its central location. Wedged between the cultural arts center of the city, the Auditorium theater and the public market, it is a prime location for a more fully developed music and entertainment event area which would offer support to those businesses and add much to Rochester's cultural environment. I will return again and would not hesitate to bring a group of friends and or out of town guests with me and neither should you.

Salsa with no kick , Food was okay but nothing better than what I could make at home ... Sangria that tasted like Hawaiian Punch ( needed a whole lot more wine ) ... Ambiance was okay but believe it or not , the Service was excellent !!!

Used to be good. Now it's just ok. Food, service and value have all suffered the last few years.

Brought a drink at the bar next day $700+ was taken from my bank account, shady workers.

Salena's is a fun spot for weekday dinner and drinks and has a good atmosphere for a night out on the weekend. It's right in Village Gate, which is a cute area that has great ambiance. The service at Salena's was good. Our waiter was accommodating and knew the menu. The Santa Fe chicken salad and chicken tacos were both good - I'd say solid Mexican food for Rochester. It doesn't compare to the quality in other parts of the country, but it was flavorful and a good experience. I also thought the salsa was great. I wouldn't say I'm running back, but I'd definitely return and it hits the spot if your craving Mexican food!

Do not eat here not good there is a reason nobody is there even with it being cheap and you will get charged extra for other peoples items

Taco Bell is better, FFS. The level of service is absolutely ATROCIOUS. You'd think with an empty restaurant and 7 FOH staff that people would not be making a point to come from their tables to the bar to ask for napkins, drink refills, the check, etc. Half the staff seemed high AF. Too bad because it didn't used to be like this. Nothing special. Not worth going. Not returning.

Yesterday we had an eventful day and decided to finish it with some Mexican food. First time trying this place and the food was outstanding and reasonably priced, and service was awesome. Towards the end of our meal, our daughter had a medical emergency happen and the staff was extremely accommodating, attentive and helpful, and without them I'm honestly not sure how we would have gotten help. The owner just gave me a call a few minutes ago to check in and I'm just at a loss of words right now. Thank you guys for everything.

Food is so inconsistent. Recent meal there was dry and unseasoned. Salsa just tastes like tomato sauce. Two of the three meals in our party were wrong on a very slow night. The plus was the service. Waitress was great, friendly, accommodating. Don't think I'll be back.

This used to be one golf the happening Mexican spots o. Rochester .. 15 or more years later it is better for location and atmosphere than food. After living in San Diego and frequently visiting Mexico I know good Mexican food and although it is difficult to find in Rochester it is available .. but authentic Mexican food can not be found here. It is your classic Americanized Mexican food here and with a flavor of the grease food you'd get at a chain. The drinks are also not the best or are good but very small for the price. What is great about here is the location and atmosphere fun and inviting and almost a vibe of Mexico. Their salsa is good and I always appreciate Free chips and salsa! They are great for groups as well. So although their food is average they go above in other categories. And in doubt get their fried ice cream - that will never disappoint!

$5.50 for chips and salsa! Stuffed burrito slapped on a plate with nothing else. Very disappointing compared to going there in the past.

I was really looking for a nostalgic experience of the Authentic Mexican food I remembered from years ago, however I was disappointed. As foodie, chef and lover of Authentic spices and traditional ingredients, my experience was far from the saucy, spicy, juicy meal that I expected. To be fair, my meal was vegan, however most seasonings are vegan (cilantro, lime, chili, cumin, garlic, onion...) my beans and rice was dry, and the bean burrito and enchiladas were flavorless. The chocolate cake however was everything...​​​ What happened to Salenas???

I hadn't been in a couple of years, and after a recent visit I noticed how downhill the entire experience went from the food, atmosphere and service. Took a long time to get drinks, wait staff made multiple order taking errors, and overall the food was not that good. Won't be back!

We used to go quite often but recent visit was again disappointing. Convenient location but quality, service and cleanliness is lacking. I don't think management cares any more. It's too bad as it used to be one of our go to places. There are much better options out there. Try Guacamole in Penfield, food and drinks are great and the owner's seem to be around checking to make sure quality is maintained.

On Tuesday 6/27/23 I visited Salenas in village gate. My server was Ian, he was, not good. He looked too overwhelmed... he had to have had 12 tables definitely out doing himself to say the least. When we parked the host was standing outside by their back door smoking marijuana and I only knew that because she came in and reeked... I don't judge but I was waiting at the door for 15 minutes. We came for drinks and desserts. We decided on churros i got a margarita. The churros were sadly hard and I think it cracked my tooth. My margarita tasted like they used Rosie's lime juice and added a little tequila. I was gonna ask to speak to a manager but I don't even think a manager was present at that time. I will not be revisiting and will probably take my business else where in village gate unfortunately. I used to love Salenas especially when I wanted a good margarita

Some of the worst Mexican food I've ever had to be honest. If you showed a Mexican person this food they'd be offend. The serve was solid and the restaurant looked nice but ever item ordered was disappointing. The drinks were either far too sweet or entirely flavorless. The nachos were store bought cheese and I'd guess not homemade chips. The flavors were lacking. Find restaurant for service terrible for food.

I haven eaten at Salena's many times over the years but sadly, I won't be returning. They stopped giving out the complimentary chips and salsa! Our server was very nice but they were short staffed. We barely saw her and did not get drink refills. My daughter's salad didn't have hardly any chicken initially. It's too bad. They used to be good.

I wish I could give this place many stars, but their food is bland and over cooked. Chips and salsa - over cooked chips and bland cold salsa. Quesadillas aren't the best either. I tried their dos equis chicken wings - tasty sauce but wings are over cooked as well. They do have a great place for parking lot. And outdoor seating in summer time. Margaritas are the only thing that is good here. Will not come back here unfortunately.

I love, love, love Salena's Mexican Restaurant! Visit here often with my girls and with friends. The location is nice. Village Gate, although not as populated as it was in years past, is still a good location. You can walk to many other bars in the area from here. The food is always good! My favorite is the Salena's Combo: 2 burritos (you can have beef, chicken, carnitas...almost anything you'd like). I get it white styl

I have had great experiences in restaurant, but when I order to-go, the size of the meals seem smaller. The reason for the 2 stars is the terrible experience i had last time. I ordered 2 avacado salads to go. When I opened them both at home, I was presented with GRAY ROTTEN AVACADOS on top of a smaller salad than what I got when I was eating at the restaurant. How can you feel good about sending out ROTTEN food to customers!? It's totally unacceptable! I don't want to dislike this place... when I go there to eat it's been good, but I've had too many bad times with the to-go food quality and so, I had to do a 2 star rating. Please do better Salena's! You will lose customers if the to-go food is bad! No photos of the rotten food I got, because I didn't want to gross out the people reading this review.

We just had an excellent take-out experience at Salena's this week and I had to share! We are making an effort to support local restaurants in the area by ordering to-go, once a week. We had a really unpleasant experience at a different local Mexican restaurant last week, so when I asked my husband if he wanted to order Salena's to make up for last week's debacle he said, " Hell yea!", he's adorable. Anyway, He ordered the Mexican Flag enchiladas and I ordered the mixed Fajitas. He ate his entire plate in one sitting because he couldn't stop, it was that good. My fajitas were top notch. The chicken and steak had that perfectly grilled flavor. The guac was fresh, and the tortillas were still warm and fluffy. The best part of the meal was they got our entire order correct! Which is rare for a lot of places around here, but we usually let it go. A+ Salena's, as always. We can't wait to visit you again soon.

Salenas is one of my favorite local Mexican restaurants! It can get quite busy so try to make a reservation when you can, especially for a large group. They have great happy hour specials perfect for after-work or ladies night. My favorite starters are queso and guacamole. My favorite entrée is quesidilla suprême with chicken, though stuffed avocado is a close second. My friends also love their salads and Carne asada. Order extra chips-- they're delish!

A Saturday appointment found my wife and myself in Rochester at lunch time. A quick search for local restaurants took us to Salena's. Salena's is located in the Village Gate Square, a former industrial/warehouse area in Rochester that has been revitalized and converted to shops and restaurants. We were promptly greeted and seated upon arrival. Within seconds of being seated one of the staff brought us water and then quickly returned with fresh chips and salsa. Our server arrived a few minutes later and took our drink and meal orders. While we waited for our meals we were snacking on the chips and salsa. Without even asking for more the young man who had brought them originally brought us a fresh order. Our meals arrived a few minutes later. We had orders off of their lunch specials. My wife ordered a chicken burrito - enchilada style and I ordered the pulled pork burrito - enchilada style. Both were very good and substantially proportioned. We found the staff here to be exceptional and the food to be very good. Management has taken multiple measures to address Covid concerns. I recommend dining here and would do so myself if back in the area.

Three of us went to Salinas at 12pm on 4/19 and were seated immediately. The restaurant was completely empty, which we thought it would be busy being lunch time and located downtown. I'm not a big fan of eating downtown as a lot of restaurants have an aged, run down decor. We ordered chips & salsa, 2 enchiladas with burritos and a super burrito from the lunch menu. The chips & salsa arrived quickly but the salsas were surprisingly bland. We actually tried every hot sauce in the rack on the table and almost of of them were not very good, nor were most spicy. The food took about 30 minutes to arrive and all three of us agreed that the taste was just ok. The beef and chicken in the burritos and Enceladus were remarkably unseasoned and kinda bland. We could not taste any spices, onions, sour cream, guac or cilantro in the burritos or Enchiladas. In fact, there wasn't even any lettuce or tomato on them...lust wraps with beef or chicken. Not to mention Rap music was playing in the restaurant, which is not appropriate for a Mexican restaurant. Seems like another restaurant where leadership just does not care and has given up. We all agreed there are better options like Adalitas for authentic Mexican food.

I thought it was expensive and not very good, even if you've never eaten in Cali or the Southwest. Seasoning not tasty or balanced, cardboardy texture and serving size on the smaller side.

7/2022 really disappointed in our last visit. Did this place change owners? chips tasted like they came out of a bag, weak salsa and my enchiladas had American cheese on them! won't be returning

I feel like everyone I chat with has a similar opinion of Salena's: "I find myself here ALL. THE. TIME. but the food really isn't that good." I have been here many, many times and often find myself wondering why. I think the answer is that it is a large space, convenient location, honored reservations, strong margaritas, and ample parking. All of these are certainly positive points for Salena's and enough to continue family and friend outings. But the food is just not very good. I ordered a Santa Fe chicken salad last night that was borderline inedible. They use the same lettuce they put on tacos (shredded to bits, wilted, strangely wet...) and a smattering of unpalatable veggies. The chicken itself was even charred and void of any flavor. I am on the Whole30 right now and couldn't taste the salsa ranch it came with - but that might have been a saving grace. I have had inconsistent experiences with all of the other food. The tacos are mediocre and the enchiladas, while tasty in the moment, are not tasty enough to justify the severe stomach trauma that awaits you at your post dinner show or glass of wine. The stuffed avocados are a pretty sure bet for deliciousness and flavor. I guess I'll see you all there soon.

Tried the fried cauliflower tacos. Nice and crispy!! A little more sauce and some spice would make them great!

My first time here was pretty disappointing. We were part of a very large party and waited an hour for the food. I can live with that because at least there were chips and salsa and waters available for us when we sat down. My bigger concern is that I paid $22 for 3 small grilled chicken tacos with small sides. They were tasty tacos...but I was scratching my head trying to understand the price. I feel like it was a $17.99 meal at the absolute best. It was iceberg lettuce and standard taco toppings. For that price the tacos at nenos are so much better! It came with rice which was just so-so and black beans that were also just so-so. I thought the tortillas were nice and soft but they really didn't have much flavor at all. What did I pay for? I could have gone to Chipotle and gotten a big chicken burrito for $8. We also didn't get refills of chips while we were waiting an hour. I think it would have been nice to throw in some free $7 guac for waiting so long. I just don't get it. The perks were that the chairs and table were comfortable and it was a nice nook for a big party. The room temp was good. They went above and beyond to make the guest of honor feel special. The staff were harried and rushed and I felt bad asking them for anything.

The cheese dip and guacamole were like from the grocery store where you buy in the glass jar! The service was slow so we had to cancel our food and leave. We just paid for the drinks.

Love sitting at the bar, great service here! Definitely start off with the bacon wrapped jalapeños and close out with their combination fajitas! Washed it all down with a couple of different, very nice, anejo tequilas, neat of course.

Our daughter selected Salenas for her 18th birthday dinner and we had a wonderful time. Everything about our experience was 5 star. We all got something different from the menu and everyone was pleased and for those of you with picky family members, you can probably relate to that challenge! Most importantly, in my opinion, is that our overall experience was made all the better by our enthusiastic, super-nice, and competent server, Maggie! She made the night special, brought us a birthday dessert and gave our daughter a special birthday. We will certainly be back and will always ask to sit in Maggie's section!

This place was soooo good. Wife had a hankering for Mexican on date night. Definitely make reservations, due to limited seating, when we got there they were telling people over an hour wait. So, we were very happy we did have reservations! . Server was very attentive and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Tortilla chips tasted homemade, and the margaritas were definitely NOT watered down. Even if you get the carafe. I got the combination enchiladas, and the wife got the stuffed avocado. Food was full of flavor and wasn't just mush like sometimes you experience in Mexican restaurants. Definitely will be back!