Kathleen D.
Yelp
I wish the energy level here matched the colorful allure. Tio Flores is right on a South Street West corner, not far from many of my preferred local haunts, like Magpie, The Cambridge, and the PHS Beer Garden.
While the interior was brightly decorated, the food and environment were lacking last Saturday. It was dinner time, yet there were plenty of open seats. We were told their one big booth was reserved, but no one ever sat there throughout our visit. Instead, our server led us to a communal table with fairly uncomfortable seats. The only other option was the bar, but the seats there don't have backs and I have a bad back sooo pass.
If you're into cocktails, margs, etc., they have a bunch of choices. I would have gone down that route if I hadn't been at a beer fest for most of the afternoon. I will say Tio's beer list is pretty solid. Lots of your usual suspects but also a handful of new-to-me brews, like Sixpoint's Jammer. I was pretty happy with my selection.
For my meal, I chose the Suiza Enchiladas (chicken, roasted tomato sauce, queso mixto, cilantro, pickled onion, corn tortilla, $13) after a confirmation of mild spice from our friendly waitress. I'd say the spice level is more like moderate, but I'm also the wimp who can't tolerate most spices so maybe disregard.
The dish itself was okay and a fair size. I wouldn't order it again, and I wouldn't order their tacos either (outrageous price for 2 of them!), but maybe I'd try a different app or entree.
Tio wouldn't be somewhere I'd consider suggesting in the future, but if a group is already planning to visit, I'd join. It's middle-of-the-road Mexican all the way.