Great food and margaritas! You can’t go wrong here if you like authentic Mexican food. The homemade salsas we’re delicious and the staff was awesome😀

Last night I ordered steak fajitas and side of guac. Got home and there were exactly FOUR pieces of meat (and oddly, 6 tortillas). $26 incl tax and tip ... TOTAL rip off. On menu outside front door Guac appetizer is $7.50 but went to...order and guy behind counter says "Eight dollars". Is anybody awake there. Does anybody (owner???) even care what's going on in what used to be a great place? Essex Junction Gato of a different color, ditch Burl and go there if you have transportation.More

It’s pretty obvious that the owner of this place just doesn’t care about it. It is dingy, dirty and I’ve seen cleaner restrooms at a truck stop. We were sitting in a back dining room and when we were seated, there was a 6 top...next to us that was piled with dirty dishes and glasses from the last party seated there and when we left, over an hour later, it still hadn’t been cleared. Further, our view was of a hallway that was haphazardly piled with chairs, booster seats and other crap, just a mess. So, we ordered drinks, guacamole and Queso for appetizers and then ordered a combo plate and a burrito. They brought the appetizers which were not great but okay. And then we waited for our food. And waited. And waited. Finally, well over an hour later, we cancelled our order, and left. To add a further level of absurdity, 2 Pepsi’s, 2 beers Queso and Guacamole and chips cost $45.00. We will not be returning to this train wreck of a restaurant.More

Stopped in El Gato for an early dinner. Very glad we stopped! The appetizers were spot on and the food was very good and didn't taste like fast food. Margaritas were fantastic. Service was prompt and friendly. We will be back!

It's at the dark end of Church Street and worth the walk. More margarita options than you could sample in a month. Good solid Mex food at the right price.

We were here for dinner on a Wed night / house margaritas were 1/2 price and very good. We had the enchiladas that were good size and tasty, They did not have the ingredients to make the sauce on my order but did an acceptable...substitution. The corn on the cob was exceptional , grilled with feta cheese and plenty of spices . The table service was good and the food was served promptly . We will return if in the area.More

I don’t recommend getting this to-go, there was barely anything in the tacos. They had good flavor though....not the best chips. I would say last Mexican restaurant I would go to in the city. The margs are great though!

I stumbled on this place about 9 years ago when in town. Was pleased to see it was still open when I returned with my husband. Great, authentic food, fresh chips (pet peeve having stale chips and salsa), and Great portions.

These folks are doing a great job with outdoor seating, servers in masks, etc. and the service was excellent. But, except for the mole sauce, which is great, the rest of the menu is incredibly bland, just with zero spice or flavor. I got a...chicken enchilada verde and the shredded chicken inside was dry and seemed to have just been poached in water, with no salt, no pepper, nothing. The verde sauce was nearly flavorless as well. The owners and staff are really nice folks but they are shooting themselves in the foot by not listening to all these accounts of bland food--why don't they start spicing up their dishes??? There are so may creative, flavorful options in Burlington now, and El Gato won't be able to attract diners if they keep charging people for what tastes like special food for people who can't take any spice. Like I said, the mole was good, which one person in our party had on an enchilade, but every single other dish was bland, bland, bland. Get with the program, El Gato--we want you to succeed and I'm sure your staff does too!!!!More

We ordered out from the Essex Jct location one night and found the food very bland, ..very basic food in general, corn tortillas were a mess and the beef quesadilla was not worth the money. Would love to dine in and see if there is...a difference. Thank you for the chips and salsa.More

I wanted to like this place because it is the only ‘authentic Mexico cuisine’ this close to the Canadian border. However the food is so bland and tasteless I’m embarrassed for them. The tacos I ordered were so cold and unflavored it was a wonder...they could charge 15$ for a combo plate that featured the worlds saddest unseasoned canned beans. The chips and bean dip were an insult to the institution of appetizers. Plus I payed an additional 4 dollars to have guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo to be given 2 tablespoons worth of sour cream and guacamole with no pico. I do not understand how it took 70 minutes to prepare and deliver the pathetic mess that was my 30 dollar dinner. Your money would be better spent getting a burrito bowl at chipotle because then there would be some guarantee of a filling meal with flavor. Would not recommend. Maybe it is better in house but they’re quarantine offerings are not worth the money.More

Enjoyed our meal at El Gato with our grandkids. Everyone's food was good. We tried the braised tongue taco which was very tender, loaded with meat and delicious. The fish tacos were also good with a nice fillet of tilapia and good sauce. Kids liked...the chimichango with chicken and black beans, etc. Our waitress Issa took special care of the kids and their orders.More