Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro

I went for the second time yesterday for lunch to catch up with an old friend & I enjoyed my experience from start to finish. I got the lunch enchiladas & ceviche which were so good! I can’t find my servers name on the receipt but she was amazing! Dulce was also very hospitable & both girls made me want to return for the good vibes! The restaurant is super cute & play really good music. This is the perfect spot to get dressed up & have a fun night out! I can’t wait to be back!

Excellent spot for drinks and food; the service and atmosphere are great. There is something for everyone's budget.
I was here on a Friday night for a birthday dinner, and I had a great time. The food was great, and portions were substantial. I'll definitely come here to try their brunch menu.
They also have a lunch menu with very affordable pricing.
I'll definitely come again.

Went with friends I had not spent time for a while, and we really enjoyed it. A lot of variety which for me was more than what I know of Mexican food, and they were very helpful in getting the right choices. Great drinks and atmosphere. Will definitely be back. Highly recommended.

Outstanding dinner experience. They exceeded my expectations. You cannot go wrong here. Incredible drinks and drink selections. The atmosphere just enhances your visit. We had the Steak and chorizo tacos, a Filet Mignon and lobster, seafood ceviche, Mahi Mahi tacos. Tres Leches cake and Churros for dessert. The ceviche was the best I've had and not been right beside the beach. All that coupled with friendly and attentive service. Thanks for a great dinner.

Met a group for dinner on Friday evening. Right on Franklin Street and there is a pay lot next door as well as down a block at the 411 West. Nice atmosphere. Service was fantastic and we had the manager visit our group a few times. Drinks were excellent. I tried the Barbie and mule. Every single food dish was excellent in terms of presentation and flavor. Flautas and enchiladas were on point! Try the corn cake for dessert.
As others stated, prices are high, but I was told they would be dropping soon and the atmosphere is a bit different from Monterreys or Armadillo’s.
I’d visit again. Great place to meet friends or have a larger group if needed.

I visited Ay Por Dios for the first time yesterday and I was instantly blown away as soon as I entered the building. The warm hospitality and lively atmosphere made dining there a truly memorable experience. Even tho I only had the grilled chicken fajitas with rice and beans, I can honestly say the dish was mouthwatering. I will be visiting again tomorrow to try more of the menu and the "smoky" cocktails that I've heard so much about. The aesthetic, service and food were all a 10/10. I definitely recommend stopping in! Will update if any changes.

Service was outstanding. Waitress was super sweet and helpful. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious. We both ate till we were so full. Sushi was huge and honestly could have just eaten that all night. Never had Mexican sushi before but loved it. Beef tacos were so tasty and savory. The appetizer platter was definitely the way to start. I really dig the atmosphere and decor. From the water cup choice to the comfortable chairs to the music. We both thought it was great. We loved it and will be back.

Update #2 Love this place still!! The prices seem to have been tweaked (lowered) also!! This time I had the salmon and man was it a 10 out of 10. I am and will be going back!!! Kudos to the chef who came up with such beautiful and tasty dishes! See you soon!

Update** Love this place! Absolutely gorgeous! The aesthetic here is so gorgeous! At the time of this updated review they have only been open officially a few days but I'm so glad they finally are open. For the pros... THEY TAKE LARGE PARTIES!!! Woohoo for that! They don't take reservations so just try to have a majority of your party there upon checking in. Everyone was so nice and welcoming, even trying to help us sort out the menu.

Now for the cons..the menu is a little different. As another reviewer stated...it doesn't have alot of signature items like fajitas( on dinner menu), ACP(arroz con pollo) and things like that.But maybe they are trying to bring new ideas and not staple items. All the food was delicious but the price was a little off-putting( like what you get for the price, I have no problem with pricey but it needs to be worth the price) it's definitely a bit high for the location. There is no table salsa and chips or anything like that . So if you order and entree and an appetizer you are almost $50 in.

I can't justify the prices for the food but, I think this beautiful establishment with it's pricier menu would have been a better fit at University place instead of Franklin St .We will see how this goes. I will definitely go back because they have Sunday brunch and I want to give that a try..and to get the street corn again!!

This place is gonna be BIG!!!! Patiently waiting for them to do their Grand Opening!!! It is absolutely a gorgeous spot and I can't wait! Perfect for big parties and even has a private dining room!!

Fabulous restaurant and dynamite service. Bar service, fast and excellent drinks, comfortable seating, fantastic decor and yummy food. It’s toast.

We came in to try the brunch, and it did not disappoint. It was so good! They have the normal brunch choices of pancakes and omelettes but with a sort of Mexican influence. Choices for vegetarians as well, our friend loved her veggie omelette. As for the bar, I thoroughly enjoyed the house margarita with passionfruit! Oh and so pretty inside! Great for the gram!! A+++

i had the opportunity to dine in with them during their opening weekend and overall really enjoyed my experience. although, it did take a while for my food to arrive (giving them some slack because they are new) the food was fantastic. the ribeye steak was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. i'm not sure why a lot of people are complaining about the prices since they are advertised as a "high end" restaurant. so definitely recommended for special occasions or if you really want to wow a date. i do wish they had opened a restaurant in raleigh/cary, i feel like they missed their target demographic by being in chapel hill.

First and foremost our server Fernanda was amazing. If you want an all around great experience ask for her to be your server. Very attentive. Now to the food 🤤, 10 out of 10. Fresh and tasty. The entree dishes are on the hire end of the prices, however you could really share a dish with two people unless you plan on taking food home. If you’ve been to South Florida and are in Las Olas at Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar and loved it then you will for sure love this place. Don’t let the prices deter you from coming here. Totally worth the experience.

The nicest Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to! Decor is a 10. Good was fresh & beautiful. Service was happy. Outdoor seating was great.

Wow! This is not your ordinary Mexican restaurant that you know from your home town. Don’t expect complimentary chips and salsa, or rice and beans with your entree. Also, don’t ask for sweet tea, only fountain drinks available for a nonalcoholic option. Finally, don’t expect to pay the same average prices for your meal that you do at your local Rio Grande, Mi Pueblo or Monterrey restaurants. But I have to say the atmosphere was very nice with upscale furnishings. As for food, I had the “ay por dos Burrito” for $22 (see picture). The burrito was delicious and presented beautifully. I had the house lime Margarita for $14 (see picture). It was good. The drink had a floating lime with spice on the side of the glass and a piece of dry ice bubbling in the drink, for a cool presentation. As for service, all servers were professionally dressed and were very attentive. Fernanda, our server did a fantastic job. I highly recommend for an upscale Mexican restaurant experience.

Our experience was great! We came with a large party and the service was phenomenal. Eduardo, our waiter did a gray job at bringing our orders fast. He was very entertaining too. The food was delicious.

My sister and I decided to try this place on a rainy Sunday for brunch (disclaimer: we are NOT paid reviewers 😂). Honestly, it was a great experience, and we’ll be back. The brunch menu is very reasonable for any vibey brunch spot (less than $20/entree) - and it’s delicious. The servers were incredibly hospitable. The only semi-disappointment was the drink I ordered (the Bloody Maria) which had a little too much tajín for my liking, but my sister liked it. And depending on where you sit, the music might be a tad too loud (seats where the speaker is right above you), but we really liked the playlist.

One of the best authentic Mexican restaurants I've been to. I had chicken tacos & mexican sushi. This dish was fantastic. Everything was hot and delicious. Husband had tacos de carne asada, which I couldn't help but sample and those were also very good. I stop short of calling them the best we've had, but they were very good. I really recommend this amazing place if you want to have fun and eat something delicious. Go to ay por Dios Mexican Bistro

Amazing place! Bartenders, food , and management are absolutely phenomenal! The atmosphere is top notch. They hosted an event for 50+ attendees and it was so fun, professional, and unforgettable. The service was amazing. Thank you for a great event and evening!

I love this place! The customer service is stellar, from the moment you walk in until you leave, the hospitality is exemplary. I loved the decor and music! The passionfruit margarita was delicious. The AL Pastor quesadilla was incredibly tasty. My family was visiting from out of town and everything was served hot and quickly! Since this was recently opened to the public, of course you have the critical negative trolls leaving reviews, but please, don't be swayed! This is a phenomenal spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with an eclectic menu and great service and it's exactly what Franklin street needed!

Eduardo made sure our experience and my friends 24th bday dinner was spectacular and special. He recommended delicious drinks and food! Will definitely be back and requesting him, you should too!