El Puente Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

Some of the best shrimp fajitas I’ve had. The restaurant is very well organized. Great service, my table was taken care of with no issues. I highly recommend their fried ice cream dessert definitely a 10/10

Went and ate during the dinner rush, place was packed and I was with a group of 6. Service was excellent even with a full restaurant. The food was some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in a while. All of the staff was very friendly and attentive to our party. I will definitely be recommending this place to all my friends and family.

I had the king burrito with carnitas and it was AMAZING, and don’t get me started on their margaritas…. DELICIOUS.
Couldn’t recommend this place more.

Finally! We are delighted to see this location finally open in Ozark. This is the third restaurant of the same name in the 417 area, with sister locations in Nixa and Springfield, with the Nixa location amassing a long-time loyal following.

We were greeted and served by a pleasant and attentive gentleman named Rueben. We sat in the cozy bar section, where the seating is unassigned, and you can sit where you please. For those who remember the bar from Buckingham's, they did an excellent job of preserving it while adding their unique theme to this section of the restaurant.

For starters, they served us complimentary chips and cantina-style salsa. The Chips were crispy and not soggy, and the salsa was flavorful with a good balance of vegetables and spice. The 16oz frozen strawberry margarita was exceptional value at $6.50, and it was perfectly blended with a generous but not overpowering amount of tequila.

We ordered a couple of crunchy taco shells with a combination of beef and shredded chicken, which came with rice and beans. The tacos had a nice crunch, and the shredded chicken was cooked to perfection, with a nice balance of cheese and lettuce. The beef version was equally as good. We also ordered a taco salad bowl with shredded chicken, fresh pico, lettuce, guacamole, and cheese. All the food was well balanced, with generous portions that went down easy. The rice was light and fluffy, and the main dishes were not oversaturated or soggy from drowning in oils or sauces.

What makes this location stand out? I always appreciated this venue when it was a Buckingham's. Thankfully, it is now occupied by an established local Mexican chain that offers friendly, attentive service at a fair price in a clean and pleasant atmosphere.

In case you are wondering. The restaurant's opening was delayed because they could not find enough quality workers. Most of their staff rotate between the other locations, so you may see some familiar faces!