Try Lalomita's on Capitol Hill. There are two actually. Lalomita's Dos
is on the 300 Block of Pennsylvania Ave, SE. The original Lalomita's is
around 11th and Penn, SE. Both have good food, good service, and
reasonable prices.
There are a few good ones in Northern Virginia. Try:
Tres Amigos, 10900 Lee Highway near the intersection with Rt 50
El Torito in McClean in the Tysons Corner Shopping Center
El Grande in the Reston Town Center
All are crowded on weekends, and are reasonably priced.
My wife and I like El Cachito in Falls Church (on Washington Blvd.). This
restaurant is a small "hole in the wall" which serves up pretty good food,
most of it fairly authentic (we don't get tacos, burritos, etc. Instead
we tend to order such things as grilled goat, chicken mole, etc.). It's
pretty cheap, too, and they have a coupon in the Entertainment '95 book.
Dave
I have to put in a good word for the Santa Fe Cafe in Rosslyn, VA.
The owner, Kip Laramie, also has a new place up the road a bit
called Sagebrush. More or less the same menu.
At lunch, it's a carry out place where you order at the counter and
then find a table. At dinner, they have a regular wait staff and
a more extensive menu. The portions are more moderate than what
you get at places like Rio Grande, and are much less expensive.
The other night, I had a Vidalia onion and green chile quesadilla
that was outstanding, priced at around $5. They have all the
regular tex-mex stuff, but their specials sometimes have more
exotic ingredients, such as the goat cheese and applewood smoked
bacon quesadilla.
Best of all, in addition to the cheap, good food, they have three
good beers on tap (currently Victory Amber, Potomac Ale, and
Tupper's Hop Pocket) and a cooler full of other good beer, such
as Sierra Nevada, various Dominion products, Rappahannock Red,
Negro Modelo, etc.
This is a cheap-eats place, and while the atmosphere is in no
way unpleasant, it's nothing special, either.
Located on Wilson Blvd., right next to the big metal sculpture.
Lynne
Sorry. As an expatriate Angeleno, my experience is that even the Mexican
food here that people most enjoy would shame the chain restaurants in LA
if they served it. The Southwestern food (i.e. Red Sage) and the
nouvelle Spanish food (e.g. Jaleo) ranges up to great, though. If you
want the sort of food you can get at a taqueria, you can find that at
places like El Tazumel in Clarendon, but it won't compare to the really
good places in LA. Also, no one hear seems to realize that there should
be enough tequila in a margarita to give it almost a faint medicinal
quality. (Trust me, it's pleasant, once you learn how to drink it.)
--
<><><> "If fifty million people "The weak have one weapon --
Greg<> say a foolish thing, it the errors of those who
<>/\<> is still a foolish thing." think they are strong."
<>\/<> -- Anatole France -- Georges Bidault
ps. Tell him you saw my reccomendation on the INTERNET.
GOOD EATING!!!.............................GIOVANNI.
I like Guapo's at the Tenley-AU metro. The food is good and service
are very good and the prices are reasonable.
Alan
>if you are looking for "THE BEST" in Mexican food, I have the best answer
>for you.
Just a quick question about good, real, authentic, great, etc Mexican food:
The best Mexican food in Oaxaca is likely to be quite different from that in
say Merida which again is somewhat different that that served at Su Casa in
Acapolco.
Now, I wonder which is the authentic, real Mexican?
My point is that we distinguish between Northern Italian food and Southern
Italian cooking. We understand the distinction. The regional variations
in Italian cooking are real and meaningful.
Do we lump Mexican cooking into a single olla.
--
Brian J. Larkin
bla...@cpcug.org
-SLH
Also, Scott...@SYMTEC.COM.
Scott Haas in lovely Herndon, VA
Check out http://www.digex.net/herndon!
Toritos closed replaced by another, just as awful, chain. Tres Amigos
sucks. I have heard so-so things about the place in Reston Town Center.
Ashok, you need to get out more. :)
--
Edmond L. Meinfelder Naval Research Laboratory
Kaman Sciences Corporation Research Networks, Connection Machine Facility
2560 Huntington Ave (202) 404-7019 FAX: (202) 767-1683
Alexandria, VA 22303-1410 http://www.nrl.navy.mil/CCS/people/edmond/
>Toritos closed replaced by another, just as awful, chain. Tres Amigos
>sucks. I have heard so-so things about the place in Reston Town Center.
>Ashok, you need to get out more. :)
>
>--
>
Thanks for the update. I have been following the thread and it
looks like some other places are worth trying.
>In article <1196645...@csgi.com> Sheree_...@csgi.com (Sheree L. Storm) writes:
>>Has anyone got a recommendation for GOOD Mexican food on the cheap and
>>cheerful side? I'm California have have found nothing to compare. Something
>>in VA/DC would be great.
>>
>There are a few good ones in Northern Virginia. Try:
>Tres Amigos, 10900 Lee Highway near the intersection with Rt 50
>El Torito in McClean in the Tysons Corner Shopping Center
>El Grande in the Reston Town Center
>All are crowded on weekends, and are reasonably priced.
>
Tres Amigos is mediocre as is El Grande. El Torito is just plain
awful. "Mexican" food for people who really don't like Mexican food.
With all the responses this thread has received I cannot believe that
the above is the only (until now) plug for Tortilla Factory.
If Friday Night or Saturday go early or late. During "normal" dinner
hours the place is PACKED. We usually get take out when we know the
mob will be there.
Always full during the week at lunch time.
Have taken Californians (San Jose area) there and been given the big
thumbs up. Every Mexican food nut I know who has gone after I
suggeted it has had a very good experience.
Don't miss out. Go there today!!
______________________________________________________________________
/ /|
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ |
| | |
| Richard J. Jansky (Rick) rja...@melpar.esys.com Falls Church, VA | |
| | |
| ... Leesburg traffic, | |
| Warrior 4-3-2-5-Victor turning Final, | |
| 3-5 Leesburg ... | |
| |/
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Sorry, I forgot to say where it was. It's on U Street between 16th and
15th, where Zig Zag coffee used to be.
Chris
There is an excellent "New Mexican" restaurant in DC, called Las Cruces.
The cooking style is from the town of the same name in New Mexcio.
The Stacked enchiladas are awesome, especially with the hot green chili
sauce.
Beats El Torito like a rented mule.
Enjoy.
Chris Delaney
am...@digex.net
Sounds interesting...where is it located? What's it look like? Service?
etc.? (As an aside, Las Cruces is pronounced, in case anyone is interested,
Las Crew-sis. We used to get lots of interesting pronounciation from newly
arrived Easterners.)
Cheers,
Dario
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dario Capriotti
igu...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu
sorry I can't think of the address off the top of my head.
Amy R.
aescott (aes...@dc.infi.net) wrote:
: Have been followin the thread and noted the variety of tastes in
I would give Cactus Joe's in Germantown a shot. The portions are huge, tasty,
but a bit on the pricey side ($8-$12) for a mexican place. It is located on
118 and Middlebrook.
--
Kevin M. King
s98...@usuhsb.usuhs.mil
Medical Student ('98)
Disclaimer: These are my opinions. The DoD, Army and USUHS can get
their own.
> >There is an excellent "New Mexican" restaurant in DC, called Las Cruces.
> >The cooking style is from the town of the same name in New Mexcio.
> > [snip]
>
> Sounds interesting...where is it located? What's it look like? Service?
> etc.? (As an aside, Las Cruces is pronounced, in case anyone is interested,
> Las Crew-sis. We used to get lots of interesting pronounciation from newly
> arrived Easterners.)
> --
Las Cruces is located on U street between 15th and 16th. It's on the
south side of the street (right side when coming from 16th). Stairs take
you down to below street level. The sign is pretty obvious.
I second the vote for this restaurant. It offers "New Mexican" style
cuisine (which means many dishes come smothered in green or red chile
sauce)...yum
-dan
______________________________________________________________
. * . _ . . . | "Son, you got a panty on
' / \ ' . ' | yer head" - fr raising AZ
) ) / | \ Zz Zzz |--------------------------
( ( / | \ Z Zz | daniel...@jhuapl.edu
<\^%m/^=> / / \ \ |
--------------------------------------------------------------
>Las Cruces is located on U street between 15th and 16th. It's on the
>south side of the street (right side when coming from 16th). Stairs take
>you down to below street level. The sign is pretty obvious.
>
>I second the vote for this restaurant. It offers "New Mexican" style
>cuisine (which means many dishes come smothered in green or red chile
>sauce)...yum
The sauce *is* good, but when I went there a few weeks ago the enchiladas
everybody at the table ordered came with only a dab of the green sauce on
the edge, much to our dismay. We had to ask for more. I take it that's not
the usual pattern?
Aside from that, great service. Suitably wacked-out decor too.
ro...@cais.com ====================================================
Rob Pegoraro Work address: pego...@washpost.com
Arlington, Va., USA But I'm speaking only for myself here
=============================== http://www.cais.com/robp/home.html
I've only been once, about four years ago, and I wasn't impressed. The
place was billed as the closest thing in Washington to Tucson/
Phoenix-style Mexican food, and while it was fine, it didn't distinguish
itself compared with Anita's or Enriqueta's or the other places I was
frequenting at the time. If I lived in Herndon, I'd go there often for
mediocre Mexican food; since I live on the Hill, I often go to La Lomita
for mediocre Mexican food.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: The place to go in the D.C.
area these days is Chevy's. Chevy's is the first place I've found to
really bridge the gap between the grilled-fajita school and the
"authentic" school. For the former, Cactus Cantina (best margaritas I've
ever had, BTW) and Rio Grande set the standard; for the latter, the
pickings are slim, but I'd probably go with El Tamarindo.
-- Bill
University of Arizona, Class of '84
> In article <3ra683$3...@access4.digex.net>,
> Chris <am...@access4.digex.net> wrote:
> >There is an excellent "New Mexican" restaurant in DC, called Las Cruces.
>
> Sorry, I forgot to say where it was. It's on U Street between 16th and
> 15th, where Zig Zag coffee used to be.
Why, oh why, did Zig-Zag have to go?
I've always liked the Tortilla Factory, mainly for lunch. I don't think
it's the best food I've ever had, but it's good. Of course, I almost
always get the same thing, so maybe only the cheese enchiladas are good...
I like their salsa better than most, and the food's cheap.
On the subject of Anita's, the food's good enough while being consumed,
but I am always very, very sorry that I ate it. I'm done going there.
I'll throw a plug to Austin Grill, while I'm writing. Their food's
always good, but if you want to accompany your meal with Celis White,
go to the one on Wisconsin, not Old Town. Why they aren't serving
beer actually made in Austin at the Alexandria location, I am not
sure. I've asked. Even if the white doesn't go over that well, the
Pale 'Bock' and Golden probably would do okay.
Santa Fe Cafe still ranks number one on my list using the good food/
great beer matrix.
Lynne
>Has anyone got a recommendation for GOOD Mexican food on the cheap and
>cheerful side? I'm California have have found nothing to compare. Something
>in VA/DC would be great.
Try Tres Amigos in Fairfax near Route 50 and Route 29. I lived in California for a few years and know what you mean.
Apparently you have not been following this thread since last week.
Some people thought Tres Amigos was 'yuk'.
In article <3rkn42$r...@moose.gdss.grumman.com>, she...@gdss.grumman.com(Ashok) said:
>>Try Tres Amigos in Fairfax near Route 50 and Route 29.
>
>Apparently you have not been following this thread since last week.
>Some people thought Tres Amigos was 'yuk'.
As another person who yesterday recommended Tres Amigos, I'll say that no,
I haven't been following this thread since last week. However, I also dare
say that "yuk" does not qualify as a review. Why didn't they like it? What
do they consider "good" Mexican food? The fact that some people didn't
like Tres Amigos in no way invalidates the opinion of those of us who do.
I find their food to be flavorful and reasonably presented. The service is
more than adequate.
By the way, another decent place is Finicky's on Old Courthouse Road in
Vienna, shortly before the intersection with Rt 123 when coming from
Gallows Road. I like their flautas.
Michael Johnson
Relay Technology, Inc.
The best place I know of is Santa Fe Cafe in Rosslyn (of all places!)
across from the Safeway with the parking garage. It's more of a "New
Mexican" food and the chips (blue and white) they make themselves. The
lunch scene is a walk up and order deal - best bargain around. At dinner
there are menus and waitstaff and a much more festive atmosphere.
-
Judith O'Brien NDN...@prodigy.com
"yuk" was the word I used, instead of the original 'S--' word. As a
matter of fact I was the one who had recommended Tres Amigos and Rio
Grande (Reston) at the beginning of the thread. Some like them
others don't.
I've been told by another former Finicky's patron that they are out of
business now. :-(
..mj
KT> Not meaning to date myself, but I've been in the Herndon/Reston area
KT> for some 18 years, and a while back, after trying Tortilla Factory,
KT> have never been back! The food just was not good. Have they changed
KT> hands recently (or somewhat recently), so I should try again?
Maybe your standards are just impossibly high. I've been going there -- and
enjoying it virtually every time -- for about the same 18 years. Long ago, the
service was generally so-so but the food was good; and on recent visits, the
service has gotten MUCH better and the food is still good.
I do wish the salsa hadn't gotten so thin -- they seem to produce it with
greater consistency (so no more "Oh, gee, it's not spicy enough today"
complaints on every third visit) but it's no longer chunky and easy to scoop
up.
: Cheers,
Been there (DP), wasn't impressed, won't go back.
Long live Tortilla Factory.
Have been going for five (5) years and have never been disappointed.
Try again.
: >Toritos closed replaced by another, just as awful, chain. Tres Amigos
: >sucks. I have heard so-so things about the place in Reston Town Center.
: >Ashok, you need to get out more. :)
: >
: >--
: >
: Thanks for the update. I have been following the thread and it
: looks like some other places are worth trying.
Try El Paso Cafe on N. Pershing Blvd. just off the intersection of N.
Pershing & N. Glebe (convenient from the Glebe exit on Rte. 50.) - Sorry,
it's in Arlington, VA. It's good, honest, non-chain Mexican with some El
Salvadorean thrown in. The clientele is about half and half Hispanic and
non-Hispanic. June is 1/2 price margarita month - you've got a few days left
to take advantage of it!
>Try El Paso Cafe on N. Pershing Blvd. just off the intersection of N.
>Pershing & N. Glebe (convenient from the Glebe exit on Rte. 50.) - Sorry,
>it's in Arlington, VA. It's good, honest, non-chain Mexican with some El
>Salvadorean thrown in. The clientele is about half and half Hispanic and
>non-Hispanic. June is 1/2 price margarita month - you've got a few days left
>to take advantage of it!
Thanks for the tip Jessie.
> Maybe you're standards are just impossibly high....
No, I don't think so. We like El Grande in Reston Town Center, and while
there are several others in this thread who agree, I would venture to say
they wouldn't think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, either.
Maybe they just had some off nights when we visited Tortilla Factory, but
my party felt the way I did, that it just wasn't that great. I would try
again, but I'm not sure they would.
Zoe
>I would highly recommend Mi Rancho, at 8701 Ramsey Ave, near the Silver
>Spring Metro station.
In my mexican opinion, the one and only real Mexican Restaunt is
"Enriqueta's" located in Georgetown, M St accros the street from "Four
Seasons Hotel" I have been eating there since I came from Mexico City
and never had been disapointed.
Alberto Rivera
If there are any ex-Angelenos <or Orange county types> who have found a
reasonable facsimile of the local greasy spoon or tortilla factory ...
Please let the rest of us know about it.
My husband just reminded me that I should include San Diego & Tijuana in
the list of places with the style of cooking we are looking for.
And another thought ... is there anything resembling a Southern California
or Tijuana panderia with pan dulce in the area? Would be willing to drive
a fair distance.
Final thought. In lieu of Southern California Mexican food ... any source
of the style of Mexican food found in the upper midwest <our experience was
in Illinois>? Different than California ... potatoes in tacos ... but good.
I know that this is "DC.DINING" and not Baltimore, but if you are
willing to travel to the north, then I can give you a recommendation for
a Mexican restaurant that is definitely *NOT* the typical Chi-Chi, El
Torito type of American Tex Mex. We ate there once with a group and
really enjoyed it.
Name is El Taquito Mexicano. Location is 1744 Eastern Ave, Baltimore.
Phone is (410) 562-7840.
It looks like (and is ) a little hole-in-the-wall type of place. It
would help if you spoke spanish.
I had Pollo Adobudo, a vinegary marinated chicken dish. ($5.50). My
wife had Biftec a la Mexicano, a thin pounded beef steak with onions,
tomatoes and green chopped chiles ($5.50). Both dishes were very good
and unlike anything we have had at any other mexican restaurant. Some
of the other menu items are:
Burritos, tostadus de Pollo, sopes, enchillados, quesadillas de queso,
chilles rellenos, carne enchillada con guacamole, and many other things
that I cannot read from the carry out menu we brought home.
One word of warning -- their green avocado sauce is *HOT*. One of the
people we were with had an egg dish with that on the side, and just
about burned herself out.
Give it a try. You might enjoy it. You won't spend much.
Then after you are there, you might want to check out the Mexican
grocery store that is about 3 doors up towards Broadway.
da...@mbbs.com
(1:261/1137.0)
... Shipwrecked on Hesperus in Maryland. 13:27:42 01 Jul 95
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
Well, I'll accept that recommendation! I think Enriqueta's is related to
Mixteca on the SE corner of 18th and Columbia Road in Adams Morgan. I
think Enriqueta is the nicer-atmosphere of these sister restaurants. Is
this right?
--
Greg Gust <gr...@clark.net>
"[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The
game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it
blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as
soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall
alone."
_The Green Fields of the Mind_, A. Bartlett Giamatti (1938-1989)
Rob
ro...@cais.com ====================================================
Rob Pegoraro Work address: pego...@washpost.com
Arlington, Va., USA But I'm speaking only for myself here
=============================== http://www.cais.com/robp/home.html
And a good San Antonio style panaderia (bakery) with pan dulce would be
great.... maranitos (ginger pigs) & campechanas & empanadas de camote.
buen provecho!
--
Ted Samsel....tejas@infi.net
"driving a Hudson Hornet on the disinformation triple bypass:
cruising for burgers & garage sales. Hooks baited, lines en-
tangled, roadkill cooked"
: Final thought. In lieu of Southern California Mexican food ... any source
: of the style of Mexican food found in the upper midwest <our experience was
: in Illinois>? Different than California ... potatoes in tacos ... but good.
If you like potatoes in your mexican food, try El Tamarindo in Adams-Morgan.
The food is good, cheap, and plentiful, and the Margaritas aren't bad either.
They're also open very late. Minuses: slow service.
However, I personally don't like potatoes in my tacos or enchiladas (especially
when it's not mentioned on the menu!) -- It may be a valid ingredient, but
I think the restaurant is pulling a fast one.
MHO, of course!
chris dean
cd...@site.gmu.edu
There is one place in the area you can get LA-style greasy (and delicious)
tacos. It is a little food vendor wagon (the type that sell boring hot
dogs downtown) that can be found on Saturdays just off Route 50 in
Arlington (I can't remember the cross street, but it is the street that
goes directly into the military base main gate).
While I can attest to the tacos, I'm not sure the local health department
can! But who cares, it's delicious! If you try it, let us know what you
think.
S. Pierre Paret
Washington, D.C. "Through Reason, or By Force."
spi...@aol.com
>cdjw...@access2.digex.net (Schnood) wrote:
>> looking for... the nearest approximation of a good, downhome, East LA
>>Mexican greasy spoon. I am beginning to doubt there is one ... but I
>keep >hoping.
>
>There is one place in the area you can get LA-style greasy (and delicious)
>tacos. It is a little food vendor wagon (the type that sell boring hot
>dogs downtown) that can be found on Saturdays just off Route 50 in
>Arlington (I can't remember the cross street, but it is the street that
>goes directly into the military base main gate).
>
>While I can attest to the tacos, I'm not sure the local health department
>can! But who cares, it's delicious! If you try it, let us know what you
>think.
Somebody who's actually tried that! You are a brave soul indeed, although
I've pondered the issue myself biking past that intersection. I think the
cross street you're talking about is 7th St. N., in front of Fort Meyer as
you describe.
This is only on Saturdays? That seems odd.
# Tia Queta in Bethesda has very good mexican food.
# sorry I can't think of the address off the top of my head.
Tia Queta is fair, but for more California-style Mexican I had a very
nice experience at the Mexican place in the Bethesda Holiday Inn. The
name escapes me as I've only been there once, but as one who eats
Mexican 3 days out of 7 (prepared personally and exploring various
resteraunts), I would definitely recommend this place.
--
Eric A. Litman Internet Technology vox: 301.587.0600
eli...@nxstep.com and Marketing Consulting pag: 800.570.4400
--
Eric A. Litman Internet Technology vox: 301.587.0600
eli...@nxstep.com and Marketing Consulting pag: 800.570.4400