**** (4 stars)
Good traditional Mexican dishes and combinations and excellent Margaritas. The namesake Margarita with a dash of orange juice was nice and fruity, and the Patron Margarita packed a punch.
The relleno was my favorite item.
Vallarta Mexican Grill
1301 W Wyatt Earp Blvd
Dodge City, KS 67801
https://www.yelp.com/biz/vallarta-mexican-grill-dodge-city-2
***** (5 stars)
This is a nice place right near the center of old Santa Fe, with quite a bit of patio seating, most of it well shaded by umbrellas.
We had the breakfast sandwich and the breakfast burrito. Both were good, and fairly similar, except that the sandwich was grilled and the burrito was covered in green chili sauce (which is optional, but was very good).
Service was friendly.
The Pantry Rio
229 Galisteo St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
**** (4 stars)
This trendy place offers a new take on traditional Mexican dishes such as Carnitas and Mole. For example, The Mole Poblano features Buffalo. The sauce is quite flavorful, but the accompanying rice and refried beans would not pass muster at the most pedestrian of Mexican restaurants.
Given that the dish is the restaurant's namesake, the Elotes are a particularly good appetizer. They are served in the increasingly popular deconstructed style (essentially really good creamed corn), which makes them much easier to eat.
There are a wide variety of made-to-order Margaritas.
Service at the bar was extremely friendly and attentive.
It's expensive but, hey, this is Sedona.
Elote Cafe
350 Jordan Rd
Sedona, AZ 86336
***** (5 stars)
Javiers has a truly striking interior. Even though the space is huge, it is divided up into enough interconnected areas so that it manages to seem both exotic and cozy at the same time.
We started with the Tuna Crudo, a generous portion served a bit like a poke bowl. Very fresh and flavorful.
For our main course I had the Enchiladas Mariscos, two delicious mixed seafood enchiladas in a tangy green sauce. They were great.
Chicken Quesadillas were a huge serving, accompanied by a giant mount of excellent guacamole.
The house Margarita was just okay. I'd explore alternatives next time.
Service was friendly and very fast.
Javier’s Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
***** (5 stars)
I've always enjoyed the other Azteca locations, and this one is just as good, and even better decorated. What a transformation from the old Village Inn!
Open only a week, and really bustling, but the service and kitchen were mostly able to keep up.
Fajitas are the highlight for me here. This was the first time I tried them with carnitas, and the meat was tender and succulent.
The Cadillac Margaritas are also excellent.
The dining room is high ceilinged, but can be quite loud when full. For a somewhat less boisterous dining experience, ask for a high top in the bar, or a table in the room beyond the bar.
Azteca D’Oro Winter Garden
3130 Daniels Rd
Oakland, FL 34787
**** (4 stars)
I'll admit to being very picky about Mexican restaurants, having grown up in Southern California. My experience with Mexican restaurants in New York City has been nothing short of abysmal. So I was prepared for the same here, particularly when the salsa showed up and was something closer to cream of tomato soup.
But then the short rib tacos with bone marrow arrived, and things changed completely. This was one of the best items I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant, and could easily have been served in many of the top fine dining small plate restaurants in the city.
I'm not sure this one item fully justifies the four stars, but since the guacamole, Margarita, and ceviche were fine, it's at least a 3-1/2 star place. Just be sure to have the short ribs.
Toloache 50
251 West 50th St
New York, NY 10012
**** (4 stars)
It sounds like the evening tasting menu here would be really interesting. We stopped for lunch on our way through town, and the offerings were somewhat limited. The most interesting item was the plate of two tacos, one pibil, and one chicken, which were both excellent. Their take on a Margarita is interesting.
Access is off the parking lot. You order at the counter. Plenty of outdoor seating, but only a couple of tables inside.
Republica
721 NW 9th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
**** (4 stars)
Good Americanized Mexican food in a beautifully decorated space with unfortunately bright lighting that makes it seem like a Home Depot's lighting department! Half the customers were wearing baseball caps, and I wishe dI had one, too!
The food was exactly as you would expect form a small chain sit-down Mexican restaurant, with nothing standing out, but all certainly fine.
The Cadillac Margarita was excellent, especially with an added sqeeze of lime to cut the sweetness.
Service was just okay.
El Sombrero
4 W Oak St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
***** (5 stars)
I'm pretty sure this is the best restaurant in the Branson area. It's certainly the best Mexican restaurant. There's an extensive menu of both authentic Mexican and Tex Mex food. The margaritas are great. The nachos and guacamole are great. And the service and kitchen are lightning fast, even during rush times.
I'm originally from Southern California, so my expectations for Mexican food are pretty high, and this far surpassed what I was expecting to find in Branson. Well done!
El Lago
18942 MO-BUS13
Branson West, MO 65737
*** (3 stars)
I have mixed feelings about Agave Azul. On the one hand, I love the expansive outdoor patio, the spacious, well-decorated interior, and the excellent margaritas. One the other hand, in many visits to their various locations, I’ve rarely had any food that stood out as above average.
That was pretty much the case at this location, too, with one stellar exception: the goat cheese jalapeno appetizer was absolutely amazing. Spicy jalapenos were stuffed with creamy cheese, and then finished with an array of toppings that really elevated the dish, including a cilantro crema and a dash of sweet balsamic.
Other items were just average, including the tostadas, ceviche, shrimp diablo (which despite the name is not spicy at all), beans, and rice.
Service was great, and the kitchen is fast, too, even though the place was jam-packed, with a dozen parties waiting outside.
My advice is to go to the bar, have the La Flaca Margarita and the Goat Cheese Jalapenos, and call it a day.
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
5855 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Windermere, FL 34786
https://www.yelp.com/biz/agave-azul-cocina-mexicana-windermere