Some local restaurant reviews....

[yardsalequeen]

Anyone want to share comments about the Monterrey Mexican restaurant in San Souci Plaza?  Twice we've tried to go there (once for lunch and once for dinner) and both times, its just packed!  So I'm guessing it must be pretty good.  

So last night when we couldn't get in to Monterrey, we went to Nicoletti's.  I had forgotten how kid-friendly that place is!  (we'll definitely go back, since we have a youngster now)

And tomorrow we are headed to Waldorf - we've been wanting to try the new mexican restaurant there - La Tolteca which has gotten good reviews in the paper.  Hopefully we'll get in there!

 

[ShellyCW]

Monterey's is great.  The food is good, and the margaritas are strong.    Let us know how La Tolteca turns out.  

 

[jazz lady]

yardsalequeen on 4:49 pm on Feb. 28, 2002[br]
So last night when we couldn't get in to Monterrey, we went to Nicoletti's.  I had forgotten how kid-friendly that place is!  (we'll definitely go back, since we have a youngster now)

My husband and I were at Nicolletti's also last night - the calzone I had and the lasagna he had were very good.

We've also tried to get into Monterey and refuse to wait in the lines.  Anyone know a good time to get in there without too much of a wait?

 

[yardsalequeen]

We eat a lot at Ruby Tuesday too.  You know how they have all the junk up on the walls?  Well one thing i noticed (and I'm not even a native Marylander) is the large Maryland flag that they have framed (on left side of restaurant) is upside down.  (little bit of Maryland trivia - the upper left hand corner of the flag should be black not yellow).

 

[Hessian]

Monterey...
went there two weeks ago. On a Sunday..no crowds until 1 pm.
Lots of entre's and portions were good size BUT:
We couldn't find a waiter who spoke English and when they dumped my daughter's lemonade all over her lap and mine...we got a muted "sorry" and poor service for the rest of the meal.
I'll not visit restaurants who treat customers like their in the third world.

 

[ShellyCW]

I'd advise not trying Monterey's on the weekend, unless you can get a good spot to wait at the bar.  The last time we were there was on a mid-weekday around 6-7 p.m.  The restaurant looked crowded, but we got a table right away.  I guess it's luck of the draw.  

 

[RoseRed]

As a matter of fact, I'll be having lunch at Monterey today.

I think their food is great and have always had good service.  As for what time to get there, 11am sharp during the week for lunch, as for dinner, not sure.  We have had dinner there a couple of times, once on a Sunday around 4:30, so there was no line and another time around Christmas during the week, again, no line.  We have tried on Friday or Saturday around 6 and the line was long so we ended up going to Asahi.  That is always good to, and it entertains my daughter long enough that we can have a leisurely dinner.

I think I remember seeing another post from SxyPrincess that she wasn't to thrilled with La Tolteca.  I would be willing to give it a try though.

 

[PmoneyandTT]

The food at the new mexican restaurant is good.. But we had some awful service
the last time we went.. We didn't get our drinks refilled.. Once our food came - our waitress didn't ask us if we needed anything else.. It was horrible.  That was my 2nd time.. The first time we had a waiter - he was good..

My husband - did not give a tip - and he spoke with the manager.. Good food and bad service doesn't mix to well - something will have to give.

Damon's is also coming - I heard they have really good food.. But that Damon's was down in florida..  Also that Oyster restaurant - some good places are opening up.. Pretty soon - Lex Park will be looking like Dale City/Woodbridge VA

 

[jeneisen]

I've eaten there twice now and same thing, good food, terrible service.  Its definately not worth all the fuss.  They screwed up what we ordered and then refused to fix it.  I will NEVER go there again.  They need to learn our language before they open a business.

 

[seasquirt]

The first and only time I went to Monterey's, I ordered chicken tamales. They tasted like Play-Doh. Disgusting.

I'm a fan of Emily's Oriental Express on Great Mills Rd - the shoebox-sized Filipino restaurant. Good food, good service, and Emily is a trip!

 

[Christy]

The new Thai place up in White Plains is awesome!  Whenever we go to Waldorf, Suporns is where we eat.  

I like Monterey.  I've never really had bad service or had to wait in line.  Guess I just go at off times.  I also get take out from there for dinner sometimes when I don't feel like cooking.

 

[SxyPrincess]

Christy,

Where's the Thai place?  I'll have to check it out.  

As for LaTolteca, I wouldn't waste my time or money!

 

[JabbaJawz]

I have eaten at Monteray 3 or 4x now and the food was really good each time, but mannnn was it packed and the wait was awful.  I must agree about the service though, they certainly aren't overly-friendly!  I have ended up with pretty good luck as far as them bringing refills, etc..., but they barely say 2 words to you the whole entire meal!  

 

[Christy]

Sxy, the Thai place is in White Plains.  If you are coming from Waldorf it is on the left, about a mile past Billingsly rd.  

 

[SxyPrincess]

Thanks, Christy!  Will I get special treatment if I mention your name...

 

[foxylady]

We have been to Monterey at least 5 times since they opened.  Mostly for lunch.  We learned early on to get there at 5 minutes to 11 to get seated though.  We haven't had any problem with the waiters/waitresses.  The last time we were there for lunch the girl that was our waitress noted that I had only taken one bite of my dessert and asked if I liked it.  I told her that it wasn't what I expected and she got out her pen and took it off the bill right then and there.  No problem.  Maybe the wait staff gets sloppy when they are working at warp speed because the place is packed.  Just a thought.

 

[yardsalequeen]

Ok, finally back from my lunch at La Tolteca in Waldorf.   My observations:

- would definitely eat there again when in Waldorf and had the craving for real mexican food

- has cheap eats - you're definitely not paying for the ambiance
- service was good
- one turnoff - I don't like being nickle and dimed to death.  Menu states that "to go" orders cost .25 more, if you order off lunch section for dinner it's .50 more, if you want an extra basket of chips, it's .50 more.   I didn't notice the .50 more for an extra basket of chips on the menu until afterwards.  Not sure if we were charged for extra chips or not.

- food was good real mexican food rather than americanized version.  
- Has a large variety of menu items.

- I wish we had a La Tolteca in Southern Calvert instead of that now-defunct Navarros restaurant in Solomons - which I knew would never last after my first (and only) visit there.

- ummm, that's all I can think of right now!

 

[M Bucker]

Just to play Devil's Advocate you said the food was cheap but then complained about paying $.50 for another basket of chips.  It seems to me that another $.50 on top of a cheap meal wouldn't make much difference.  I mean, the first basket was free right???  And your not gonna get a bag of chips at the store for less than that right???

 

[Lilly]

I have been to Monteray quite a few times.  Once I heard that a Mexican Restaurant was opening here I couldn't wait.  We went the first week that it opened and suffered through the line.  But you know what?  The lines have never bothered me.  Yeah, it may take you 20 minutes to get seated but once you sit down your waiter is right there with chips and salsa and your food is up in about 10 minutes.  For me the speedy service makes up for the long wait.  Then again - I have only waited in line for lunch never with my kids in tow!  We have gotten take out at least 3 or 4 times and never had a bad experience.  When you call they say it will be ready in 10 minutes - and it really is!  Even Pizza Hut can average about 45 minutes!  
I read what others said about it - but I never had a slow or rude waiter - nor did I have a problem communicating - they all seemed to speak English to me!  Then again we always seem to get the same one - maybe we have just been lucky!

 

[John Z]

Monterey's:  Good food the one time I went.  Very cold day, but they didn't have heat.  Still packed for lunch.  I'd go again.

La Tolteca:  I like it.  Inexpensive, good value, no frills atmosphere.  One of my faves.

Suporn Thai:  Good food.  Has atmosphere typical of an Oriental restaurant - quiet and deserted, with one waitperson working the entire room.  Still, food came quick and was good.

Emily's:  Been a favorite of mine since I found it in '97.  Great value, Emily is very nice, treats you like family.

Silver Skewers (Waldorf):  Tonight was our first time.  Looked a bit pricey, but lots of food for the money!  The chicken, salmon, and steak kabobs with tandori were very good.  Really small place (8 tables), but worth a try!

Anybody been to that Piano Bar in Waldorf (near the Home Depot)?  Any good?