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Monterey Restaurante Mexicano
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 10:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Monterey Restaurante Mexicano
Review Highlights
"We love the complimentary chips and salsa with the added..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...love yourself some yummy tex-mex, then Monterey' is your..."
(in 3 reviews)
"The food is served FAST and hot and the people working..."
(in 3 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Kevin D.
Bowie, MD
12/7/2011
My wife and I were predisposed to like this place as there are only a few independently owned restaurants in our area. Everything is either a chain or Chinese. It's nice to see something different.
Anyway, we have been going to Monterey for a couple years now and have never had a bad meal or a bad time. The restaurant has a cement floor, aging decor and is certainly not the most trendy of places but we like it. The food is great, the waiters have always been friendly and helpful, and we've never had to wait for a table. On occasion there has been a language barrier but we always make the best of it. English not being my wife's first language probably helps our sensitivity to that subject.
I guess the point of this review is that if you are looking for a corporate, homogenized atmosphere with "flair" and garage sale oddities on the wall, go to Fridays - not that there's anything wrong with that. We'll be at Monterey. -
Review from Phillip G.
Bowie, MD
2/6/2012
I used to like this place a lot as my friends and i would go there all the time to the bar and have a few drinks. the atmosphere was good for us to kind of do our own thing as we are in mid 20's. Although now the tables and everything has changed in my mindset about Monterey!
First the new assistant manager just doesn't care to be a good server as he diddles around and you have wait forever for him to come speak with you as he takes your order. But the worse part is that as im eating my food i see a cockroach coming towards my plate which is probably the worse thing to see while one is eating their food. I actually kill the cockroach and even show the assistant manager (Jose) who then says..."hm, i have never seen one of those before." which i kno is a lie because i saw one a couple months ago but i wasn't eating so it didnt bother me. he then made the smartass comment, "Maybe they only follow you around" WTF...is he trying to say im dirty because i know thats not the case and thats no way for a Ass. Man. to handle a situtation!
He still wanted to go ahead and charge me full price for my food which i couldn't eat fully as i lost my appetite just like any sane person.
I would not recommend Monterey to anyone because i know the food isn't anything special and the service will be below anyone's expectations.
I'm sorry to say that Monterey will no longer be anything to me besides old memories of good times with the older management! -
Review from B W.
Upper Marlboro, MD
8/4/2011
So, I really hate to dim Ernie's raving 5 star reviews, however, I didn't have the same experience. Last night most my family and I went to Monterey's. The parking lot was packed, which between Ernie's review and that, I knew it would be great (alas)! Like the night, I'll do issues first and food later.
The design of the restaurant was nice, but my husband described the place as having a "dirty atmosphere". There was no blaring disgusting scenarios (bathroom was "clean"), but it just looked as it could use some bleach. There also was a large party near the bar that made it really hard to hear persons in your own party.
Coming through the door, there is a "specials" board. It had both drink and food specials. Last on the list was a coconut margarita on the rocks. I love any thing coconut and/or pineapple, so this instinctively appealed to me. My husband ordered the mojito, my children sodas, and I the aforementioned margarita. Everyone received their drinks but me.
The chips and salsa (and ranch dressing) came. The chips OK, but the salsa (not the ranch dressing) is fresh and very tasty.
The waitress proceeded to tell me that the aforementioned margarita contained strawberries and apologized that the board didn't mention that before. When I finally got my drink, it appeared to be a blended strawberry drink. So I spoke to the waitress about the lack of rocks, and she said that this is what the manager gave her. So, I just returned it and got a pink lemonade.
On to the food. We ordered the jalapeno poppers and the chicken wings: Do the poppers, they are not spicy and contain cheese and then fried, then don't, just don't do the chicken; it was bland and shriveled.
Our food came right after. My husband ordered the Chicken Alcapoco (liked it) and a mushroom quesadilla (loved it, but thought it salty) and I ordered the chicken poblano (wouldn't do it ever again - the chicken was dry and something tasted off) and a seafood burrito (so great, however, it looked like an enchilada). We both liked the rice, and I really liked the guacamole "salad", which just means over shredded iceberg lettuce. All my kids ordered was the McDonald's sized burger and fries.
Would I (or we) return? Hmm... probably not. Not was I was looking for, but glad we had the adventure. -
Review from Ernie C.
Hyattsville, MD
6/5/2011
For those of you who have been searching for the "standard fare" of Mexican restaurants on the East Coast, this is it. Comparable restaurants in the Norfolk Tidewater area include Plaza Azteca, El Rey, and a multitude of other "authentic" Mexican restaurants.
I have been searching for this kind of restaurant since moving to the DC area at the beginning of 2011. I've tried a handful of other "authentic" places, but most did not meet my standard of good Mexican food. The wife and I were actually on the way to On the Border when we found this place and decided to give it a try. Best decision ever.
As previously mentioned, the menu turned out to be what we were used to down in the Norfolk area, it even had the same names, descriptions, and combos. After being served chips, salsa, and drinks, we ordered, and 5 minutes later our food was served piping hot. The food was great, and the price was very reasonable. The service was also good, with the drink refills coming regularly, and the waiters/waitresses that we've had were friendly and efficient.
There is no sign for this restaurant on Mitchellville Road, you can only find it when you turn into the road to get to the shopping complex. Which can be good because the two times we've gone there, the place was not crowded even on dinner time on a Saturday. -
Review from Michelle S.
Crofton, MD
5/23/2011
This place is horrible in every aspect.
First the service was terrible. We had to wait to be seated while the hostess /waitress finished her conversation with another waitress. During the meal the waitress didn't come over and check on us or even check if she could refill our drinks which remained empty through the course of our meal. The atmosphere was cold and dark. It was a nice day outside and the window shutters were all closed. I don't think a single staff member smiled the whole time we were there.
But the food, the food was even worse. All the cheese used was velveeta cheese. In the enchilada, on the taco, in the quesadilla. It was disgusting. You can get better food at taco bell for a quarter of the price. The chicken used in the quesadilla was seasoned like it was store bought chicken pot pie meat. After the meal I felt toxic for the entire day and my boyfriend was in the bathroom for the remainder of the evening.
I can't believe this place is getting positive reviews unless you are used to eating crap food. The only acceptable part was the ice tea, which was standard, and you can get anywhere. I am reading other reviews about how the staff and food has changed and it seems to have been for the worst.
I don't feel like I'm being harsh. I love mexican/tex mex food and I've eaten at plenty of mexican/tex-mex places...but this by far the worst quality food I have ever had from this type of restaurant. -
Review from Kelly D.
Baltimore, MD
10/9/2011
We were at six flags and looking for a Mexican place close by. After reading the reviews we decided to try it out. The restaurant was clean, the staff was friendly and the food was great. The menu had a variety of options and it was all reasonably priced. You can't go wrong here.
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Review from Matthew S.
Bowie, MD
6/22/2011
I agree with Ernie's comments about the food. If you are looking for authentic, then Monterrey for the most part has authentic Mexican food. Their entrees are appetizing, the portions more than sufficient. Their fajitas are my favorite, and my wife and i for the most part enjoyed eating there. Their flan leaves much to be desired, but other than that the food was great.
Unfortunately, the restaurant has gone under new management. If i hadn't known the place beforehand, I wouldn't feel the way i do now. Before, mgt knew us by name, also said hi to us and were genuinely happy to see us. Now, it's not the same. The owner is harsh, and feels it is acceptable to yell at her employees in front of the customers. Whatever oversights you could look past before, well seemed to only heighten the horrible experience (and this is over 5 visits after mgt changed)
Based on Ernie's comments, i am willing to go back once more. If the service hasn't' improved, well it will be my last. -
Review from Elsa M.
4/13/2011
Language barriers can be a good thing at a restaurant... usually means the place is super authentic and the food is going to be really good as a result. Although that is true of Monterrey, the language barrier made for a mix-up in my order. After taking a bite, I noticed that whatever I had on my plate was not the enchilada dish I requested. I informed my waiter who smiled and took it back to the kitchen, I assumed to get my correct order.
As I waited (and my husband and friend began to eat), an angry woman (who I soon found out was the owner) approached the table with the waiter and asked what was wrong with the dish. She gruffly told me that I couldn't return it just because "I didn't like the sauce" and that she was "running a small business here, and it takes a lot of money to do so" so she "can't be wasting." YIKES! I politely told her that it wasn't that I didn't like the sauce, it was that I didn't order what he brought out. I told her I ordered the five mini beef, chicken, and cheese enchiladas (no beans). She apologized to me half-heartedly and then turned her wrath toward our waiter and said that HE would have to pay for the error out of pocket. I felt so bad! I was tempted to just keep the wrong order so that 1) he wouldn't have to pay for it and 2) we could just end this ugly scene altogether. Before I could say anything though, they were both off - she, in a blur and he, still smiling, but dejected. It was a terrible moment honestly. Although my food was good and as authentic as I thought it would be, everything that played out made me feel bad. I mean, what kind of business can't absorb an $8-meal mistake without making the waiter pay for it out of pocket?
When the waiter finally did bring the correct order, he didn't bring utensils. I asked him for some and he smiled and said "yes," but I could tell he didn't understand what I was asking for. He never brought them. I had to ask another waiter and point to my husband's utensils so that he would know what I was asking for as well. He nodded and brought them to me a couple minutes later. At least the food was still hot by the time I was able to start eating. My husband and his friend were all but finished!
As for the first waiter who made the initial mix-up, I slipped him a little extra at the end to try and make up for the bi-lingual tongue-lashing he got both in front of us and inevitably once he and the owner got back to the kitchen again. I understand that small businesses like Monterrey are going through a lot right now, but they will lose business if their professionalism doesn't meet high bar of its food. As delicious as the food was, it will be awhile before I try this spot again. -
Review from DEANNA C.
Baltimore, MD
7/30/2011
I am in search for the best Chile Relleno in Maryland. This place seemed nice but I will not be returning. The waiter was very kind and patient but the food didn't match the service. I'll keep pushing on until I find the perfet chile relleno.
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Review from Cheryl R.
Crofton, MD
10/15/2007
My girlfriends and I ventured to this newly opened mexican restaurant late one Wednesday evening. We were very impressed with the decor, service and food!
Quick service, great margartias, and just plain good mexican food!
They do, however close at 10:00 p.m. and we were definitely not ready to go!
If you are in Bowie, and would like some great mexican food, stop by the Monterey and tell them Cheryl sent ya! -
Review from Patrick H.
Melrose, MA
4/4/2008
We were so excited to see this restaurant open after the Memphis BBQ joint closed and remained empty for nearly 2 years. Bowie is FULL of chain restaurants so it's great when a family run business opens up, and especially one this good.
They carry the typical tex-mex fare, and do it well. We love the complimentary chips and salsa with the added bonus of a spicy ranch dip that's as addictive as it is tasty. Tamales here are excellent, but I have to say my "favorito" entree on the menu is the Carnitas! Wow! Slow cooked marinated pork butt (12 hours) served with homespun flour tortillas, rice and refried beans. It all comes with a generous portion of pico de gallo. The pork simply melts in your mouth and the portion size is gargantuan.
Save room for flan! Monterrey's flan is without a doubt the finest flan I have ever tasted (and I've tasted quite a lot of flan in my day). Rich, carameley, hints of cinnamon, it is the perfect ending to a spicy meal.
http://www.hardypartyr...Listed in: Dining in Crofton
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Review from miss marie b.
Halethorpe, MD
4/23/2008
I've driven past it many times since it opened and haven't visited yet. Last night I had a craving for some fajitas so I stopped in.
service was good and quick. The place was clean (including the kitchen floor and the bathrooms-always a plus). I liked the fact that you get two sauces with your chips- one a traditional salsa and one a white cream ranchy flavored dip. I can't have spicy food and the white ranch flavored dip was a great alternative.
I ordered the chicken and shrimp fajitas. They came out very quickly. I was a little disappointed with the size on the sour cream and the guacamole but the flavor of the food was so good that the size actually worked out nicely because I didn't need to use a lot. When I first opened my tortilla pack for the fajitas, they were moist on one side and crusty on the other side... but the server quickly noticed something was wrong and replaced them with no fuss at all. I ordered the flan for dessert and it was delightful... nice creamy with a pleasant cinnamon flavor.
all in all it was a great service experience. the staff was pleasant, courteous and efficient. The food was good tasting with nice sized portions for the price you pay.. I'd defiantly go back and recommend it to a friend. -
Review from John G.
Alexandria, VA
Updated - 1/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Had dinner there last night. Noticed a change in the staff, and a corresponding decline in the service. Food was still good, but too many new workers running around produced a sense of chaos that we never experienced before. Has management changed?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/28/2010
Have been there many times and always had great food at a great price. Out of the way for DC… Read more »
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Review from Michael M.
Greenbelt, MD
8/24/2009
I went there on the suggestion of a friend, and she certainly didn't steer me wrong, though there was a surprise or two.
The food was very good, my companion enjoyed her tilapia special that day. I went with a chile relleno, enchilada, and chalupa combo plate, which was very reasonably priced. The food came out fast and the service was great, even for a busy Saturday afternoon. The food itself was well done, though I found the chile to be a little bland, but admittedly I am spoiled on NM green chiles.
I also enjoyed seeing that they had a spot on the menu to explain the different types of dishes. What surprised me though was to see that the chimichanga was listed as being "covered in nacho cheese." I'm used to seeing it being covered in a chile-based sauce and melted shredded cheese. However, I may try to give this a shot the next time. -
Review from Ieesha J.
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I came here on a date, and thank goodness he knew me well. I love Mexican food and this was the first time I wasn't disappointed since moving to the DC metro area. We had the Mole Chicken Enchiladas, and I was very pleased. The rice didn't have peas and carrots (I have no idea why other placed in DC add that to their rice). The black beans were seasoned to perfection. I can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. The only critique I have is the salsa...it seems like salsa you can purchase out of a bottle.
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Review from Bradley R.
Bowie, MD
2/6/2011
Since it first opened a few years ago, Monterey has been one of three preferred Bowie-area restaurants for my partner Jose and me, especially for lunch after Sunday morning worship. Today, we went there for our first visit of 2011, having been traveling or having other obligations each Sunday in January. We immediately noticed that something was different.
In the past, the staff would all greet us as soon as we walked in, recognizing us a welcome regulars. Whether they knew a customer or not, everyone was always greeted with smiles and a friendly, happy word. You immediately knew that you were wanted and welcome. If there was a problem with your order, the staff was immediately apologetic and promptly did whatever was necessary to make sure you were happy. The menu included a page of lunch specials, 7 days a week, that offered really good authentic Mexican food at a really good value.
Today, when we walked in, we immediately noticed that things were different. We recognized none of the staff. The greeting consisted only of a basic "table for two?" Most noticeable, none of the staff seemed to be smiling or happy. When we opened the menu, we noticed that the lunch specials page was gone, replaced with an insert of breakfast platters. I asked our waitress if they no longer had lunch specials, and was told that the lunch specials are not offered on Sunday. We also noticed that almost all the prices had increased, but didn't think much of that since that is increasingly the norm at restaurants.
When we ordered our meals, Jose asked (as he always does) for sour cream on the side instead of on top of his salad. When the food was delivered (by a server who did little more than plop the plates down in front of us), the sour cream was on top of the salad. He decided to send the plate back for correction, but it took a few minutes to get the attention of any staff person (our waitress was nowhere to be seen). When we finally had waved someone to our table, either he didn't have the authority to make the correction, or his English was too bad to understand us. He brought over a very serious woman at the cash register, who appeared to be in charge. After Jose explained the problem, she uttered a few syllables like "All right" (with no apology) and took away the plate. A few minutes later, she brought the plate back with a new salad, saying simply "here you are." At this point, our waitress reappeared and asked what the problem was. Once we explained, she at least was apologetic for the mixup.
At one point, I mentioned to our waitress that we had been regulars for years but we didn't recognize any of the staff. She acknowledged that there had been a change in management, and that much of the old staff had left.
The food itself was as good as ever, but that is the only positive thing I can say about today's experience. What had been a pleasant, friendly eating environment has become a gloomy and uninviting one. Will we continue to make this one of our Sunday lunch venues? At this point, I think not. If a restaurant does not make us feel like they want us back, should we even consider going back? -
Review from Andy F.
College Park, MD
10/8/2010 1 photo
Tasty food, I'd recommend the fajitas and fried ice cream, also you get chips and salsa with every meal, the staff is also very nice.
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Review from Andie B.
College Park, MD
3/4/2009
Nice staff, but the chips were stale and the food was too greasy and way too cheesy. I like to support restaurants that aren't national chains, but honestly, I'd rather just go to Baja Fresh before I go back here.
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Review from Kelly M.
Davidsonville, MD
4/11/2009
Very fast service and friendly staff. The food is good, pretty typical. The portions are good, not the oversize ones you get at the chain restaurants. It was kind of cold in there the night we went, could be due to the open ceiling. The decor is very cool, a little over the top though.
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Review from Dave S.
Oceanside, CA
9/30/2009
Our group of work buddies ate lunch and thought food just OK. Fine Mexican restaurants only serve shredded beef. Ground beef is fast food served at Taco Bell. Here it is the default if you don't requst shredded. Decor is a mixture of railroad terminal and Mission. Staff is very attentive & friendly.
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Review from Mark S.
Mitchellville, MD
8/16/2009
I would say this is currently my favorite restaurant in Bowie.
Their menu is easy to understand mexican and CHEAP. You could go to the other mexican-style restaurants in the area but not one that each person can eat for under $10.
The food is served FAST and hot and the people working there are very fast. I feel like I am at a very high class place with the level of service the wait staff gives me. -
Review from Kathy W.
Fort Washington, MD
8/22/2010
Don't know what happened but I used to go at least twice a week. The last time I was in the staff had changed and so did the food. I didn't even finish. Sorry Monterey Restauranted Mexicano
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Review from Seamus L.
Silver Spring, MD
6/15/2009
If you love yourself some yummy tex-mex, then Monterey' is your place. It is one of the few good tex-mex restaurants (that is not fast food) in the area. It is good for vegetarians with several options on the menu. It is clean and decorum is fitting for tex-mex. The wait staff is quick and friendly.
