PLAZA TOLTECA
Address: 22769 Three Notch Road, California, MD 20619
My friend Andrew is in the process of getting his private pilot’s license and needs some solo flight hours to fulfill part of the requirements. I pitched the idea for him to fly down here to southern Maryland this past week for us to hang out for a little bit and he thought it was a great idea.
He’s a guy that’s very passionate about his Mexican food (and a big stickler for no rancid lettuce in his burritos), so when he got here, we decided to hit up one of the local Mexican restaurants that had garnered some very positive reviews.
The interior of the restaurant was pretty nice, with finished solid wood furniture and some festive music playing in the background. There was also a full-length bar that you could choose to sit at in the dining area we were in. It was definitely a lull period for the restaurant when we walked in (granted, we got there a little after 4:00 p.m.) and the waiter sat us in a booth immediately.
The menu is extensive, so you’re bound to find something to fit what you’re in the mood to eat. Burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, chimichangas, it’s all there. I’m a real sucker for a good chimichanga, so I decided to give those a try. Andrew went with Plaza Tolteca’s “grande burrito” in the hopes that it could compete with a massive burrito at another Mexican restaurant we frequented up in Alexandria.
I personally like the fact that the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and guacamole are all topped over the chimichangas, since this lets me mix the ingredients together. With the plate coming with two chimichangas, I tried one with chicken and one with beef. I was pleasantly surprised to find that both the shredded chicken and shredded beef were still fairly moist, despite the deep-frying. The guacamole tasted really fresh and, coupled with all the other ingredients, made every bite of food very tasty.
I wish I had gotten a picture of Andrew’s grande burrito. It was ridiculously massive, spanning from one corner of the square plate to the other and easily over a foot long. In the end, it was all a little too much, even for the veteran burrito connoisseur.
Plaza Tolteca is a good spot to go get your Mexican food fix. The quality of the food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the diverse options on the menu certainly don’t hurt, either. Next time I get my cravings, I know where I’m headed.
Here is the dish spotlight for Plaza Toletca. Asterisks (*) below mark my recommended dishes.
** Chimichangas **
Two deep fried flour tortillas filled with chicken and beef tips, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese sauce, and guacamole. Served with refried beans on the side.
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** Burrito Chilango **
10-inch flour tortilla filled with al pastor, onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, rice, and beans. Covered with green tomatillo and cheese sauces, topped with pico de gallo and sour cream.
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And finally, here are my rankings for Plaza Tolteca:
Food: 4.25 / 5
The restaurant has a wide variety of options for any diner that walks in (and for people returning that want to try something different). The food tasted very fresh and had good flavor to it.
Atmosphere: 4.25 / 5
The decorations were pretty nice and the music added to the dining room’s ambiance. The open dining area had large windows to let in plenty of light.
Service: 4 / 5
Our waiter was prompt in getting us drinks and complimentary chips and salsa when we first sat down. The food also arrived in pretty good time after we ordered.
Price: 4.5 / 5
The plate of chimichangas was only $10, which I thought was a pretty good deal. The portions were good for the price and it’s something I’d pay again.
Overall:
17 / 20
(85%)
Categories: Maryland, Restaurants
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