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Los Toltecos

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by Lisa, Nov 20, 2010.

  1. Rhaegar

    Rhaegar Member

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    Sincerely, I appreciate your straightforward perspective of the situation. You're level of precision within your review is refreshing to me. You directly explain your expectations and then describe how your expectations were met by said restaurant. It may even be described as scientific. I respect you for that. It has helped me put me own opinion about the Ashburn branch of this restaurant in perspective. Thank you good citizen reviewer, thank you!

    Ps, I'm totally serious about every word.
     
  2. latka

    latka Active Member

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    Taco bell has more flavor.
     
  3. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    Then, don't eat at Los Toltecos, but they obviously have something going for them since they do a regular, steady business.
     
  4. ayayagirl

    ayayagirl New Member

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    Has anyone tried Los Tios next to Tuscarora Mill? We saw it the other night when we ate at Tuskies. They were packed and on a long wait. Food looked and smelled great!
     
  5. KristenT

    KristenT New Member

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    My family and I have been dining at Los Toltecos every couple of weeks since the Broadlands location opened. I would say our overall experiences had been pretty good. Not great but pretty good. Honestly I had been surprised at all the negative reviews on this board. Our experience was quite different tonight. Our family of four arrived and we were seated right away and they brought out chips and salsa. We noticed that they had a new menu. After ordering our food we requested a second bowl of salsa. The waiter opened up the menu and pointed out that a second serving of chips and salsa would be $3.50. I was surprised but I really love chips and salsa so we went ahead and ordered it. When the second order came out we received a half full bowl of salsa and a basket of stale chips. When our margaritas arrived they were watered down. Our food arrived and was extremely bland. Some salsa definitely would have improved the taste however I didn't want to have to pay ANOTHER $3.50 for a couple of spoonfuls of salsa to put on my tacos. We dine out frequently and are by no means cheap but charging for chips and salsa at a sit down Mexican restaurant just seems ridiculous to me. I don't think we will be going back anytime soon.
     
  6. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    They also pointed out to us the charge for chips and salsa when we requested more salsa for our chips. I'd be willing to bet they have some people who come in and make a meal out of the chips and salsa or only order a small ala carte item and plan to supplement with chips. It's supposed to be something to munch on before your meal is delivered, not a meal itself. A lot of mexican restaurants charge for chips and salsa, with none being free. It's actually pretty common now. There has to be a reason for it and I'm sure the economy has a lot do with it. Every restaurant I go to has raised it's prices significantly.

    We've also eaten there almost once a week since they opened and the food has been nothing but consistent. It hasn't chagned.

    Anyone who has mention Picantes has to admit their prices are significantly higher than other Mexican restaurants, so those extra costs has been included in your meal. $3.95 for additional chips and salsa still keeps Los Toltecos prices cheaper than Picantes, which by the way, we can't stand their food.

    I do think a lot of posters here are way too hard on restaurants in this area and have this romantic idea of places that are no longer opened or that they used to go to. You're always going to remember places you liked as better than they actually were.
     
  7. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    We haven't, but I know people who have and they say it's good. And, this is a professional athlete and wife and they can afford to eat anywhere they want.
     
  8. ALtheHokie

    ALtheHokie New Member

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    While I agree with parts of your post, I can think of at least 5 Mexican/Tex-mex places off the top of my head that don't charge extra for chips and salsa past the first serving (Rio/Uncle Julios, Caliente, Don Pablos, On the Border, Austin Grill). If you want fast casual, even Moe's offers free chips and salsa. I haven't really seen any trend of this lessening. I think complimentary chips and salsa are a part of the experience. I don't think there should be a cap on it especially when salsa, in itself, is the #1 condiment in the US and many people use it on their food and most of us around here have little ones who love to munch on these with their food. Of course, nobody should be endlessly ordering chips and salsa without an increasing bill. My guess is those folks are few and far between and can be cut off when deemed necessary by the server. Cost shouldn't be weighed by the increasing price of food, but by the potential loss of customers. I think Los Toltecas should reconsider this one.
     
  9. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    Cost HAS to be weighed by the increased costs to the restaurant. It's called running a business. Would you prefer a restaurant keep prices lower and fire employees? That's the reality in this economy. They're going to lose more customers if they charge more for meals than they are over charging for second orders of chips and salsa.

    Plus all the places you named (at least most) are large chains owned by even larger companies that can absorb increased costs a little easier than a mom and pop like Los Toletcos. Those large chains have access to suppliers and manufacturers that the smaller mom and pop places do not.
     
  10. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    The chips and salsa were the only thing worth eating at this place, in my opinion.
     
  11. ALtheHokie

    ALtheHokie New Member

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    Sorry but losing customers entirely is a greater cost than supplying additional chips and salsa. They cost next to nothing to produce at a Mexican restaurant. Repeat customers is the best thing any business, large or small, can have going for it. The cost of providing customers extra chips and salsa is such a small fraction in the equation.
     
  12. JLC

    JLC Member

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    Glad I checked this thread today. I was planning on taking my kids out to Los Toltecos for lunch today, but I'm unwilling to pay the extra $3.50 for additional chips & salsa. I admit to my family being chips & salsa pigs. The five of us usually go through about three servings. We also can easily end up with a $60-$70 check, so I don't think they're losing money on us. I'll take the kids to Anita's instead.
     
  13. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    anyone know- do they also charge this amount at theSterling location...?
     
  14. JLC

    JLC Member

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    It's listed on their website menu which doesn't appear to be location specific.
     
  15. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    strange, I've never paid for extra chips or salsa there.
     
  16. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    If you've been there in the last couple of weeks and tried to ask for more they would have pointed at the menu and showed you the upcharge. The first basket and bowl are free.

    We just had dinner there this evening. Plenty of chips and salsa without having to get more. Food was good as usual.

    It takes a heck of a lot more than a minor charge for something additional for me to not go to a restaurant I like.
     
  17. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    We went Sat. night and were prepared to pay extra but did not for our 2nd serving...........that the waitress even asked us if we were interested in.
     
  18. manypims

    manypims New Member

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    Had lunch at the Sterling location today. Second order of chips and salsa was FREE. Nothing like consistency between the two locations. I'm a big proponent of this place, but charging for chips and salsa is extremely weak.
     
  19. ALtheHokie

    ALtheHokie New Member

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    Yup, that's how we felt also. We actually really liked the place (Ashburn) until the new policy. Seems like a common feeling amongst the forum since the new policy has been in place. The goal isn't to bring a place down, but a public forum to help local restaurants improve.
     
  20. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    Have you been back recently? We're going tonight and I'll check but I've never paid for more chips and it sounds like the person that responded after me didn't either even though they were expecting it. Maybe they have changed the policy.
     

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