Anitas BIG THUMBS DOWN!

Went to the new Ashburn location tonight for the first time. Food was mediocre, but the SERVICE was horrible! Our waiter took 10 minutes to even visit the table, missed two of our meals and DIDN'T COME BACK ONCE. I had to get up to ask for Ketchup, more soda and even the check. When I did ask, it wasn't even our waiter because he was off doing who knows what. I spoke to two different managers and all they did was say, "ohhhhh, okay". I will NOT be going back to that place to eat. Taco Bell had better service then this place!! AVOID unless you have A LOT of time on your hands.

 

i've never liked Anita's- tried it in Vienna and one other place, can't remember. the queso was slightly under velveeta quality, salsa bland and runny, and nothing tasted authentically mexican. but i didn't want to diss this one until someone else had been there.. i never intended to waste my money or time on a third chance. back to Don Pablo's we will always go...

 

yowza, I've had nothing but horrible experiences at don pablos. Especially the one by Target in Sterling. So bad in fact that I now absolutly refuse to ever go to another one. My company used to have company "functions" there but now it's even policy to never go there again. I hope they have gotten better but I will never return.

 

Went to the new Anitas a few days after they opened. Service was okay, food was really bland. I really like Tijuana Flats in Ashbrook. It's counter service, so no waiters to contend with and the quality of food has been consistently good.

 

Anita's takeout burritos. Sorry folks, NOTHING around here beats them!

 

Ketchup?
Who uses ketchup at a Mexican Restaurant?

 

I just love their breakfast burritos but I notice that anytime there's a new Anita's (ie: Leesburg, Ashburn)...they totally suck for a while. I'm still waiting for Leesburg to up their service - it's definitely better than the beginning but I go to Herndon.

 

We ate at Anitas once in Vienna when we first moved here. Everything tasted like it was microwaved, we've never been back. Still searching for a top notch Mexican restaurant. We prefer making it ourselves....less expensive too and healthier.

 

Our experience was similar... food was OK. Actually the kids taco and taquito meal is a pretty good kid's fare. Our inattentive waiter actually said to us at the end, "Sorry for the delays around here we are just starting up and I feel really really sick right now and am leaving for home." Pop, out comes the hand sanitizer.

We won't be hurrying back but since the kids really liked their meal this place will get a second chance... but not that waiter. Oh yeah, while we were waiting for our table, the bartender was very nice and attentive.

 

Totally agree. And where else can you go, ask for a wet burrito (con mojo) and they know exactly what it is. Lived in AZ for 5 years and ate across the border umpteen times and there really isn't a restaurant that comes closer to authentic than Anita's. The tex mex stuff and the nouvelle mexican food is the americanized version (as usual). But to each his own - not spicy enough, too spicy, etc., etc.

 

Haven't tried Anita's because I've given up on authentic Mexican. Agree with you, KTdid. Even when I was in San Antonio this fall, I was severely disappointed. All of the main restaurants were just Americanized versions that we've grown acccustomed to--the same bland, greasy, unimaginative crap we're used to!

So on one of my walks through the city, I found a local police officer--I still remember his name, Officer Rodriguez--and asked him, "Where do you get the good stuff?" He pointed me to a couple hole-in-the-wall places and said, "Always find a little place named after a woman--because no proud Hispanic Mom will put her name on the restaurant if the food isn't authentic.

So, finally, after two Americanized mexican meals, I found the real deal, and it was amazing. We simply have learned to make our own Mexican (try it with grass fed beef and wow is it good!). Will I be disappointed if I go to Anita's?!

 

I like Anita's food. Then again, I like Taco Bell, so I guess I'm not that discriminating. I don't know how authentic they're trying to be. The name of the place is "Anita's New Mexico Style Food".

We ate lunch there last week, and other than getting the table *right* next to the hostess stand (because our three year old was with us?) and having people stand right there vs. backing up into the waiting area, we were pleased with the service and the food. The COO stopped by and chatted with us for a while and was very pleasant.

 

That's what I don't understand about most Ashburnians, whenever something opens up, whether it's a 5 guys or anything mediocre, EVERYONE has to be there, every Paul, Dick and Mary needs to bring their 5 kids. Jesus, I stay waaaay clear of anything new opening up because of this behavior. I drive by the new Anitas everyday day to find it slammed with people, eventhough everyone claims that it's bland and average. That's what I just frequent places that just plain stink (Del Rey) so I won't have to deal with the surburbanite traffic, esp. little kids and their disease spreading running noses, just plain nasty.

 

Way to stay on point. And don't hold anything back, either!

 

I've come to the conclusion that people would rather eat out than cook. Hence - that's why there's an obesity problem among Americans. Can't beat homecooked meals....I'm just as busy as everyone else in this area.....but eating out is a treat and it better be better than what I can cook at home.

 

NO ONE can beat my wife's cooking...I am a lucky man! extremely healthy, extremely tasty...and I'm cheap so we can buy good grass-fed beef, homegrown veggies, fresh milk and still come out ahead versus paying for overpriced, bland meals with too much salt, butter and sugar.

but it does take time and if you're out fighting traffic all day and living a stressed-out life, it's just too easy to eat out. but i guarantee there are more toxins in your food than in the air

happy eating everyone! and do let me know if Anita's is truly unique or just "better than what's around here..."

 

I TOTALLY agree! ;-)

 

And I'm sure those families with little kids are glad you aren't around spreading your cheer, either!

 

My wife and I ate at Anita's last night and the food and service were fine. Definitely better than the Leesburg location although I still prefer Herndon or Fairfax. We did notice the service issues and evidently they have had a lot of trouble hiring. Two of the wait staff was from other locations that we recognized.

 

My wife and I tried Anitas for lunch this week and found it ok. It's certainly nothing special but it's not bad either and on was on par with expectation. I see no reason to avoid it.