January 2009
Tortilla love is on the menu at Amado
by Elizabeth Brinkama
photos by Julie Wiatt
If you have a hankering for hearty southwest food prepared fast, fresh and without fuss, then the newly opened Amado Tex-Mex & Rotisserie fits the bill. Located in the Safeway Shopping Center at the Takoma/Langley Crossroads, Amado serves up a tasty alternative to the run-of-the-mill fast food offerings. Our intrepid group of gastronomes (read: really hungry people) recently paid a visit.
Sign of the time: From behind, Amado spells out an inaugural theme.
Designed cafeteria-style, all food is prepared to order and in full view. We started with the nachos platter, a heaping helping of fresh yellow corn chips layered with a medley of grated Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. No faux cheese product here! Our selection included grilled chicken, red onion, fresh chopped tomatoes with cilantro and garnished with sour cream, salsa ranchera and fresh guacamole. The house made guacamole is prepared without tomatoes (though some disagreement among us, a plus in my book) and has a mild kick with the addition of red pepper flakes and chopped cilantro. The salsa was zesty with a slight picante bite and good tomato flavor.
The jumbo burritos are indeed a meal fit for a very hearty appetite and are perfect for sharing. Rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa ranchera, jack and cheddar cheeses and sour cream fill the 12-inch flour tortilla to which we added refried beans and beef chili. To say that it was massive and wholly satisfying is a bit of an understatement.
Surprisingly, our eyes were not bigger than our stomachs and we chose the quarter rotisserie chicken with two sides (in lieu of the half chicken with two sides or a whole chicken with three sides). The chicken was unbelievably tender and flavorful. The potato fries were crispy and not the least bit greasy while the salad was a beautifully simple medley of fresh lettuce, julienne carrots, red onion and vinaigrette.
The enchiladas (two per order) are made with corn tortillas and served with Mexican rice and either black or refried beans. We opted for one with spicy shredded chicken and the other with grilled chicken, both topped with melted cheese, salsa ranchera, and sour cream. Good comfort food, indeed.
The quesadillas are two 12-inch flour tortillas stuffed with cheese, red onion, chopped tomatoes and your choice of beans, chili, chicken, carnitas (braised pork), or steak. You can order either a half or whole portion and watch as it is grilled to your specifications.
Of course, we couldn’t pass up an order of yucca frites (fried yucca wedges) and sweet plantains. The yucca frites are crispy on the outside and tender inside. A little dab of hot sauce and deliciousness abounds. The plantains are caramelized to gooey perfection and “taste as if prepared by my Colombian grandmother” said one of our most discerning foodies.
Portions are quite generous and easily shared or provide leftovers perfect for a midnight snack….or next days’ lunch. Most meals are no more than $7.00 (not including beverage) with a few menu items, like the whole chicken, coming in under $15.00. Another plus is that none of the food was overly salted or seasoned. A variety of hot sauces and condiments are made available for you to season your meal to your taste.
As much as we liked the food, the décor was equally impressive. The style is industrial chic, showing the hardware like a post-modern New York style loft. High ceilings, exposed lighting, chrome fans and barstools, warm and muted yellow walls all contribute to the open, airy ambience. The spacious interior seats upwards of 70 patrons and the design of the space allows for good traffic flow. The sparsely framed prints of menu items are in keeping with the retro-diner feel akin to Andrews Coffee Shops in New York City. The ordering/prep station is covered in beautiful stone and glass mosaic tiles and it is clear that as much attention to detail has been brought to the décor as it has to the menu.
Completely sated, we bid farewell with a sincere promise to soon return.
Amado Tex-Mex Grill & Rotisserie
1167-C University Boulevard East
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-408-7771
Dine-in or take-out
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