5 /5 Tara L: My family had ordered takeout from Monterrey of Newnan in the Arbor Springs Publix shopping center a handful of times and had been pleased, but I chose to wait for the full dine-in experience to write a review. Happy to report I was not disappointed!
Obligatory Area Mexican Review Trigger Warning:
I’m just a basic white girl. I have no idea what constitutes “authentic” Mexican cuisine in the rural south, nor am I particularly concerned with legitimizing my review by selecting dishes more exciting than a basic lunch special. Please adjust expectations accordingly.
I went with my charming and witty mother during peak lunch (12:00 pm) on a Tuesday afternoon. Our server—and, as I was to learn, our surprisingly capable bartender—was Ulysses. He was attentive but not overly so, and gave my mother and I ample time to visit and enjoy our cocktails without rushing us.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated in modern fashion with a statement wall full of the most beautiful black and white portraits of (what I assume to be; pls don’t cancel me) Mexican citizens. Everything is higher end: furniture is quality, comfortable and substantial. A rare air of restraint can be found in all decor selections. It is a very pleasant atmosphere. Busy enough as to not arouse concern for the business’s future, but quiet enough to not want to tell too many people about your new favorite place. But here I am, revealing all to you. You’re welcome.
I got the “Top Shelf Margarita” made with Silver Herradura, triple sec, I think also maybe Cointreau?, agave and lime juice. And PTL it actually IS lime juice. Not that foul fluid-of-the-devil sour mix but actual lime juice. It was very well-balanced: boozy, sweet, and tart in blissful proportions. My mom had the “Sangrita”, which she chose to have frozen: a mix of margarita and sangria that I fully expected to turn my stomach in the most horrifically budget Mexican way, but was actually shockingly subtle and tasted mostly like a more complex pomegranate juice. Hats off to Ulysses for expert execution of both of these delicious cocktails.
The chips and salsa were inoffensive. Chips were fresh but perhaps slightly thicker than I prefer—not a swipe left offense by any means—and the salsa was very tomato forward and fresh tasting. Not particularly complex or spicy or interesting, but good.
Queue the eyerolls and immediate dismissal of our entire persons, but both of us got the “1 Item” Lunch Special, which includes beans and rice for $10.99: I had cheese enchilada, and my mom had chile relleno. Both were very tasty. Again, no reinventing the wheel here or anything, but everything was a good texture and had solid flavor/was amply seasoned. For example, the refried beans weren’t pureed all to he!!, and smacked deliciously of larded umami™️.
I’m a fan. And if you’re not yet so jaded that you can admit sometimes a cheesy-beany-ricey stew is just what you want to slide some sturdy, serviceable tortilla chips into after polishing off a plain ol’ burrito, you might like this place, too. If not, sit at the bar and ask Ulysses to mix you up something delicious. Either way, let’s agree to just keep this quietly dependable gem between us, ok?
