| Nacho Mamas |
| Baltimore (Canton), MD |
| Price:$$$ |
Decor: Small Bar
and Grill |
| Summary: Mexican
food with flashback Baltimore atmosphere |
 (4 crabs out of 5) |
Paul-If you are looking for a unique Baltimore dining
experience this is the placed to go. Some friends and I showed
up around 6pm on a Wednesday night and it was completely packed.
There was about a 30 min wait which was pretty surprising but
then they only have a handful of places for sit down eating. After
spending the time walking around Canton and checking out the fun
old Elvis, Colts, and Natty Boh memorabilia (such as a replica
of Elvis' phoenix jumper, a road sign with directions to Memorial
stadium with the Colts on it and TONS of old Natty Boh ads) we
finally got to sit and order. From there everything we lightening
fast. The waitress showed up right away got our drinks (Natty
Boh in a can for 2 of us) and then showed up right as we were
ready to order. We shared an order of hot (but not really) buffalo
wings, and I had a beef enchilada while my friends ordered a chicken
enchilada and a beef quesadilla. The wings came right away and
were pretty tasty and the main dishes came as soon as we finished
with the wings. The food was all around good, not great but good.
The beef was flavorful and mixed well with the spices they used.
The portions were generous and came with tasty refried beens and
rice. All in all if you can stand the wait for this popular charming
place you will have a lot of fun on a casual outing checking out
the decor (especially if you love Baltimore) along with having
an all around tasty meal with fast pleasant service.
Karen-Well this place was certainly designed for Paul and
all people like him. We went for lunch the week after his dinner
experience, and it wasn't anywhere near as hard to get a table.
Even if his description of beer ads and the whole slightly-seedy
sports bar thing isn't your cup of tea, Nacho Mama's is definitely
worth the trip if just for its creative Mexican. So often Mexican
can fall into your typical upscale Taco Bell mix of beans, rice,
cheese, and tortilla. Not so in this place, although you can get
that if you want it. I was impressed with their ability to infuse
Baltimore's flavor into that spread, particularly in a crab quesadilla.
Instead of soft and mushy, the tortilla was crisply fried and
the cheese was well chosen to blend with, rather than overpower,
the crab's subtlety. My one $10 quesadilla with a few wings was
more than enough for lunch (especially considering Paul's pick
of hot sauces, which must be in the devil's special store). But
a word to all those ladies out there: follow my lead, and position
your boyfriend sitting away from the football-blaring TV screens.
You'll thank me for it.
Reviewed-December 2001
| $$$$$-over 20 dollars |
| $$$$-15 to 20 dollars |
| $$$-11 to 15 dollars |
| $$-5 to 11 dollars |
| $-Below 5 |