A party atmosphere with food to match
DESCRIPTION: Don Pablo's isn't standard Tex-Mex, which generally serves food that takes like Old El Paso enchilada souce and the enchilada pie I used to get in first grade in San Antonio, but the food is great and easily stands on its own merits. Mexican food snobs might become disoriented, but if you like food and fun, this is the place for you. Prices are reasonable, service is very good, and comfort is high. The salsa is homemade and tasty in the "gazpacho" range, but perked up well when I put half a bottle of the table hot sauce into it; we like it really spice, and this did the trick. The cheese enchiladas were well worth the trip, and the "go withs" were great comfort food as well -- and the place is high on comfort. They're my first test in a Mexican restaurant --the second is chiles rellenos. To my surprise, this came with a real, respectable (read fiery) poblano pepper inside, and wasn't covered with soggy tempura batter, which you get in many places. Dessert is fine -- the apple pie and chocolate desserts finish off any appetite. The margaritas come in a HEAVY glass, but the contents are heavy, too, and potent. I'd go back. Since I spend a good bit of time at the Borders in the plaza, that'll be fairly often. (If you want down and dirty no-frills Tex Mex, go to The Alamo, but that's all the way down in Riverdale and is nearly 40 years old, so it's not big on ambience. But the food is good.) Note: my son works there at the time of writing, which is why I went, but I'll still go to Don Pablo's, wherever he works. Ding me if you'd like, the the place is really good, regardless of who's working there.
DATE: 2005-01-22
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : All of 'em.

Decent Tex-Mex basics
DESCRIPTION: The burritos are pretty good. There's not much else you can say about this place. It serves its purpose as fast food that's better than a fast food place but really doesn't stand out in any way. I'd sooner go to California Tortilla or Baja Fresh but I'd go back to Chipotle if I was hungry and in the area.
DATE: 2000-06-14
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Burrito

Decent, and yes, the hot sauce is hot!
DESCRIPTION: Free range chicken, quality burritos, and the hot sauce is hot (and they serve cerveza's, too!). This is a chain, but they are doing it RIGHT! I'm so-so on the carnitas and spicy-beef; I found them a bit dry. But the chicken! That's the stuff!
DATE: 2003-08-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chicken burritos (black beans, and hot sauce- you don't need cheese, lettuce, nor gaucamole. Just the hot sauce!)

Chipotle is the best
DESCRIPTION: The food is fresh. The environment is cool and if you aren't one of the few people in this world that just enjoy being critical, it's hard to find fault with the place.
DATE: 2003-08-10
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The steak burrito rocks

Good Mexican Food
DESCRIPTION: Not as cheap as some, but a lot better quality. This is the place to go if you're lookng for a good quality Mexican-style dinner.
DATE: 2006-05-20
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8

Fresh indeed-- and VERY crowded
DESCRIPTION: This is a chain restaurant that would fit into the fast food category if the food weren't so fresh and good. Burritos are the specialty, and the fresh chips and salsa are great, too. Be prepared to battle crowds though, as this place is predictably a favorite. I didn't rate the service since this isn't a sit down restaurant, so that's not really applicable.
DATE: 2000-05-11
FOODRATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 2
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Vegetarian Burrito

Good basic Mexican food
DESCRIPTION: Baja Fresh is a good place to go to get a basic burrito. Nothing fancy but it's all cooked up fresh and served quickly. Don't be intimidated by the lunch time crowds, the line moves quickly, but finding a seat can be a bit difficult.
DATE: 2000-05-12
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 2
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Burrito Ultimo

Better than your standard Mexican fare
DESCRIPTION: This place recently expanded, which conquers the crowds waiting outside that used to be the case. Also, they will take reservations sometimes, which is helpful. In addition to the standard Fajitas and enchiladas (quite good), the specialties are nice seafood dishes, and there's a great appetizer of mussels.
DATE: 2000-05-11
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : mariscada, duck with olives

Not bad but not worth waiting for
DESCRIPTION: Boy, is this place is overrated. Perfectly suitable Tex-Mex but the place seems to have an attitude along with their unreasonably long waits. It's on a par with Rio Grande, but pales compared to Mi Rancho (Silver Spring and Germantown) and the Salvadorean-Mexican restaurant El Mariachi (Rockville). All I can say is after two visits, I can't tell you what the hype is about.
DATE: 2000-05-26
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6

just you wait
DESCRIPTION: Ok folks i've decided to join the Austin Grill team, if you hate to wait during your lunch hour and want good food I'll do my best to earn your tips. I can't guarentee a short line but I will do my best to serve you fast and treat you good, so give us another try. If you've never been...come on in.
DATE: 2003-04-02
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8

Ditto, hawknoah
DESCRIPTION: Its allright. Very young kid friendly (but leave a big tip if they make a mess and yell!). ;) But I think you can do better.
DATE: 2003-08-05
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Good for lunch, forget about weekend evenings
DESCRIPTION: Fun atmosphere and decor. Good margaritas. Shiner Bock on tap. Recommended for lunch or happy hour. Better than most Tex-Mex, including Rio Grande, but I refuse to wait an hour for any place in Bethesda. I've had many a good lunch here but will NEVER AGAIN attempt a Friday or Saturday evening. (And the same goes for Jaleo across the street.) Kid friendly, but if your kid can eat more than a soft taco you're screwed. No ala carte items. I paid more for two kids meals than if he had ordered from the adult menu. Server couldn't/wouldn't figure out a reasonable solution. Mostly very good bartenders. Have a couple of drinks and watch the people go by. Eat at the bar if possible. During prime time, skip the hassles and go to California Tortilla.
DATE: 2003-09-30
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6

Standard Chain Restaurant, Albeit a Good One
DESCRIPTION: What can I say? It's Chili's, a chain restaurant, but the food is fresher and better than most other chains. Festive atmosphere if you've got a group. Packs 'em in, too, since the world loves chain restaurants for some reason. Can't complain about the food (southwestern theme) though. One highlight is the Caribbean chicken salad, and it's hard to go wrong with the fajitas or the ribs.
DATE: 2000-05-11
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Caribbean chicken salad, fajitas, ribs

Rio Grande is DRAND!
DESCRIPTION: Excellent in the most important areas, food, service and atmosphere, not so great in the wait (popular place) or parking - though there are garages nearby. As a local, this place has become my favorite spot to eat - I never seem to tire of it. My wife, not a fan of Mexican food, has found a dish she likes - quail, and it has become one of her top 3 meals. You have to experience it to believe it. When you are seated, within 30 seconds (every single time) the bus staff brings ice water (large glasses), hot tortillas and salsa to the table. While I doubt that it will ever be confused with traditional mexican cuisine, this tex-mex style joint is tops - and one of the best spots in Bethesda. Get there early if possible, the wait on weekend evenings can be nearly an hour.
DATE: 2000-07-16
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Soft flour tacos - supreme and broiled quail

Waiting to long
DESCRIPTION: The food is very good but the waiting time is tooo long!!!
DATE: 2003-09-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8

Not like the original
DESCRIPTION: I was in the new location of Rio Grande in Bethesda Maryland last night and was totally dissatisfied. I used to go to the old location all of the time because it was my favorite restaurant in Bethesda. OK, the pictures on the wall are pretty, but the treatment of customers has gone right downhill. The new location seems smaller and it must be because it is as if they didn't want to lose any tables so they put them closer together. You literally have no room to move around and people were constantly bumping into my chair. I looked around and noticed that I wasn't the only one who seemed to be aggrivated by this. After our drinks my party just couldn't tollerate it anymore and went to Outback Steakhouse where we could relax.
DATE: 2003-11-14
OVERALLRATING : 2