Critic's Review
I don't like going to this place in the evening for a few reasons; service is lousy and they allow smoking at the bar, so sitting on the bar side in the open room can be undesirable. They used to have a lunch menu, but they've given that up for a one size fits all. It's not the gooey kind of Mexican food; they call it "authentic", although I've had both kinds in Mexico, so it's more snootiness than anything else.
They supposedly have a mechanical bull here, but I've never seen it. I guess they break it out late at night on weekends. It's a big place, and it's nicely decorated. It looks even bigger on a Saturday afternoon when it's empty.
There's also a back room which is a little more intimate, and there's also an outside bar in the back.
No TVs on the inside here, which may explain why people were elsewhere watching the NCAA Torney. They ask you if you'd like chips when you sit down, but be forewarned that they'll charge you $3. if you just order appetizers; even if you order a $14 appetizer.
The chips are freshly made (they have a big warmer with the chips),and the salsa wasn't bad; not the jar kind but not very chunky. My server had little interest in serving me; she dropped off the ice tea without any sweeteners, and then disappeared. There are no sweeteners or condiments on any of the tables; I had to go to the bar and ask for a setup. They do give you a lot of lemon.
I ordered the sampler, which has a few of there appetizers for $18. The menu here kind of sucks; a Chili Relleno is offered as an Appetizer for $11, and they don't have the usual choices with rice and beans. They call themselves authentic and their "specialties" are tacos, burritos and fajitas. This is tourist Mexican Food.
One good thing about the Hard Rock is that the music is superb. Zeppelin, Floyd, Petty and Seger followed by George Thorogood's One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
The sampler came out, and I can't say I was thrilled.
I didn't read carefully enough and I wasn't expecting the tostada; I thought it was a skirt steak. It was a pretty big tostada; I would have preferred if they let me decide to put on the big glob of sour cream, or maybe try one of the other sauces.
The menu said that the empanadas were chicken, but there was no chicken in them, unless the chicken was pulverized to the consistency of cottage cheese. The empanadas were tasteless losers. I also expected more than just a spot of cheese in the quesadillas, although they were pretty tasty. The Chili Relleno was quite good; cooked just right and filled with lots of cheese.
Better than it looked, although not worth $18. They could have put this on a big round plate and included some rice and beans for an extra 23 cents and this would have been a substantial meal; as is this should be a $12.99 appetizer and not an entree.
My server never offered me an Ice Tea refill (she didn't come over when the glass was empty); a passing manager noticed the glass and offered me another. Imagine the service when they're busy.