Friday Night Bites: Las Maracas
I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's just something about dining out on Friday night that makes you feel like everyone else in the restaurant is equally slumped in their booth, thinking, “Well, we walked away from another one.”
On a recent Friday, we stopped at Las Maracas, the newish Mexican eatery in Belle Meade Plaza. We weren't the only ones. As we walked to the back of the shotgun restaurant—which has sister stores in Inglewood and White House—we ran into three separate parties of friends whom we hadn't seen in years, most of whom were sipping margaritas. Jovial is a word that springs to mind, as people were visiting between tables, toddlers were sharing toys, and the plaza in front of Las Maracas, Starbucks and Cheeseburger Charley's was buzzing—almost European-style—with families lingering in the balmy fall evening as their kids climbed on the gurgling fountain.
Now, I'm not saying Las Maracas serves the best Mexican food in town. But the chips were warm, the fajitas were generous and the price was right. My biggest gripe about the cheap and cheerful eatery is a pervasive smell of cigar smoke leeching in from the neighboring smoking lounge. Has anyone else noticed that? Is Cheeseburger Charley's similarly cigar-scented? If so, does that give new meaning to a Cuban sandwich? Is there anything Las Maracas can do to mitigate the lingering tobacco smell? Can enough margaritas make it go away?
Located at 4520 Harding Road, Las Maracas serves lunch and dinner daily except Saturday, when it serves dinner only.
Comments
Love the Las Maracas in Inglewood. Chips seem to always be right out of the fryer. Sure, the food is mostly the run of the mill (a little better) but you can't beat a 32 oz beer for $3.65. My wife and I always split the single order of fajitas because yes they are very generous with the portions. Great cheap option to go when we can't afford Rosepeppers. Also heard foobar will be serving food from Es Fernando's. look forward to checking that out.
Posted 10/10/2008 at 09:48:31 AMLove the Las Maracas in Inglewood. Chips seem to always be right out of the fryer. Sure, the food is mostly the run of the mill (a little better) but you can't beat a 32 oz beer for $3.65. My wife and I always split the single order of fajitas because yes they are very generous with the portions. Great cheap option to go when we can't afford Rosepeppers. Also heard foobar will be serving food from Es Fernando's. look forward to checking that out.
Posted 10/10/2008 at 09:48:33 AMWe loved the costillas from Las Maracas, and a lot of their food was a notch or two up from the usual fare that comes off Papacitas Giant Comidas Truck as it makes its stops around to every Mexican place in town.
Posted 10/11/2008 at 11:08:04 AM