LA Margarita

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A Fantastic Fort Wayne Tradition: My family has been regularly visiting La Margarita for over 25 years (no, I wasn't old enough to attend back then...this was years before Leo and crew added a family dining room).
I will preface this review by saying that Fort Wayne is pretty much inundated with Mexican food - much of it barely surpassing the benchmark of mediocre. I have been to most of them. When I want to experience the best collaboration - nay, the fusion of Leo's distinctive southwest style with the ancestral recipies passed to him through the culinary prowess of his now-deceased relatives, LM gets the nod every time.
There are two entirely different dining experiences avaialable at La Margarita, and both have their merits. The dimly lit bar area is my favorite by far. The atmosphere is complex, yet easy to absorb. A gorgeous depression-era (or possibly earlier) hand-carved hardwood bar, black leather booths, a little tasteful neon, a big-screen TV, and a fun south-of-the-border motìf will delight and relax any guests.
In the brightly lit family dining room, children and adults alike will be thrilled by a full-wall mural of a quaint Mexican village scene, a life-sized Bandito statue, some cool indoor landscaping, tile-top tables, clean restrooms and some tasteful mariachi music playing in the background. Both scenarios are winners, pick your dining experience according to your tastes!
If the decór isn't enough to calm the nerves, then it might be wise to have Freddy Jr. whip up a batch of the La Margarita's Famous Blue margaritas. I have sipped margaritas all over this country and even some in other countries, but never before have I had one so smooth, and yet so absurdly potent! It is not out of the question to end up needing a cab after drinking what outwardly appears to be a modest portion of The Blues. Rocks or blended...no matter...but if you leave without having at least a glass, you are truly missing out on a uniquely Fort Wayne experience. Not into fruity drinks? Ask Leo for a guided tasting tour of his all-star tequila lineup. Ranging in price from $10 to $150 per bottle (the most expensive shots are usually about $10...but worth every penny!), any guest is sure to find at least one that will smoothly take the edge off of even the most stressful of days.
Depending on the day of the week and the time of the visit, the chances are pretty strong that guests will be treated to either the warm, motherly tableside service of María, or the dry, sharp wit of Chris. Both ladies are exceptionally unique, very fun and superbly responsive to the whim of the guests.
Complimentary chips and salsa abound, but don't miss out on the guacamóle. It's rare to find any north of the Río Grande that is any better! None too salty, cold and fresh (not even a hint of bruising on the avacado...which means it was freshly mashed before being served to the table). For dinner, there are no wrong choices on the menu. I have literally tried everything they make, but most noteworthy are the fajítas, the chicken enchiladas, and the ribs (yes, BBQ ribs at a Mexican joint). The fajítas are plenty big to feed a family of four...so don't over-order, you'll regret it when it's time to stand up! The enchiladas are superb, and I have ordered those more times over my life than I can even count, and the ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender in a very interesting hand-made BBQ sauce. The menu contains an array of smaller portions for appetites that may be less...uhh...titanic. This coupled with the availability of Nachítos (individually prepared nachos) and a nice selection of uniquely American fare will insure a spectacular variety of choices for all.

I can emphatically and enthusiastically rate this as one of the best dining experiences in Fort Wayne, and I'm not easy to please.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A hidden treasure with a long history: My brother took us there for my birthday in July and we returned in October, at my mom's request, for her birthday. This is an absolutely wonderful hidden treat! The food is made fresh in their kitchen - and you get some much that you can plan on having left overs later! Their chips and sauce are HOMEMADE and incredible! If you've never gone - go. If it's been a while - go back! You'll quickly remember why you loved them in the first place. The owners work in the restaurant and we have had excellent service which has been fast and friendly each time that we've been there - even the customers said "Hola!" to us when we arrived! If you can, set in the bar area. We had so much fun both times we were there - but we've never met a stanger either!

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