#RIVIERA MAYA RESTAURANT MANVILLE NJ FREE#

PS – The website is but it is obviously misspelled on the website which is under construction. Its all good, anything beats a chain or franchise, but this place can make some simple adjustments to surpass places like that. But don’t come for an authentic experience or to impress a first date or clients. This is good for when you want to sit down, have some lunch, have a conversation, and pay a reasonable amount (2 main dishes, no appetizers, one margarita and one sprite only cost about $33 here), this is where you should come. However, if you want true, authentic Mexican cuisine, this won’t be the place. If you want a fast, casual, affordable lunch, this is the place to go, especially if you want to avoid the crowds at a Chili’s or other Tex-Mex type restaurant. I tried some of my friend’s beef for the fajitas, it was ok, nothing terribly tasty and also a bit dry and not so easy to chew. And while there was plenty of shredded chicken in the enchilada, it was a bit too dry even with the sauce.

#RIVIERA MAYA RESTAURANT MANVILLE NJ FREE#

If it were not for the free tortilla chips and salsa, I might have left hungry. I was fearful to get the shrimp enchiladas, knowing shrimp can easily be of poor quality, so I got the chicken enchiladas, and here is where I could have appreciated a larger portion of rice and beans. Its fine for this dish, because there is plenty of beef, onions, peppers, cheese and other stuff to easily make 5 fajitas or more. Its always a classic favorite, and they do not skimp on the tortillas, they give you 5 large ones, and, as you can see from the portions, that is early enough to feed 2-3 people.Įvery dish comes with a side, rice, beans and lettuce with tomato. I hate to be stuck on this, but there is just no excuse for it. Fresh lime juice is what kills all living bacteria, that is why Mexicans never get sick from anything they eat when tourists get sick from brushing their teeth with the tap water.

Endless amounts of tortilla chips and salsa free of charge (they came by twice and asked if we wanted more), but in my opinion, if you cannot offer a margarita that is any different from the commercial chain place down the street, how else are you going to convince me to eat here rather than there? Let’s face it, lime juice is not so expensive, and you can easily water it down with a splash of seltzer or stirred with crushed ice to stretch it. The decor is spot on, as is the music and atmosphere. Well, this place does not grasp that very basic concept, and its such a shame. And, even if this particular place was trying to cater to such a crowd, why not offer a premium margarita served only from fresh lime juice and perhaps a better brand of tequila? The crowd does not care, they are simply drinking them down to catch a buzz at $5 per drink.

I totally get it when someplace like Chili’s, Applebee’s or even a college hangout serve it with sugary sweet & sour mix. However, what I cannot understand is how any Mexican place serves a Margarita with anything else other than fresh lime juice. The tortilla chips come with a hot and spicy salsa (the way I like), a bit watery, but the heat packs a punch, and I can appreciate that. Yes, I know its a Monday afternoon, however, I worked three 15-hour days in a row shooting weddings, so Monday is my day to relax and I am going to have a margarita. So its truly a nice atmosphere, with the paper artwork hanging to the beautiful paintings and quiet, friendly atmosphere. They have great Mexican music playing (not top 40 latin hits, nor the dreaded 1980s music so many places love these days and I can’t understand why).

When you first walk in, you are greeted and you almost feel like you are in an authentic Mexican restaurant. So, when a new place pops up that is not a commercial chain, I have to give it a chance. Sure, there are the tons of chain and franchise places which claim to serve Mexican food, but we all know its commercialized Tex-Mex and is nothing really like what you would get from a true Mexican kitchen. I know most might think I am crazy, but its really hard to find good, authentic Mexican food.

Riviera maya restaurant manville nj