I've been eating at this place since before it moved here from its previous location behind some buildings. That would have been about eight years ago. I'd like to say I go there every time I'm in Frederick, but that's not entirely true. I actually go there nearly every time I'm in downtown Frederick if I possibly can, and usually I get guacamole and or Fajitas. The last time I was there, November 2011, I ordered ""crispy wings"" and they were possibly the best crispy wings I've ever tasted. I've never been disappointed by anything I've ordered or sampled there.
IMPORTANT!
You *need* to know this if you plan on having lunch there. It seems that in summer they utilize their outdoor seating, and in evenings they use the main restaurant area, but in Winter and Daylight they use neither their outdoor seating nor their main restaurant area. The result is that to all but their regulars, the place appears to be closed. To have lunch in Winter YOU MUST GO UPSTAIRS. When I went they did not have any reasonable sort of sign to tell you to climb the narrow staircase to the right of the door.
It is possible that some people who walk into what appears to be a closed restaurant start snooping around and climbing unmarked staircases, but that's not me. I've informed the manager they need to post a nice big obvious sign to tell newcomers, ""Lunch is served upstairs"", and that otherwise they are likely to lose a lot of new business. She seemed to take my concern seriously.
Here are a few more details:
The salsa:
The oddly colored default ""salsa"" served with the chips is exquisite. It is also colored rather like Pink Grapefruit, which is visually disconcerting. It may not look appetizing but it must be tried.
The service:
I've never met a waiter, waitress, or manager there I didn't like. Even the one cook I found myself talking to was someone I'd eagerly invite to a party.
The decor:
The decor both upstairs and downstairs is comfortable and inviting. It is not at all what one might expect for a ""Mexican Restaurant"". The decor like the food and just about everything else is rather ""independently styled"". Don't enter this place expecting it to be just like some other place or you'll be disappointed.
The cocktails:
The friend who introduced me to this place was a big fan of the Margaritas there. I'd never been a big fan of Margaritas, but I sampled hers. I was sold. Ever since then I've tried Margaritas other places and by far these are the best around. Though I suppose that could be called a matter of taste... puns included.
Why it took me eight years to review this place:
I only began writing reviews for public consumption around the summer of 2011. Prior to that all my ""reviews"" were private ones posted on a website and strictly for the use of my weekly club. If I've been at all ""late"" it is because I chose to first document the places my weekly club actually tends to use. Nice as the LaPaz is, it is just a tiny bit too far from the DC Metro area to draw too much of a turnout from my club at the moment, but that could still change. If my club ever ventures all the way out to Frederick, the LaPaz will be our destination.
Noise Level:
I like that this place is relatively quiet. This is an important distinction as Mexican restaurants tend to be loud. I strive for an environment you don't have to shout over. If you agree, you should try this place.
References:
My other two favorite Mexican Restaurants are the La Palapa in Ellicott City MD and the Tampico Grill in Laurel MD. I'm not saying these three are actually similar to each other, only that these are other restaurants I personally enjoy. I could suggest that if you like any of them, you are likely to like all of them. I'd add that the La Palapa is unbeatable for desserts as compared to probably any place I've ever reviewed.
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