Surrender to The Alamo

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Agoura Hills Patch picks a great restaurant either in a town or nearby that is worth checking out.

Here's this week's choice:

Overview: There's nothing like having a good margarita on a warm summer day at The Alamo Bar & Grill. This is a fun family-friendly restaurant that serves delicious meals and great drinks. Enjoy watching your favorite game while seated at the bar, sit back and eat in a soft booth or enjoy dining outside. This restaurant features some great specials and buffets. On Tuesdays, dine on the Taco-Taco Dinner Buffet from 5 to 9 in the evening. On Sunday's, enjoy the Champagne Brunch Buffet, and on Thursdays, there's the Tex-Mex BBQ Dinner Buffet  They also have a great happy hour, daily, 3-7 p.m. Head out for an afternoon drink after work or bring the whole family for dinner. Want to have some fun? Sing your heart out on Friday nights with Karaoke Night or test your trivia skills on Wednesdays with King Trivia. They are now offering delivery for orders over $25 in the area. If you are having a party look into their catering menu. The Alamo also offers a full children's menu.

Drinks: The Alamo features a variety of different specialty margaritas, but the Cadillac on the rocks with salt is my favorite. Enjoy some of your favorite south of the border brews, like Corona, Tecate and Dos Equis. Their bar is fully stocked with all your favorite liquors if tequila doesn't suit your fancy.

 Appetizers “Antojitos”: Besides the endless chips and smoky salsa, there's a lot from which to choose. This is my favorite part of the meal, which gets me into trouble, because I often don't make it to the main course. The Alamo features some of my favorite appetizers, including the Queso Fundido ($7.95) which is three different cheeses melted with sliced mushrooms and Mexican sausage. Along the same line is the Texas Bean Dip ($7.95) with refried beans, cheese and chorizo. Of course, they have delicious Texas Quesadillas ($7.95), Nachos Originales ($8.95) and California Guacamole ($8.95) with Hass avocados. If you can't decide I recommend the Pinata Platter ($7.95) which is filled with taquitos, quesadillas, nachos and tostitos. Feeling fishy? Enjoy the Tacos de Pescado ($8.95) with cilantro and onion, or the Cabo Shrimp Cocktail ($9.95) with large shrimp from Baja Mexico. I also recommend the San Antonio Red Wings ($8.95) with a tangy sauce and served with fries.  

Soup & Salad “Caldos y Ensaladas”: Their Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad ($9.95) is crisp and delicious with fresh romaine and a classic caesar dressing. The Alamo Taco Salad ($9.95) is a fan favorite with meat, guacamole, cheese and other fixings inside a flour taco shell. I also like the Alamo Cobb Salad ($7.95), filled with bacon crumbles, avocado, cheese and more, as well as, the Fajita Ensalada ($9.95) with grilled chicken and peppers. I also recommend the Tortilla Soup ($5.95), topped with corn tortillas strips. They also have other traditional Mexican soups like Sopa de Cilantro ($6.95), Albondigas Soup ($6.95) and Chicken Soup ($5.95) with vegetables and potatoes. Their Tostada Grande ($9.95) is delicious with your choice of meat on top of lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream and two cheeses.

House Specials: The Steak Picado ($11.95) is select strips of sauteed steak served with hot tortillas. My personal favorite is the San Antonio Sizzling Fajitas ($11.95) with peppers, onions and marinated grilled chicken. A favorite and popular dish is the Carnitas Guadalajara ($10.95) with tender pork, avocado chunks, tomatoes, onion and cheese. The Carne Asada Tampico is savory steak marinated in citrus juices and herbs, served with a cheese enchilada. Also try the Arroz Con Pollo En Mole ($10.95) with a signature mole sauce piled atop a bed of rice and shredded rotisserie chicken.

Entrees: With so many different entrees on the menu I decided to narrow it down to some of my favorites. Many of your go-to dishes can be ordered a la carte like a Crispy Taco ($3.25), Tamales ($3.95) or Chile Relleno ($3.75). One of most delicious entrees is The Original Alamo Burrito ($9.25), stuffed with rice, shredded beef, bean and avocado. The Arizona Chimichanga ($9.95) is a Tex Mex favorite with enchilada sauce on top. I love the Tejano Flautas ($9.95) and Enchilada Fiesta Plate ($9.95) with three different enchiladas to choose from. Two popular dishes are the Famous Fajita Burrito ($10.95) and Enchiladas Rancheras ($9.95) topped with a mole sauce. For those who love seafood there is an abundant selection of some great dishes. Try the Puerto Vallarta Shrimp Tacos ($14.95) or the Pan Seared Pacific Halibut ($18.95). A top seller is their San Fransisco Seafood Enchiladas ($13.95) with shrimp, scallops and crab. Enjoy tender blue crab meat when feasting on the Pacific Blue Crab Enchiladas ($14.95). There are a variety of combination plates offered at The Alamo, so you can sample a variety of dishes.