Dish It! : Mexican Food in Crofton

I admit it: I am a “food snob.”  I don’t work in the service industry now, but I do have experience with that certain rite of passage called working-in-a-restaurant-while-finishing-my undergrad-degree, which taught me to expect certain basic components of cleanliness, friendliness and food quality when dining out. 

Starting a family only caused my expectations to increase in certain ways: natural, organic, gluten-free, heart-healthy choices on the menu aren’t absolutely necessary, but they sure do win bonus points.

In 2010, we came to Anne Arundel County from a resort town in Florida, where the hospitality competition is fierce, and we took for granted how spoiled we were with the selection of high-quality restaurants.

Due to a family gluten allergy, we often gravitate toward Mexican or Chinese fare when dining out, so we were eager to find that kind of food here in the Crofton-Gambrills neighborhood.

The first place we tried in Spring 2011 was Mi Casita at Defense Hwy and Davidsonville Road.

It was reasonably clean. Surprisingly reasonably priced. The food and service were just fine. It was very family friendly with the usual chicken finger and fries options designed for less refined palettes.

It didn’t quite remind me of the food from home; probably because I’ve developed a taste for more a “Tex-Mex” style similar to what I could only compare locally to the menu. But I would feel comfortable recommending it to someone needing to satisfy a craving right here in Crofton.

The second place we tried is advertised heavily in all of the Money Mailer, Val-Pak, direct mail-type ads we get at home. It is located conveniently in the Giant plaza at MD 3 and Davidsonville Rd.

We had read reviews on Yelp, which looked equivalent to Mi Casita, and went to check it out on a Friday night Summer 2011. Before you read further, I’ll say up front that we have no idea how the food is because we ended up walking out almost immediately after being seated.

Walking up from the parking lot, the landscaping was quite unkempt, and there was a billow of smoke wafting toward us from one of those outdoor ashtrays that are supposed to keep the smoke to a minimum. (We remain mystified by that.)

We walked inside and were taken aback by the condition of the interior. We weren’t expecting a 4 Michelin Star décor, but neither did we expect how dirty and strange it would feel in there. For reasons we can’t explain other than cost, the flooring looks like old pieces of Astroturf stapled together.

When a host finally greeted us, we waited an inexcusable amount of time, he seated us and handed us menus that we didn’t even want to touch. We should have walked out before we were seated, but looking back now, I think we were in shock because there were a couple of other tables seated and they seemed to take it all in stride. After the host left, we got out of there fast. We just wouldn’t have felt comfortable about what the back of the house was like once we saw what was going on in the front.

We got back in the car and pulled up Google Maps, which rated Mi Hacienda in nearby Bowie as slightly more favorable in that category of food. (Not surprisingly, is the highest rated Mexican food in our area, but we were determined to find a sit-down place.) I was so relieved to find La Hacienda very comfortable, attractive and family friendly. The prices were a little higher than Mi Casita. The service and food were still not exactly like home, but they were fine, and I’d recommend La Hacienda as a good nearby option.

I’ve also heard that the Land and Sea restaurant group (owners of Crofton’s Fat Boys Crab Shack/ ) will be opening a Mexican restaurant in Crofton. We’ll try it when it gets here, but in the meantime, our top Mexican food pick in Crofton is Mi Casita.

So what do you think about the local Mexican food…

Do you agree or disagree?  Sound off in the comments section.

Your Turn to Dish It!

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