So I had been to La palapas II before and thought it was an ok place for a magarita, and I have heard good things about the Ellicott City location. So I thought I would give La Palapas III a shot, not to mention I used to go to the building when it was formally known as Harry's Cafe. Well when I walked in, it still kind of looked like Harry's Cafe just with a really bad makeover. The set up was the same, and the place just felt weird. It didn't feel like it was a new restaurant. Maybe that could be because you could still see the Harry's imprint on the front awning that they had just faded out. The tables were in the same places, the bar was almost the same. This was Harry's with a new menu, bad service, and some new paint. I ordered the Sangria which was really just cold red wine with fruit garnish, we then ordered the stuffed jalepeno's which were really spicy, which I like, but I have had better. I then got the quesadila which was bland, and mushy. Overall I was very disappointed with the food. The service was awful. The servers have attitudes. The manger was wow, a total bia! They didn't have any music playing, they do have a juke box but you have to constantly put money into it or else it's dead silence. They don't even utilize what was one of the best perks of the former Harry's the outside deck!! I don't know I left pretty much disgusted and missing the old Harry's cafe. Hopefully this business will move out and something better will come along.....or they will bring Harry's back! A little wishful thinking never hurt anybody. :)
(1)
Yanira R.
I don't like putting up bad reviews but this place sucks! Drinks came out after the food. The food tasted as if it was frozen and put in the microwave. The server was the bartender, cook, busser, and host. Enough said! Please take some pride in your restaurant it has great potential where your located!
(1)
Anthony M.
I'm giving this place a generous 2 stars because it's not far from where I live and I'd prefer that they not taint my food if I return there for dinner. My wife loves Mexican and so we get dinner here occasionally. The place is never crowded, which is odd, considering the other 2 La palapas do get very busy, and have much better food. The staff is friendly here, but kind of strange. It's odd that on a night when NFL is on tv, and they're advertising "NFL" on their sign, that our waiter didn't bother to change the channel on the tv from the bicycle race in Spanish...The enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas are ok, but nothing special. The dining room suggests that it's an old, dingy bar setting that didn't care to update the decor surroundings to the times. If you want to go to a really good Mexican restaurant in the general area, I'd suggest Azul 17 in Columbia or Uncle Julio's in Bethesda.
(2)
Guichi B.
Food was ok the cheese enchilada was cold , server took it away and got new one, tortilla soup was very good. La Flaca Margarita was excellent had to get a second one. Service had a rough start not engaging, it got better after the cold food server made an effort.
(3)
Dana V.
We love the one in Ellicott City but this one is closer to our home and we wanted to give it a try. Great service, great food and the best mojito we've ever had. Need I say more?
(5)
Thu P.
This place is ok. Been there half a dozen times with friends. Nice and close is always good. Good enough for some margaritas when sitting outside with nice weather.
(3)
Joss G.
My husband and I had a great time here after church. For a first time visit I enjoyed my food and the corn bread pudding (I think that's the name) is very delicious. We will be back to try happy hour soon.
(5)
Roberto N.
The restaurant is new- it sports a newly remodeled, beautiful interior. It's been open since about Jan 09, according to the waitress. There are 4 TVs if you like that kind of thing-- kind of feels like you're in the bar no matter where you sit.And, that's my primary complaint here. Yes, there is a beautiful cut screen between the bar and the 'restaurant area', but it only goes up about 5 feet, and with all four TVs on, it's hard to get past that Sports Bar Serving Mexican Food feeling. Music? Don't count on it. About the food..... they've got excellent home brewed ice tea. Excellent Guac. Chips, though, seemed to be quite over cooked, salsa is just okay. If it's not too hot/cold/humid, try eating outdoors. They've got an EXCELLENT wood deck on the side of the restaurant. I didn't ask, but I assume you could eat out there. I also assume you MIGHT be able to bring your dog. What a treat if you could. I'll ask next time I go.
(3)
Julie B.
The map will show you the incorrect location -- this restaurant is off of 29/Briggs Cheany NOT 29/Stewart Lane. Alternatively see the Food was good! The service was WONDERFUL. They were very patient and friendly with our children. I got the Fajitas (Wed night special) and they were very good. My husband got Chili Verde which is always an item missing from local Mexican restaurant menus. We were content. It was a nice family night out and we will be back!
(4)
Barbara T.
THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS!! Went there Sunday night and new sign in front and building dark and empty. We really liked this place, servers and the food. We will miss you and hope that the employee's are going to land on their feet!
My girlfriend and I love this place. Every time we come in the staff is always happy and nice. It's not ever very busy in there which I don't get, but bar area seems to draw a good happy hour crowd. They have really good happy hour specials like discounted drinks and half-price appetizers. All the food I have tried has been great and I will definitely keep coming back. I recommend the seafood chowder, chicken wings, taquitos, steak salad and chicken soft tacos platter.
(5)
Laurie D.
"Waited for chips, refills, silverware. Drinks came way after chips and salsa even though we ordered right away. Drinks cost more than menu price due to 'old menu' according to manager- even though the drink I ordered (la flaca margarita) was on a paper insert. The waitress took our chips when we asked for more salsa ( why?). She also took the chips toward the end of the meal without asking if I still wanted any (I did). Food was good ( I had the fajita salad) if light on meat. I've had other meals here in the past that were better- a shrimp dish comes to mind. I haven't decided it I'll give it another try or not.
(2)
Jessica N.
Went to the restaurant with my small child on a mediumly busy night. We sat and sat and sat before anyone came to take care of us. The table next to us for excellent service. But ours sucked. I can only surmise that our service sucked because we didn't order alcoholic drinks. But any way, no one checked on us, but small child's order was messed up, not once but twice!!!! Then to hear these ladies apologize to the other tables for the slow service but no one said jack crap to us about the consistent mistakes. Meanwhile, the server was falling all over herself to serve the table behind us. So while we had to flag down our server for everything including the check, the other table for first class service. The food was pretty basic, not really anything to write home about. And after the gold star service table left, then the server decided to ask my child if my child wanted ketchup with the fries that we had for well over thirty minutes. I will never come back to this location. And if I were you, I wouldn't either.
(1)
Denise L.
I've been coming here for years and dependable Mexican is something that the areas needed. La palapa is great for happy hour or a quick lunch. The restaurant half provides a family atmosphere while the bar is strictly for adults. The drinks are great, the wings are better and the customer service is notable! I'd also recommend their fajitas. Try the outdoor dinning when weather permits.
(4)
Bob B.
This place is not here anymore. Called Don Ramon now. The food was just okay, not worth the high prices
(3)
Sheena K.
Love love love the Chicken Quesadilla's, omg they are sooo good along with the warm cantina chips & salsa you get when you dine in. I have been here three times in the last 2 weeks. *WARNING* NOT FOR THE FAINT OF CHEESE!
(5)
Scarlett P.
My friends and I went to this place last night and the place was pretty empty for a Saturday night. It was really cold that I couldn't take my coat off and neither could my friends. The food arrived and it was kind of cold but okay. My husband got really sick afterwards and said it was most likely the beef he had. It didn't taste too good. Long story short, he stayed up all night cleaning out his entire system. Needless to say, we will not be going back to this restaurant.
(2)
Tiffany L.
Never again. This was the second time and last. My girlfriends and I wanted to meet for drinks and food.. We got lazy and ended up here. The waitress was extremely rude. She was foreign.. So MAYBE she worded things wrong and it came off rude... I really doubt this but whatever. Service overall from everyone sucked. We were interrupted close to ten times by ALL the staff to see if we were okay... They should have gotten the clue when we were chatting it up that we didn't need anything. And it was done in an annoying way.. Which made you feel like you should leave. Anyways, dinner happened, we are, ordered drinks.. Nothing was pleasant at all. Food was okay... My chicken filling looked like shredded chicken tossed in tomato sauce- I wouldn't be surprised if it was ketchup. Smh. The cheese on the enchilada was barely melted. My garnish was shredded carrots.. Wth.. And it didn't even look good. Blah blah dinner was done.. Then after the eighth time of asking "are you ok!?" She asks us if we want the check. If they were good servers.. If she cared about up selling and making a good tip.. She would have asked if we wanted another drink. After she asked if we wanted the check THEN she asked me if I wanted another beer...... Too damn late for that. I didn't want to waste any more money at this crappy place. We get the bill and I saw two additional charges. One for a sauce that was $1.50! That's a lot for sauce! And one for pico de galo that I didn't even order. I wouldn't have been so mad about the sauce charge if she let me know beforehand. I asked if I could get two sauces on the two enchiladas - most places don't mind. She says yes... So I figured it was fine and didn't think anything of a possible charge. If she told me there would have been a charge of $1.50 for a little spoonful of sauce I would have said nvm. Ridiculous!! Besides that, our waitress and this guy come to clear out table.. As they are standing there they proceed to speak loudly in Spanish right in front of us. They were talking to each other as if we weren't there. I was speaking to my friend and I couldn't even hear myself think!! So unprofessional. Then they stood there as my friend packed some of her fajitas to go... Rude because the customer now feels rushed. My friend actually asked when they closed because they seemed to be rushing us. They close at 930 and she was kicking us out at 830. It wasn't like they were busy. It wasn't like we weren't paying customers. If anything, we would have ordered another drink or two. Don't ever come here. I will never come here again!! Staff is rude and unprofessional. I bet they don't even wash their damn hands. Go to pollo mex or some other Mexican joint instead. This one will rob you and give you an unpleasant feeling. AWFUL! This location has two yelp pages, la palapa III and la palapa 3.
(1)
Procyon L.
CLOSED, Now Ramon's. Don't know how to let Yelp know. Owners please close this Yelp.
(1)
Shawn M.
This place has good days and bad ones. Sometimes the food is excellent, hot, etc. and other times everything falls flat, so it's really hard to give a solid review when so much chaos is involved. However, the people are nice and the food is mostly Mexican, so that is a plus. I think the place is in trouble, though. Never anyone there but us most of the time, though part of the reason is the location. Briggs Chaney isn't exactly known for its restaurants.
(3)
Allyson C.
This place has some really good all day specials on liquor and beer. They make a great margarita! Definitely recommend that. Good is delicious. I haven't ordered anything I didn't like.
(4)
Seth K.
I gave this place 4 stars because I like the food and the drinks are more than reasonable. The atmosphere is a little laid-back so the food takes its time before arriving at your table but the tacos rincon are totally worth the wait! Also, the drink specials make it easy to enjoy yourself without worrying about where your next mortgage payment will come from. I've never seen this place busy and I'm not sure why... For now, it's one of my less crowded "go-to" spots! I hope more people check it out...
(4)
Chip A.
Cadillac margarita is the best in the D.C area. Shrimp fajitas and fish tacos are also very good.
(4)
Ashley D.
I'm from a town on the Mexican border and therefore very picky about my Mexican and Tex-Mex food. As far as Mexican food in Maryland goes, this restaurant has decent food, but in my opinion it's nothing to rave about. It's comparable to any of the other larger Tex-Mex chains in the region. They do serve a mighty strong margarita, however, and the large patio is a nice place to hang out (although I wish it had a view). Plus every time I see "La Palapa 3 Again" on the receipt I laugh. Why in the world can't it just be "La Palapa?" It's not like I go to "Starbucks 12,354" or "Wendy's 897." Oh well. I wouldn't say this is worth a special trip, but if you live or work in the neighborhood it's a fair option for a meal.
(3)
Maire H.
This place is a gem! Food is great, drinks are great, local crowd is friendly...and the staff? They're fast, courteous, attentive, wonderful--especially Armando. We love the option for indoor and outdoor seating too. My fiance and I live nearby and this became one of our favorite places after our first time there. It's like a tex-mex 'Cheers.' Great work, amigos, we love you!
(5)
Nick C.
The service was wonderful. The staff could not be nicer. The food was great. The margaritas were good. No complaints. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Brendan D.
(3.5) The La Palapa chain is a growing entity with locations in Ellicott City (the original), Maple Lawn (#2), and now this one on Old Columbia Pike in Silver Spring/ Burtonsville. I have been to this particular location +/- 5 times because my parents are big fans of it. I remember about 10 years ago being very underwhelmed by the food at its predecessor- Harry's. Anyways, La Palapa is a solid Mexican restaurant with a passable sports bar. I would not venture too far off the traditional path food wise, but I have really not have anything bad here. The pork enchiladas are delicious if you can withstand the caloric bomb. I discovered last night that the offer $5 quesadillas on Tuesday nights- not a bad deal at all because their quesadillas (particularly the Steak) are on point. Draft beer is fairly pedestrian- Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Yuengling.
(4)
Brodie W.
I have been a couple of times and it has been ok. Nothing great. Staff does an ok job but both times they messed up my order. Also, the kitchen runs slow so things take a while. If you do go, sit at the bar, it is the best experience.
(2)
Kerry Jo R.
We love this joint. Friendly service and the best margaritas I've ever had (seriously). Get the Cadillac margs and taste how a margarita should taste. No sour mix here. The food is consistent and good. Try the mole!
(5)
Michelle T.
It was ok. I don't think the price matches the quality of the food.... I can get the same chicken burrito for 7.95 that cost 12.95 here.... but its ok if you have the cash.
(3)
Melissa C.
I agree with Christie! I actually go to well as i just call it Lapas in Ellicott City and have a great time at night and even with dinner everyone's up beat and friendly. WELL not at this one! Rude is almost an understatement, it was as if the waitress was mad we even came. She didn't listen to what i said for my margarita and i didn't even say anything scared she would be even ruder if possible. I got my usual chimichanga, which was fine but taste like any other one i have had. I actually went back a second time but its because it is convenient. Sat outside this time the waitress was nice, they had 3 guys out there singing. We didnt stay long, just ate and left. Oh but the soda was flat LOL. Maybe in time they will get better but for now i will stick to Ellicott City and even Lapas 2 to drink pitcher margaritas outside!
(1)
Gia H.
I have been here three times, once for Cinco de Mayo and two other times just cause and I love their food. I am always on the look out for authentic Mexican restaurants and was upset they opened this after I moved from the area. I was never a fan of Harrys and glad they opened this in it's place. We had the same server all three times we went there and he was a little slow but he was always friendly. The managers do not seem friendly, but I never have to deal with them so they are the least of my worries. Their drinks are really good especially the Cazuela and Swirl. Could never finish the Cazuela, being that it is in a big bowl full of fruits and lots of liquor. The food is great...any place that has good fried ice cream is always going to be a best friend of mines. Will visit this place again and again..
(4)
Brian C.
Food was pretty generic, margarita pitcher was 90% ice, and the atmosphere was anything but exciting. I give it a three, because it's close to the house and there's a bar!
(3)
Frank J.
Eaten here a couple times and been pleased every time. They have very big portions and the wait staff has been great. Will eat there again.
(4)
John V.
Very nice atmosphere, very good food. Had a problem with getting served promptly with our dinner and not busy at the time, but I always enjoy it there despite that one night.
(4)
Emmy M.
The boyfriend and I were out running some errands and decided to stop in for a bite to eat. It was around 2pm on a Saturday and the place was mostly empty, but we didn't let that stop us. The staff was extremely friendly and so were the regulars that were hanging out at the bar. They brought out a basket of warm and fresh tortilla chips with a nice fresh salsa, it was so good. I ordered the Vegetarian platter which came with an enchilada (good,) veggie burrito (OMG SO GOOD,) and a "crispy bean taco" which tasted funny and I couldn't eat. It was also served with rice and refried beans. I was so stuffed after the enchilada and burrito that I didn't mind that the taco thing wasn't very good. The boyfriend got the cheesesteak burrito, which he said was pretty good but said that he didn't care for the cheese sauce. Overall we really enjoyed our meal and would go back again. We also want to try the original in Ellicott City.
(4)
Jarrett M.
I tried La Palapas III for the first time last night. I really enjoyed everything that we ordered: Chips and salsa (free), margaritas, BBQ wings, and Fajitas. The staff was friendly and the food was awesome + affordable. I will be back.
(4)
Ginny H.
Sorry to say, not so good. The waitress overcharged us; twice instead of once for one of our entrees. The seafood enchiladas were soupy and very fishy. The chimichanga topped with "chilli" was actually topped with a thick, lumpy cheese sauce. It was empty on the Friday night we were there, except for us. Good flan though! I miss Harry's...
(2)
cynthia r.
i agree with another viewer, 'solid' is the word to describe this place. it's your basic american-mexican restaurant with enchiladas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, etc...but all are of very good quality and will definitely satisfy your craving for tex-mex. i particularly like the ground beef chimichanga and enchiladas, and all of the quesadillas are excellent and made fresh with good-quality ingredients--no frozen chicken strips here. the queso fundido is also a favorite, quite an interesting flavor going on there and not your typical velveeta-plus-salsa stuff you find at most tex-mex places. overall a good--quality place, though always deserted so i fear for its future.
(4)
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Address :13816 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD, 20904
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Christie W.
So I had been to La palapas II before and thought it was an ok place for a magarita, and I have heard good things about the Ellicott City location. So I thought I would give La Palapas III a shot, not to mention I used to go to the building when it was formally known as Harry's Cafe. Well when I walked in, it still kind of looked like Harry's Cafe just with a really bad makeover. The set up was the same, and the place just felt weird. It didn't feel like it was a new restaurant. Maybe that could be because you could still see the Harry's imprint on the front awning that they had just faded out. The tables were in the same places, the bar was almost the same. This was Harry's with a new menu, bad service, and some new paint. I ordered the Sangria which was really just cold red wine with fruit garnish, we then ordered the stuffed jalepeno's which were really spicy, which I like, but I have had better. I then got the quesadila which was bland, and mushy. Overall I was very disappointed with the food. The service was awful. The servers have attitudes. The manger was wow, a total bia! They didn't have any music playing, they do have a juke box but you have to constantly put money into it or else it's dead silence. They don't even utilize what was one of the best perks of the former Harry's the outside deck!! I don't know I left pretty much disgusted and missing the old Harry's cafe. Hopefully this business will move out and something better will come along.....or they will bring Harry's back! A little wishful thinking never hurt anybody. :)
(1)Yanira R.
I don't like putting up bad reviews but this place sucks! Drinks came out after the food. The food tasted as if it was frozen and put in the microwave. The server was the bartender, cook, busser, and host. Enough said! Please take some pride in your restaurant it has great potential where your located!
(1)Anthony M.
I'm giving this place a generous 2 stars because it's not far from where I live and I'd prefer that they not taint my food if I return there for dinner. My wife loves Mexican and so we get dinner here occasionally. The place is never crowded, which is odd, considering the other 2 La palapas do get very busy, and have much better food. The staff is friendly here, but kind of strange. It's odd that on a night when NFL is on tv, and they're advertising "NFL" on their sign, that our waiter didn't bother to change the channel on the tv from the bicycle race in Spanish...The enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas are ok, but nothing special. The dining room suggests that it's an old, dingy bar setting that didn't care to update the decor surroundings to the times. If you want to go to a really good Mexican restaurant in the general area, I'd suggest Azul 17 in Columbia or Uncle Julio's in Bethesda.
(2)Guichi B.
Food was ok the cheese enchilada was cold , server took it away and got new one, tortilla soup was very good. La Flaca Margarita was excellent had to get a second one. Service had a rough start not engaging, it got better after the cold food server made an effort.
(3)Dana V.
We love the one in Ellicott City but this one is closer to our home and we wanted to give it a try. Great service, great food and the best mojito we've ever had. Need I say more?
(5)Thu P.
This place is ok. Been there half a dozen times with friends. Nice and close is always good. Good enough for some margaritas when sitting outside with nice weather.
(3)Joss G.
My husband and I had a great time here after church. For a first time visit I enjoyed my food and the corn bread pudding (I think that's the name) is very delicious. We will be back to try happy hour soon.
(5)Roberto N.
The restaurant is new- it sports a newly remodeled, beautiful interior. It's been open since about Jan 09, according to the waitress. There are 4 TVs if you like that kind of thing-- kind of feels like you're in the bar no matter where you sit.And, that's my primary complaint here. Yes, there is a beautiful cut screen between the bar and the 'restaurant area', but it only goes up about 5 feet, and with all four TVs on, it's hard to get past that Sports Bar Serving Mexican Food feeling. Music? Don't count on it. About the food..... they've got excellent home brewed ice tea. Excellent Guac. Chips, though, seemed to be quite over cooked, salsa is just okay. If it's not too hot/cold/humid, try eating outdoors. They've got an EXCELLENT wood deck on the side of the restaurant. I didn't ask, but I assume you could eat out there. I also assume you MIGHT be able to bring your dog. What a treat if you could. I'll ask next time I go.
(3)Julie B.
The map will show you the incorrect location -- this restaurant is off of 29/Briggs Cheany NOT 29/Stewart Lane. Alternatively see the Food was good! The service was WONDERFUL. They were very patient and friendly with our children. I got the Fajitas (Wed night special) and they were very good. My husband got Chili Verde which is always an item missing from local Mexican restaurant menus. We were content. It was a nice family night out and we will be back!
(4)Barbara T.
THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS!! Went there Sunday night and new sign in front and building dark and empty. We really liked this place, servers and the food. We will miss you and hope that the employee's are going to land on their feet!
(4)Muriel H.
My fiancé and I had a great date night here on a Wednesday which is their weekly fajita special night. I ordered the fajita that is a mix of meat and shrimp. It was amazing. My fiancé got the beef chimichanga & it was really good. The drinks are reasonably priced, especially during happy hour & really delicious. I recommend it to anyone! We'll definitely be returning for another awesome meal.
(4)W L.
My girlfriend and I love this place. Every time we come in the staff is always happy and nice. It's not ever very busy in there which I don't get, but bar area seems to draw a good happy hour crowd. They have really good happy hour specials like discounted drinks and half-price appetizers. All the food I have tried has been great and I will definitely keep coming back. I recommend the seafood chowder, chicken wings, taquitos, steak salad and chicken soft tacos platter.
(5)Laurie D.
"Waited for chips, refills, silverware. Drinks came way after chips and salsa even though we ordered right away. Drinks cost more than menu price due to 'old menu' according to manager- even though the drink I ordered (la flaca margarita) was on a paper insert. The waitress took our chips when we asked for more salsa ( why?). She also took the chips toward the end of the meal without asking if I still wanted any (I did). Food was good ( I had the fajita salad) if light on meat. I've had other meals here in the past that were better- a shrimp dish comes to mind. I haven't decided it I'll give it another try or not.
(2)Jessica N.
Went to the restaurant with my small child on a mediumly busy night. We sat and sat and sat before anyone came to take care of us. The table next to us for excellent service. But ours sucked. I can only surmise that our service sucked because we didn't order alcoholic drinks. But any way, no one checked on us, but small child's order was messed up, not once but twice!!!! Then to hear these ladies apologize to the other tables for the slow service but no one said jack crap to us about the consistent mistakes. Meanwhile, the server was falling all over herself to serve the table behind us. So while we had to flag down our server for everything including the check, the other table for first class service. The food was pretty basic, not really anything to write home about. And after the gold star service table left, then the server decided to ask my child if my child wanted ketchup with the fries that we had for well over thirty minutes. I will never come back to this location. And if I were you, I wouldn't either.
(1)Denise L.
I've been coming here for years and dependable Mexican is something that the areas needed. La palapa is great for happy hour or a quick lunch. The restaurant half provides a family atmosphere while the bar is strictly for adults. The drinks are great, the wings are better and the customer service is notable! I'd also recommend their fajitas. Try the outdoor dinning when weather permits.
(4)Bob B.
This place is not here anymore. Called Don Ramon now. The food was just okay, not worth the high prices
(3)Sheena K.
Love love love the Chicken Quesadilla's, omg they are sooo good along with the warm cantina chips & salsa you get when you dine in. I have been here three times in the last 2 weeks. *WARNING* NOT FOR THE FAINT OF CHEESE!
(5)Scarlett P.
My friends and I went to this place last night and the place was pretty empty for a Saturday night. It was really cold that I couldn't take my coat off and neither could my friends. The food arrived and it was kind of cold but okay. My husband got really sick afterwards and said it was most likely the beef he had. It didn't taste too good. Long story short, he stayed up all night cleaning out his entire system. Needless to say, we will not be going back to this restaurant.
(2)Tiffany L.
Never again. This was the second time and last. My girlfriends and I wanted to meet for drinks and food.. We got lazy and ended up here. The waitress was extremely rude. She was foreign.. So MAYBE she worded things wrong and it came off rude... I really doubt this but whatever. Service overall from everyone sucked. We were interrupted close to ten times by ALL the staff to see if we were okay... They should have gotten the clue when we were chatting it up that we didn't need anything. And it was done in an annoying way.. Which made you feel like you should leave. Anyways, dinner happened, we are, ordered drinks.. Nothing was pleasant at all. Food was okay... My chicken filling looked like shredded chicken tossed in tomato sauce- I wouldn't be surprised if it was ketchup. Smh. The cheese on the enchilada was barely melted. My garnish was shredded carrots.. Wth.. And it didn't even look good. Blah blah dinner was done.. Then after the eighth time of asking "are you ok!?" She asks us if we want the check. If they were good servers.. If she cared about up selling and making a good tip.. She would have asked if we wanted another drink. After she asked if we wanted the check THEN she asked me if I wanted another beer...... Too damn late for that. I didn't want to waste any more money at this crappy place. We get the bill and I saw two additional charges. One for a sauce that was $1.50! That's a lot for sauce! And one for pico de galo that I didn't even order. I wouldn't have been so mad about the sauce charge if she let me know beforehand. I asked if I could get two sauces on the two enchiladas - most places don't mind. She says yes... So I figured it was fine and didn't think anything of a possible charge. If she told me there would have been a charge of $1.50 for a little spoonful of sauce I would have said nvm. Ridiculous!! Besides that, our waitress and this guy come to clear out table.. As they are standing there they proceed to speak loudly in Spanish right in front of us. They were talking to each other as if we weren't there. I was speaking to my friend and I couldn't even hear myself think!! So unprofessional. Then they stood there as my friend packed some of her fajitas to go... Rude because the customer now feels rushed. My friend actually asked when they closed because they seemed to be rushing us. They close at 930 and she was kicking us out at 830. It wasn't like they were busy. It wasn't like we weren't paying customers. If anything, we would have ordered another drink or two. Don't ever come here. I will never come here again!! Staff is rude and unprofessional. I bet they don't even wash their damn hands. Go to pollo mex or some other Mexican joint instead. This one will rob you and give you an unpleasant feeling. AWFUL! This location has two yelp pages, la palapa III and la palapa 3.
(1)Procyon L.
CLOSED, Now Ramon's. Don't know how to let Yelp know. Owners please close this Yelp.
(1)Shawn M.
This place has good days and bad ones. Sometimes the food is excellent, hot, etc. and other times everything falls flat, so it's really hard to give a solid review when so much chaos is involved. However, the people are nice and the food is mostly Mexican, so that is a plus. I think the place is in trouble, though. Never anyone there but us most of the time, though part of the reason is the location. Briggs Chaney isn't exactly known for its restaurants.
(3)Allyson C.
This place has some really good all day specials on liquor and beer. They make a great margarita! Definitely recommend that. Good is delicious. I haven't ordered anything I didn't like.
(4)Seth K.
I gave this place 4 stars because I like the food and the drinks are more than reasonable. The atmosphere is a little laid-back so the food takes its time before arriving at your table but the tacos rincon are totally worth the wait! Also, the drink specials make it easy to enjoy yourself without worrying about where your next mortgage payment will come from. I've never seen this place busy and I'm not sure why... For now, it's one of my less crowded "go-to" spots! I hope more people check it out...
(4)Chip A.
Cadillac margarita is the best in the D.C area. Shrimp fajitas and fish tacos are also very good.
(4)Ashley D.
I'm from a town on the Mexican border and therefore very picky about my Mexican and Tex-Mex food. As far as Mexican food in Maryland goes, this restaurant has decent food, but in my opinion it's nothing to rave about. It's comparable to any of the other larger Tex-Mex chains in the region. They do serve a mighty strong margarita, however, and the large patio is a nice place to hang out (although I wish it had a view). Plus every time I see "La Palapa 3 Again" on the receipt I laugh. Why in the world can't it just be "La Palapa?" It's not like I go to "Starbucks 12,354" or "Wendy's 897." Oh well. I wouldn't say this is worth a special trip, but if you live or work in the neighborhood it's a fair option for a meal.
(3)Maire H.
This place is a gem! Food is great, drinks are great, local crowd is friendly...and the staff? They're fast, courteous, attentive, wonderful--especially Armando. We love the option for indoor and outdoor seating too. My fiance and I live nearby and this became one of our favorite places after our first time there. It's like a tex-mex 'Cheers.' Great work, amigos, we love you!
(5)Nick C.
The service was wonderful. The staff could not be nicer. The food was great. The margaritas were good. No complaints. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Brendan D.
(3.5) The La Palapa chain is a growing entity with locations in Ellicott City (the original), Maple Lawn (#2), and now this one on Old Columbia Pike in Silver Spring/ Burtonsville. I have been to this particular location +/- 5 times because my parents are big fans of it. I remember about 10 years ago being very underwhelmed by the food at its predecessor- Harry's. Anyways, La Palapa is a solid Mexican restaurant with a passable sports bar. I would not venture too far off the traditional path food wise, but I have really not have anything bad here. The pork enchiladas are delicious if you can withstand the caloric bomb. I discovered last night that the offer $5 quesadillas on Tuesday nights- not a bad deal at all because their quesadillas (particularly the Steak) are on point. Draft beer is fairly pedestrian- Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Yuengling.
(4)Brodie W.
I have been a couple of times and it has been ok. Nothing great. Staff does an ok job but both times they messed up my order. Also, the kitchen runs slow so things take a while. If you do go, sit at the bar, it is the best experience.
(2)Kerry Jo R.
We love this joint. Friendly service and the best margaritas I've ever had (seriously). Get the Cadillac margs and taste how a margarita should taste. No sour mix here. The food is consistent and good. Try the mole!
(5)Michelle T.
It was ok. I don't think the price matches the quality of the food.... I can get the same chicken burrito for 7.95 that cost 12.95 here.... but its ok if you have the cash.
(3)Melissa C.
I agree with Christie! I actually go to well as i just call it Lapas in Ellicott City and have a great time at night and even with dinner everyone's up beat and friendly. WELL not at this one! Rude is almost an understatement, it was as if the waitress was mad we even came. She didn't listen to what i said for my margarita and i didn't even say anything scared she would be even ruder if possible. I got my usual chimichanga, which was fine but taste like any other one i have had. I actually went back a second time but its because it is convenient. Sat outside this time the waitress was nice, they had 3 guys out there singing. We didnt stay long, just ate and left. Oh but the soda was flat LOL. Maybe in time they will get better but for now i will stick to Ellicott City and even Lapas 2 to drink pitcher margaritas outside!
(1)Gia H.
I have been here three times, once for Cinco de Mayo and two other times just cause and I love their food. I am always on the look out for authentic Mexican restaurants and was upset they opened this after I moved from the area. I was never a fan of Harrys and glad they opened this in it's place. We had the same server all three times we went there and he was a little slow but he was always friendly. The managers do not seem friendly, but I never have to deal with them so they are the least of my worries. Their drinks are really good especially the Cazuela and Swirl. Could never finish the Cazuela, being that it is in a big bowl full of fruits and lots of liquor. The food is great...any place that has good fried ice cream is always going to be a best friend of mines. Will visit this place again and again..
(4)Brian C.
Food was pretty generic, margarita pitcher was 90% ice, and the atmosphere was anything but exciting. I give it a three, because it's close to the house and there's a bar!
(3)Frank J.
Eaten here a couple times and been pleased every time. They have very big portions and the wait staff has been great. Will eat there again.
(4)John V.
Very nice atmosphere, very good food. Had a problem with getting served promptly with our dinner and not busy at the time, but I always enjoy it there despite that one night.
(4)Emmy M.
The boyfriend and I were out running some errands and decided to stop in for a bite to eat. It was around 2pm on a Saturday and the place was mostly empty, but we didn't let that stop us. The staff was extremely friendly and so were the regulars that were hanging out at the bar. They brought out a basket of warm and fresh tortilla chips with a nice fresh salsa, it was so good. I ordered the Vegetarian platter which came with an enchilada (good,) veggie burrito (OMG SO GOOD,) and a "crispy bean taco" which tasted funny and I couldn't eat. It was also served with rice and refried beans. I was so stuffed after the enchilada and burrito that I didn't mind that the taco thing wasn't very good. The boyfriend got the cheesesteak burrito, which he said was pretty good but said that he didn't care for the cheese sauce. Overall we really enjoyed our meal and would go back again. We also want to try the original in Ellicott City.
(4)Jarrett M.
I tried La Palapas III for the first time last night. I really enjoyed everything that we ordered: Chips and salsa (free), margaritas, BBQ wings, and Fajitas. The staff was friendly and the food was awesome + affordable. I will be back.
(4)Ginny H.
Sorry to say, not so good. The waitress overcharged us; twice instead of once for one of our entrees. The seafood enchiladas were soupy and very fishy. The chimichanga topped with "chilli" was actually topped with a thick, lumpy cheese sauce. It was empty on the Friday night we were there, except for us. Good flan though! I miss Harry's...
(2)cynthia r.
i agree with another viewer, 'solid' is the word to describe this place. it's your basic american-mexican restaurant with enchiladas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, etc...but all are of very good quality and will definitely satisfy your craving for tex-mex. i particularly like the ground beef chimichanga and enchiladas, and all of the quesadillas are excellent and made fresh with good-quality ingredients--no frozen chicken strips here. the queso fundido is also a favorite, quite an interesting flavor going on there and not your typical velveeta-plus-salsa stuff you find at most tex-mex places. overall a good--quality place, though always deserted so i fear for its future.
(4)