I had a craving for Tex-Mex. After a spree of Korean restaurants, it was time for a change. So we headed up to the National Cathedral area to Cactus Cantina. http://www.cactuscantina.com/ I'm a sucker for the salsa and thin tortilla chips. Unfortunately our server was not the most efficient or pleasant.
Queso and guacamole duo ($6.95). The chips were a little too thin to dip effectively into the molten cheese. We should have stuck to just the salsa.
Burrito Gordo with shredded chicken. ($9.45) Ok, but not remarkable. Should have ordered the fish tacos.
Fajitas al carbon with chicken and steak. ($12.75) The boyfriend loved the charred jalapeno and butter dipping sauce. The only downside was the plate didn't come out steaming.
Side of rice and beans.
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The next night I met the girls at Rio Grande in Ballston. Rio has a similar menu, but it's location in Ballston always has a longer wait for a table than Cactus Cantina. http://www.unclejulios.com/
Hornitas margarita with Grand Marnier ($11)
Chicken flautas ($11.95)
Chicken fajitas ($16.95)
Shrimp quesadilla ($13.95). The shrimp were a little too oily. Wish they would have a spinach quesadilla on the menu as a regular item and not a special.
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In Cactus Cantina v Rio Grande, the restaurants have very similar menus, but Cactus has a few more non-meat items like spinach quesadillas, spinach enchilladas and seafood enchilladas, and prices are a little lower. Service was much better at Rio Grande from the initial greeting onwards. Rio makes a better margarita, but the wait for a table can be much longer. In the end, I prefer Cactus Cantina, with a different server.
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