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• WEEKender restaurant review archive Aztlan, a new family-owned Mexican restaurant in front of Spotsylvania Mall, is one of many "south of the border" eateries in Fredericksburg where diners can get a tasty, filling meal. Date published: 11/29/2001
Crabmeat quesadillas might not be authentic Mexican cuisine, but you can bet that the next time I go to Aztlan Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, I'll order one. On a recent visit to the new "south of the border" joint near Spotsylvania Mall, that seafood dish was the hit of the table.
For just $7.25, our waitress brought us a "sandwich" of two crisp grilled flour tortillas filled with hot melted cheese, guacamole, tomatoes and lots of crab. I wasn't taken by the menu's description of the dish, but I was sorry when the last bite of the real thing disappeared from the plate. Aztlan is where Chi Chi's used to be, and the interior still has the feel of a chain with its bunches of ceramic peppers and gold-trimmed sombreros hanging from the walls. Don't let that deter you--the clean, comfortable Aztlan is family-owned and one of a kind. The Sotos, who before this had a Mexican restaurant in Virginia Beach, provide good service and tasty fare. Hot chips arrive at the table with some very spicy tomato salsa. Skip the creamy ranch dressing--highly spiced for the occasion--that arrives as well. It's not worth the calories, and there are too many other good items to choose from. An Aztlan tamale ($2.25) is creamy steamed corn mush and bits of meat. The tamales are served with enchilada sauce and can be ordered alone or in one of the many combination platters that give a sampling of many items. The restaurant's "super combination" ($9.95) is a good choice--along with the tempting tamale you get a taco, a chalupa, a mild chile relleño, a cheese enchilada and the Mexican restaurant staples: rice, refried beans and melted cheese. One of the best things on this platter is the chicken taco. It's a small flour tortilla filled with pieces of tender, poached chicken breast, lettuce and tomatoes. Aztlan's fajitas are delicious. The fajitas Veracruz ($12.50) is a sizzling platter of delicate white shrimp, spicy chicken and tender browned onions, peppers and tomatoes. Pile these on flour tortillas with guacamole, sour cream and cheese-covered refried beans that come with the platter. Be careful with Aztlan's pico de gallo. It is mostly jalapeño peppers, and it is searingly hot.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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