Monterrey Mexicano Restaurante
2540 Atlanta Rd SESmyrna, GA 30080
(770) 432-1815
Pros: Amazingly friendly atmosphere, live music, fajitas, great prices, large portions
Cons: Mediocre set of traditionals, salsa is only so-so
When we were hitting a Mexican craving, we found this nice little restaurant. Don't let the exteriors fool you. Even though it may look like a rough area, once you enter the restaurant, warmth and cleanliness surround you.
The chips and salsa are sinfully addictive. Be careful, because you could easily fill yourself up on chips and salsa alone. The wait staff is incredibly friendly and made sure that our drinks were refilled and that our chips and salsa continued coming.
With the traditional combos, i.e., the left side of the menu (e.g., simple burritos, enchiladas, chile rillenos, etc.), don't expect anything too fancy. They're definitely not bad, but it's not anything that screams unique. Monterrey's fajitas, however, were amazing, with steak, chicken, and shrimp spiced to perfection. With huge portions, you can take the dishes home and easily have at least another meal (or two) with them.
Probably what steals the show, however, is the ambience. Monterrey has an extremely friendly atmosphere, and the staff are always on hand to attend to you. They also have a live mariachi band that goes from table to table playing a wide diversity of music. On our visit, they played everything from traditional Mexican music to Elvis, to childhood cartoon themes, to Sinatra. Versatile, to say the least! Be sure to arrive with a list of musical requests!
