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• News , Washingtonian 0

  The Washingtonian: "A rooftop spot for frozen swirly margaritas and sizzling fajitas"

  

  It's rare to pass Lauriol Plaza on a weekend without seeing a line of people on the sidewalk waiting for a table. Part of its appeal is its outdoor dining space--on the sidewalk and a roof deck. But more than that, Lauriol Plaza almost defines what a Cheap Eats restaurant should be--large portions of good food at fair prices. Like its sister restaurant, Cactus Cantina, Lauriol Plaza is a cut above most of its Tex-Mex competition.
  
  

  

  The usual tacos, enchiladas, and chimichangas offer very good value for the money, but the real treats are the meats grilled over a mesquite fire. Fajitas are cooked to a tender medium rare; quail are succulent and burnished to a lovely mahagony brown; chicken is tender and moist. Any of these, with the accompanying flour tortillas, rice, beans, and guacamole--and perhaps a Dos Equis or a margarita--make for a great bargain meal.
  
  Reviewed By Thomas Head From June 2005 Cheap Eats
  
  

  On 30.12.14 / By Lauriol Plaza
• News , Spoon 0

  Spoon University: Lauriol Plaza: DC’s Mexican Food Standby

  

  Take a look at the Mexican food buzz behind DC's popular Latin American restaurant.

  
  Tex-Mex and fast food chains abound outside of Mexico itself and the Southwest. While DC is no exception, there is a ray of light for fellow Mexican food lovers in the guise of Lauriol Plaza.
  
  The long-established, three-storied behemoth sits between Dupont and Adam’s Morgan. In addition to both Americanized and more classic Mexican food, this restaurant offers tempting Spanish, Central American and South American dishes. Spoon stopped by on a Mexican food mission for a drawn out Saturday lunch.
  
  Carne asada a la parrilla
  
  

  Carne a la parrilla

  The carne asada is a must. It’s a Mexican herb-marinated skirt steak that comes sizzling with delicious mesquite smoke. Grilled vegetables and fresh flour tortillas round out the flavorful meat in this classic dish. The accompanying rice and beans will leave you very satisfied.
  
  Beef Enchiladas
  
  

  Beef Enchiladas

  Fresh corn tortillas packed full of tender beef and dripping in hot gooey cheese and beef sauce–where can you go wrong? The beef enchilada verges on the Tex-Mex side but is tasty and timeless nonetheless. This dish is served with the usual Mexican rice and beans, yum.
  
  Chilaquiles
  
  

  Chilaquiles

  Chilaquiles is a traditional dish prepared with fried tortilla, scrambled eggs, grilled chicken and warm green tomatillo sauce. This tasty conglomeration is topped with cheese and served with a refreshing side of fruit. Fun fact: chilaquiles are a famed hangover cure, to which one of my fellow diners agreed. Try some on a groggy morning and see how it works for yourself!
  
  Brussels sprouts
  
  

  Brussels Sprouts

  Brussels Sprouts are admittedly not Mexican, but hey, you can get your green veggie fix on. This dish is sautéed with garlic goodness, bacon and potato.
  
  Cajeta ice cream
  
  

  Cajeta Ice Cream

  Cajeta is a caramelized milk confection similar to dulce de leche. The combination of vanilla ice cream, cajeta and coconut tastes perfect on a hot day.
  
  Tres leches cake
  
  This cake is amazing. This fluffy sponge cake is soaked in three types of milk and layered with whipped cream frosting. Moist with the right amount of sweetness, the tres leeches cake made a great ending to an eclectic meal.
  
  

  Tres Leches Cake

  Make a trip to Lauriol Plaza sometime soon! It’s open for brunch, lunch and dinner and is especially busy on weekend nights. The frozen swirled margaritas are very popular by the glass and by the pitcher, and the expansive menu and seating space make it great for groups.
  
  If you’re in the mood for higher end Mexican food try Oyamel by José Andrés on 7th St. Alternatively, try Los Cuates on Wisconsin Ave for a closer margarita bar hangout and tons of Tex-Mex options.
  
  Location: 1835 18th Street NW, Washington DC 20009
  Hours of operation: Mon-Thurs 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-12pm, Sun 11am-11pm
  

  
  Written by Posted by Amber Young | Photo by Eugene Ang

  On 17.12.14 / By Lauriol Plaza
• News 0

  Lauriol Plaza leads the Top-7 Mexican Restaurants in DC

  Thanks to our employees, our loyal customers, Lauriol Plaza leads the Top-7 Mexican Restaurants in DC by Scoutology - Check it out here

  On 16.12.14 / By Lauriol Plaza
• News , Washington Post 0

  Lauriol Plaza wins Best Mexican Food from Washington Post

  

  Lauriol Plaza won "Best Mexican Food" in washingtonpost.com's Best Bets 2002 Readers' Choice contest.
  
  Of our chips: "These are some of the best chips anywhere, thin and crisp, with just enough salt and not too much grease. The salsa is warm to the touch and on the tongue, a near-liquid puree fragrant with ground chilies, onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices."
  
  Of our margaritas: "big, strong and eyelash-curling-tart ones with no unwelcome taste of chemical mixes."
  
  "One night the silkiest rockfish, perfectly moist and fresh, was topped with shrimp, scallops and mushrooms in a light, clear sauce. Even the vegetables - carrots and green beans - were flawlessly cooked.
  
  "Fajitas are piled with smoky, well-marinated meat... But the Spanish and Latin American dishes have more character than the Tex-Mex. ...the mariscos saltado is a playground of tomatoes, onions, chilies, cilantro and fried potatoes; the paella has a briny intensity. Masitas de puerco is mild, comforting chunks of pork with an undertone of orange. Pollo asado, even better, is a half-chicken well browned and buried in dark fragrant onions."
  
  

  By Phyllis Richman

  Washington Post Staff Writer

  
  One of the best first courses are the impressively light pork tamales—moistened at table with a splendid chile colorado—but also try the fine chiles rellenos and beef quesadillas.
  
  Good as the combination platters can be, the best main courses come from the mesquite-fired grill: crusty yet moist shrimp; firm, flavorsome, and meaty little pork spareribs; and soy-sauce-accented beef fajitas that are as good as you'll enjoy in the area.
  
  

  Robert Shoffner, Washingtonian Magazine

  
  ...the standout carne asada fajitas, and tasty camarones diablo (6 broiled jumbo shrimp seasoned with spices). Anything mesquite grilled is sure to please. Servings are as large as the restaurant. Sunday brunch, also recommended.
  
  

  Frommer's Washington, DC 2003

  On 13.12.14 / By Lauriol Plaza
• News , Washington Post 0

  "One of the most lively urban corners in the city" - The Washington Post

  Here is one of many reviews the Washington Post has done on Lauriol Plaza. This is from November 1996. The article was written by Phyllis C. Richman.
  
  The review focuses around the quality of beef fajitas, the chips and the guacamole.
  
  Here is an excerpt of the original text:
  
  "Success definitely has spoiled Lauriol Plaza, but I still love to sit outside in the L-shaped sidewalk cafe. Its site remains one of the most lively urban corners in the city. And the ultra-thin, crisp chips with a tart margarita or pisco sour are enough to warrant an evening of people watching.
  
  The once-Spanish menu has gone Tex-Mex, with fajitas upstaging the Spanish dishes. Those fajitas are actually very good. Amend that: The fajita meat is excellent, smoky and rare. But the guacamole is bland, the pico de gallo more so. And the formerly wonderful chile relleno, as well as ordinary tacos, haven't the zest they once had.
  
  What does that leave? Masitas de puerco are still pungent, the chunks of tender meat permeated with bitter orange. And I retain hope for the other Spanish dishes. While most of the crowd tucks into enchiladas, tacos and fajitas, I'm more interested in duck with tart orange sauce or garlicky chicken. As long as the weather allows, all of us would rather line up for an outdoor table than dine indoors here.
  
  © Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company"
  
  Original Source: The Washington Post Review

  On 13.12.14 / By Lauriol Plaza