Just quick, I wanted to tell everyone that last weekend I went back to Samantha's again and it was even better than the first time I went there. This time, I started with some pupusas and finished with a chicken chimichanga that was probably one of the best I've ever had. The chicken was very tender and fresh. Unlike most other Mexican restaurants, the chimichanga was not deep fried. Instead it was pan fried which I think is one of the reasons it tasted so much better. The Spanish rice it came with was moist and flavorful. I think what made the dish was the refried beans, though. Oh, and the pupusas were excellent. I LOVE their pork pupusas. I ordered a margarita, and it was not as good as the one I remember ordering last time. I think it was made with a mix - you could definitely tell the difference. So for my second drink, I ordered a "Cadillac" margarita which ended up being a lot bigger and a lot better. Service was excellent as well, but we had the same waitress as last time. :) If you guys haven't been to Samantha's, you should go!
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« I Love Indian Food | Main | Plans for Today »
Tue, Nov 23 2004 at 07:59 PM
Samantha's Revisited
Posted by Jason, Nov 23, 2004
Categories: Mexican, Restaurant Reviews, Salvadoran, Silver Spring
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I visited Samantha's yesterday afternoon. The waitstaff was extremely attentive and the food was much closer to what I would commonly expect to find in the southwest. Quite a welcome relief after someone else had recommended another Mexican restaurant Gaithersburg (which will remain nameless). I had the chicken pupusas (delicious!) and will try the pork ones next time.
Aside from the food, the staff was very easy going and the restaurant is overall relaxing. The check was not rushed and my water glass was never less than half full.
If you decide to visit and are driving eastbound on University Boulevard, the parking lot is just past the edge of the building on the right.
Samantha's is, by far, my favorite restaurant in Silver Spring. I bring all of my out of town guest there to eat because the food is fantastic and the staff is great. Everything, really, everything on the menu is good. But my current favorite dish there is the pollo asado--a perfectly roasted boneless half chicken, cooked with a wine sherry, and drizzled with onions. It is unbelieveable. After I "experienced" it the first time, I went back a few weeks later with other friends, and ordered it again, perhaps a little concerned that it would not be as good as the first time. It was perfect..again. And the next time, and the next time, and the next time. It really is very good. With some of their sangria, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you so much for the suggestion. I live in Silver Spring and have driven by Samantha's a few times, but never even realized what a gem it is. My boyfriend had a surf-and-turf (filet and lobster tail) that he enjoyed both in the restaurant and as a midnight snack in my apartment (there was plenty left over). I ordered three pupusas (cheese, chicken, and revueltas [pork]) and ate half of each. I think I went a little overboard on the fresh chips and salsa (was that salsa? It was like a warm tomato sauce with small chunks and cumin), so I wasn't too hungry by the time the pupusas arrived. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be going back to Samantha's.
I'm glad you enjoyed Samantha's Nic. It always gives me the warm fuzzies when I contribute to someone having a great meal.
Is Samantha's walkable from the silver spring metro?
No, definitely not.
I am a huge fan of 2Amys, Komi, Palena, Ray's the Steaks and other restaurants dcfoodies recommends. I must say, however, that I found Samantha's extremely disappointing. As a Latin American, I found it to be little better than Lauriol Plaza or Cactus Cantina (ie. your typical, commercial, mediochre pseudo-mexican/latin restaurant). The Tacos were covered in cheese (never seen in Mexico), and all plates looked so artifical/tex-mex, with standard orange-colored rice and a sub-par side of black beans. The tostones were undercooked and the pupusa, Ok. For real mexican food, I would reccommend Tacos Pepito's Bakery II on Columbia Rd. between 17th and 18th (the only decent Mexican i've tried in DC) and for Cuban, fly to Miami and go to Versalles on Calle 8 for the real deal. I am amazed at how high your standards are on french/italian food, and how low they are when it comes to south of the border.
Well, I wrote this over 2 years ago, but thanks for the tip on the place in Adams Morgan.
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Take it from a transplanted Arizonan: Good chimis are hard to come by out here. I found my favorite east coast chimi so far at Mexicali Cantina in Frederick, Md. I'll definitely have to check out Samantha's -- maybe this weekend!
Posted by: alykat | Nov 24, 2004 at 12:37 PM