Ixtapa

We checked out Ixtapa tonight for the first time.  It was a last second spur of the moment decision.  I have to say, that I thought the service here was really good.  Everyone was really friendly.  The Beef Quesadillas, Carne Rellena and Tacos Al Carbon were all tasty.  It is a tad pricey here, but everything makes up for it.  I'd give it another go.

My husband and I stopped by this place on our way back towards Seattle--he ordered the enchilada plate.  When our food came, he took two bites and immediately started having an allergic reaction--he abruptly left the restaurant and headed towards a nearby store to get some Benadryl to keep himself from going into anaphylaxis.  While he was gone, I asked the server what was in the enchilada sauce--at first the server said he didn't know (really? you work here and you don't know what's in your food?) but then when I asked if there was peanut butter in their sauce (because my husband is allergic to peanuts) and the server then said, "yes" there was peanut butter in their sauce!!  I started to explain that my husband is allergic to peanuts and the server got defensive and said, "if you would have told me, I can tell you which of our meals are safe."  Are you serious?  This is a Mexican restaurant!!  My husband has had peanut allergies his entire life and we've lived in three states, we've never once had to ask whether or not things are made with peanut butter in a Mexican restaurant.  Needless to say, I asked for the check and we promptly left (they still charged us for the enchilada, even though he couldn't eat it!).  Ridiculous.  We'll never go back.

I'm from Southern California and I know real Mexican food when I eat it. Ixtapa is not it, but it's the closest that you will find in Seattle/Eastside area. The chips and salsa are really good, but everything else is hit or miss. The portions are actually pretty skimpy and they are outrageously expensive for what they give you. I wouldn't mind paying more if the serving sizes were comparable to other Mexican places I've been. I realize I'm probably hard to please as I've grown up with the best Mexican food around, but still I think there is a standard that should be kept. I live right across the street from this place, so it's great when family is in town and we want to go for a sit down meal, but I will avoid it as much as possible. The servers are all great. The staff is very nice. But they are way too expensive for what you get.