La Esmeralda

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  Have stopped here several times, including recently during a trip to Reno/Tahoe area. The name has changed over the years and the location, honestly, is in great need of refurbishing. It's a big place and can handle a lot of business, but the wear and tear is really starting to show.
  
  As for the food, it's good. Nothing cutting edge, nothing unique or special. This last time we stopped for lunch and all three of us enjoyed what we had. Big props to the chips and salsa; they were fresh, tasty and plentiful. I had a chile relleno and a cheese enchilada. While the chile was a bit tough, the flavor was great, and the enchilada was good, too. The rice was above average, the beans ok. Others in my party said pretty much the same with their combo plates.
  
  The service was extremely friendly, with the waitress making sure everything was as ordered and to our liking.
  
  Downsides - The booth was extremely uncomfortable because the cushions were unstable. All the booths were the same, so it wasn't just this one spot. The bathrooms, well, they need a LOT of work. And, as mentioned before, the overall facilities need to be refurbished.
  
  I like the location, I like the menu, I like the service and the prices are good. But all of that will struggle if the overall condition of the place isn't improved.

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  Posted on 10.13.10 Charles B.

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  The atmosphere of the restaurant - empty ghost housie western oldie
  The so called upstairs club area - loftie
  The food - pretty darn good.  Well, the classic carnitas were awesome!! The salsa could have used some help but i drenched it with chochula so it was ok. The rest of the food wasn't bad either.  If you like carnitas, try their classic carnita dinner.  Their fried fish tacos were totally munchilicious too, according to my friend who ate them. (I trust his taste buds. They usually rhyme with mine.)

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  Posted on 07.24.08 Anthony H.

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  I was not aware of all these specials that this first guy posted about.  Now I feel left out on a secret.  
  
  We stopped here on our way to a show in Crystal Bay for dinner with friends who have fond nostalgic memories of eating here as a kid on vacation.  I do not share the fond nostalgic memories.  It's pretty generic Mexican food - nothing special or memorable.  The service was fine and there's lots of sombrero's about.  You know, that sort of thing.
  
  However, I'm fairly certain there are probably better choices for dinner in Incline Village.

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  Posted on 02.23.08 Lauren L.

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  Large-ish, bustling, Tex-mexi plus restaurant, the plus comes down to chicken wings, zucchini sticks, taco salads, and the like.  Chips are fresh, light, and homemade.  Salsa, though tasty, is too runny to stay on the chip.  Kitchen's open till ten, later than most non-casino restaurants intown.  
  
  Basically, Chevy's Fresh Mex. Only better food, atmosphere, and service.  But it's about eating, drinking, and having a good time -- not dining.
  
  Like all buildings in Tahoe it looks like a ski chalet, in this case a comfy dining area downstairs and a "cantina" bar loft with 15-foot ceilings, sports tvs, and full food service .  They've got a seven day all-night happy hour, 99 cent tacos and quesadillas, a full high-volume bar with an extensive tequilla seleciton, and a steady crowd of locals talking about their last drunk driving arrest and who's sleeping with whom.
  
  Woo hooo!!!!!

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  Posted on 09.01.06 Gil S.

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  NOTE: This review is for Las Panchitas in North lake Tahoe. As of this update, it's showing up under another restaurant in Incline Village.
  
  OH YEAH! This place is still one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall places. It's still underrated and undervisited. I have had some EXCELLENT dinners here when all the local places are packed. I went there on a recommendation after getting turned away by 5 other places with hour-long waits. Seeing no wait made me nervous...but the food ABSOLUTELY took any doubts away. Since that visit, I have been there probably 10 times and each time is like the last. Very family-oriented, very good fast food.
  
  Kid friendly!

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  Posted on 03.08.06 Scot B.

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