The restaurant has two locations in Dubuque:
2700 Dodge Street
2345 NW Arterial
I will focus on the 2345 NW Arterial location.
Distance from Campus
The 2700 Dodge Street (Highway 20) Los Aztecas is about 1.9 miles off of campus. Driving takes less than 10 minutes and walking is about 45 minutes. The other location is at 2345 NW Arterial which can be a 3.5-4.5 mile journey depending on the route taken. I wouldn’t recommend walking, but the drive will take about 10-12 minutes. Both locations are situated close to grocery stores, clothing stores, and movie theaters.
Parking
Free parking is available in front of the restaurant, and I’m sure if it was too crowded, you’d find parking in the Hyvee parking lot situated across the way. Free parking is always a good thing. I will always say that. ALWAYS.
Appearance
The outside of the restaurant is clean and well put-together, with its pristine clay tile roof shingles. The restaurant itself looks a little misplaced, as if it should be placed in a dessert region. There are neon signs advertising liquor as well as the restaurant’s name. Please check out the picture below in the slide show.
Service
I went to the restaurant with a large party; we were all able to sit at the same table. The servers were all extremely friendly and quick, and were kind enough to give everyone a separate bill.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness, I will continue to say, is the most important part of any restaurant experiences, so I’m happy to say that Los Aztecas gets an A+ for it. Both the floors and the tables were nice and clean.
Atmosphere
Los Aztecas has a tastefully cheesy, but at the same time modern, atmosphere. The color scheme is earthy and incredibly warm. It sounds weird, but when you’re surrounded by the right shade of orange/yellow, it’s like receiving a hug from a wall. Moreover, the restaurant has brick-work throughout as well as clay roofs and archways which make it as if you’re eating in a courtyard. There’s also a giant Aztec calendar hanging near the entrance. How fitting! By the time our party began eating dinner, the place gradually began to fill up and there was barely an empty table. Surrounding the dining space are televisions, which can potentially distract away from human interaction. Los Aztecas also has a stocked bar.
Menu
Check out the large menu! http://www.losaztecasonline.com/menu
Los Aztecas offers a wide variety of Mexican food including enchiladas, frijoles y arroz, flautas, y chalupas. The prices ranges of entrées range from 8.99 to 12.99. With the amount of food they serve, I’d say it’s a good value. What I like about the menu is that it gives the opportunity to mix and match different items on the menu, just in case you can’t choose one thing. (Check it out on the menu under “combinations.”)
Cost
For $10.00 I ate chips and salsa, rice, beans, two tacos, and a Mexican soda (Jarritos.)
Check this link http://www.losaztecasonline.com/menu for specific costs.
Food
Like bread at an Italian restaurant, Los Aztecas serves delicious (and I’d say homemade) chips and salsa with every meal. The tacos I ordered had flavorful ground beef and cheese. The only complaint was that I could have used a bit more lettuce, but that’s me being picky. The rice and beans were tasty, but only slightly on the salty side. I can honestly I don’t have many, if any, valid complaints about the food. As I sat eating my meal, the other members of the party I was with also had positive responses to their own meals. My favorite part of the experience was being able to order a Jarritos, a Mexican soda, something that reminds me of home.
I give Los Azteca’s 4.5 “Satisfied Stomachs” out of a possible 5 for its distance from campus, but also for its good service, great selection of food, bang-for-your-buck menu, and festive atmosphere.
