Acapulco Restaurant Amesbury MA – Ask for the Salsa Picante!

 It’s a surprise to learn that this is a small regional chain of restaurants (13 locations!)  because there is nothing of a one-of-many feel to to it.  The atmosphere and attention from the waitstaff  gives you the impression that this restaurant is a special, one-of-a-kind experience that a hard-working family is pouring it’s heart into.  We go back time and again…. when we get the craving for something spicy in a warm, relaxed environment and want to enjoy the seemingly undivided attention and care from a wait-staff that seems to never skip a beat.  And oh yeah – we go for the almost-secret salsa too!

 

 

You won’t see it on the menu, and it won’t be brought to the table as a matter of course, but ask for the Salsa Picante.  It’s ultra-spicy for sure, but very different than the run-of-the-mill green salsas usually found in Mexican restaurants.  This salsa has a rich, deep flavor, a heat that hits and then leaves fairly quickly so that you just can’t wait for that next bite of it.  It is memorable, and having tried a couple of times to learn the ingredients (to no avail)  I must be satisfied to just go back for more. All I’ve gotten is that it has an ingredient that’s hard to find, it doesn’t have tomatillos in it, it does have roasted red tomatoes, and the heat isn’t from serrano peppers.  Hmmm, whatever it is,  you could put this salsa on anything and make it taste good – but you have to know it exists, and ask nicely for it.  They won’t sell you a little thing of it to take home  so enjoy it while you’re there.  They are protecting this secret weapon vigilantly, and while I would love to know how to make it myself I can’t blame them – it’s very special indeed.

 

What else do I love about this place?  Over the years I’ve grown accustomed to the rather bizzare wall decor, and now I look forward to going and being somewhat mesmerized by it. To say it’s unusual would be an understatement, and to say it doesn’t takes some getting used to would be a lie!  But now I like it, and it does make the restaurant seem special -  a welcome change from the posh interior of Newburyport’s Mexican food restaurant whose food I  don’t want to eat anyway.  The bar area, with it’s large flat-screen-TV’s,  is well separated-from the dining room which anyone with children can appreciate.  The large windows on two sides of the restaurant allow a lot of natural light into the space and along with the fact that the restaurant is very clean, makes for an overall bright and cheery atmosphere.

 

 

More food favorites at Acapulco’s include something else not featured on the menu – their tamales!  I found them listed as a choice for a combo plate, and I learned they’ll offer them as a side if your order a meal (and only if you order a meal) so they have me there again,  but I don’t mind.  Their prices are reasonable and it’s not difficult to find something to enjoy… even if it’s just to get at the tamales.  And the red sauce they put on those tamales?  Oh, that red sauce is the real deal:  rich, deep chili flavor and although I forgot to request it on my chicken enchilada this time around that is what I usually do.  The default cheese they put on the chicken enchilada, as seen here,  is just something I scrap off and set to the side….it just looks  indigestible and the flavor is very bland. I recommend NOT forgetting to ask for that red sauce any chance you get!

 

 

A lot of the dishes come with refried beans and rice, and while I don’t care for the rice unless I mix some of that salsa picante with it, Rob does like it.  What I do like of the two are the refried beans.  Simple and simply delicious.  I’m always surprised at how refried beans can be so great, but so bad if you are getting them in a poor Mexican restaurant.  There’s a trick to these, and when you get an authentic version as you do here you can absolutely tell the difference.

 

Another favorite menu item is the  Chicken Fajita Chimichanga.  It’s not greasy fried food, but  done very well and a good choice is you’re not up to the larger fajita platter.  It comes with guacamole, and all I can say about that is it seems they are taking a commercial, smooth puree version and attempting to liven it up with a bit of fresh tomato and such.  Not bad, but a freshly made guacamole would put them over the top in my book.

They are not shy on portions here, so if your eyes are bigger than your tummy you are going to be carting some of your meal home.  As much as I try to be reasonable when ordering, there are too many things to try and enjoy, so I do tend to go overboard.  What I don’t go overboard on are the Margaritas, because they make a mean Margarita and more than one is more than I can do!  We did take the opportunity to ask their opinion on the best tequila (in their opinion).  There was no hesitation in the response:  Patron Silver.  No argument here, but just for curiosity sake it was a fun question to ask.

 

I’ve never had enough room to order dessert at Acapulco’s…….but I’d love to try them all.  Someday, and there will be a someday because I’ll be going back time and again.  The only reasonable choice for Mexican food in the Greater Newburyport area, and I imagine they stack up to the competition at their 12 other locations as well!

Timeless Gourmet’s Top Menu Picks for Acapulco’s Mexican Restaurant:

• Salsa Picante
• Beef Tamales
• The Red Sauce option
• Refried Beans
• Chicken Fajita Chimichanga
• The Ultimate Margarita

 

 And just for fun, voice your opinion on the Wall Decor!

  

Acapulco’s Family Restaurant, Amesbury:

Website:   http://www.acapulcos.net/home.htm

Address:  88 Macy St. (Rt. 110) Carriage Town Plaza, Amesbury MA   Map 

Hours:   Monday – Thursday: 11AM-10PM
                    Friday, Saturday: 11AM-11PM
                    Sunday: 11AM-10PM

Phone:   978-834-0000