The Festiva Review: Alonso's Alonso

Alonso's Alonso lures people in with its brightly colored exterior.

The orange walls offer a promise of a unique dining experience that the restaurant doesn't live up to.

I realized this restaurant would disappoint from my first sip of iced tea, which had an acrid taste - an indication it had been sitting around a little too long. From there my experience went downhill fast.

Our guacamole ($3.95) arrived, and I stared down at the plate of mashed avocado. Sliced onions and tomatoes lined the side of the plate, but the dish lacked any seasoning or attempt at making it guacamole. We eventually took the lemon from my iced tea and squeezed it onto the avocado. Then we mixed in some salt and pepper, onion and tomato, making it a passable guacamole, but still - I don't go to a restaurant to make my own food.

We awaited our main course with a bit of dread. I had been looking forward to envueltas de pollo ($6.50) when I ordered it. The promise of chicken-filled corn tortillas in a mild tomato sauce smothered in mozzarella cheese seemed like a tasty dinner. One bite into my meal I realized, I should have ordered something else. The tacos were oddly sweet; the chicken, although it was in a tomato sauce, was dry.

My husband had the same reaction to the Pazole Jalisco ($5.50). The soup had an odd sheen of grease on the top, and was inedible. Surprisingly, even the child's enchilada plate was not great ($3.95). The enchiladas had little flavor and the rice was greasy.

In the car after we left the restaurant, I turned to my husband and asked him what he thought. He shook his head, and said that in the two years we've been doing restaurant reviews this was the worst we've ever been to. I sighed and said I agreed.

What: Alonso's Alonso Tex Mex Restaurant

Address: 2100 North Raul Longoria Road, San Juan

Phone: 956-782-7333

Food:  1

Atmosphere: 2

Service: 3

Overall: 2

Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.