Los Arcos

Los Arcos is a charming, but unmemorable restaurant very close to our condo on Dowling Rd. in Anchorage. The restaurant is a strip mall dweller, which I always look upon as a positive sign. The interior is a cheery – almost overwhelming, deep greenish-turquoise. Comfortable booths line the windows facing Dowling. The service is prompt and friendly. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is in the top tier of Mexican restaurants in Anchorage.

I liked everything about the location and ambiance of Los Arcos, so I really wanted to like the food. And, I didn’t dislike it. It’s just totally unremarkable. The chips were the thicker, long skinny triangle variety that I have now noted in numerous Mexican restaurants throughout Anchorage, and have now decided are not my favorite – I prefer the thinner, crispier equilateral triangles. Two salsas were provided; both were quite tasty, and thankfully NOT overly tomato-y, however, not remarkable either. The food was good; I had a taco and enchilada with rice and beans, and everything was perfectly fine, but nothing really stood out. Perhaps it is easier for food to stand out if some more exotic or specialty of the house type dishes are ordered, but the menu really didn’t reveal anything tempting or exotic to entice me.

I found the margaritas disappointing. Nothing I could really put my finger on, and not bland or bad, but just not as flavorful as those I have had at other establishments.

Overall, I have absolutely no complaints about Los Arcos, but no compelling reason to return, either. While they are very close to our condo, unfortunately for them, Mexico in Alaska and Gallo’s are just as close or closer.

Overall rating for La Mex: 3

(Ratings are 1-5; 1=ick, 3=average, 5=yumyumyum!)

Ambiance: 4+

Waiter: 4

Chips and salsa: 3+

Menu options: 3-

Food tastiness: 3-

Margaritas: 3-