Last week, we were in the Northern Virginia area, and my little one was craving some queso dip from a Mexican restaurant. The first Mexican restaurant we could find in the Purcellville area was El Rancho Plus, so we tried them out. It was a small, homey type of spot, with a more limited menu than a usual Mexican restaurant, but the food was still pretty solid, and the staff was extremely friendly. We had a six year old and a one year old with us, and they were very accepting of them running around a bit (it was extremely empty so they were not disturbing others).
Price 💲💲💲out of 5
The price was a little bit higher than I would have expected from a Mexican restaurant, but they did provide complimentary chips and salsa which was nice. Most of the dishes were in the $15 to $18 range, with more specialty items being in the mid to high $20s. I understand that prices are going up, but with a price increase, we should demand a quality increase as well, and unfortunately the food was good – but not exceptional.
Ambience 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳out of 5
This spot was pretty cool, with traditional Mexican decor, a bar, and extremely friendly and understanding staff. We did, however, see one of the most peculiar things we have ever encountered in a restaurant in our region. They had an entire wall dedicated to 9/11, with printed out pictures of the terrorist attacks that fateful day. A very strange thing to include in a restaurant, and I actually wish I would have asked why – we figured that maybe somebody affiliated with the restaurant lost someone in the attack.
Food 🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
The food was solid, but not spectacular. My daughter loved her cheese dip, and I tried it and it was the right blend of flavor and consistency. She is extremely picky, so if she approves it, then I consider it a win. The salsa had the right spice level, and the chips were salted perfectly.
We got an appetizer of jalapeno poppers to share. They also had a pretty good kick, but I feel that there just wasn’t enough filling, as I mostly tasted breading. I’d like a thicker jalapeno with plenty of cheese sauce and a light breading. We also split the combination fajitas that had sauteed chicken, beef, and shrimp, along with a plethora of veggies, including peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It came with all the fixings. In addition, they provided us with four very small tortillas, which I do not think was sufficient for the amount of protein and veggies they provided us. Overall, the taste was pretty good, but I felt some of the fajita meat and veggies got overcooked on the piping hot skillet.
Lastly, Ashley got a chili relleno, and it looked phenomenal. She said it was really flavorful, and the portion was plentiful. It was absolutely drenched in queso and came with rice and beans. I am regretting not asking to try it!
Experience ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
I would definitely consider going back to El Rancho Plus, but it isn’t on the top of my list for Mexican restaurants in the area. While the food was pretty good, and there are other things I would like to try next time, all I can think about is why there was a wall dedicated to 9/11 in a Mexican restaurant in Purcellville. If anyone has any insight, I’d love to know!