If you have lived in Athens for a long time, you have probably already tried Taqueria La Parilla. It is extremely popular among those who live in the Athens area, including at Athens Academy.
In fact, if you have taken Mrs. Street’s English you have probably heard her praise it as her all time favorite restaurant. It is a Mexican restaurant that has three locations: one near Watkinsville, one on the eastside of Athens, and one in Bogart. Although I have never eaten at the Bogart location, I can confidently say that the other two locations have a similar level of quality.
One of the most important things about a Mexican restaurant is how good the chips and dips are. Taqueria La Parilla (or Lapa, as many like to call it) has spectacular salsa, having a great flavor and a bit of spice that is not overpowering. I would have to say that it is my favorite salsa of any restaurant.
Their cheese dip on the other hand is also great; however, I would argue that it has taken a slight decline over the past years. It is still a high quality cheese dip, but I find it too cheesy now without enough seasoning. Many disagree with me though, and maintain it is better than ever.
Their rice is a spectacular side to any meal, and once again, I believe it is the best rice you can get anywhere. My usual entree is tacos, and I usually get ground beef tacos with cheese, which are an amazing dish with perfectly seasoned beef, but I have also tried the Mexican tacos, which have a corn tortilla and cilantro, (and I believe no cheese), another delicious dish.
All of this alone would already qualify Lapa to be a great restaurant, but there is even more praise I have for the restaurant. Their service is spectacular, and lightning fast. Even with a party of four, one can expect to get their food in less than 10 minutes on an average day (although sometimes when they are jam packed due to the popularity, it can be longer). I have gone to Lapa before and gotten my food in less than 5 minutes. The day I went to write this review, I got my cheese dip and salsa only about a minute after ordering them.
The excellent food paired with spectacular service makes this restaurant a top tier restaurant. . In the words of my waitress, “We are a family restaurant that is happy to serve the community,” well, the community clearly loves the service
