Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar

So what’s not to like?  Fresh American-style Mexican food with character.  A cozy bar with an intense Happy Hour crowd.  A patio that is perfect for a long sunny afternoon of sunglasses, margaritas, and good friends.  Friendly servers with a sense of humor.  A beautiful dining room with comfortable tables and nooks.   

But this was not the Moctezuma’s I experienced when I first moved to Gig Harbor.  At their former location, across the street by the old Safeway, I had tried them several times and found them consistent.  Consistent in poor service, high prices, blah food, and even more blah décor. 

But I was willing to give them another try after the move to the new location and the positive buzz I was hearing from others. My benchmark for a first visit to a Mexican restaurant is to order a beef enchilada, with rice and beans.  Moctezuma’s was a pretty standard offering but their beef was well seasoned and wrapped in a tender corn tortilla.  The sauce was rich and flavorful.  It has just the right amount of spice and was the deep burgundy color that I prefer to those thin, bright-red sauces at some places.  The rice and beans were very fresh. 

I tried a chicken Taco Dorado next, a jazzed-up version of a crispy chicken taco.  The shell is freshly deep fried and it comes out crisp and delicious.  A crema sauce is drizzled over it to accent the shredded chicken and cotija cheese.  Add a side of their simple but divine quacamole and it's near perfection.

On yet another visit I decided to go light and opted for one of their salads.  My Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad left me with absolutely no “I wish I hadn’t ordered a salad and had something indulgent like everyone else” regrets.  The dressing, an emulsion with fragrant cilantro and lime juice, draped lightly over the salad of boldly seasoned grilled chicken, avocado, toasted pepitas, cotija cheese, cucumbers, and crispy tortilla strips.  All the ingredients worked together harmoniously and I left feeling satisfied.

Our service at the new location has always been fast and friendly.  One of our dinners in the crowded bar could have been a disaster.  We were wedged into a table that was much too small (it was the only spot available so we chose to sit there rather than wait for another table) and our large group had an embarrassing amount of special orders and substitutions.  But our server was a pro and the food came out perfect the first time.

The building is beautiful, inside and out.  The use of dark colors, stonework, and wood creates a warm space under the exposed wood beam ceilings.  It’s inviting and interesting with surprises like little pops of color in unexpected places.  The interior is divided up into distinct sections, hence the cozy atmosphere.  The open fireplaces, one in the dining room and one in the bar, are great accents.  It’s tasteful, classic, and light-years from the garish décor of so many American-Mexican restaurants. 

At Moctezuma's there can be a long wait for a table during lunch and dinner hours, especially on the weekends.  Reservations are advised, especially for large parties.  The parking lot is awkward and hard to maneuver in if you don't have a tiny vehicle.  It is often full, so parking in the neighboring medical center parking lot is commonplace.

The Tequila Bar is frequently crowded and loud, especially during big sporting events.  Seating is mostly barstool-type seats which can be a little uncomfortable for leisurely dinners, unless you can snag a booth.  Stick with the dining room or deck for more comfortable seating if that's what you are looking for.  

From the gorgeous central bar, they offer an incredible selection of tequilas, cocktails, and non-alcohol versions of many drinks. The entrée prices fall in the $10.99 to $18.99 range for dinner and $7.99 to $11.99 from lunch.  Their portions are generous without being ridiculously huge and with the high quality of the food, it’s a good value.

This is one of those rare times when I am happy to be proven wrong.  The owner, Arturo Garcia, has stepped up and given us a quality dining destination.  I am looking forward to spending some time in the sun on their patio soon!