Mad Mex Offers 'Funky' Atmosphere

Going out to dinner with friends is something we always try to fit into our plans. Out of leftovers and not quite ready to cook a full meal yet, we chose to go out last Monday thinking it would be the least busy day.

We were wrong. After checking out and leaving two other restaurants, one because the wait was over an hour and the second because it seemed a little too quiet for the four children ages 5-13 we had with us, we all agreed on Mad Mex in the Scott Towne Center along Greentree Road.

They told us the wait was about a half-hour, which wasn't ideal, but at least we could get drinks, chips and salsa at the bar, and the atmosphere there was lively with a mix of couples, groups and families.

"We've been really busy since Christmas," service manager P.J. Jackson said. "We've had a lot more families and larger groups."

My friend and I opted for strawberry margaritas, which were perfect. The first batch of chips and salsa was gone in about five minutes. Fighting for the last chip, my husband exclaimed: "They have the best salsa anywhere." It's made fresh daily with cilantro, garlic, chilis and California tomatoes.  

While waiting and enjoying the good music, I struck up a conversation at the bar with a regular, Luke Diamant, and friends who were finishing up happy hour.

"Mad Mex has great deals at happy hour, and I like the quality of beer selections," Diamant said. "They're always seasonal and different."

I found there were over 30 different bottled beers and 18 varieties of draught just perfect for the season: Lancaster Winter Warmer; Penn St. Nikolaus Bock; 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale; and Sam Adams Old Fezzwig Winter Ale to name a few. It's definitely better than your typical selection.

Although it took a bit longer than we expected, we did get a large round table in the corner that easily fit all of us and allowed the kids to sit together in the middle.

A "Funky, Fresh, Cal Mex" label promotes a large selection of entrees and appetizers with different combinations from Mexican, Southeast Asian and Spanish cuisines. The "funky" part of the restaurant's personality shows in the humor interspersed throughout the menu and I found myself wanting to order the California Grilled Salad that "pretty much guaranteed to give me Taylor Lautner abs."

The restaurant was very crowded and the wait staff and kitchen seemed to be a little taxed with the dinner rush. Normally, I enjoy a little wait for the food with a relaxing conversation, but when you have hungry kids, 10 minutes can seem like forever. All was forgiven when we got our food, however.

The biggest critics at the table, two teen/tween-age girls, thought the restaurant had the "best wings ever" and the youngest of our evaluators was thrilled with the kiddie beef nachos and mac n' cheese, which was homemade and nothing resembling the kind that comes in a box.

My shrimp enchilada had just the right amount of spice and the sauce (guajillo chili-tomato) mixed with Jack cheese added a rich and creamy topping to the whole dish. I also enjoyed the different texture of a corn tortilla and liked the rice, beans, and salsa on the side to create a unique combination in every bite.

My friend took me up on my suggestion to try something new and chose the Chicken Mole Enchilada. If you've never had Mole sauce, it's a robust sauce that's both hot and sweet with a little hint of chocolate and cinnamon. Very different and very good if you're looking for a change.

Although our meals were only in the $10 range, there's always so much food that I never seem to finish it all. When everyone was pleasantly stuffed, our waitress surprised the kids with small brownie sundaes that came with the kids meals. Our two "big kids" even got to order them for the $2 price.

We all left satisfied, with change to spare and happy to still be in the festive mood we came in with. Jeff Klink who eats out frequently in the Pittsburgh area and all over the country, summed it up well. "You can always count on Mad Mex for a good time and great food."  I recommend you definitely give it a try, or go back again and try something new on your next visit.

Price:  $$

Quality of Food:  8/10

Service:  7/10 

Verdict:  Definitely recommend it for couples, groups and families