Las Glorias

He said:

Always looking for good Mexican restaurants, we dropped in to Las Glorias as soon as we noticed it nestled in one of the suburban Draper retail strips. I recommend using Las Glorias’ convenient back entrance, as the parking on that side is abundant. As we entered the restaurant, painted murals of southwest desert vistas surrounded us. The scenes depicted small farms, adobe homes, and plenty of red rock cliffs and arches. The quintessential Mexican tableau added a welcome charm to the restaurant.

After seating us, a server brought us seasoned chips with two bowls of salsa. We also got a salsa bottle, perhaps intended to refill the bowls. I expected to find one mild salsa and one spicy, but both were tame enough that I could recommend them to Kathy. Although one lacked distinction, I enjoyed the other, thick with morsels of peppers and other ingredients. I finished that one quickly, but unfortunately, the refill bottle held the other variety.

I ordered the Country Steak, a top sirloin topped with grilled mixed vegetables. I was surprised when my large, loaded plate arrived with French fries. I’m going to blame the extensive menu, which had so many items on it that I failed to read the entirety of my meal’s description. I was slightly embarrassed to visit a Mexican restaurant only to order French fries. The thin-cut steak was pounded flat, so it looked even larger than its 10 ounces. I couldn’t even see most of it, as much of it was smothered in peppers and onions, with French fries hiding the rest. Sadly, though the steak was well seasoned with a hint of lime, it was overcooked. I am accustomed to getting medium when I ask for medium-rare, but I don’t know how they could miss it by so much that they reached well-done.

Although I was disappointed in my over-done steak, I enjoyed the charming setting. The portions were plentiful despite their low prices, providing excellent value.

She said:

As Brian said, we decided only at the last minute to have lunch at Las Glorias. The atmosphere was pleasant enough with its tables, chairs, and booths; the cliff murals on the walls; and the artificial plants scattered throughout. I appreciated that there was Spanish music emanating from the speakers, but the volume could have been toned down a bit. Plus, a bell directly behind my right ear chimed loudly every time a patron entered the premises. That was rather annoying and distracting.

As for the food? Meh. The only item that had any flavor was my Chimichanga with its Chile Verde (shredded pork) and seasonings. The rice and beans were bland. The mild salsa that Brian enjoyed was a pleasant surprise for me. Most Mexican restaurants serve salsas that are too spicy for my palate.

The dining room held plenty of patrons (of which the door chime continually reminded me). The popularity of Las Glorias may be due to its generous portions and cheap prices. Despite the muted flavors, the food is plentiful. However, it isn’t a place to which I plan on returning.

Conclusion:

For us, Las Glorias failed to reach their potential. Brian would give it another try, but Kathy isn’t so sure. Las Glorias provides good value in a charming setting, but our meals suffered from some critical shortcomings.