Ortegaa(TM)s Mexican Restaurant, Groton

My wife and I had dinner at Ortegas recently. Its cozy, understated decor welcomed us. The wait staff and owner were friendly and attentive. Our waitress quickly served us complementary warm corn chips and freshly made salsa that had a little kick. We enjoyed the chips while they prepared our food. My wife had the chimichanga which was tasty and too big for her to finish. I had the plato picante, well seasoned cubed steak with rice and beans, It was delicious, not overly spicy and big enough to leave me ready for an after dinner nap. Very reasonably priced (around $40 including tip), It's a perfect place to have a quite, well prepared dinner and conversation with a friend or two. I'll be back.

This place sux! The most authentic thing about this place is the waiters. The tortillas are store bought, the cheese comes right out of a jar and it is outrageously over priced. I ordered a quesadilla for $8.00, worse then Taco Bell. Sure the decorations are cute, but doesnt make up for the lack of "authentic" or overly priced, your better off getting recipes off line and making it yourself, save a few bucks.

Being "authentic" has never really meant much to me. Even authentic food can taste horrible (and most people don't realize what "authentic mexican food" really is), but Ortegas manages to make someone who really doesn't like Mexican food smile. The warm chips are a comfort and the flavorful salsa a treat. My favorite dish is the sizzling fajita topped with just a little bit of sour cream and guacamole. I have never liked mexican rice and refried beans and I feel it would be unfair for me to judge this dish, but my partner devours both of our helpings without a second thought (darn his high metabolism!). I enjoy eating there and have returned many times. My friends and coworkers really enjoy it there, too!

I love this place.....it reminds me of my trip to Mexico! This is true mexican food....NOT American-Mexican food. My family and I always eat here and I send all my Hotel Guest there!!

Anyone who says Ortega's food is not authentic has never had authentic Mexican food. I have traveled extensively in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Mexico, and have eaten at some very good Mexican restaurants. While I wouldn't say Ortega bests some of those restaurants, it comes pretty close, and that's more than you can say for ANY of the others in this area. For a change from overly-Americanized pseudo-Mexican, this is the place I recommend.

The worst and blandest Mexican-like food I've ever had! I can't believe the owners are Mexican. Service is lazy, food is BLAND. The refried beans tasted like dirt. If you want awesome, authentic Mexican-make the drive to Branford for Jalapeno Heaven. In the meantime, if I want something local-I'll go to Margarita's (sad, a chain is better than Mexican-owned restaurant)

As a long time lover and preparer of Mexican foods at home, I was delighted to find Ortega in Groton after trying every Mexican restaurant I could find in Ct and being disappointed. The first month, I think I was there 10 times. We still love it many years later and try to plan our trips between Westerly and Farmington to include lunch or dinner there. Especially like the cheese enchiladas with chili gravy and the chile rellenos, which many Mexican restaurant wanna-be's dont do well or at all. Pablo laughs at me and says I am stuck on a few dishes but I do like them very much. I have tried nearly everything at one point or another and have brought many friends and family there too. Me encanta.

A personal favorite. Complementary tortilla chips seem to be fresh and salsa definitely is. I have not encountered a dish I didn't like: I live for the [beef] enchiladas al carbon, however.(The wise man eats to live: the fool lives to eat.) The owners and staff coould not be nicer. As an update to an older review spirits are now available.

The best thing about Ortega's is that it's not Taco Bell. It's not wrapped in paper, heated in a warmer, poured from a jar, or drenched in sour cream. It's simple real food flavors. Fresh homemade salsa. The dishes are seasoned well, not for heat, for flavor. To enhance the food. Service is always friendly. If you want fried, sour cream soaked mex-stick to taco bell. If you want the taste of real "homestyle" mex, you won't be dissappointed. Enchiladas mixtas and al carbone, are 2 of my favorites. The chille relleno is awsome.

When we first were stationed here in Groton we could'nt figure out why the Taco Bell was always so busy , then we went to Ortega's and now we know why. This with out a doubt is the worst Mexican food that both my wife and I have ever had , and we both have lived in Texas and California and have been to Mexico and this is no where near authentic , in addition we have eaten Mexican food in over a dozen states and have had better at school cafeterias . Ortega's is just plain lazy and doesnt even try , they simply take advantage they are the only answer to Taco Bell in the area so people fool themselves this is a better answer to fast food. The food is BLAND , even my 5 year old daughter drenched her food in hot sauce and said " it's still sad , daddy , can we eat at taco bell " , it doesnt matter how much or what you order your just fooling yourself and wasting your money.