Pros: Great location, excellent décor and atmosphere, margaritas, fajitas, close to good Mexican Food
Cons: Parking, possible wait time
My wife and I moved to Virginia a little more than 4 years ago from New Mexico, so you can imagine we immediately began searching for a go-to place for Mexican food.
We decided to try Uncle Julio's after a few recommendations and it being local to us. Of course everyone had their own opinion of what Mexican food is and what the closest Mexican food gets around here, but still considered Tex-Mex. I will start by saying we have yet to find a great authentic Mexican food place in Virginia, but this place is pretty good.
Uncle Julio's is located in the newly built Stonebridge shopping center. New shops, restaurants, groceries, and a gym are located here. Soon to be apartments and possibly the Potomac Nationals Stadium! Parking hasn't been an issue previously, however as restaurants open and the final shops finish up, you can expect heavy traffic in the near future. You may have to park around the corner. The restaurant however is fairly big, with a huge bar area, indoor seating, and two outside areas great for the warmer weather. The restaurant décor is a typical modern mix between Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican style.
We've gone several times on various days and times. There have been a few times we've had to wait 15 - 30 minutes. I wouldn't say it gets overly busy but best to expect a delay on the weekends after 6:00. I don't believe they take reservations over the phone. Also, if you get a chance, sit outside, it's a great location and atmosphere.
The staff has always been pretty friendly. We've never had a really bad experience, maybe a little bit of a wait from time to time but overall a pretty good and helpful staff.
The drinks are pretty good. They have a good selection of margaritas and usual bar drinks. They have some select wines and beers as well. I recommend trying a margarita as it's a must to find the right Mexican place for you. I will say I like almost any and all margaritas and they're pretty hard to screw up.
Regarding the food, they start you off with the usual chips and salsa. I will say they are pretty good and get away from the usual ketchup, people call salsa, and chips we're used to from other restaurants. We were told to try the fajitas the first time we went there. After multiple visits, we tend to only get the fajitas and I strongly recommend them. I have however tried the carne asada and will say it's definitely another option and a go-to favorite when I'm not having the fajitas! The fajitas come with either chicken or steak, both are perfectly cooked for fajitas on a bed of sauteed onions and peppers. It comes with fresh hand made tortillas, which you can see being made by the bar area. You also get the fajita toppings: cheese, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, grilled jalapeño, and with a side of beans and rice. The carne asada again is excellent, a tender slab of steak and very delicious and tender. You definitely get a fill here. We've never tried a appetizer. We have tried the dessert, and if you say it's your first time, which we did our first time, they tend to give you a order of their mini sopapillas.
Overall this has become our go to for a great place and close to authentic Mexican meal. I'm sure they have some great other dishes and plan to try them in the future, however, the fajitas are a must! If you have room, go with the mini sopapillas. If you get a chance, sit outside. Price isn't too bad, you can expect to pay 15 - 30 dollars a person.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
