El Aguila — Restaurant in Maryland

A Culinary Delight at El Aguila (Colesville Location)

I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Aguila, and I can confidently say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. Despite the restaurant being busy, I was seated immediately, which was a pleasant surprise.

Though I’ve visited El Aguila several times, this was my first time experiencing an evening dinner—and it did not disappoint. The ambiance was fantastic, with live music and singing that created the perfect setting for a Friday night family dinner. The service was impeccable; the staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely eager to ensure an outstanding dining experience.

Our waitress, Valerie, was absolutely amazing. She was not only friendly but also incredibly attentive and well-informed about the menu. We truly appreciated her warm service and the effort she put into making our evening special.

Now, onto the highlight—the food. Every dish was a masterpiece, beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. We started with the appetizer platter, which featured steak quesadillas, grilled shrimp, and the best wings I have ever had. Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection.

For the main course, I enjoyed one of my El Aguila favorites—the chicken and shrimp fajitas. My husband had his go-to steak tacos (his favorite dish here, and according to him, the best he’s ever had). My cousin opted for a combination meal, which she thoroughly enjoyed—an impressive first-time experience for her!

Dessert was the perfect finale. The tres leches cake was one of the best I’ve ever tasted, with just the right amount of sweetness. A big thank you to Dario for treating us to such a delicious ending to our meal!

Beyond the incredible food, what truly sets El Aguila apart is the attention to detail and the passion evident in every aspect of the dining experience. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a night out, this restaurant is a must-visit.

A special shoutout to the owner, Dario, who personally checks in on his guests to ensure that everyone is having a great experience. His dedication to customer satisfaction is truly commendable.

Thank you, Dario, Valerie, and the entire amazing staff at El Aguila for always going above and beyond!

Five...

Mayra, our server, was friendly and attentative! 110%+

If you only read one part of my review, read this part I copied and pasted from the end:* You can not leave this place without ordering a dessert that I've had hundreds of times in my life growing up, but here it was, in my opinion: OUT OF THIS WORLD! And I am not even a fan of Tres Leches! Zoom in on the picture. I got it as a combo with another dessert called Xangos (crispy golden outside with a creamy, warm, sweet filing!) This is so good it's worth bringing a date just to share the dessert. Trust me, you'll end up ordering another one lol

Plenty of parking. Clean bathrooms. Ceviche was a bit salty. We added rice to it and solved that problem. The manager came to check on us, and so did the supervisor. The food was very hot and delicious, and Mayra took our food orders correctly. The Micheladas beverages were good, according to my brother in law and the Piña Coladas were smooth and sweet. The NY steak was very soft. I was impressed. The Mar and Tierra (Steak +shrimp) dishes were great as well. My sister shared a dish (Sorry i don't know the name but ask for nación wrapped shrimp) some shrimp wrapped in bacon and O.M.G.! DEEEEELISCIOUS!

Mayra took my special request on my dish substitutions perfectly. I pretty much wanted my NY steak, but with all the sides from another dish. You can not leave this place without ordering a dessert that I've had hundreds of times in my life growing up, but here it was, in my opinion: OUT OF THIS WORLD! And I am not even a fan of Tres Leches! I got it as a combo with another dessert called Xangos (crispy golden outside with a creamy, warm, sweet filing!)

One drawback, no warm chips when they serve the complimentary chips & salsa but the salsa was great and chips are great, just not warm. 9.8 out of...

Although Yelp and other sites averaged a little over 3 starts for El Aguila, I was pleasantly surprised. While my wife was on travel, I decided to go to El Aguila and try it out. I was greeted at the host desk with a very well-dressed man and, because I was a table of 1, he suggested I might be more comfortable at the bar. Provided it served the same menu as the restaurant, I was fine with that.

Being my first time at this restaurant, I had questions about their margaritas, specifically if they offered different sizes (they did, regular and large) and did they offer different grades that other TexMex places did like house, gold, Cadillac, etc., depending on the quality of the liquor ingredients. The primary bartender this evening was Melissa and she was amazing - pleasant, good smile, knowledgeable and especially patient with all of my questions. Bottom line - she made an excellent large margarita, with salt, on the rocks, and it was quite smooth and not too much mixer. The only thing I would do differently next time is upgrade the tequila from Montezuma to either 1800 Silver or Casamigos.

I ordered the steak fajitas. They came out sizzling, with ample beef, grilled onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. It was served with three tortillas and pinto beans, rice, pico, guacamole and sour cream. A LOT of food for $24.99. My only criticism is the skirt steak was well done (they did not ask how I would like it cooked), but it was flavorful and I would definitely order it again.

Shoutout to both Melissa for superb skill at mixology and to the other bartender. Wilson, who was very attentive and made sure I had ample drinks, chips and salsa and napkins. Wilson's customer skills were outstanding. Because of Wilson and Melissa, I would visit E Aguila again and would want to...