La Food Marketa — Restaurant in Pikesville

As I walked into La Food Marketa on an early Saturday afternoon, I was surprised by the relaxed atmosphere on the eve of Cinco de Mayo. Usually bustling with patrons, the restaurant was noticeably quieter this time, which provided a more intimate dining experience.

We started with their chips and salsa, which were delightful as usual. The chips were crisp, and the salsa was fresh, but it was the queso that truly stood out. Their queso was amazing—creamy, smooth, and packed with boastful, spicy flavor. It's a must-try for any cheese lover.

For the appetizer, I had the Buffalo Chicken Taquitos. The dish featured four taquitos, each filled with delicious chicken infused with a balanced buffalo sauce. The dish's tangy, vinegar-like undertones were not overpowering, a common pitfall of similar dishes. Instead, the flavor was vibrant, and the presentation was colorful. This starter, though filling, left me wanting more due to its delightful taste.

My friend opted for the Crispy Fish Tacos. Usually a reliable favorite, the tacos were a bit of a disappointment on this occasion. The fish tasted more like a processed fish stick rather than the usual crispy, flaky fried fish fillet. While the tacos were still edible, they lacked the zest that previously made them a hit. This deviation from the norm dampened an otherwise promising dish.

For my entrée, I chose the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla Tacos, which came with shoe-string fries. The tacos, served in soft tortillas, were generously filled and bursting with flavor. The fries, however, were overly seasoned, detracting from their appeal. Despite this, the main dish itself was excellent, and I would highly recommend it to any BBQ chicken fan.

One of the standout features of La Food Marketa is its staff. The music in the background created a pleasant ambiance, while the friendly servers added to the experience. Mike, a familiar face and a notable server, wasn't attending to us this time, but his personable and accommodating nature has always made us feel valued. He consistently goes above and beyond for his customers, especially the regulars.

Overall, La Food Marketa remains a great place to visit, even if this particular evening had its ups and downs. The vibrant atmosphere, fantastic staff, and some stellar dishes make it a destination worth...

First time visitor and we also let the waitress know this, in the beginning she was nice no complaints. I chose a strawberry lime basil mocktail and i felt like it was made with too much mint, i sipped it she heard my friend ask me was it good and i replied no but i was going to drink it because it wasn’t awful. The waitress and i believe her name is Whitney turned away and came right back and offered to try something different, i replied sure.. again her offer and i took her up on it and requested the menu to see what else i wanted. After a few min i saw her and asked her for the menu again and i guess that really irritated her because she stated she was going to get it very matter of factly. I handed her the drink to take back with her and was mentioning the mint and she completely grabbed the drink and walked away as if to say she could care less about the comments of the drink. Whitney made the drink and must have been offended. She brung the menu back slipped it down on the table and turned away without a word the energy was thick she was upset i called out to her advised her that i no longer want a drink she can take the menu and she tried to come act as if she had no idea why i suddenly was over it. Idk what happened but she went from nice to passive aggressive. Again i was going to keep the drink she offered another. The wings also were bloody inside, the chicken tacos were mediocre but the customer service i received from Whitney turned me off. All of a sudden a male waiter advised us that our table was actually his area and he would be taking over. How convenient. He was really nice but again our previous waitress really must have been fed up with that incident because she gave us to him lol. Did i mention the entire time we received bloody wings and a stank attitude from our waitress the manager was there and never once said a word to us? And she was within ear shot of this all, the place is not huge. Yes that is why in fact i won’t return :) i did not...

Is too much food a thing? I think we may have found out the answer to that question the other night at La Food Marketa! Our family stopped in on Easter Sunday for a low-key dinner and were in for a pleasant surprise. Chips and Salsa with cucumbers and lemons (for the water I guess, but my kiddo ate them) were delivered while we checked the menu. We noticed the Prix-fix on the menu for $35, both my husband and I chose this option. We each got an appetizer, main and dessert with our choice. The kiddo chose from the kid's menu. The appetizers we received were huge! Like a table-share size! The entrees were filling and the desserts were surprisingly large as well. I got the Nacho Tots (tater tots, queso, pico, hot sauce, tortilla crumble, scallion & cilantro). It was a full plate and very tasty... I had a hard time pushing them away. For my entree I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich (pickle brine, chipotle mayo, hot honey, pickels and marketa fries) it was so, so flavorful. The batter was delicious as were the pickles. I finished with a healthy slice of Key Lime Pie. I tried some of the other foods on the table, and those were all great. The Black Bean Soup was a highlight as well. My daughter actually ate all of her food, ordering the kids hot dog and fries and splitting the Strawberry Shortcake Tres Leches. Cocktails were also a good size and not a bad price. We tried two margaritas, the Spicy Grilled Pineapple and the Blackberry Pomegranate. Both were fabulous. Lots of mocktails were available too, and the kid tried the Candy Cooler. We all thought it was tasty! We were so pleasantly surprised by the big portions and affordable prices at La Food Marketa and we will be back for more soon! EDIT: Returned this past weekend, confirming that the food and service are still top-notch. The restaurant was busy but still fit us in easily. The food from the steamed buns to the smash burger were all very tasty. Yucca fries, kid's grilled cheese too!...