Address: 8943 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28273
In the midst of a long workday, a group of friends and I decided to visit Don Pedro Mexican restaurant off Tryon. Don Pedro’s is the better option of the only two Mexican restaurants in the Ayrsley area, the other being Salsa’s Mexican Grill. Admittedly, this type of review is one that I typically do not like to write, because there really wasn’t anything I hated about my experience, but then again, there really wasn’t much that will draw me back onto their bench. Don Pedro’s is a place to get a giant plate of Mexican food. The food is good, the way most Mexican food is, deep fried and carb loaded. While it feels more authentic than Salsa’s Mexican Grill its menu still caterers heavily to an American crowd. To sum it up early the food is tasty, but similar to many other Mexican places and not terribly unique.
The Good: I have been to Don Pedro’s several times and I have consistently enjoyed the food; none of the dishes blew me away, with the exception being their signature Arroz Con Pollo, which I found to be delicious. In the dish, there is chicken and rice smothered in melted Monterey jack cheese, along with an exceptional chile/tomato based sauce; that combination can only produce a good dish. I also enjoyed their guacamole and chips, I found them much more flavorful than other places in the vicinity (cough). Moreover, their salsa actually tasted like something, it had the right amount of heat, and good blend of ingredients (tomatoes, onions and cilantro!). All things being equal, I have never heard of anyone complaining about their meal, and yet, people are not raving about it either. The cost of the meal is certainly not an issue, as with most Mexican restaurants in Charlotte Don Pedro’s is reasonably priced.
The Bad: I have a pet peeve about giant menus (maybe more my problem than anything) and Don Pedro’s menu is like reading War and Peace. In my humble opinion, one restaurant can only do so many things really well; if the menu is overwhelming, then there are no standout items. Don Pedro’s seemingly wants to fall into this trap with a “jack of all trades master of none” mentality. While specializing in Mexican food the restaurant serves items like a hamburger named the Hawaii Jumbo Burger, which is labeled on the menu as a”recommend.” I’m sorry, but recommending a Hawaiian burger in a Mexican eatery does not give me an overwhelming sense of authenticity.
Do not get me going on “authenticity,” (if my wife is mixing up tortillas on a Saturday, so can your establishment) but that is to be expected in a most Mexican restaurants. That said, Don Pedro’s absolutely goes the extra mile to add chins to your face, with its piles of rice, loads of refried beans and extra cheese, you may want to save this for a break-up meal.
The Ugly: As mentioned the food is good, but its refined formula is the prescriptive-Mexican-Americana most Tex-Mex restaraunts use; heavy on the cheese, rice and fried foods. My major drawback is the restaurant is just a duplicate of many other Mexican places. I will say that although it feels like there are million places like it, it still is better than the average, just very similar.
The Verdict Casual dining 6.0 out of 10: In my humble opinion, the food is much better and more authentic than others, but still too generic for my taste. Don Pedro’s will satisfy your need to half-heartedly celebrate Cinco de Mayo for that one time of the year you are in the mood for Mexican and (hopefully) you should leave happy.