Riviera Maya
8657 E. 116th Street
Fishers, IN 46038
http://www.rivieramayamexicanrestaurant.com/menu.html
[Editor's Note: There also appears to be a scanned copy of the menu at Coupons4Indy.com's site. There are additional coupons for the restaurant there as well.]
This downtown Fishers location used to be the home of smoke-filled breakfast placed called Papa’s, a short lived night club and a failed tavern to name a few. During the winter, a sign was posted that Riviera Maya was coming and I watched the place slowly transformed as workers gutted the place and cut stone for weeks. Somebody was finally putting some money in here and I eagerly waited its opening about fifteen days ago. This is the owner’s second location outside of the original Columbus, Indiana location. The Fishers location does not yet have a menu online, but the Columbus one I linked in this review matched Fishers with the prices being higher in Fishers. So how is the food?
Chips and Salsa
If you can’t do the chips and salsa right, you are in big trouble. Fortunately, the chips were a darker corn color, warm and fresh but need some salt for my own taste. The salsa is good and picks up a punch the more you eat even though it is not heavily spiced. The salsa is a very basic smooth textured salsa, but not runny, which is my favorite kind. I like a little cilantro in mine, but as I said, it is a good simple salsa.
What I Got:
Burrito Loco $9.99: A large 12 inch burrito stuffed with chicken, steak, shrimp and topped with a white melted cheese that never left a heavy feeling as I ate it. The steak was so soft that it melted in my mouth and the shrimp was marinated and cooked to perfection which is rare as most places overcook shrimp for my taste. This is quite frankly one of my favorite burritos I have ever had and the quality of all the meats was high and cooked to perfection. My only complaint is that the burrito did not come with rice or beans which I may request next time.
Chimichanga Acapulco $8.99: My wife got this deep fried flour filled tortilla with chicken, steak, shrimp covered in cheese and served with typical sides like beans, Pico, rice and guacamole. I do not eat deep fried food, but tried this chimichanga and begged my wife for a second bite. It was so good that my wife ordered it again on our second visit three nights later to celebrate my birthday.
Quesadilla Rellena $6.99: A typical quesadilla with chicken and refried beans that is served with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and guacamole. I tried a bit of my kids’ meal they happily shared and ate some themselves. Any time I can find a menu item that a two and three year old love, it makes the whole experience better for everyone. By the way, the guacamole is top notch and I ordered an extra bowl for $2.50.
Fajitas Especial: $11.99: On my second trip for my birthday, I decided to give the fajita a try. There are many variations and combinations of fajitas you can order to meet your preferences. Not only did my fajitas come with the same good chicken, steak and shrimp I mentioned previously, but they also came with a Mexican sausage similar to chorizo but better. Along with this combination came all of the typical menu additions you find with fajita elsewhere including grilled onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, sour cream, Pico, rice and beans. This was easily two meals for $11.99 and easily my favorite fajitas when comparing them to other area restaurants.
Would I Buy It Again? Yes. I was shocked when I walked into the place as it has been completely transformed and we were quickly seated in a spacious booth. The fast and efficient service would be the pattern throughout dinner. Fishers finally has a winner filling what was once and often a vacant location. In both of my visits to Riveria Maya, the food has been very good and the service kept up with keeping my drink full and fresh chips and salsa on the table. Both of my experiences have been very positive in the fifteen days they have been open and the parking lot is packed nightly as Fishers takes its first taste of the Riveria Maya. With dishes ranging for the typical $8 combos to $18 fish dishes, a large menu and a family friendly atmosphere, Riveria Maya has something to offer everyone and I highly recommend you stop in a give Fishers newest restaurant a try. I will continue to follow-up this review of other menu items each time I visit.
-EatHSE
