We have kind of been replaying the hits (doing the famous places i would go back to list) for the…read morelast month or so. Last night the thought, something new is needed. So, we wandered to Mayta's. Wow. 1. Not sure why in 3 years living near Frederick we had not gone before. (my bad) 2. wow The food is simply amazing. Everything from black beans to meat was prepared. The dipping sauces are traditional Peruvian, and were amazing. They are not only on my go back to again list, they are on my new go back to soon list.

Merely because we watched an old Anthony Bourdain Tv show about Peruvian food, we decided to seek…read moreout and try some. We chose Mayta's largely based on location, being open for lunch and strong online reviews. We were quite happily unsurprised with the quality of its fare and its seeming value. Nestled into a quasi-upscale strip center on the western side of suburban Frederick, Mayta's presents an extensive and diverse menu, with helpful pictures and short narrative descriptions. Food is order-at-the-counter, either off of the lighted overhead menu or standard printed menus. The cuisine for both is the same. For dine-in, which is what we did, one need not pay upon ordering but we did so for our convenience and that of the staff. We both ordered off of the $20 lunch specials menu, for which you get one appetizer, one entree and one soft drink. We found the portions delicious and generous - both of us brought home considerable leftovers for lunch the next day. Each dish was well-seasoned and prepared without being too salty (a too common failing for international cuisine prepared for American consumers. While we also are intrigued by Mayta's neighbors in the strip center, we definitely would come back. There is nothing not to like here.

I returned to this restaurant because I really like what the chef does with Asian flavors. The…read moreatmosphere is plain yet the service is friendly and fast. I had the Indonesian Stir-Fry with added grilled chicken. The sauce was peanut-based, with lime. I chose a bed of Soba (buckwheat) noodles. I enjoyed the umami flavor of the sauce with the tangy and full flavor profile that makes the dish a joy to eat. I plan to return to The Orchard on my next trip to Frederick.

I wanted to enjoy my experience at The Orchard, and overall the salad was good. I initially asked…read morefor kombucha, but I was told they were completely out. Thankfully, my server did allow me to substitute the sesame chicken into my Cobb salad, and that was actually a great addition. The frustrating part was that after we had already finished our meals and were ready to leave, my server came back and told me she had been mistaken and that they did, in fact, have kombucha available. At that point it was too late, and unfortunately there wasn't any offer made to make up for the inconvenience. Another disappointment was learning that The Orchard does not offer any type of military appreciation or support. In a community with many veterans and military families, that was something I noticed and found disappointing. Many other local businesses make an effort to show appreciation, and that kind of support goes a long way for those who have served and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The food was good, but with so many other options in Frederick that offer great food while also making customers and the community feel valued, I don't think I'll be returning. A business's connection to its community matters, and supporting those who have served is something I personally look for when deciding where to spend my money.

Delicious food, good portions, and friendly service. They went out of their way to make sure my…read moreyoung daughter was happy. I had the pad thai, which again, was delicious and a large portion. I can't wait to go back and try their other food.

Lu & Joe's Restaurant!!! It is my pleasure and my privilege to review this wonderful little…read morerestaurant. Lu & Joe's looks like it has been there forever! It is old, unique, not cookie-cutter and certainly not a hint of pretense anywhere around. Is it maybe run down a little, a bit old? Maybe but who cares? Lu & Joe's is one of the most charming roadside diners I have ever been to. This one building has a dining room on one side and a bar on the other. Above the door to the bar hangs a sign that reads "Please no profanity in the dining room. Thank you. Budweiser." LOLOLOL Lu & Joe know that their restaurant is a dive and they lean into it heavily. The naugahyde upholstery is clean, in good shape and colorful - but it's still naugahyde. The floor is probably asbestos tile squares from the 1950's (I say probably because I actually do NOT know if there is asbestos in the floor tile - but it sure looks like there should be). And you know what? That tile floor is spotless like the rest of the dining room. The menus do not have one drop of tomato sauce or grease or dirt on them. Someone clearly is taking great care of this restaurant. The menu is huge! So much to pick from. Oh, and did I mention that either Lu or Joe must be from Thailand???? One or both of them must be because the menu includes a full Thai menu, not one Thai dish, not only Larb Gai, not just Drunken Noodles - A FULL THAI MENU!!! And the dining room has genuine Thai decorations like a painting of a Thai palace with real flashing lights, Siamese touches like archways here and there, a memorial to some Buddhist god or goddess (at least I assume it's Buddhist) - and all of this thrown in with 1950's Americana. Lu & Joe's is truly a slice of the American Dream mixed in with an old roadside dive bar in Mt. Airy! Okay so now let's get to the food. I had tofu basil which was outstanding. The tofu was perfectly fried (not greasy) and there was LOTS of it. The veggies were crisp and fresh. There was a great amount of basil. And the sauce was excellent!!! Easily as good as - and mostly better than - the same dish I have had anywhere in downtown DC and at a fraction of the price!!! Bravo to Lu or Joe or both of them! My spouse had a bleu cheeseburger and it was a game changer. Easily a half pound of the juiciest ground beef I have ever seen! The plentiful bleu cheese and sauteed onions were a great addition. The fries were beautifully cooked as well! I do not have one bad thing to say about this place. We each ate every bite on our plates - huge helpings all around - and, all at once, we realized that we had found a real gem of a restaurant!!! Our server was likewise great. She was friendly and charming and easy to talk to! Not friendly as in "I better be nice to get a good tip" nice - but genuinely nice and friendly. She was fast, she paid the perfect amount of attention to us. I only wish I had gotten her name so I could sing her praises here. But - to Lu & Joe - we ate at your restaurant on Friday, April 10, around 3:30 pm. Whoever was serving then is a great addition to your wonderful restaurant. I certainly will eat at Lu & Joe's again. There is no pretense - only good food in impressive quantities and at great prices - in a clean casual/dive-y dining room where the server treats me well. Is there really anything else you need from a dining experience? I think not. I highly recommend Lu & Joe's to one and all!!!

Had some business in the area and needed to kill some time. Saw this place off the street and was…read moreintrigued. The initial server was young and wasn't quite welcoming but not rude. Is this how gen z customer service is? Another server came out and was a total 180. She was warm and bubbly. Took my order and asked if I needed anything. Food was good. Ordered the crispy chive cakes - very crispy outside and chewy inside. The kapow was also quite tasty. Very flavorful but a little on the salty side, which the steamed rice comes into play. The Thai tea was top notch; a refreshing blend of slightly bitter tea and creaminess, without being overly sweet. I'd come back if I'm in the area. Looks like they have really good lunch deals as well.

A delicious little Thai place with friendly service…read more My lady and I popped into Rice Thai Bistro a few weeks ago for lunch after a nearby doctor appointment. It's not big or fancy inside - I think there are 5 or 6 tables, but we timed it right. We were quickly seated and waited on by a cheerful young lady. My wife had a very good Thai iced tea, We split a fine little order of savory chicken satay to start. She got her go-to Pad Thai with shrimp, and I tried a lunch combo with three things I've never had: a little papaya salad, terrific spicy drunken noodles with chicken, and a delightful mango sticky rice dessert. She judged her Pad Thai to be as good as she's ever had, and she's tried many. I thought the satay was a bit dry. The papaya salad was refreshing and interesting, the drunken noodles were firey and memorable, and I may have discovered a new favorite with the mango sticky rice. Everything came out quickly, and the server handled the rapidly filling dining area well. We'll be back for more!

My brother has been telling me to come here for years and I'm sad it took me this long! The flavors…read moreof everything were amazing. The crab ragoons were top tier, duck, dumplings pad Thai. The curry was amazing also. Very pretty inside! Also the presentation for the Thai iced coffee was amazing and they served it with coffee ice cubes

Very cute interior and a nice calming environment…read more What we got: Tom Kha Kai Soup - 3* I've never had tom kha kai with the kind of mushrooms they used. I'm not a mushroom person but I was able to eat some of these with the chicken. Pad See Euw - 3* average taste Panang Curry - 3* it was okay. The spice level was nice but there really wasn't much going on with the dish.

Was in Frederick for business and my wife and I wanted Japanese and Chinese food. When we arrived,…read morewe were surprised there was no table service -- everything is ordered at the counter. Most of the menu is Chinese, with very few Japanese options and even fewer Thai. They also no longer serve sushi, so if you see sushi photos online, be aware they're outdated. We placed our order and bought bottled sodas, only to find out they don't have ice, which my wife was not happy about. The food overall was great, with one exception: the General Tso's chicken. The sauce had no flavor and there were no scallions in it. The broccoli was cooked well and still firm. The pork dumplings and tempura shrimp were very good. The beef and chicken lo mein were also very good, especially the beef. The dining area was clean, but the tables have that slightly sticky finish. The counter area looks messy and unattractive -- a big downgrade from a few years ago when it looked great. Not sure why they're letting it slide. They also prompted for a tip, even though there's no table service. They did bring the food out after I tipped, but still -- the expectation felt off. Great food, but everything else was meh.

A solid contender in our quest for a once-a-month or so Chinese-style restaurant…read more The overall impression was good, with everything well prepared. 1. Egg rolls were a bit greasy. 2. They have a wonderful duck sauce, but they do not give you anywhere near as much. 3. no fortune cookies (that may be delivery only we didn't eat in the restaurant) Overall, the food was good, and the quality was good. The rice (which is important to have) was not mushy! They are on our places to go to again. Plus I didn't try their hot and sour soup. It is (along with Clam Chowder, Fish and Chips) one of my go-to foods.

I have had a lot of Thai in PA, this place might be better than all of the places up this way…read more The edamame has great flavor and was priced well. It came with a ton! I got the Panang Curry with chicken. It came with Jasmine Rice and I ordered a side of the drunken noodles (just the noodles) to add into the curry sauce. This curry sauce was absolutely incredible. I could eat this for every meal. The noodles were made to perfection. 10/10 recommend. The place we lit well, smaller seating for the building. I would definitely recommend a reservation. I went with a group of 5, they took great care of our table! The staff and waitress were top notch, I don't think there was a moment I didn't have my cup filled with water!

Well, I'm in town again so I have to come here. Ordered exactly the same dish, hence no new photos…read more Staff is still adorable and friendly. I love the small, cozy feel of this place. Don't worry, I'll be back again... and again.

We had dinner at Las Tunas last week. The ratings were high so we expected a lot. Here's what we…read morethought: 1) The jalapeño margarita was fantastic. A good size and great heat and flavor. 2) The chips and salsa they bring out were good. The salsa was a little thin and not much flavor, but still enjoyable. 3) The regual guacamole (not the fresh one) was very onion heavy. Almost too overpowering. 4) The chicken Tamale and Enchilada were fantastic. 5) The rice was great. Soft and flavorful. 6) The refried beans were bland and needed salt. 7) Birria Tacos were good, but the consumme (dipping birria juice) was also bland. 8) The carne tacos were fantastic. But the best part was how friendly the service was. They were so nice and attentive. I would go back, but I may take my own hot sauce with me.

We ordered delivery. Husband ordered the Steak Fajitas, I was sick so I ordered the Chicken…read moreTortilla Soup and we got a side of Cheese Dip with Chips. ALL very flavorful! Only received three (3) tortillas for the Fajitas which was disappointing but husband reported they tasted very good. Lots of peppers and onions but also a lot of steak. The Cheese dip was yummy. My soup had rice, and it did disintegrate a bit, but lovely bright avocado and tomatoes made up for it. We will order again.