Dinner…
Los Toltecos
7 Pidgeon Hill Drive
Sterling, VA 20164
With all the discussion about whether the CountrySide Silo should stay or go (it should stay), at least some diners are likely wondering what happened to the restaurant that used to be there. After playing host to a revolving door of restaurants since the mall’s opening, it appears that Los Toltecos Mexican Restaurante is here to stay.
In case you missed it, the restaurant itself has moved across the street to a freestanding structure between Suntrust and Starbucks.
There’s a reason that this restaurant has survived while some prior ones in the area have faltered—you can taste authenticity, and in a world reared on Taco Bell, it’s a welcome change to revisit Los Toltecos again.
Strangely, it was a non-traditional dish that won my heart here. Having perused the menu of appetizers, I was intrigued by the concept of Mexican Jambalaya—an interesting idea, and one that tastes extremely good. The combination of classic jambalaya mixed with Mexican spices and nachos was a wonder. For an entrée, I sacrificed my standard and went with a combination plate—all the better to provide you with a strong recommendation of the chili and enchildada. The service was extremely good as well, the only fault being the speed of service, when the main dish arrived only shortly behind the appetizer—a personal pet peeve.
While you’re at it, save room for the fried ice cream. The portion is large enough for two, and it will certainly send you away with a smile on your face.
…And a Show
Zombieland (R)
Synopsis:
In the wake of a zombie apocalypse, Woody Harrelson (The People Vs. Larry Flynt) and Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland) try to stay alive—and find love—on their way to a California amusement park.
Review:
Zombie movies are an acquired taste. Some people like them. Some people hate them. They’re gross. They’re sometimes dehumanizing and they seldom paint humanity in the brightest light.
That being said…if loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
In an overcrowded world filled with more modern conveniences than we really need, it’s an interesting mental puzzle to imagine a place where only a few survivors must stay alive in a hostile world—using the most basic tools available. Zombie movies certainly aren’t for everyone—particularly the squeamish, but they appeal to the survivalist in all of us. Strangely, having almost become a genre in their own right, it seems like the best recent zombie movies are the comedies that spoof these bone-chilling classics.
If you enjoy zombie movies—or just have a black sense of humor in general—“Zombieland” may be the movie for you. It’s smart, funny —and most importantly, it’s fast without losing cohesion. You may groan at some of the jokes and squirm at some of the different methods used to dispatch the zombie pursuers, but you’re never bored.
Be warned, “Zombieland” has zombies, and zombies must be killed. As such, it’s not appropriate for most younger viewers despite the amusement park angle or the inclusion of Bill Murray in one of the best cameo moments ever.
If the post-“Superbad” ascension of Michael Cera has given us anything, it’s that Hollywood is now creating more for the sometimes-interchangeable, but often-superior Jesse Eisenberg—who shares Cera’s geek-chic attitude, but whose approach is normally less self-conscious.
Rating (1-5): 4
Next: Paranormal Activity
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Ok I can't help myself. First, you refer to Jesse Eisenberg as "Michael Eisenberg" in your review. Second, in the print review of the movie, you have a picture of Romero's 'Dawn of the Dead', not 'Zombieland'. Does someone else look at this before it's printed?