Restaurant Review: Ricky Cancun Mexican Grill

AKA, the restaurant I keep forgetting about, according to Young Adult Son

915 Ridgewalk Pkwy, Ste 290, Woodstock, GA 30188
Health Score: 91

OK, apparently my memory isn’t what it used to be. The Young Adult Son said that every time I go to The Outlets, I see this restaurant and proclaim, “We should try this restaurant next time.” Next time never comes, because I keep forgetting.

What can I say? I have a lot going on in my brain. I can’t be relied upon to remember it all.

So we ended up making a special trip to satisfy our curiosity. We hit the place kind of after lunch but not before the lunch special ended, on a sunny, chilly day after the holidays, when the Outlets aren’t overly busy. I found parking easily and was in a good mood for a late lunch.

I was immediately struck by the relative smallness of the place, only a little bit larger than Campestre Taqueria, but Ricky makes up for it by having some outdoor seating options, sheltered with some sort of yellow covering with plastic windows and warmed with standing heaters. We didn’t need to sit outside, though, because the place wasn’t too busy at about 2 p.m.

The service was competent but not overly friendly, which was fine. At least we weren’t left waiting too long for anything, including chips, salsa and drink refills.

Because of the smallness of the seating area, only a couple of televisions are needed for those who can’t eat without the TV.

The lunch menu wasn’t that extensive, and most everything comes covered with cheese. But everything came cooked adequately with sufficient sauce. The tamale came bursting with chicken and covered with the same sauce they used on the enchilada, and not a bad sauce either, some sort of chipotle ragu. Usually, though, tamales and enchiladas have different sauces. The tortilla of the enchilada was cooked just right, tender enough to cut through without too much effort.

Young Adult Son enjoyed his quesadilla, which he ordered without bell pepper and onion, as is his custom. He said the quesadilla was crisp and delicious.

The beans and rice also came out hot and fresh. And the price was right. Young Adult Son and I walked out of there with a bill less than $25 before tip.

As far as the decor, I enjoyed it, particularly the bright green wall with six decorative fish and the mural of a smoking man, which I presume is Ricky. It’s not a place that’s “too cool for school,” you know, one of those places that’s kind of cold and modern. You can also tell the place has been around a while he paint is starting to peel in the corners of the hallway where people have passed by over the years.

The bathrooms are one-seaters, which is fine if you’re not dealing with people’s happy hour bladders full of tequila.

All in all, I wouldn’t mind coming back and trying a dish from the dinner menu in the future, something a little more Cancun-y, perhaps with seafood or tropical fruits. Maybe something with pico de gallo covering it instead of cheese.