Lime Fresh Mexican Grill

I miss this short-​lived place and their salsa bar… and the desserts! Staff was friendly and even came to check on me after bringing out my food.
Would definitely try out the one at Pentagon Row!

I started coming to Lime last spring during lunch hour and I think they were still working a few of the kinks out — nothing major, just forgetting to leave off sour cream or giving me soft tortillas instead of hard. But I’ve continued to go because I think it’s a good deal ($ 7 for three tacos plus chips and salsa) and I think the food is pretty good.
I’ve been more recently for dinner in what seems to be more of a downtime (Sunday evening, 5 pm on a Wednesday, etc.). I’m not sure if they’ve improved during the lunch rush, but my dinner experiences have improved immensely. My orders are correct, it’s not as loud (why oh why the music has to be blasting out your eardrums during lunch I do not know) and the workers seem all-​around more helpful. The food itself also seems to be getting better, like putting more meat in the tacos. They usually come around at least once to ask if you need anything else, more chips, etc.
One note — when the server comes around with a survey you can take to get a dining credit there, make sure it has a survey code written on it or you’ll get home and realize you can’t take it!
Fresh, good food, unlimited chips, salsa bar, great prices — perhaps I’m more willing to overlook the small hiccups seeing as how it’s just a short order place, but I’m a fan and will keep going back!

My wife first took me here after she kept raving about what a great lunch spot it is and we finally drove in during the Derecho storm since Arlington got power on so soon. Since then we have been back two more times and it has yet to disappoint.
On the first trip I tried the fish tacos which is always a bit of a gamble at short order mexican place. However, they were great, the fish was tasty, cabbage crisp, and the white sauce had a great blend of seasoning.
Second time back went with the 3 Tijuana Tacos. Which is a soft taco, layered with refried beans around a hardshell taco. Awesome!
Third trip was for there WTF happy hour (Wed. Thurs. Fri.).
$ 2 Originals Tacos
$ 2 Coronas
$ 3 Frozen Margaritas and Sangrias
The frozen drinks aren’t top shelf but for $ 3 dollars in Arlington can’t you go wrong. Fuego is just a few steps away if your wallet is too heavy and you want to spend 3 to 5 times as much.
Service is super friendly and quick. They also have unlimited chips and a salsa bar. For hot sauce addicts like me they have over 100 bottles out to choose from.
Great alternative to Chipotle or Baja Fresh.

I heard about this new fresh mexican fast food place from a co-​worker and I decided to try it out. I’ve been there 3 times and each time I was disappointed.
The first time, I got the salad. It was made of the shredded lettuce that you would get in a taco. The Baja Fresh salads are1000x better, seriously. The second time, I got the fish tacos. These were actually really good! However they were drenched in a white sauce. Really? Let the grilled/​fired fish speak for themselves… unless you’re trying to cover something up! The third time, the service was so slow! It was partially because I ordered nachos and they forgot them in the broiler and they turned black. I watched it the whole time. It was as if they didn’t have enough staff that day, but seriously, I was one of 10 people in the place. They should’ve had enough staff to cover a lunch period on a weekday. I’m not a fan of the ordering process as well. They yell back the order, so it’s bound that something gets missed or screwed up.
They do have a good mix of hot sauce bottles available from icy hot to mango sauce. They have a fresh habanero sauce in their salsa station that is killer! But what do you use it with when they don’t give you complimentary tortilla chips like Baja Fresh. I guess you can tell that I prefer Baja Fresh to Lime.

After eating here again today, I’ve been here a few times now and in a nutshell, it’s nothing special.
They will make sure you know that their stuff is healthy, etc. the first time you come in, but in my experience, the places that just ARE healthy without saying it have a little more to taste…
I had a South Beach Burrito and the shell was a bit too crispy. The chips were stale, and the guacamole was runny and a bit bland. The best part about this place is the salsa bar, but I wouldn’t eat at Lime just for it.
It was expensive for what it was, and as others have said, you’re better off saving a few dollars eating better quality and tasting food at the nearby Chipotle.

I thought this place was great.
3 Surfer Tacos — they were amazing. I got a mix of hard and soft tacos with fish, cabbage, pico de gallo, and a cilantro sauce.
I really like this place because they have unlimited salsas and chips come with your meal.
You walk in, order, and then they bring your food. You can bring from 100 hot sauces and salsas and its a nice casual cheap atmosphere. They also sell beer and I heard they have a decent happy hour. If I want mexican food in Clarendon — i’m coming here!!!

not bad, but nothing special. tacos were $ 2 for happy hour, so got a couple beef and a couple chicken tacos on corn tortillas. nothing special, the beef was like taco bell, the chicken was ok. couldnt taste much. salsa bar is whatever, love a variety of salsas but if the foods no good then it doesnt matter. chips werent anything special. feels like a slightly faster mexicali.
however there was nothing wrong with the service and the food didn’t take long

Lime Fresh is a great deal for what you get. Its really good, fresh food, lots of varieties of salsa, kind of half self serve/​half service. I went here first with the Scoutmob deal, and it was good enough to come back a second time at regular price. The people who work there are really nice and helpful!
I ordered the grilled fish tacos — super tasty. Also, the queso dip is really good, seems to have real cheese and be the right consistency.
It can feel like it takes awhile if you are ordering to go, but if you dine-​in they bring it to your table and will give you chips while you wait.

I don’t know if I’ll be back. The music was so loud that the cashier and I had trouble hearing each other. It was confusing because a sign saying table service was for the disabled and people waiting for orders by the kitchen made it seem like it was counter service only. When I went to wait for my order, they explained they’d bring it to me.
I ordered steak fajitas and after waiting 20 minutes, received chicken. They left my beans and rice though, which were cold by the time I got my steak. The serving of chips was small and half of them were doughy and half cooked. The meat had little flavor and an odd texture, but the presentation was nice. Having a iron plate for the meat and two separate pans for toppings and sides was awkward, would have preferred a plate.

Went twice… the first time, they had just opened. I noticed that the workflow seemed odd and confusing. A runner brings your food to your table. The runner is smack dab in the middle of the aisle and in people’s way. Then people who order to go are left standing in the small aisle either in other people’s way or the runner’s way. They messed up my order by giving me chicken not steak for my burrito. At least they apologized and they offered to give me another burrito but it took them awhile to get my lunch to me, so I just told them to give me the difference in cost. I figured the glitches were due to it just opening.
The second time I went, it was the same (and worse chaos). I counted at least 6 people who were waiting on their to go orders. Our food arrived 30 mins after we made the order. Seeing as I only get 1 hr for lunch, I had to scarf my food down and head back into the office. I noticed that the cooks only work on 1 order at a time at in no chronological order. People who ordered together did not get their orders at the same time. Some people had to wait much longer after their friends got their orders.
Of course, they got my order wrong too the second time.
And to top it off, the food isn’t that good. Bland. Not many extras like chips or rice and beans with the meal. A little chintzy. There’s a salsa bar but they salsas are just «eh.»
Ugh, will probably close at the rate it’s going. Baja Fresh just down the street is even 10 times better.

This place is a sorry excuse of a restaurant. Of corse it is another chain. The chips, salsa and guac were so bad I threw them out the window on my way to Charleston SC last month.
I cant believe that in this day and age something as basic as good chips can be so hard for places to do right. But who am I, what do I know, I only lived on the Texas Mexico Border for 5 years. What would I know about chips that are made by hand and fried fresh, salsa that doesn’t come packaged in some way or guac that wasn’t frozen.
Let me offer a few tips on Mexican. Real Guac made fresh is NOT uniform in color or texture. One of my favorite Mexican places of all things was in Pennington NJ run by a couple that loved to cook. I go in and ask for Guac one day and they say to me «sorry we cant serve it because the quality of avocados right now is not up to our standards so rather than serve you something half assed we’d rather have you try one of our other specials that we know will make you happy» From that moment I was in love.
PS I cried the day the landlord raised their rent forcing them to close after building up a clientele that would drive an hour to eat their food.
The best Nachos in my life are at Blue Sage in Southampton PA. This vegetarian restaurant run by a similar couple make a goat cheese mouth orgasm that you must try before you die.
Around here go to the taco truck El Chilango best mexican around!

P. S. Thanks for having your owner email me, that was sweet. I’ve been back maybe three more times since I last wrote, and I have to say I’ve been really impressed by your toned-​down friendliness. And the young woman who always remembers me and my vegetarian ways is the best. I shall endeavor to learn her name next time I go.

Went here for lunch last week. Not bad, but I can’t say it’s the best Mexican I have had. I read reviews before I went and there was a lot of comparison of Lime to Chipotle. As an avid Mexican food fan I have to say that the two are similar in ways but not compatible. Lime is a bit pricey for what you get. The chips are delicious, so light and crispy. Yum! The food is not very flavorful and they try to fix that by offering a lot of different salsas and spices on their bar. Oh, Lime, you are not fooling anyone, and the salsa aren’t very good. I love salsa and none of them wowed me, to be honest. I was very disappointed that I paid $ 2.00 for a sauce cup sized serving of guacamole, which does not even come with chips. Wow… really?
On the plus side, they do everything they can for us non meat-​eaters and this girl sincerely appreciates that. Also, they have great HH prices and they serve beer. So, I’m not complaining. The staff is very friendly and helpful, almost too helpful, it freaked me out a bit. Overall, the food wasn’t bad, but I prefer Chipotle. End of story.

I know… you think I only review 4 and 5 star restaurants. I am the queen of bargains, a frugal shopper and when complimented on my Eric Javits purse, I will tell you «thanks and I only paid $ 125 at the Saks outlet in Hilton Head Island!» Lime Fresh is my Eric Javits.
Fast casual, everything made to order, a salsa bar (cue the Pavlov’s reaction here for me) and great décor. Went to their soft pre-​opening and there was an electrical issue which didn’t allow them to cook anything. They gave me 12 free coupons for tacos and our group was given 4 delicious Key Lime pie slices served in a darling little cast iron skillet. Customer service… they understand it.
Two weeks ago, they donated $ 2000 for our upcoming April 27 – 29 Face of America Wounded Warriors bike ride. Our team, «Who Says I Can’t?», was the recipient. So 10 people from our team came to support Lime Fresh on a Thursday. Free tacos for everyone. Community service… they understand it.
Great soft tacos, quesadillas and vegetarian options. So many bottled salsas to spice up the VERY fresh homemade salsas.
ONLY drawback: music is way way too loud. Advantage: screaming child 2 tables from us and even the tyke was drowned out by the music. I’m not in a club (and too old to be in one anyway); I am in a restaurant, so please tone it down. Very friendly staff.
Did I say they serve beer and margaritas?!! Saved the best for last. Cold Pacifico and tacos. Doesn’t get any sweeter than that.

I love the queso steak burrito. The service could have been better (it was awesome last time when we were here) but otherwise the food tasted just as good. Bf liked the fijitas and the chips were fresh. Yum.
Also, i’m exciting for this restaurant to open up in Pentagon City.

Meh. Good not great. The staff was exceptionally friendly and out going. I had their cobb salad. The bacon and avocado dressing were great. But all their salads are on iceburg — can’t you spring for romaine, at least?
No reason to love it, no reason to hate it.

The food was great and the service fantastic! My wife arrived early with our toddler. While trying to keep our child occupied someone came over and asked if he could get her anything. He told her to stay put and he’d take her order at the table rather than making her go through the line with a wiggly baby. A server took her order as she waited for me and then promptly came back and took mine too.
The service was fast and friendly and the food was good. They had a great children’s menu (our picky eater devoured a cheese quesadilla) and the server’s recommendations for the baja fish tacos and queso burrito were spot on. It’s a great concept and the service alone would make me go here over Baja Fresh which is about a block away.

Had the original chicken (soft corn) and steak and cheese (soft flour) tacos yesterday. Slower service than a Chipotle, more of a Baja Fresh style where they prepare it while you sit and call you number later.
I thought the chicken tasted much better than Baja Fresh for sure. Large slices of grilled chicken were tender, moist and flavorful. The chicken isn’t as heavily spiced as Chipotle, but has more to it than Baja or Moe’s. I thought it was very satisfying, though without my emotional connection I get from Chiptole.
The steak and cheese taco was also good– and overall I think the meat was more tender and chewable than the average chipotle steak meat. They gave me chips on the side, so more points for that too.
It was a little slow going to get the food when I went at lunchtime, and I decided that I would make my choice to return depending on how good the food tasted. I will definitely return– but not on days when I’m in a rush to grab something.

The girlfriend and I stopped into Lime Fresh Mexican Grill for a quick bite to eat before our Saturday night out in Clarendon. Lime Fresh had popped up on my radar after a write-​up on
. LFMG occupies a brand-​spanking new space listed as on Wilson Blvd. However, the entrance is actually on Fillmore. As I’m a sucker for Mexican/​Tex-​Mex/​Southwest fast food (so long as it’s not Taco Bell), LFMG was an easy and convenient choice for our food stop.
Conceptually, LFMG is a part of a chain that is very similar to its competitors, Chipotle, California Tortilla, and Moe’s. However, LFMG diverges slightly from its peers as they hand you a number shaped like a big lime wedge and deliver your food to your table. LFMG offers bottled domestic and Mexican beers and frozen margaritas. Skip the margaritas and stay with the good selection of Mexican beer. Blended, pre-​mixed, margaritas are always disappointing and not a good value. This place was no different.
I had the 8^th Street Burrito, a good-​sized flour tortilla stuffed with chicken, black beans, rice, sour cream, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and most importantly, bacon ($ 7.99). It was pretty damn good in its own right, but doesn’t everything taste a little better with bacon? I also sampled one of their Fish Tacos made with grilled fish on a soft tortilla. The fish was of undetermined type… my guess tilapia. The fish taco was cooked fine leaving it moist, but was merely okay in the taste department as it was a bit bland. Given that a fish taco cost $ 3.50 ea. or 3 for $ 8.49, it was way pricey and less satisfying compared to what you can get in one of the area’s food trucks. Both came with a small side of chips. The burrito and taco would’ve been greatly enhanced if they made their flour tortillas fresh, in house, vice the ones they currently use which were a bit dry and tore rather than bent when folded.
LFMG’s most distinctive trait is that it offers a hot sauce bar and a salsa bar, a la California Tortilla and Moe’s, respectively. As for the salsas on the fresh Salsa Bar, the Pico de Gallo was tasty. The Black Bean Corn Salsa was good, too. The Salsa Asada, Salsa Suave, and the Habanero Salsa were the best of the bunch. The Habanero Salsa really possessed some good heat to it! However, the tomatillo-​based Salsa Verde was the lone disappointment as it seemed lacking something. Citrus? Cilantro? I don’t know.
The good? Service was fast, friendly and efficient. The 8^th Street Burrito was a winner! The less good? The flour tortillas, the margaritas, and the Fish Taco. You can always improve food, but it’s hard to shake a bad service experience. Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, in my mind, is still a work in progress that, at least, has got the service part down.

Two words: C-​C-​C-​Cinnamon Chips.
I often say the only Mexican thing about me is that I like Enchiladas. I guess the fact that I like fried tortillas tossed in cinnamon and sugar also makes me Mexican? Wait, Cinnamon Chips are for dessert? Grandps always used to make me this stuff for breakfast. Maybe this is why I am «fat»? (I just picked up a free copy of «This is Why You’re Fat» from the NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo, and of course the first thing I do is to completely go against everything written in the book: Stop eating sugar).
When ordering the dessert, the cashier asked if I wanted them now or later. That’s a nice option to have so you’re not tempted by sweets before finishing your meal, but of course my answer was NOW. I was expecting a small serving of cinnamon chips, similar to the size of small McDonald’s fries, filled with tiny pita chips sized tortilla bites. What I got was a Five Guys bag full of cinnamon chips. HOLY SMOKES FOLKS! One of the managers came by during our meal to ask how everything was. I «angrily» told him ‚“You gave me too many cinnamon chips!” He responded that this is the way it was supposed to be. It’s the dessert that keeps on giving. Yeah, it sure gives: calories/​sugar/​fat! Gahh, I have no self control. (My coworker and I had finished our meals, though I was still munching on my cinnamon chips. An employee came to clear our table, and she tried twice to take my bag of cinnamon chips, but I had to «snap» at her twice that I was still eating them).
I can’t say no to any cinnamon & sugar combo, and I usually get my fix from pretzels, churros, or cupcakes, but tortilla chips are so much better. I haven’t had them since childhood, and if everything goes as planned, I won’t have them for another 15 years, or until I go to Lime with 15 other people, so I will be limited to just one single chip.
So good, but so deadly.
I’ll now rewind the story a bit and tell you some more «important» stuff. After learning of Lime’s opening, and knowing that I was scheduled to be in Clarendon in the evening, I didn’t hesitate to suggest to a coworker that we try this place out after work.
Since I’m not in Clarendon too often, I hadn’t actually seen the storefront in person before, and it took longer than expected to find the place, as the actual entrance isn’t on Wilson Blvd. I forget the name of the street that I actually entered on, but it’s good I no longer believe that I have zero sense of direction, and actually had the common sense to walk around the «island» located around 2900 Wilson Blvd, and not just walk up and down Wilson Blvd.
Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by an employee, who handed us a menu, which is rather extensive, and explained that any items on the menu can incorporate substitutes. She also suggested some items, but I forget what they were, because she was talking so much I just picked up what I wanted/​needed to hear. I ended up just ordering straight off the menu, as I’m all about simplicity, but it was great that they were so willing to substitute any ingredients on the menu, as my coworker is a vegetarian.
I ordered three chicken soft tacos, and (highlight of my day/​week/​month) ***Cinnamon Chips**. All orders come with a side of chips, that you can decorate as you wish via their salsa bar. I tried the Pineapple Salsa, and the Black Bean/​Corn options. Both were very satisfying, and I tried to justifying all that sugar I was inhaling by the fact that I was also feeding my body chicken, tomotaoes, beans, and corn! If I hadn’t ordered the cinnamon chips, I would have felt like I ate one of the healthiest meals I’ve had (while eating out) in a long time. I will definitely be back.