Any time we visit Annapolis, I look forward to trying a new restaurant. There have been positive and negative experiences, but it's exciting either way to try a new place with the hope of finding something delicious. On our past trip to Annapolis to take my brother back for his summer assignment at the Academy, he told us about wanting to try a Mexican restaurant he had heard great things about. Always up for a fiesta, we decided to try Jalapenos.

When we first pulled up to Jalapenos, I wasn't sure what to expect. It was tucked into a strip mall between a Dollar Tree and a Family Christian Bookstore, and the entrance leads you right in to the bar. We walked in for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and the restaurant wasn't empty, but it wasn't exactly busy either. After making our way through the bar, I was surprised at how nice the main dining room was, complete with a large wine display on one of the walls. This was not the typical tex-mex or cheap, local Mexican restaurant atmosphere.

If the ambiance wasn't enough of an indication that this was a unique type of Mexican restaurant, the menu left no doubt. It was obvious Jalapenos featured a variety of authentic Mexican dishes with unique flavors and ways of preparing their food. While snacking on fresh chips and homemade salsa, we perused the menu and debated over what to try. Feeling adventures, I decided to order "Mole" for the first time and was excited to experience this classic Mexican dish. Unfortunately, I can't find it on the restaurant's website menu but I remember it being served with chicken, rice, and beans. 

The mole was covering a boneless chicken breast and the rice and beans were served as sides. I tried the mole by itself first and it had a deep, rich flavor - with notes of cinnamon, pepper, and chocolate. Very unique and very flavorful. It paired well with the chicken and I eventually just combined everything on my plate - bringing all the flavors of the mole, chicken, black beans, and rice together. It felt like a sort of Mexican jambalaya and it tasted awesome. It was a generous portion but I was wishing they would bring out another plate full of food. 

We left with everyone completely satisfied with their meal, which isn't an easy task. The service was good, the prices were reasonable, and the food was excellent. What started as an apprehensive and nervous walk through the front door, ended with us walking out talking about how much we enjoyed Jalapenos. 

Information:
Jalapenos Restaurant
85 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401
410.266.7580
www.jalapenosannapolis.com