Service Runs Hot and Cold
We've been to Tamale Wally's on 5 or 6 occasions, and have nothing but raves for the food. We particularly like the tamales, the salsa, and the fish dishes. Absolutely exquisite is the Nicaraguan seafood chowder. The atmosphere is very pleasant, and actually reminds us of Garcia's restaurant just over the border from Brownsville, TX. The lighting is at a pleasant level, everything is clean, and the decorations are delightful. The service, on the other hand, is inconsistent. Most of the time, we had exceptionally attentive help. The past two times we visited, however, the service was half-hearted (the server complained plaintively because she was working both bar and table service, making us feel almost guilty for having intruded upon her day). On our last visit we actually left because we couldn't get a single server's attention after a 15 minute wait in our booth. We found two of the serving staff chatting at the host's podium, looking at someone's baby pictures.
Recommended: Nicaraguan Seafood Chowder
Food: 10
Service: 2
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 4

I am generally wary of buffets, which Tamale Wally's offers after 4pm on Sundays. However, with a local newspaper coupon in hand, we made our first visit to this establishment. The experience proved to be quite a pleasant surprise. The offerings are not just typical Mexican fare, as one might expect from the name. While there were some traditional items such as rice and refried beans, there were some unexpected recipes such as cactus with corn, Paella Del Mar, and chicken in a spicy red sauce. While all samplings were quite good, our two favorites were the Chicken Tropical, (charbroiled chicken breast, served with mango sauce and pineapple papaya salsa)and the Mango Pork Tenderloin (sliced and topped with a mango cream). The buffet also offered two fresh green salads, and a variety of fresh fruit. The dessert area was a little limited. Although the flan was very good, the only other choices were a cookie platter and a very sweet chocolate pudding. While we did not get the opportunity to try them, there were some other interesting items on the standard menu such as a Rum Soaked Pork Chop and Coconut Shrimp. We will try them next visit. The service was more than adequate. Plates were promptly removed, although we never got the feeling they were watching for us to finish. The buffet was well maintained and kept hot. The atmosphere is casual, and a diverse variety of music is played softly enough to be inconspicuous. As a frequent visitor to various traditional Mexican eateries in the northwest suburbs, I have to put this restaurant at the top of my "south of the border" list. The food is more on the gourmet side, and still proves to be a very good value (buffet was $9.95, entrees range from around $7.50-$13.95) I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Recommended: Chicken Tropical, Mango Pork Tenderloin
Food: 10
Service: 8
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 10
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