Los Tres Potrillos

Constant Companion ate here last summer and had some tummy trouble afterwards. Coincidence? Methinks not.

«Totes awesome!» Those are the words of my brother, when he is talking about Los Tres Potrillos Mexican restaurant. And I totes agree!
My parents live in the area, and I remember a time before this restaurant. I was sad, alone, and Mexican-​food-​less. Enter Los Tres Potrillos.
They turned my triste face into a contenta face. They put the corn chip crunch back into my food life. They are the beans to my rice.
With one fell swoop, I can satisfy my cravings for yummy chips and salsa, enchiladas, tacos, and even flan!
The service is beyond awesome: they come check on you all the time, remember orders, even when complicated, and are quick on refills. They don’t pressure or stress you; they are just serious about making sure you enjoy your experience.
My favorite thing to order is Combination 1, which is two enchiladas (I choose cheese and beef), a taco (I choose beef and no pico), and rice. I then also order a side of beans, because I must. Oh, and the flan! Oh, the flan! It is homemade, and delicious!!!
The décor is a bit dated, and perhaps even cheesy, but it’s fun! It’s clean, and well-​lit, and there’s a small bar in the back if that’s your cup of tea… quila.
I like this place, and always come by at least once when I’m in town visiting my parents. Enjoy!

Our carnitas had clearly been remicrowaved in order to heat them up. Other than that, everything was great.

Good service, great food. Apparently this has been a pending review since I joined Unilocal… «I’m a slow typer» I’d like to reference Shelia c’s review «long tables full of drunken amigos bellowing loudly» that’s my group. Los tres is family owned & they have always accommodated my friends and family. I routinely had groups of 20 – 30 ladies on Thursdays and the family was always very accepting of our parties, since they opened. We have recently held two birthday parties with 50+ people, and we sincerely had the best possible service with the rowdiest family & friends corralled into one restaurant in the small county we are located. Thanks for always being wonderful Los Tres!

This place was great– staff were very polite, friendly & prompt. The food was fresh & came out quick. Our glasses never went dry& the modelo on tap was cold. If you are in Louisa & want a great place for Spanish food, then this is your place.

I love their fajitas so authentic and tasty. Come here almost weekly for lunch and have always had fast and fabulous service !

There aren’t many good places to eat in the little town of Louisa and I’m glad that this place is here. Their food is fantastic! (Save room for the FRIED ICE CREAM!!!) The décor is typical of most Mexican restaurants. The waitstaff is attentive. The wait time is reasonable. Somebody else stated that they would have enjoyed their meal more if they had gone to McDonald’s??? What’s with that? Maybe she came on an «off» day? But we’ve been there several times and the food has always been outstanding. I would have given 5 stars if the décor was a little better.

I found this place because it was on the list of recommended restaurants from the resort we were staying at in the area.
The décor is cheesy. There are plastic blow up bottles of corona hanging everywhere. It looks like it may be a different scene in the evening.
The service was decent. If wouldn’t hurt if they smiled a bit more but they were certainly not rude. We were served by what looked like one of the managers.
What makes this place worth going is the food. You certainly get your moneys worth and it tastes as though somebody back in that kitchen actually cares about what they are doing.

Good food at a fair price. Service was good and the folks friendly. Enjoyed it.
The Salsa was ok but not one of the best I’ve ever had. Food was good and plentiful. We will be going back again.

My wife & I visited this restaurant on our way home from Massanutten, Va. We have been to many «mexican/​texmex» style establishments. This one is mediocre. The chips were fresh. The salsa was also homemade, but too much cilantro for my taste (which may be the perfect amount for others). The staples of most mexican restaurants are tortillas, rice, & beans. None of these were homemade. I also had an enchilada & could tell the enchilada sauce wasn’t homemade either. However, they still put together a decent meal, just nothing memorable.
The décor was ok, with sombreros on the walls & the typical neon bar signs. The booths seemed dated, & the tables were cafeteria style with the faux wood laminate top. The chairs are the stackable banquet style.
Our server was pleasant. He was a young latino gentleman who was possibly the son of the owner. He was very prompt with service & refills.
While not the best mexican food I have eaten, I wouldn’t hesitate to return. It is a perfect fit for Louisa, & I’m glad they seem to be doing well.

Based on the strength of some of these reviews, my husband and I — locals — decided to give Los Potrillos a try. We were severely disappointed. But you know what they say: nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Yes, the opening salvo of tortlla chips and salsa was acceptable. Our order was taken promptly by a sort of neutral waiter, and then began what turned out to be a very long wait for the food to come. Meanwhile, we soaked up the atmosphere: long tables full of drunken amigos bellowing loudly, dead fluorescent lighting, «Mexican» décor that looks like it’s been imported from China (and not much of it), and a sort of general grime. The bathroom wasn’t the worst, but there was a skein of dirt over everything, and the naked toilet brush next to the bowl was not exactly appetite-​inspiring.
Finally the food arrived. It was completely forgettable — e.g., the taco shells were obviously from a commercial supplier and not freshly made, the flavors were bland, the beans lifeless, the lettuce wilted. My husband, who hails from Southern California, could only roll his eyes and express the desire to move on — a feeling I could not help but share.
We would have had a better meal at the nearby McDonald’s. I’m sure there are some very nice people on the staff at Los Potrillos, but that can’t compensate for all these weaknesses.
If I were running a place like this, I’d clean it, change the lighting, provide a more pleasant atmosphere, and make the menu smaller but the food it represents MUCH better. A long menu is always a bad sign, and this place has a long one.

I have been to many, many, MANY Mexican restaurants in my lifetime. When my parents suggested that have dinner at Los Tres Potrillos, I wondered exactly how good a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall in Louisa, Virginia could be. FRICKING AMAZING. That’s how good it is!
I have been to Los Tres Potrillos several times since they opened, and it has always been wonderful. The ambiance is comfortable. There are some tables and lots of big booths with bouncy seats. This place is nothing fancy, but it is clean and the people are super friendly. It is family run, and the family is so welcoming and easygoing that they make you feel like family, too. Except they don’t make you wash the dishes. :)
The meal always starts with perfectly crunchy, warm tortilla chips. They are out of this world by themselves. The salsa is unbelievably good. It’s fresh and handmade, and has just the right blend of spices to please everybody at the table. There are also a bunch of hot sauces at the table to turn up the temperature if desired. Little mixing bowls are provided for experimentation and sharing.
The food is hard to describe. It’s simple. There are tons of choices on the menu. The portions are big without being obnoxious. The food is obviously made to order with quality ingredients. We all tried to save room for dessert, but ended up cleaning our plates.
On the financial end of things, I was pleasantly shocked at the conclusion of our most recent meal to find that four of us ate like pigs for just under $ 35.
I highly recommend this restaurant. If you are a snob who needs trendy décor and an elitist clientele, head for Charlottesville and take your pick. If you want authentic Mexican food in a clean, friendly environment, go to Los Tres Potrillos. You won’t be disappointed.

I knew earlier in the week that I’d be passing through Louisa, so I wanted to stop by to see what all the excitement was about.
This is definitely the best Mexican restaurant in town.
Next time I’m in Louisa and am hungry for good Mexican food, though, I’ll drive a few miles up the road to Orange.
Ambiance: the restaurant is at the end of a strip mall. I like to avoid stereotypes whenever possible, but strip mall Mexican restaurants are usually at the low end of the dining spectrum, and Los Tres Potrillos wasn’t an exception.
Food: adequate, and at a reasonable price.
Service: meh.

I have been here several times and highly recommend it to everyone. I am from Southern California and grew up eating REAL mexican food. This may not be exactly that but it is darned close enough for me! This family run business is delightful in food and service and they are all so pleasant, friendly and eager to please. What more could you ask for? I think a few of the towns restaurants better take notes and step up their game a bit! If you want to find where your customers went, poke your head in Los Tres Potrillos! Olé’ and pass the salsa!

Local business, local family, tasty food. In fact, I see the eldest son (a member of the wait staff) every so often in the town, but I digress, Los Tres Potrillos is a wonderful restaurant for the family after a long day at the beach or a sit down lunch after Church. A very relaxed atmosphere, not a dive but it definitely has a family run flair. Very authentic, great if you’re tired of tacobell or chipotle and looking for a real taste of mexico, or if you’re not for that matter. Menu is large and has something for just about everyone and dishes made for those not looking for an exotic meal. Great food and wonderful desserts. I.e. Combo burritos and curros, need i say more? Definitely earned the four stars I gave it. I hope you enjoy it too. Jesus Loves you! But you’ve know that from a child so let Him in. 1 John 4:8

I have been to Los Tres Potrillos maybe a dozen times, and the food is always top notch! The place is family run, the father is the chef, the mother is the manager, and the kids serve the food. The owner has come to know my family by name, and occasionally will bring out his own special creations for us to sample. My favorite of these is his Mexican Pasta, and can only be found when he is cooking. Their salsa is fresh, and the chips always come out hot. The service is stellar, and the food is always a treat. Since moving up to NoVa, I have traveled the distance to eat here first, then visit the family.