Put on your sombrero, folks, you're going to Vallarta's on Wrightsboro Road.

The Mexican restaurant serves up great entrees, and the atmosphere is festive. Large plastic balloons shaped like bottles of tequila and Tecate hang from the ceiling, and soulful Hispanic music plays in the background.

TVs are located in each corner of the establishment, and you get to decide what channel to watch (just make sure the guy next to you wants to watch the Braves game, too).

There's a red, white and green motif, and the walls are decorated with sombreros, instruments and pictures of Mexico. A large deck faces Wrightsboro Road and provides plenty of additional seating for al fresco dining.

A co-worker and I stopped by for lunch last week, and the restaurant was so packed we had to sit at a table instead of a booth, where I usually sit. I was glad to see the place booming, but I was somewhat disappointed: A sense of privacy is lost when you sit at a table and it seems all eyes are on you.

I ordered pollo con crema - chicken grilled in a white sauce served with refried beans, tortillas and rice. The dish, which is one of my favorites, is similar to fajitas, but with a kick.

Other entrees include pollo fundido, two flour tortillas filled with chicken and topped with nacho cheese and sour cream and served with Mexican rice; the Cancun, a 12-inch flour tortilla stuffed with Mexican rice, grilled chicken or beef, melted cheese, pinto beans, grilled fresh mushrooms and white creamy sauce; chiles poblanos, peppers filled with Chihuahua cheese and served with Mexican rice and beans in a special sauce; and Le Mejor, a chalupa texana and a chicken quesadilla topped with cheese sauce and a side of Mexican rice.

Lunch specials and combination platters are available, and Vallarta's also serves salads, vegetarian dinners, seafood, steak and pork dinners, appetizers, children's plates, a variety of fajitas, desserts such as sopapillas, flan, fried ice cream, choco tacos and chiminanas, margaritas, soft drinks, wine and beer.

The waiters and waitresses are so friendly that you don't feel obligated to tip them, you want to tip them at least 20 percent.

After your Sunday rituals, hop in the car with the family and enjoy a nice dinner outside. The price is right, and so is the service.

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BIENVENIDOS!

The Eatery: Vallarta's, 3144 Wrightsboro Road (map) and 2808 Washington Road (map)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Ambiance: Relaxed and festive

Cost: $1.25-$21.95

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Phone: 731-0321 (Wrightsboro Road), 733-5584 (Washington Road)

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