All Entries in the "Mexican" Category
Restaurant Review: Los Mariachis #2
While I still can’t find Los Mariachi’s #1, I did manage to dine at the Los Mariachis #2 (9100 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33771-3821, (727) 584-9739) last week, as it’s less than a mile from my work and I wanted to kill some time before heading back over the bay on the Howard Franklin Bridge. The atmosphere is what you’d expect from upscale Mexican, including a beautiful functioning fountain when you first walk in, dozens of tables and booths, the sound of latin music all around and decorations that are instantly recognizable as south of the border.
At 6PM, the place is sparsely packed. I was seated immediately and my Diet Coke was out within 5 minutes. There were two different servers working in a team, so if one was busy the other would come by and check on me and the other guests. This system really seems to work well at Mariachi, as no one ever went without a fresh drink, napkins or anything else they might like.
I ordered the Chili Rellenos and a traditional beef taco. While I waited, they brought out complimentary chips and salsa. The chips themselves were a little too thin and dry for my liking, lacking the salt and oil that I’ve come to love in traditional tortillas. The salsa was thin, unexceptional and would roll off the chips too easily when dipped. The whole chips and salsa experience was uninspiring, though it did give me a nice base layer while waiting for my entree.
At 22 minutes from the time of ordering, my entree finally came out. The taco looked like a standard hard shelled taco, but the taste was a bit off. I couldn’t pinpoint the issue at first, but I figured it out as time progressed. The meat wasn’t seasoned. It was plain hamburger, tucked into a shell and coated in a white shredded cheese. As I continued to analyze the taste profile, I realized that the cheese was also very plain. The traditional mexican spices that I had come to expect were absent in this dish, leaving the taco relatively flavorless. While I wouldn’t say that the taco was disgusting or even bad tasting, I would say that it was a very empty and flavorless take on something I eat almost every day and have really loved from other restaurants.
The Chili Rellenos didn’t favor much better. The chili itself was smaller than I expected, probably not much more than 3″ around and an inch tall. Unlike Rellenos I’ve had in the past where you have a cheese and meat stuffed pepper covered in red sauce and cheese, this was a highly segmented take on the dish. The pepper itself, not cooked enough to have any cohesion with it’s other ingredients, was firm and spicy. The cheese, melted to the point of being hard, encased the pepper. Without sauce between the cheese and pepper, the pepper adhered to the cheese and made the dish more difficult to eat. Inside, the same bland ground beef of the taco was uninspiring. Nothing about this relleno gelled together as it should. Again, not something I’d say was appauling, simply not as appetizing as I had hoped it would be. The rest of the dish was made of guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese combined into a makeshift salad.
As a whole, Los Mariachis is an unimpressive cliche of what a Mexican restaurant should be. The food is bland, the atmosphere is accommodating but as-expected and the service is good, but not great. I won’t write this place off entirely, but it’s not the kind of place I was so impressed by that I’ll make an effort to visit regularly, even though it’s a stone’s throw from where I spend 10+ hours/day.
Restaurant Review: Tacos Tampa/Taqueria Monterrey #2
The owner of the Taco Bus and Taqueria Monterrey, Rene Valenzuela, has done it again with Tacos Tampa/Taqueria Monterrey #2 (2320 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa FL 33612), just opened in the USF area of Tampa. This is the third restaurant in the Taqueria/TacoBus group and it continues to provide good food at a good price.
The new facility has only been open a few days and already it is very busy. I went in during lunch time on Friday and there were people filling most every table, with others coming and going quickly.
Like it’s predecessor, #2 makes all of their shells fresh as you order them. They roll up the balls of dough, spread them and cook them in front of you behind a glass counter. You can really taste this freshness in the meal, and having hot shells makes everything else taste great.
The ingredients are fresh, as I’ve come to expect. They cut vegetables and prepare meets as needed, not pulled from the refrigerator in prepared bins. It tastes very much like home cooking in every bite. They also have all of my favorites from #1, including the Pastor. I recommend the Plate, as you simply won’t be able to get enough of this great tasting dish.
Guacamole is made fresh as well, and I can easily appreciate this painstaking and time consuming activity. It’s left chunky, with a bit of lime and spice to it but still leaving the avocado as the star. You could easily fill yourself up on guac and chips if you’re not careful. It’s that easy to get carried away with it.
The salsa bar, shown here only partially full as they were changing out vegetables for fresher ones, really adds another component to the value of Monterrey. The food is already value priced (around $10 or less to get full here), but you have open access to more vegetables and salsas as well. I often find myself going back just to the toppings bar to try everything, as there are over a dozen options here worth exploring.
I definitely can’t recommend Monterrey #2 enough, just as I couldn’t with Monterrey #1. If you want quality authentic Mexican Cuisine at a value price with high quality and fresh ingredients, you’d be hard pressed to find it anywhere else outside of our neighbors to the south.
DISCLOSURE: I designed the website, just like I did with the Taco Bus and the original Monterrey. As I have stated publicly before, I love their food and stand behind it as if it was my own restaurant. I wouldn’t have taken the design job if I didn’t!
Restaurant Review: Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant
Hidden in the Conquistador Plaza along Hillsborough, Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant (4502 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL, 33614. (813) 879-4096) is yet another Mexican restaurant here in Tampa worth trying. While not exceptional in any way, it does provide decent value, fast service and a charming atmosphere.
When I showed up, the place was only moderately busy. The buzz of traditional Latin music filled the room, a bit too loud for comfort. I’ve noticed this trend in restaurants lately, trying to make up for low-rent layouts, mediocre food and unpleasant waitstaff by making the music overpowering. I didn’t have high hopes for this place based on this one point.
The waitress came and took my drink order. While she was gone, I noticed the fountain behind me. It was pretty loud for a fountain, loud enough to overtake the previously mentioned loud music. It was really pretty though.
When the drink arrived, she took my order right away. She was quick to recommend their carne asada, a favorite I’ve had many times before from many other places. I agreed to it and waited as she brought out chips and salsa. I noticed they also carried Chili Rellenos, one of my old time favorites as well. Given that I was pretty hungry, I ordered it as well.
The chips and salsa arrived and they were good. They were just salty enough to catch my attention, with a thin salsa that had a bit of heat but not enough to be overbearing. I noticed a bit of a fruity overtone in the salsa. It wasn’t powerful enough to be a mango-based salsa, but there was a definite sweetness.
The steak arrived within 10 minutes, and it was very flavorful. I’ve found that flank steak, when cooked correctly, can really stand on it’s own. I had been so convinced from previous experiences that flank steak and skirt steak were tough that I had all but given up on them. Guadalajara definitely made the most of this cut, giving it a nice seer without being overly done. I’d say for a flank steak, this was better than average.
With the steak came rice, beans, a side of vegetables and chips. There was nothing exceptional about any of it, other than it was fulfilling. The beans were a little runnier than I like, but they made a fine finish to the steak.
The chili relleno was completely different than any that I had eaten before. Firstly, the pepper itself was surprisingly crunchy. It’s not simply that it had a crunchy exterior shell. The whole pepper was crunchy, as if it were fried all the way through the pepper skin. Inside, there was no meat, but rather a half-melted block of cheese. There was no cohesion in the meal, just a block of cheese in a fried pepper covered in sauce. As far as relleno goes, this was pretty weak.
Restaurant Review: Red Mesa
On Sunday, the gang decided to head over to Red Mesa (4912 4th St N, St Petersburg, FL 33703, (727) 527-8728), an upscale Mexican cuisine at a lower end price point. On Sundays, they offer a special brunch menu featuring both traditional south of the border favorites and egg-based takes on classic Mexican breakfast foods.
Red Mesa, much like Algusto that I reviewed before, offers an a la carte approach to the menu. Chips and salsa are available, but they charge you for them. This is actually a nice option, as it keeps the other items prices down while giving you the option to have as much or as little as you’d like to eat.
The restaurant itself is clean and colorful, but not overpowering. The subdued dark red woods, shades of green and toned down traditional colors make for a comfortable place to dine. The dining room is divided into two pieces, one front area (where we sat) and a much larger dining room in the back. This restaurant looks to seat about 200 people, and it was busy for a brunch. Even with being busy, our drinks were topped off regularly, the waiter brought back chips as we asked for them and our meals were out within 25 minutes.
We started with the chips and salsa, which were pretty good. Usually I find when they mix the chip colors (golden and black), there’s a good mix between them. These chips only featured a few dark ones, which Kara immediately coveted as her own. There’s no difference in the taste, mind you, but it’s something I always notice.
The salsa was a thin and runny sauce, slightly spicy but no reason substance to it. The taste was good and fresh, but I found myself dripping it all over as it was hard to scoop without chunks to hold it together.
The entrees came out and everyone dug in. Kara ordered the Mesquite Chicken Quesadilla, a shell filled with grilled chicken, chihuahua and gouda cheese, poblano chile and onion with this absolutely delicious honey chipotle vinaigrette and black bean corn salsa. Of all the sauces I’ve had in all the tex-mex joints I’ve been in through my life, this was one of the better. It’s sweet, it’s a bit spicy and it works so well with the rest of the dish. When I go back, I’m going to order one of my own so I can eat it all and bath in it’s awesomeness.
For my entree, I got a combination plate of tamale, tostada and chicken enchilada served with refried beans. All in all, it was a good dish. The cream and cheese covered enchilada was piping hot all the way through and a good mix of flavors, using just enough meat and just enough shell to find a good balance in the red sauce. The tostada was piled high and had plenty of vegetables while still being substantial enough to stand on it’s own. The tamale was the short sell of the dish, being a bit too dry for it’s own good. I’ve said it before, but I’m really spoiled by the Taco Bus tamales and it’s hard to find anything that will compare. The beans were a little stiffer and starchier than I expected, but the taste was good. Presentation on this dish is top notch, especially at the $8 price point.
Dereck and Dustan both has the burritos, which they claim were good. The portions were a good size and they were eaten pretty quickly, so I’ll trust their judgement on the review.
When we finished our meal, we felt full and satisfied but not busting-at-the-seams as we do after some meals. Also, this meal stuck with me. I wasn’t hungry after 2 hours. In fact, it was almost 6 hours later before I found myself at my next restaurant, doing a review.
Restaurant Review: Caramba’s Mexican Restaurante
This weekend, Dereck and I went to Carambas Restaurante (1842 Drew St, Clearwater, FL 33765, (727) 446-7469), an unassuming strip mall treasure in Clearwater for good authentic Mexican cuisine. This place was recommended by many readers of the Creative Loafing Tournament of Tacos, so I decided to give it a try for myself.
When I walked in, I was greeted by the manager who immediately sat us. The Latin music was playing around us, not too loud but enough to where I felt spirited being there. Service was very quick, bringing out our drinks within 3 minutes of being seated and continuing with refills every 10 minutes or so. Service continued to be prompt with the food and with checking on us regularly.
We decided to order several different dishes and just split them so we both had a bit of everything.
The first round was complimentary chips and salsa. It seems that things always taste better when they are free, right? The salsa was perfect. Not runny or watery. Not overly spicy, but with a good kick. This was excellent homemade salsa. The chips were warm and lightly salted. This was the perfect kick start to the food marathon we were about to face.
One plate we got was a combination of enchiladas, tamales, rice and beans. Everything about this was good. The enchiladas were moist and creamy all the way through, fusing beef and cheese in a sauce that was perfect. I could tell instantly that this was all made from scratch and not some store bought sauce, as it was different and better than any red sauce I’ve had in a Mexican dish in a while.
Rice and beans were acceptable, but not amazing. The beans themselves were a little cold when they came out and the rice a little starchy, but all around good compliments to the noteworthy main course.
A combination of fajitas were brought out as well, including shrimp, beef and chicken. The fajitas were excellent, well seasoned and succulent. The chicken wasn’t dry. The shrimp wasn’t rubbery. The steak was lightly salted and tasted like a premium cut. These were excellent fajitas, amongst the best I’ve ever had.
They were served with another helping of rice and beans (same as above), sour cream, guacamole and fresh pico. The guacamole was also really good. It wasn’t thick and chunky like I tend to prefer, but was excellent in taste without the overwhelming citrus taste I sometimes get in guacamole.
My second favorite dish, the chili rellenos, was coated in a thicker red sauce than the enchilada and was a combination of superb tastes. The chili itself was soft and tender to the fork, requiring very little work to split in two. The inside, a cheese filled mass spilled forth with flavor and steam. This came with a chicken burrito, a satisfying mix of shredded chicken and cheese in a soft shell. The dish was rounded out by another tamale, rice and beans. The tamale was alright, though the cornmeal was a little tougher than I’m used to. A drudge through the red sauce made it just right.
My absolute favorite in the group was the grilled grouper, served with fresh salsa and olives. This fish, both firm and juicy, was probably the best grouper I’ve had in a long time. Usually when grouper is grilled, it comes apart or gets hard. This had the flavor of a smokey grill with the tenderness and moisture level of a steamed fish. It was amazing, and I’d drive all the way back to Clearwater just for this dish.
The total bill came to $50, thanks to a $25 off coupon from Restaurant.com. We ate our fill and had plenty left to bring home, which was promptly eaten the next morning for breakfast.
Restaurant Review: Los Tucanes Mexican Food
Just down the way from the Taco Bus on Hillsborough Avenue is Los Tucanes Restaurant (1235 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33604, (813) 232-5048), another little Mexican eatery that provides good value in food that is better than average.
I went there recently to kill some time between two appointments. At first, I wasn’t sure if they were open. It was after 6PM and there were no cars in the parking lot. I approached the door to find one young lady working the bar and one cook in the back. It seemed dead to me, which is usually a bad sign, but it was worth a try.
Since I was the only customer, service was very fast. As I sat down, she asked me what kind of drink I wanted and I had my Diet Coke within a minute. I told her I’d never been there before and I wanted a recommendation, so she suggested the steak fajitas. Sounded good to me.
She put in my order and came back with a basket of complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were good, a bit thick and warm and fresh. The salsa was definitely better than I expected, both because it was thick and chunky and a bit spicy but also because you get a lot of it and it comes in a gravy boat, making it very easy to get whole chips in and lots of salsa out.
The fajitas were up in less than 10 minutes and they were HOT. Usually, fajitas sizzle for a minute or two after they are at your table. These continued to sizzle 8 full minutes after I got them. I was digging around the sizzling and popping dish with my fork through the whole process, pulling meat and vegetables out as I wanted them. It just amazed me how hot they really were.
The fajitas were flavorful as well, and you get a lot of them. Usually, a plate of steak fajitas get you a small amount of steak on a bed of peppers, onions and tomatoes. This was a big pile of steak, piled high with onions then piled high with peppers. There was actually too many peppers for my taste, but it’s easy enough to pick through them to get the onions and steak.
The steak itself is really juicy, not fatty and flavorful. The seasonings they use really bring out the texture and taste of the steak and gives the whole dish an earthy taste. I’d grown so used to eating “Commercialized fajitas” at places like Chilis that it was good to get something more authentic.
The side of beans, rice, pico and sour cream were as to be expected. Nothing exceptional here, but they made a good compliment to the dish.
One minor issue I have is that I only got four tortillas. I probably could have faired better with six, but it’s my own fault for not asking. I was so wrapped up in how good everything tasted that I just continued to push food into my mouth after a while, dismissing protocol.
Aside from the food being better than average, the price was also fair. My whole meal, including the fajitas, diet coke, chips and salsa was $15 before tip. I left full and happy, so this is a win in my book.
Everything about this place seems like it should be more than it is. It’s on a major road, but it’s not busy. The food is good and prices fair, but it’s not busy. There’s plenty of places to sit, it’s comfortable and there’s a whole back room for pool and lounging around, yet it’s not busy. Perhaps they are one of the Tampa’s best kept secrets, but I hope they become busy soon so I won’t lose them to attrition.
Restaurant Review: Taqueria Monterrey
While I was out in Plant City the other day, I stopped into Taqueria Monterrey (1302 W. Reynolds Street, Plant City, FL. 33563, (813) 752-6862), owned by the guy who owns the Taco Bus. I knew I was in for a treat, as Rene from the Taco Bus had described it as, “A different experience, where everything is hand made.” Based on that and my experience with the Taco Bus, I knew this was going to be really good.
As I drove down Reynolds Road, I noticed a half dozen little Mexican eateries on that same road, some only a 1/4 mile apart from each other. Knowing this area has a heavily populated Spanish/Latin population, I also knew that to support so many little places required them all to be either good or cheap. Monterrey is both. The only real drawback I find to Monterrey is it’s hours. It’s only open 11AM to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The building itself is unassuming. The tip of a triangle where two roads intersect gives it a lot of traffic and there’s plenty of parking. Both times I was there this weekend, there were lots of people in and out, showing me that it is busy when it’s open.
There are a lot of cool features about this place. When you walk in, you are overwhelmed by the salsa bar. Over 10 salsas are available ranging from mild in green and and red through Habanero laced concoctions that are likely to burn you up from the inside. Aside from the salsas, the bar also offers onions, cilantro, pico and other Mexican favorites to fill any dish you order.
The seating is all booth style, and it’s pretty comfortable. When I sat down in the booths, I sank down just enough to where it felt like I was in the seat instead of floating around on it. There is seating for probably 20-25 people in the colorful dining area.
Everything about this place screams traditional Mexican. All of the signs are in Spanish. The staff speaks broken English, as it’s obviously not something they use all the time. The atmosphere is very inviting and friendly as well.
The quality of food is due in a large part to how it’s prepared. One of their signature meat dishes is produced on a coal burning grill, seen below. The large wheel of meat is rotated and shaved off as needed. The fresh barbecued taste is what makes this meat one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten.
The other facet that makes the food great is that the shells are made from scratch, to order, as needed. Here you can see one of the cooks churning out new shells for my order of tacos and burritos.
They cook fresh on the flat top skillet as needed. No deep frying. No heavy oils. Everything about this process is fresh and flavorful.
The first thing I tried was an open shelled version of the meat wheel with avocados, fried onions and slow cooked pepper. It was, by far and without a doubt, one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The meat is soft, hot, slightly salty and has a texture and taste that is unbeatable. I literally found myself tearing up with happiness as I ate this. It was so good by itself, and even better with the salsa bar additions.
Secondly, they brought out a pork and cheese taco combination with more sauteed onions. The pork actually had more of a philly-steak look and feel than anything, but it was very good. You can really taste the time and effort that goes into everything they make, as the shells can barely contain the flavor busting forth.
Once again, it was great by itself but even better with the salsa bar. I decided to try a new salsa than I did before. The one was decidedly hotter.
For the last part of my first trip to Monterrey, I decided to go with a time tested favorite and get a beef burrito. This melt-in-your-mouth classic was everything a burrito should be. It wasn’t overpowering in your hands, but it was piping hot inside and was the last straw in filling me up. Also served with pepper and onions, the burrito was excellent. I was now to the point that I couldn’t eat anymore. I was literally too stuffed, happy and overwhelmed to do anything but waddle out of there.
The next day, I needed to know if it was a fluke. I was headed back to Plant City for the Strawberry Classic Car Show, so I stopped in again for dinner. What a repeat performance!
This time, I went with the same meat I had in the first dish the day before, but this time in plate form. They chipped a generous portion of meat off into a corner and added rice, cheese and beans to the plate. It was served with the same fresh taco shells I had the day before. What can I say about absolutely perfect Mexican food? These guys hit a home run consistently.
I liked this enough that I’m gonna make another trip out there Friday night and I’m going to get a bunch of food to go. It’s worth it to have this in my fridge, though I doubt it will make it more than a day before I consume all I bring home.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I’m currently designing Taqueria Monterrey’s Website. I have a professional relationship that came from an introduction by Rene at the Taco Bus. That said, I would love this food even if I wasn’t currently doing their website. It was exceptional, and it’s a pleasure for me to be able to create something nice for them after they created two days worth of amazing food for me.
Restaurant Review: Algusto Tortilla and Salsa
Early in the week, I went out to Algusto Tortilla and Salsa (912 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606, (813) 250-3500) for dinner with the wife. I’d heard lots of good things about this place, and it lived up to the legend.
The place is decorated in a very traditional and clean layout, speckled with dozens of articles and accolades from local food critics talking of the quality of the food. This is consistent with everything I had heard of this place, and everything we experienced. The environment can be described as comfortable, relaxed and inviting.
The food was excellent. I spoke to the owner, who confirmed why the quality was so high. Everything they cook is made with health in mind. Their ingredients are fresh and natural and they cook only with olive oil, never lard or other oils that can pack pounds on your waistline and lead to health complications.
We started with the chips and salsa, which were excellent. You can tell the salsa was made fresh today, as the tomatoes were crisp, flavorful and were not pureed or broken down at all. The onions and other ingredients came through in every bite. This was a thick, flavorful and natural salsa.
We had guacamole as well, which was so rich and creamy without the overwhelming citrus taste that you get from guac that has been around a while. This was obviously fresh and very fulfilling. I honestly could have just made a meal of the guacamole, as it was rich and decadent.
We decided to try the Sangria, which was highly recommended. It was sweet, almost too sweet, but a very smooth drink with fresh fruit garnish. The more I drank of it, the more I felt like I was back in Mexico drinking sangria on the beach. Like everything else, the freshness and quality really stood out. I’d say this is some of the better Sangria I’ve had, almost as good as what I had at a cigar bar a few months ago.
Our entrees came and they were plentiful. Kara has the chimichanga smothered in a pile of red sauce, sour cream and guacamole. Served with refried beans and rice, the slow cooked filling tasted so clean and natural. I’m so used to eating flavorful mexican food that is filled with carbs and fat that trying something lean that still had the flavor was a pleasant surprise.
I had both an entree and a side dish, as I hadn’t eaten that day and was exceptionally hungry. The entree was mushroom crepes, a delicate take on stuffed crepe dishes I had eaten in many french restaurants but with a decidedly Mexican flare. The green sauce covering it was tart and met with sharp contrast to the mushrooms inside, a sweet and buttery combination that popped with every bite. This was such an unusual taste that I find it difficult to describe, but it was sensational. The rice and beans were decent. I’d say there were on par with what I’m used to from the Taco Bus or Cinco De Mayo. Definitely a good fill for the crepes.
I also had the pork quesadilla on the side. This was filled with shredded, slow cooked pork and was very good. I was actually quite full before I even started the quesadilla, but opted to finish it anyway. Usually when I eat too much, I feel bloated afterwords. This wasn’t the case with Algusto. The food quality and lack of fat and grease gave me the feeling of full without the misery, and for that I’m thankful.
One part of the legend I was hoping that wasn’t true was that everything is a la carte. You get one refill with your soda, then they charge you. You pay for chips. You pay for salsa. You pay for every side, every option. This by-the-piece mentality can actually go both ways. It can present a bargain if you want something small and specific, or it can turn into a nickle-and-dime situation if you go for a complete meal.
Our complete meal, with $6 tip, came to almost $50. This is a bit more than I usually spend on good tasting Mexican, but when you bite into it you’ll understand that the cost covers quality ingredients that are good for you too.
Restaurant Review: Estela’s Mexican Restaurant
In my continual search for the best Mexican Cuisine in Tampa, I tried out Estela’s (209 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606, (813) 251-0558 ) on Davis Island today. This is one of five Estela’s locations in the Tampa area, all with the same menu.
The lunch crowd, even at 1:15 this afternoon, crowded this place when we got there. The smell of Latin food filled the air before I even entered the building, thanks to people eating in the outside pavilion. When I arrived, I sat down and waited for my lunch companion who would show up a few minutes later. Within a few minutes, the waitress brought me a drink and complimentary chips and salsa. Not only was she prompt but was very cordial and made some recommendations on food I might try. The atmosphere and the staff were all very warm and friendly, so I felt very comfortable. Beautiful hand painted artwork filled the walls in both the main dining area and the bar area, making this a colorful dining experience.
After John arrived, we placed our order. He ordered the Steak Fajitas and I asked for the Carne Asada meal (today’s special at $10). We consumed almost all of the chips and salsa while waiting, which were very good. The chips, much like the chips I had at Cinco De Mayo just a few days ago, were thick and crispy. They needed a bit of salt, but otherwise were perfect. The salsa was more a puree than the traditional salsa I expect from this kind of place. It was tasty and they provide you plenty, but I would have preferred chunks of onion and pepper over a thin salsa.
The food came quickly and was magnificent. I was impressed with the portion, especially for the cost. For the $10, I received a 12ish oz. rib eye steak, rice, beans, tortillas, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream. Under the steak was some kind of rolled soft-shell Mexican treat, perhaps an cheese enchilada, that came with the special.
The steak was mouthwatering. I generally don’t expect a lot from a $10 steak, but this thin cut portion was large, succulent and tender. A light glaze added both taste and texture, and this was great both on it’s own and wrapped it tortilla. The rice and beans were good, as they are at many places. The beans were a little watery, but when mixed with the rice made a great side dish. The guacamole is made fresh, as it was a bright green and didn’t have any brown spots or an overt lime taste that you see with guacamole that sits around. Everything about the meal was fresh and flavorful.
I was impressed with the size of the tortillas as well. They were large, burrito size, and helped make quick work of all of the ingredients. The cheese enchilada was also incredibly tasty and tender, as it has been sitting in the same glaze as the steak. It was a nice little treat to finish off a memorable meal.
John shared my sentiment throughout the meal that it was delicious. I left full and happy, and still feel full even 5 hours later as I write this. This is food that sticks with you, and now I have a reason to go to Davis Island more often.
Restaurant Review: Cinco De Mayo
Named for one of my favorite holidays, Cinco De Mayo(1919 E 7th Ave, Tampa FL 33605, 813-374-2222) is a relatively new piece of Ybor City. Housed further down the street of 7th Avenue’s main drag, this little piece of Mexico brings great food and a welcoming atmosphere. Having only been in business for five months, a few kinks are still being worked out. While I was there, they were hanging signage and cleaning up. You can tell a lot of the upstairs is still “in progress”, but it’s showing signs of a hot place to be.
I went in for the lunch, as they run daily specials. Today, I tried the Enchilada Lunch (for $5!) and a traditional/Mexican taco. The waitress is sweet and personable, and chats with me between customers and cleaning. She was very quick with both my drink and the complimentary chips and salsa.
The chips were thicker than standard tortilla chips, and more oily. They were flavorful without being salty, which was a big plus. The salsa was a variety I hadn’t had in a long time. It was very fresh, watery and pungent with tomatoes and citrus. The acids from the salsa play tricks on your taste buds, giving you a bit of sweet, a bit of bitter and a bit of spicy. It’s a good salsa and I finished the entire bowl before half my chips were done.
The main course was out very quickly. The taco, as I had chosen the traditional/Mexican taco over the “Americanized version” was similar to the Taco Bus tacos. The sauteed pork was a bit spicy and dripping with flavor. The included green sauce wasn’t even necessary, as the taco stood on it’s own being both succulent and robust. At only $2, this is a value that I’d be hard to compare to anywhere else I’ve eaten. The pork inside the taco was on par with the Taco Bus’s Cochinita Pibil, which is now my absolute favorite filling meat.
The enchiladas were served on a large platter with everything you’d expect; rice, beans and a pile of lettuce and sour cream to fill out the course. The beans were as to be expected, hot and flavorful with chunks of queso melted into the top. I used the chips to make quick work of my pile of beans.
The rice was of a higher caliber than a lot of the Mexican rice I’ve had as it was made with cheese and kept very moist. The cheese helped stick the rice together but it didn’t overpower the dish. It was the string in the woven fabric of already delicious rice.
The enchiladas were plentiful and tender. The problem with enchiladas in a lot of restaurants is their reliance on the red sauce to give the dish it’s flavor. It’s more often than not disconcerting or at least annoying that they’d take great ingredients and drown them. Cinco does it just right. The sauce is minimal and a compliment, not a hostile takeover. The cheese is also used sparingly, as to not overpower the dish.
The real star of the enchiladas dish is the shredded chicken insides that spill out as you fork your way through them. Tender, delicious, piping hot and easy to eat, the chicken is something you can see a lot of time goes into. It’s a slight bit spicy, but the stringy texture and the other ingredients keep any mouth seering at bay.
Aside from the food, the atmosphere is incredibly comfortable. Outside seating is available with a simple but attractive table setting. A large stainless counter at the bar is sterile but inviting. Decorations fill the walls, reminding you that this is equal part bar and restaurant. The upstairs, while looking like it’s still got a bit of work to go, has a very inviting feel to it as well and the amenities you’d expect including a pool table, private seating, a second bar and plenty of space.
True to it’s name, Cinco De Mayo is planning a huge party on the fifth of May. Mariachi bands will play, women will dance and the booze will flow. I’ll be there to cover it and so should you.