A couple of weeks ago I finally got around to visiting El Paraiso Restaurant. Located in the Chair Factory in Cornelius, El Paraiso is the only restaurant in this small complex.
I parked the car then walked to the restaurant's entrance. While walking, I noticed a few Fire Trucks and Police cars. What the heck is going on? Did somebody choke on a chalupa? Did somebody rob the place? Did somebody rob the place AND choke on a chalupa? I had to investigate.
I made my way inside and noticed no visible commotion. Just a lot of firefighters and cops no excitement -- DARN!
The bartender told me to pick a table, and I grabbed an empty booth along a wall. The booths were black and red, and really didn't seem to match the rest of the restaurant. But hey, I was there for the food anyway.
After a few minutes, the waitress came by and took my drink order. It took me a few more minutes to look over the menu and make my decision. Hmm, I was really in the mood for chile rellenos. But I wanted to try at least one other meal -- so I did what any indecisive Foodie would do -- I ordered a combination plate!
I went with #96 (their menu is quite large). What is #96? I'm glad you asked! It's a Chile relleno and a crispy taco; I chose beef. I've gotta hand it to El Paraiso, the menu is extensive, and they offer things not usually seen in Mexican Style restaurants. Grilled Salmon and Catfish both make appearances on the menu.
My chips arrived after my drink, and were pretty good. The salsa is prepared at the restaurant, and it was nicely chilled -- I'd rather have my salsa refrigerated than just sitting around at room temperature all day. The salsa had a good consistency, and some nice chunks of tomato, onion, and cilantro. It was a little late to the table, but it was darn good.
Next came the meal. The chile relleno was huge and it was stuffed with beef, not cheese. A little different, but good! Next I tried the crispy taco. It was a standard taco shell filled with ground beef, cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato. Overall pretty good. The ground beef in both the chili relleno and taco was good, but slightly lacking in flavor -- something I've noticed with many of the Mexican Style restaurants in the area. It's like they're scared of oregano and cumin!
But that's not to slam El Paraiso. The food was perfectly acceptable and the lunch special was a deal at $6.25.
It was a good meal at a good price. If you're nearby, it's worth a try.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3.5 / 5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10.5 / 15
Kid Friendly: Yes. Kids menu and high chairs available.
Price: $ (Tax & Tip just under $10)
Conclusion: Good food at a good price make this a worthwhile visit. The wait staff was a little overwhelmed during lunch due to limited staff and a full room. But they still got me out in about 40 mins.
Restaurant Info:
El Paraiso Restaurant
20700 N. Main Street
Suite 124
Cornelius, NC 28031
p) 704-896-6064
Showing posts with label mexican. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mexican. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Friday, August 14, 2009
La Unica (Huntersville): 2nd Review
A little over seven months ago I posted my first restaurant review on this Blog. I visited a new Mexican restaurant called La Unica, off of 73, next to Food Lion, and I was smitten.
The food was great, the service was great, and I realized that I had made a great find. So now, seven months later, I was in the mood for Mexican food, and didn't want to drive too far. This meant I was heading to La Unica to see if the first visit was a fluke.
It wasn't.
Everything about La Unica has stayed the same. It still is decorated more like a trendy cafe, than a typical mexican restaurant. I was still seated immediately. And once I sat down, I was again handed two carafes of salsal (medium and mild), and a bowl of lime wedges.
The service here is like clockwork. (Except the servers here are hispanic -- not swiss.) There are several waiters and serving staff who are contantly attending to your every need. Need chips? They're refilled. Getting low on soda? The glass is refilled. Done with your meal? The plate is quickly taken away. The service here rocks!
Once seated, my friend and I glanced over the lunch menu. Being in a perpetual enchilada mood, I ordered the Speedy Gonzalez with rice. That's a beef enchilada and beef taco, and it came with a side of spanish style rice. My friend ordered a combination that included a quesadilla and a Chalupa.
You may remember my brief tirade about another restaurant in the area that tried to pass off a tostada as a chalupa. So the stage was set. It was a battle of the restaurants. Chalupa vs. Fake Chalupa. Who would win?
When the food arrived, the winner was instantly apparent. La Unica delivered a real chalupa. It looked delicious, with the fried dough, cheese, lettuce and meat. DARN! Now I wanted one!
So, I ate my friend's food while he wasn't looking. So, I started eating my meal. It was REALLY good. The enchilada was perfect. The sauce had a deep but spicy flavor, and the beef tasted of cumin and oregano. The same ground beef was found in the crispy taco. But this time topped with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. In addition, the crisy shell was slightly different than a standard shell. It didn't spontaneously break apart! It held together throughout the meal.
Then I took a bite of the rice, and I liked it! I'm not big on rice. But I use it as a way to determine how good a kitchen is. Most places serve the rice as an afterthought. And in those places it's usualy stale, and has a distinct flavor of cardboard. Not here. The rice was warm, moist, and flavorful.
It's apparent that they pay attention to the details at La Unica. And because of this, it's one of the better Mexican restaurants in the area! Needless to say, I'm still smitten over this place!
Score:
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11.5/15
Avg. Total: 11.25/15 (Including previous visits)
Conclusion: La Unica is proving to provide consistently great food and service, for a reasonable price. It's one of those few gems that I won't hesitate to recommend to a friend.
Restaurant Info:
La Unica
9121 -1 Sam Furr Road
Huntersville, NC
p) 704-895-5378
The food was great, the service was great, and I realized that I had made a great find. So now, seven months later, I was in the mood for Mexican food, and didn't want to drive too far. This meant I was heading to La Unica to see if the first visit was a fluke.
It wasn't.
Everything about La Unica has stayed the same. It still is decorated more like a trendy cafe, than a typical mexican restaurant. I was still seated immediately. And once I sat down, I was again handed two carafes of salsal (medium and mild), and a bowl of lime wedges.
The service here is like clockwork. (Except the servers here are hispanic -- not swiss.) There are several waiters and serving staff who are contantly attending to your every need. Need chips? They're refilled. Getting low on soda? The glass is refilled. Done with your meal? The plate is quickly taken away. The service here rocks!
Once seated, my friend and I glanced over the lunch menu. Being in a perpetual enchilada mood, I ordered the Speedy Gonzalez with rice. That's a beef enchilada and beef taco, and it came with a side of spanish style rice. My friend ordered a combination that included a quesadilla and a Chalupa.
You may remember my brief tirade about another restaurant in the area that tried to pass off a tostada as a chalupa. So the stage was set. It was a battle of the restaurants. Chalupa vs. Fake Chalupa. Who would win?
When the food arrived, the winner was instantly apparent. La Unica delivered a real chalupa. It looked delicious, with the fried dough, cheese, lettuce and meat. DARN! Now I wanted one!
Then I took a bite of the rice, and I liked it! I'm not big on rice. But I use it as a way to determine how good a kitchen is. Most places serve the rice as an afterthought. And in those places it's usualy stale, and has a distinct flavor of cardboard. Not here. The rice was warm, moist, and flavorful.
It's apparent that they pay attention to the details at La Unica. And because of this, it's one of the better Mexican restaurants in the area! Needless to say, I'm still smitten over this place!
Score:
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11.5/15
Avg. Total: 11.25/15 (Including previous visits)
Conclusion: La Unica is proving to provide consistently great food and service, for a reasonable price. It's one of those few gems that I won't hesitate to recommend to a friend.
Restaurant Info:
La Unica
9121 -1 Sam Furr Road
Huntersville, NC
p) 704-895-5378
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Pueblo Grande (Mooresville)
Yesterday I decided to drive up to Mooresville to try something new. As we were driving up Hwy 115, I spotted a mexican restaurant, and made the first left turn possible. Unfortunately, because I was in downtown Mooresville and the restaurant was on the other side of the railroad tracks, I had to navigate through three stoplights within 50 feet of each other. But after some white-knuckle driving, I was in the parking lot, and ready for some mexican food!
My friend and I entered, and seated ourselves. We were quickly brought some salsa, chips, and a menu. I started munching on the salsa and chips. But I decided against munching on the menu, and opened it to the Lunch Specials section instead. :)
There were several options, and I picked lucky number 13. Which according to the menu consisted of an "Enchilada, taco and chalupa." Keep in mind the chalupa part, it'll come up again later. Remember... chalupa.
As we waited for our order, I enjoyed my Diet Coke and the salsa and chips. The salsa and chips were very good. The chips were light and crunchy. I think they had more flour than typical corn chips -- which is a good thing. And the salsa was a nice and thick sauce. Not too chunky, and not too liquidy. The more I think about it, I REALLY liked their salsa and chips. But this man cannot live on salsa and chips alone. I need enchiladas too!
The plate arrived, and it was loaded. I started on the enchilada first and all I can say is YUM! Ok, I can say more... it was ground beef rolled inside a corn tortilla covered with red enchilada sauce and melted cheese. I plowed through the enchilada, it was delicious. The meat was flavorful and moist, and the enchilada sauce added a nice spicy zest.
Next came the crispy taco. It was a standard crispy taco shell packed with the same ground beef that was in the enchilada. It was topped with lettuce and cheese. It was ok, but was lacking some flavor, so I put some extra salsa on it. This bought it up a notch, and I was happy with it.
Then came the tostada. It was good. A flat and round crispy corn shell (just a flat and round version of the taco shell), topped with refried beans, lettuce and cheese. It was nothing special, so I loaded lots of salsa on it, and then it was good.
We waited a long time for the check, and then waited some more for the change. Between when we were done with eating, to when we finally got our change was probably about 20 minutes. Waay too long in my opinion. That's a LOONG time for two guys to sit around and talk. Really, after some talk about sports, weather, and the economy, we were out of topics! I mean what else are we supposed to talk about -- our feelings?? *shudders*
It was when I got to the car I realized (with the help of my friend), that I ate a tostada. But I ordered a chalupa! This is one of my pet peeves, and it has happened to me in this area before.
The restaurant probably had the tostadas already made, and was hoping that I wouldn't notice the difference. Tostadas and chalupas are made of almost the same things. The major difference being that chapulas are made with a fried dough, not a taco shell. Those flat taco shells are for tosadas.
Small thing, I know. But really, why put both things on the menu when you're only going to serve one of them??
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5 (Enchilada, salsa, and chips good. Wrong menu item, not so good)
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (everything including tip was $10. For dinner expect to pay $3 to $5 more)
Kid Friendly: Yes. There is even a very cheap kids menu.
Conclusion:
This place has potential, but the wrong menu item and slow service hurt it. The enchilada, chips, and salsa were good. So, I'll go back to try dinner and see what happens.
Restaurant Info:
Pueblo Grande
241 South Broad St.
Mooresville, NC 28115
p) 704-799-8499
http://pueblomexicangrill.com/
My friend and I entered, and seated ourselves. We were quickly brought some salsa, chips, and a menu. I started munching on the salsa and chips. But I decided against munching on the menu, and opened it to the Lunch Specials section instead. :)
There were several options, and I picked lucky number 13. Which according to the menu consisted of an "Enchilada, taco and chalupa." Keep in mind the chalupa part, it'll come up again later. Remember... chalupa.
As we waited for our order, I enjoyed my Diet Coke and the salsa and chips. The salsa and chips were very good. The chips were light and crunchy. I think they had more flour than typical corn chips -- which is a good thing. And the salsa was a nice and thick sauce. Not too chunky, and not too liquidy. The more I think about it, I REALLY liked their salsa and chips. But this man cannot live on salsa and chips alone. I need enchiladas too!
The plate arrived, and it was loaded. I started on the enchilada first and all I can say is YUM! Ok, I can say more... it was ground beef rolled inside a corn tortilla covered with red enchilada sauce and melted cheese. I plowed through the enchilada, it was delicious. The meat was flavorful and moist, and the enchilada sauce added a nice spicy zest.
Next came the crispy taco. It was a standard crispy taco shell packed with the same ground beef that was in the enchilada. It was topped with lettuce and cheese. It was ok, but was lacking some flavor, so I put some extra salsa on it. This bought it up a notch, and I was happy with it.
Then came the tostada. It was good. A flat and round crispy corn shell (just a flat and round version of the taco shell), topped with refried beans, lettuce and cheese. It was nothing special, so I loaded lots of salsa on it, and then it was good.
We waited a long time for the check, and then waited some more for the change. Between when we were done with eating, to when we finally got our change was probably about 20 minutes. Waay too long in my opinion. That's a LOONG time for two guys to sit around and talk. Really, after some talk about sports, weather, and the economy, we were out of topics! I mean what else are we supposed to talk about -- our feelings?? *shudders*
It was when I got to the car I realized (with the help of my friend), that I ate a tostada. But I ordered a chalupa! This is one of my pet peeves, and it has happened to me in this area before.
The restaurant probably had the tostadas already made, and was hoping that I wouldn't notice the difference. Tostadas and chalupas are made of almost the same things. The major difference being that chapulas are made with a fried dough, not a taco shell. Those flat taco shells are for tosadas.
Small thing, I know. But really, why put both things on the menu when you're only going to serve one of them??
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5 (Enchilada, salsa, and chips good. Wrong menu item, not so good)
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (everything including tip was $10. For dinner expect to pay $3 to $5 more)
Kid Friendly: Yes. There is even a very cheap kids menu.
Conclusion:
This place has potential, but the wrong menu item and slow service hurt it. The enchilada, chips, and salsa were good. So, I'll go back to try dinner and see what happens.
Restaurant Info:
Pueblo Grande
241 South Broad St.
Mooresville, NC 28115
p) 704-799-8499
http://pueblomexicangrill.com/
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tijuana Flats (Huntersville)
Last week I agreed to cat-sit this weekend for my friend. As a reward, I was treated to lunch at Tijuana Flats (TF). TF is is just on Gilead Road across from the Bi-Lo, in the same strip-mall as the Starbucks and the Five Guys. They've got a prime location in that mall since their outdoor seating is next to a water feature / fountain.We walked in and were greeted by a friendly TF staff member, and I thought she was going to
seat us. Instead she took our drink orders, and then walked behind the counter to the register where she took our orders. We looked over the menu, and it took me a few minutes to make up my mind. I wanted a burrito, but the menu is soooo visually busy, I needed an adjustment period to figure out what I was reading.Since I'm always in the mood for a burrito, that's what I chose. I went for a Regular (the smallest of three sizes, but still huge) Beef Burrito with everything. Everything includes: lettuce, tomato, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and black olives.
After my friend paid (THANKS!!), we went outside, took a seat near the fountain, and had a sip of our drinks. After we realized that we were given each others drink -- a Diet Coke for me, and a Diet Mr. Pibb for my friend -- we switched drinks, and enjoyed the weather.
I went back inside to check out their hot sauce bar. They've got a LOT there. I'm guessing about 20 different types of hot sauce. Ranging from mild to scalding, they've got something for everyone. To be honest, I would have preferred a salsa bar. Hot sauce is good, but the fresh veggies (i.e. tomatoes, onions, and cilantro) in salsa is better. *Yes, I know that tomatoes are technically a fruit -- no angry e-mails please. :)
I grabbed some rather mild sauce, and headed back outside. Shortly thereafter our food what brought to our table. This confused me -- is this place fast food? Or a restaurant? The service and food were something in between.
The burrito which came with tortilla chips was a dense, heavy burrito. Not just in weight, but in taste as well. This was probably because there was no rice in it. As I ate, I poured in different hot sauces to get different flavors, and I kinda enjoyed this. I felt like a mad scientist, creating different flavors for my amusement.
All in all, the food and service were OK, and the atmosphere there is -- different. The outside is nice and relaxing with the water feature. However, the inside contains large, EXTREMELY colorful murals that go straight to the visual cortex -- sorta like a Mexican inspired acid trip (not that I would know, of course). :)
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They have a kids menu and your children will probably like the colorful murals in the back.
Conclusion: The whole "fast casual" dining concept kinda throws me off kilter.... do I leave a tip or not? Either way the food, service and atmosphere were all average. Nothing special. I will probably go here again, but I'm not in a rush.
Restaurant Info:
Tijuana Flats
9826 Gilead Rd
# C101
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-948-6242
http://www.tijuanaflats.com/
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Zapatas Mexican Restaurant (Cornelius)
The following review was first available earlier this week on the Lake Norman Social website at http://www.lknsocial.com/. Be sure to check it out!
--------------------------------------
With Cinco de Mayo quickly approaching, I thought it’d be a good time to review Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant in Cornelius – just off of West Catawba Ave.
I recently visited during lunch, so the price listed below is a little lower than dinner, but not extraordinarily so. Once I entered, I was quickly taken to a booth next to a window. As I sat, the host asked me for my drink order. I told him a Coke. And he went go place the order.
About 30 seconds later my waitress appeared, also asking for my drink order. I let her know that I had just ordered a Coke a few seconds before. This was a constant theme during lunch; the staff were attentive and helpful -- and my glass of Coke was constantly topped-off!
The interior of the restaurant is nice. There is an interior pergola to the right, and in the center of the room you’ll find a working water fountain. The booths are comfy, and some of the tables have custom tile-work in the middle.
I ordered the lunch item Carnitas de Res. It’s described as, “Fajita-style! Tender strips of marinated beef grilled with green peppers and onions. Served with guacamole and sour cream.” It also came with re-fried beans, rice, and flour tortillas. So, it was a filling meal. However, it wasn’t quite what I had been hoping for.
The rice seemed stale and bland, while the re-fried beans were good though a little runny. But it was the “Carnitas” part that I found disappointing. The meat, onions, and peppers had been cooked in a sauce (I think it was tomato based) that was actually sweet. Not sugar sweet, but sweet from all of the sugars in the onions and the roasted red peppers.
Unfortunately, the standard flavors of oregano, cumin, and chili powder that I have come to expect in Mexican cooking simply weren’t there. And that threw me back a little. It tasted good – it just didn’t taste like Mexican food.
All in all, the food wasn’t noteworthy, but the service and atmosphere were good. I’ll probably try it again – in a while.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 2/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $$ (food, soda, tax and tip were $12)
Kid Friendly: Yes. On Sunday, one child per adult eats free.
Restaurant Info:
19905 NC Hwy. 73
West Catawba Ave., Suite 102
Cornelius, NC 28031
p) 704-987-8890
http://www.zapatasrestaurant.com/
--------------------------------------
With Cinco de Mayo quickly approaching, I thought it’d be a good time to review Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant in Cornelius – just off of West Catawba Ave.
I recently visited during lunch, so the price listed below is a little lower than dinner, but not extraordinarily so. Once I entered, I was quickly taken to a booth next to a window. As I sat, the host asked me for my drink order. I told him a Coke. And he went go place the order.
About 30 seconds later my waitress appeared, also asking for my drink order. I let her know that I had just ordered a Coke a few seconds before. This was a constant theme during lunch; the staff were attentive and helpful -- and my glass of Coke was constantly topped-off!
The interior of the restaurant is nice. There is an interior pergola to the right, and in the center of the room you’ll find a working water fountain. The booths are comfy, and some of the tables have custom tile-work in the middle.
I ordered the lunch item Carnitas de Res. It’s described as, “Fajita-style! Tender strips of marinated beef grilled with green peppers and onions. Served with guacamole and sour cream.” It also came with re-fried beans, rice, and flour tortillas. So, it was a filling meal. However, it wasn’t quite what I had been hoping for.
The rice seemed stale and bland, while the re-fried beans were good though a little runny. But it was the “Carnitas” part that I found disappointing. The meat, onions, and peppers had been cooked in a sauce (I think it was tomato based) that was actually sweet. Not sugar sweet, but sweet from all of the sugars in the onions and the roasted red peppers.
Unfortunately, the standard flavors of oregano, cumin, and chili powder that I have come to expect in Mexican cooking simply weren’t there. And that threw me back a little. It tasted good – it just didn’t taste like Mexican food.
All in all, the food wasn’t noteworthy, but the service and atmosphere were good. I’ll probably try it again – in a while.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 2/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $$ (food, soda, tax and tip were $12)
Kid Friendly: Yes. On Sunday, one child per adult eats free.
Restaurant Info:
19905 NC Hwy. 73
West Catawba Ave., Suite 102
Cornelius, NC 28031
p) 704-987-8890
http://www.zapatasrestaurant.com/
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Mexican Restaurants in the Area
Since today is Cinco de Mayo, I though you might want to head out and grab some Mexican food and a cerveza or a margarita -- and NOT do dishes. So, below is a listing of sit-down Mexican restaurants that I've reviewed. I've listed them in the order of my preference:
Prickly Pear (Mooresville)
Score: 12/15
Price: $$$ - $$$$
Azteca Mexican Restaurant (North Charlotte)
Score: 12/15
Price: $$ - $$$
La Unica (Huntersville)
Score: 11/15
Price: $$
Chicos Mexican Grill (Huntersville)
Score: 10/15
Price: $
Taxco Mexican Grill (Huntersville)
Score: 9/15
Price: $$
I hope you found this list helpful. Enjoy!!
Prickly Pear (Mooresville)
Score: 12/15
Price: $$$ - $$$$
Azteca Mexican Restaurant (North Charlotte)
Score: 12/15
Price: $$ - $$$
La Unica (Huntersville)
Score: 11/15
Price: $$
Chicos Mexican Grill (Huntersville)
Score: 10/15
Price: $
Taxco Mexican Grill (Huntersville)
Score: 9/15
Price: $$
I hope you found this list helpful. Enjoy!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Azteca Mexican Restaurant (North Charlotte)
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. And I couldn't think of a better way to get this celebration in-gear than to start the party as soon as possible.
So, this weekend my wife and I hit Azteca Mexican Restaurant, just off of W.T. Harris and I-77. The last time I was here it was 2008, so I was anxious to try it again. The last time I loved the food and atmosphere -- but would I love it again??
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: My wife and I entered, and were quickly guided to our table, and our drink orders were taken as well. Total time, about 15 seconds. As we perused the menu, I could remember why I enjoyed my time here before. Along with the carved wooden booths, and the paintings, there was a mariachi band playing. They were playing a tune, that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was familiar, but the horns and guitars were throwing me off..... it was the Macarena. I buried my head in the menu, sipped my margarita, and tried to ignore the visions of me in a bar actually dancing to that song - poorly - in the '90s.
As I went over the menu, I decided to go with one of my favorites -- steak fajitas. Simple, but delicious. My wife and I chatted over the music, which was loud, but it seemed to only add to the atmosphere. After a short while our food came out.
I actually had four plates in front of me. The sizzling platter of beef, a container with the warm tortillas, a plate with re-fried beans, rice, guacamole, and sour cream, and the empty plate where I put it all together in small individual tacos. After I took in the spectacle, I dug in.
First a tortilla. Then I spread some sour cream and guac on the tortilla. Next I took some of the sizzling steak accompanied with the onions and peppers and put it in the tortilla. Then I took a bite. Heaven. The steak was tender, and had been marinated. I thought I picked up some cumin and some tequila.... though it's possible the tequila flavor was left-over on my taste buds from the margarita.
Next I did the same thing, but included some rice and re-fried beans too. Delicious as well. I repeated the former step two times more for a total of four over-stuffed individual size soft tacos.... I was uncomfortably full. And I REALLY wanted to let my belt out a few notches!
I have never been disappointed by Azteca. The food is always good, and the atmosphere fun (as evidenced by the conga line dancing the Maracena). In addition, the service was great. I'll be back.
Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Price: $$$ (Just over $20 for food, drink and tip. If I ordered a soda, the tab would've been $15 instead)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They offer high chairs, and a limited children's menu (tacos, chicken fingers, etc.)
Conclusion: Azteca offers some of the best Mexican Food in the area. Combine that with a great atmosphere, and attentive service, and you've got a great reason to go here often.
Restaurant Info:
Azteca Mexican Restaurant
7340 Smith Corners Blvd
# 1200
Charlotte, NC 28269
p) 704-598-4068
http://www.aztecarestaurantnc.com/
So, this weekend my wife and I hit Azteca Mexican Restaurant, just off of W.T. Harris and I-77. The last time I was here it was 2008, so I was anxious to try it again. The last time I loved the food and atmosphere -- but would I love it again??
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: My wife and I entered, and were quickly guided to our table, and our drink orders were taken as well. Total time, about 15 seconds. As we perused the menu, I could remember why I enjoyed my time here before. Along with the carved wooden booths, and the paintings, there was a mariachi band playing. They were playing a tune, that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was familiar, but the horns and guitars were throwing me off..... it was the Macarena. I buried my head in the menu, sipped my margarita, and tried to ignore the visions of me in a bar actually dancing to that song - poorly - in the '90s.
As I went over the menu, I decided to go with one of my favorites -- steak fajitas. Simple, but delicious. My wife and I chatted over the music, which was loud, but it seemed to only add to the atmosphere. After a short while our food came out.
I actually had four plates in front of me. The sizzling platter of beef, a container with the warm tortillas, a plate with re-fried beans, rice, guacamole, and sour cream, and the empty plate where I put it all together in small individual tacos. After I took in the spectacle, I dug in.
First a tortilla. Then I spread some sour cream and guac on the tortilla. Next I took some of the sizzling steak accompanied with the onions and peppers and put it in the tortilla. Then I took a bite. Heaven. The steak was tender, and had been marinated. I thought I picked up some cumin and some tequila.... though it's possible the tequila flavor was left-over on my taste buds from the margarita.
Next I did the same thing, but included some rice and re-fried beans too. Delicious as well. I repeated the former step two times more for a total of four over-stuffed individual size soft tacos.... I was uncomfortably full. And I REALLY wanted to let my belt out a few notches!
I have never been disappointed by Azteca. The food is always good, and the atmosphere fun (as evidenced by the conga line dancing the Maracena). In addition, the service was great. I'll be back.
Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Price: $$$ (Just over $20 for food, drink and tip. If I ordered a soda, the tab would've been $15 instead)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They offer high chairs, and a limited children's menu (tacos, chicken fingers, etc.)
Conclusion: Azteca offers some of the best Mexican Food in the area. Combine that with a great atmosphere, and attentive service, and you've got a great reason to go here often.
Restaurant Info:
Azteca Mexican Restaurant
7340 Smith Corners Blvd
# 1200
Charlotte, NC 28269
p) 704-598-4068
http://www.aztecarestaurantnc.com/
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Taxco Mexican Grille
Nestled in the North Cross Shopping Center, across from Lowes, is Taxco Mexican Grill. The restaurant is a little hard to find, but it's location is very good. As it turns out, there is a large water feature at this mall (who would've thought?), and they have a large patio area. During the summer this would be a great place to sit outside and enjoy chips and a beer!
However this it not the summer, and with a few inches of snow and ice still on the ground, i went inside. And was greeted by a man busy behind the bar, in the kitchen. I'm guessing he was the owner -- he never came out, but at least he was friendly.
After a short wait, I was seated in the dining room. The dining room is large, feels cavernous, and you can hear every conversation at every table. The black and white checkered floor doesn't fit the rest of the room (I assume it's left-over from a previous tenant of the space), which was decorated with vibrant colors (orange, yellow, turquoise).
After scanning the large menu, I decided on a combination plate with a beef enchilada and a chile poblano. While waiting I munched on chips and salsa, while sipping my coke. The chips and salsa were OK, but only average.
My food arrived within 6 minutes, and I began my meal. The beef enchilada came with a red mole sauce. In general, the enchilada lacked flavor. The beef was OK, but it seemed like it needed a little extra something, maybe some more oregano or cumin would've helped. So, I used the sides of sour cream and fresh pico de gallo to help it out. Which they did very well.
Next I tried the Chile Poblano. This is always a favorite of mine -- who can resist a pepper stuffed with cheese, dipped in batter and fried?? Unfortunately, the fried batter seemed a little soggy, and the pepper was a little tough. I've never needed a knife with this dish, but tonight I had to use one. However, it was good. Just, again, nothing really above average.
The service, however, was exceptional; my waiter was friendly and helpful. In addition the food was delivered quickly. Though I never felt rushed, I was in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. That's good service!
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5 (If I was eating outside in warmer weather, this would've been a 4)
Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $$ (Including tax and tip, I paid just under $12)
Conclusion: The food is OK, but not great. However, the service is fantastic, and the patio dining will be great come warmer weather. I'll probably head back in April just to sit outside and enjoy a cerveza or margarita.
Restaurant Info:
Taxco Mexican Grill
9719 Sam Furr Rd
# D
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-655-0566
However this it not the summer, and with a few inches of snow and ice still on the ground, i went inside. And was greeted by a man busy behind the bar, in the kitchen. I'm guessing he was the owner -- he never came out, but at least he was friendly.
After a short wait, I was seated in the dining room. The dining room is large, feels cavernous, and you can hear every conversation at every table. The black and white checkered floor doesn't fit the rest of the room (I assume it's left-over from a previous tenant of the space), which was decorated with vibrant colors (orange, yellow, turquoise).
After scanning the large menu, I decided on a combination plate with a beef enchilada and a chile poblano. While waiting I munched on chips and salsa, while sipping my coke. The chips and salsa were OK, but only average.
My food arrived within 6 minutes, and I began my meal. The beef enchilada came with a red mole sauce. In general, the enchilada lacked flavor. The beef was OK, but it seemed like it needed a little extra something, maybe some more oregano or cumin would've helped. So, I used the sides of sour cream and fresh pico de gallo to help it out. Which they did very well.
Next I tried the Chile Poblano. This is always a favorite of mine -- who can resist a pepper stuffed with cheese, dipped in batter and fried?? Unfortunately, the fried batter seemed a little soggy, and the pepper was a little tough. I've never needed a knife with this dish, but tonight I had to use one. However, it was good. Just, again, nothing really above average.
The service, however, was exceptional; my waiter was friendly and helpful. In addition the food was delivered quickly. Though I never felt rushed, I was in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. That's good service!
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5 (If I was eating outside in warmer weather, this would've been a 4)
Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $$ (Including tax and tip, I paid just under $12)
Conclusion: The food is OK, but not great. However, the service is fantastic, and the patio dining will be great come warmer weather. I'll probably head back in April just to sit outside and enjoy a cerveza or margarita.
Restaurant Info:
Taxco Mexican Grill
9719 Sam Furr Rd
# D
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-655-0566
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Taco Stand on Statesville Rd.
Growing up in California, I learned that if you want to find cheap, but tasty food, your best bet is a taco/burrito cart. So, the other day when I was looking for a good but VERY cheap lunch, I was excited when a friend recommended the the Taco Stand found in the parking lot of the Seed Planters Supply and Equipment, just off of Statesville Road, south of Stumptown Road.
It's hard to miss the bright red taco cart as you drive by. It's one of the smaller taco carts that I've seen, and it's pulled by a pick-up truck. Though there was no line to order, but there was a line of people waiting for their food. So, I placed my order of three Pastor (spicy pork) Tacos, and waited.
This definitely wasn't Taco Bell, where everything was pre-made, and shoved into a tortilla. The two guys working hard in that taco cart, actually cooked the food for that order, then started the next order -- I was impressed.
After about eight minutes my food was ready, and including a can of Coke, I paid less than $7. After checking out the spartan dining area which consisted of two long tables and some chairs under an aluminum roof, we decided to head to my friend's place to eat.
The pork came wrapped in two small corn tortillas, and was cooked with onions, cilantro, lime juice, and herbs and spices. In addition, it came with two salsa containers. One contained a tangy salsa verde, and the other contained a VERY spicy tomato based salsa.
I was very happy with my meal. The pork was tender, filled with flavor, and contained very little fat. The serving size per taco was good, but ordering two seemed too small, and ordering three seemed too big -- SO next time I'm there I'll see if they can make me 2.5 tacos! :)
Score:
Atmosphere: 1/5 (It's a taco stand, you don't go there for the atmosphere)
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (CHEAP!)
Conclusion: Though this is a relatively low score, the thing here is economy. Great food, terrific price. I highly recommend it, and will be back to try their Carne Asada. I hear it's even better than the pork.
Restaurant Info:
Taco Stand
(In Parking Lot of Seed Planters Supply and Equipment)
14310 Hunters Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
It's hard to miss the bright red taco cart as you drive by. It's one of the smaller taco carts that I've seen, and it's pulled by a pick-up truck. Though there was no line to order, but there was a line of people waiting for their food. So, I placed my order of three Pastor (spicy pork) Tacos, and waited.
This definitely wasn't Taco Bell, where everything was pre-made, and shoved into a tortilla. The two guys working hard in that taco cart, actually cooked the food for that order, then started the next order -- I was impressed.
After about eight minutes my food was ready, and including a can of Coke, I paid less than $7. After checking out the spartan dining area which consisted of two long tables and some chairs under an aluminum roof, we decided to head to my friend's place to eat.
The pork came wrapped in two small corn tortillas, and was cooked with onions, cilantro, lime juice, and herbs and spices. In addition, it came with two salsa containers. One contained a tangy salsa verde, and the other contained a VERY spicy tomato based salsa.
I was very happy with my meal. The pork was tender, filled with flavor, and contained very little fat. The serving size per taco was good, but ordering two seemed too small, and ordering three seemed too big -- SO next time I'm there I'll see if they can make me 2.5 tacos! :)
Score:
Atmosphere: 1/5 (It's a taco stand, you don't go there for the atmosphere)
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Price: $ (CHEAP!)
Conclusion: Though this is a relatively low score, the thing here is economy. Great food, terrific price. I highly recommend it, and will be back to try their Carne Asada. I hear it's even better than the pork.
Restaurant Info:
Taco Stand
(In Parking Lot of Seed Planters Supply and Equipment)
14310 Hunters Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
Friday, February 6, 2009
Recipe Friday: Pulled Pork Tacos
Here is a recipe I've been using for the past few years. It takes about 4 hours to cook, and about 30 minutes to prepare.Not only is it one of my favorite meals, but it's also the only Mexican-ish meal my 7yr old likes right now. So, this is getting made about every other week, and usually the leftovers last us another 1-2 meals.
boneless pork shoulder (2.5 lbs approx)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons ground and dried cumin
1/2 cup apricot jam
2 jalapeños - seeded and diced
1 red onion - chopped
Over a sheet of aluminum foil, rub the pork with the salt, pepper, and cumin (I combine them all into one bowl, then rub the mixture onto the entire exterior of the pork). Then place the apricot jam, onions, and jalapenos onto the pork, and wrap in the aluminum foil.
Now here is something important to note: baking all of this in the oven creates a LOT of liquid, that needs to stay inside the aluminum foil, as it keeps the pork moist and tender. So, make the aluminum seam along the top, and if needed wrap it in aluminum again, just to make sure.Cook it for at least 4 hours at 325 degrees, until it's fork tender and easy to shred. I recommend you serve it with tortillas, cilantro, guacamole, and lime slices, and your favorite cerveza.
I originally found this recipe on the Realsimple.com website, and I highly recommend their site for easy-to-prepare, yet healthy recipes.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
La Unica
In an old stip mall off of Hwy 73 with a tired exterior, and even more tired fast-food restaurants in the parking lot, I found a diamond in rough. La Unica, opened its doors less than two weeks ago, but it has already found a way into my heart via my stomach.
The restaurant has a more of a trendy cafe feel to it, than the typical wrought iron filled mexican restuarant. There are two HD TV's easily seen from the 20 or so tables about half of which were booths. The tables, chairs, and booths all appeared to be new and exceptionally clean.
Upon seating, I had two small carafes of salsa (hot and mild), chips, and a small bowl of lime wedges given to me. I instantly went for the hot salsa, and was pleasantly suprised. It was spicy, but the heat didn't overwhelm the flavor of the salsa which included chunks of onions, tomatos, and other veggies and herbs you'd expect to find. If this salsa came from a can or was freshly made, I couldn't tell.
I ordered the Lunch Chimichanga (filled with ground beef), a lunch special. About two or three minutes after I ordered, the food arrived. Again, I was suprised. The nacho cheese, was not the standard, neon yellow cheese wiz topping that I was expecting. It was white and made from real cheese (I'm guessing Asadero). Personally, I would have liked the cheese topping to be a little thicker, but it's flavor was good. The beef had a good flavor of cumin and oregano, and was exactly what I was hoping for.
The chimichanga was good and the service was great -- the wait staff were very attentive. And considering how hard it has been to find a decent mexican restaurant in the Huntersville area, I'm ready to jump for joy that I found this great little taqueria.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Conclusion: Great restaurant, great food, it's a good value, and definately a diamond in the rough. Including food, drink, and tip, I was out of there for less than $10, but for the non-lunch specials expect about $12 per person. I'll definately be back.
Restaurant Info:
La Unica
9121 -1 Sam Furr Road
Huntersville, NC
704-895-5378
The restaurant has a more of a trendy cafe feel to it, than the typical wrought iron filled mexican restuarant. There are two HD TV's easily seen from the 20 or so tables about half of which were booths. The tables, chairs, and booths all appeared to be new and exceptionally clean.
Upon seating, I had two small carafes of salsa (hot and mild), chips, and a small bowl of lime wedges given to me. I instantly went for the hot salsa, and was pleasantly suprised. It was spicy, but the heat didn't overwhelm the flavor of the salsa which included chunks of onions, tomatos, and other veggies and herbs you'd expect to find. If this salsa came from a can or was freshly made, I couldn't tell.
I ordered the Lunch Chimichanga (filled with ground beef), a lunch special. About two or three minutes after I ordered, the food arrived. Again, I was suprised. The nacho cheese, was not the standard, neon yellow cheese wiz topping that I was expecting. It was white and made from real cheese (I'm guessing Asadero). Personally, I would have liked the cheese topping to be a little thicker, but it's flavor was good. The beef had a good flavor of cumin and oregano, and was exactly what I was hoping for.
The chimichanga was good and the service was great -- the wait staff were very attentive. And considering how hard it has been to find a decent mexican restaurant in the Huntersville area, I'm ready to jump for joy that I found this great little taqueria.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Conclusion: Great restaurant, great food, it's a good value, and definately a diamond in the rough. Including food, drink, and tip, I was out of there for less than $10, but for the non-lunch specials expect about $12 per person. I'll definately be back.
Restaurant Info:
La Unica
9121 -1 Sam Furr Road
Huntersville, NC
704-895-5378
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