April 27, 2007
"Women, melons, and cheese should be chosen by weight." - Spanish proverb
CINCO DE MAYO, a time to pay homage to our neighbors from the south, those with the sun-drenched skin that brings us a unique cuisine to challenge our taste buds. It's the day we honor the brave Mexican soldiers who, on May 5, 1862 at Puebla, Mexico, defeated a superior French invasion force. We celebrate the day with festivities and dine on an abundance of Mexican fare.
In honor of my friends of Hispanic descent, most notably my roomie and current spouse, G, and her mother, The Cuda (first name, Bara), I thought I'd comment on muh favorite Mexican eateries. The list includes only those places that offer Mexican fare as the main fare and not just a few items on their menu, even tho some do it well. And because I'm nice I'm not gonna say anything bad about any of 'em (maybe). I ought to be nice once a year, doncha think? The list is alphabetical.
ALAMOS VERDES
5304 Vance Street, 303/422-5528
www.alamos-verdes.com
The mondongo, chunks of sautéed beef tenderloin with mushrooms, green peppers, erotic-- oops--exotic spices, and some vino, is one of their signature dishes. But all the grub is super delish. And it's perty. Try the chicken fajitas. Shucks, try all the grub. They been doing it right since 1979.
BANDIDO’S
4550 S. Kipling Street – 303/979-9746
An old fav, G and I were gone for a while and are now back regularly. The food is still very good, but the service is now terrific. The burritos are extra yummy. Try the chicharron burrito, and it’s a mere five minutes from my office.
BENNY'S CANTINA
301 E. 7th Avenue – 303/894-0788
www.bennysrestaurant.com
Some of the finest Mexican grub in town. Benny’s been here a month short of forever. The breakfast burrito is killer. Try the bacon, sausage, beef, chicken and kitchen sink combo. The shredded beef here is awsum. Service tends to be a bit testy, but soes life.
BLUE BONNET CAFE
457 S. Broadway – 303/778-0147
www.bluebonnetrestaurant.com
Been there 40 years - longer than Joel Hefley’s been in Washington, ceptin it ain't term-limited. It's all great, but you gonna wait: George and I guarantee it. The steak chimi changa is the best deal in town. Heck, it's all good. Since they added the super-size patio a few years back it ain’t as crazy, but you always gonna wait.
BREWERY BAR II, III & IV
150 Kalamath Street – 303/893-0971
9228 Park Meadows Drive - 303/708-9333
6482 S. Parker Road – 303/699-1544
www.brewerybar3.com
Usta be you didn’t go at the end of the week cuz the green chili got hotter day by day. Now they’re so busy they make it every day and it’s hot every day. But it's sooo good! You'll wait in line unless you're there b4 11:30 am. The rellenos are killer. #2 opened three years ago, you can now get the same great grub down yonder in the Park Ghetto neighborhood. #4 opened out east last year. So now more of you can get the same green chili as the Kalamath store. It’s just a mite hot for some folks but you can ask for the milder version. But the mild version is damn near hotter than anything else in town. Have a cold brew.
CAFE DEL SOL
608 Garrison Street – 303/238-7999
Owned by a coupla Greeks and located in Lakewood, you wouldn't think the Mexican food is any good. Not true. Primo value and superb food is the rule; this place is no exception. Great Mexican pizza. And a mighty fine bugger, truth be known. Arguably the best fries in town.
CASA BONITA
6715 W. Colfax Avenue – 303/232-5115w
ww.casabonitadenver.com
Just kidding folks. But if you go, bring your own dinner. A dark chocolate Milky Way bar is always good. Or maybe two or three. The house wine is fine as are the sopaipillas. Last time there they served the food from the dishwashing room window. Yuk! Notice I even listed their website. Take the grandkids…once. Just think of the price of dinner as an admission to a truly fun place, but eat first.
CHELO'S
2012 Larimer Street - 303/294-0676
What was a teeny bakery is now a real eatery but with a limited menu. The food's wonderful; the prices are very reasonable. Ain't many tables, but service is first rate, the menu changes daily. They still bake super desserts and breads. Open til 6 pm. Try the maavelous rellenos or the tortas.
EL JARDIN
6460 E. 73 Ave – 303/288-3500
http://Iloveeljardin.com
The website leads off with, “You’ll love our food…or it’s free”. Well, they’ve been serving great grub since 1982, so must be some folks luv it. I sure do. Ain’t been in a while but when folks talk about the truly good real stuff, El Jardin is always on the list. And just cuz it’s in Commerce City ain’t no reason not to go. Try the grilled pork chops, the posole or maybe the wondrous pork carnitas. Ever eat dessert in a Mexican restaurant? Most serve very little if anything, but here dessert is the tradition. Go for the chimi ala mode.
EL TEJADO
2651 S. Broadway - 303/722-3987
Always busy, the grub is fast and yummy. The menu is huge. Lots of seafood dishes cuz it’s a specialty of the house. The carne adobada is fab. Service is fast and efficient. Live mariachi music every Sunday noon to 3 pm.
GREGORIO’S
1910 Wadsworth Blvd - 303/462-2400
This great eatery is not far from my home so G and I eat here regularly. Thursday nite is mariachi nite, and the 192-piece orchestra (me exaggerate?) will blow your mind … and your ear drums if they get too close. The food is super and the service is first rate. They even cook a steak to order and there is lots of ‘em on the menu. Try the huge, stuffed dessert sopaipilla. Fast Eddie sez the margaritas are dandy. Gregorio is a man before his time; he cut off smoking entirely over a year before it was the law.
HOLLY INN WEST (aka La Fonda de Asebo)
3490 Young field Street – 303/232-9964
While some think this is Americanized Mexican fare, I find it authentic, and besides, I luv the marinated spicy shredded taquerito. Portions are large and the margaritas are tasty. Salsa varies from mild to hot depending on what the cook had to sip on. The sign now sez La Fonda de Asebo but it’s the same great grub and the hostess still answers the tele Holly West.
JACK ‘N’ GRILL
2524 Federal Blvd, 303/964-9544
Having arrived from Albuquerque fifteen years ago, Jack and Anna Martinez get rave reviews from one and all. Even tho they expanded and almost doubled the seating capacity, there are still lines at mealtime. I don’t know where to begin cuz all the grub is great. The Rocky Mountain News even listed their bugger (yep, buggers in a Mexican joint) in the Top Ten in Denver. But the green chili is so good I don’t have a bugger. Well, not all the time.
JOSE'S
2420 W. Main Street – 303/798-5897
I guess this Littleton fav has been there for years but no one told me til a few years ago. The chili rellenos are the best in town, tho not at all spicy. Try the flan.
LA CASITA
4390 West 44 Avenue – 303/455-2190
TAMALES DE LA CASITA
3561 Tejon Street – 303/477-2899
Paul Sandoval's two great places with the world's best tamales and other great grub. Try the empanadas when they're available. During the holidays you gotta order weeks ahead. Paul recently tore down the old place on Tejon Street and built a new, full service restaurant. Try it, you’ll like it. No, you’ll love it. G goes there all the time and never takes me any more.
LA FOGATA
LA FOGATA 2
5670 E. Evans Ave – 303/753-9458
8090 E. Quincy Ave – 720/974-7315
www.la-fogata.com
A first store is in a small but very popular eatery in an unappealing building since 1990. The second store opened a few years ago on that street where the numbers are all screwed up, in the mall just north of the Tamarac exit off of I-225. But the kitchen and staff are definitely not screwed up cuz they serve great grub in a fast and efficient mode. As we go to press, the menu is being changed, but it’s gonna be yummy. Sure hope they keep the chicharrones burrito. Fine margaritas
LOS DOS POTRILLOS
8251 S. Holly St – 720/529-0299
On my first visit the purple booths scared me, but the first bite of a chile relleno told me that I was home. I don’t get down to that area as often as I like, but the traffic is gone but the great grub still abounds. One of the very best shredded beef burritos in town: nice and spicy.
MARIA ELENA'S
999 Wadsworth Blvd – 303/239-8952
Mexican fast food at its best, ceptin no shredded beef. It's all order at the counter, set your butt down and pig out or take-out stuff. No Bud, no Coors: no beer. Sure is good.
RED TANGO – BISTRO LATINO
5807 West 38 Ave – 303/420-2203
A set of cozy rooms, white linen napkins and some of the friendliest service in town almost makes this a fine eatery. But it’s the grub that completes the deal. The menu is different from most eateries. Cheese empanadas, ceviche, fresh salmon, roast pork and a variety of other dishes show off the talent of the chef/owners. Have a lamb bugger with plantains for lunch and leave happy. But don’t forget to pay your tab.
SABOR LATINO
4340 W. 35th Avenue – 303/455-8664
http://saborlatinorestaurant.com
While the menu is more South American than Mexican, it's close enuf for horseshoes, so what the heck. Still, some of the friendliest service and the finest food from Mexico, Chili, Spain, Columbia and the Caribbean. The flan is good, the empanadas very, and the paella great, but the latter is only available Friday and Saturday nite
SENOR BURRITO
12 E. 1st Avenue – 303/733-0747
2553 N. Kipling Street – 303/202-1185
They put potatoes in all the burritos unless you tell 'em otherwise, and the prices are abit high, but the food is sure good. Try the burrito adovada or the fantastic chile relleno.
TACOS JALISCO
4309 West 38 Ave - 303/458-1437
This place is hot stuff! Fabulous french fries smothered with green chili, super tamales and lots more. This is a great addition to the Mexican dining scene. Menu is huge. Great soups. Even the chips and salsa are yummy.
TAFOLINO'S
2001 Youngfield Street – 303/232-5118
1901 Youngfield Street – 303/237-3165
524 Malley Drive – 303/452-6172
www.tafolinos.com
Fantastic shredded beef and shredded chicken burritos smothered red or green. The ultra popular chili rellenos are as good as any in town and you can have them soft or crispy. G has a coupla super-size margaritas and a giant platter of grub, bout nine bucks worth, and I get to drive home cuz I do Diet Pepsi. Watch out for the hot chili. It's HOT. Check out the fab Burrito Pablano. Owners Juan and Josie Tafoya still watch over the staff – even when they’re hiding out of town. The Shadow knows…
TAMAYO
1400 Larimer Street – 720/946-1433
www.modernmexican.com
The menu here is upscale southwestern fare. The place is always packed. They offer lots of fresh seafood and other elegant fare. The guacamole is the best I’ve had, as are the house-made chips that accompany them. One of several Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican restaurants – I guess that’s where the website name came from. Duh? I’m not just any dummy.
3 MARGARITAS
All over town
I’m perty good at searching the web for eateries and stuff, but this one sure has me befuddled. I’m not sure of the complete name, but either 3 Margaritas or 3Margaritas or Three Margaritas are popping up all over the metro area; I can think of five of them right off the bat that have opened in the past two years. But I sure can’t find ‘em on the WWW. Anywho, the grub is very good, the service is generally very good and they all look different. Stop in at one near you. All the ones I know about are in locations of other eateries that have closed for a variety of reasons. But I’ve eaten in three of ‘em and had good grub and mostly good service in all of ‘em.
SOME OLD FAVORITES are gone cuz I ain't been in a while and I don't hear anything about 'em and there are too many new ones that need to be mentioned. If I left out your favorite, drop me a line; send me a bill of fare. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. But most of all enjoy the festivities of this grand day. Tenga un gran día!
Cya.
In his real life Jay Fox is a CPA. He offers all kinds of good tax planning advice, financial calculators and the latest in tax news at his website: www.jayfoxcpa.com. He just writes this column for the money.