Over a short time span several people told me about the local chain of El Rodeo restaurants that serve authentic Mexican cuisine.
I expressed only polite interest because like many busy folks, I would usually “run for the border” and go to Taco Bell. Unless a business lunch or date was involved, Taco Bell seemed sufficient for common selections such as tacos, burritos and nachos.
That was until one recent weekend I visited El Rodeo on Meridian Street. At El Rodeo, customers are served with the convenience of Taco Bell’s pace, but can enjoy fine, authentic Mexican cuisine with sit-down restaurant service you expect.
Fresh salsa, great chips, flavorful ingredients – and their service is lightning-fast too. More times than not, the salsa is pretty spicy … that’s a good thing in my book. El Rodeo has got handling a busy lunch down to a science.
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into as I took one of the comfortable seats at El Rodeo (pronounced like el-ro-day-o), which (as you can probably guess) means “the rodeo.”
Since it was my first time being at “the rodeo,” I had to tread carefully while reviewing the menu; this stuff is the real deal, at least as far as chain restaurants go.
I decided on the hot and spicy burrito, something that would surely be flavorful and not bland (having bland food is awful, like eating spackle or white wall mixture).
As I waited a very short time for my order, I noticed that a couple seated near me had what the waiter later told me is the nachos al carbon, a massive $10 entrée for two or three people that includes nachos covered with cheese alongside steak, chicken, shrimp, lettuce and pico de gallo.
It looked good and tempting, but I wasn’t about to be that greedy. Before I knew it, the spicy burrito had arrived. Would this be a real man’s dish, or a wimpy imitation of a traditional favorite?
Immediately, it became apparent I had no reason to worry. The spicy burrito was indeed very flavorful and satisfying. It is basically a folded flour tortilla with beef on one side, chicken on the other, giving you the best of both worlds. Rice and beans are also in the burrito, with salsa, cheese, sour cream and beef tips placed on top and around it. Every delicious bite was enjoyable. Yes, I had my pack of Altoids on stand by.
Judging by what I saw on plates being carried around by the staff, other popular choices include the salsa and chips, tamales, very large margaritas, the burrito marino (for seafood lovers) and the quesadilla rodeo.
El Rodeo ended up being a good choice for several reasons: reasonable prices, a variety of options, generous portions and friendly service by people who appear to actually enjoy their job.
I will certainly be back at El Rodeo for Mexican food that’s the real deal.
