Mexico Lindo

So after much persuasion, the hubby took me (or rather, I took him) to Mexico Lindo, a local mexican restaurant that we probably pass every day and have never ventured inside. Driving into the parking lot, we realize it's empty.

"Babe, we're the only ones here."

"No we're not," I say, "there's other cars."

"I don't know babe, I think they work here."

Well, we walk up to the door, peek inside, and sure enough, we're the only ones. There's a man sitting at the bar, but that's it. The sign says, "Please seat yourself" so we do.

The TV has some program playing in spanish, looks like music videos en espanol (Sorry babe. They don't have the game on). A cheerful young girl, probably all of 17 years, greets us with a generous bowl of chips and salsa. She takes our drink order - dos margaritas on the rocks - and we start to look over the menu.



MMM. The chips are still warm, and the salsa has a nice kick to it. So far, so good. I take a minute to look around. It's about what I expected. decorations...a little cheesy ...there's valentine hearts hanging from the ceiling, and there's still christmas garland hanging in the window. The server comes back with our margaritas and we order. We order the guacamole ($3.50), and I order off of the a la carte menu, the burrito mexicano with chicken ($4.25) and the americano pork taco ($2.75). Frank orders Brochetas Mexicanas ($11.50), which the menu describes as a mexican version of a shish kabob with chicken, beef and shrimp.

We dig into the margaritas (tasty, perfect with the chips and salsa, but definitely a mix), and then the guacamole comes soon after.

"This is it," I say, "this is the real test." Survey says? Pretty good. Not the best guac I've ever had, but I enjoyed it nonetheless (the complimentary salsa blew it out of the water).

We have our fill of guacamole, and soon after the entrees come out. Frank's entree looks delicious. Two kabobs with grilled vegetables, chicken, shrimp and beef, on a bed of a large portion of chicken fajitas, rice and beans.




Brochetas Mexicanas


I dig in to my burrito, and it's delicious. The flavorful combination of chicken, rice and beans is perfect. I go for the pork taco, and it's hmm. Salty. Funny taste. Maybe pork wasn't a good idea. The burrito was generous enough to fill me up, so I pass on the taco and finish my burrito. Frank devours his entree. We end full and satisfied, just in time for the bill. The damage came to $41, but considering $20 of it was margaritas (4 @ $5 a piece), we're thinking we didn't do too bad.

Will we be back? Sure, but not in the near future, as we've got plenty of other places on our list. Well, maybe if it's $2.99 margarita night. The service was good (it should be, since we were their only patrons), and I'm pretty sure the server thought we were food critics (my guess is from all of the photos we were taking) and she kept trying to buy our affection with free pens (?). Yes, I'm serious. First one, then another... then a styrofoam container to take home our guacamole (there was barely any left).


If you're ever in the New Castle area, perhaps stuck in traffic on Rt. 13 on your way down to the Delaware beaches, stop in Mexico Lindo for some fresh chips and refreshing margaritas. And if you've got time, try any one of their dishes. But you may want to stay away from the pork. :)

Rating:
Value - 4 stars
Taste - 3 stars
Atmosphere - 3 stars
Presentation - 3 stars
Service - 5 stars

Total rating - 3.5/5

Rating the restaurants.

So Mr. Frank told me that we need to give some sort of rating system for this endeavor. So here is our system of rating each restaurant.
1. Value
2. Atmosphere
3. Taste
4. Presentation
5. Service
We'll allow a max. of 5 stars for each category, and then take the average amount of stars for the final tally. Tonight's destination: Mexico Lindo.

A Culinary Adventure through Ordinary Delaware

My husband has lived in Delaware for over 3 years, and there are still restaurants that we have yet to "check out" that we pass numerous times a month. We live in such a multicultural and diverse area that there's so many authentic places to choose from, and we still always end up going to the same spots (not that they're bad - they're great Jessop's Tavern - awesome, our fave, Firebirds, Deep Blue, Brandywine Prime, Domaine Hudson, and Mikimotos to name a few)... So I've made a list of all of the places and vow that we will try them this year. Well, most of them. And while these ones are definitely ones to try, there will be additionals I'm sure (you wanna hear about our other faves too, don't you?). Here's the list, and as we try each one I will provide updates with reviews.

1. Casablanca Restaurant - I've heard so many good things about this place and it sounds so fun. 7 courses of Moroccan food for $25? Right down the street? Sign me up.
2. Pho Nhu Vu - ok, I just drove by this place and checked out the website. I miss Pho Eden in Cherry Hill, and I'm hoping this one can cure my craving for Vietnamese. Summer rolls? Yes, please!
3. Rascals BBQ & Crab House - this place is pretty famous around here, sounds fun for a casual, laid-back Saturday or Sunday...
4. Aqua Sol
5. Potstickers Asian Grill
6. Mexico Lindo - this place looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but word on the street is that it's great authentic Mex.
7. Island Spice - no website for this place, but there wasn't one for Genelle's either. Genelle's was a place we fell in love with in Wilmington w/ delicious caribbean food. Sadly, it closed, but the cook has opened her newest establishment even closer to us on Rt. 9. Nothing fancy, just good,authentic Caribbean food (or so I hope). 202 East 6th Street New Castle, DE 19720-4566 (302) 322-2401
8. The Green Room at the Hotel DuPont - snooty? maybe. Good? I hope so (This technically isn't a first for me, as I've had brunch here once, but dinner will be a new adventure).

I figure I should give you a little background as to why I started this blog. The idea for this came from Frank & I sitting down at one of our new favorite finds and he said,

"Wouldn't it be great if we could get paid to go to places like this?"

my hubby, on our honeymoon in Ireland, eating al fresco at one of our favorite off-the-beaten path places, The Coffin Shed (that's my Chardonnay).



And me, at another one of our favorites, Messrs Maguire:


Not that we're ever going to get paid for it, but hey, if this blog takes off, maybe I can throw up some ads or a paypal link. Never hurts to dream...

DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG HAS NO LIMITS TO WHERE IT WILL GO... we'll go to the fancy, the yuppie, and we'll certainly go to dives, so they'll be something in this for everyone.Also, as a foodie and cook, I may from time to time put up a recipe.

This all sounds so delicious while I sit here and remember that I've got at least another 5 lbs to lose before we go on vacation at the end of next month, but everything in moderation. No diet is worth sticking to if you can't enjoy yourself every once in awhile, right? Besides, my husband promised me that if we blogged about restaurants we try, then he'd take me to Mexico Lindo (the facade of this place scares him, but I say, it's always the gritty ones that have the most authentic food! Well, that may not always be true, but I have a good feeling about this one!).