1. "Authentic" like El Vaquero, with a huge menu filled with endless combinations of a handful of foods (2 tacos and 1 tamale; or 1 chalupa and 2 flautas, etc.), a mostly Hispanic staff of men in their 30s and 40s, and TVs playing Univision telenovelas.
2. "Americanized," usually part of a chain, with a smaller, more expensive menu, a mostly Anglo staff of young pretty people, and a cluttered, decrepit "cantina" look. (Actually, some of the "authentic" ones are also chains, like the aformentioned El Vaquero.)

Inside Out Chicken Tinga Tamale
Grilled corn cake served over Salsa Verde and topped with chicken tinga, sour cream, pico de gallo and green onions. Served with Baja rice and your choice of black or pinto beans.
It was OK, though because I had ordered the corn cake for an appetizer, I was a bit corned out. I'd go back and try the fajitas, but for now I'm still in mourning for Don Pablo's,
At least you have two kinds of Mexican restaurants in Columbus; here in Morgantown, we have only one: awful. Runny flavorless refried beans and stuff-covered-with-cheese-and-red-sauce.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's a mark of how much happier I am here than I was in Greeley, though, when I say that that's been one of the few big disappointments about our move. Greeley had some fine Mexican restaurants, and I miss them deeply and regularly.
Congrats on blog #3!