Salsa's Scotts Valley

This will be a quick review since time is running fast and I'm trying to catch up! But better a quick one than nothing. As the song says "A little bit is better than nada..."

Salsa's (somebody please update me!)

Remember where KFC was on Mt. Hermon Road on the way out of SV? Salsa's took over more than a year ago and yes, they still have a drive-thru window. We decided to go in to check out the interior. It was nice and no hints of a fast-food chicken place. Upon entering, there's several barstools and a full bar on the right. Many margaritas are born there. Further up is the cashier and a salsa bar. There's 10 or so tables inside with TVs on the wall and a nice patio out back. We decided to enjoy the sun out there.

We love Mexican food, so it was only a matter of time before we ate here. My go-to Mexican is nachos ($8.95), so I ordered mine with grilled chicken. Would Colonel Sanders be proud?

Si, senor! Mega-loaded with beans, chips and cheese, the meal was very generous. The toppings were fresh and the chicken was cooked well. I added some of the tomatillo salsa to make it even better. This plate was a winner!

She got two shredded chicken tacos with rice and beans ($7.95). She liked the crunchy taco shells and filing but said the chicken could have been better. Not enough flavor. But it looked good and was a nice portion.

There are a handful of Mexican restaurants in SV, Maya's, some taquerias, Cafe Carlos, and Salsa's is as good as any of them. I liked the outside patio option for sunny days and the salsa bar to choose your own. Maybe some bigger salsa bowls, but I can understand why they aren't. Just get a table close by for frequent trips.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: n/a (order and they bring it to you)
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 7
Overall: 7

Little Tampico - Soquel

Aren't birthdays great? Another year older and a celebration for sticking around. In the case of my brother, it also included a lunchtime meal at one of his favorites, Little Tampico in Soquel.

Little Tampico

This place sits right next to the Soquel river and actually has a nice deck in back where you can watch the waters roll by. We were a group of 9 (a gaggle? a pride?) and as soon as the chips and salsa hit the table, they knew they had better keep the food coming! As it turns out, our waitress was wonderful and brought drinks and more chips/salsa the whole time.

Two kinds of salsa - a chunky Fresca and a thinner, spicy red. Both were awesome and we needed "mas" refills. Next came the Nachos Tampico ($11.50).

This was one of the best nachos I have had. The chips were crispy and not too thick. The beans had a good consistency - not runny. The toppings were generous - lots of black olives, jalepenos, cheese, guac and sour cream. And the steak was succulent and juicy!

Kelly got the Chicken Quesadilla ($7.95) and it was huge! Big chunks of chicken inside a well-cooked tortilla with lots of melted cheese. A side of lettuce and tomato finished the dish.

I got the three item plate of Taco, Enchilada and Chile Relleno ($10.95) with rice and beans. Wow, that's a lot of food! After the nachos, I should have ordered smaller, but at least I got a to-go box. The taco was very fresh with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. I would have preferred cabbage to the iceberg lettuce, but that's a minor knock. The enchilada sauce was flavorful with its spices. And the relleno was also buried in it. Yum!

Bro got the Otila's Plate ($11.95), which had mini-versions of all the classics: taco, enchilada, flauta, tostada and relleno. He likes to pretend he's Gulliver, I guess. All the fun that fits on one plate!

Diane got the Killer Quesadilla ($11.95), which adds steak, mushrooms and grilled green onions and a Sombrero salad. She loved the green creamy herb dressing. I think this wins as the most healthiest meal ordered today.

Dad got the Especial ($9.95), which is tortillas, meat (chicken), onions and peppers covered in sauce and cheese. Quite a plateful! He said he liked it, but there was too much chicken, which unbalanced the flavors. Also, another to-go box was needed.

Mom got a Flauta ($7.95) with rice and beans and correctly picked the right size for a good lunch. The flauta is a rolled up, grilled tortilla with chicken and she liked it very much. I would've wanted to wave it around like one of Groucho's cigars, but she's more classier than me.

Abundant portions, great flavors and spicy salsas - no wonder this place is one of my brother's favorites. Next time, I think I will stick with the steak, since it was heads and tails above the chicken. They also have a full bar with TVs, so you can get your margaritas on. I would put Tampico third after Casa Rosita's and Palomar (see my other reviews of them on here).

Scores out of 10:
Food: 7.5 (generous)
Service: 8 (great for a big party)
Atmosphere: 7 (cozy)
Value for price: 7.5
Overall: 7.5

El Burro - Campbell

This week, one of my best friends, Dan was in town. He used to live here, but now calls San Diego home. When he visits, we use it as an excuse to dine out at our favorite places. This time we wanted to hit up some record stores in San Jose, so El Burro in Campbell was the choice.

El Burro (Yelp)

Take the Hamilton exit from Hwy 17 and turn left, then left again on Bascom. El Burro is in the Pruneyard Shopping Center and has been there for years. It's a magical place, if you like Mexican food. Big wooden doors greet you as you walk in.

It's dark and authentically decorated. Deep reds and iron bars make you feel south of the border. We sat in one of the many back rooms (this place is huge) and our chips and salsa came quick.

The salsa was fresh and definitely had a kick. The over-sized menus had dozens of choices. For huge appetites, try the Nina, Pinta or Santa Maria platters! Dan and I enjoy a filling meal, but we're not in high school anymore.

But before the main course, they serve a small salad with dinners. There are two choices for the dressing: oil & vinegar or 1,000 Island. Ha! When's the last time you were only given those options? They were not much to write home about, except for the slice of beet included in each.

Dan got the Carnitas Plate ($14.95) which came with rice, beans and salsa fresca. It's a favorite and he made short work of it all. The beans were very tasty, not runny and the rice was fluffy. I'm not sure if he squeezed the lemon on there.

I went with the Pollo Fajitas ($14.95) and it came with onions, peppers and sour cream and guac. But that guac was really "green" sour cream - no avocado flavor. But what big portions! The chicken was succulent and slightly charred. Just the way I like it. I couldn't finish it and got the perro bag.

Authentic, homemade Mexican dishes - not fancy like El Palomar in Santa Cruz. Just great tasting food at huge sized plates for a good price. Check it out if you are hungry or at least, want great leftovers the next day. Muy bueno!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Value for price: 9
Overall: 8.5

Tampico Kitchen + Lounge

Game night! The Santa Cruz Warriors were playing last Saturday night in town, so we needed food close to the arena. Tampico Kitchen, located at Pacific and Maple Avenue, fit the bill. It's been around forever and I've been a few times, but not for awhile. Let's try it out and write it up!

Tampico Kitchen + Lounge

Alan and I were looking for a filling, hot meal since it was like 40 degrees outside. Not typical Santa Cruz weather! Some rice and beans in our bellies should keep us happy as we watched the game.

We sat in the main dining room as opposed to the bar lounge area. The place was packed for a Saturday night and I didn't see an empty table. And they didn't have the playoffs on, so the dining room was it for us.

Our chips and salsa came quick, which was great. Not a full basket, but they offered free refills. The salsa was thin, but packed a punch. I'd rate it a 6 out of 10 since it did spice up the food, but not spectacularly. And why so little in the bowl?

Alan got the Killer Quesadilla (($12.95) - he had heard it was pretty good from others. His pint of Negra Modela draft was $4.50. Well, I thought quesadillas were flat with two tortillas and everything squeezed in between. Not here! He said it looked more like a big soft taco. The chicken inside was good-sized and plentiful. But he was sad the rice and beans were cold.

I got the Chicken Mole ($12.95), which also came with rice and beans. My domestic bottle of beer was $3.50. The chicken was tender and had a mix of breast and thigh meat. A few bits of gristle didn't deter me from enjoying the dish. The mole sauce was decent, but not amazing. I did like the flour tortillas that came with it to roll my own.

So if you said "Mexican food downtown", I'd still pick El Palomar over Tampico, but it's a decent second place. And it's a shorter walk to the Arena.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Value for the price: 6
Overall: 6.25

Casa Rosita's

Who likes Mexican food? A show of "manos", por favor. Aha, I knew it. You can't escape it here in California, but why would you want to? Melty cheese, spicy salsa, succulent meats all served with beans and rice. Sign me up!

Casa Rosita's (Yelp)

There are a lot of Mexican spots around town, so what makes this place any different? Let's find out. We got there on a Friday night and we had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a table. That is a good sign.

They have a small bar with about four bar-stools if you are thirsty, but they only serve beer and wine. Ever have a Beer-rita?

We were seated in the corner and chips and salsa were promptly delivered. They have two kids: pico de gallo and a spicy red. The red didn't kick in at first, but had a slow burn if you like that sort of thing. Not too hot, but I'd advise against guzzling it by the gallon.

She went with the #1 combo of a Beef Taco and Steak Enchilada with rice and beans ($11.50). It arrived hot with lots of cheese on top. She liked how the meat was cooked and the little bit of guacamole on the side. A star of the plate was the enchilada sauce, which had just the right amount of chili flavor.

I went a la carte (that's how I roll) with a Spinach Enchilada, Chicken Tamale and 1/2 beans for $11. I didn't miss the rice and I got some avocado slices on my tamale. Mmm... just looking at this picture now as I'm writing up this review makes me want to drive down there again tonight. Everything in this meal  was delicious. The tamale had a nice light cheese sauce over it that was a good contrast to the slightly spicy enchilada sauce. Magnifico!

This place is a bit far for me, being out on Portola Drive (right behind Cole's BBQ). But if you want a homey, feel-good Mexican meal, you know where to go. Tell 'em Juan sent you!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 8
Overall: 7.75

Chili's Capitola Mall

If you have read some of my other reviews on this blog, you know there's high-end places like West End and Laili's and there's not so high end. This is one of the latter.

Chili's

Chili's is at the Capitola Mall and it's near the main entrance. There's a nice sports bar on one side and a sit-down restaurant on the other. My daughter loves to go there - maybe because it will usually include mall shopping too. She's a sneaky one!

One thing I love is value. And the Chili's endless chips and salsa is all about value. For $3.29, you get a never-ending supply of this appetizer. The chips are warm, thin and crispy. The salsa is smooth and not too spicy in a ranchera style. You finish one tray and they bring you another. You want some to take home and they give you a bagful. It's pretty fantastic!

Kelly's favorite dish bar none is the Chicken Crispers ($10.19) which includes fries, corn on the cob and dipping sauce. She said the corn wasn't soggy (like other places - KFC) and tasted fresh. The chicken was crunchy and meaty - what more could you want? She devoured it in record time. You'd think the chips would have slowed her down.

I got a bowl of chili ($5.29 - hey, it's named after that!), but was saddened by the shallow bowl. The flavor was okay, but not very spicy. I had trouble identifying the chunks of meat vs. peppers vs. beans since they were all just brown and mushy. The cheese did not add much taste either. This is school cafeteria food. Sad panda.

I had a coupon for a free dessert with any entree and Kelly's chicken qualified. Get on their email list to get these sweet deals, people! The Chocolate Molten Cake (normally $6.79) had vanilla ice cream on top and fudge and caramel sauce all over it. Inside was a fudgy sauce that oozed out when broken into - OMG. I'm at the age when I try to justify eating this, calculating the amount of sit-ups and how long to hit the treadmill. My daughter laughed and dug right in. Oh, to be a teenager again!

Have you seen these? There was a small touchscreen computer at each table and you could order more drinks and food from them. Also, games like Bejeweled and Zuma's Revenge to while you wait for your order. At the end of our meal, the waiter said we could slide a credit card on it and pay. It also will calculate the tip and print a receipt or email it to you. Modern tech! Is this the future of dining??

I view Chili's as a place to grab a quick bite before a mall trip, not a dining destination. Their menu is geared more towards kids and sports bar fare, instead of Mexican food. The chili was very underwhelming, but the chips and salsa were great. Without kids, I'd only come back here to watch a Niner game.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 5
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Value for price: 6 (just chips = 10)
Overall: 6

El Palomar Downtown

I asked my daughter where she wanted to go for dinner to celebrate the first day of the school year. It's always tough on the first day after a fun-filled, goof-off summer... El Palomar downtown was the choice, so away we go!

El Palomar

We had been coming to El Palomar for many years and consider it one of the best Mexican places in town. And we have our favorites. For Kelly, it's all about the chips, served warm with their tomato-based, spicy salsa (but not too spicy). They also like to stack the bowls for a Death Star of tortilla chips.

Kelly's other favorite food here is their Cheese Quesadilla ($8). Complete with tomatilla salsa, salsa fresca, guacamole and sour cream, you can't go wrong with this dish. Along with an extra generous side of rice, the offspring was very happy.

For me, the dish that "is" El Palomar is their sope ($13). You get two puffed-up corn tortillas filled with either meat or guac, cabbage, salsa and topped with sour cream. Major yum! I love crunching through the sides, digging for the delicious treasures inside. Along with rice and beans, I can't not order this! (Please pardon my poor, emotional-filled grammar...) I got one chicken and one guac.

Our server was friendly and attentive. Our waters were filled continuously. Our meal was perfect. The Palomar main room has a nice, tall ceiling and the place is pleasantly decorated. The cantina next door is a fun place for happy hour and appetizers. It's no wonder this place is a downtown favorite. Ole!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 8
Overall: A solid OCHO

De La Hacienda Taqueria

Have you ever heard about a place, but never managed to get over there? De La Hacienda Taqueria was one of those places for me. I'm happy to report I finally made it there for lunch and was glad I did!

Website

Located on the corner of Laurel and Washington, it's across the street from the Louden Nelson Center. It's small inside with under ten tables, but if you like Mexican food, you need to get here.

My first item from any new Mexican place for me is always nachos. What else covers the plate with all the essentials and topped with melted cheese, salsa and guacamole?

Their "guac" was actually sliced avocado, to which I was not displeased. The Chicken Nachos ($7.25) was very generous with meat, beans and chips. And the salsa is served in bottles on every table. It's much like the salsa at Tacos Morenos. Rumor has it that they have the same owner (I haven't confirmed this), but the salsa is fantastic!

My brother, Mike got the Super Carnitas burrito ($6.50), which was as big as his head. It had meat, cheese, beans, cabbage, avocado and sour cream. You can see how he liberally used the salsa bottle. I have to admit, the "take a bite, splash with more salsa" technique is a winner. Notice the grill marks on the tortilla - this is key to better flavor - no steaming this burrito!

I stopped by later in the week to treat myself to another lunch and picked up a regular Chicken Burrito ($5.50). The chicken was so tender and juicy, I almost didn't need salsa... almost. Chips are $1.75 and they have cans and bottles of soda for $1.25. There's also cerveza por favor!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 9
Service: n/a
Atmosphere: 6 (small but clean)
Value for price: 8
Overall: 7.75