NOVEMBER 3, 1993
Out of a cold, blustery, wet Thursday evening we came into Mexican Village on South Washington Street. It was a good choice. The music was playing, and the salsa that came with the customary chips was nicely flavored.
The carpeting is a deep red and contrasts nicely with white adobe-style walls. There are wrought iron planters on the walls with artificial red flowers in them. Waitresses wear black narrow-legged trousers and black boleros with white shirts. They look professional.
Kristi, our waitress, told us she had been at Mexican Village for four years. We noticed that she was acquainted with most of the customers and was chatting with them as they came in. Mexican Village is that kind of place. Rather small. Rather quiet. Friendly. In some ways, it is a carefully kept secret.
The Mexican food served here is much to my liking. The prices are most reasonable. There are luncheon specials for $1.95 and $2.95. Evening specials range from $3.95 to $5.95. The beverage is extra.
I like the menu because it is simple, straightforward and well-arranged. You can open it up and see at a glance what the offerings are. You don’t have to fight your way through a bunch of cute sayings on five or six pages.
Here, the first page lists customary appetizers: chalupas, tostadas, tacos and enchiladas. The middle part shows dinners, burritos and specialties, including the chimichanga, the chi-chi and the Mexican pizza. There also are submarines, American and seafood choices listed for those who do not want Mexican fare.
The restaurant does some of its best business when it serves a buffet on Saturday evenings. This sampling of Mexican foods gives customers a chance to get acquainted with them and guides them in ordering at other times.
I looked over the menu and was fascinated by the Norwegian taco ($3.25) as well as the Mexican pizza, which I ordered. I asked for the small version ($3.50) and got a crisp flour tortilla, topped with melted cheese, onion, tomatoes, ripe olives and green pepper. It was good to the last bite and just about the right amount.
Constant Companion ordered an all-meat burrito in the medium size for $3.50. You also can get a small burrito or a large burrito for a dollar less or a dollar more. He could have eaten more, but he was remembering we still had a piece of apple pie at home.
The restaurant deserves pluses for its food, reasonable prices, and good service. The paper napkins are fairly good—a couple of notches better than the skimpy kind. The restrooms are located, as the sign says, out back. But the long hallway is nicely painted with a couple of plants to improve the decor. And when you get there, the facilities are clean and adequate.