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New Mexican Restaurant Fires Up West Hartford Center
By Elisabeth Strillacci
The salsa is hot, the chips are warm, and the food is outrageously good.
The newest restaurant on Farmington Avenue, Puerto Vallarta, run by Miguel and Esaul Rodriguez, is already a sensation.
Though it opened New Year's Eve to a quiet night, most people in town said they didn't go only because they didn't realize it was open.
Paul and Tessa O' Sullivan, who brought their son Christopher to dinner recently, said they had eaten out New Year's Eve but had taken a short cut and bypassed the restaurant.
"On our way home, we came by and I realized it was open, and
I was so upset that we missed it," said Tessa. Both Paul and Tessa pronounced their
meals, a burrito and fajitas respectively, outstanding.
"I'm so glad we have a Mexican restaurant in town," said
Paul.
Jessica Pollack, dining a few doors down from her family's store, Pollack's, said she thoroughly enjoyed
their meal.
The menu is varied, from traditional Mexican fare such as burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, to more elegant, but just as enticing, dinners, including dishes made with meat, chicken and seafood. The prices can range from $4 to $5 for a simple meal to $11 or $12 for a more formal dinner, but the plates are large, and diners will get value for the dollar.
However, value doesn't mean taste is sacrificed. Mexican rice, often a dried out affair, is tender and moist with mild seasonings.
The refried beans are topped with melted cheese but retain their wonderful flavor. A fresh coleslaw tops many dinner plates, and the hint of vinegar, when eaten with the beans, is outstanding. It also helps reduce the fire if you've indulged in too much salsa in one bite.
Appetizers are also varied. There are traditional Mexican appetizers, such as nachos, but there is also a specials menu each day that offers appetizers that are a bit dressier. One example is prawns, (shrimp) with fresh chopped garlic and mushrooms. The dish is cooked in what appears to be a light garlic oil, and is unlike anything found in any other Mexican restaurants. The dish is supported by a fresh salad of lettuce, tomato, onions and green pepper and the flavors blend together marvelously.
There is also a children's menu available for those younger ones who may be faint of heart, but many dishes contain only moderate spices.
The interior of the restaurant, which is the location of the former
Edelweiss, is light and bright, with soft pink walls, adobe-like architecture and tile-enhanced table tops, seems like a whole new building.
The wait staff is not only cheerful and energetic, but they speak both Spanish and English. Guests are greeted as "Mis amigos" or "my friends," and the dining room bustles with activity and
conversation.
Though no reservations are taken, early arrival can usually get you a seat. However, as the popularity of this latest addition to the town's restaurant fare grows, reservations may be next on the list.
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