1418 Game Is On--Week 5

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September 9th, 2011 El Norte, Plano, TX
the "unchained" tex-mex alternative

It was with great anticipation that I went to El Norte with my husband and son. It had won an award in D magazine and as a family-owned business, its website claimed that the menu was so traditional as to be radical. They supposedly buy their meat locally.

I realized half-way to the restaurant that I forgot my camera! Everyone in the car was starving and thus refused to turn around. Perhaps this was the first prophetic sign.

The decor was shabby-hip, peeling paint with some faded murals. The food was an adventure in mediocrity. Who needs pictures, when the food looked better than it tasted? The super-nice server was the best part of the evening.

Guac--passable
Bean & Cheese Burrito--lackluster. described as grande--but too small. pinto beans lacked flavor
Texas Brisket Tacos--a signature dish. hubby described it as prepared well with low quality meat. difficult to chew.
Chicken Mole Enchiladas--mole lacked depth. not enough chocolate or chilies.

Give me chain any day--especially when it's predictable. :(

1418 Game is On--Week 4 #2

September 3rd, 2011--Mattitos, Frisco, TX


view of stadium from Mattitos. Pro-soccer & HS football

Family-owned, although there are now several locations throughout the area (and sadly Mattito is no longer among the living). I immediately liked the place, because the manager told me I could take as many pictures as I wanted of whatever I wanted. He shared that recently someone had won first place in a photo contest with a "Mattitos at night" shot. Located across the street from the soccer stadium, it may become our new hang-out for pre or post soccer games.

The second reason I immediately liked the place is that not only did they have MOLE on the menu, but they agreed to make my favorite dish which was not the menu--spinach enchiladas with mole sauce.



Fun atmosphere--check out the cool bottle wall and funky lights.


Sadly my teenaged bean and cheese burrito connoisseur was unable to attend, due to a pressing engagement at Walgreens with his new friends. That is a topic for my other blog.


My husband and I split our dinners. Mine--spinach enchiladas with mole sauce. His--snapper with a black bean sauce. The mole was good--nicely balanced with multiple kinds of chilis. I tend to like my mole with a little bit more spice and chocolate undertones. The snapper was delicous. The guac was more "onionly" than some, but had a nice kick to it. Here's the real treat--a michelada. I have never seen this on any menu, except when I was in Mexico. It is a distinctively different and refreshing beverage (I've been told it's the best hangover cure in the WORLD). It's made with beer, clamato juice (clam & tomato), lime and spices. They made ours with bohemia beer.