#32 Swoon

Benitos (no website)
Ft. Worth

My friend who runs the Ft. Worth Contemporary Gallery at TCU recommended Benitos. We received such a warm welcome when we arrived. Our server greeted us at the door and quickly ushered us to a table. She was very attentive and friendly.

The menu is quite extensive with fish and meat dishes, but once I saw that there was MOLE sauce, I couldn't entertain any other option.

Chips--light and salty, just the way I like them.

Salsa--served a homemade pica de gallo salsa and another spicier one with roasted tomatoes and chilis. Another complaint I've had about many of the restaurants is how thin the salsa is. This salsa was thick with chunks of veggies and herbs. The flavor was complex with an after-kick of spiciness. Hands down the best salsa I've had ANYWHERE. I could have drank it down like gazpacho.

Guac--Fresh. As my son would say, its too avocadoey. But isn't that the point? I like a little spice and lime in my guac, but I'd sooner trade the lime and spice for really fresh avocados. I solved my problem by drizzling the smoky salsa on my guac.

table cloth pattern

Tortilla Soup--we received a complimentary bowl of tortilla soup with our meal. It was tomato-based. I liked the flavor of the broth, but prefer chicken stock with no tomato.

Mole--I special ordered a plate with one green mole sauce enchilada and one red sauce enchilada. I ordered spinach, but got chicken instead. I was in such a swoon over the red mole sauce that I didn't care. I've only seen mole at a handful of restaurants. I've sampled it at La Cocina & Mattitos. (both places made special orders for me with spinach enchiladas). This mole sauce is Hands Down the BEST I've had since I've been in Texas. My complaint at other places is that the mole isn't rich enough--not enough chocolate or chilis. It reminded me of the mole I learned to make while living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico one summer. The green mole tasted like a tomatillo sauce.

They even made me a special margarita with Don Julio tequila. I requested one that had mild taste with pronounced lime flavor.

My mole-induced swoon lasted the whole way home. My son was very upset that I went to a Mexican food restaurant without him. So I've promised to go back and eat MORE MOLE this time with spinach.

#31 On A Tortilla Roll

Desperados
Dallas, TX

I've been away for the past 8 weeks with little to no Mexican food (except for my own recipes--watermelon gazpacho, huevos rancheros & tortilla pie. I even attempted a flan this summer)

I returned with a renewed dedication in finding the best of the best. So in one week we went out three times. All my friends know about my blog, and most are happy to indulge my whims when we go out. Thursday I visited a friend who teaches painting at SMU. We went to Desperados on Greenville Avenue. Family owned and run since 1976, the restaurant caterers to the sports teams Mavericks, Rangers, Cowboys and even for the Super Bowl. They've won awards for their ceviche, guac, steak and taco dishes.


The outside looks a bit like the Alamo. Inside is "bandit kitsch" with guns on the walls and Warholian-esque paintings of Mexican desperados. We sat next to the fireplace that was filled with sparkling cut glass. There was a lot to look at.


Foodwise:
Guac--creamy and fresh with diced tomatoes. It was missing subtle spices and lime for a more complex flavor

Salsa--good flavor with pronounced chilis. They sell this in jars with no preservatives added. It was a bit on the thin side.

Chicken fajitas--My friend said they were ok. Good quality chicken breast--tender and juicy, but missing spices.

Ceviche--EXCELLENT. Fresh chunks of fish served with lime, tomato juice and lots of jalapeno and cilantro.

We both agreed that we would go back. The menu was extensive and service was friendly.

#30 Torchy's Tacos

 Torchy's Tacos
Plano, TX (with locations in Dallas & Austin)

Torchy's opened up in my neighborhood in the late spring. Over the summer, it seems that they are popping up everywhere.

Visit 1: underwhelming. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Taco a.k.a. Mr. Pink. Mr. Pink was not pink enough for my tastes and was a bit too sinewy for tuna. I ordered a side of guac and the black bean and cheese burrito for my son. Since there was only one size of guac, we had a huge portion. We were also charged the same price as a meat burrito. The manager came over and asked us how we enjoyed our visit. I told him about my concerns and he gave us a coupon for a free taco on our next visit and refunded some money for the burrito discrepancy.

Visit 2: I ordered the salmon taco a.k.a. Mr. Orange and Cole ordered the barbacoa a.k.a. The Democrat. His meat was tender and well seasoned. Mr. orange was orange enough, but the spices overwhelmed the fish flavor.

Visit 3: Our best visit yet. I order The Independent which was a portabello, bean, corn, carrots and avocado taco with ancho aioli sauce. It was delicious. The sauce did not overpower, but gave the veggies a nice creamy chili flavor. Cole ordered the bean and cheese burrito again. They messed it up--co-mingling other items in his burrito. The manager told us to order the bean and cheese taco for $2.50 vs $7.50 burrito, so he could enjoy an economical, pure food experience of JUST beans and cheese. She refunded us the
price difference.

The place has been packed with huge lines the last two times I've been. It definitely has the fun factor working for it with loud music, catchy graphics and interesting food combinations. The current taco of the month is a scallywag--coconut fried shrimp w/ bacon, chilis, cheese, onions & habanero peach jam.

Most impressive for Cole is the Main Root handcrafted soda fountain. We haven't seen one of those in our excursions. Despite our food mishaps, the service has been friendly and the staff has been quick to rectify our complaints. We haven't tried their breakfast tacos yet. That's for our next visit.