There are restaurants that draw customers because of their original cuisine or because of the elegance and ambiance they provide; and there are others that appeal to the memories of familiar environments and tastes. La Rancherita is one of those latter places; it reminds me of the fondas in my native Mexico. La Rancherita is located in a small but very diverse shopping center along Godown Road, north of Bethel Road, and offers traditional Mexican dishes and some innovative combinations made by the chef and owner, Leopoldo Ornelas Limón.
La Rancherita is a fonda-like restaurant with a clean environment and memories of traditions long lost by the influence of fast food. These are not places for a formal first date or business meeting, but are the type of place you can find a filling meal at a good price and always with a friendly face. I was greeted by Estela who listened carefully to what I wanted, made great suggestions, and responded always with a genuine smile.
La Rancherita’s menu includes a variety of items, from tortas (sandwiches) to carne asada (meat) and a pastel tres leches (three-milks cake) for dessert. As part of a regular meal, the variety of aguas frescas (flavored water), such as horchata made with rice water, vanilla and cinnamon, have an authentic Mexican flavor.
I ordered two types of tortas: la cubana, a full meal within itself with an overwhelming amount of fillings including chipotle sauce, avocado and meats like chorizo (highly-seasoned pork sausage) and queso de puerco (a type of ham) among others; then la hawaiiana, a first in Columbus thanks to La Rancherita, made with pineapple and melted cheese in the middle of two slices of ham and filled with avocado, jalapeños, onions and tomato highlighting its hint of sweetness. Definitely worth trying! These tortas are the most popular dishes asked for by regulars along with a tender and well-seasoned carne asada served with rice, guacamole salad and exceptional homemade refried beans – the type that grandmothers make!
Food has a way of connecting people, places, and time; La Rancherita has the feel of the friendly people and the taste of Mexico’s resourcefulness and tradition.
I would recommend the carne asada for its great traditional taste. The prices are affordable and the experience is one of a kind!
