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Sabor
de Columbus
By Carlos
Aranibar and Erica Lerma
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Cancun Mexican Restaurant Review
Rating:****
Address: 5701 Maple Canyon Ave.
Phone #: (614) 847-1266
Category: Casual dining; Lunch take-out
Hours: M-Th 11a-10p
Fri. & Sat. 11a-11p Sun. 12-9p
Non-smoking: yes
Prices: low to mid range
Credit cards: yes
As you walk from your car to the front door of Cancun Mexican
Restaurant, you might expect a not-so enjoyable meal, but
after leaving with a full belly and una sonrisa, you will
agree that this is one place that you will definitely enjoy.
Along with the friendly staff, we were greeted at our table
by cups of ice water, as well as chips and salsa. The extensive
menu requires more than the usual time, but the courteous
and patient waiter was more than accomodating. Erica, my co-reviewer
decided to try a traditional plate, arroz con pollo ($8.95).
I chose to stray from my usual selections and
went with Camarones Costa Azul ($10.75). As we sat and waited,
we were treated to the chips and uncommon salsa that consisted
of big chunks of tomato and ground spices like cilantro and
chile. This blend of the coarsely chopped tomatoes and pureed
spices made you reach for another
chip instead of the ice water to cool the medium spiciness.
Carlos’ Meal:
After polishing off two bowls of salsa, the food arrived in
what seemed to be moments after ordering. The presentation
of the food and its arrangement complimented the taste. The
shrimp in my Camarones Costa Azul were bigger than average,
and flavored just right in their sautéed onion and
tomato sauce. They were served with sides of beans and rice,
which
however, were average at best. I do not eat very much seafood,
but
these shrimp tasted better than I expected. All in all, this
seafood
dish is a good choice for anyone.
Erica’s Meal:
The arroz con pollo overflowed the large platter on which
it was served. The combination of seasoned bite-sized chicken
chunks, mushrooms, onions, Monterey Jack cheese, and tomato
sauce served over a bed of fluffy rice left your taste buds
in overdrive. After a team effort, we still had to ask for
a doggie bag. I would recommend this appetizing dish to anyone
that is in
the mood for traditional Mexican food.
Aside from the meal itself, several things caught our attention.
We were served plenty of tortillas on the first request, more
than
the usual three or four given at most places; we did not need
to ask
for more throughout the meal. Disappointingly, Cancun does
not
serve aguas naturales like horchata or tamarindo juices that
go
well with any Mexican dish.
The atmosphere was pleasant with lots of art and a big screen
TV, although no music was being played. There is a mural of
sea life at the entrance that is great for that Kodak moment
(you
can borrow one of the sombreros hanging nearby). The central
location of the restaurant is convenient if you are looking
for
something to do afterwards like shopping or dancing. The
highlights of the visit were the great food and prompt, considerate
wait staff.
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El Vaquero
Rating:****
Address: 3230 Olentangy River Rd.
Phone #: (614) 261-0900
Category: Casual dining
Hours: M-Th 11a-10p Fri. & Sat. 11a-10:30p Sun. 11-9:30p
Non-smoking: yes
Prices: low to mid range ($6-13)
Credit cards: yes
If have ever asked anyone where to find mexican food in Columbus,
then you have probably heard of El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant.
The location I chose to review is near campus on Olentangy River
Road just north of the Schottenstein Center. After visiting
this local favorite, I would agree that this is definitely a
fun place to hang out and enjoy some good food.
Efrain Quezada, the owner of all five Ohio locations, recommended
that I stop in during the bustle and festivities of the weekend
night hours. Unfortunately, I was only able to go in on a Monday
during lunch time. The place was quiet, clean, and had a few
groups of families and co-workers enjoying a nice lunch. The
festive atmosphere reminds me of a cantina seen in old cowboy
movies, with its wood-framed leather chairs and ceramic wall
decorations.
The attentive waiter brought the customary chips and salsa to
my table. I have to say, these chips are huge. Most were the
size of tortilla halves. The salsa was mild; however, I did
notice pieces of jalapeno. When you visit El Vaquero, bring
your appetite, sense of adventure, and decision-making skills.
This menu has everything from the usual to the “what’s
that?” type of
dishes. One example of an unusual dish is the tostaguac, a flat,
fried tortilla topped with beans, cheese, your choice of meat,
and guacamole, a dressing made of mashed avocado.
After taking some time to decide from among the more than 140
combinations and specialty dishes, I started my meal with a
half order of nachos topped with beef ($3.25). When my order
came out a few minutes later, I was disappointed to see that
my nachos were not covered in chopped steak, but rather ground
beef. Another downside to my appetizer was its unnatural appearance.
It did not look fresh because the cheese was completely melted
and there was a pool of grease at the bottom of the plate, as
if it were warmed in a microwave. Although the grease did not
look
very appealing, the nachos themselves tasted decent. I would
have
liked to have seen some sour cream or diced tomatoes, but the
full list of ingredients consisted of the big chips, melted
cheese, and ground beef. Thankfully, the main course was excellent.
I ordered something I had never heard of before, El Sinaloense
(pro. see-na-low-EN-seh) named for a state on the west coast
of Mexico. The $8.15 price was very reasonable, considering
the portion of seasoned chicken chunks mixed with chorizo,
a spicy Mexican sausage. The chef was also generous with the
rice, which was excellent. The meal was garnished with some
lettuce and guacamole. I could taste the freshness of the avocado.
I recommend eating the chicken/chorizo with flour tortillas,
which were served hot and steaming. While I enjoyed the delicious
food, the waiter kept a close eye on
my progress and kept busy by looking for drinks to refill
and areas to clean.When you go to El Vaquero, you will see that
while you
eat, there are plenty of things to look at and listen to. There
are paintings and murals of Mexican weddings, landscapes, and
cathedrals on every wall. There is a bar in the smoking section,
the most entertaining part of the restaurant due to the chandelier
and murals. Contemporary Spanish
music is played throughout the establishment, giving you a glimpse
into the influence of American pop music in Latin America and
vice versa. The most notable aspects of my time at El Vaquero
were the variety of the menu and
the overall environment. I did not give them a full fourth “chile”
because of the mediocre nachos.
Carlos Aranibar and the restaurant/market review team are
¿Qué
Pasa, OSU? student volunteers. However, the views and opinions
of Carlos, the team, and this review section do not represent
the
views or opinions of the magazine, its staff, the editorial
board, or
its publisher.
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