Greg H.
Yelp
I. Can't. Even.
I've been hearing about this place for YEARS, but never made the trip. Until tonight.
Forget about best Mexican food in the valley. This is the best Mexican food on the whole east coast. It's seriously that good. It's a little place tucked off the edge of a little town in western Ma, but it's always super packed. For all that, they handle it well. They clearly communicate, and they turn over the table and bar space as best they can. We were told 45 minutes, but that it would likely be shorter than that. (Ended up being about half an hour, but one group ahead of us decided to leave. Their loss.)
The menu is limited, but perfect. A great range of choices and not overwhelming. The options are all made fresh with many of the components being made right in the restaurant from real ingredients.
I seriously don't drink often. But being seated at the bar with a bartender with incredibly personality won is over. We ordered the Sangria, which was a special made with apples and pears and spices. It was smooth, and fruity, and fresh, and dangerous due to the low tang of alcohol. Very deceptive. And having watched the bartender make a Cadillac Margarita.... I had to. And it was exquisite. The grand marnier splash adds a delightful taste to the drink.
We ordered the chips and 3 salsa and a side of guacamole. The salsas were all tasty. The guacamole was the best I've ever had at a restaurant. The totopas were light and crisp and served warm. They were clearly hand cut.
For our entrees I got the chicken mole, and my partner got the spicy shrimp tinga. I love a good mole, and the bartender warned me that this dish takes a bit of extra time to cook. It. Was. Worth. It. Both dishes were superb. The spicy shrimp tinga had a great spiciness. I would say it was spicier than the mole, which, while flavorful, was not as potent as I generally expect from a mole. The beans and rice were also perfect. I loved the touch of the 3 corn tortillas in the tinfoil served with the meal. It was great to make my own little tacos from my dish.
There was no dessert menu that we saw.. (which is probably for the best, honestly. Tho it was a late birthday dinner from my partner.
All told, 2 drinks. A basket of chips, some guacamole and salsa. And two fabulous entees cost around $60. And it was worth every dime.
Go. You will NOT regret it.
Oh. And they're opening a BBQ place in Hadley tomorrow, and another Mexican place in Easthampton.