Sweetmonger and I have been in Austin less than a week and we have, perhaps not surprisingly, already eaten Mexican twice. The first was at Polvos, the excellent Mexican restaurant we tried during our visit in June. Our second meal was on Sunday at El Chile. Our guide book to Austin Restaurants, The Fearless Critic, ranked El Chile as Austin's best Mexican restaurant and in this town that is high praise.
Once inside El Chile, one is not sure where he is. Trendy music, colors and pictures are paired with distinctly elementary school cafeteria tabletops. This restaurant certainly tries to be trendier than Polvos, where you feel you might actually be in Mexico, but I'm not sure it succeeds.
The meal was hit and miss. My house margarita was excellent. Not too sweet and enough tequila to let me know it was in there but not too much to overwhelm. Also, El Chile's salsa was some the best I have ever had. Made from oven roasted tomatoes and jalapenos, it was dark, smoky and without a doubt wonderful.
Less successful was our rajas con queso. Described by our guide book as "remarkable," this queso with roasted poblanos and onions was anything but. It was weak on flavor and its texture was way too sticky.
The entrees were certainly more refined in presentation than what you get at most Mexican restaurants. But whatever these entrees gained with more refined presentations, they lost in flavor.
Sweetmonger had the fish tacos which she said were light in taste and lacked spice. I, on the recommendation of The Fearless Critic, went with the "best in town" shrimp enchiladas. They were fine, but for a restaurant considered to be Austin's best Mexican restaurant, they were vastly disappointing.
El Chile is a restaurant at which a group could have a great time but I don't think its a place where you could ever have a great meal.
El Chile
www.elchilecafe.com
2209 Manor Rd.
Austin, TX 78722
2 comments:
I was born and raised here in Austin and let me tell you, that Fearless Critic is the worst guidebook ever. I hate it- toss it out the window or use it to wrap your fish in, whatever... Just don't read it. You should've gone to Enchiladas y Mas on Anderson Lane in North Austin. Delicious Tex-Mex. Or Fonda San Miguel if you're feeling fancy. El Chile is ok, you're right on the margaritas. Food is only so-so. Anyway, I'm glad you love Ginger Man! Happy eating/drinking.
Yeah, The Fearless Critic has been a little disappointing. I will definitely put those Mexican places at the top of my list. Thanks.
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