A Galpal Review: La Poblanita
Monday, February 28, 2011
Looking down at my Enchiladas Suisas on my first visit to La Poblanita, my first thought was “that is so huge, I’ll have meals for the next three days”. My next thought, however was “did I seriously just eat that whole thing?” Scarf it down I did, each and every spicy, tangy, oozy, yummy bite.
While the interior of La Poblanita is nothing much to look at, the food is off the charts flavorful. The meal starts with the requisite chips and salsa, but these are no toss-aways. Thick, crunchy, and without much salt, the chips taste…corny. And I mean that as a good thing. Rather than just a tasteless vessel for whatever their topping, the chips have flavor in their own right. The accompanying salsa is like a cross between salsa and pico de gallo- very fresh and chunky. While munching you’ll peruse the enormous menu; my only wish would be that they had descriptions below the listings since there is so much more than the usual Mexican restaurant suspects.
On to my favorites… The aforementioned Enchiladas Suisas arrive as two enormous tortillas brimming with chicken, smothered in a spicy green sauce with a real kick and topped with just the right amount of melted cheese. Unbelievably, they even come with a small salad and rice and are priced under $10. Enchiladas Mole are topped with a spicy mole with enough chocolate to make it rich and complex without being cloying. Tacos come three to an order for around $6, and are made with what seem like homemade corn tortillas in a number of varieties. The pastor is a standout, and contains chunks of pork that have been marinated in citrus and then char cooked. And once you taste their beans, you will laugh at the canned imposters that used to pass muster.
As for beverages, the restaurant has many different kinds of tequilas and offers very reasonable $5 margaritas. For you teetotalers, they also have several interesting kinds of Mexican sodas. It is not fancy by any means, and the kids should feel right at home. Note also that La Poblanita is filling a culinary void I have been feeling ever since moving here from New York - they deliver!
La Poblanita
1660 Park Avenue (off North Avenue), Bridgeport
( 203 ) 384-2377
www.lapoblanitarestaurant.com
