Archive for the ‘margaritas’ Tag
There’s not much to the small town of Palmer Lake just west of Monument; in fact, there isn’t even a lake – just the imprint of its past existence. Yet, the range of good places to eat is impressive. La Rosa Southwestern Dining is the newest on the scene with fresh takes on standard New Mexican fare.
The restaurant boasts an extensive selection of tequilas and Mexican beer. The house margarita was the perfect blend of sweet and tangy.
The special the night we visited consisted of three tacos filled with chicken, chorizo, pineapple, grilled vegetables and lots of cilantro. It was refreshing and light, a contrast to the heavy, but palate-pleasing Chicken Mole.
When mole is on the menu I lose my sense of taste adventure: I can’t ignore the allure. La Rosa’s mole is a thick blend of spices and chocolate with enough of a kick that I was doubly grateful I had a margarita nearby. The rice and beans, in their simplicity, complimented the flavorful sauce. The only issue with the dish is the difficulty in cutting the chicken, which is a half still on the bone. It also detracted from the overall visual appeal of the dish.
The Chile Rellenos and Fish Veracruz were other dishes sampled by our group, and each offered distinct, rich flavors. I’d like to return to try some of the other entrees, but will have to ask for a menu where the mole has been removed. Otherwise, I won’t be able to resist.
La Rosa Southwestern Dining
Four-and-a-half Plates
25 Highway 105
Palmer Lake, Colo.
http://larosasouthwesterndining.com/
Amanda’s Fonda has been our neighborhood Mexican restaurant for years.
I’ve always enjoyed walking the five blocks from my house to the popular
eatery. Although my neighborhood hasn’t changed, Amanda’s has – and
not necessarily for the best.
The margaritas are still very good, and worth the walk – which makes it easy
to have more than one. Although the service remains attentive and friend-
ly, a recent visit proved disappointing when it came to the actual reason for
dining: food. Chips and salsa were just okay, not exceptional. Orders arriv-
ed a little too quickly, and without the blazing hot-plate warning. The food
was warm, but not even close to sizzling. In the past, the chicken and mole
entree featured chicken cooked in the spicy, chocolate sauce. Now, the mole
is simply poured over the top of two chicken breasts and garnished with ses-
ame seeds. There was not enough sauce to hide the dry texture of the other-
wise flavorless poultry. The standard rice and beans were the best thing on
the dish.
My husband’s colorful combination enchilada plate had easy to swallow fla-
vors, but offered nothing that really wowed us. Nonetheless, he barely left
any trace of its existence.
Our server explained to the group next to us that Amanda’s is no longer
family-owned. Instead, a local businessman has taken over but, she said,
he has left everything intact. I can only hope this was just an off night
for the food, and that the margaritas will continue to be tangy, refreshing
and strong.
Amanda’s Fonda
Three plates
3625 W. Colorado Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
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