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EL SOMBRERO
The Challenge: My family has not enjoyed an "authentic" Mexican meal together since leaving San Antonio over six years ago. My husband will only eat fajitas—preferably beef; my teenager, a Mexican food "connoisseur," will stand for nothing but the best; my toddler has only had Mexican food out of a box; and I love anything wrapped inside a tortilla! Our teenager had eaten at a Mexican restaurant in Warner Robins which she thought was very tasty, but she could not remember the name. On a Sunday evening in November we made our way to El Sombrero #11 with high hopes of making up for lost time! As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by our hostess who promptly led us to our booth. We requested an out-of-the-way location, and since there were plenty of tables available, we could let the toddler be a little less than perfect (what a relief!). The atmosphere is one with Mexican flair, and the walls are tastefully decorated with paintings from the Mexican Revolution on one side and scenes of daily life from the past on the other. The light fixtures are made from terra cotta and add a nice touch (although we had to watch the little one with his fork—I believe he thought the fixture was a pinata!). Luis, our waiter, was at our table with chips and salsa immediately, took our drink orders, and returned with our refreshments in just moments. Although El Sombrero’s appetizers sounded appealing, we decided to save room for dessert. There was no doubt what my husband would be eating and after much deliberation on my part (the menu is six pages), we decided to share chicken, beef, and shrimp fajitas for two ($17.00). Our seventeen-year-old ordered the chalupa, chile relleno, and enchilada Combination Dinner ($7.25). Our two-year-old had the enchilada, rice, and beans Child’s Plate ($3.30). While waiting for our food (which was not a very long wait), Luis returned with a fresh basket of chips to replenish the one we had devoured. This attentiveness to service continued the entire evening. Not once did we have to request a refill on our drinks; it just happened. When our food arrived with fajitas sizzling and the smell of spices in the air, we were transported South of the Border! The servings were very generous. Everything we could want on our fajitas was included. Although the fajitas were very tasty and cooked to perfection, they could have included a bit more chicken and beef. My teenager’s chile relleno was delicious (dip the chips in this wonderful concoction), and the little one loved the rice and the meat in the enchilada (although the sauce was a little too spicy for his taste). I would be remiss if I did not mention the shrimp; they were simply delectable! If you like shrimp, do not miss El Sombrero’s marinated and grilled offering. Although we were pleasantly satisfied after our entrees, eating at a Mexican restaurant always means fried ice cream! There was no way we would leave without sampling the dessert offerings ($2.75 each) and we were not disappointed. My husband’s deep fried ice cream was served in a small sweet tortilla bowl and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Our daughter’s Sopapilla (a fried flour tortilla topped with honey and cinnamon and served with fried ice cream) was terrific. My toddler and I had the Banana Burrito; a delightful treat made by rolling up a banana in a tortilla, sprinkling it with cinnamon and sugar, and cooking it. It was served with fried ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry. We mistakenly received a Flan (Mexican custard with a caramel sauce), which would have made a simple, not-too-filling, end to our meal. The Verdict: Muy Bueno! Our six year drought has been lifted! We have found Mexican food east of the Mississippi worthy of the being called "authentic." There are many dishes left to taste—we have no choice but to return to El Sombreros! That Mexican restaurant our teenager had enjoyed in Warner Robins turned out to be El Sombrero #6! VITAL STATISTICS Cuisine:
Delicious Authentic Mexican! |
