by Steve A » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:44 pm
While scouting out the byways of our new 'ville a few days ago, Barbara and I noticed a sign on Westport between Hurstbourne and Herr Lane that gave us pleasant pause: Among other things, the sign reads "La Rosita" and "taqueria."
Today, while making our seemingly constant pilgrimage to the home improvement stores (this time for a faucet), we decided to give La Rosita a try.This place really knocked our socks off. First of all, taqueria describes only a part of what they are. When you walk in you see a full service counter stocked with all manners of fresh meats packaged to order. To the right is their produce section, and behind that is a fine selection of Mexican groceries. But that's not what we were there for.
We walked to the rear of the store, where we found a small counter, kitchen and dining area. There's enough seating to accommodate up to 15 diners if they don't mind getting a bit cozy. First, you select your preferred pop from a case full of bottled Mexican imports, sweetened with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, then you place your order. You have a choice Mexican food served three ways - tacos, tortas and burritos, with ingredients ranging from steak or chicken to tongue and chile rellenos(!). If memory serves me there were at least 8 main ingredients to choose from. You can eat in or carry out.
Pricing is really simple, with tacos selling for $1.75 each, and tortas and burritos $4.50 each. After seeing chicharróns on the menu board, we both got really excited. After all, what's not to like about pork fat? Alas, they were not available today. So Barbara ordered one each barbecue beef, chicken and pork taco, and I had a steak burrito. Talk about large food! Two of the tacos would have been more than enough for a meal. Loaded onto soft corn tortillas, they were piled high with cheese, cilantro, tomatoes and lettuce. My burrito was absolutely loaded with small cubes of tender flank steak, cheese, lettuce and onions. Trust me when I say me and my "large frame" walked away more than satisfied.
Understand that we've spent the last number of years in Maine, where On the Border passes for spicy, so we were craving something a bit more, shall we say, authentic. And that's what we got. The meats were well-seasoned and tender, the ingredients were all fresh. And with the addition of the choice of a mild chipolte or hotter green chile sauce from the on-table squeeze bottles our taste buds were dancing!
There is one thing that I found a bit curious, and that was the lack of beans, refried or otherwise. Our Mexican food experiences are somewhat limited, but it seems to me that beans were always part of the meal. This is not meant as a complaint, just an observation.
The ambiance at La Rosita is nothing fancy. After all you're eating in the back of a grocery store, but with the Mexican pop music blaring on the radio you know you've got the real deal. Combined with great food, that makes the meal more fun.
La Rosita is located at 8730 Westport Road.
By the way, the Westport ramps on 264 are now open. Yay!
"It ain't a matter of pork 'n beans that's gonna justify your soul
Just don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock and roll."