Caballo Bayo - Chagrin Falls Mexican

UPDATED 6/24/2010 - I was by Caballo Bayo and apparently they are out of business.

With the election finally over, good weather and cheap gas prices, it was hard not to get on the motorcycle at lunch time and just keep going, but instead rode out to Chagrin Falls to try a new Mexican Restaurant, Caballo Bayo. Located at 504 East Washington Street, just past the Chagrin Falls High School, CB looks like a very small place from the front, but appearance are deceiving. Once you get inside there is a large bar to the left and a couple of dining rooms all nicely decorated with sunny yellow walls with Mexican Style paintings and appropriate decorations. The decoration is limited and you don't get the feeling of being overwhelmed as in some Mexican Restaurants. The tables and chairs are nice and substantial, the tables set with cloth napkins and silverware. Of course the chips and salsa quickly arrive. The chips are hot and fresh, the salsa nice if a bit tame, although a little kick does sneak in. My waitress brought me some of the chipolte salsa which had much more of a kick. The menu is extensive and the dinner prices seem a little higher then most Cleveland Mexican Restaurants. At lunch however the specials are very affordable and turned out to be a great value. I ordered the lunch special No. 1 which is described as a Chili Relleno, Taco, Beans and Guacomle Salad. Expecting to get a nice portion, I was shocked when my waitress brought two long plates, one had a good sized Chili Relleno and a large portion of refried beans the other plate had the taco and a large salad of shredded lettuce with a very generous portion of guacamole on top. The waitress caught that I had received the wrong taco and quickly had the kitchen fix the problem - good job. The chili relleno was well prepared and flavorful, in this case the pepper was cooked without any batter, a bit lighter and it allows some of the melted cheese to escape, but very nice. About the only problem I had was that this was a bit mild, but that happens when dealing with fresh peppers, some are hotter then others. The beans were also good with a nice creamy texture and a mild flavor. The guacamole salad was very good, very fresh aith the creamy smoothness of the avacodos contrated with the small bits of vegetables mixed in. The highlight of the meal was the Shrimp Taco; this was excellent. The medium sized shrimp were very well cooked and put into a fresh taco shell with some sauteed pepper and onions and then topped with cheese. Think of this as a mini Shrimp Fajitas. Service was very good, with my water glass refilled several times and an appropriate amount of attention. They seem to be going a little more upscale here without losing a casual feel; this seems to work and I will be checking them out in the future. I left more than full, and that is with leaving half the chip basket uneaten. If the entrees are as good as the food I have this could be a real winner. Head out East and check them out, especially during lunch time.

Fat Taco - Bainbridge Mexican

UPDATED 6/24/2010 - I was by Fat Taco and apparently they are out of business.

Well I finally had a partial success in my inexpensive Mexican food quest. I think part of my ongoing hunt involves the loss of Que Tal on Coventry. Before it closed I could count on it for good, tasty, big and reasonably priced burritos. Well I may have found a pretty good substitute. Fat Taco at 8564 E. Washington Street in Bainbridge (the corner of E. Washington and Route 306 in the same little strip as Cowboy Food) is a very nice little Mexican fast food place. I have been here before, but it has been a while so I figured it was time to give them another try. Fat Taco is clean and simply but nicely decorated. You order at the front counter and you can eat inside or there are a couple of tables out front. The menu is not extensive; basically Burritos, Tacos, Nachos and Enchiladas, but the food is good and the portions are generous. I had the Fat Burrito; a vegetarian option which includes sweet potatoes, onions and peppers along with the rice, bean, lettuce, pica di gallo and cheese. The burrito was well made with generous fillings. I would note that while the menu described the onion and peppers as grilled, they seemed almost raw and the peppers were quite hot jalapeño slices. The overall taste was good, with a nice contrast between the sweet soft yams and the crunchy and hot peppers. I did need to add a combination of some hot sauce and taco sauce, but that is not unusual for me. Since it was Tuesday, I got the special, which is if you buy a burrito and a large drink, you get the chips and salsa free. The chips were obviously made in house, and while they may have sat for a day or two, they were good. The salsa was a nice fresh dice, with good flavor and texture, but it needed more heat. Overall, Fat Taco delivers high quality Mexican food at a reasonable price. While it may not knock your socks off, it will fill you up and satisfy your taste buds. If it were a sit down restaurant with a full menu my hunt might be over, but for now it continues.