Food Quality: 3
Service: 5
Business Meeting: 4
Value: 3
Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5
One of the challenges of writing weekly restaurant reviews is finding new restaurants to try. But this week, my wife, Rebecca, found a new eatery in Downtown Augusta called El Paso Tacos & Tequila at 1167 Broad St., the former home of Mellow Mushroom.
I had never heard of it, but I’m not one to turn down Mexican food, as it’s one of my favorites. Walking in the door at El Paso brought back so many good memories of eating at Mellow Mushroom, but the inside was completely revamped.
We both ordered combination dinners. Mine consisted of a soft beef taco, a beef enchilada, rice, and refried beans, while Rebecca tried a Chile relleno, beef taco, and beef enchilada with rice and refried beans. Chile relleno is a stuffed pepper dish. We each ordered a margarita to enjoy with our meal.
We both thought the margaritas were tasty, but they weren’t nearly as strong as those served at other restaurants. The food was OK, but it wasn’t the best Mexican meal I’ve had, maybe it was the seasoning used. Also, the enchilada was topped with a darker mole sauce, which I didn’t like as much as the red enchilada sauce.
Rebecca said the food didn’t taste different to her, so maybe my taste buds were off.
I may not have loved the food, but the service was excellent. Our server was very friendly and attentive, taking the time to answer our questions about the menu. When we first arrived, the restaurant wasn’t very crowded, but that quickly changed, as more people showed up, including a group celebrating someone’s birthday.
It wasn’t the quietest place in town, especially with music playing, but depending on the time of day you visit El Paso, it may be a decent place to hold a business meeting. In terms of value, I would compare the eatery to Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, our favorite Mexican place. At El Paso, our total check was about $65, which is more than we typically spend at Monterrey.
The food is about the same price at both places, but the margaritas are more expensive in El Paso. El Paso’s combination dinners only cost about 50 cents more than those at Monterrey.
