Dating S.O.S

Yesterday, I was feeling rather generous, so I invited my partner to lunch at El Rincón Mexicano.  I’d walked by it a couple of days earlier, and, because we both love all things Mexican, I was very eager to check it out.

If you’re into real Mexican cuisine (and I don’t mean Taco Bell, or even California Tex Mex), you’ll appreciate the authenticity of El Rincón’s deliciously diverse menu.

When we arrived, we were greeting by a friendly woman with a Spanish accent, who later confirmed she was, in fact, born in Mexico. Ambience and decor were what you’d expect from a traditional Mexican eatery: brightly coloured table cloths, folk art on the walls, and Spanish music to serenade us.

We decided to eat on the cozy, and pleasantly private, back patio.

Although we would have loved to have tried a little bit of everything, we skipped the tempting appetizers, such as the Queso Fundido, Frijoles Refritos Con Queso, or Nachos Norteños, to ensure we had plenty of room for an entrée and dessert.

My partner selected the Tortilla Azteca (Mexican Lasagna), and I ordered the Tortillas Morelianas: deep fried open-faced tortillas, topped with chorizo, refried beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, sour cream and a jalapeno pepper, accompanied by a side of Spanish rice, which was served in a glazed terracotta clay dish. We each had a choice of either chicken, beef, chorizo, or vegetarian.

“Pico de Gallo,” by the way, actually means “Rooster’s Beak,” but is a condiment made of fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice.

Both of our selections were scrumptious, but not as spicy as we had hoped. However, portions were just right - not too much, not too little - which made ordering dessert totally guilt-free! We shared a mouth-watering Flan, which is the Mexican version of Crème Caramel. It even had a wee Mexican flag poking up from its center. My only regret is that I didn’t order my own; it was just too yummy to share!

The spotless washrooms are located in the basement, where I discovered yet another dining area, likely used for private functions or large groups.

Lunch for two, including two glasses of red wine for me (I was particularly taken with the heavy, thick-stemmed wine glass) and two bottles of Sol for my partner, plus taxes and a $6 gratuity, came to just under $53. Much cheaper than a trip to Mexico!

And, to make things even sweeter (well, at least for my partner), that lucky bastard found 30 bucks on the street on our way home!

Next time… he’s treating!

El Rincón Mexicano
653 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
Phone: 416-656-1059
Website: http://www.elrinconmexicano.ca/