Ms T and I have spent a considerable number of nights back in Muscatine lately and finally had a chance to eat at a few of the local restaurants that we had not been able to try before. I had three meals at El Allende was pleasantly surprised to find another good place for above average Mexican. Muscatine has at least four credible Mexican restaurants; El Olmito, El Allende, Las Lomas and Guadalajara. I have tried them all and rank them in the order given, but all are OK. I have not tried Restaurant Izalco.
We ate lunch here one time and dinner one time. For Lunch I passed on the buffet although the place was crowded with people making good on the opportunity to overeat. I asked for huevos con chorizo with fresh chiles jalapenos and the server knew exactly what I wanted. She delivered an excellent plate with good soft white corn tortillas. This was a very well prepared lunch. She seemed pleased that I would order the chiles in the eggs and ask for corn tortillas.
For dinner, I was joined by Mr G who had helped me with a project earlier in the day. I was paying him with food and beer. This time I noticed chilaquiles on the menu and ordered what turned out to be some of the best I have had in a while.
I have driven by this place dozens of times. The building is not very inviting. I kind of pictured a dark bar sort of place, not sure why. It is really a nice clean, family run place. I had not been the building since the Peking was housed here many, many years ago. I really developed a good feeling about El Allende. I don't think I would participate in the buffet. What I ordered from the menu was too good and I was not impressed with the buffet. Business appears to be good, there were a lot of people at lunch and dinner seemed busy as well. When we lived in Muscatine we frequented El Zarape until Paul and Gloria sold it and then we were regulars at Imelda's. Both are long gone but we had a lot of good meals there with our kids. If I lived here again, I would be pretty happy with the selection of Mexican food and would try to rotate through El Allende, Las Lomas, Guadalajara and probably Izalco (Need to try it). I would reserve a special place on my lunch schedule to get tacos at El Olmito. I hope Muscatine appreciates these places. I'm going with four stars and am looking forward to coming back. read more