We've been looking for a better Taco Tuesday site for our group. This might be it.
Casa Hacienda has good food yet reliably mediocre service. El Vaquero's service is much better, but the food is ... fine, and they panic when we tell them we need a table for somewhere between six and fourteen people. You know, like sometimes a lot of neighbors show up; sometimes not so many. Never know.
So maybe Xochitl. Funny name, pronounced so-SHEEL, I think. It's located on the back (creek) side of one of Gahanna's Creekside buildings - park in the free underground lot, near the far lower end, go up the 101 stairs, walk out any doors and walk away from the street. Look for the patio seating.
Very attractive place. The local woman who owns it gets kudos for that. There's the standard selection of Mexican beers and tequila. Everyone who got one enjoyed their margaritas, especially the pink ones.
The Lion's Dip appetizer was a standout. Skirt steak and shrimp in a savory SAVORY savory cheese sauce. Get that! The red salsa was tasty, just thick enough to stay on the thick, crunchy chips, but not world class.
Tuesdays there is a taco special, of course, and most everyone in the group got these and loved them. The menu is extensive, with familiars and some maybe unusual things. I got the Quesabirria. Get that. Thick corn tortas with cheese and meat slices inside, with a wonderful slightly sweet, very savory dipping sauce on the side. Mmmm. And wonderful left over.
My wife got the Mole Poblano. It's a more official dark mole sauce than most Tex-Mex places, though a little less intensely rich than what I'd get in southern Arizona or super-Mexican Aurora, Illinois neighborhoods. Still: tasty. My wife thought it was too spicy, while I could barely feel the heat. Vive la difference! but it was hard to reheat: the chicken immediately dried out. Eat it all there.
A neighbor got a crazy-looking lava (sic) bowl full of ... fooood. Don't remember what it was called, but it smelled wonderful and, whatever anyone thought of its appearance (I thought it looked great), he thought it was outstanding. HOWever, there was a lone cooked cactus leaf draped over the edge. I personally love cactus: tastes kind of asparagus-y, kind of reminiscent of steamed artichoke, green bean maybe? yet not really like anything else. But it's a vegetable, and it's good (excellent with scrambled eggs), if you've had it before. Otherwise, it's weird. The poor leaf got passed around the table and was tasted by nearly everyone. Puzzled looks and reserved judgement with every taste. Pretty funny. But don't let a little nopal (that's what it is en espanol) scare you - get THAT dish.
The service was a bit lacking, though we give them a big break because they've only been open a couple of months AND I bet they haven't figured out how to staff for their Taco Tuesday that's just getting known in the community. The poor single server was overwhelmed with tables, and his English was only good; and our table was friendly, boisterous and, given he'd have to contend with ten different checks at the same table, confusing.
We're going back next week. Hope to see you there. read more