This post will be aimed specifically at beef fajitas so I will just mention in the beginning that the margaritas, chips, salsa, tortillas, rice, beans and service at most of the restaurants were also sub par.
We have a tradition of going out to eat on Friday nights mainly at a Mexican restaurant. We tried several based on recommendations and they were just not good. I guess since I have lived my whole life in Texas I am only familiar with beef fajitas that are made from skirt steak which are marinated, grilled, then sliced into strips and rolled up in a yummy homemade flour tortilla. I had no idea that other types of beef may be used and then shredded or maybe chopped up into little pieces and then fried up in a pan with no seasoning. The result is a plate of tiny pieces of rubbery brown "meat" with some onions and peppers. So I decided that the only way we were going to get decent beef fajitas (and salsa and margaritas) was if I made them myself.
After sharing my frustration with our neighbor he recommended a restaurant called Taco Mama.
After sharing my frustration with our neighbor he recommended a restaurant called Taco Mama.
Yep, no bull but there is more than food that matters.
It happens to be near the library so the kids and I went there for lunch after we visited the library. The chips and salsa were good. Then, I looked all over the menu for FAJITAS. Never found them so I asked the waitress and she said they had them but they weren't on the menu. I order "beef fajitas" and her reply is "do you want the beef shredded or ground". Dang! I had such high hopes. I asked if they have skirt steak that is marinated, grilled and sliced. She says yes we have steak. OK then that is what I will have. Then there is the whole french fry ordeal with Nick. He won't eat fresh cut fries. They have to be frozen. So I ask about that. The waitress goes off to check and then comes back and lets me know that they do have frozen fries. Yay! While we are waiting for the food I notice the wine list on the table. Cupcake Wine?! Really? I am guessing they don't sell a lot of wine.
They did have interesting fans.
After we finished our lunch, my conclusion was that they had good food all around but the particular waitress we had was pretty bad. I told JR about how good the food was and a couple weeks later he came with us. The food was still good but the service was even worse. So bad that JR informed me he would not come back. We did go back a month later only because we were at the library and hungry. We got the same waiter and he was still awful. The only good food in town and consistent horrible service! Back to making my own fajitas...if only I could find the skirt steak to make them.
I saw this in the paper so I called to see exactly what cut of meat this was just in case it was skirt steak. The conversation went something like this:
They did have interesting fans.
After we finished our lunch, my conclusion was that they had good food all around but the particular waitress we had was pretty bad. I told JR about how good the food was and a couple weeks later he came with us. The food was still good but the service was even worse. So bad that JR informed me he would not come back. We did go back a month later only because we were at the library and hungry. We got the same waiter and he was still awful. The only good food in town and consistent horrible service! Back to making my own fajitas...if only I could find the skirt steak to make them.
I wonder what happens to the skirt steak part of the cows that go with all the other beef in the grocery stores. It can't be found ANYWHERE! I decide it is time to visit Weldon's Meat Market. It is a wonderful meat market. Well, wonderful other than they don't carry skirt steak. They were able to order it for me and a week later they called and said it was in. Whew. I go to pick it up and for 3 lbs it was $32. Yikes!
Some friends came through town to stop on their way home from Missouri and it just happened to be on the night that we had reservations to do the Purple Martin Tour on Lake Ouachita. There was only a McDonalds and Papa Poblano's (a restaurant we have never tried. It has a drive thru) on the way to the park. They suggested we try it. We pull into the parking lot which is mostly empty. (we didn't know it was the back of the restaurant) Bad sign #1. Then as we walk up to the building a door opens for us (the back door)and we walk in to be seated in the back of the restaurant. I will leave out details and just say WE FOUND IT! Our new favorite Friday night tradition. We have been back a few times since then and we even have a waitress. Mercedes. She is awesome.
Now I am in Texas for a week and plan to stock up and freeze some tenderized skirt steak from HEB. Glad the beef fajita thing is under control now.
Oh I almost forgot one more humorous part of the search for fajita meat.
Oh I almost forgot one more humorous part of the search for fajita meat.
I saw this in the paper so I called to see exactly what cut of meat this was just in case it was skirt steak. The conversation went something like this:
me"Hi, I was calling about the fajita ad in the paper. Can you tell me what kind of meat that is?"
him "It's fajita meat"
me "what cut of beef is it?"
him "ha ha ha, well I am not really sure, there's no telling"
me "ok thanks"
Really?! Sigh.
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