TexMex finds a new outpost

As the cuisine couture hots up in the city a variety of joints struggle to find a niche The latest entrant in Versova is Amigos mdash a TexMex restaurant that takes on its neighbour WTF with affordable alcohol and more than just fingerfood Food historians tell us TexMex cuisine originated hundreds of years ago when SpanishMexican recipes combined with English fare TexMex as the world knows it today is a twentieth century phenomenon When we entered Amigos it was LOUD There was an outdoor booth and bar section to sit on and an airconditioned interior with booths galore Sadly the volume was much higher inside and the decibels grated on our nerves after awhile Amigos Food average Service can do better Ambience loud The Tortilla Chips had a pronounced corn flavour We were seated next to a shiny blue Neon arrow sign that flickered like it was an original prop left over from Frank Millersrsquo Sin City We tried to get used to it but failed The server suggested that Amigos prides themselves on their Margaritas The bar had a margarita machine that shakes and pours flavoured margaritas into the glasses We ordered the Passion Fruit Margarita Rs 375 The drink arrived quickly It was a simple and effective Margarita with passion fruit flavours thrown in However as we reached the bottom of the glass it got too sweet to handle and we were forced to order a beer to even out the taste Passion Fruit Margarita Rs 375 The Pineapple Fresca Rs 115 was nothing more than fruit blended with sugar water and a squeeze of citrus this refreshing drink is served throughout Mexico at both street carts and restaurants and Amigos does a decent job of it But it could have been smoother sans the flaky pineapple and we missed the traditional mint springs that go with it Also the mocktail was served in a very boring glass mdash a la water glasses Lack of presentation killed the visual appeal and psychosomatically altered the taste too In the appetisers we ordered the Chips Rs 95 The homemade corn tortilla chips with two salsas Mexican and roasted jalapentildeo The chips were definitely worth ordering and had a more pronounced corn flavor than the storebought variations The only grouse here is that the crispness wasnrsquot consistent While chips will continue to crisp as they cool some just stay leathery The Mexican Salsa accompanying it was spicy The roasted jalapeno was passable The Mexican Pizza Rs 195 topped with Lamb Chilli mdash Rs 95 was a crunchy thin crust 10rdquo pizza made with Amigos signature dough and topped with tangy tomato sauce mozzarella and choice of toppings The dough was extraordinary It was crisp without offering a burnt taste and delicious Sadly the toppings came off the pizza too easily The pizza was very unAmerican which was a good thing for a TexMex mdash but keep the toppings on guys Finally the Empanadas Rs 175 arrived These deep fried turnovers were stuffed with refried beans pico de gallo and a filling of your choice It was served with Mexican salsa We opted for the Beef Barbacoa method of preparing meat lsquobarbecuersquo derives its name from it Letrsquos set one thing straight off the bat What Amigos makes here has little to do with traditional Mexican or Caribbean barbacoa a method in which whole sheep are slowcooked in pits covered with maguey leaves But wersquoll excuse that The Empanadas were tasty mdash slowbraised beef flavoured with chilis and cumin it was tender and juicy on the inside but could be better seasoned to counter the bland taste of the meat At Shop No 12 Jewel Mahal Shopping Center Jai Prakash Road Versova Andheri W Call 42669249 Amigos didn39t know we were there The GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals Follow the reviewer tansworld u00a0