An Indian from Chicago has attempted to give the city its first standalone Mexican restaurant. The Guide dined al fresco at Taco Fresco

Happily rosy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, fresh and healthy ingredients, with quick carry-out and dine-in service, is what the Taco Fresco chain of Mexican restaurants is famous for.

Colourful decor and a cheery ambience make the outlets, mostly in the US, a good place to drop by for a quick lunch.

It's first outlet in Mumbai, though, fails on most counts, except the vivid pop art collages, giant posters and kidney bean-coloured walls that are like salsa for the eyes.



Good avocados are difficult to source in Mumbai, one of the proprietors had said in previous press reports. Not surprising then, that the avocado dip that comes with almost every dish, is bland and characterless.
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In the desire to serve authentic Mexican, the menu offers dishes for which the right ingredients may not be freshly available.
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So, we chomped on complimentary burnt and stale nachos with salsa sauce and a watery jalapeno dip.

The refried beans that came with Grilled Veggie Taco (two tacos served with a side of refried beans, Mexican rice and guacamole, Rs 279) were similarly plain.

The few veggies hiding under the lettuce on the tacos, looked more cooked and seasoned than grilled. What worked was the spicy Mexican rice.
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With Iced Tea and other cool beverages unavailable, we pushed the tacos and underwhelming Mini Cheese Chimichangas (Rs 139) down our throats hoping for memorable mains.

Don't judge a dish by its first appearance. We learnt our lesson with the photogenic Pollo Asado (Rs 399) that had us salivating when it arrived at the table.

One bite of the fiery red grilled chicken pieces revealed that they wereu00a0 rubbery, leaving us nibbling on the more edible Mexican rice in the al fresco area.
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Tex-Mex is perhaps a more apt description of the cuisine than authentic Mexican, considering American-Texas hybrids like mini chimichangas.
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Just when we were about to give up hope, Four Cheese Quesadilla (soft large tortilla stuffed with four cheeses and served with sides, Rs 259) saved the day. A blend of four cheeses oozed out of the sides of the tortilla.
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On the dessert tray that a confused but courteous waiter flaunted, the Mango Dessert looked the winner but turned out tough to chew.
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The innocuous Caramel Custard (Rs 99), which has Peruvian origins, was the star perfectly cast, melt-in-the-mouth and fast-disappearing.

At 8-9, Mangal Bhavan, junction of 14th and Khar Pali Road, next to Cafe Mangii, Khar (W), call 26484498
Taco Fresco didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals