Andales

Andales ( pronounced ahn-duh-lays) Tex-Mex Grill & Cantina is one of our personal favorites, we eat there two or three times a month. The food is uniformly good, the prices reasonable and the service is prompt and courteous. They have a large menu with all the things you expect plus a few items you might not find other places. They make a big deal out of the fact that they start with fresh ingredients every morning using recipes that have been handed down for more than a hundred years. Does all this make for good eating? Phoebe and I think it does.

On our most recent visit, Phoebe ordered a taco salad while I got an enchilada dinner. The salad was LARGE and filled with lots of grilled chicken (she could have chosen beef) lettuce, cheese and tomatoes spilling out across her plate from a light, crispy shell. Usually it comes with Pico de Gallo, but Phoebe prefers it without. With a salad entrée, the emphasis on FRESH ingredients really stands out.

My enchiladas, came with a choice of four sauces as a topping. I chose yellow queso. It had a great, cheesy taste with a lot of flavor. I could have chosen (and probably will, some time) either sour cream or verde (a spicy green sauce cooked with fresh tomatillos, jalapenos, onions, and cilantro), ranchero (a spicy red sauce) or the traditional chili con carne.

My enchiladas came with rice and beans, of course. I think a lot of Mexican restaurants spend all their attention on their entrees and the rice and beans are just along for the ride. I’m kind of picky about my rice. The rice at Andales reminds me of Goldilocks and the three bears: She tasted the rice at El Chico and it was too boring, she tasted the rice at El Guapo and it was way too spicy, then she tasted the rice at Andales and it was JUST RIGHT! That’s the way I feel about it! It’s got a nice flavor but it’s not overpowering.

Oooops! I almost forgot to tell you about the “ambience.” Well, it’s not your usual Mexican place. It’s tastefully decorated and they don’t play Mexican hillbilly music. They play some great-sounding jazz. Originally, at Andales you placed your order at the counter then sat down and your meal was brought to you. Now, it’s a full-service restaurant and also has a full-service bar.

Phoebe’s meal was $8.99, mine was $7.99. With drinks, tax and a 20% tip, we were out the door for less than 25 bucks. Not a bad deal for a great meal. We managed to resist their wonderful “Bunuela” dessert which I’ll tell you about later. Andales, a locally-owned restaurant, is in the KingsPointe Village Shopping Center at 61st & Yale, across the intersection from Saint Francis Hospital. Ciao!