It’s one of Benton Harbor’s best kept secrets; judging from its storefront appearance, maybe the owners want to keep it that way. But this weekend, El Rodeo took the gold medal for dining at a Mexican restaurant.
Earl usually doesn’t like Mexican food; he claims that no matter what you order it all tastes the same. Why he suggested we go there for dinner still remains a mystery. Nevertheless, we found ourselves ordering Margaritas at El Rodeo a couple nights ago.
Our waiter’s command of the English language was limited, so we didn’t get the type of Margarita we thought we’d ordered. But that was a good thing, as the ones we were served were absolutely delicious. We had the 12-ounce size, but El Rodeo also offers a 24-ounce and a bathtub 46-ounce. How you get into your car and drive after this last one is probably a strong argument for the designated driver.
Anyway, we drank our Margs and ordered our food and waited until it appeared on plates so hot we couldn’t touch them. I stared at my tacos while Earl prodded his chimichangas with a fork. When their heat subsided, we dug in; and I must say the food was excellent. The rice was fresh; the refried beans had no canned taste; the meat was juicy.
Maybe you like your Mexican food hot, as in spicy. I think the only way you’d like it at El Rodeo is to slather your entrйe with the hot sauces on the table. But that is a viable option. At least underneath you have basic good food. I don’t bill myself as a restaurant critic, but the next time Earl gets a hunger for Mexican food, I know where to go.
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