Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
Sometimes, it’s fun to eat at a place you’ve never been.
The atmosphere and food are new, at least to you. What are the restaurants’ choices? What will you get?
But sometimes, you don’t feel like taking a chance. It’s nice to dine at a place you’ve been several times, and know what to expect when it comes to food and service.
On a recent Saturday, I went to a basketball game featuring eight-to-10-year-old boys, as one of my young buddies was playing. His team won, and afterwards, I was hungry. But instead of rolling the dice on a place with which I wasn’t familiar, I wanted to play it safe. So, I invited a friend to join me at a restaurant we knew well, Taqueria San Miguel (5000 Benton Road, Bossier City).
If you’re looking for a subtle, dimly lit place to eat, San Miguel’s isn’t it. We arrived at 12:40, and when walking in, the first thing I noticed were the colors. Lots of colors, helping make for a festive feel. Each tabletop in the main dining room (there are also side rooms) had a painting of flowers, as did the seat backs. There were pink, green, purple, and yellow streamers hanging from the ceiling. Over some of the booths, there were sombreros. Plus, music was playing – the kind of music I would expect while in a Mexican food restaurant.
Here’s something else I noticed. Tables which were not occupied had empty salsa cups, with silverware rolled in napkins on top. So, when you sit down, you don’t have to wait for a server to bring you those things. And when the server does bring your salsa, you can pour immediately and start enjoying it with chips.
Speaking of chips . . . . My friend and I had our basket within a couple of minutes of sitting down. After eating just a few chips, we both agreed that San Miguel’s chips are the best in town. They were warm (How many restaurant’s chips are warm?), crunchy, and without a speck of grease.
If you like Mexican food and can’t find something to order on San Miguel’s menu, you might be too finicky an eater. The restaurant has appetizers, salads, tacos, dinners, seafood with a Mexican flair, fajitas, burritos, and the list goes on and on. Also, if you happen to be with someone who isn’t in the taste for Mexican food, San Miguel’s offers four “American” choices.
If the main menu did have enough selections, there was a second menu on our table. One of the items caught my eye – Shrimp Poppers ($11.99). Usually, when eating at a Mexican restaurant, I don’t get an appetizer. Isn’t that what the chips and salsa are for? But the Shrimp Poppers’ description was too tantalizing to pass up. Seven shrimp stuffed with cheese, and garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and queso. (The accompanying picture also helped sell the product).
Before long, our server, Michael, brought out a plate with not seven, but eight shrimp. (That feeling you get when you think you’ve eaten all the French fries, and you reach down to the bottom of the bag and find a few more.) The presentation looked just like – if not better than – the menu picture. Each shrimp was, as promised, stuffed with cheese. However, there wasn’t too much cheese inside. You could still taste the shrimp. And each shrimp was hot. Not with spices, but with warmth. While my friend also loved the poppers, she really loved the queso, which made for a great dipping sauce.
Frankly, in all the times I’ve been to San Miguel, I think I’ve had the same thing for my meal each time. I like salads, and it’s hard to eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant. I know I’m going to indulge in chips and salsa, so I try not to pile on with something which may be too heavy. So, I kept my streak alive and ordered the Ensalada San Miguel ($11.99). It came with my choice of beef, grilled chicken, or shrimp (I chose chicken). I also had a choice of house, or lime vinaigrette dressing. (I usually have the vinaigrette, but I forgot to make a selection, and Michael brought the house dressing, which was fine.)
The salad had everything you would expect – shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese. But here’s the deal. San Miguel separates the ingredients into sections on your plate. So, you have a bed of lettuce, and on top, you have your chicken (or whatever you chose) in one place, your tomatoes in one place, and so-on for your guacamole, cheese, and sour cream.
That way, you can take a bite of just what you want, and mix things together in the way you want.
As in times past, the Ensalada San Miguel was very good. It was the perfect accompaniment to the chips, salsa, and shrimp poppers.
My friend wanted to warm up on this cold day, so she went with something hot. My friend ordered Enchiladas San Miguel ($13.99). That meant two enchiladas filled with her choice of fajita beef, fajita chicken, shrimp, crawfish, or spinach, and topped with onions and peppers. Even though it wasn’t indicated on the menu, m friend’s entrée came with rice and beans.
When served, her enchiladas were sizeable, and completely filled with the fajita beef she chose. There wasn’t much cheese sauce on top. Instead, her plate was an ocean of cheese sauce. That way, she could dip her enchilada bites into as much, or as little, sauce as she wanted. The portions of rice and beans were also generous.
When my friend cut into her enchiladas, I could see smoke rising. Indeed, she said they were served hot. My friend liked the taste of everything, but thought the enchiladas were a little too salty.
We did not have room for dessert, however, if you do, San Miguel offers Sopapillas, Cheesecake, and Fried Ice Cream.
The cost of our meal before taxes and tip was $41.94. That price included a 3% surcharge, which applies if you pay with a credit or debit card, as I did. While studying the menu, my friend pointed out more than once that she thought San Miguel’s prices were very reasonable, and I agree. At several Mexican restaurants, you can get more expensive food which isn’t nearly as good as San Miguel’s food.
I am happy to say I was not surprised with my experience at Taqueria San Miguel. I wanted the same food, service, and atmosphere I have always enjoyed, and that’s what I got. Therefore, Taqueria San Miguel gets Three Forks. It’s not “I’m going to drive miles out of my way” good, but if I’m in the area, and have a taste for Mexican food, San Miguel’s is where I’m headed.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?
Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.
