On a routine visit to Her In Law last week it was announced that we would attend her own new favourite place to eat in the wee Essex estuary town that is Maldon.
Have to admit, the boy and I have walked past on more than one occasion and ignored a repeat Groupon offer for this little Mexican joint on the High Street. I expected something like a Wetherspoons dinner with extra lime and chilli powder.
Well, wasn’t I wrong.*
El Guaca was something of a revelation. A comfy, bright restaurant serving fresh and beautifully presented food that made a naughty week night dinner out rather more memorable than my grumpy expectations deserved. I look forward to returning and possibly going for a more traditional menu sample as soon as I can get over the guilt of eating a deep fried banana-in-a-pancake. With ice cream.
You can anticipate the usual suspects at El Guaca- burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chilli con carne, nachos and tacos as well as some great looking grills, hearty salads for the health conscious, a fish option and plenty for the veggies and even those who don’t walk on the wild side when it comes to spicy stuff. Plus lunch deals, kids deals, taste card deals and some specialist tequila if that’s your cup of, er, tequila. I thoroughly recommend the Poblano Chicken- a butterflied breast of chicken covered with poblano peppers and plenty of monteray jack cheese with some highly acceptable spicy house fries. It was a real treat, and a bit less stodgy for those who don’t really like the idea of putting rice on top of tortillas and nachos (and hence save room for the deep fried banana-in-a-pancake). The guacamole is excellent and the female in law thinks you should have the pork burrito.
If you’re driving expect to spend up to £25 a head for three courses (or two and some sides), chuck on another fiver per glass of house plonk or standard restaurant beer costs, as with most of Maldon you need to park a few minutes away but most of it is free after 6pm.
So check it out if you’re in the area, if my thumbs up isn’t enough to convince you, you might ask the opinon of one of the thirty odd punters still in there at gone nine on a Wednesday night as we were leaving. Except that couple who were working through the tequila menu, I’m not sure you want to go bothering them……….
*reader should note that I am, in actuality, never wrong.
Food. Boom. 