Sergio's

The place:
Sergio's (website)

What we hoped for:
Another authentic Rose Park area Mexican restaurant.  With it being right next to Red Iguana and Chunga's, we expected something good.

What we had:
Huarache al Pastor - a fried masa base with a green sauce, meat, onions, and cheese and white sauce on top.  Here's the wiki.  It was like an empty pupusa on bottom with good ole classic Mexican goodness on top.  This was certainly the star of the show, and the reason we'll go back.  Apparently, these are big in Mexico City.

Chile Relleno - pretty traditional Chile Relleno, but it wasn't overcooked as they often are, so the chile still had a crunch to it.  It had enough spice to give it a little bite, which is appreciated.  The beans, rice, and tortillas were pretty standard, but good.

The pros:
The huarache.  Absolutely the huarache.  We've heard good things about the sopas and tamales as well, which we'll try next time.  But if you're only going to get one thing there, we recommend the huaraches.

The cons:
It's a little tricky to find, so make sure your directions are good.  The building itself had a pretty bland fast-food style interior that was a little run down, but we weren't there for the atmosphere, so no big complaints here.

What to get:
It feels like we already did this one.

Urban Spoon users:
Don't know much about it.

Rating (1-5 mo-mos, 5 being the best):
Price: 5 mo-mos.  This is legitimately a good deal.  Price to value scale is way up here.  Two meals and two beverages for $15.

Atmosphere: 2 mo-mos.  Not the most fun place to eat.  You're there for the food, not the atmosphere.  That being said, the service was very friendly.
Food: 3.5 mo-mos.  The huarache was a 4 or so, but overall it was good not great.

Will we be back:
Yep.  Probably not right away, but we want to try some of the other dishes.  And even if we don't make it back here right away, there are about 5 other Mexican restaurants within a block that we want to try, so we'll wave soon.

adobos caribbean grill

The place:
Adobos Caribbean Grill (website)

What we hoped for:
A new go-to restaurant in Sandy

What we had:
A Cuban sandwich and carne frita mofongo.  We've  also had the pan con ajo, the yuca alcapurrias, the ropa vieja mofongo, and the grilled jerk chicken sandwich.

The pros:
All of the mofongos we've tried have been excellent, but we especially loved the carne frita.  It's a delicious mix of smashed plantains and garlic formed into a bowl filled with tasty meat, grilled veggies, and sauce.  The Cuban sandwich is a true, classic Cuban, which is hard to come by.

The cons:
We keep hearing great things about their dessert, especially the guavabestia, but by the time dessert rolls around we are too stuffed to try it.  The atmosphere is only okay and the price is a little more than we typically spend.

What to get:
The mofongos are a must.  There are other great things on the menu, but that is one you don't want to miss.

Urban Spoon users: are right.  It's an authentic treat.

Rating (1-5 mo mos, 1 being the worst, 5 being the best)
Price: 2 mo mos.  It's still a good deal, but you're pushing $10 per person.
Atmosphere: 2.5 mo mos: While we have enjoyed watching the Marc Anthony and JLo concert on TV during both visits, it's nothing to write home about.  Clean and friendly, but not overwhelming.
Food: 4 mo mos: Coming from a type of food we don't eat often, it is a nice change of pace.  You will definitely leave full and happy.

Will we go back?
Absolutely.  We already have.  This is one of the better spots in Sandy.

se rancho markets (tabasco's)

The place:

Tabasco's (website)

What we hoped for:

A unique experience

What we had:

Molcajete.  What's molcajete?  It's gooey happiness.  Steak, chicken, shrimp, cactus, leeks, queso fresca, and some cheese and tomatillo salsa melted together, served in a molcajete pot (hence the name), that is shaped like a pig if you're lucky. Served with rice, beans, and homemade corn or flour tortillas.

The pros:

It's awesome.  And gooey.  And it's an experience.  If you're like us, the Latino Mall was a new experience, but between the molcajete, the friendly folks, the fresh juice and ice cream and neighboring places, it's really a good time.

The cons:

They're closed on memorial day apparently.  That cut deep.

What to get:

Molcajete.  Don't mess around with anything else.  We've had other stuff there and it's good, but much like MC Hammer's number one hit, it can't touch this. This is what you want.  When they bring you a menu, throw it in their face and say "I don't need this!"  Also, the ice cream store next door has great pistachio, lime, and strawberry cream ice cream.

Rating (1-5 mo mos, 1 being the worst, 5 being the best)

Price: 5 mo mos.  $20 bucks will feed 4 people!  Easily!  This is hands down the best price/value food combination out.

Atmosphere: 3.5 mo mos when you eat at the market part of it. 4 mo mos now that it's moved into Tabasco's restaurant inside the mall.  The mall is really fun, but the restaurants themselves are pretty normal places.

Food: 4.5 mo mos.  Like Lone Star Taqueria, this is in the exclusive "slc shawsome spots" club.

Will we go back?

Yes.  Often.  Even though we haven't learned Spanish yet, we can still say "uno Molcajete por favor," and they can laugh at us and bring food.  It's a nice arrangement.

lone star taqueria

The place:

Lone Star Taqueria (website)

What we hoped for:

Something half as good as the hype we'd heard

What we had:

Well, we've had everything. But on this trip we had 2 shrimp burritos, 1/2 shrimp burrito, and a carne adovada burrito.  And 4 Jarritos sodas.

The pros:

Seriously, everything.  This place is truly amazing.  The fish burritos and tacos are already famous, and for a good reason.  The green sauce that comes with the fish and shrimp is a little creamy bit of heaven.  

The cons:

-Everyone hypes the tacos, but the burritos are better.

-Sometimes the fish of the day is cod.  Cod?  Seriously?

-At peak times, it's packed.

-The parking situation is poor.

What to order:

The fish, shrimp, and carne adovada burritos are outstanding.  Maria's plato, the nachos, and the chips and guac are also amazing.  The tacos and tamales are fine, but overhyped.

Urban Spoon users: 

Are basically right. Except they keep talking about tacos when they should be talking about burritos.

Rating (1-5 mo mos, 1 being the worst, 5 being the best):

Price: 4 mo mos.  It's not the cheapest place we eat, but the price to value is seriously unreal.  We ate for 4, with sodas, for $37.  If you skip the drinks, it would have been more like $29 for 4.

Atmosphere: 5 mo mos.  It has the crazy car outside, the neon skulls, the godzilla tip taker (you'll see what we mean), and truly friendly service.  Indoor/outdoor seating is a plus.  If you go at busy times, it's a mess.  But it's worth it.  Park across the street if it's too busy.

Food: 5 mo mos.  This is in the exclusive "slc shawsome spots" club.  If you're wondering, sharks + awesome = shawsome.  This is as good as it gets.

Will we go back?

Yes. Repeatedly. Often. When you go there, based on this review, you'll probably see us there.

downtown philly

The place:

Downtown Philly Cheesesteaks (website)

What we hoped for:

A tasty, "authentic" Philly cheesesteak

What we had:

Two classic Phillies "Wit Wiz" (with Cheese Wiz)

The pros: 

They had cheesewiz, plenty of sauce, and the prices were reasonable

The cons: 

Well, most everything else.  The meat was overcooked, the bun didn't really hold up, and the wiz wasn't properly applied.  Not the worst food we've had, but there are better steaks out there (Vito's, Moochies, etc.  Look for posts to come on those)

Urban Spoon users: Are wrong.

Rating (1-5 mo mos, 1 being the worst, 5 being the best)

Price: 3 mo mos.  I forgot to write down the price, but it wasn't bad at all.

Atmosphere: 2 mo mos.  It was clean, but boring.

Food: 2 mo mos.  We'd really hoped for more.

Will we go back?

Probably not. If we were really hungry and the car was broken down in front of it, we'd be happy to.