Okay, I know that all my previous reviews have been for hot dog joints and ice cream parlors, but that doesn't mean that's the ONLY places I eat. I have been known to frequent some real RESTAURANTS from time to time. As a matter of fact, Teresa and I used to eat out quite a bit before we got married, and even after that. We used to cruise around on Saturday or Sunday afternoon looking for a new place to try. One place in particular stuck in my mind, mostly because we NEVER ate there. The name of the place is Su Casa on Route 1 in Branford. We always seemed to be in that area right around lunch, but it wasn't open until 4:00. So we would just drive off to another place and promise we'll go there NEXT time...
Well next time never came, and then we became parents and it wasn't so easy to take off for a leisurely drive anymore. But early last week, Teresa's brother called and asked if we wanted to go out. Where? You guessed it... Su Casa! We immediately agreed and made plans for the following Saturday. We met Paul (my brother-in-law) and his wife Ann at their house, checked out all the recent home improvements, and set off for dinner in separate cars (The child seat takes up too much room to fit everyone in one).
Now I've read enough of, "The Hostile Gourmet" so I'm going to try and write a REAL review for once. But if I miss a few points... what did you expect? I write about HOT DOGS!!! Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
The restaurant itself seemed a bit cramped, as was the parking lot outside (they seem to have a MAJOR problem there) but the air inside smelled delicious. Our hostess seated us at a round, corner table and got a high chair for Jeff. Then the waitress appeared to get our drink orders. The rest of my party got Coke, but I was determined to do the WHOLE "Mexican" experience. So I ordered a Key Largo Margarita, which the menu said was a standard Margarita made with tropical fruit and served frozen. She thanked us and said she'd be right back to take our order. I used the time to peruse the menu. Mostly standard Mexican fare, but as long as it was good, WHO CARES! The drinks arrived, and my in-laws ordered an appetizer platter for starters. Again our server thanked us and said she'd put in that order to give us a little more time to look at the menu.
I took a sip of my Margarita, and it was good. Certainly not the BEST I'd ever had (that being at the Tex-Mex Cantina in Tampa) but it was better than average. I reached for a few of the nachos that had also been brought out and was un-impressed. It was a visually pleasing assortment of White, Red and Blue Corn tortillas but they weren't warm and the salsa was far too mild and watery. So it was back to the menu, and it was then that I saw it. Chicken Mole! I had always wanted to try Mole sauce (a combination of several peppers blended with chocolate) but never had the opportunity to do so. Okay, now I was set.
Unfortunately, it seemed our waitress was not. We didn't see her again until our appetizers arrived, which was a good five to ten minutes longer than I think it should have taken. Paul even commented that the service was usually much better. But the platter finally arrived and we put in our orders for dinner: My Mole, a Taco and Enchilada combo for Teresa, a Seafood Quesadilla for Paul, and a Chicken Chimichanga for Ann. The server spirited away our menus and we dug into the snacks she had left.
These were MUCH better than the salsa that we previously had nibbled upon, but then again, ANYTHING would be better. The mini tacos were tasty and just spicy enough for most folks. The Quesadillas were okay, and the Mexi-skins (Mexican style potato skins) were satisfying. The platter also came with loaded nachos and this was the nicest surprise. The nachos themselves were better than most I've had, and the Guacamole was easily the best I have EVER had! I was starting to really get excited about my meal now.
Once again the dinner seemed to take longer than one would expect, and the empty plates from the appetizers were but a distant memory by the time it had arrived. Now I cannot speak for the rest of my dinner companions, but in my case it was worth the wait. The Chicken Mole was OUTSTANDING! The mixture of peppery heat, and the bittersweet chocolate was a perfect compliment to the juicy chicken breast. I barely had time to remark on how good it was, because I was so intent on devouring it. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well, not that I really noticed at this point.
Afterwards we once again had to wait for the plates to be cleared, leftovers to be wrapped, and change to be brought back. The bill seemed pretty fair, but the tip was lacking in response to the lack of attentive service. We thanked our hosts (Paul and Ann, NOT the wait staff) for a lovely time, I dropped off my wife and son, and headed off for a rousing night of games with my old College Buddies.
In case you're interested, my college buddies and I played three games of "Union Pacific" with me finishing at or near the bottom every time. Then I endured persecutions galore throughout a spirited game of "Monsters Ravage America." But in the end it was MY Dreaded Swamp Lasher that stood tall above the barren waste that was once this great country of ours! Let this be a warning to anyone that would consider casting dispersions onto that gelatinous, she-beast ... Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned!!! The drive home seemed a little shorter as I cruised along in the early morning hours of "All Hallows Eve" with Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades" blaring out of my car stereo. A perfect end to a pleasant day.