The Contraband

Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: Entertainment

El Tapatio is located at 2624 Gerstner Memorial Drive

Lake Charles is not exactly known for its lack of restaurants. Still, friends never seem to agree on where to go when supper time rolls around. There's a reason behind this. It turns out that it's difficult to choose between one mediocre steakhouse and another.

It usually comes down to the decision of picking a restaurant based what region the food is from: Italian, Japanese, Greek, and so on. After that, it's only a matter of time until it reaches "Mexican food." It's an inevitability, and one that should be embraced.

Though there are a few more popular, older Mexican restaurants native to Lake Charles, such as Casa Mañana (which is really more Tex-Mex) and Cancun, none seem to match the authenticity of the food and atmosphere at El Tapatío. That is with an "o" at the end, by the way.

Tucked away on Gertsner Memorial Drive, past all the shopping centers, and right next to a railroad crossing is the quaint, little restaurant called El Tapatío. Some people still haven't heard of it, and yet others can't stop talking about it.

El Tapatío-the name used to refer to the people of Guadalajara-is as authentic as authentic can get. The staff, who appear to be entirely made up of family members, greet each customer with a smile and a warm "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?"

The service is as good as one would expect from any restaurant. They are quick to take your order, bring the food out as soon as it's off the grill, refill your drink promptly, and leave you alone to enjoy your meal.

The service, however notable, takes a backseat to the atmosphere and the food. Some people may find their ever-present casualness to be unprofessional, but it lends to the homey feeling one gets when eating there.

The TV playing sports in the background, the cooks joking around in the kitchen, both in Spanish, and the informal nature of the staff make it seem less like one is a customer at a restaurant and more like a guest in a home; a home that happens to make delicious food.

Their menu has most of the same foods that one would expect a Mexican restaurant: enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, Spanish rice, beans, among other dishes. However, the taste of the food is different from any other Mexican dishes found in most similar restaurants. This is because El Tapatío is Mexican home-cooking.

As many people around here will say, there is a noticeable difference between restaurant food and a good home-cooked meal, and this difference becomes obvious after the first bite. This is as close to genuine, home-cooked Mexican food as some people are going to get.

Each dish is cooked to order, made with fresh ingredients, and generously portioned considering the price.

For those who are either health-conscious, lactose-intolerant, or both, El Tapatío serves goat cheese with their dishes which is not only healthier, but, in the opinion of this author, much tastier. Goat cheese is sweeter and creamier, lower in calories and fat content, and easier to digest than cow's cheese.

El Tapatío has everything going for it. The service is good, the environment is comfortable, the food is delicious and filling, and the prices are fair. Anyone who has yet to eat there is missing out.

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