The Man Bird is a jolly lucky chap; not only does he have me as his life-partner (beyond lucky, no?!), he also has work colleagues that are able to give him the skinny on where to dine out in Weston-super-Mare. Thanks to modern tech, finding where to park is a doddle, and we managed to snag a space in a site that was literally a 2-minute walk from the beautiful sea-front.
Over the last couple of years, the dining out scene has (apparently) really improved, and there are plenty of different cuisines on offer to tourists and locals alike. Our original plan had been to go Italian, so to speak, but we changed our minds at the last minute; well, ok, I did, and His Nibs went along with it, bless him.
So, we found ourselves at Loco Mexicano restaurant and, trust me, you couldn’t miss it if you tried! A massive, brightly coloured sombrero announces this restaurant’s presence and, in the evening sunshine, the lively outdoor terrace only added to the allure – after all, no-one wants to go to a church-mouse quiet venue, do they?
Walking inside, we were greeted warmly and shown to a booth table at the side, by the window. In case you were wondering, yes, the interior is every bit as vibrant as the exterior! Terracotta-toned walls certainly catch the evening sun, and they are adorned with murals of Cacti in a contrasting green hue. Sombreros are hung from the walls as well as colourful, fun signage that points the way to cocktail central aka the bar.
The central bar has a simple, cantina-style vibe to it, inviting you to come in and kick back. Actually, Loco Mexicano is pretty much like that, full stop. Having ordered drinks (Malbec for me, lager for The Man), it was time to turn our attention to the menu, which had a whole host of delicious-sounding options. We decided to play nicely and share portions of Cream Cheese Jalapenos (£6.95) and Shredded Beef Quesadilla (£8.45) to start, then I ordered the Chicken and Mixed Seafood Paella (£18.45) to follow, and His Nibs fancied Shredded Beef Enchiladas (£15.95) with a side of Refried Beans (£3.25).
Our server was soon bringing out the platters of Cream Cheese Jalapenos and Quesadilla, along with triangular side plates in bright colours. With no preamble at all, we dived straight in. Both of us loved the super-crunchy, golden crumb outers of the Jalapenos; there was absolutely no trace of oiliness at all, so the clean, bright taste of the Jalapeno and the gentle creaminess of their filling could be fully appreciated. The heat of cooking had rendered the Cream Cheese to a marvellously soft, unctuous texture that coated the tongue and lingered there beautifully. A tangily dressed side salad and piquant Salsa were the sole partners to this morsel. Simple? Yes. Delicious? Definitely, yes.
The best Quesadilla we’ve ever had were made by a chef at Coronado Springs resort in Florida, and they are still the best…but that’s not to say that these weren’t delicious. The large flour Tortilla had been crammed with shreds of impossibly juicy, flavoursome Beef mixed with Cheese and mild Chillies and then slapped on the griddle to cook it. There’s something about melted Cheese and the strings it forms that has a universal appeal and comfort-food factor. Pots of Soured Cream, fresh Pico de Gallo and Guacamole were soon getting dibbed into and used to enhance the Quesadillas’ taste in the mouth. We were both fans of the spice levels; bold enough to be noticed, but not so much as to tingle the lips and tongue. All told, this was a fantastic pair of dishes to kick our meal off with; if you feast with your eyes, you’d be satiated immediately!
With starters polished off, we eagerly awaited our mains though I knew there was going to be a little hiatus due to my Paella being cooked fresh-to-order. Presentation-wise, Chef had done a banging job; crowning the hefty bowl of sunny-hued Rice, Peas and Peppers were a whole (head on, shell-on) King Prawn, an in-shell
Mussel, a wedge of fresh Lemon, and a trio of upright Tortilla Chips that formed a gastro ‘guard of honour’ effect. The vegetables were still nicely crunchy, which enhanced the softness of the rice, and closer inspection revealed a multitude of smaller Mussels, cubes of tender Chicken Breast, Calamari rings, and many more ‘nekkid’ Prawns. I have chowed my way through many huge bowls of food but, despite my best efforts, this one had me beat!
I think a whole cow was being served up to The Man – his Enchiladas were massive! Juicy shreds of richly flavoursome Beef were certainly hitting the mark, judging by the grin on His Nibs’ chops and, when he eventually came up for air, The Man confirmed that they were indeed magnificent. Colourful Mexican Rice was on the side, and a pot of Soured Cream got put to good use as a crown for the melted Cheese that topped the baked Tortilla. Top marks, Chef.
I know I always wang on about ‘comfort food’, but Refried Beans really are the epitome of it. Granted, they look like something your cat or dog chucked up, but they are silky in texture, sweet-yet-earthy, and gently nutty on the palate. Don’t judge this book by its cover, or you’ll miss out on a tasty morsel!
Feeling thoroughly disgusted with ourselves, we had to decline the offer of dessert, though it wasn’t for the lack of love for Churros! Oh well, it’s a good excuse to revisit this brilliantly nuts restaurant, which we’ll certainly do if we come back to Weston-super-Mare. Hot Wings given to Loco Mexicano… arriba, arriba, andale!!
To book a table call 01934 249586, and visit www.locowestonsupermare.co.uk to view menus. Loco Mexicano is open 7-days-a-week from Noon-11pm; obviously, kitchen times will be slightly different, so double-check when you book.
