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Like every people that
have immigrated to this country, Mexican immigrants brought an
important piece of their culture by way of their food. Mexican
influence in our country has become so popular, that it has
been reported that Salsa has topped Ketchup as the number one
condiment in America. Even with such popularity, fueled by
mass marketing and a fast food giant, Mexican food has fallen
victim to “Americanization.” It is a sad truth that a great
number of Americans are limited to eating bland versions
Mexican food from generic restaurant menus. Luckily, every now
and again, you will find an establishment that is committed to
the tradition and integrity of their culture’s cuisine. That
is what Rogelio Bravo and his three partners had in mind when
they opened La Fiesta in early September. “We wanted to bring
good food to Greenville” Bravo said, “Our food is an extension
of our heritage and we want to share that with our customers.”
Located directly across from the Campus Store on east 10th
street, the restaurant itself was decorated in a very generic
and a bit boring Mexican style. Bright and festive colors,
easily recognizable Mexican décor, and traditional Mexican
music playing in the background gave me the feeling that I was
in for yet another mediocre experience. Like most sit down
Mexican themed restaurants, La Fiesta offers complimentary
chips and salsa; however they also provide a fresh Pico de
Gallo for those who don’t necessarily want spicy food. The
salsa is fair, but is obviously made with canned tomatoes and
also contains a bit of cumin, a spice that I am not really
partial to. The Pico de Gallo is extremely fresh and is made
with fresh tomato, cilantro, onion, garlic, and a bit of
cabbage. This alone, I would sit for hours eating on whatever
I could put it on. The menu is quite large and at times a bit
confusion. Featuring over 100 menu choices provided me with a
bit of difficulty of knowing what to order. After asking my
waiter what he prefers, I ordered the Parrillada La Fiesta
with grilled jalapenos. After about ten minutes, and two more
bowls of Pico de Gallo mixed with my salsa, my meal arrived
hot and sizzling. The dish featured grilled chicken, beef,
pork, shrimp, chorizo (Mexican spiced sausage), tomatoes, bell
peppers, and onions and is served like fajitas. In addition to
the dish I am given a second plate loaded with refried beans,
rice, guacamole salad, and fresh corn tortillas. Every bit of
the dish was very fresh, and I had a feeling like I was being
served at the dinner table of a Mexican family. The meat was
perfectly seasoned, cooked, tender, and delicious. The chorizo
was the standout ingredient in the dish. Typically I find that
chorizo has a very potent and overwhelming flavor. This
chorizo was bursting with flavor but was mild enough in spices
that I could enjoy the flavor. Though, being a good meal
overall, the refried beans didn’t taste fresh and the amount
of food served would make it a daunting task to finish the
meal.
Despite some of its drawbacks, La Fiesta won me over in a big
way. If they scale back their menu a bit and focus on making
high quality dishes, cut some of the portion sizes, and maybe
make some décor changes, La Fiesta could be a truly great
restaurant and authentic ambassadors of traditional Mexican
fare. La Fiesta is located at 315 E 10th Street and is open
Sunday – Thursday 11am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-10:30pm.
Location: B | Atmosphere: C | Service: A+ | Food
Quality: B+
Price Range: Lunch: $5 - $8 per meal / Dinner: $6 - $13.25 per meal
Overall Grade: B
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