Best Mexican Restaurant in the area?

I put Rosie's on top for originality.
Casa Mexicana next. I like their salsa Verde the best.
La Hacienda third overall.
Fiesta Mexicana last with everything else somewhere between.

I would vote for Rosie's. Love it and eat there often.

Have you noticed how many Mexican restaurants have just about the same menu?  Have you seen delivery trucks from commissaries delivering produce and food to Mexican restaurants during the day?

 

Mexican restaurants very often don't cook anything.  They just buy salsa, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, refried beans, shredded chicken, cooked taco meat, etc. from a restaurant supply in Atlanta (or other big city).  Local restaurants will assemble the food and throw it into a 450 degree oven to warm it up. 

 

Atlanta has a couple of Mexican restaurant "godfathers" that design and print the menus and supply Mexican food supplies to restaurants as far as Nashville.  They're very large businesses and give the industry complete consistency.  It's very seldom that you find a restaurant that even makes their own salsa--much less any other food items.

 

And that's why Mexican food is so generic.  The ones that are more popular than others are because they built a business based on superior service.  Their waiters work very, very hard and they do a good job of earning their tips. 

 

Rosie's is the only local restaurant to serve their own food, but it's twice as expensive as the others.  And Rosie's owners are not even Mexican.  Their prices limit me to eating their chicken tortilla soup, and bypassing other expensive menu items.

I have yet to find a Mexican rest. in the Shoals that serves authentic mexican food. All of it has been adjusted to cater to local tastes. Most of the one's mentioned are passable but that is about all. Although Rosie's does offer some dishes with real shredded beef instead of ground meat. For authentic you have to go to some of the little stands you see around, there are a couple in Russellville that are quite good with great carne asada tacos.

el toro was the best this area has ever seen. with what we have now, rosie's hands down.

 

i like some things at casa, but usually if i don't do rosie's, i cook my own.

Fiesta, it is only one block from me and the chips and dip are to die for!!!

i used to work with a doctor from south Texas. he said Rosie's was actually 'tex-mex'. Mexican food is my fave. i've eaten at most of the local ones, and always end up back at Fiesta, great prices and plenty of food. the service is good, and the staff is friendly. i ate with a large group at Casa today. my total (including gratuity they added) was under $6, and took home a leftover box. can't beat that

Rosies is tex-mex. To my knowledge there isn't an authentic mexican place in florence. Most of them are bland and tailored to fit the tastes of the area. LaHacienda has the best margaritas.

My favorite is Los Primos. It is about a block south of the Todd Center and is only open Thurs-Sun.

True that most of the local joints have the same menu but La Hacienda's food is just a little better than the others and the service there is unmatched.

I would say Rancho Viejo is the best around, alot of their items you can order a half order which is the same as a regular order anywhere else and at a lesser price. The food is good, i use to like Casa in Florence but now make the drive to Muscle Shoals to eat at Rancho,

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Given your inexplicable preference for the mediocre-at-best food at El Toro, I have made a note never to rely on any advice from you on where to find good food in the Shoals.

 

If they were so good, why did they fold?

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God, you're an ass***e

I like Rosies a lot.  It is, as pointed out, a big different than the other establishments in the area.    I would say for me it is either Rosies or La Hacienda.  They are neck and neck IMO.  Rosie's Fish Tacos and LaHa's arroz con pollo are both so dang good.  

 

I do like El Charrito a lot.  I am saddened that they moved out of the county.   They gave us a different option out here.   They have my favorite chimichangas in the area.  Not really big on Fiesta but it is passable at times.   I don't care if I ever step foot in Casa again.   I have been three times and only once has the food been marginally edible.   Seems to be a very popular place though.

I grew up in Texas - and Rosie's is NOT Tex-Mex!  The closes to T-M flavor you will get is Old El Paso at home!

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Now I know why they folded.  There were only a handful of diners like you who preferred their food to have at least 50% GREASE!

I noticed access to Fiesta Mexicana on Flo Blvd. has been cut off by construction.. I kinda liked that place, now I can't get to it.

you are right. maybe we can call rosies a b@stardized north al version of tex-mex. lol

You can still access the Fiesta on Florence Blvd from both the Patton St and State St entrances

La Hacienda is my favorite. You owe it to yourself to order the Benji. It's not on the menu, but it is one of the better dishes there.

What is the Bengi? 

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I'm guessing it is like the Lassie, but maybe a bit more tender.

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No. Actually I have both French and German ancestry and a bit of Scotch-Irish.

Well played Sir! 

El Patron next to Russellville Wal-Mart is super clean and super tasty. Their chorizo bean dip is awesome.

Hard to describe. Plus I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. If you like your food spicy, and are a fan of the chimichanga, you owe it to yourself to get it.

For shame, For shame "Wright" you have let the secret out.......

 

Next time you eat out at a Mexican restaurant try this. Mention to your server that you don't see anything on the menu that interests you and ask if they have anything "special/different" they can prepare. You may be surprised.

 

I will say this. Fiesta at 7-Points really seems to get excited over such a request.

LaHa is my favorite, but Wright you got me worried about this Benji.  I just can't fly into it blind.  Give us some hint of what it is.    My dish of choice is generally the arroz con pollo.   But I have never had anything bad there.   Of course, two of three negra modelos make everything taste better

LaHa has several variations on the Benji. They will ask you how you want it.

 

Give it a go. Just one word of advice. Do not order the large unless you are reaaaaaaaaaaally hungry!

Ubu. I once told a girl that l didn't see what I want on the menu.

All puns aside about not finding what you would like on the menu, for any person in the food service to call any dish "Benji" would not be the best of judgment and the utmost of insanity if it was an oriental restaurant.

Gbrk: Not so fast! This thread peaked my interest and when I was in Florence recently I had the infamous Benji and it more than lived up its reputation!! Definitely plan on getting it again soon!

I am not sure if I like where this topic is going?

Originally Posted by unclegus:

Ubu. I once told a girl that l didn't see what I want on the menu.

Bahahahahahaha, and how did that work out for you? 

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She put the menu in the stool next to me, sat on it and asked me if I saw anything I wanted now!