This one's easy... Arranda's and Curra's Grill. WER

Location?

The Arranda's I go to is #3 over here on Burnet across from Academy. Curra's is on Oltorf(sp?) but I don't remember the address off hand. WER

Never even heard of them--after my time, obviously. Will give them a try. Seis salsas chicken mole, may I reiterate, es muy fabu. I think my choices may be a bit more low-brow since I'm poor? Anyway, in Dallas, Avila's chicken mole rules. can you tell chicken mole is all I eat at mex rest?

Never even heard of them--after my time, obviously. Will give them a try. Seis salsas chicken mole, may I reiterate, es muy fabu. I think my choices may be a bit more low-brow since I'm poor? Anyway, in Dallas, Avila's chicken mole rules. can you tell chicken mole is all I eat at mex rest?

El Azteca is before, during and (probably) after your time. Great place. Why can they ever get it at the Mexican drive up that I got to that I really don't want the Super Tex with meat, I want it without meat. I drove up today and said, numerous times, *no meat* *no meat* as in *N*O**M*E*A*T* and when I got to the window they had two orders with meat. This happens every time I go to Taco Cabana, not matter which one I go to. But they finally end up getting it right and it's a but above Taco Bell for drive through fare. Ooops, I'm drifting to fast food, I'll carry on in the fast food topic in the future.

Possible es necessario para usted decir "Sin Carne, Por Favor" cuando usted quiera comida para llevar. Man, I hope I said all that close to correctly, WER

I meant "cut above" not but above.

Sorry WER... no carne for me either. Mexican food in Denver has not impressed me. ... Taco Bell notwithstanding!

I know, wrong topic, wrong conference, but that's what I ate today, Taco Bell. WER

I like their 7 layer and their veggie wrap, but it's been a while. I just haven't been able to work up a taco bell moment lately.

I had a seven layer on Saturday before the ride! Instant and long lasting energy.

Wow, a taco bell moment!

Had another one yesterday before my ride too!

interior Mexican readers poll winner is: Fonda San Miguel

I'll have to try it, has anyone here ever tried it?

I've been to Fonda San Miguel a couple of times. It was real good, I thought. Not cheap. The food is definitely interior. Haven't had anything like it around here. You really need to try it at least once. Good for special occasions. Drop in a Quarter, first time caller, finally posted!

And we appreciate your input, keep the quarter though.

Great Mexican place here in Denver (but don't go for the food!) is Casa Bonita. Cliff Divers, liters of beverages, puppet shows, magicans and all u can eat sopapillas!

Jon! Welcome first time caller. I'll fill you in on Jon. He's a big time surfer, ham radio operator and knows something about UNIX (a big plus in my book). He's got this cool website at http://access.spring.com/~awc

Thanks for the plug. Actually it's _wind_surfing. I wish I was good at surfing too. I tried surfing for the first time last month in L.A.. Lots of fun (and work). Just got back from lunch at La Margarita's in Round Rock (I35, N of Hwy 79). Their fajitas are great. Handmade tortillas & they bring you fresh, warm ones as you consume them. I eat there weekly. Three can easily feast on the "fajitas for 2". The smoked chicken ones are the best (if you eat chicken). Ask for a table in Ginger or Chuy's section (no relation).

I'll be interested in hearing about your windsurfing adventures in the appropriate topic.

Mmmm... I like hearing about the MExican food!

Last night I went out for a beer and chips and salsa with a friend. We ended up eating an entire meal at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Denver. The chips were delicious and fresh the salsa was spicy and had a lot of cilantro BUT the onion chunks were to large for an onion hater. My cheese enchilada was okay, the bean tostada (chalupa) was excellent -- the beans did it! BUt the chile relleno was an anomoly. Actually, compared with other Denver rellenos, it was normal BUT... it was slices of green chilles packed in o a wonton wrapper w/cheese and red sauce and deep fried. Good but just not the same. I do like the fact that every year Denver is privvy to the Hatch green chiles from NM. In Texas poblanos were usually as close as it came and green chiles were only foound in cans. In the fall you can buy fresh roasted chiles from street vendors -- heaven on a stringer!

Just about any mexican restaurant east of I 35 is a good place to eat.

Last night I went out for a margarita and Mexican dinner at Guero's on South Congress. The frozen margarita's were excellent, the salsas were fine and the chips were fresh. The atmosphere there is superb, it's set in a former feed mill and some of the trappings of those days still hang on the wall. There's a lively, vivacious crowd there. It feels like the place is alive. We sat in the back, and there were pictures of two of Clinton's visits to Gueros on the wall. We had a saucy, blond waitress with tied back dreadlocks who told us stories of celebrity sitings, just two nights ago Neve Campbell was through there with some equally spectacular male movie star (forget the name though). I ate enchiladas smothered with cheese, no sauce and a salad and pinto beans. The food was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere, as I've described, was out of this world quintessential South Austin. Highly recommended.

But, did you go to Little Italy as the topic title implies and did you do what I requested? If not, I'm not gonna like you anymore!

...Or are you the poster boy for LI?! Some times it is difficult to tell...

This will be my last shot of the night, because writing about these restaurants is making me hungfier and hungrier. I�m going out to eat! In fact, I can�t write one more comment. It would be excruciating with this hunger build up. So you�ll just have to wait. I�m not finished, you see. I will be back with more biased opinions on the rest of the topics in this conference. Besides, I�ve got a cramp in my leg from sitting here writing about these restaurants. Time to get up and moving about and get some good grub. Tomorrow you will learn more and you will even find out where I went for dinner. Can you handle the suspense?

I'll try - house male is making dinner this evening and it is always an "adventure in eating." Enjoy, Terry! I'm starving, too!

Went to Guerro's and Curra's during our stay in Texas... OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEE! We don't get anything like that up here in Colorado!

They're both great, so is El Sol y La Luna. Anyone one of these makes a great occasion.

XLs 2003 best Mex. LATIN AMERICAN � Do�a Emilia's. Cheese bread, fried yucca and empanadas are part of the Colombian fare served at this small, colorful eatery. 1411 E. Seventh St.; 478-2520. � Elsi's. Distinct spices mark the Salvadoran fare from the Mexican served here. 4708 Burnet Road, 454-0747. � Habana. Ropa vieja, a large mound of shredded beef cooked in tomato sauce with Spanish spices, stars in the Cuban and Caribbean lineup. 2728 S. Congress Ave.; 443-4252. � Sampaio's. Traditional Brazilian fare includes feijoada (a black bean and meat stew) and pao de queijo (cheese bread). 2809 San Jacinto Blvd., 469-9988. MEXICAN � Angie's. A popular spot with a winning lunch combo: taco of ground beef in a thick, homemade corn tortilla, two chicken enchiladas in spicy sauce, rice and beans. 900 E. Seventh St.; 476-5413. � Antonio's Mexican Restaurant. Hefty Tex-Mex in Round Rock from a local chain with more than three decades of experience. 16912 N. Interstate 35; 238-8969. � AusTexMex Cafe. Jorge Arredondo and family turning out Jorge's longtime Tex-Mex fare. 2804 N. Interstate 35, 479-0288. � Chuy's. See Austin classics. � Curra's Grill. The northern location of the longtime South Austin institution offers the same tasty dishes such as cochinita pibil, a pork item from the Yucat�n. 6801 Burnet Road; 451-2560. Also 614 E Oltorf St., 444-0012. � El Azteca. Family-owned for more than 40 years, with spicy Tex-Mex, including a beef chile relleno topped with zesty ranchero sauce. 2600 E. Seventh St.; 477-4701. � El Meson. Remarkable little breakfast-and-lunch spot with delicious items such as squash blossom quesadillas. 5808 Burleson Road, 416-0749. � Evita's Botanitas. Interior Mexican fare includes chicken breast stuffed with chorizo, mushrooms and cheese and jalape�o-stuffed shrimp. 6400 S. First St.; 441-2424. � Garibaldi's. A mix of interior and border food includes a fiery fish soup, cochinita pibil and delicious chile relleno. 4201 S. Congress Ave.; 326-9788. � Las Palomas. Try the broiled fish with chipotle sauce served by the Corona family for two decades at their West Lake Hills spot. 3201 Bee Cave Road; 327-9889. � Las Palmas. Top-notch enchiladas, including avocado-chicken and spinach from the Cantu family. 1209 E. Seventh St., 457-4944.Read more about Las Palmas. � Manuel's. Strong flavors penetrate virtually every bite, with an emphasis on interior fare. 10201 Jollyville Road, 345-1042. Also 310 Congress Ave.; 472-7555. � Matt's El Rancho. See Austin classics. � Taco X-Press. Some of the best tacos in town at Maria Corbalan's popular South Austin joint. 2529 S. Lamar Blvd.; 444-0261. � Tres Amigos. Longtime Austin chain produces several Tex-Mex dishes, such as the chicken flautas, that are mild enough to serve spice-avoiding visitors. 1801 S. Capital of Texas Highway, 327-1776. � Trudy's South Star. Food, including the mushroom enchiladas, so good that it often produces a long wait. 4141 S. Capital of Texas Highway; 326-9899.

My vote still has to be El Azteca, Trudy's for noise and excitement, Curras for exotica, Chuy's for atmosphere, and I guess Gueros is a no show (surprising).

i like gringo's and mamasitas here in S.A.

from http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/RestaurantPoll?display=Readers&Year=2006 (Chronicle restaurant poll) Mexican Not Tex-Mex Fonda San Miguel Runner-up Manuel's Honorable Mention Curra's Grill, El Chile Cafe y Cantina, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe Tex-Mex Chuy's Runners-up Maudie's, Trudy's Honorable Mention Matt's El Rancho, G�ero's Taco Bar Taqueria Tie: Changos, Taco Shack Runners-up Taqueria Arandas, Tacodeli Honorable Mention El Chilito Tacos y Cafe, Maria's Taco Xpress, Tamale House and that's your 2006 Chronicle reader's poll picks. Do you agree? What's your list? I'd agree with G�ero's Taco Bar and Matt's El Rancho. It's been a while since I've been to Fonda San Miguel. My favorite, as always, is El Azteca.