There is a small family owned restaurant that I really like in town. It is probably the best Mexican food I have eaten in a long while, at least from a restaurant. When my son came to visit, I took him there and he loved their chile verde, which they are actually well known for. All you have to do is say you’re going the restaurant with the chile verde and everyone in town knows which one! That’s saying a lot, especially since there is a rather large Mexican population in town and this restaurant in particular is not in that part of town. The restaurant has no name. It just says “The Best Chile Verde In Town” to which no one argues. When people come from out of town, we take them there and haven’t had anyone complain, yet. The problem is that they have very short hours. They close by 8 in the evenings during the week. On Saturday and Sunday the close at 2 in the afternoon.
About two months ago, I was driving by on a Sunday afternoon, around 4 and I noticed that they were open. I pulled into the parking lot thinking they must have new, longer hours for the weekend. I walked in and was surprised to not find any of the same waitresses (a mother and her two daughters). Then I noticed that the menu on the counter was different. It had a name on it. I asked the waitress if they had changed the menu and she said they had bought the restaurant and everything was different, including the hours, the menu, and the name. However she did assure me that they had kept the same chile verde recipe because it was so popular. I ordered it and took it home. I was disappointed. It wasn’t as tender as before. I decided I would not go back.
About a week later, my son came to visit and wanted to take his friend there. I advised against it and explained why. He figured he’d try it anyway. He invited me to go with them. I went and ordered something different. My son and his friend ordered the chile verde. They loved it. I tasted my son’s and it was the same recipe as before. We were all quite pleased about it and I was glad that my son had wanted to go there or I would have passed up the wonderful food, just because of a faulty first impression.
I learned a lesson.
Ah yes… it probably took them a while and some experimentation to get it exactly right.
Somethings in life deserve a second chance – a good lesson for all of us!
Chile verde… now I’m really homesick.
Interesting. I’d go anywhere any time to find the best chile verde.
I’m glad they got it right.
I try to get over first impressions, but it’s difficult. Bravo to you for giving the place a second chance. I might have, in about a year.
Chile verde?
I’m glad they got it right for you.