El Charro - Valparaiso, IN

Visited: Saturday - March 13, 2010 8:15 pm


We had a hunger for some Mexican food this evening and decided to hit El Charro.  My Spanish speaking friends tell me "El Charro" means something like a cowboy, but one who dresses in that traditional and elaborate garb often associated with old Mexico.  Located in the old Burger King building on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, El Charro serves up hearty portions of Americanized Mexican food by a mostly Mexican staff.  Once inside and seated, most people would have a difficult time realizing the building once housed a Burger King since only the outside appearance is telltale. 

We were dining relatively late in the evening so I decided to forgo my usual favorite dish and try a smaller combination platter, one with the descriptive and informative name of "Combination #1."  After a huge basket of warm tortilla chips and smooth salsa, then trying to conduct a conversation over the wild antics of the children at the table next to us, our food arrived promptly and piping hot.  On each table are bottles of hot sauce to anoint your food as you see fit and in accordance with your ability to tolerate your tongue quickly turning into a cinder if you're not careful.  My platter contained a beef taco, a beef enchilada, and a tostada complete with a healthy dose of guacamole perched in the midst.  This combo contained no beans or frijoles which was fine--I was trying to have a smaller meal--but nevertheless, there was enough food to leave me completely sated without them. 

Although I don't think Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill fame has anything to worry about, El Charro does provide a satisfying and tasty Tex-Mex meal without breaking the bank.  I say "Tex-Mex" because some of my Mexican friends tell me the food is not exactly like you would find in Mexico.  Like so many ethnic foods, we have Americanized them and to a degree, homogenized them to suit our palates.  Too bad for us, in my opinion. 

Service is friendly and muy rapido... don't worry, that's pretty much the extent of my Spanish.  The decor includes a large mural of downtown Valparaiso, produced by an artist of marginal talent, but dovetailing with the balance of the interior.  I would classify the interior design to be from the Late Mexican Tacky Period, and when combined with their penchant for having all the televisions constantly tuned to soccer or Telemundo, one can walk away believing they have been exposed to authentic Mexican culture.  Or not.

Those issues aside, the place is relatively clean and kept up and they seem to do a brisk business.  I don't hesitate in recommending El Charro for some decent Tex-Mex grub at all.  Dress is casual.

1 star = Montezuma's Revenge Inducing ------ 10 stars = Fiesta Paradise

Ambiance - 5 stars
Food Quality - 7 stars
Service - 7 stars
Cleanliness - 7 stars
Value - 8 stars

El Charro
807 Lincolnway
Valparaiso, IN  46383
219-548-3703

Pestos - Valparaiso, IN

Visited:  Friday - March 12, 2010 5:00 pm

     Pestos: a perennial favorite in Valpo for its take on Italian food and a relatively frequent stop for my family when we crave some pasta or other Italian fare.  Our arrival beat the dinner rush, but just barely.  By the time we completed our salad course a line had formed in the lobby and I knew from experience it would only lengthen.  Pestos has undergone a very recent exterior face lift due to the transformation of the former County Seat Shopping Center into its current incarnation and the new look contributes positively to the ambiance. 

     Each meal at Pestos begins with a loaf of rustic bread, piping hot from the oven--thick crusted with a tender crumb, just right for dipping in the flavored olive oil provided or slathered with butter.  Oh, to be able to bake bread like that at home...  A generous Caesar salad followed but I did not detect even a hint of anchovies, an integral component of the authentic version.  I opted for one of my favorite dishes--one I had avoided for some time so as not to become jaded--their version of Vodka Chicken.  The dish consists of two moist chicken breasts, flattened and sauteed, served over a nest of angel hair pasta and smothered in a white vodka cream sauce.  Most recipes for vodka cream sauce end up reddish in color due to the addition of tomato sauce or paste.  Not this version.  It doesn't seem to have even a bit of tomato in it and that's fine by me.  The sauce, while very rich, coats the pasta and each bite of chicken in a creamy, garlicky goodness that is very satisfying.  The portion size was generous and when combined with the salad and bread, I had no room whatsoever to consider the delectable looking desserts that flowed on by to other tables.

Our server was friendly without being overly so and paid attention to our needs without us having to flag her down like a taxi in the Loop.  The dining area and restrooms are clean, as well as the exterior of the building, a point of major concern for this particular diner.  I can't tolerate a filthy restaurant!  The cost of our meal was fair but I do believe some of the seafood dishes are a bit overpriced for this market considering the net amount of product on the plate.  Dress ranged anywhere from jeans to shirt and ties.  I did not see a single suit but one would certainly not be out of place.

Summary:  A good value for a nice night out or a casual lunch with quality food and service. 

1 star = pathetically bad -------  10 stars = dining Nirvana

Ambiance - 7 stars
Food Quality - 7 stars
Service - 8 stars
Cleanliness - 9 stars
Value - 7 stars

Pestos Italian Restaurant
3123 Calumet Avenue
Valparaiso, IN
219-462-0993