Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can't?
We've finally found a half-way decent Mexican place! We've tried El Mezcal, El Charo, and some insanely not-good place in the Kroger shopping area - all in Farragut. We've been to Cancun off of Ceder Bluff and Margaritas near the West Town Mall. We've been to some newer place on Northshore in Rocky Point, and some of the commercial places on Kingston Pike farther east. We've been to the franchise places like Salsaritos or Burritoville. We've even been to the supposed 'nice' Mexican place in Turkey Creek - Abeulos.
To all of them I say the same thing: whatever. It's the same mediocre and gut-busting stuff at all of them, with little more than slight variations on their approach to mediocrity and format of intestinal distress. I've had so many whatever Mexican food experiences in Knoxville, it's actually started to taint my love of Mexican altogether.
But at last - partial salvation! Estalita's is a newly-opened Mexican restaurant in Farragut near the intersection of Concord and Kingston Pike (Campbell Station road exit off of 40). We freaking love it. I've been there at least four or five times in the past month.
At the center of the experience is the food. I'm not going to claim it's 5 stars, but it's absolutely a step above all the afore-mentioned restaurants that define the West Knoxville Mexican landscape. The ingredients are fresh. The meats and seafood are quality and delicious. Their Mexican soft cheeses for dipping and that come with the meals are excellent. Even their produce, rice, beans, and other staples are one notch up from the local competition. It looks like any other Mexican meal, but it surprises. Best of all, it doesn't leave you feeling all foul and sickly an hour later.
The service is also above par, with the entire staff universally friendly, responsive, and welcoming. The setting is a bit understated and designed for function, but the low-light setting and dark earth tones make it feel like a very quiet and relaxing place. Because of this, I get into great conversations with people there and we're never in a rush to leave. We went there with the baby this past weekend, and had to feed him, burp him, the whole nine - and even though there were 10 other people in there, we felt private and relaxed, having good places and nooks to go and an easy exit in case junior melted down.
We always fear the meltdown.
It's instant top-level insane full-family stress - immediately. A huge part of that is because I don't think anyone in the restaurant should be subjected to our crying baby *for one second*. If he doesn't calm instantly - he's out the door. Other people shouldn't have to 'wait a minute to see if he calms down'. My persnickety righteousness on the issue, combined with the screaming mini, plus my wife's groove on the whole thing = instant top-level insane family stress.
But Estiliatas soothes the beastie boy. It provides a white-noise rich, soft-lit, supportive environment to wrangle erratically explosive infants. It's almost like they planned it. They have a giant stack of booster seats and high chairs next to the entrance.
Wait a minute! I'm becoming that guy! There's something to be said for putting my thoughts in the context of my current life experience, but it's a dangerous thing to lose sight of the purpose of this site and devolve into cliche and tired parenting obsession. Forgive me. The point is....Estalitas is muy bueno. Go. Check it out. Tell them Knoxville Yankee sent you.
To all of them I say the same thing: whatever. It's the same mediocre and gut-busting stuff at all of them, with little more than slight variations on their approach to mediocrity and format of intestinal distress. I've had so many whatever Mexican food experiences in Knoxville, it's actually started to taint my love of Mexican altogether.
But at last - partial salvation! Estalita's is a newly-opened Mexican restaurant in Farragut near the intersection of Concord and Kingston Pike (Campbell Station road exit off of 40). We freaking love it. I've been there at least four or five times in the past month.
At the center of the experience is the food. I'm not going to claim it's 5 stars, but it's absolutely a step above all the afore-mentioned restaurants that define the West Knoxville Mexican landscape. The ingredients are fresh. The meats and seafood are quality and delicious. Their Mexican soft cheeses for dipping and that come with the meals are excellent. Even their produce, rice, beans, and other staples are one notch up from the local competition. It looks like any other Mexican meal, but it surprises. Best of all, it doesn't leave you feeling all foul and sickly an hour later.
The service is also above par, with the entire staff universally friendly, responsive, and welcoming. The setting is a bit understated and designed for function, but the low-light setting and dark earth tones make it feel like a very quiet and relaxing place. Because of this, I get into great conversations with people there and we're never in a rush to leave. We went there with the baby this past weekend, and had to feed him, burp him, the whole nine - and even though there were 10 other people in there, we felt private and relaxed, having good places and nooks to go and an easy exit in case junior melted down.
We always fear the meltdown.
It's instant top-level insane full-family stress - immediately. A huge part of that is because I don't think anyone in the restaurant should be subjected to our crying baby *for one second*. If he doesn't calm instantly - he's out the door. Other people shouldn't have to 'wait a minute to see if he calms down'. My persnickety righteousness on the issue, combined with the screaming mini, plus my wife's groove on the whole thing = instant top-level insane family stress.
But Estiliatas soothes the beastie boy. It provides a white-noise rich, soft-lit, supportive environment to wrangle erratically explosive infants. It's almost like they planned it. They have a giant stack of booster seats and high chairs next to the entrance.
Wait a minute! I'm becoming that guy! There's something to be said for putting my thoughts in the context of my current life experience, but it's a dangerous thing to lose sight of the purpose of this site and devolve into cliche and tired parenting obsession. Forgive me. The point is....Estalitas is muy bueno. Go. Check it out. Tell them Knoxville Yankee sent you.
posted by Knoxville Yankee at 9:21 PM - Permanent Link
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