For those students living on the Gorham campus, reading this may help spice up your hectic school week. One of the few restaurants the town has to offer, Sierra’s, located on the corner of Routes 25 and 114 is a place where you can take a load off, fill the emptiness in your stomach and listen to some killer tunes all at the same time.
Its two large dining areas can pack a crowd of college students as well as a few local patrons while managing room for a pool table, video games, two full bars and a small corner stage. The front of the two rooms is mostly for dining purposes, with lines of tables and a few booths, while the back room sports picnic-style tables, a popular bar and the entertainment equipment.
This particular Tuesday night Sierra’s entertainment was a jazz quartet. I sat in the back so I could listen to the music. It became clear that this area isn’t commonly used for dining, when it took my waitress quite a while to realize I wanted a menu. But once she did she was on top of everything.
The 8 p.m. performance by a saxophone player, a drummer, a keyboard player and an acoustic bass player was a perfect touch to my dining experience. Despite the fantastic ambience, the place was pretty much empty for most of the show, which I’ll attribute to the mid-week performance.
While Sierra’s is known for its Mexican entrees, they also offer many styles of burgers and chicken sandwiches ($5.97-$7.97). Items on the menu included appetizers ranging from buffalo wings to chicken tenders and nachos. For entrees, an array of burritos, quesadillas and enchilada choices as well as fajitas and chimichangas are offered ($6.97-$12.97).
I started out with some tortilla chips and salsa, which the restaurant claims the waitstaff prepare fresh daily. Sweeter than hot, the salsa was good but a bit watery. Nice and chunky is more my style. The first basket of chips is on the house and each additional basket is $1.97. One was definitely enough for me. In fact, I think I may have eaten a few too many because when my chicken chimichanga meal was brought out it was a bit overwhelming.
The large rectangular tortilla filled almost the entire plate except for the small space that held the seasoned fries. There’s supposed to be a choice of fries, potato salad, beans, Mexican rice or chili rice but I was automatically given fries. Though they weren’t my choice, they were good.
For those of you unfamiliar with chimichangas, they’re flour tortillas stuffed with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and your choice of ingredients including chicken, beef, tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach, and then lightly fried ($10.97-$12.97). Mine was stuffed with chicken, and chunks of onion, green pepper and tomatoes. The tortilla was nice and crisp and full of flavor, with a striking resemblance to fried dough. Once I took my first bite I knew there was no turning back. The cheese and large chunks of vegetables oozed from the tortilla and onto my fork with every incision. Before I knew it I had devoured practically the entire pillow formation and half of the fries. It was now time to sit back and feel the jazz. Unfortunately, there are no dessert options on the menu.
The quartet had started to play while I was eating my meal and was really in to it by the time I finished. It was like a never-ending jam session. With eyes shut and slinky body movements, these guys were really feeling the music. They didn’t even seem to care that there was only a handful of people listening. After a few heart-wrenching tunes a female singer joined them and belted out a few old-time jazz favorites. She had a great voice and it was clear she loved the music. The music put me in a great mood and had me humming all the way home.
Sierra’s offers entertainment throughout the week, with Thursdays set aside for karaoke. Staff members at Sierra’s said business there is hit or miss with college kids but they have been known to pack in a big crowd on certain occasions.
Whether you’re in the mood for a filling meal, some entertainment or just to kick back and enjoy a cold one with friends, Sierra’s fun, casual atmosphere will be one you’ll come back to again and again.
***
Food: filling
Atmosphere: casual
Service: fine