The soft glow of hot pepper lights strewn across the top of the bar, brightly colored wallpaper typically associated with Mexican culture and a Fiesta-Ware dinner set is exactly what you will have at Tortilla Flat. This out-of-the-way restaurant is located on outer Forest Avenue. While it may be somewhat hidden away, once found, it captures a fantastic Mexican flare.
A friendly waitress greeted us and quickly brought over chips and salsa. The chips were great, not too salty and the salsa was not overly hot (although my companion needed refills of water to wash down what she called, “hot hot salsa”).
There are a number of items to choose from on the surprisingly lengthy menu, complete with sections of combination platters, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and burritos. There is even a cleverly named “Gringo” section for those who go to a Mexican restaurant for a cheeseburger.
To start off the meal we ordered the large veggie supreme nachos ($6.75). This was a nice mix of salsa, chips, black olives, and tomatoes with guacamole and sour cream. It was good, but I almost wished there were some spicy salsa to go along with it.
After a few minutes the brightly-colored orange and blue Fiesta-Ware dishes were whisked away and our main course was set before us.
The smell of hot spices was fantastic and would make anyone’s mouth water. I had ordered two tacos ($5.90) with rice ($1.25). The crunchy shells were covered in cheese and tomatoes and filled with heaping portions of beef. The reddish colored rice was a bit dry, but with diced tomatoes scattered throughout, still very tasty. My companion had ordered the Veggie Chimichangas plate ($8.45). A crispy flaky shell surrounds the mounds of fresh vegetables including carrots, squash and broccoli, all covered in a spicy cheese sauce.
Tortilla Flat reminds me of going over to grandmothers house where food is constantly put in front of you and you are encouraged to eat at a furious pace. Dinner here was certainly similar to that: one minute you have chips in front of your face and the next you are attacking your main course.
I would definitely recommend eating here. The wait staff is very friendly, the atmosphere very warm and comforting. If you’re looking for a spicy change, take the drive down outer Forest Avenue to savor the Mexican flair of Tortilla Flat.
Location: 1871 Forest Ave.
Atmosphere: Comfortable
Price: $26.86
Rating: 4 out of 5 Chimichangas