As my third visit to the restaurant in Provo, I visited Joe Vera's, a Mexican restaurant – or “Fiestaurant”, as it is called on his menus – whose mission, according to your website, is to “enjoy the taste of Mexico”.
My experience with Mexican food so far? Limited. I just arrived at a six -week internship in the Daily Universe in the USA and a half ago in the USA from my home country. The next thing I got into the country's kitchen is Taco Bell's Crunchwrap Supreme, of which most Mexicans are probably nothing more than the real deal.
I am in the 201 West Center Street in the heart of Provo with a simple three -sided menu and Solid four out of five stars in Google Reviews. I was looking forward to coming to Joe Vera's to try a “real” Mexican meal for the first time. I was not sure what to expect and went pleasantly surprised with remains for lunch the next day.
As soon as you enter, you will be greeted by a funny Mexican ambience. Big sombreros, balloons and other Mexican -inspired decorations hang on colorful walls that are a mixture of orange, yellow and red and set a happy and festive atmosphere.
Our table next to a window was a cozy place. The window itself was decorated, with a few Valentine's day cookies and a small amorial shield, although it was unclear whether they were eaten or purely decorative.
While the overall setup was pleasant, the lighting could use a certain improvement. Since it was already dark after 5:30 p.m. and outside, the weak lighting or the table gave the room a slightly sleepy atmosphere, which is perfect when you are ready to relax, but not ideal if you try to do it dinner to eat .
The service was quick and inviting. When we sat down, our server immediately brought us chips and salsa that were so good that we asked for a second round. The salsa had exactly the right balance between spice and taste and the chips were warm and fresh, although they could consume a little more salt. To drink, I ordered a diet -cola with which you can never go wrong with my modest opinion.
After reading the menu several times and trying to narrow down my selection, I decided on a combination plate: a beef taco, a chicken enchilada and a pork -tostada. I wanted to try a bit of everything to give a fair rating.
The server brought the plate with one side of dressed beans with cheese and rice. To say that the food was pretty good could be an understatement. The beef -Taco was perfectly seasoned, the chicken Enchilada had a rich taste and the pork -tostada offered a delightful crunch, although it was buried on the bottom of the plate under salad, Pico de Gallo and sour cream.
Since someone is a little uninformed without prior experience with authentic Mexican food, but compared to the bar defined by Taco Bell, this was on a whole new level.
The portions were generous, which was the case in every restaurant that I visited during my short stay in the country. Despite my enthusiasm, I quickly got full so that I couldn't order a dessert, which was sad because I had the fried ice cream in mind.
Fortunately, our waitress was happy to give me a to-go box so that I could enjoy the rest the next day. And let me tell you the food was just as good for lunch.
I would definitely return to Joe Vera for a second round. The next time I will be determined to save space for dessert and finally try the fried ice that has not left my mind since then.