Colima

Colima
301 Lincolnway
LaPorte, IN 46350 MAP
(219) 324-0355
Hours:
N/A

July 20th, 2005. 5:45 p.m.

A quick web search tells me that Colima is a small state in Mexico bordering on the Pacific Ocean. According to this website, the regional cuisine features “the ocean's bounty of fresh seafood, and the typical ranch dishes of western Mexico.” Apparently tortilla chips aren’t the specialty in the state of Colima. At least that’s the impression this restaurant gave me. These were absolutely the worst chips I’ve ever had. They had no flavor and dried my mouth out. Weird. They didn’t even seem like they were made from corn. The old “cardboard” cliché fits like a glove with these chips. The salsa had an average flavor but was quite thin and runny.

The steak burrito contained beans, lettuce, tomato, and cheese and was loosely wrapped in a slightly grilled tortilla. Sour cream, guacamole, and a small “salad” were also on the plate. There was a pretty good steak flavor that was unfortunately held back by its dryness. Once again, salt and salsa were liberally applied to extract as much flavor as possible out of this burrito. One piece of gristle made an appearance and was spit out. This burrito just didn’t do it for me.

The restaurant does serve beer (maybe that explains the dryness of the food) consisting of 7 imports and 6 domestics including Maple City Gold from LaPorte’s own Back Road Brewery. If someone asked me my opinion of Colima I would say, “It’s there.”



Weight: 13.6 ounces
Length: 7.75 inches
Circumference: 9.5 inches
Price: $6.50 or 47.8¢ an ounce
Beer availability: Yes

Flavor: 4/10 sombreros
Value: 4.5/10 sombreros

La Bamba

La Bamba
1905 Glenn Park Avenue
Champaign, IL 61821 MAP
(217) 355-6600
Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 11 a.m. to ?

July 8th, 2005. 5:00 p.m.

When I first conceived this blog I knew I had to include a review of La Bamba. Their slogan, “Burritos as big as your head!” is well known at Big Ten campuses as well as other college towns and cities throughout the Midwest. I first ate at La Bamba at their Carbondale, Illinois (Southern Illinois University) location in 1992. At that time there were seven locations (I still have the plastic cup to prove it!) and they have since grown to 25 locations in 5 states. Check out their website for more info. The Burrito Digest chose the home of La Bamba in Champaign, Illinois for this review.



You are always treated to plenty of wall paintings featuring the “Burrito Man” when you visit a La Bamba restaurant. You order from the limited menu at the counter and the food is prepared right in front of you. No table service here. Of course this means there are no complimentary chips and salsa and that affects the value rating.

La Bamba Burritos come in Mini, Regular, or Super sizes. I probably should have ordered the Super (for $1.16 more), but a lack of a big appetite directed me to the Regular. I’ll review the Super someday and post it as an addendum to this review.

The steak in this burrito was chopped and cubed into quite small pieces and was mixed with beans, lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese. I hate to say this, but the flavor was rather bland. It was as if the steak had no flavor whatsoever, just texture. This is not how I remembered La Bamba. I used salt and either salsa verde or salsa casera on every bite. I also felt that the tortilla could have been filled a little more. There was one small piece of gristle that was no big deal.

La Bamba is a must visit anytime you are near one if only to experience what makes this family owned chain so successful. I would be interested in hearing other’s comments to see if their experience was similar to mine. I look forward to reviewing a Super size at a different location in the future.



Weight: 16.7 ounces
Length: 8 inches
Circumference: 8.5 inches
Price: $4.63 or 27.7¢ an ounce
Beer availability: No

Flavor: 6.5/10 sombreros
Value: 6.5/10 sombreros

Mexico Chiquito

Mexico Chiquito Restaurant
1950 E. Commercial Ave.

Lowell, IN 46356 MAP
(219) 696-4660
Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

July 1st, 2005. 1:30 p.m.

I’ll just get right to it with this review. When in the south county area of Northwest Indiana, make your way to Mexico Chiquito. Before writing this review I found this brief article from The Times that gives reason enough to patronize this restaurant.

Mexico Chiquito to serve free Thanksgiving Dinner

The regular menu never strays far from his roots at Ricardo Balderas' Mexico Chiquito Restaurant, but he'll be going American in a generous way Thursday. From noon to 4 p.m., Balderas and his staff will serve up a free Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and a side dish of corn at his restaurant, 1950 E. Commercial Ave. There will be a charge for beverages. Lowell businesswoman Mona Kruechenberg of The Art Gallery called Balderas' plan "a wonderful goodwill gesture. They did it last year, also. It's strictly because he is a kind man."

Indeed.

The salsa was mild and very good and accompanied by chips that were light and warm but a little on the greasy side. The light oil on the chips wasn’t a problem. In fact, it helped the salt I added to the chips stick better.

My “Super Burrito” contained beans, lettuce, tomato, and cheese in addition to the steak. The menu description said the burrito included avocado as well, however none was present. The steak had a very good flavor and contained absolutely no fat or gristle whatsoever. Yea! I felt that there could have been a little more steak in the burrito and there was a very slight ingredient distribution problem as well. I’m nitpicking here, but there’s always room for improvement wherever you go.

Mexico Chiquito offers a solid steak burrito at an extremely good value. The interior may be a bit stark, but the quality of food and kindness of the owner more than make up for it.



Weight: 14.6 ounces
Length: 7.5 inches
Circumference: 8.25 inches
Price: $3.50 or 24¢ an ounce
Beer availability: No

Flavor: 8.5/10 sombreros

Value: 9/10 sombreros