July 1st, 2008 By Jenna Walker
Newburgh Review: Jalisco
A while ago, we were searching out a late night dinner and found out that Jalisco was open. I had heard of it being an offshoot of Los Bravos, and decided to try it.
Since it was late, around 9:30, it was not very busy, though there was a good crowd in the bar. We were seated right away, and we immediately noticed that the interior of the restaurant is very similar to Los Bravos. The chairs and tables are bright colors, decorated with paintings and carvings of birds and flowers.
We were immediately served chips and salsa. The chips were good, but the salsa was not my favorite. My friend liked it a lot, but I thought it was far too sweet and needed to be spicier. I felt like I was dipping my chip into a sweet marinara sauce.
We ordered a chicken chimichanga and quesadilla relleno. These both came out quickly and looked great. The chicken chimichanga was served with rice and was “alright,” which I take to mean that it was average, nothing special, but could be ordered again. My quesadilla relleno was a quesadilla with cheese, steak, and beans and a side of rice. I had high hopes when I saw it, but they were quickly dashed. The rice was more the “Mexican rice” that you make out of a bag, and it was way too moist and sticky.
I had ordered the quesadilla with chicken as opposed to steak, which I don’t prefer, but the quesadilla came out with strips of steak in a very strong sauce it had been cooked in. When things like that happen, I usually overlook it since it isn’t a big deal, and I did the same that night. I instantly did not like the taste of the meat, so much so, that I opened the quesadilla and took all the meat out. It was palatable after that, but it had been so juicy, the strong taste still lingered.
The service was really good as was the decoration and cleanliness. The menu looked very close to the Los Bravos menu, and prices were similar as well. But the key is the food, and unlike La Cabana, it was not very good or authentic. While my friend said his was decent, mine was so bad that I won’t be going back. I definitely should have had them redo the quesadilla to make it be chicken, that may of helped, but I doubt it because over all it just wasn’t good food.
Jalisco is located at 4044 Professional Lane, Newburgh (between Lloyd and Showplace). (812) 490-2814. Sun 11am-9pm, Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10:30pm.
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Justin Williams
July 01, 2008 @ 08:40AM
This is very disconcerting coming from Evansville’s premiere Mexican restaurant connoisseur.
Jenna
July 01, 2008 @ 12:55PM
Haha, you nerd, stop making fun of me! But I have to say, I am a person obsessed with all mexican food, and it hurts to say that I found a mexican place that I consider to be awful! ayeeeeeeeeeee I had really gone into it hoping to of found a new treasure!
Eric
July 01, 2008 @ 01:27PM
I’ve never been, and I think I’ll keep it that way after reading this.
Speaking of Mexican food….
I recently gave Abuelos a second chance. It was just as awful as my first experience with them, and I will not be going back. The service was good but the food sucked. It just kept me longing for Los Bravos or El Charro. I dont know why I expected authentic tasting food from them anyway. You def. pay for the atmopshere and not the food at Abuelos.
cody
July 01, 2008 @ 02:22PM
NOOOOOOODLES!
cody
July 01, 2008 @ 02:24PM
i know the guy that owns it i went to high school with him. his parents own los bravos.
Justin Williams
July 01, 2008 @ 04:01PM
I actually like the sweeter salsa they have. I don’t mean to compare it to Hacienda, but it’s the only other sweet salsa in town I can think of. Unlike Hacienda, however, Jalisco’s salsa has actual tomato chunks, cilantro, etc. It’s not just out of a Tostito’s can.
Ranking local salsa:
111: Hacienda (blech)
Jenna
July 01, 2008 @ 04:29PM
@eric: have you ever tried La Cabana on S. Green? Absolutely delicious, and it is the most authentic I’ve found in Evansville. Acapulcos and La Cabana are a very close running for 1st.
@cody: thanks. noodles to you too. I knew Jalisco was related to Bravos, that’s why I had higher hopes. Severe let down.
@justin: you related their sweet salsa to Don Pablos
So far….my favorite Mexican places are
1.5 La Cabana
I have yet to try El Rio, which Justin & I have been meaning to do. We’ll keep you posted on that
Infinion0
July 01, 2008 @ 05:05PM
We’ve been going there for quite some time now and it had become our favorite place. It’s also close to home for us, closer than any other mexican place, so that’s a big plus. As for the food, I think it’s been slipping recently. It wasn’t long ago, only 6 months or so maybe that they didn’t have ‘fancy’ menus, you ordered what you wanted, not the number next to it, and you always got what you order, plus some. We loved it the first times we went, and we kept going back. Each time, it gets worse, but we still like it. Now, they’ve rolled out some nicer looking menus where everything is a number, not a meal. It seems like something changed a while back, and they went downhill. The food didn’t taste as good, the serving sizes when from mega-huge to just huge (which is fine by me, but still a change). We personally like the salsa, but ours is never sweet, and is usually pretty spicy (A matter of taste perhaps). I believe they make it daily or something, because it always has just a little different taste each time we visit. Sometimes it has more kick than others. I wonder if you got the bottom of the barrel there or something. Our service has usually been pretty good, but again, it seems to have gotten worse. It’s pretty hit and miss and really just hinges on which waiter you happen to get, but they are all pretty nice, some of them just aren’t as attentive. So far, it’s still our favorite, but the fact that it’s minutes away probably gives it a big boost for us. The fact that we keep going back must mean we’re pretty pleased with it.
Thanks for the review, keep it up!
Eric
July 02, 2008 @ 07:06AM
Jenna – I have not tried La Cabana. I’ll have to check it out soon!
newsfan
July 03, 2008 @ 06:13AM
Have you reviewed el Maguey Grill, west of Boonville across from Wal Mart, or the original el Maguey on the east side of Boonville? Not too long of a drive from Evansville’s east side. Just food for thought.
Kate
July 03, 2008 @ 07:46AM
My husband and I recently went to the original El Maguey and really liked it. The food, service and prices were great. We will definitely visit there again.
Jenna
July 03, 2008 @ 09:14AM
no I’ve never been there, but I’ll put it on my list! Thanks for the tip guys
Justin Williams
July 03, 2008 @ 09:18AM
Wait. We have to go to Boonville? I only go there when I have to pay a speeding ticket.
Jerry
July 03, 2008 @ 09:47AM
I have a bricklayer that is from Mexico and he said La Cabana is authentic and eats there frequently. I ate at Jalisco one time. One and done. Probably my favorite is Los Bravos. Used to be Acapulco, but they have fiddled with the quality (and quantity) of food so much that is is not where as good as it used to be.
Jenna
July 03, 2008 @ 10:37AM
Jerry–the Newburgh Acapulco has “fiddled” with the quality and quantity of the food, but go to the east side one, over by Day School, still the right portions for the same price as it used to be. I like it there much better than the Newburgh one, I always have
Justin Williams
July 03, 2008 @ 10:41AM
Click to play this video.
Warrick Reader
July 03, 2008 @ 01:03PM
As a Boonville resident, I must say that that the original El Maguey on the east end of town is much better than the newer one on the opposite end of town. Better service and nicer people. Just my opinion though.
cody
July 03, 2008 @ 06:21PM
plaaaaaaaaaaaaaateeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eric
July 07, 2008 @ 05:25AM
Jenna – I tried La Cabana this weekend and The food was great! The service was a little slow and our there was def. a communication barrier with our server. She vanished for about 20 minutes and then a guy came and helped us out. After that lil mishap everything else was good.
Their salsa is a little spicer than Los Bravos which I liked…. I’ll be going back! =o) Thanks!
Eric
July 07, 2008 @ 05:26AM
wow I really need to wake up before I start posting…. That entry was horrible! My bad!
Jenna
July 08, 2008 @ 02:43PM
Eric–haha, I’m glad you liked Cabana! There service seems to be slow, but once you order, the food usually comes out as it should. Though I was there for lunch on Sunday, and there was a huuuuuuuuuuuge party that took up a lot of time.
If the girl was thin and really short, she doesn’t know much english and is sorta shy and usually does chips and drinks and cleaning, the 1-2 other girls don’t know too much english, but more, and usually do register or drinks. Yeah, the two guys are the regular servers. I agree though that sometimes it takes a while to get initial service, but we like the food so much we just learned to wait :)
But I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Cabana! Try their tortilla soup if you ever go at lunch–they have daily lunch specials (written on a board near the entrance/bar) and the lunch special includes drink, tortilla soup, and the entree. The soup has to be my favorite thing about the place.
Scott
July 17, 2008 @ 02:59PM
I agree, Jalisco is below average, at best. The food was bland, and the owner was drinking, profusely I may add, in the bar, and making it known to most patrons how drunk he was. Very unprofessional, in my opinion. Nevertheless, here are my top (3), all are very good though:
LaCabana
El Charro
El Rio
Can’t go wrong with any of these three.