Critic's Review
I decided I didn't want to go to the Feisty Bull, so I came here instead. I'd been to the location in Davie, and they've been building one in Pompano forever. It doesn't look like much from the outside. These low-rise malls look like doctors offices. But inside it's quite festive.
Big Taxi on the wall. I stood by the bar wondering if someone was going to help me. They have 2 entrances, and as it turned out the hostess station was at the other door. The bartender just told me to sit down and they summoned the hostess to bring me a menu. A server came over; I ordered iced tea which was delivered with 1 skinny slice of lemon; which was quickly remedied. Chips came a few minutes later.
They have lunch specials, but I didn't really want any of them. The menu wasn't really mexican. They have mashed potatoes, chicken madeira, shrimp scampi. I ended up ordering the Ixtapa Steak and shrimp, which was a skirt steak and shrimp, and chose spanish rice and refried beans as my sides.
Chips came out shortly thereafter.
The chips where ok, the salsa was kind of a puree; smooth, not chunky at all. Kind of strange.
Something else that was strange was the music, which was completely disjoint from the decor. Blind Melon, Incubus, Chili Peppers, Zeppelin.
Another strange thing was that a rather attractive woman came into the almost empty restaurant and sat at the next booth, facing me, which is never done. Restaurant booth etiquette is clear; you never sit facing a single person. I assumed she was meeting someone, but she wasn't; as often as I eat out I almost never see woman dining alone in a dining room. Once in a while at a bar. It reminded me of my freshmen year in college; we had this girl in my dorm who wouldn't go to the dining room alone, which was ridiculous since you knew everyone there. It was too embarrassing for her to not have someone to go with; she'd rather skip a meal.
The food came out in 8 minutes. I was surprised to see unmelted cheese on the steak.
The steak was properly cooked medium rare, and it had been marinated and had a nice,savory flavor.
The good news with the unmelted cheese was that it came off, which seemed preferable. There was a pile of sauteed poblano peppers and onions, so I didn't need the cheese.
All in all, not bad for $13.99.
Conclusion
There's something fake about this place; it's like a Mexican place not run by Mexicans. The decor is over the top; like a tourist trap in Cancun, but the menu is very Gringo. They don't flash melt the cheese and serve an oven-hot plate like all of the other Mexican restaurants. Not bad and the prices are ok; but I don't think I'd order the Shrimp Scampi.