Frank & Fina’s Cocina
Being that my girlfriend just moved into a new place on the West Side of town, I wanted to take her out for a nice meal. I have lived in Las Vegas for more than nine years and avoid the chain restaurants like the plague. As I drove to her house, I passed a small sign that directed me toward a restaurant that has won the first “loosen the belt” award.
This is a brand-new award I will use to rate eating esablishments. For future reference, if I say to “tighten the belt” you might want to avoid that particular dining establishment if you are hungry. “Loosen the belt” is in reference to the amount of food you get with your meal.
Every table in the restaurant was full when we arrived (always a good sign) so we had to wait briefly. Once we were seated (not even three minutes had passed), our server was quick to ask for our drink order. He suggested we try the aguas frescas as a way to truly have an authentic Mexican meal.
My girlfriend likes to ask the wait staff what they recommend before even looking at the menu.
Our server on that evening was Adrian. He came across a genuinely concerned that our dinning experience be the best it could be. He recommend that she try the Chicken pibil (pe-beel) because there was nowhere in town that we could get this meal. It’s a chicken dish marinated in a Yucatan red spice called achiote, tomatoes; onions are added and it’s all wrapped in banana leaves before it’s baked.
Chicken pibil is a hungry man’s best friend. The chicken was so tender that it literally melted in my mouth. My girlfriend is into fish and fowl as where I like my meal to have had hooves before I start in on it. I went with the chile colorado and let me just say Yummmmmy times two.
My girlfriend always gets doggie bags but for the first time I, too, had to ask for a doggie bag. As we who live in the Southwest know, Mexican foods always taste great the next morning (or afternoon) when you wake up from an excellent night out.
The cost of these two meals with drinks cost less than $30.
You can check Frank & Fina’s Cocina website (www.frankandfinascocina.com).
Frank & Fina’s Cocina is located at 4175 S. Grand Canyon Dr., Suite 100. It’s best to call ahead at peak times to make sure you can get a table, 579-3017.
