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(December 21, 2007)
Margaritas on 14375 Bratton Lane is one of those wonderful little
Mexican joints that deserves to be packed each night: I mean overflowing
with at least an hour wait. But since their landlord-forced departure
from their more successful digs on Burnet to the current location
has undermined their fan base a bit, they could, to put it mildly,
use a little more love. |
Owner: Katy Tiner |
Well that's where I come in. Margaritas is easily
the best Tex Mex in Round Rock and, at the least, one of the best Tex
Mex places in Central Texas. Katy Tiner and her crew dish up some amazing
chow every day that merits your immediate attention!
The appetizers are vintage Tex Mex comfort food:
I could and occasionally do make a meal out of them. Start with the
Chile con Queso. I like to add some ground beef and pico de gallo to
it. And then WOW! Instant flavor rush. The texture is perfect and the
taste is textbook. The Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers do their job as well.
A quick dip in the Ranch dressing and then you get that lip-smacking
taste and little jalapeno zap that adds to the irresistibility of this
appetizer. And don't leave without trying the Bean and Cheese Nachos.
They are crispy and not in the least bit soggy and that's a requirement.
But they are much more. I like to add chopped onions and jalapenos on
mine. The resulting flavors are so satisfying and derivative that they
are a must order, without hesitation, on every visit. And so sample
their wonderful Chicken Soup or Caldo. Mix chicken, cilantro, zucchini,
yellow squash, tomatoes and more and you have Margaritas' version of
Mexican Penicillin. Get the bowl. The cup simply won't do.
The entrees at Margaritas are considerably more
diverse than one usually finds at a Tex Mex joint. But the obligatory
enchiladas are served with pride, and trust me, they are to die for.
My two favorites are the Cheese Enchilada and the amazing Mushroom Enchilada.
They offer many sauces to choose from, but come on, a purist like me
has to start with the Chili Gravy. And the taste sensations of both
enchiladas are simply perfect. But why stop when we're on a roll? I
love the Shrimp Fajitas. They arrive sizzling and crackling with onions,
bell peppers and mushrooms. The flavors are pristine: never oily or
greasy as can happen with fajitas. A whole wheat enchilada along with
some guacamole and pico completes the feast. Another killer dish is
the Chimichanga: a huge tortilla filled with grilled fajita beef and
cheese and then lightly fried and topped with lettuce, tomato, and sour
cream. This dish just oozes flavor with each bite. And everything is
in balance and proportion which makes it work even better.
As I stated earlier, Margaritas should be packed
every night. Yet it's one of those owner-operated places that might
have closed had the owner been watching the bottom line instead of following
her heart Well here's hoping she can soon do both. This restaurant is
the real deal. Go there this weekend. Bring your friends. They will
thank you. Merry Christmas!
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