Went the last night. Got there at about 6:15 and was the first to be seated outside (the foyer of the old theater, right on the Westheimer sidewalk). By 7pm, the place was jammed. The outside tables are tiny, and no way suited for the 4 people they seat around them. The strip of tables along the sidewalk itself are the same size and laid up for 3, but all are best for 2 only. The waitstaff have a little trouble maneuvering around once the tables fill up.
Chips, Salsa, Queso & Guacamole
Totally decent, although the salsa is pure liquid so a little difficult to load up on a chip. The queso is perfectly executed. The guacamole (which appeared to be a free offering) was excellent - not perfectly smooth with a pleasing tang of lime to it.
Margaritas
The regular 'rita is quite fruity and a little bit too green for me. Tastes decent but not spectacular like, say, El Tiempo. The "skinny" 'rita has a more yellow tint and has more sour in the flavour (my preference), but is half the size.
Entrees
Well prepared, solid tex-mex. I had the "Original Regular Dinner" which consists of two cheese enchiladas, a tamale, chilli con carne, rice and beans (I swapped out the refried for charro). All was perfectly cooked and presented. The enchiladas had something akin to a mole sauce on them, which was delicious. The tamale was topped with the chilli, which was dry rather than being a gravy. The rice was fine, including carrots and tomatoes, but not spectacular (it is just rice after all, but then I am a big fan of El Tiempo's green rice). The charro beans were great - very thick sauce and not at all soupy, including bacon and a nice jolt of spice/pepper. All together, the entrees were met with similar approval.
Prices
Not bad. Including tax and tip, plus 2 'ritas each, is was $30/person.
Parking
On the lot it's (complimentary) valet only, but that was an organisational clusterfuck. Took about 10 minutes to get my car back because of the way they stack them, and because there is no room to bring cars out while others are coming in.
Overall
Thoroughly enjoyable meal and not at all outside of the realms of other good tex-mex in Houston. I'm not sure that I'd choose regularly to go there over El Tiempo, which is much closer to me, but I will certainly go back. The menu is still under development (literally, it's printed on regular paper on an inkjet printer), and they say that more items will be added. A "top shelf" 'rita is needed urgently!
But, like almost any other business venture involving selling to the Houston public, if they don't get their parking sorted out, they'll lose customers. I can't imagine how congested that area's going to get when the brew pub and "Majorca" open up directly across the street. When I go there again, I'll take a cab (which will be about $15 round trip but saves me the valet tip). Conversely, with Royal Oaks, the Anvil and the aforementioned new places opening up, that area will be a well served "park once and walk" option.
