Mexicali Danvers

Mexicali Cantina Grill in Danvers is part of a small but fast-growing chain, and this is the tenth location. They opened in late '18 in this location that was previously home to the British Beer Company. So it was time to go back and have my favorite lunch dish again.

I'm actually surprised and thankful at how many of my favorite restaurants survived Covid.

Everything is back to normal, so I could get my hightop in the bar again. You get thin and fresh warm chips and salsa. I really liked the multicolor chips, but they are gone now. The salsa was fresh and very good with a hint of heat. It was also seasoned really well. The salsa is almost a reason to go back. Rolled up silverware, but it was a good quality napkin with good quality silverware.

The Chili Verde is my benchmark for a Mexican restaurant, and if they do this well, they are likely to do the rest of the dishes well. Lunch Pork Chile Verde (12). "Chunks of pork loin cooked until tender in a mild green tomatillo sauce of green peppers, onions, cilantro and spices. Served with rice and beans". It was also served with corn or flour tortillas. I went with the flour ones that had been lightly grilled and were super fresh and tasty. They don't make their own tortillas, does anybody? The Chili Verde was excellent. Tender pork in a very savory sauce that was well seasoned and tart from the tomatillos. It was also a very generous lunch serving. The rice was light and fluffy, and the refried beans needed more seasoning but had a good texture. 11/15/21

Lunch Pork Carnitas (12). "Traditionally slow cooked pork loin prepared with garlic and salt and topped with a mild red sauce. Served with rice and beans". The carnitas was tasty, not sure where the "mild red sauce" is? It was a good dish, but not very exciting. The refried beans and rice are fine, as were the flour tortillas. 11/30/21

Nachos Supreme (11). "Choice of ground beef, chorizo, or shredded chicken. Served with tomatoes, onions, sour cream and guacamole". Chorizo, of course, and hold the sour cream. The cheese was a bit carbonized on this side, but the rest was fine. I was happy with the generous serving of guacamole despite it needing salt. There is a right way of serving nachos and a wrong way. The right way is to layer the toppings and cheese on every layer of chips, and this one was done right. The wrong way is to only put cheese and toppings on top. Who serves nachos without jalapenos? That was really the only fault with this. Two different kinds of cheese, BTW. 12/14/21

Lunch COMBOS Choose 2 (10). "Chile Relleno, Enchilada, Tostada, Burrito, Taco, Tamale or Chimichanga". So I went with Chile Relleno X 2. There are actually two of them underneath the cheese and sauce. I tried to get them with the offered Chile Verde, but that failed. Perfectly cleaned poblanos, not a seed left. One poblano was mild, but the other one was really spicy! A win! Excellent value this. The colored chips are back. 01/25/22

Lunch Taco Salad (9). "Choice of ground beef, shredded or grilled chicken, barbacoa or pork carnitas. Served in a taco shell with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream". Hold the sour cream, and I asked for Chili Verde, and that was, of course, not a problem. I'm not much of a salad guy and hadn't really thought about what a taco salad is? As far as I can see, it's just the taco shell it's served in that makes it a Taco Salad. No dressing, nothing Mexican in the salad itself. I asked for Caesar dressing to get some pizazz into the greens. Unload the Chili Verde, then mix in the dressing. The bigger chunks of the Chili Verde were dry. Not the most exciting meal I have had. The basket of chips has gone noticeably smaller. 02/07/22

Address: 29 Andover St, Danvers, MA 01923 Phone: 978-304-1860

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