Restaurant Review: Rodrigo’s menu doesn’t get creative

Always be wary of restaurants with gift shops. When there is so much concern with hats and shirts, attention is taken away from the kitchen.

And attention is what Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill needs. The restaurant on Goldenwest Street near Bolsa Avenue used to be a Don Jose’s but was changed to a Rodrigo’s a couple of years ago.

The restaurant is owned by the same company, and while this is the first spot for a Rodrigo’s in Orange County, there are two older locations in the Inland Empire.

The Huntington Beach dining room and bar is nicely decorated. The rich tones on the walls and the comfy padded booths make you feel instantly at ease.

The menu is standard Mexican fare.

Not a lot of invention here, but there are some unusual entrees, such as the pollo Sonora and a skirt steak.

The appetizers are as expected at a Mexican restaurant — nachos, mini tacos and quesadillas. There were potato skins, but they did seem a bit out of place.

My guests and I skipped appetizers and went straight to the entrees both times we visited.

It was easy to with the chips and salsa that arrived at our table shortly after we sat down.

The salsa tasted homemade, and I got the sense that the chips were not coming out of a bag.

My first visit was lunch and I took advantage of one of the specials. I had a combination of chicken taco and cheese enchilada.

The meal came with rice and beans and was $2 less than the regular $9.99 price.

Both the taco and enchilada are pretty simple and were perfectly fine. I did have an issue with the refried beans, which tasted like they came out of a can.

It was funny, but the two different guests who accompanied me on my visits both opted for salads.

The salads, though, were quite different. One of the guests chose the barbacoa chopped salad. This salad had chopped greens with jicama, red and green bell peppers, grilled chicken, and thin tortilla strips that looked like long matchsticks.

The salad was mostly lettuce and the chicken sparse. Half of the greens could have been removed, and the salad would have been much more enjoyable.

My other guest asked the waiter to recommend a salad and he immediately offered the seafood chalupa salad. It was a great choice. The fajita shrimp was plentiful and delicious, mixing well with the seasonal greens, tomatoes, cheese, bacon, mushrooms and hard boiled eggs. The dressing was a jalapeño vinaigrette that was tangy, but not spicy. The only bummer was the one bite of hard boiled egg that still had bits of the shell on it.

On this visit I went with the tamale and was a little disappointed. The masa used was bland and thick, making it taste doughy. The pork that was in the tamale was hidden by the outer casing and I ended up separating the meat and nibbling on it.

This time I tried the black beans and it was a much better way to go.

While the food was hit or miss, one consistency was the wait staff.

Both times the service has been impeccable. We were seated promptly, the waiter coming almost as soon as the hostess left. The food came out as quick as any place I have ever been to and we were checked on quite frequently.

That is why I am hesitant not to recommend this place. If you want authentic Mexican food, go elsewhere; but if you are looking for ordinary and steer clear of a few dishes, this would be a perfectly acceptable place to go.

Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill

Address: 15101 Goldenwest Ave.

Phone: (714) 839-4950

Website: www.rodrigos.com

Cuisine: Mexican

Specialty dish: Fajitas

Alcohol served: Full bar

Entrée price range: $6.79 to $18

Family friendly: Yes, limited children’s menu

Credit cards accepted: MasterCard and Visa

Rating: ** 1/2

JOHN REGER reviews local restaurants and may be contacted at [email protected] or P.O. Box 2984, Seal Beach, CA 90740.