I tried these spots last night at dinner. The first is in a strip mall just off 434 on Wekiva Springs Rd. The other is in the old Santiago's Bodega location in a strip mall close to I4 (non-4 Rivers side) on Spring Centre Blvd. Look for a BK.
Frida's Mexican Grill - I had the enchiladas verdes (two chicken and two beef) for $15.51 (listed as $15) to go. They were the worst I have ever had. The meats were ok. However, they didn't bake it. Just raw rolled up tortillas. The cheese was gross. The veg were old. The salsa was tasteless. The plastic menu is huge. Lots of Average Jose dishes. None a great bargain. The one deal seemed to be two street tacos on Tuesday for $6 or five for $12. A bar on the left with four booths. Maybe twenty tables in the middle flanked by eight booths. Old looking Mexican decor. It was a Habanero's three years earlier. Maybe something else before that. Frida Kahlo iconography. The floor was sticky. They added a credit card surcharge. I only went here to complete the sweep of this area. I won't be back.
Zola - Will be a Fav. Had me at Emile Zola. I grabbed the beer battered grouper frito for $21 to go. They came with fries. Some of the ONLY properly done hand cut fries I've been served. Crisp exterior (they never are) with milky inside. Alot. Not slaty. The grouper was fresh. I ate it blindly while driving home, so, I think there were only three (finger sized) of them. They added some lemon and greens that started to make the coating mushy. I would eschew the garnish if I were them. Side of tartar. The menu is broken up it price categories. I think the two costlier ones were $21 and $45. Salads and apps were less. They had a sample of most meats. I remember a charcuterie board, lobster roll, hamburger and some KC dish called chicken piedensa or something. The owner had three places in Kansas City. Employed the Santiago's Bistro guy. Told me an interesting story about Willian S Burroughs. They spent alot on the reno. A big bar with a back of boat replica that read Pilar. I believe that was Hemingway's dingy. A main room with some twelve and four person tables. A room on the left that I believe usually has tables, but, was cleared out for live music. A wrap around patio. Great, minimalist decor. Black. Wood and iron. A large mural of the man himself greets you as you enter. Food came out fast. Small staff. Around twenty people there after 8pm. Lots of booze. Wine. Not stuffy. Open 7D from 5pm. Brunch on the weekends. Parking. If you can find it, find it. Open for ten days or so.
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