I think this is worth mentioning. I'm no food snob, and i'm quite a glutton. Probably 1 out of 6 or 7 of my posts are about food.

I like large amounts of food, and I prefer to have it for cheap...but I wouldn't compromise quality for quantity or price.

I agree with MysticCat, you'll find good food at most type of places. I'm just weirded out by people who ONLY stick to chains and buffets, which seem to be the trend in Missouri, Illinois (except chicago), and some parts of the south. There's so much more out there.

And I'd completely agree on that.

Interesting. I never thought to judge a restaurant, much less a whole catagory of restaurants, by the bad manners or boorish behaviors of my dining companions. ;)

After growing up in Texas with a fondness for Mexican food, I ventured to Virginia for graduate school.

Not long after arriving I was lamenting that I was really missing some good Mexican food. A friendly classmate, who was from Baltimore, tried to be helpful: "What do you mean there is no Mexican food here... we have a Chili's!"

Sigh.

If there is not a huge tub of lard involved in making my flour tortillas, then they ain't tortillas. Bonus points if the lady making them is the matriarch of the family and doesn't speak a lick of English. Love those sweet ladies....

Oh, don't analyze it too much -- I was just sharing a funny story.

My dislike of buffet-type restaurants is much more deep-seeded than from just this situation. ;)

Tex-Mex rules to live by -

1.) Understand that Tex-Mex is not Mex-Mex. Mexico has a rich and varied cuisine, which bears little resemblance to Tex-Mex.

2.) You cannot get good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Yes, the restaurant may be owned by Mexicans, but that does not mean the food will be up to true Tex-Mex standards. I cannot count the bad experiences I have had all over the country because well-meaning friends are convinced I will LOVE their local Mexican restaurant. Thanks for trying - I need to go home to Texas.

3.) A good Tex-Mex restaurant makes their own tortillas (by HAND, not machine) and fries said tortillas to make chips. Bagged chips = NO. Salsa or pico out of a jar = no.

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is just about PERFECT - started as a Mexican grocery, started selling prepared food, added on to the grocery store in several stages. It is like a rabbit warren. Black velvet painting of Jesus amongst the cosmos over the jukebox, little Mexican women patting out the tortillas, two beer limit with dinner, and CHEAP as free. Yummmm. . . it is also out of the way, so tends to draw a local crowd. I need me some cheese enchildas now.

Ewwww.....As much as i like certain "tex-mex" concoctions, it still isn't Mexican food, and shouldn't be claimed as such.

Ever been to Puerto Nuevo? Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had -- and lobster is their specialty!

http://www.bajalife.com/bordercrossi...nglobster.html

...but, I do know what you're saying -- it always makes me laugh when I see a "spinach & mushroom burrito" on the menu of an authentic mexican restaurant.

Oh, and I would dearly LOVE to experience Herbert's in San Marcos someday!

I absolutely HATE buffet style places. Of course being drug to Golden Corral on Sunday's after church when I was little and watching my fat uncles raid the meat buffet embarrassingly probably attributed to this. There are TONS of buffet style places in my region. The fat rednecks probably make up 90% of the revenue I'm sure. The last buffet I ventured to was the "Crazy Buffet" in Tampa. Of course we were only down there for a Bucs game (GO BUCS!!!) so I wasn't going to be picky. It was basically a spruced up Chinese Food buffet. I'm not a heavy eater so I never get my money's worth, but I spent a good 10 minutes lingering around the chocolate fountain =).

That's why it is Tex-Mex, and strictly Mexican food is Mex-Mex. :)

My aunt married into a large Mexican family, and "Mama" taught her to make authentic Mex-Mex food. It is AMAZING.


eta - here's a link - scroll down to see Herbert's. Oh - and The Green Parrot, infamous Gamma Phi hang-out "back in the day".
http://www.texcenproperties.com/san-...photo-tour.htm

I must admit that I do enjoy the occasional Tex-Mex food, like fajitas or a quesadilla (made w/ Muenster cheese, cause that's the only kinda cheese i like)

This reminds me of the post someone made on GC, that encouraged the AGDs (i believe) to go to a certain restaurant in San Antonio while they were on convention. The poster said something about guacamole not being made w/ mayonnaise and I almost barfed. I hate guacamole to begin with, but i can't imagine it with mayonnaise. I double barfed when i turned on the food network and Sandra Lee (blah) was making an "authentic Mexican" white bean guacamole. Yeah, "authentic" guacamole does not include beans of any kind.

As a rule I am close to being an omnivore, excluding boiled okra, but I would generally pass on all-you-can-eat buffets. Dipping swill from the trough is not my idea of a great meal. However, on those rare occasions when I am in a town that has a Pancho's I go into attack mode.
Pancho's has really god-awful food but also one or two outstanding items. Their cheese and shredded onion enchiladas are great and their tamalies are the best I have found outside of the late lamented Manuel's in New Orleans.
My appreciation for Pancho's began back as an undergrad when I was in the grip of the worst stomach flu of my life. My girlfriend of the time suggested I try Pancho's as a kill-or-cure remedy. What the hell, I went for it and it worked. Since then I have regarded Pancho's as Mexicillin.

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

ETA: Or when they try to tell me Legal Seafood still has the best chowder in Boston...but that's just a personal thing...

I miss Hanover Street.

Or Bravo. I don't care if it says "Italian Kitchen" in the name.

As do I; the North End is fantastic in a number of ways. One reason I miss living in Boston is I can't just jump on the T and head down to the North End, either for one of my favorites (like Strega), or just to try a new place. Boston really is a great city for restaurants and good food.

Absolutely; just because it has marinara, or the dish ends with an "a" or "o" doesn't make it an Italian dish.