Tequila Mexican Restaurant

quality food at an affordable price

Who would think you'd find decent Mexican food out along Highway 64 in Whiteville, TN? So I'm driving out from Memphis toward Bolivar and I had just checked into my Super 8 Motel. The motel was actually comfy and cheap, but at 8 pm and hungry, I didn't see much in the way of hot food in the vicinity. I knew the local gas station quik-e-marts weren't going to cut it.

I asked the reception person and she literally pointed to an empty lot behind the motel ---the Mexican food over there is good, she said. I didn't have much choice so I tried it out.

Ordered the special, "pollo enchiladas" (chicken), which were a steal at $6.25. Three enchiladas, beans, rice, chips. In fact the menu looked pretty well-stocked, somewhat Americanized ("chili", grilled chicken sandwich) menu for those who can't handle something authentic. The prices were very reasonable. Back in California I can go to Colibri or Dona Tomas and spend $10 on a small bowl of guacamole or $20 on a cochinita pibil, a $3.99 enchilada lunch plate sounds about right.

Good news: the enchiladas were better than decent ---not really gloppy cheesy messes surrounded by sour cream like back home. They were actually rolled up corn tortillas, stuffed with steamed/shredded chicken (found a bone!), accompanied with beans and rice, which were fine. I really expected flavorless refrieds and gummy rice, but they were neither.

The odd a la carte item was a mixed bag. The single tamale actually came as a pair of thick, nicely seasoned masa with shredded, seasoned pork. By themselves, which is what I wanted, they would have been very good. Yet, in deference (I think) to Bernice and Cletus (and twangy tots) that were sitting in the lonely, nondescript restaurant, and others, the cooks somehow had to smother the tamales in a salty, gloppy "chili" sauce, which was essentially ground beef. Yeah, beef and pork together. The saltiness overpowered the tamal. I had to brush off the meat so I could get to the tasty tamal.

On the way down here, back maybe 20 miles ago, I saw a packed parking lot for another Mexican restaurant called El Nopal. Who knows? On my back to civilization and Graceland tomorrow, maybe I'll drop in.

No dessert, although the banana burrito ($2.10) sounded intriguing.