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Recently, memories of my UCLA days came up in conversation with my friend Jill over dinner at the new Mexican Post. Southern California packed quite a culture shock for this East Coast city girl and there were a number of firsts for me that glorious summer. I sampled avocado, went to Disneyland and fell off a surfboard numerous times at Malibu Beach. One night, our group nixed dorm food and went to El Cholo for dinner. It was the first time I tasted Mexican food.
Mexican Post at 16th and Cherry streets, across from Love Park, has filled a much-needed niche in a neighborhood that is starved for restaurants. It occupies the ground floor of Strayer University in the old Pennwalt building. The bar in front was dotted with several plasma televisions and filled with people enjoying drinks during happy hour. There is a separate area for private parties. Jill and I were shown to the open and colorful dining room where we settled in.
The room is kitted out with dark-wood tables and comfortable chairs. I was disappointed only flimsy paper napkins were offered during the dinner hour. High-quality, thick paper napkins would be most welcome and, of course, linen would be best.
Complimentary nachos, warm from the oven, arrived with a spicy salsa that packed quite a punch. Jumbo margaritas were a bargain at $3.50 and I sipped a frozen one while Jill enjoyed hers on the rocks.
Dishes are served on colorful Fiestaware, which has made a big comeback over the past few years. The bright primary hues serve as a great backdrop for Mexican fare.
We shared the casa salad ($7.95), which was prepared with shredded lettuce, warm, slightly toothy black beans, ripe avocado, grilled portobello mushroom strips, zucchini, cheese, chopped tomatoes, scallions and olives. It was large enough for two and we asked our server to bring us spoons for easy serving. I always liked the contrast of warm and cool in salads and this one filled the bill nicely. We asked for the house chipotle ranch dressing on the side.
From the entrees, Jill selected the chicken enchiladas suizas ($10.45) and I decided on flautas with shredded beef ($11.25). Jill’s plate contained two soft corn tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken and minced vegetables topped with salsa verde and melted cheese. They were tasty because the chicken was spiced just right and we both liked the salsa prepared with tomatillos, which look like small green tomatoes. When cooked, they have a fruity flavor I enjoy. Jill’s dinner came with refried beans and rice, which, unfortunately, was converted — something I do not prefer.
My dinner was on the bland side, consisting of two flour tortillas that looked like blintzes. I prefer corn tortillas, but this is a matter of personal taste. These lacked crispness, which was how they were described on the menu. The absence of flavor in the pulled beef was disappointing — it needed to be spiced up a bit. My dinner was topped with guacamole, but there was so little of this Mexican staple it had no impact. My meal also came with the refried beans and converted rice.
Jill is a dessert-lover and we selected crepes with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream ($3.45) and ice cream chimi ($4.85). The crepes were inedible. They had the texture of rubber tires and I could barely cut them. The caramel was so sweet it hurt my teeth, but the small scoop of ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, was fine. Jill’s was more interesting. It was a chocolate cookie rolled into a long tube filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with liquid chocolate.
Mugs of hot Lipton tea ($1.50) were welcome on the chilly evening, but it would have been nice if leaves of a better quality variety had been offered.
Service was excellent. Our meals arrived freshly prepared and hot. There was a tendency to rush so we just asked our server to slow it down a bit. By the time we left, Mexican Post was doing a brisk business.
This is a place where I would go for an inexpensive meal whenever I don’t feel like cooking. It is certainly not Taco Bell, but it falls short of Zocalo and especially Los Catrines/Tequila’s.
Two tips of the toque to Mexican Post.
Mexican Post
1601 Cherry St.
215-568-2667
Credit cards accepted
Open for lunch and dinner seven days
