El HoHum

Reviewer: Chris

Original Review Date: 06/05/2009

Rating: 0/+3(Ho hum)

Heard some good things about this place on Chowhound from a fellow yellow-cheese-chili-gravy style Tex-Mex lover. It's a bit out of the way, but with my shiny new TxTag I was able to zip down the new toll road and hit Round Rock pretty quickly.

The restaurant has a nice homey atmosphere. Staff was friendly. I saw several customers come in who were greeted by name by the staff, so there are a lot of regulars.

Prices are quite good for the lunch specials, just over $5. I got the cheese enchilada and crispy taco lunch special.

Chips came out quickly, but did not seem house-made (they rarely are). Salsa was good and fresh tasting. Next my taco appeared—El Matador utilizes the Separated Entree System of Tex-Mex Food Delivery, so the lone taco comes out early, appetizer-style, long before your entree arrives. Not sure why this is done. I would prefer to have my food all appear on the same plate. Anyway, the taco was not even a taco, it was a cutesy mini-taco salad which is impossible to eat with ones manos. Not a favorite presentation, and one I have only seen at one other place, La Morada. The taco did not have any cheese on it, which I would have liked. The taste was pretty good though, ground beef was well seasoned and devoid of mystery meat chunks.

Some time later the remainder of the meal arrived. One cheese enchilada swimming in chili gravy, cheese and onions (as requested), with rice and beans flanking. The enchilada was good, the chili gravy was ok (but not great), but there was just a bit too much of it on the plate (I'm all for an abundance of chili gravy on one's enchilada plate, but there's something to be said for achieving the proper balance). The sides, however, were mediocre at best. Refrieds were a tad too dry, but did have an ok flavor (but not good enough to entice me to finish them). Rice was too dry and dark and boring. Rice grains too discrete. An absolute afterthought.

So overall the meal was just OK. Then I got the bill and saw the usual charge for my side of jalapenos (50¢, and I ate probably three pepper slices) :(

The meal ended with a free praline in a little wax paper bag, which is a nice touch, but I don't like pralines.

So, not worth special trip.