El Mexicano

My darling cousin works in Bandra and so I finally planned a visit to Bombay’s most popular Mexican eatery, Sancho’s; a Delhi based chain that has spread its wings to the Bandrarian suburb of Mumbai and has been around for about two years now.

The place sports a charming earthy décor flavoured with Mexican artefacts like sombreros and masks that truly shout Ai Caramba!

You can expect more than just tacos at this festive Mexican hot spot. The well priced menu offers a selection of Tex-Mex favourites like chili con carne quesadillas, spicy tacos, fish taquitos, burritos and yellow and blue nacho chips with chicken or beef, cheese, salsa and the works. Majorly bueno.

Since they don’t take reservations we went fairly early and managed to get the table of our choice, but an hour in and the place was packed.

Let me tell you that more often than not, no matter who I go out with, I'm usually pretty hungry and this time was no different. So, on getting my lemon iced tea, which was a cool refreshing drink for a warm summer's eve, off went the orders for a serve of Fiesta Nachos and Potato Skins which were brought to us in no time at all. We dug right in.

While the nachos were right on target; crunchy triangles of corn chips on a bed of refried beans, topped with a dollop of tomato salsa, guacamole and sour cream, with a subtle drizzle of melted cheese sauce. A delicious combination of flavours that we polished off in a flash.

The skins definitely missed the mark; halves of baked potato topped with melted cheese with a cabbage and tomato salad in the middle. Under-flavoured potatoes with a bland cheese topping and a tasteless salad. The only flavour in this dish, were the bits of tomato salsa that had been sparingly spooned into the salad.

Moving on to the mains, we ordered a portion of the Pork Tacos and a plate of Chicken Quesadillas.
The tacos were filled with delightfully flavoured shredded pork, topped with cabbage and a mild tomato salsa, wrapped in soft taco shells served with spicy salsa on the side. Lip-smacking goodness.

The quesadillas were not as delightful. Scanty pieces of chicken that were swimming in a thick spicy but mildly appetizing sauce, sandwiched and grilled in-between slightly chewy, soft tortilla disks. The sauce that had less chicken, a tiny amount of cheese and too many sautéed onions, was a bit over-powering and all in all, the dish didn't really hit the spot.

To end the meal, we had the Tres Leches cake which was just scrumptious. Soft, layers of butter cake served in a plate of sweet evaporated condensed milk topped with a light and airy cream frosting. ¡Muy rico!

Unfortunately, the Air Bunuelos that we also ordered were just the opposite and we found them inedible. Although well presented, the dish was just wheels of dough that were fried and probably double fried, to a form a thin crisp. The dish didn't have much flavour at all, except maybe for the chocolate sauce that was served on the side.

Over all a fun atmosphere where some live Spanish music would go down a treat. I think I will re-visit this joint if only for the nachos and next time I'm going to try a pitcher of the house margarita for sure ¡Aiiiiiii!

Address:
Pinnacle House,
Plot No.604, Ground Floor,
P.D Hinduja Road,
15 Road Khar West,
Mumbai- 400052.

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Sancho's Restaurant