Atmosphere is nice at this local Mexican restaurant

Urbano’s Fine Mexican Food seems to be out of place when driving by. There is a gas station on its left and an audio shop on its right. Despite the seemingly poor placement, Urbano’s has great food that I will definitely be coming back to.

Walking in, customers are immediately greeted by the host, and the staff that’s working in the kitchen can also be heard saying hello through the window.

The decor is something that you find in most typical Mexican restaurants. There are various photographs, ponchos and a few painted flowers on the walls that are meant to remind anyone of Mexican culture.

A few moments after seating customers at either the tables or the round booths, the host comes back with a basket of fresh chips and a very nice spicy salsa before offering something to drink.

After some time is given to look over the menu, the host walks over again to see if more time is needed or if we’re ready to have our order taken.

I ordered a combination plate that consisted of a beef enchilada and pork tamale with rice, beans and salad. The other member of my party ordered two cheese and chicken quesadillas.

Once the food was brought out, I could immediately smell how delicious it was going to be. The enchilada and tamale were covered in a red sauce and topped with melting cheddar cheese.

The quesadillas looked like soft tacos topped with lettuce and more cheese, and came along with rice, beans and salad.

Cutting into the enchilada, I could already tell that the shredded beef was cooked to perfection. Taking the first bite I was met with the most tender beef I had ever encountered at a Mexican restaurant.

The sauce and cheese only enhanced the flavor of the beef. My only change would be to add a few more spices into the mix. It seems like the meat was only flavored with salt.

The rice and beans were what anyone would expect at a Mexican restaurant. The rice could have used a little more salt or could have been cooked with a broth of some kind to give it a little more flavor.

The atmosphere lends itself to the overall experience, and the friendliness of the staff is unparalleled. If you’re looking for decent Mexican dishes at a representative price, then Urbano’s is the place for you.

Urbanos is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. Fridays.

Address: 5825 Manzanita Ave. Suite 2, Carmichael, CA 95608

Price: $20- $25 dinner for two.

3 out of 5 stars

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