Location: 360 Brown St., West Lafayette (map it)
Phone: (765) 250-3060
Cuisine: Mexican

Recently there was an article in the Journal and Courier about a new Mexican plan over where the River Rock Grille used to be. Then I got a slew of emails from people requesting I go check it out. So being the good blogger I am, I did just that. I went to Poblanos on Monday (sorry I’m late with my review, I’ve been busy with my job that actually pays me.)

Located in West Lafayette, in the same strip as BW3 and the Neon Cactus, Poblanos is a very nice place. The inside has been redone, and it’s very clean and well organized. The decor is tasteful, the eating areas are nice, and the ambiance is also good. I was impressed.

Immediately we were brought two baskets of chips and two bottles of salsa with four salsa dishes. This is nice, because everyone had their own salsa dish and we could double dip as much as we wanted. The salsa was very good, but the chips were a bit lacking. Not warmed, which I prefer. The menu was expansive, with lunch specials as well as a regular full menu with everything you could possibly want.

From the JC article, it seemed to me that the fajitas were something of a specialty. I’m not one to normally order fajitas the first time I go to a restaurant. I like fajitas just fine, but I saw on Anthony Bourdain once that fajitas are what people who don’t like Mexican food eat. And I like Mexican food, all kinds. So my usual test is something a little more traditional, but since the fajitas were a specialty, I felt like I needed to try them.

The fajitas arrived on a sizzling platter with a separate plate of beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce and pico. They looked fantastic. Unfortunately, I have to say they were not all that great. The chicken was pretty bland and dry. So I was definitely disappointed in the chicken fajitas. My friend who ordered a lunch special reported that all of her items were great. I am a big fan of refried beans, and the beans were quite tasty.

Perhaps the bland fajitas were a fluke, or else there’s some room for improvement. I’ll definitely go back and try again. The servers were really friendly and the manager or owner made his way around to greet the patrons, which is always a nice touch.

Kid Friendly: Yes.

Price: Very reasonable, lunch specials around $6-9.

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