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Ana L. Garcia
English 1101
Prof. Sarah Hughes
Place Review Final Draft May 2016

Lalos Mexican Restaurant: Refreshing Drinks, Bland

Food

Lalo's Mexican Restaurant in Berwyn, IL

Lalos Mexican Restaurant first opened in the 1980s in one of Chicagos Mexican
Communities. Known for authentic food, margaritas, and entertainment, Berwyn has always
been one, if not the most, popular locations to visit. As a child, I remember my parents bringing
the family here for special occasions, such as graduations, birthdays, Mothers Day, and so on. It
was considered a fancy place to celebrate with delicious food and live entertainment. On
Mothers Day 2016 my family and I decided to bring our aunts, including my mother, here for
dinner to celebrate.

The scene: Pulling up to the restaurant one couldnt help but notice the crowd of people outside
anxiously waiting for their name to be called. First order of business is to find parking. There are
two separate lots on each side of the building that seem to be no bigger than a 1200 sq. ft.

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apartment. The parking lines drawn out show to accommodate twenty cars in one lot and thirty
cars in the other. By some miracle that a parking spot is found, be prepared to take a deep breath
in to squeeze out of the car, unless youre comfortable with climbing over the seats to exit
through the trunk. The best bet is to look for street parking, but be weary of residential permit
parking within the residential streets.
From the outside, the building is nothing of a spectacle. A green color provides as a
border to the all white building. Approaching the entrance, its difficult not to notice the two
polar bears against the building. The bears are discolored, have numerous paint chipping, and are
not securely bolted to the ground. They serve more of an eye sore than they do curb appeal. That
specific day, those bears would prove to be an eye sore for 2 hours. On a normal Sunday it is
typical for there to be a longer wait due to the mariachi band that performs during dinner times.
Since this particular day was Mothers Day, the wait time for tables had peeked to two plus
hours. On any given day we wouldve gave up, but this was Mothers Day and we were at Lalos.
We knew the deliciousness that our future held if we waited that 2-hour wait, so wait we did.
Once we received the text notification that our table was ready, we walked into, what
could best be described, the equivalent of strolling the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago.
The whole atmosphere of the restaurant can simply be described as festive. The walls were
painted with vibrant colors and covered with various artwork that represents the Mexican culture.
The bar area is illuminated by the neon lights that bear the name of the various alcohol brands
served, giving the feel of a club scene. On the stage, the mariachis, dressed in black charro suits,
are in the middle of serenading all the mothers with Vicente Fernandezs song Madrecita
Querida not leaving a dry eye in the house. Once we made our way into the dining room, we
were seated at a wooden, octagon shaped table that was outfitted with colorful plates and

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napkins. The dining area has old oak barrels that hang off the wall, serving as a border, just as the
green paint did for the outside of the building. Some walls are made to look similar to a china
cabinet, displaying various dishes similar to what would be found in a typical Mexican home.

The food: The waitress wasted no time in taking our drink orders. I ordered the classic frozen
strawberry margarita and was not disappointed. Served in a jumbo frosted glass that could easily
be shared by two people, it had the perfect ratio of margarita mix and tequila. The water pitchers
resembled bottles of tequila, so much that I tasted its contents before allowing my son to take a
drink himself. As we waited for the food to be prepared, the waitress brought chips and salsa to
the table. This particular Lalos location is known for making more of a flavorful salsa than a
spicy one. Within minutes, both baskets were devoured. Shortly after, the food had arrived. I
ordered the chicken enchiladas suizas in green sauce. The enchiladas were served along with
rice, beans, and salad. At first bite, I wasnt impressed. Assuming it was the margarita lingering
on my taste buds that was effecting the taste, I drank some water to clear my pallet. Once again I
took a bite and the result was the same. Towards the middle of the enchiladas the chicken was
dry. The consistency of the beans was more of a paste. This typically means the beans were over
cooked or left out for too long. Regardless of what I tasted on my plate, the food was bland. It
was as if the cook forgot to add spices and seasonings to the entire dish.
After surveying everyone at the table, it was clear to me that Lalos had lost its touch.
Enchiladas, flautas, tamales, and shrimp cocktail it all tasted bland. It was as if the food was
prepared for a person on a low sodium diet. Once a restaurant with authentic, flavorful food has
now turned into a restaurant that is no better than a Taco Bell. Disappointment would accurately

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describe the mood at the table. After waiting 2 hours for what was suppose to be the grand finale
of a great day, instead ended as a mediocre one.

Bottom Line: Lalos is a classic authentic Mexican restaurant that is still sought after by the
loyal patrons that having been going for years. Lalos commands the same prices found at
restaurants in the same category but with less the flavor. The restaurant has lost their way from
their once constantly flavorful food. The focus seems to have been placed more on the drink and
entertainment value. If drinks and traditional Mexican entertainment is what you seek, Lalos is
definitely the place to be. Until they get back to what made them well known, their flavorful
food, my suggestion would be to dine elsewhere before coming to Lalos.
Ratings out of 5 stars:
Drinks Rating:
Food Rating:
Entertainment Rating:
Overall Rating: