Evenings for Two

Here’s a sneak preview of my article that will appear in the November issue of Southern Neighbor.  Look for the whole thing in the paper in mailboxes and newsstands early November.

So it’s November.  You’re busy, you’re shopping, you’re working and you’re trying to figure out how to keep the credit card from going “TILT” over the holidays. We recommend beating the stress by taking a break for lunch with a friend.  But of course you don’t want to stretch your wallet even more.  So we went looking for a few local restaurants that have good food and even better value.  Here’s what we found:

Fiesta Grill
You might have heard people talk about Fiesta Grill, but have you ever been?  It’s more or less outside of Carrboro (but somehow has a Chapel Hill address) and has super fresh Mexican food.  In fact, it’s caught the eye of more than one travel writer and appeared in a national magazine or two.
It’s located in a tiny square of a building and you can guess that this might not be the typical Mexican place by the interesting parking lot mix—think pick-ups, priuses and the occasional BMW.  Inside, you can order take out (I know someone who won’t make tacos unless they pick up the tortillas from Fiesta Grill) or sit down at one of the six or seven tables.  If you sit, you’re immediately rewarded with warm tortilla chips and freshly made salsa.
The menu is actually pretty extensive and includes tacos, burritos, tostadas, chimichangas, fajitas and more.  We asked for advice in ordering and apparently one of the most popular items on the menu are the fajitas ($10.95).  And now we know why.  The tortillas were soft and warm, the meat was perfectly seasoned and the veggies were fresh.  We were also recommended the burrito de chile verde ($7.25). When served, the thing was as big as my head; it easily could have been two lunches.  For those who want something lighter, try the a la carte menu.  It’s a great deal – the list includes items like a taco for $2.50, an enchilada for $3, and a chile relleno for $3.  If you’re up to spending a few bucks more, it all washes down very nicely with Mexican beer.

Fiesta Grill
3307 Hwy 54 West
(at the intersection of White Cross Road, 5 miles west of Carrboro)
919-928-9002
www.fiestagrill.us
Closed Mondays