Venturing out to have a taste of satisfying food, I explored a restaurant I thought might fulfill my craving for Mexican cuisine. To my excitement, Sal’s Mexican Restaurant was the perfect place to dine.

As it was my first time eating at this restaurant, I expected to find the traditional Mexican restaurant venue with bright colors and loud music. To my surprise, the colors were bright but not overpowering and the music was subtle.

The layout of the medium-sized room could use some enhancements. Walls closed off certain areas of the room making it seem smaller than its actual size. Some tables stood too close together making me feel like I was not only having a conversation with the person in front of me but also everyone around us. Also, the white butcher paper on top of the tables lacked class, making it seem like a child’s restaurant.

While we waited for our order to be taken, a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa were placed in front of us to satisfy our hunger until our main dish arrived. There was nothing remarkable about the chips besides the fact that they lacked something to be desired, possibly salt.

Although I usually find it quite easy to choose which dish I want, this restaurant’s menu kept me wondering for a while. The variety of choices they contained were immense. Not only were there quesadillas, nachos, and burritos, but there were at least five different choices of each one. Sticking to the norm of what I usually order in a Mexican restaurant, I tried the classic carne asada burrito.

When our main courses did come, we were quite pleased. The carne asada burrito accompanied with beans and rice met my expectations as a perfectly-wrapped and balanced burrito.

The carne asada presented appetizing flavors and was cut into good-sized pieces, so I could take a sensible bite without having to play tug-of-war with the burrito, trying to cut the meat with my teeth. The refried beans gave the burrito the moisture it needed to save it from being dry.

The nachos that another member of my party ordered contained a range of interesting yet delectable flavors. The crunchiness of the tortilla chips coincided perfectly with the smooth texture of the beans and cheese. Lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole sat perfectly on top giving a fresh taste to the hot plate.

Another attendee ordered chicken quesadilla’s accompanied with sour cream and guacamole on the side. Although the cheese gave it a moist texture it overpowered the chicken. The guacamole gave it an exotic taste which saved it from being bland.

The authenticity of the food made me feel like I was eating a homemade meal made by my mom. The food at Sal’s greatly surpassed any other Mexican restaurant I have been to which claims that they serve authentic food. This usually just consists of only homemade tortillas, if even that. Sal’s goes above and beyond to give you a full experience of genuine Mexican cuisine.

The service outshone any other service I have ever encountered. My glass never seemed to be empty and the constant check-ups made me feel like a special guest. Our waiter, Andre, seemed genuinely happy to be there and did not act like a robot just going through the motions of work.

My experience at Sal’s was one for the books. I would gladly revisit this restaurant. The high-quality service and appetizing food delighted showed how a restaurant should be run.

The menu at Sal’s consists of appetizers ranging from a bowl of guacamole ($4.99) to a steak fajita quesadilla ($9.99). The prices of entrees span from $13.49-$5.99. Overall good prices for good quality food. Our bill came out to $20.34 for one carne asada burrito and one plate of Macho Nachos, not including tip. Sal’s does no exclusively stick to Mexican style cuisine but also offers foods such as grilled cheese sandwich’s and hamburgers.

Sal’s Mexican Restaurant is located at 7476 N. Fresno St. located in the Northgate Shopping Center on the N/E corner of Fresno and Alluvial. Sal’s can be reached at 559.438.3030.

For more food reviews, read the Jan. 20 article, Vegan cuisine distinguishes Revive Cafe.