Pepper up a shopping trip
CHIQUITO
Grey’s Quarter Eldon Square Newcastle www.chiquito.co.uk
CHIQUITO is one of those places that I’ve ambled by on numerous occasions and in numerous different locations but never actually felt tempted enough to venture into... until now.
The popular Mexican chain is a go-to for many people but has never been on my to-do list when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat either post-shopping trip or pre-night out.
But having tried the majority of Eldon Square’s, or Grey’s Quarter’s, to give it its Sunday name, new food outlets and faced with the choice of Chiquito or Frankie & Benny’s, the former romped to a Speedy Gonzalez style victory.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
A glance at Chiquito’s website and there is no longwinded ethos on how they’re striving to serve up a scintillating taste of South America (add superlative after superlative after superlative and ambiguous long word after ambiguous long word) but its decor is a big giveaway.
You know that with its multi-coloured booths and Mexican heavy decor, you’re not about to sit down to an Italian.
Luckily I went along to the Newcastle restaurant with something of a Chiquito connoisseur so I was left in no doubt as to what to expect and was almost at drool-like levels at the prospect of sampling its cocktails, never mind the food!
TO START...
Having spent the afternoon glancing over the starters and mains offered up by the standard menu, my choices were briskly thrown off course by a huge poster advertising the two courses for £10.95 deal, which, unlike many other offers, was actually available on a weekend.
And while a lot more restricted than the full menu it still covers a number of bases,
In the end I plumped for the South American staple – the nachos which came, as promised, stacked high and covered in jalapeño cheese sauce, melted mozzarella and sour cream and topped with tomato salsa & guacamole.
I haven’t quite got the palate for jalapeño peppers, so they were MIA but unlike nachos that you get in cinemas or from supermarkets, Chiquito’s were fresh and flavoursome, with the portion size leaving little room for the main – nothing to do with the earlier
homemade Sunday dinner, I’m sure!
By my side, my friend went for the Southern fried chicken strips and was also pretty full after enjoying every last morsel.
ON TO THE MAINS...
To be honest, if we’d ended our account at the starters we’d have left happy but as one does when you go out for a meal, we magically found room to give our mains the attention they deserved.
I went for the Border Wrap, which featured strips of southern fried chicken breast, with baby gem lettuce and BBQ sauce, served with skin-on-fries, homemade slaw and a citrus dressed salad.
Yes I admit it was probably the least ‘Mexican-y’ dish on the menu but it certainly did the job. Often the fries can let the tastebud-tickling side down but these ones were delicious.
I will say I had some serious food envy for what was being devoured next to me.
My dining companion’s Spicy Chicken Enchilada was practically taunting me for having the audacity not to choose it, with its tomato and mozzarella sauce looking absolutely gorgeous.
The accompanying spicy rice looked like the perfect accessory too and apparently it tasted rather good too.
TO DRINK...
Well let’s just say the cocktails definitely lived up to the hype.
With them also on offer there was no way we were just going to settle for one each and I’m happy to report that the Pornstar Martini, Berry Sling, Mojito and Pina Colada hit the spot as much as the food.
In fact, had we not had a prior engagement to go on to, we probably would have got another round in.
With a total bill of less than £40 for two starters, two mains and four cocktails, we certainly could have afforded it!
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
Very little.
The two staff who looked after us were both very attentive without ever running the risk of being overbearing and while, at just after 7pm on a Sunday, the restaurant was quieter than I expected, it was still very welcoming with a very eclectic mix of music keeping us well entertained.
From Kaiser Chiefs getting a mariachi style makeover to classics like La Bamba and Tequila, the soundtrack was spot on for the surroundings.
And seated quite a way into the dining area, it did actually feel like you were in a standalone restaurant rather than in the middle of a shopping centre – an unwelcome experience I’ve previously had in neighbouring eateries.
All that was missing was the sombreros and maracas!