(No website found as of this writing) – Ellensburg
How I heard of this place: Driving by on the way from Yakima to Seattle – taking the long, scenic route of Hwy 410. We were told, in Greenwater, that the first open restaurant was about 20 minutes away in Ellensburg, so we made our way over, drove through town and decided this was the place.
Type of cuisine: Mexican
Ambiance: Colorful walls and tall-backed booths lines the large restaurant with a large bar in the back and huge banquet hall downstairs. Mexican blankets and sombreros decorated the green and blue walls. One nostalgic painting (we assumed the nostalgia of the artist) decorated the wall (painted onto the wall) in the front entryway. No other customers were there at 3:00 p.m. when we arrived for lunch, making the space quiet, sparse, and the Mexican music louder, and somewhat hopeful.
What I ordered: We were welcomed with a basket of corn tortilla chips, fresh, spicy pico de gallo-like salsa and a small plate of warm refried beans. I ordered a two-item lunch combination ($6.95), which came with a bean enchilada, a chile relleno, rice and beans. My dining companion ordered the pollo a la crema ($11.75) which was served in a large, round, blue plate and included strips of tender chicken breast and onion sauteed in a light cream sauce, garnished with Mexican Cotija cheese, and served with rice and beans.
What I loved: I loved the freshness of the salsa and the addition of warm beans to eat with the chips. The pollo a la crema tasted more fresh, light and satisfying than everything on my plate (despite my tiny nibble of a sample).
Why I loved it: The waitress was very friendly and offered us more chips, salsa, beans, water refills and the food very quickly. She was pleasant and warm and seemed happy to see us!
Cost: Low to average ($7-$12 for a large entree)