So on Mon eve I finally got to check out the relatively new Mexican spot in town – El Burro.  (meaning donkey in Spanish)

El Burro has taken over the old premises of the Buena Vista Social Cafe (which moved almost across the road, closer to the V&A Waterfront).

This venue used to be quite dark & dingy – a bit of a student jol and the kind of spot where you’d only really eat something after copious amounts of Tequila.  But I always felt that it had great potential to be something really cool.  This is why I was really excited to hear about the revamp.

Decor wise there’s been a total turnaround.  Fun, quirky details, fresh colours, great lighting and it’s super clean!

My favourite detail were these two little horsies next to their cactus friend… or are those supposed to be dressed up donkeys?  I don’t care, to me they looked like My Little Ponies and I wanted to take them home with me to cuddle on the couch.

Then we all also loved the seriously cool menu design:

For starters, Nix and I shared the Elotes (R37):

BLACKENED CORN ROLLED IN HOME-MADE MAYO, PARMESAN & PAPRIKA, SERVED WITH ROCKET, RADISH & PICKLED RED ONION.

You can’t really stuff up a mielie – one of my favourite things on the planet, especially when dripping with lightly salted butter, mmmmmm – BUT the parmesan & paprika mix gave it a really weird aftertaste.  That funky taste put Nix off totally – I on the other hand was willing to look past that little detail.  Why?  Well because I just really love corn!

Lara had the Chiles Relenos (3 for R33):

SMOKED JALAPENO’S STUFFED WITH QUESO FRESCO, SERVED WITH ROCKET, RADISH & PICKLED RED ONION

I had a small taste of this as well – can’t say it blew me away.  It wasn’t great, it wasn’t terrible.. it was just OK.

Some people had told me that I should go for the Cerviche (R56):

FINELY DICED FRESH LINE FISH MARINATED IN LIME JUICE, SERRANO CHILLIES, GINGER & CORIANDER.

Every review I could find online also mentioned it and then the waitress recommended it as well. But reading the description of what it is just didn’t grab me.  So I opted out.  Maybe that would’ve been amazing.  Dunno…

For mains  Lara opted for the Ensalada de Camaron (R70):

PRAWN SALAD WITH CRISPY BACON, BLACKENED CORN, BLACK BEANS & AVO

Nix had the Mushroom Quesadilla (R65):

GRILLED FLOUR TORTILLA FILLED WITH SAUTÉED FIELD MUSHROOMS & QUESO FRESCO, SERVED WITH A SUN-DRIED TOMATO & BLACK BEAN SALSA.

And I went for the Build-your-own Tacos option with Grilled chicken (R68):

FLOUR OR CORN TORTILLAS SERVED WITH PICKLED RED ONION, GUACAMOLE, SOUR CREAM, FRESH TOMATO, ROAST TOMATO SALSA & SHREDDED GREENS.
GRILLED CHICKEN
MARINATED IN CHILLI, CORIANDER, GARLIC & LEMON.

Lara said her salad was “as good as a salad can be” and Nix said her quesadilla was like a 3 out of 5 good.

My grilled chicken taco on the other hand was really really bland.  Like so bland, those under seasoned Woolies Slimmers Choice meals with the unknown white goop on top made this look bad…  I thought to myself “what happened to the marinated in chilli part?”

After mains, I gave up on the food and decided to focus my energies on the wine instead.  But Nix & Lara decided to share the Dark Chocolate Fondant (R42) for dessert:

They said it was really yum – but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that it just seemed very very wrong to have a French dessert on a Mexican menu.  Anyone else feel the same?   Maybe it would have sounded more acceptable if they mixed in some chilli into the chocolate or something. (And no, the chilli used as decoration does not count.)

So anyhoo, after all the excitement about trying this spot out, I was left a bit disappointed.  My Miss K Kiss-o-Meter ratings for El Burro would be:

• Vibe: 
• Price:
• Food:  (mine) (rest of table)
• Service: 

It certainly doesn’t trump my beloved Fat Cactus.  But I really do love the look & feel of the place, so I might go back to give them a second chance sometime.

xxx