El Tiempo

Oh, my, where to begin? The warm, smoked tomato salsa is to die for. This is another place where you could easily pig out on the chips and salsa before the main entree arrives. My chicken enchiladas came with grilled onions, chile toreado, borracho beans, seasoned rice and barco of lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheddar cheese. My parents had the crab enchiladas, a specialty.

At most places, rice and beans are usually an afterthought at most places, a filler for insufficient meat. El Tiempo’s were as good as the salsa. The rice had fresh cilantro and other seasonings I couldn’t put my finger on. The beans were similarly elusive. Were I to go back, I’d forgo the chicken for the rice and beans.

Had I not gotten there early (~4:30), I would have had to rely on the valet parking option. The restaurant was on the loud side as it was filled up with evening patrons. Conversation was progressively difficult to as the hyena-like laughs of the margarita-chugging party behind me got worse. The atmosphere isn’t why you’d go, though.

(N.B. I went to the other El Tiempo at 5602 Washington, about three blocks west of Durham.)