El Canelo

I really, really like El Canelo, even though Mexican food does not tend to excite me much. The service is great; they are friendly, they replace chips, salsa, and drinks promptly, and the food never takes long to come out. The food itself is unpretentious stuff, but very good. And it is really inexpensive. For two people, we used to get an appetizer, entrees, and some combination of lots of soda or beer for around $20 with tip. Plus the aforementioned unlimited chips and salsa. Yowza. Even cheaper for lunch. Although I just looked at their new (for me) website and it looks like the prices went up a little. Still inexpensive, though.

They are part of a small chain (6-8 places?) spread out through Ohio, northwestern PA, and western New York. I always imagined that they are all staffed by the same extended Mexican family, but I dunno if that is true. I have also been to the one in Wooster, Ohio (the first one I had been to).

It looks like they opened up another one in the Buffalo area in Depew. I am glad they have become successful, as I remember they were worried about the business when they first opened up this location. It took them forever to get their liquor license.

I wish some of them would move out west to where I live now (Seattle). Mmm, I am thinking about their poppers, enchiladas with mushrooms, beans, and rice, and beer. The catfish is pretty good, too.