Salt + Lime Mexican Cantina

We are local to the area and avoided this place for takeout for quite some time simply because we wanted to dine in first. Time flies and you sometimes forget to check a place out as a result. Well, we finally made it in. This place was so good we came back that same week! The first time around we came on a late lunch. The place was fairly empty given the time. We were quickly greeted and given a table by the window. The place looked and smelled clean. The music was at an appropriate level. We received water with chips and salsa immediately. The salsa was quite tasty. Nico came and greeted us within a few minutes and took our drink/appetizer order. I asked Nico if he knew what kind of onions were in the guacamole and he immediately knew the answer, which was white onions instead of the usual red onions. This is a huge bonus to me as red onions tend to overpower many of the more subtle Mexican flavors. The drinks came quickly and the appetizer of guacamole wasn't far behind. Besides needing a fair bit of salt, the guacamole was delicious. There were shakers right on the table so no need to ask for them. Nico took our entree order of Steak Fajitas and Birra Tacos. The entrees had a reasonable ticket time and came out hot. The Birra tacos were excellent! They had a mild Indian spice to them which at first doesn't sound appetizing (at least to me), but my wife was in heaven. The plate also had rice and beans which were quite tasty. The Steak Fajitas were excellent. The plate presentation was fantastic. The spice on the fajitas also reminded me of Indian flavors, but was mild compared to the Birra tacos so it was more of a small tweak than a full commitment. The fajitas also had onions and peppers in the sauté pan. When it was time for the check, Nico was quick and came right to the table for a credit tap on a mobile device, which I found nice. He was an excellent server and we had an amazing experience. The second time around was just as good! We were served by Lucia and she was attentive to our needs, even though she was much busier. Our orders were similar, except this time we also had our child with us. She ended up ordering a kid's Churro plate for dessert, but they came out with a full plate instead! I was absolutely FORCED to help her with them and they were delicious! The second visit was on Tuesday night where they have a taco Tuesday special as well as a Mariachi band walking around singing and playing for folks. The band was friendly and not particularly intrusive, nor did they ask for tips which was nice. Sometimes bands do that and it always feels.... off... while you're trying to eat. Again, everything was fantastic! In other news, the bathrooms were clean and well tended to on both nights. The parking was adequate, though I could see how a busy night might make it harder to find parking so be warned to come early or make extra time for parking on a busy night! A few small criticisms: the second time around it was a little slow to get the check. I just feel like when I ask for the check, I want to leave so don't take too long, but really not a huge deal. I mentioned the place smelled clean, but... the clean smell was very similar to a clean public bathroom smell. Again, not a huge deal, but I would suggest picking a different scent when it's time to order more of those odor eliminators placed around the restaurant. I do appreciate their effort in this though as sometimes you walk out of a restaurant smelling like it, and here we didn't. Finally, my wife does have an unfortunate sensitivity to gluten. She had mentioned this to the server, but unfortunately received flour tortillas with her taco entree. It's easy to miss something like this (she did too), but just try to remember that. Her symptoms aren't the worst, but others might be more sensitive. All in all, this is our new favorite Mexican place. It feels like an authentic Mexican restaurant, but with West Hartford service. The prices were very reasonable for the portions and the food was excellent. Drop by and give them a shot!

It doesn't matter what you order, the food is delicious. Service with a smile. If you need gluten free options, they are clearly listed on the menu. No guessing