Nachos con carne go for $6.25

Price range: $6-14.95

Rate: 2 out of 5

Want a little spice in your life?

Communications professor Brian Sheridan recommends Torero’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine, a North Carolina-based chain. In Erie you can find one on 1940 Douglas Pkwy., just adjacent to Peach Street.

“Torero’s is a great place if you like Mexican food,” Sheridan said.

After a 12-minute drive from Mercyhurst, my friend and I arrived at Torero’s around 8 p.m. on a Thursday evening.

Though the parking lot was slightly deserted, a few families and customers dotted the colorfully-painted restaurant.

The hostess immediately brought us to a booth and gave us a basket of tortilla chips and salsa.

While looking over Torero’s vast menu of Mexican dishes, I tried the complimentary chips and salsa. At first, I was apprehensive at trying the salsa because I am not accustomed to spicy foods.

Fresh onion, tomato and pepper chunks gave the salsa a spicy, mouth-watering kick. I enjoyed it so much that I can dub it the best salsa I have ever tried.

From fajitas to burritos to tacos and veg-chiladas, Torero’s menu had quite a selection of traditional and non-traditional Mexican dishes for everyone.

After much deliberation, I chose the chicken taquitos, an entrée the Torero family recommended on their menu. Priced at $7.50, the taquitos were two flour tortillas stuffed with chicken and Monterey jack cheese, rolled and crispy fried with a tomato, Cotija Mexican cheese, sour cream and guacamole garnish.

My friend, a novice to Mexican food, played it safe and chose the Nachos con Carne appetizer. At $6.25, the Nachos con Carne is defined as crispy cheese nachos topped with your choice of ground beef, chicken, or picadillo (shredded beef and pork), garnished with tomatoes and green onions.

Listening to a family behind us speak Spanish to the server, I discovered Torero’s is very family oriented. Mexican music plays in the background and a “Kids Eat Free Monday thru Thursday” banner hangs above the cash register.

Over 10 minutes later, our meals arrived on huge, colorful plates. My chicken taquitos were tender, cheesy and light on the stomach. Seven total taquitos circled the plate with the guacamole, sour cream and tomato garnish in the middle.

My friend’s Nachos con Carne appetizer was made to be shared because the portion size was extremely large. The dish was extremely tasty, and if you’re passionate about cheese, this dish is for you.

For a college student’s meager budget, the entrees are somewhat pricey, but the large portion size makes up for the expensive price tag.

Overall, I would say my Mexican experience at Torero’s was satisfying, but I would return only to snack on their salsa and chips.

Torero’s serves lunch Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is open on Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Torero’s offers various Mexican dishes. Every order comes with complimentary chips and salsa.