On Friday afternoon I went out looking for a nice lunch. I developed a craving for Mexican food, so I headed over to Las Palmeras Mexican Restaurant.

It’s a nice place just off of Gaetz Avenue right at the top of Red Deer’s south hill. There was a handful of other people enjoying lunch already and I only had to wait a few moments to be seated. My server, Anna, soon came over to the table, poured a glass of water and presented a small plate of complimentary nacho chips and salsa.

I asked her for a coffee and then had a look at the menu. The majority of the items were written in both English and Spanish (for anyone who is comfortable ordering in another language). After just a quick glance I found myself torn between the stuffed jalapenos (jalapenos relleno) and a chicken burrito (burrito con pollo). By the time my server returned, I had decided on the burrito (11.95). I inquired about the soup of the day (sopa dos dio) and she said it was chicken and avocado. This sounded very interesting so I chose that as a side dish.

While I awaited my lunch, I started in on the nachos. The chips themselves were crispy yellow corn tortillas. The salsa (which appeared to be made in house) was very flavourful; an excellent balance of a little heat and just the right amount of cilantro. It was thick and tasty. I also took a few moments to notice the decor. There was an assortment of Mexican looking artifacts and artwork and I noticed replica avocados and chilli peppers hanging on the walls. Over the speakers there was Spanish “soft-rock” playing. Even though I couldn’t understand it, I found it enjoyable.

After only a short time my soup came out first (as per my request). I could see large pieces of vegetables in a semi-dark broth. In the centre was a large dollop of guacamole. I stirred it up and saw a generous amount of chicken. From the first spoonful it was an absolute delight. Although the avocado flavour was barely noticeable it did enhance the overall taste of the soup. The was just a little bit of spiciness underlying the chicken broth. The pieces of chicken and vegetables were perfectly cooked and tender.

The burrito was a crispy baked flour tortilla. Inside was a lot of chicken smothered in a rich tasty tomato based sauce. Again there was just a little bit of heat to the dish; enough to warm up the tongue and taste buds but not enough to burn. It was very well seasoned and cooked almost perfectly. It was accompanied by a corn tortilla bowl of sour cream, salsa and guacamole. I was tempted to just wolf it down, but I took my time and savoured it instead.

After I had cleaned my plate and finished off the tortilla chips, the server brought me another coffee and my bill. Much to my delight the coffee was either free of charge or included in the price of the meal. Either way I felt that I had certainly received a bargain and I was well satisfied.

My rating: Food - 3 out of 5
Service - 3 out of 5
Atmosphere - 3 out of 5
Overall Experience - 3 out of 5

Las Palmeras Mexican Restaurant
3630 50th Avenue S, Red Deer
(403) 346-8877

Mon. - Thurs. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. - Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 12 noon - 9:00 p.m.

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