April 13, 2017
ENTERTAINMENT
Blueprint 9
Aguamiel awes customers leaving them comfortably full By Jessie Fortin, Online News Editor Located in Clarendon Hills right off of Cass Avenue, I came across this small Mexican restaurant, Aguamiel, for the first time by surprise, and it was phenomenal. Even though my friend and I went on a busy Friday night, we were seated quickly near tall, beautiful windows, and our server instantly brought out chips and two types of salsa for the table. The green salsa had a fantastic combination of spice and sour while the brown salsa was sweeter with more flavor.
When ordering, there were a wide variety of different entrees that I could choose from. The names were all in Spanish, so I was having a hard time reading some of the names, such as ‘Tostadas de Tinga’. I would say it was slightly overwhelming and confusing, but luckily our waiter was more than happy to explain what each dish had on it. I was also slightly skeptical about the prices of some of the entrees. As a high schooler working for minimum wage, I wasn’t sure if I was truly spending my money well for a $14 quesadilla. However, I was ecstatic to see the
Aguamiel is small Mexican restaurant that serves food well worth its high price. fantastic plate placed in front of me. Arranged on a long rectangular plate was my order, Quesadillas Poblanas: rice, refried beans and three chicken quesadillas covered in sauce and melted Chihuahua cheese. I tend to order more than what my stomach can handle and end up taking the rest of the food home for leftovers, but this entree was the perfect amount. It was difficult choosing what dessert we wanted because everything on the menu was mouth-watering.
Photos by Jessie Fortin
We ended up ordering Pastel de Tres Leches which is a Mexican cake infused with three different types of homemade milk, topped with whip cream and homemade vanilla ice cream. It was a masterpiece. I left the restaurant comfortably full and satisfied with the service that Aguamiel offered. I’m looking forward to my next visit and the new dish I’m going to try.
Alfredo’s Taqueria keeps traditional Mexican dishes alive By Addyson Wesolowski, Online Opinions Editor On the south end of Downtown Downers Grove, tucked between a cigar shop and a construction site, resides Alfredo’s Taqueria, a family owned Mexican restaurant. While its exterior may be intimidating, the inside delivers a comforting and homey ambiance. The restaurant definitely is a stereotypical hole in the wall, but it deserves all the credit other taco shops around town receive. The restaurant walls are painted a bright orange color and covered with various Mexican artwork and sculptures. The building is small, seating only 23 customers. When I walked into the restaurant, however, I was greeted by a kind cashier who was very attentive to all my questions regarding the menu, and the restaurant as a whole. What’s great about Alfredo’s is that it is very affordable. Most meals do not exceed $10 and serving sizes are big enough that you walk away feeling as though you got your money’s worth. Also they have the option of both dine in or take out. The food itself is completely homemade, starting from the handmade french fries to the self cooked tortilla chips. The restaurant is owned by Alfredo and his wife, Mama Martha, who moved here from Mexico and started this restaurant together seven years ago. Alfredo’s serves a variety of your classic Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, quesadillas and burritos. When it comes to tacos, however, you have the
option of either American (cheese, lettuce, and tomato) or Mexican (cilantro and onion) styles. While everything I tried was tasty, it was their
enough. If you go to Alfredo’s and only try one dish, this is the one you need to order: five stars. The most impressive aspect of their Mexican cuisine is the
serve that category. They also serve your classic American hot dogs, hamburgers and a select few Italian meals. I tasted a burger from their menu and it was good, but overall very average. If you are craving a burger Alfredo’s would not be my first recommendation. The problem with Alfredo’s is that their location is near the older end of Downtown Downers Grove. Many visitors to Downers Grove go to shops near the train tracks, rather than making the walk to the edge of town. However, Alfredo’s is the perfect, affordable dining option for visitors if they are not wanting a formal sit down dinner such as Gatto’s or Capri. Alfredo’s is a one of a kind restaurant that offers delicious and authentic dishes that highlight the authentic side of Mexican cuisine. If you are ever offered the chance to stop by this small hole in the wall, I highly recommend you do. Overall, I give Alfredo’s 4 stars.
ALFREDO’S TAQUERIA most popular dish, the Carne Asada Fries, that really blew me away. This dish has a base of their housemade fries covered with grilled steak, onions and cilantro. On top of that is a mixture of salsa verde, guacamole, cheese, grilled red pepper, sour cream and lime wedges. The serving size is perfect to share with others but can also be a single person’s meal if you are hungry
feeling of authenticity in every plate. After having a conversation with the cashier, she explained that many other taquerias around town add more grease and cheese to their dishes in order to appeal to how Americans eat Mexican food. Alfredo honors the traditional recipes of all of their meals in order to serve genuine Mexican food. While the menu mostly has Mexican inspired dishes, they do not solely
HOURS: MON-THURS: 11AM - 8:30 PM FRI-SAT: 11AM-10PM SUN: 11AM-4PM LOCATION: 5231 MAIN ST, DOWNERS GROVE IL, 60516 PHONE NUMBER: 630-241-3890