DINING REVIEW
Abundance, Riviera Maya Style By Rita Calvert | Photography by Stephen Buchanan nnapolis has the very good fortune to be home to several satisfying Mexican eateries. We were happy to find Mi Lindo Cancun Grill and its patio on Forest Drive tucked in a nondescript strip center. You might notice the outside tables with umbrellas and flower boxes, which define the space. Venture inside and, surprise, you’ve entered a very different world! The family-owned Mi Lindo Cancun Grill prides itself on serving dishes from their Mayan homeland and bringing the atmosphere along as well. The furniture is imported from Mexico. A heavy wooden “old world” door opens into dining rooms vibrantly decorated with heavy dark wood chairs upholstered black and deep rich tables. Bright artwork adorns the walls. Although we opted to dine outside, the widely-spaced tables were mostly filled. The restaurant is a family affair with Fredy Salmoran as owner and lead chef. At one time, Fredy was chef at Giolitti (the wellknown Italian eatery near Annapolis Town Center). He ultimately decided to start his own restaurant, Mi Lindo, in 2015. When you’re passionate about food, why stop at just one restaurant? The family also has Señor Chile Cantina (termed your “hot spicy neighbor”) in Arnold and Señor’s Chile in Edgewater.
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What’s Up? Annapolis | December 2021 | whatsupmag.com
Mi Lindo hosts an extended happy hour—3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays—for those of us who can’t often break away from work before the customary 5 p.m. conclusion. With $5 margaritas, $3 beers, and several $5 appetizers, the short menu delivers large. We ordered the Nachos with Carnitas. Smaller than a typical nacho platter, this was still far more than you’d expect for a $5 happy hour special. Piled “alto” with crunchy chips, guacamole, plenty of pork, black beans, pickled jalapeno, melted cheese, and sour cream, it was a hit. We tried our best not to devour the entire dish lest we have no appetite for our entrees. In fact, I did find myself cautioning my dining companion, “You’ll spoil your dinner!” About that margarita and tequila menu—also large. While the happy hour special includes a choice of two margaritas—regular or spicy—we chose to order a specialty margarita from the regular menu. The Mezcal was the perfect and fresh tasting balance of sweet and sour, lime, orange, and just the right amount of smoky mezcal. If you’re a margarita or tequila connoisseur, you’ll want to spend some time on the website before visiting Mi Lindo so you’re ready to order before you’ve arrived. More on that later. And note: at first glance, margaritas might seem pricey, but this was definitely a grande drink.
