Adam & Eats: Las Fresas

This week’s adventure was inspired by an email from a reader. I was asked my opinion about a Mexican restaurant in Van Buren that I had never heard of. So, I figured if I’d never heard of it, there’s a good chance other people have never heard of it either. What better idea could we have for an adventure? So, Rebecca Ameis, this one’s for you.

Just a little way off of Fayetteville Road, in what was once a Gringo’s, is the location of Las Fresas Mexican Grill. For those of you who don’t know, the name means the strawberries. What strawberries have to do with this restaurant, I have no idea.

After adorning the menu, the strawberry theme sort of runs aground. They don’t even serve strawberry water, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. This bright orange and red building screams Mexican restaurant as you drive by. It is hard to miss as you pass along beside lots of white stucco or red brick buildings.

When you get inside the place, the first thing that you’ll probably notice is that it is quiet. A little too quiet for my taste. I prefer not hearing anyone else chewing their food. Personal mastication is excruciating enough without adding other people’s mouth din to the mix. Ugh, it gives me the itches just thinking about it. Moving on.

The staff are friendly and helpful. One really nice thing about Las Fresas is that the wait for your food is relatively short. I’m reaching for nice things to say, so I’ll just move on to food.

Overall, the food at Las Fresas is good. By that I mean it is not great, nor is it terrible. It is, how should I put this kindly, well, it is ordinary Tex-Mex. Pretty much what you’d get at any of the other “Mexican” restaurants in the area. Not that there’s anything wrong with lettuce on tacos, I’m quite the fan, but still it’s nothing to write home about.

The beef nachos are all right, but the chicken ones are better. The same can be said for the quesadillas and the “chimis.” Go for the chicken. Maybe it’s the grilled onions that makes the chicken better.

The guacamole is pretty excellent. As well as the queso dip. If you want to take your ho-hum lunch or dinner to the next level flavor-wise, try dipping the chicken chimis in the queso. That is where you will find the mouth party.

I guess when it comes down to it, if you really enjoy eating Tex-Mex at some of our local joints, give Las Fresas a go. You won’t be disappointed.

If you don’t like Mexican food, be it authentic or watered down for us Gringos, take heart because there’s a Sonic just up the road.

As for me, I’m sticking to the chorizo tacos from Tacos Don Juan with the occasional guilty pleasure trip to Taco Mayo.

Until next week, good eating to you and yours.

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When he’s not beating his eggs, Adam makes time to respond to e-mails that get past his hard-ass spam filter. You can try to reach him at [email protected]