La Fonda A 3-star Dining Experience (Business Lunch)

We decided to try La Fonda Mexican restaurant because we think it’s the perfect location for Benton and Washington county business folks trying to get together for a quick, budget-friendly meal on relatively neutral ground. We were right.

The décor was cafeteria-esque, the conversation was most certainly bilingual, and the service was quick. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. for those interested in an early meeting.

We had our choice of three different salsas and chips, which were all free. We really enjoyed the milder salsa, which consisted of chopped tomatoes, onion and fresh cilantro. All of the lunch specials included a drink in the price, and our menu only had specials listed. There were other items posted on a board behind the counter, but unfortunately, our collective Spanish reading ability is limited.

Two diners ordered the daily special ($5), which was a grilled chicken breast topped with onion, bell peppers and cheese. The special came with guacamole salad, rice and beans, as well as warm tortillas.

The chicken was pounded thin and wasn’t too spicy, but the kitchen could have cut down on the salt.

Another diner tried the Sopa ($4), which was a thick fried corn tortilla topped with chicken, lettuce, cheese, beans, and sour cream. He thought it was pretty good compared to the usual Mexican fare.

The other diner had the fajita special ($5), which came with tortillas, beans and rice. She like the chicken seasoning, but would have liked all the fixings such as guacamole, cheese and sour cream.

For dessert, one diner asked for “something that tastes like hot chocolate.”

The waitress came back with an authentic Mexican drink called a Champurrado ($2), which is milk mixed with Anise seed, cinnamon, chocolate and Masa (corn flour). Although very fragrant, the drink was a little too chalky for our taste.