I think I’d said last week that this week’s Twin Cities restaurant report would be of either a dinner we ate at 112 Eatery last month or the dinner we were scheduled to eat (and did eat) at Spoon and Stable this past weekend. Here, accordingly, is a quick report on lunch eaten at Andale Taqueria in Richfield in August. You’re welcome. This was a quick lunch eaten after a family trip to IKEA. We chose it over Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce and had zero regrets about having done so. This is not a slam on IKEA’s Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce, which we enjoy greatly when we partake; it’s just that on this occasion we were in the mood for something with some spice to it. The prospect of also stopping in at Andale’s adjoining mercado sealed the deal.
This was a weekday lunch and they were quite busy. Most tables inside were occupied the entire time that we were there and there were also a fair number of people eating on their patio. Plus there was a steady stream of takeout business. The restaurant is counter-service-only and the smart thing to do is to put one member of the group in line to order while everyone else circles the dining room to grab a table when it becomes available. This is what we did. We got a table; about 10 minutes later the food was ready and we got down to business.
What did we eat? The older boy got their quesadilla plate with al pastor (his favourite Mexican meat variation). The younger boy got a burrito with pollo ranchero. The missus got a chimichanga with barbacoa. Keeping in mind the strong likelihood that I would be mopping up a lot of unfinished food on the other plates, I got three tacos: lengua, carnitas en adobo and tripa. Everybody enjoyed their food. As always at Andale, the highlight for me was the tripa, crisp and tender at the same time. The boys washed down their food with Mexican Cokes; the missus and I stuck with water.
After we got done eating we trundled over to the mercado and picked up a few sweet things for later. Once again, I was filled with regret at not having eaten at their hot deli. We always come to the mercado after eating at the taqueria and I always say to myself that the next time I will try the hot deli foods instead (I assume it’s kosher to take that food and eat it on the taqueria’s patio). Maybe next time I actually will.
For a look at the restaurant and what we ate and a quick glimpse at the mercado (you can get a better look here), please launch the slideshow below. Scroll down to see what’s coming next on the food front.
Oh yes, price. Lunch came to just short of $63 before tip. A very good deal for the amount of food. As always, there’s nothing revelatory about Andale’s food but it always hits the spot.
Alright, I hope to put out at least one more California report this week. Next week’s restaurant report will be from either 112 Eatery or Spoon and Stable for real. Maybe.