Better Second Time Around

In my short tenure in St. Louis in the early 2000s, Hacienda always came up as a place to go grap a bite to eat. Hacienda's has one of the coolest patios in the suburbs, large and sprawling, and that was the only redeming quality of this cantina, with bad salsa and worse food. Of course, we could NEVER sit on the patio because a slew of excuses always followed: too hot, too cold, too rainy, too whatever.

Last week, my boss treated the whole staff to lunch at...Hacienda's. I was not about to complain, as I knew this was going to be a free meal, but remembering my struggles with the "Mexican" food 6ish years ago, I was pondering what exactly I was going to order.

Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered chicken mole, and although it paled compared to Rick Bayless', it was quite tasty. The chips at Hacienda's are homemade and the salsa has improved. The chips are so good, they now sell them at local supermarkets for the outrageous, but worth it, price of $3.50. Several of my coworkers had fajitas, which looked great and the guac was tasty too.

I'm glad I gave Hacienda's a second chance. I'm still on the prowl for my true Mexican food, but the Tex-Mex at Hacienda's is nothing to turn your nose up at.

http://www.hacienda-stl.com/