|
We recently
identified Mexican cuisine as the possible 'next big thing' on the UK
scene and Mexican style restaurants owned by a strange variety of
nationalities are certainly opening all over the country. One of the
groups reflecting this movement in the Home Counties is the El
Tourito group with branches in Cheam, Cobham and Weybridge plus
Tapanco in trendy Wimbledon.
|
Tapanco refers
to itself as providing Mexican, American & Italian food which
should provide enough scope for the most demanding. The restaurant is
in a pedestrian area next to the Odean and has a municipal carpark a
short walk away. The exterior is big, bright and inviting with open
planning and brownish décor with flagstone flooring. Modern
Mexican - or a close approximation - music plays over the assembled
diners whose tables are a little close together for our liking but it
must certainly make for a exciting atmosphere on a busy Friday or
Saturday night.
The menu
caters for all tastes raning from the popular Mexican dishes to
pizza, pasta and Italian dishes plus burgers. For starters we ordered
from the Tapas section with Insalata Misto (£2.95), Potato Skins
(£3.95) and excellent and delicate Calamares (£5.95). |
 |
The main
course selection was difficult but we settled on Sizzling Chicken
Fajitas (£12.95), Stincoto - a tender lamb shank with leek and
mustard crummble potatoe - Chilli con Carne with Ancho & Chipotle
chillies and Enchiladas.
The
presentation was good and the tastes highly acceptable, although the
chilli could have included bigger red kidney beans (it seemed they
had used the smaller Pinto) and the Enchilada dish was possibly a
little over-tomatoed. All in all, everyone agreed that the food was
excellent and the friendly service was also an important factor.
The whole
restaurant had a certain buzz about it and one could easily imagine
the babble of excited voices and a full restaurant of around 150
diners enjoying the Tapanco experience, including live entertainment
on some evenings.
Quality food,
good service and pleasant surroundings make Tapanco a place to return
to and if this is an example of the new style Mexican restaurant, we
can certainly expect many more.
Tapanco
Newport House, Hartfield Road SW19 3TD 020 8947 4737
|
