El Primo Mexican Restaurant #2, Ferak Food Review

JOLIET, IL — If you're ever in search of a quality restaurant around Joliet, you won't go wrong on Ruby Street.

Earlier this summer, I reviewed Thayer Bros. Deli. Last December, I wrote about Hey! Hot Dog. In February, I reviewed the Chicago Style Grill across from St. Mary Nativity's parking lot. On Wednesday afternoon, in search of my next restaurant review, I pulled into the back parking lot at 700 Ruby St.

The time had arrived to give El Primo Mexican Restaurant #2 a chance. It's near the corner of Ruby and Wilcox. A number of people, over the past many months, have suggested this particular restaurant would be worth my while. So, after heading to the Louis Joliet Mall to order a new pair of glasses, I decided to visit El Primo #2, once and for all.

The other El Primo restaurant is located near the corner of Ruby and Hickory Streets.

At El Primo #2, I stopped in for lunch by myself. At no point did I inform my waitress that I was with the Joliet Patch. I didn't want the restaurant to go above and beyond and give me special treatment. I needed to observe this restaurant in its natural day-to-day environment to see how its service was and, most importantly, the food quality.

First things first. My waitress worked hard and she was hustling. She was also serving up food and beverages to about seven or eight other tables during my visit. It was quite a diverse crowd. I saw senior citizens. Four well-dressed adults at another table were perhaps from the University of St. Francis.

Wednesday afternoon's late lunch crowd represented the great diverse melting pot that makes Joliet special.

After studying the menu for several minutes, it finally dawned on me. There's a separate menu offering $6.25 lunch specials. How could I pass that up? It was a tough call on what to order. Finally, I opted for the No. 2, the burrito.

Six of the eight lunch specials come with a can of soda, rice and beans.

Then, in near-record time, no more than two to three minutes after I ordered, presto, my hot lunch plate was delivered to the table.

At first glance, my burrito seemed as long as one of those Canadian National trains rolling through Joliet. This burrito hit the spot. The rice was nice. My beans were warm. Everything tasted real good.

That said, my entire plate, which included the can of pop, plus complimentary chips and salsa, cost me a grand total of $7.13.

That's not bad for Joliet, especially for this food.

Would I recommend giving El Primo Mexican Restaurant #2 a try? Certainly.

I can definitely see myself making a return visit for lunch in 2020.

Joliet is fortunate to have many high-caliber authentic Mexican restaurants. The El Primo #2 at 700 Ruby St. makes the list.

ICYMI: Last Week's Review: China Cook On West Jefferson Street