La Hacienda de los Fernandez: Traditional Mexican Fare in an Authentic Setting

If you like Mexican food, you might want to make a run for the border ...the border near 75th and Route 59 to be exact to .

The moment you walk into the restaurant you get an authentic Mexican cantina feeling. From the brightly colored paintings on the walls and the festive three dimensional star light fixtures hanging from the ceilings, to the rustic high-back wooden chairs at the tabl and mariachi style music playing in the background, you're already in the mood for a Mexican feast.

Since it's always more fun eating with a friend, I brought along my friend Lisa, who appreciates Mexican food as much as I do. La Hacienda makes all their food, including the complimentary chips and salsa, fresh on site. Our chips and salsa were delivered right away, the chips still warm. The salsa was very good, but beware, it does have a little after burn to it.

To start off our meal we ordered drinks and appetizers. I went with the Mexican Kiss, a fruity mixture of silver tequila, raspberry chambord and pineapple juice ($8), while Lisa went with a traditional frozen strawberry Margarita ($7.50). Both drinks were very refreshing and not too strong.

For appetizers we tried the creamy guacamole ($8) and the chorizo, potato and cheese empanadas ($9) that are baked fresh daily. The order included four generously sized empanadas. While we were only going to have one empanada each to save room for our entrees, we quickly abandoned that plan; after taking one bite we quickly finished the appetizers. The warm, doughy, lightly fried outside crust had a hint of sweetness to it that complimented the savory flavors inside. As for the guacamole, it was good, but just a little bland.

As for our entrees, we ordered steak fajitas ($15), and the chef's special, chilaquile pollo ($11.49). Both entrees included soup, refried beans and rice. The steak in the fajitas was grilled just right, slightly charred but incredibly tender. The onions and peppers were have the right amount of seasoning and were slightly crisp and tender at the same time. They were fabulous and I would order them again. When we ordered the chilaquile pollo, the server warned us it was a big serving and he wasn't kidding! The dish featured diced chicken and lightly fried corn tortillas covered in three unique sauces then smothered in a layer of cheese. I have to admit, I was slightly disappointed in the dish. The chips were too soggy and it was a bit salty for my taste.

The salty taste was quickly forgotten when we dug into the chocolate chimichanga ($4) for dessert. The chimichanga was dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with chocolate sauce, and when you cut into it, it oozed a warm, sweet chocolate filling. It was very rich and a great deal for the price.

La Hacienda de los Fernandez is the perfect restaurant for just about any occasion. It is family friendly (including a special kids menu), but would always be perfect for a girls night out or date night. The large bar area includes several couches and comfy chairs where you can enjoy a more intimate atmosphere.