Southwestern Restaurant Gives Diners Palettes a Wild Ride

When you walk into Mojave Grill on Elm Street in downtown Westfield you will immediately feel welcomed. The warm orange glow to the restaurant brought out by low hanging dim lights and candles on the tables is a precursor to the just as welcoming southwestern cuisine. But get your palette ready for a wild ride.

What better way to start a meal in the southwestern tradition than to have chips and salsa. The salsa at Mojave Grill tastes homemade. Its chunky, rich texture makes you feel like you're having an appetizer. It's also not very spicy. The tri-color chips are crispy and not too salty. Unlike a Mexican restaurant, the chips and salsa are not complimentary at Mojave Grill. You have to ask your server to bring them.

If you decide to skip over the chips and salsa, make sure to ask for cornbread before your meal comes. It's light, moist and buttery. Not to mention it's a perfect pair for southwestern food.

You may not think of a southwestern restaurant offering wild mushroom ravioli but it's often a special appetizer at Mojave Grill. I have to say that the dish tastes better than it looks. The dish has a brownish, greenish color due to the color of the ravioli mixed with a cream sauce. It doesn't look particularly appetizing but it is. The ravioli is stuffed with a tasty mushroom puree. It's cooked in a garlic broth with small chunks of garlic and topped with Romano cheese. Charred corn sits among the ravioli. Overall it's a fabulous dish with very complex flavors.

If you're more of a salad appetizer person you will love Mojave Grill. The variety of appetizer salads is almost surprising. There's a traditional Caesar salad with a southwestern twist featuring salsa fresca and cotija cheese. Or if you want to be adventurous, try the fresh watermelon salad with arugula, watermelon, crisp jicama, queso fresco and chipotle infused balsamic. You can also try the grapefruit salad with baby greens, mango, grapefruit, candied pecans, goat cheese and chipotle-ranch dressing.

The lime braised pork entree is a must have at Mojave Grill. The pork is shaved and served in a tower form with tomatoes and red rice dispersed in between. The tomatoes add some moisture to the dish. A sweet sauce of citrus-red chili mojo sits underneath the tower and is a perfect complement to the salty pork. The dish is served with sweet plantains on the side, which are absolutely fabulous. A few triangle shaped flour tortilla squares also sit on the plate. They are charred and have a great grilled flavor. They can be used to make a little sandwich with the pork. This is a fantastic dish – a little salty but a wonderful mix of flavors. It's a hearty portion, so you most likely will have enough to take home.

A southwestern meal wouldn't be complete without ribs. Thankfully Mojave Grill has a braised short rib entrée. It's served with cilantro mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach and covered in a cabernet guajillo demi glaze. The meat literally falls off the bone. The dish I ordered had quite a bit of fat on the rib, which I didn't find too pleasing. But if you're a rib lover, you'll love this dish. The demi glaze is thick, tangy and not too spicy. The mashed potatoes really do taste like cilantro - a perfect balance with the tangy demi glaze sauce. The portion size is large, so, like with the braised pork, you will most likely have lunch for the next day.

Don't forget about dessert. Mojave Grill has everything for those with a sweet tooth whether you're a chocoholic (like myself) or if you lean more towards the fruity flavors. I decided to go for the key lime pie to keep with the southwestern theme of the meal. The pie is mousey, almost with a cheesecake texture. The lime is sweet and tart and will certainly titillate your palette. Mojave Grill also has a wide array of teas and coffees. The caramel macchiato will satisfy any sweet tooth. You won't need to reach for any sugar packets with this drink.

You may be surprised when you get the bill to see that after an appetizer, two entrees, dessert and coffee that your bill is only about $58. Partially this has to do with the fact that Mojave Grill is BYOB. Being in downtown Westfield, you can stop by a wine store on your way to the restaurant. I recommend Cool Vines, which is only a few doors down on Elm Street. The owners know Mojave Grill and will be able to help you pick out the best wine for your meal.

The only warning I have about Mojave Grill is that if you plan to go on a Friday or Saturday night, call ahead. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, except for parties of five or more. But if you call about 30 minutes before your arrival they will put you on a wait list. If you don't call you will end up waiting about an hour for a table. If you forget to call, there is a small bar with about six seats where you can enjoy your BYOB wine or beer while you wait.

Mojave Grill is located at 35 Elm Street in downtown Westfield. It is also open for lunch. Phone: 908-233-7772.