Neighbor Roy was visiting us the other day. He invited me out to lunch. He wanted to take me to Ole’ Mexican Restaurant which he considered exceptional.
So off we went arriving a little after noon. The place was busy but not overly crowded. We were seated right away in a booth next to a window. In the window were displayed two placards from the Arizona Daily Star. One proclaimed Ole’s salsa the best in Tucson. The other announced that Ole’ is the best Mexican Restaurant in Tucson. High praise indeed. We were ready to test these claims.
Roy ordered his usual hot tea. I ordered a margarita. When our drinks came, the waiter took our lunch order. Roy ordered a chicken burrito with cheese and chipotle sauce, served with rice and frijoles. I ordered two beef enchiladas also served with rice and frijoles.
Waiting for our meals, Roy & I passed the time amicably discussing the day’s political news. As it turned out, he and I were pretty much in agreement. We observed that while the exterior was plain, the interior was fiesta happy. In passing, the chips and salsa disappeared quickly. Very good. The discussion ended abruptly when our lunches arrived.
I asked Roy how he liked his chicken burrito. He said the chicken was moist, not dry like it so often is. He proclaimed his burrito to be excellent. As to my beef enchiladas, they too were very good. I observed that the rice was cold and not very appetizing. But, the service was very good, as was my margarita drink.
Is Ole’ the best Mexican Restaurant in Tucson? No. It isn’t up there with Theresa’s Mosaic Café, or El Charro, the original on Court Street Downtown, or Susanna’s Café Poco Cosa (now closed because of the pandemic). But it was good. We rate it four saguaros. And if you are on that side of town, definitely.
Ole’ Sonoran Style Mexican Food
2080 W. Orange Grove Road
Tucson, AZ 85704
520-219-7215
