Merced Updates?

[susancinsf]

Have to make a quick trip to Merced on a Sunday for one night...debated going out of the way a bit to head up to Lodi to check out Alebrijes....but unfortunately, have to back in SF Monday evening fairly early and it seems that Alebrijes is closed Sunday, at least according to their website. bummer..

So, looking for recs for a casual solo dinner in Merced on a Sunday.Top choice would be Mexican.

This is the most recent update I can find on the boards:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/434008

I remember the poster fondly from his days as Mil Mascaras, and sounds like La Morenita might be the place to try (pickled cabbage, yum), but if anyone has any updates or other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Bonus points for good albondigas. Suggestions for lunch on Monday welcome also; top choice there would probably be Mexican too (perhaps huevos rancheros for a very late breakfast?).

Thanks and will report back!

[susancinsf]

correction, marinated cabbage. Like escabeche, perhaps?

[susancinsf]

well, no reports, but here is mine back:

La Morenita was my first choice, and after checking into my motel I set off to find it...which, thanks mostly to the fact that mapquest doesn't seem to get Merced: add to that the fact that I was heading west and the setting sun was intense (we don't get that much in SF!) and it wasn't easy to find. After a few wrong turns I finally found it, and at not quite 8 p.m. on a Sunday night it was closed! I could see people inside, but lights out.

Oh well, I had a back-up plan: I had seen a mention on another board of a new place, Fiesta Mexicana, and the poster had praised the albondigas. Reason enough for me to try it.

Fiesta Mexicana wasn't easy to find either, mostly because it is a huge storefront that looks like it should be a furniture store (not what I was expecting), but eventually I got there, and yes, they were open. There is a large parking lot in back. The place is quite large with soaring cielings and a wall of windows on the west side (fortunately, given that sun, they kept the blinds drawn till the sun was completely down). Not too many diners, mostly a group of German tourists (presumably on the way to or from Yosemite) and a few single Mexican men dining alone. I am guessing that Sunday evening is family night in Merced.

I was seated in a comfortable booth and the server immediately brought me a menu and took my drink order. Specials of the day were listed on a board at the front: campechana (seafood cocktail) of octopus and shrimp, and pollo asado. I didn't order the campechana since I am not an octopus fan (well, to eat anyway, I love watching them underwater), but when I saw one going to a neighboring table I almost regretted my decision; it looked fabulous.

The menu is huge, with mostly Mexican standards, but a heavy emphasis on seafood, an amazing variety for a land-locked town, but then, I've noticed the same phenomena in Fresno restaurants. (and found the quality good there, so I'd definitely think it would be worthwhile to at least try the seafood here). Lots of soups, including menudo, pozole, cosido, chicken soup...

I stuck to my original quest, to try the sopa de albondigas, and also got a shredded beef taco.

Rather thin, tasteless chips were brought, along with a very good house-made salsa that packed a bit of heat. The taco came out next, and was a disappointment: greasy and the tortillas weren't particularly fresh, nor was the beef particularly flavorful. The taco came with cilantro, onion, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese (which I tried to pick out). Honestly, I should have waited till I got to LA and gotten my shredded beef taco fix at Del Taco which is much better!

Fortunately, my meal took a turn for the better with the albondigas. Interestingly, they came with corn tortillas that were much better than the ones used for the tacos: these tasted freshly made and were a bit thicker. The sopa was also served with nice condiments on the side: chopped onion, cilantro, lime: kudos for that.

The soup was a large portion, with four or five very generously sized meatballs. The meatballs were made from rice and were a bit heavy, but tasty. The broth was thin but had a bit of heat and tasted home-made (though I think most of its flavor came from vegetables, not beef), and had large chunks of chayote, along with chopped carrots, corn (in kernals, not a cob), onions and zuchini. Squeezes of lime really brightened it up, along with more heat from the salsa. The sopa de albondigas is $8.99; a good price for a large, filling portion.

Total for my dinner, including a Negra Modelo, was about $18 with tax and tip. The ambiance definitely looks more upscale than is reflected in the very reasonable prices.

Bottom line: I'd give the taco a C- or even a D, but the albondigas rate a solid B. If I lived in Merced I'd definitely be back to explore the menu, but would avoid standards and stick to soups and seafood.

That was it for my Merced explorations, since breakfast was at my motel and was just fruit and a decent biscuit: other than that I can tell you that the espresso stand in the UC Merced library makes a decent latte (with incredibly welcoming service)....after meetings I hit the road to head to Fresno for lunch (which is a seperate post)...