Mexican around St. George or Cedar City Utah? Are we dreaming?

[janetofreno]

OK, DH wants to stop for Mexican food as we drive up to Zion from Vegas this weekend...Saturday night. We are leaving as soon as I get off work, around 4pm, so having dinner before we leave is probably not an option. But hubby says "Why don't we find a Mexican place somewhere? I feel like Mexican..."

OK, so there is your chowhound challenge for the week. Any other good suggestions along that route welcome....Especially if they involve good pie. I always seem to find good pie in that neck of the woods....

[susancinsf]

ok, too late, I think but maybe for your drive back to Vegas (sorry I didn't see this yesterday): the biggest grocery store in whatever town is right next to the NV/UT border (sorry, can't remember the name of the town, but you will know): just look for the logical place to stop and pick up a six pack or bottle before heading into the dryness that is UT...anyway, that store has a surprisingly terrific selection of Mexican food products, which makes me think that a good move would be to ask the counter folks which little place at town to try for dinner...they may even have prepared Mexican foods (tamales, etc) at the meat counter, though my memory on that is a bit hazy also. I do definitely remember thinking that the grocery offerings must be a reflection of a high Hispanic population locally...

my other tip, which unfortunately may also be a bit late for you, is to eat early. Restaurants close VERY early in that neck of hte woods, particularly in winter.

For pie, try Blondie's in Springdale.

[janetofreno]

well, as you pointed out...it was all a moot point because restaurants DO close early in that neck of the woods...that combined with the fact that we sat on I15 somewhere between Vegas and Mesquite for two hours without moving while an accident was cleared AND the fact that we totally forgot that you lose an hour when you cross into Utah (that pesky time zone thing..) well, all this meant that by the time we got to St. George the only options open were fast food. (and not many of those). I had wanted to stop in Mesquite, but hubby insisted we press on because everyone who had been waiting in the same massive traffic jam as we had been were leaving the freeway at Mesquite, presumably to eat....and he was worried about crowds...

The good news is that a new management team is apparently handling the food at the Zion lodge, and I found it to be much better than I remembered from previous trips. We had two breakfasts there, and both were very good (although service this am was less than stellar, but I blame that on a clueless waiter...)...and dinner Sunday evening was also quite acceptable. We ended up having the soup and salad bar Sunday, as we weren't horribly hungry, but it was a good option: the soup was a delicious spicy vegetable soup, and the salad bar included good options and very fresh greens and spinach.....

[Vermin]

You've got two choices that I recall. If you're used to California Mexican food, go to Lupita's by the Walmart--but ask for it spicy, or you'll get the blandest Mexican food you've had outside of Vancouver. (Utahns aren't sure what spice is for, but they know darn well it's not for eating.) Counter service, table delivery. A little Spanish will help you get your food the way you want it. If memory serves, they have beer and sangria, but it's been a while so don't quote me.

If you're in the mood for a dining experience with locally grown Utahns serving the food, La Fiesta on N. Main Street is the place. The food is palatable (but unexciting to my Californian tongue), the service is friendly and (again, if I recall correctly as it's been a while) they can actually make a decent margarita.

Good luck!