Ramiro's Cantina caught my eye one day as I drove down Frankfort Avenue, mostly because it looks like it should be located near a beach somewhere. The front of the newest Mexican joint to hit Louisville is super inviting, and I decided the time had come to break my years long Mexican food fast (I got food poisoning during the ice storm at a Mexican place that shall remain unnamed!) and give Ramiro's a shot.
We started the meal with two kinds of salsa, very good but very thin, I like a little more chunk to my salsa. Our appetizer came quickly (we were there right before dinner rush, and had wonderful service, but that does not attest to how service is during busier times). The Tequila Lime Mussels ($12.99) were the highlight of our meal, a full pound of sauteed mussels with tequila lime creme sauce. The mussels were served in a rough hewn black bowl, and came out steaming, looking happy to see us with their shells cracked open in tequila drenched smiles. Again, I would have loved the tangy sauce to be a little thicker and creamier, but who knew tequila and creme went so well together?
Our entrees came out and we were immediately impressed with the grandiose size of the burrito. It was truly impressive, almost as big as my fiance's deliciously swollen bicep. The fillings were just your run of the mill burrito fillings, and as such were pretty good but not stunning. It's hard to mash so much stuff together inside a tortilla and maintain a unique or palate thrilling taste. The Fajita Salad ($9.99) with grilled steak, peppers and onions over a bed of romaine with sour cream, pico and guacamole was the best salad I've ever had at a Mexican place, hardly innovative, but still a great meal. It was a fairly inexpensive, friendly, and the mussels were magnificent.
photos: Elizabeth Orrick
