I've got a couple of buddies, and they're the best friends a girl could have. They've taught me how to properly swish my toilets, rake my carpet, squeegee my windows and more. They've repaired two of my three vacuums for parts only, and they always give me more than I expect when I visit their store. They run my neighborhood Cleaning Supplier, and they are a godsend.
One day after a rousing conversation about pet smells and shop-vacs, they asked me what I do for a living. I told them I do several things, but that I love to review restaurants for this paper. People often ask me about restaurants, and sure enough, my one buddy said, "Have you tried Salsa Leedos? I know the owner."
Well, I get this a lot, so I tucked it away in the back of my mental referral box. But this week, a place like Salsa Leedos Mexican Grill was the perfect thing, since I needed to mix things up culturally.
So my husband and I visited a still-full dining room about an hour before closing earlier this week, and the place was festive and bustling. We were seated in a booth in Bonita's section.
Now why am I telling you all this? Because good service counts, and when you find establishments that give good service, it means something. Like my buddies at the janitorial supply, Bonita gave us more than we expected. She suggested things, she asked us about ourselves, she kept our drinks fresh, and it seemed like doing all this really made her happy.
One thing that made me very happy was getting the special that day, because it featured Salsa Leedos' chile verde. Bonita didn't know how picky I am about chile verde. But this recipe was so good: The pork was tender, which was my numero uno. The chunks of pork were substantial, but not too big — and not chintzy, either. The sauce had a spicy edge, but it was also mellow.
Actually, we started with an appetizer of quesadilla filled with jack cheese and green chilies.
As starters go, Salsa Leedos has several quesadillas, as well as jalapeno poppers, hot wings and nachos.
Bonita recommended the steak for my husband Gary. He had a juicy, eight-ounce New York cut with a salsa-like dressing, beans, moist rice and grilled vegetables.
Though Leedos could be a little more generous with the guacamole and sour cream, there was plenty to eat. My special was huge. It featured a taco, a cheese enchilada, a chile verde tortilla and a spicy red Colorado tortilla filled with pork. Though the elements were common, it was a great plate.
Bonita also heartily recommended the fajitas, which come in all sorts of meat, chicken and shrimp combinations. The seafood entrees looked good too.
Dessert at Leedos features the usual fried ice cream, sopaipillas and flan, but there's also prefab deluxe cheesecakes and something called "chimichanga cheesecake."
I recommend Leedos' flan because I'm picky about it and so few are worth having. It was light and smooth and fresh-tasting.
Salsa Leedos is one of those rare finds in a group that's usually hard to break out of. Though the choices are familiar, the food is inexpensive and fresh. The recipes are high-quality and the service is fantastic.
Like my buddies at the Cleaning Supplier, Salsa Leedos makes a genuine effort to provide a great experience that stands out. I'll be back on my own dime with my family for more chile verde and flan. I'll try to get a table in the same spot so I can say hi to my new friend Bonita.
Prices for appetizers range from $4.95-11.50, salads $3.95-$7.35, combo meals and specialties $4.95-$14.95, kids menu $1.95-$3.95, sides $1-$3.95, desserts $1.50-$5.25.
Salsa Leedos Mexican Grill
*** 1/2 (out of five)
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday noon-9 p.m.
Location: 8657 S. Highland Drive, 943-6066
Payment: checks, credit cards
Reservations: not necessary
Other services: take-out
E-MAIL: stephanie@desnews.com