Don Pedro's

A couple friends and I checked out the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery as part of Charlotte Beer Week. Don't be fooled, as the name is a bit of a misnomer. They had, admittedly, been open for 2 weeks. They had a beer tasting; for $10, you got 6 - 8 oz. beers, and a tour of the brewery. The catch was that they only had one beer on tap. The beer was tasty, though. For the record, I was driving, so I was not able to enjoy all the free beer provided for $10. Afterward, my friends and I were hungry, so we popped by Don Pedro's; a Mexican place down off South Tryon.

My recommendation: If you're in the mood for low-grade Mexican food, I haven't found anywhere in Charlotte that you can beat it (I have not scoured South Blvd, however). The food hits the spot, and every day seems to be half-price margarita night.

Overall: The service is prompt, but lacks a certain Anglo-articulation. The food comes out so quick, that you're barely done with one course when the next comes out. Depending on what you order, the food is either reasonably or large-portioned, and is tasty.

Ambiance: Authentic Mexican cantina. Down to the wrought iron benches (with cushions) that you might find in an outdoor seating area in a sun-drenched tropical country. And I have never heard so much mariachi music!

Menu: Mexican. Burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and combination plates abound! Most meals come with Mexican rice and refried beans. Everything is pretty reasonably priced, too.

Something you won't find on most menus: Every meal comes with something like a flat churro, covered in cinnamon and sugar, with whipped cream and drizzled in raspberry syrup. Perhaps the nicest complimentary dessert I've ever had.

Service: While perhaps a little impersonal, and that could be mostly due to the evident language-barrier, the service is like a machine. You enter, you're seated, your drink order is taken, and moments later, your food order. It only takes a few minutes to get your food, too. If you were trying to get in and out in 20 minutes, I bet you could.

Food: I had the deluxe burrito, which was good. It's not spectacular food, but for $7 in a sit-down restaurant, you probably shouldn't set your standards too high. If you want what I suspect is pretty authentic Mexican fare, I bet this is pretty close.

Don Pedro's

8943 South Tryon St.

Charlotte, NC 28273