Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Cuisine

Price: Bring Some Money
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 5 out of 5

I'll admit it: I'm a cartoon junkie. One of my 'must-see's? Looney Tunes. Speedy Gonzales, in particular. I thought he was such a cocky little character. He'd run up, freak out Sylvester or Daffy, then POOF! Gone. For those of you NOT 25 or older, Speedy Gonzales was a Mexican mouse who had this huge sombrero and ran like 90,000 miles an hour.

Which brings me to my next subject: Damn good Mexican food. And like that animated rodent, you really should zip on over to Uncle Julio's in Mizner Park. This is some of the best Mexican food I have ever eaten, and it’s because of the unique flavor the dishes have that make it a must try.

First, let’s talk about the Mexican restaurant staple: Chips and Salsa. Every table gets it when you sit down, and it’s an endless supply. UJ practices this philosophy just like everyone else, but they throw a curve ball into the works: Their salsa’s grill-roasted.

You know how you bite into a vegetable and say, ‘Hmm, this tastes steamed’ or ‘this was done in a pot’? Well, one dip into their homemade salsa and you’ll definitely think to yourself (or out loud, as I did) ‘Wow! The veggies in this taste like they’ve been flame roasted!’

And they have. The tomatoes and peppers are diced into fine and tiny chunks, and you can see the char on each piece from the grill. But the taste. Oh, that sweet, succulent flavor of fresh produce with that sweetness only hand-picked tomatoes can bring, and that back-bite of the jalapeños once you’ve taken it all in. It’s a journey to the homeland for sure. Well, at least a weekend in Cancun.

And that’s just the free stuff. Refreshing margaritas help cool you down from the salsa heat, and the selective menu is all about over-the-top flavors. The Combo Enchiladas (chicken, beef and cheese) gives you several different sauces to choose from, with a cumin-spiked pinto bean and rice side dish.

The carne asada is thick, juicy, and brings that lime/garlic 1-2 punch that you should expect from a steak with such a sexy name. the pork ribs are smoky (remember, that grill theme runs throughout every dish, just at varying degrees) and fall off the bone and come with the previously mentioned rice.

Oh yeah, one more thing about the ribs: It comes with a side dish of FAJITAS. Not some ‘Here’s a small tortilla with a chunk of beef. Try it and order it next time!’ No. This is a full order or fajitas, INCLUDED as a side with your already filling meal. You get to choose chicken, beef or shrimp, and it comes with three large shells and all the fixin’s (cheese, sour cream, guac, lettuce).

And dessert? Aye aye aye. UJ is dishing up several Mexican classics, including a sugared empanada stuffed with everything from chocolate to cinnamon apples, to the weekly special (I had the pineapple version…very unique).

The atmosphere is perfect to sit outside if it’s a nice day/night. You can watch all the nice expensive cars roll by and people shopping up and down the well maintained Mizner. The inside is typical Mexi-faire: Posters of famous actors, clay pots, burro statues. The staff is courteous, but if they get busy, don’t be in a rush. It may be a while before you see your waiter again.

This place is a new favorite of mine, and I highly suggest you go down there and check it out. After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Cuisine
449 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 300-3530
http://www.unclejulios.com/