After hearing rumors about a delicious new Mexican restaurant in West Grove, I recently drove out to have lunch.
Taste of Puebla is a small restaurant located in a small nondescript strip mall located on Baltimore Pike, halfway between Avon Grove and West Grove. The space had previously been a breakfast/cafe, and the interior is still the same basic set up. What makes this current restaurant unique is owner Marianna Castaneda‘s hospitality and her authentic Mexican cuisine.
As I waited for my lunch date to arrive, Mariana came over and asked if I’d like something to drink and chips. When I asked what she recommended to drink, she smiled and replied, “pineapple aqua fresca.” She also serves aqua fresca in mango, watermelon and cantaloupe. I stuck with the pineapple and it was delightful!
Once my friend arrived, we moved to a booth. Marianna returned and informed us about the specials and explained if we ordered anything on the dinner menu, $2 would be taken off since it was lunch. We ate the warm chips and tasty salsa and chatted after ordering. A few other customers came in and left with their take out.
I ordered the Enchiladas Poblanas. The rolled corn tortillas were dipped in mole poblano and filled with chicken and topped with cheese and onions. A nice side of refried beans and rice rounded out the plate. The chicken was excellent, and the portions were perfect for lunch.
Photo | Chile en Nogoda
My friend ordered the Chili en Nogoda. When this dish came out, it looked remarkable. This was ground beef stuffed in chiles with diced peaches, plaintains, pears and apples, and served in a walnut sauce and garnished with a pomegranate. My friend graciously offered me a taste of the Chile en Nogoda, and it was sublime, unlike anything I have experienced in a Mexican restaurant. The walnut sauce and the almonds in the chiles combined with the beef to provide an exquisite taste.
After lunch, I chatted with Mariana. She explained they had been open for a year and they hope to redesign the basic space eventually. She creates the specials with seasonal foods so they will be changed up periodically.
A Taste of Puebla is located at 304 E. Baltimore Pike in West Grove. They are open for breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and for dinner 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day except for Sunday. They also do takeout and are available for catering. Their phone number is 610-869-5869. Check them out at www.tasteofpuebla.com.
By the way, Puebla is one of the thirty-one states of Mexico!
