One of the newest spots in town, Hidalgo: A Taste of Mexico, is a causal, authentic Mexican BYO that brings a new twist on Mexican to Media.
Hidalgo, which delighted diners in Clifton Heights for five years, recently moved to 30 W. State St., the former Planet Hoagie location. Its loyal customers, and many new ones alike, are raving.
There are many reasons to embrace this new eatery, but let’s start with five.
The Food
Hidalgo’s menu celebrates authentic cultural dishes created fresh from scratch every day.
I found the portions to be quite generous. The enchiladas come as a trio of soft corn tortillas stuffed with chicken or cheese, covered with either red or green tomatillo and roped with melted cheese. They are served with Mexican rice and refried beans.
Typically, when you think fajitas, you think sizzling cast iron pans placed on the table and a host of accoutrements. To my surprise, Hidalgo’s fajitas nortenas were presented on one neatly arranged plate. The chicken is sautéed with onions and peppers, and accompanied by pico de gallo, sour cream, rice, beans, lettuce and flour tortillas. Beef is also available.
If you have a larger appetite, try the Burro Ranchero. Trust me, it made my eyes widen when a waiter carried it by. This enormous flour tortilla is stuffed with grilled chicken or steak, Mexican rice and beans, smothered in tomato and topped with melted Chihuahua cheese. It’s served with pico de gallo, lettuce, sour cream and even more cheese.
“My first experience there was amazing,” said Media resident Heidi Wiest. “The food is delicious! I had the chicken burrito; it’s a huge portion. Honestly, I could’ve eaten the whole thing, but brought the rest home. It’s filled with chicken and veggies, plus rice. It’s so good!”
The Family
It’s all in the family at Hidalgo. When you walk through the door, expect to be greeted like a family member or close friend, not just a customer. Soledad Lara, one of the co-owners, and her staff immediately make you feel comfortable. The very warm, inviting and humorous Soledad enjoys sharing stories with guests. While she’s at the front of the house, her husband is the master of the kitchen and their children and extended family help with the day-to-day operation. Soledad says she is so thankful and thrilled to finally be in Media.
“I was waiting and waiting for the perfect spot. Not too big, not too small,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to get into Media and now here we are!”
I had to ask about the name, Hidalgo. Soledad said there are two reasons why.
“The history of Hidalgo’s name is quite interesting. Don Miguel Hidalgo was an integral part of Mexican history. He was a priest who declared the independence of Mexico on September 16, 1821,” she said. “Hidalgo is also one of the 31 states of Mexico rich with culture, traditions and beautiful people.”
The Feel
Walk through the door and you’ll find a quaint, cantina-style eatery. The space is cozy and the décor is simple, with many Mexican touches including the pottery and artwork. You’ll find the atmosphere is quite laid back and dining there is an experience. So, before you go, grab your favorite bottle of tequila and expect a delicious margarita mix to be waiting for you and your company to enjoy.
The Flan (and Every Other Dessert!)
Just like every other dish on the menu, the postres are created on-site from scratch.
Soledad proudly said, “All the desserts are made right under this roof. Nothing comes premade from the store.”
I couldn’t imagine these desserts any other way. The bunuelos are heavenly. The dessert fritters are bathed in a light brown sugar and cinnamon sugar, drizzled with chocolate syrup and served with homemade vanilla ice cream. Feeling a little daring? Try the platnos flamandes (flambéed bananas). The bananas are sautéed in butter and flamed in Grand Marnier, grenadine and fresh lime and orange juices, served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
The Finishing Touch
What I found to be the most special touch of my dining experience is the spontaneous live entertainment. That’s right. The owner and our host, Soledad, has the voice of an angel, and we were treated to a serenade. Throughout the evening, and completely unexpectedly, she broke into beautiful song with her monumental voice.
Hidalgo is currently open for dinner but will add a lunch menu in the coming weeks.
For the latest, follow Hidalgo on Facebook page.
Find Hidalgo at 30 W. State St. in Media; phone (484) 443-8945.
- Photos: Lauren Avellino Turton
