Restaurant accents atmosphere, appetizers

n Restaurant review: Mexican Affair Restaurant and Cantina boasts wide selection of food and scenic dining area

Chris Ledermuller
Daily Forty-Niner

A Mexican Affair is one experience to partake in while at Cal State Long Beach.

No, not the sordid, X-rated kind, but the culinary variety. Mexican Affair Restaurant and Cantina, just two blocks from CSULB, serves up great dishes in an appealing atmosphere.

Upon entering the restaurant, the first thing that jumps at diners is the display counter of Mexican Affair's broad tequila selection. Look but don't touch. Almost every square inch of the dining room is decked out in Mexican arts and crafts, and walls are covered in murals or Diego Rivera-style paintings.

While perusing the menu, tortilla chips and salsa are served. The salsa has a pleasant tomato and cilantro flavor with just a gentle kick, and makes for a good pre-meal snack.

The menu has all the standard Mexican favorites: enchiladas, burritos, chile rellenos, carne asada and giant tostadas filled with meat and salad. Combination dishes are available for $7.99 and are perfect for those who can't decide on a single item. Plates are served with rice and beans. A bowl of soup is $1.50 extra.

No visit to Mexican Affair would be complete without trying the fajitas they are simply extraordinary. The meal is a treat from start to finish, with the skillet enticingly sizzling en route to the table.

The colorful mixture of bell peppers, onions and a faint trace of seasoning intensifies the natural flavor of beef, chicken, pork and shrimp to near-euphoric levels. Any of the meats can be savored alone, or all four in the $15.99 "ultimate combo" that is worth every penny. Every dish comes with sour cream, salsa, guacamole and tortillas served in an embroidered cloth pouch, but mixing them only hinder the taste of the grilled meat and vegetables, which should be eaten alone.

Vegetarians should not fret. A meatless fajita is available. Also, for less than twice the cost, fajitas are available for two.

To end the meal, Mexican Affair has a limited dessert selection of flan and "fried" ice cream, a sundae served with a coffee-flavored fudge topping and a crispy cinnamon-sugar tortilla garnish.

Beware, a visit to Mexican Affair is not cheap. An entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic drink can run upwards of $20 a person not including tip. A margarita or other cocktail will push up the cost to around $25 or $30 per person.

Mexican Affair also offers up its full spread during lunchtime, when a reasonably priced weekday buffet is available. The buffet is a good way to savor the kitchen's creations while sticking to a budget.

This Mexican food restaurant is an affair to remember.