I used to live in Mt Pleasant decades ago so now that I'm back I have no clue where anything is at nor what is available. After searching on Google for terms like "Tex-mex Mt Pleasant" then consulting Yelp (selfless advertising there) I settled on Rio Chico. Located off of Long Point road in a very safe and cozy part of town Rio Chico has plenty of parking in a tucked away little town center area. Outside the facility is a typical run-of-the-mill restaurant façade however once the doors swing open, a bit of "flair and flavor" hits the senses.
I lived in Austin TX for 4 years and would frequent San Antonio so I can say Rico Chico nailed the Latino influence on many levels, but not all. The floor and walls have that stuck-O color and feel, rod iron accents and large windows give the impression of the open-air theme with curved brick tiles acting as shingles drives home the point of a south Texas or Mexican experience. To finish up my first impression the dark wooden table and chairs along with booths are new while small accents such as a de la Muerte manakin give a very authentic "lived-in" vibe if you will. The servers are extremely nice and quick to seat the customers in places that have visibility to large TVs.
My date was running late, which at a Mexican restaurant is a good thing as it gave me time to devour some chips and salsa. As a side note, I was on time, coming from Summerville while she was late living in Mt Pleasant; women! The chips were slightly burnt to me, a point my date didn't fully agree with but I maintain my opinion. The salsa was spot on - chunky, full of flavor with a slight pinch of heat but not making it impossible to eat. The server had good timing, allowing us to hang out yet making sure our beverages, in this case wine, were optimally filled. As for the beverages I'm not a tequila person, neither was my date, but a bourbon and/or wine person. The choices are sparse for the latter with bottom shelf selections but I realize the offerings are based on the setting so I'm fine with that.
As for the menu there are lots of items to choose from and while I debated street tacos (a no win here as I just moved from the capital of tacos) so I went "full on flautas." I loved the shredded lettuce b/c it's what I envision as the perfect style when I eat Tex-mex. Huge dollops of sour cream are piled on with a very tame but lime drowned guac. Now I was supremely disappointed with the flautas. First, they were extremely wide as if their previous life was that of a chimichanga. Every where else I've had them, they're like cigars long, thin and crispy; crumbling to eat bite like a tortilla chip. Next the chicken had exactly zero flavor which is to say, no seasoning at all; no cumin, cilantro, chili pepper, salt, pepper nothing. In essence an almost soggy flavorless shredded chicken abomination; a Franken-flat-lupa if you will.
As for my date she ordered the Arroz con Pollo. This dish was a stark contrast to mine and I'll reflect in the opposite of my lunch starting with my only gripe, the rice wasn't cooked in lard. This meant less flavor (in the rice itself) and texture. That said the rice "dish" did have good flavor with nice small veggies in it like tomato and peppers. Besides the once again great accompaniment of perfectly shredded lettuce, lime drowned guac and sour cream; the chicken simply put was outstanding. Long slices of succulent and tender chicken topped the rice. Every bite of juicy chicken burst with authentic Mexican flavor - like a fiesta in my mouth. Whomever cooked this dish - you NAILED it! I don't dig on beans so I can't speak on them but my overzealous female companion enjoyed copious amounts implying my air freshener might have a real job on its hands later, joking aside this was a phenomenal dish.
Overall, my experience at Rico Chico, a chain restaurant was enjoyable with some menu items exceeding and others disappointing me. I was there at a slower time of day, that being Saturday 1-6 and never once was rushed, however I left before the night crowd began to file in. The servers are nice and respectful and most of the food is good. While I have heard other opinions of Rico's, I'm not going to comment on their experience, rather just what I can attest to. With that said, it seems like a hit or miss place with being a hit more often. To finish up, if you're close and in the mood, Rico Chico's is the restaurant for you. Stop on by! read more