By Angie Myers
A-Myers.1@onu.edu
Just a few weeks ago, a new restaurant came to Ada, Ohio.
El Campo has brought a taste of the south up north.
It was a beautiful Monday night and the walk down Main Street helped set the mood for the evening, crossing the railroad tracks and reaching Buckeye Street where the restaurant is quaintly located in between a few local shops.
Opening the door and entering the restaurant at around 7:30 p.m., business seemed fair for a small town like Ada. There were several tables occupied by groups of friends and the usual couples out for a nice dinner.
I followed the host and my date to one of the booths toward the back of the restaurant. The host ended up being our server, as well, and immediately asked for our drink orders.
We ordered our drinks and my date began searching through the menu to find his favorite dish.
I began soaking in the atmosphere, looking around and taking in the culture. The Mexican music was playing louder than traditional restaurant music and the colorful walls and Mexican paintings filled the space with a lively and cheerful glow. With only around 15 tables filling the long and narrow rectangular space, the close quarters seemed to add to the noise and energetic mood. It was inspirational to see this taste of Mexican culture brought to such a small American town.
The food added to this spice of the south. The chips and salsa were fresh and tasted homemade. Our appetizer was simple, yet delicious, fitting in just right.
I ordered chicken and steak taquitoes which were also refreshingly simple: chicken and steak wrapped in a crunchy breading.
My date ordered chalupas. The display was appealing with sour cream baked onto the soft breading that wrapped around the vast mixture of ingredients.
Timeliness of the food was quick and our server kept us happy.
The experience overall was refreshing. The atmosphere was a nice release from every day life. It was relaxing and satisfying, bringing a small taste of Mexico to Ada, Ohio.