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Restaurant review: Sizzlingly good food at new Mexican restaurant
Chipotle Meatballs - Chimichanga
Nick Reinis visits Chimichanga, the vibrant new Mexican restaurant in Peterborough city centre.
THEY say you can never have too much of a good thing. And that phrase is now being put to the test with the amount of Mexican restaurants in the city.
For when popular restaurant chain Chimichanga opened its doors last month in the city centre, it became the third of its kind in Peterborough.
So, having been to the impressive Flamas, in Hampton Vale, and only ever having heard good things about Coco, in Broadway, how would Chimichanga compare?
The first thing that hits you when you walk into the restaurant is the care that has been taken with the vast space inside the building, formerly the Verve puv.
Traditional tables – suitable for couples and small parties – are at the front, followed by a corridor lined with booths, for bigger parties and groups of friends. There are then more tables at the back, just in front of an open-plan window into the kitchen.
The décor is also very attractive, and the politeness of the staff during my visit – with two fellow reporters, Matt and Stephen – was exemplary.
On to the menus, and as you would expect from Mexican restaurant, the choice and range on offer was very good, and there was no complaints with our starters.
I was happy with my choice of Portobello mushrooms, which were crispy and light, while Matt, who opted for the jalapeno bullets (deep fried jalapeno peppers filled with cheese), and Stephen, who went for the nachos, were equally impressed.
And the good news kept on coming with the mains. Arriving on a sizzling hot plate, my chicken fajitas were beautifully cooked with just the right amount to eat.
Meanwhile Matt, who chose chipotle meatballs, said the only negative about his dish was that the portion was quite large – although hardly a sticking point.
Stephen was also happy with his Mexican paella, which included chicken, tiger prawns and chorizo sausage, which he described as “amazing”.
With just enough room left, myself and Matt dipped into the desert menu – albeit with differing results.
I thoroughly enjoyed my honeycomb smash cheesecake, which was light and fluffy, but Matt felt his key lime pie was a little bit too sweet. However, he did admit that may have been because of all the spices he had already eaten during the meal.
Add to this a reasonably priced menu and a vast drinks menu, and you have a recipe for a good night out right in the middle of the city centre.
So, I guess you can definitely never get too much of a good thing.
Chimichanga. 6 Church Street, Peterborough, PE1 1XB. Tel: 01733 891119. For a full menu list, visit www.chimichanga.co.uk.
Menu examples
Starters
Portobello mushrooms £4.50
Jalapeno bullets £4.96
Nachos with pico de gallo £3.50
Mexican spring rolls £4.50
Mains
Sizzling chicken barbacoa £9.95
Chipotle meatballs £8.95
Chicken fajitas £11.95
Grande chicken quesadilla £9.45
Mexican paella £8.95
Desserts
Honeycomb smash cheesecake £4.75
Key lime pie £4.75
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Joff
Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 05:06 PMSofedup, there are some great independent restaurants in the city centre where you'll avoid those pesky under-25s!
Candidus
Friday, March 26, 2010 at 02:18 PMWe have another one to add to the chains. However, don't they do it well Good food and good service but I know half of it comes in packs from the delivery lorry three times a week A relatively cheap meal-so long as you don't order wine, good atmosphere, easy to get to and park Great for a Friday night
Sofedup
Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 08:36 PMSame old chain restaurant stuff as far as I can see (owned by Prezzo). If you want an independant - or freshly cooked food which isn't run by a chain, or that you can get as a take away anyway - then you have to go outside of Peterborough to the villages. If anyone tries to set up a decent restaurant in the town centre - the place is too full of youngsters getting smashed out their heads on cheap shots, that no-one generally over 25 wants to come to town! I have money to spend, just nowhere to spend it!!!
Dalek Sec
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 01:38 PMMy, the cathedral does serve good food!
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