Have you ever ordered something at a restaurant, regretted it almost immediately and managed to make the most of it anyway? A stop at Mittman Fine Foods this week almost ended in disaster, but the day was saved by the restaurant’s excellent customer service and charm.
For this week’s Budget Bites, it was time to check out Mittman Fine Foods on the Eastside, a small taqueria known for its carne guisada. However, while visiting the restaurant, it slipped my mind that carne guisada was THE thing to get, so my experience didn’t go as planned. And yet, I made the most of it all the same.
There was one parking spot left in front of the bright orange building housing Mittman Fine Foods, so I took it and headed for the gated front door. The interior looked like the inside of somebody’s house converted into a business, with tile floors and a calming shade of pink on every wall. Owner Mary Benavides read the nostalgic look on my face and called over a server to show me to the dining room, which felt more like a living room with extra tables.
At this point, I should have referred to my notes or pulled up a Google review before hastily choosing something from the menu, but I did neither and therefore panic-ordered something I don’t believe I’ve ever ordered at a Mexican restaurant — a barbacoa guisada plate with hash browns, beans and a side of tortillas…