If you have ever driven down Parker Road in West Plano, you might have noticed the cool, colorful stucco-style building with the large script writing on the side, “El Norte Grill.” It’s the kind of place that would catch your eye in an “I should stop there someday” kind of way. Those who live in the area know it well and have frequented the Tex-Mex spot for more than 30 years. We are here to tell the “someday” crowd why they should pull up the next time they are nearby.
Original owners Mark and Debra Ludwig developed a loyal following with a menu of classic Tex-Mex dishes, and later, with innovative dishes the couple added after their travels. Antonio Munoz worked alongside the Ludwigs, helping to run the place and develop the menu. When it was time to move on, the Ludwigs didn’t want to sell to the highest bidder; they wanted Munoz to take over so the restaurant would live on.
Munoz wasn’t so sure about that plan. “I had already decided I would be a school bus driver when they retired,” he said, grinning. He was finally convinced after the Ludwigs offered to pay all of the loan application fees if he got turned down. He didn’t.
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Guac, Flautas and Pork Montana
We started our meal with the Guacamole de la Mesa. Our server brought all of the ingredients out and mixed them right at our table. The guac was light and fresh and was served with a side of slightly crispy, but still a little chewy, flour tortilla chips dusted with cumin. They were excellent on their own and held up better to the dip than the tortilla chips did.
Next was a house favorite, the chicken flautas. These were especially good because the rolled tortilla shell was thinner than typical flautas, yet also larger, allowing for more chicken. A side of queso for dipping rounded out this app perfectly…