Mexican Anyone?

Yesterday at just after 12pm we were driving along Sanit Joseph Ave in Lachine - where I was showing Christy where I used to live and play.  As we got further east on Saint Joseph - we came to an old friend's house and place of work - Salomon (Sam) Acoca.  Next to Sam's place of business - a denturology office - is a beautiful little Mexican restaurant named El Meson.  There was a lady cleaning and preparing the tables on their outdoor terrasse and I called to her to ask if Sam still owned the place.  From the second floor a man's voice came booming down - Yes!  It was Sam who was sitting on his veranda atop the building which I imagine he owns!  I hadn't seen him for likely 15 maybe 20 years so I called up to him - 'it's Ross Harvey - we'll be coming by soon for dinner!'

We had planned on trying out a little place on Sherbrooke which Christy told me served great Korean food.  Inside two blocks from El Meson - I said to Christy - 'no time like the present!  What do you say we eat here today?'  So we turned the car around and parked and walked to the resto. 

We were the first people today for lunch and got our choice of outside tables.  We sat in what we considered to be the best one - giving us a full view of the park and waterway in front of us.  When I lived in Victoria Village, Westmount, back in the early 2000's, my landlord - a lady named Margaret Boucher asked me if I knew any restaurants with great ambience that were really cheap.  I told her they are mutually exclusive!  But here - at El Meson - was an amazing setting with what looked to be very reasonable offerings!

Our waiter - a young man named Os recently transplanted here from Cuba - was extremely nice and cordial and professional.  He took our order of two Coronas and brought them immediately.  We started with a plate of nachos - which were splendid - abundant with cheese and a very nice, but hot dipping sauce.  We chose our meals - with a plan to share each.  We ordered Fajitas Mixtas - a mix of beef and chicken sauteed on a hot skillet with bell peppers and onions - and Carne Asada - a beautifully seasoned steak.

The meals came quite soon after we had finished our nachos.  I took the Fajitas and shovelled half the chicken, half the beef and half the veggies over to Christy's waiting plate.  Christy cut her steak in half and placed the smaller half on my plate.  As sides for my plate were a very tasty hot and fresh zucchini offering, very nice spicy tomato rice and extremely enjoyable refried beans with a couple of nacho chips to scoop them up with.  Christy's plate featured all those same sides - along with a very tasty shredded chicken dish called chilaquiles.  We both worked through our meals stopping regularly to say how amazing the food was to each other and the very friendly and nice staff.

When we finished, Os asked us if we would like coffee or tea - where Christy said she'd have a coffee.  I enjoyed a couple of sips of a very nice brew - a wonderful end to a fantastic meal!  This place is special!  Very special.  To all those reading this - whether you are native Montrealers or visiting from elsewhere - take a trip along St. Joseph Ave in Lachine, park your car as close to 16th Ave and make a stop at El Meson.  I promise you will thank me!

All my love,

RossG3.ca