Authentic Is Our Middle Name

Surveying some fairly new additions to the Waco food scene might be fun. I visited Rosa’s Café and (the not really) Tortilla Factory for the third time. After three trips, you should be able to sum up the strengths and weaknesses of just about any chain restaurant.

Rosa's Cafe is a growing Mexican food restaurant chain with beginnings in San Angelo. Back then it was probably an interesting local place that had its own personality. The original and its concept were bought in 1995 and now 21 additions later we have our very own Rosa’s clone.

There are some positives. The salsa bar is clean and fresh. Several tasty choices of condiments like the Pico de Gallo and Chile Arbol had real heat. This is good because liberal use of these condiments will enable your enjoyment of the rather undistinguished food. The staff should be complimented for keeping the self-serve bar clean and filled. They did this twice during the 45 minutes I was in the restaurant last week. At 12:45, I had no problem parking, waiting in a line, or finding a clean table.

I guess the real star of the menu is the made-before-your-very-eyes flour tortilla that comes from a stainless steel baking machine that has been used at several other chains like this one. They are good. You can take home 12 for $1.99. So end the positives.

My lunch this time was a modest plate of two tacos (al carbon) with decent rice and soupy runny refried beans. I added a small order of corn chips and a small drink. Total $10.70 for lunch at this quick serve place. This is too expensive for this type of food. I should have learned from my previous visits to go ala carte order a large basket of chips and use the condiments.

Unfortunately corn tortilla chips were as bad as the flour tortillas were good. They are just plain ordinary.

I settled for tea because they have no Diet Dr Pepper. I keep a mental list of places that carry Dr Pepper but refuse to offer its popular sibling. Waco is the Home of Dr Pepper. If you come here from out of town to do business – Try to act like you belong here. I was not impressed by their selection of Fanta flavors.

The tables and chairs were comfortable enough. The décor, while colorful, had that manufactured feel – no spontaneity. I’m sure they had an exact layout from the designer so that every object and graphic was placed just so. If you have ever been to a real border café that has a wonderful haphazard feel to it, a designed environment like this can’t fool you. I doubt there is much difference in #19, #20, or #21.

I can’t see any reason to eat here when we have at least 6 home grown places that are just as good. I would place it equal to or above some of the other chains but it seemed to me that this was not a great value.