As my third restaurant visit in Provo, I ate at Joe Vera's, a Mexican restaurant — or "fiestaurant," as it's referred to on its menus — whose mission, according to their website, is to let customers “savor the taste of Mexico."
My experience with Mexican food so far? Limited. I just arrived in the United States from my home country of Chile a week and a half ago for a six-week internship at The Daily Universe. The closest I’ve gotten to the country's cuisine is Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme, which most Mexicans would probably argue is far from the real deal.
Located at 201 West Center Street in the heart of Provo, with a simple three-page menu and a solid four out of five stars on Google reviews, Joe Vera's offered me the opportunity to try some “real” Mexican food for the first time. I walked in unsure of what to expect and walked out pleasantly surprised with leftovers for the next day's lunch.
As soon as you enter, you're greeted by a fun Mexican ambiance. Big sombreros, balloons and other Mexican-inspired decor hang on colorful walls, which are a mix of orange, yellow and red and set a cheerful and festive vibe.
Our table, located next to a window, was a cozy spot. The window itself was decorated, featuring some Valentine’s Day cookies and a little cupid sign, though it was unclear whether they were meant to be eaten or purely decorative.
While the setup was pleasant overall, the lighting could use some improvement. Since it was past 5:30 p.m. and already dark outside, the dim lighting over our table gave the space a slightly sleepy vibe, which is perfect if you’re ready to wind down, but not ideal if you’re trying to have dinner.
The service was prompt and welcoming. As we sat down, our server immediately brought us chips and salsa which were so good that we ended up asking for a second round. The salsa had just the right balance of spice and flavor and the chips were warm and fresh, though they could use a little bit more salt. To drink, I ordered a Diet Coke, which, in my humble opinion, you can never go wrong with.
After reading through the menu multiple times and struggling to narrow down my choices, I opted for a combination platter: one beef taco, one chicken enchilada and one pork tostada. I wanted to sample a bit of everything to give a fair review.
The server brought the plate with a side of refried beans with cheese and rice. To say the food was pretty good might be an understatement. The beef taco was perfectly seasoned, the chicken enchilada had a rich flavor and the pork tostada offered a delightful crunch even though it was at the bottom of the plate, buried down under lettuce, Pico de Gallo and sour cream.
As someone with no prior experience with authentic Mexican food, I might be a little uninformed, but compared to the bar set by Taco Bell, this was on a whole new level.
The portions were generous, which I’ve noticed to be the case at every restaurant I’ve visited during my short stay in the country. Despite my enthusiasm, I found myself getting full quickly so I couldn’t order dessert, which was sad because I had my eye on the fried ice cream.
Thankfully, our waitress was happy to give me a to-go box, so I could enjoy the rest the next day. And let me tell you, the food was just as good for lunch.
I would definitely go back to Joe Vera’s for a second round. Next time, I’m determined to save room for dessert and finally try that fried ice cream which hasn't left my mind since.