Iguanas Ranas, the new taqueria on Main St., blends authentic Mexican elements—like the fruity Jarritos sodas—with the demeanor of a cozy local eatery. Nestled between O’Rourke’s Diner and Forest City Wines & Spirits, Iguanas Ranas offers a cheaper, more authentic alternative to La Boca (also on Main St.). The Argus editorial board recently made a trip downtown, and here’s what we thought:
Jae Aron (Features Editor): The Mango soda was incredible—I really liked the bottle. As for my order—a vegetarian burrito and some chips and guacamole I stole from Gabe—I was impressed, but not overwhelmed. Obviously, it’s much better than the Usdan burrito station, but it costs about $9, and the vegetables didn’t seem all that fresh. The guacamole was great, though, so I mixed it with my burrito, which improved it a lot. I feel like I might as well have been in Mexico (though I admit I’ve never been). (3.5 stars)
Alison Cies (News Editor): I really liked the atmosphere: everyone was really welcoming and friendly, and happy to have us there. While overall I really liked the food, I thought the chips were a bit too salty. The guacamole was really good though. The fact that customers could walk up and pay separately for their food after ordering avoided the annoyance of trying to split the bill at the end of the meal. (4 stars)
Gabe Lezra (Arts Editor): Everything about Iguanas Ranas screams chill—from the fridge full of awesome Mexican soda, to the laid back attitude of the staff, to the shelf full of different kinds of beer. My order was really cheap—3 tacos, chips, salsa and guacamole (which everyone stole)—for about 12 bucks. The chips were mediocre, but the guac was sublime. The tacos, one vegetable, one bean, and one bean and cheese, were absolutely incredible—and that’s what Iguanas Ranas does best. (4 stars)
Suzanna Hirsch (Managing Editor): Dinner at Iguanas Ranas was the perfect end to a sunny Saturday on Foss Hill. Being from Boston, it’s always hard to buy a burrito without the inevitable comparison to Anna’s Taqueria. While the veggies in the vegetable burrito definitely were not as fresh as the newly chopped vegetables at Anna’s, and there wasn’t as much delicious sour cream-salsa-guacamole mush, it was the most tasty burrito alternative I’ve found in Middletown. It was a bit expensive, but the burrito was huge and the atmosphere, topped off with an emphatic “We serve beer!” sign, makes for a great dining experience. (4.5 stars)
Rob Wohl (News Editor) – As a proud Arizonan, I’m extraordinarily reluctant to acknowledge the merit in any Yankee Mexican restaurant. But Iguanas Ranas is the real deal. There’s nothing sophisticated about it, but the tacos are pretty much exactly as delicious as the ones you would get out of a trailer on some Southwestern roadside. This place is only expensive if you make a terrible mistake and don’t get the tacos, which are a great deal at two bucks each. I particularly recommend the barbacoa (slow-cooked beef) or the carnitas (fried pork). Wash it down with a Jarrito, a Mexican fruit soda. The above-mentioned mango and the grapefruit are your best bets. Oh, and I’ve heard a rumor that they make horchata. (5 stars)
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