Tires and Tostadas

Today we went to Espanola to run a few errands and grab lunch. First stop was JC’s Auto and Tire Shop at 711 N Paseo De Onate, Espanola. We called the day before to see if they could fix a flat tractor tire and arrived at 10am, but no one was there. After knocking and peeking through the glass door, we were quickly answered by a series of beeps coming from above our heads. We looked up and heard a friendly voice say through the VivintⓇ security camera “We’ll be there in 15 minutes.” So, we did some nearby errands and came back to a bustling, open shop. We were met by JC himself, a super friendly, handsome man that both my wife and I left with a small crush on. He was not able to repair our tire because it needed an unusual inner tube. Too bad because it would have only cost $25.00. But we did make an appointment to get our car detailed next week (He quoted $65). See future review for the outcome.

We then found ourselves at a welcome addition to Espanola called El Pilar Restaurante at 107 S. Riverside Drive. You may recognize the name as it has been a local favorite food truck for the last 7 years parked near Wells Fargo. We’ve never tried the food and were hungrily eager to do so. We walked in from the chilly day to a nice warm dining room and a very pleasant aroma of good eats wafting from the kitchen. Mia, the only server on duty, told us to seat ourselves and was very kind and attentive throughout the meal.

We ordered the Tostada con Pollo as an appetizer. A heavenly concoction of creamy chipotle sauce drizzled over a hefty pile of roasted chicken, lettuce, tomato and refried beans, on a perfectly crispy, yet delicate tortilla. It came with a side of habanero salsa (house-made) with a nice tongue tingling bite to it. Two of these priced at $5 each would make a satiating, affordable lunch in itself.
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We also ordered the BBQ Rib plate and the Chile Relleno plate with Christmas. The BBQ Ribs came with crunchy fries and coleslaw. The ribs didn't quite fall off the bone, but were well cooked to a chewy, soft texture and slathered in a homemade tangy yet sweet bbq sauce. The fries, ordered crispy, were indeed crunchy and paired wonderfully with the spice of the ribs. The only downside to this plate was the coleslaw as it was too sweet and overdressed. Still, the ribs and fries were well worth it!

The Chile Relleno plate was served with one large chile and sides of beans, rice, posole and a lettuce/tomato garnish. The clear winner here was the Pozole, some of the best I’ve ever had. The pork pieces were cooked to a delicious texture and flavor. The hominy was plump and fresh and the balanced broth was richly pork-y, but not fatty. The Chile Relleno was ok, but I would add a punchier cheese to it like Cotija. Also a little salt in the batter with a longer time in the frying pan would jump it up. The green Chile was nice, the red a bit bland. I like me a smoky red, personally. The Spanish Rice was excellent, perfectly al dente with a light tomato-y taste, as it should. The Pinto beans needed a little salt if I were to be extra picky.

All of this left us full, warm and satisfied with still half of the food to take home. The prices were reasonable too, the entire lunch was just under $50 including two sodas, tax and tip.

I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to the next visit.

PRO TIPS: Keep clean plastic containers in the car for leftovers and if you order the Rib Plate, ask for extra napkins or Bring Your Own Bib.