The Quad

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Features

The heart of West Chester is filled with many wonderful restaurants, most of which are located on Gay Street. There is Iron Hill, which is great, but is rather pricey for college students.

That is the problem; many of the truly great restaurants in West Chester are too expensive for the limited amount of money that college students have to spend on a night out to eat.

Honestly, who wants to pay exorbitant amounts of money on a meal, but not be filled up? The choices of where to eat without spending an extreme amount of money are limited primarily to pizza and Chinese food, neither of which, with some exceptions, are very good in this town.

Now, though, there is a new choice, El Portal on Gay Street. El Portal is the newest Mexican restaurant in West Chester, offering fresh tasting Mexican food, a vibrant décor and prices that will not break the bank.

This new restaurant is a welcome change from the overwhelming number of pizza and Chinese places that are peppered throughout West Chester. While far from being the best Mexican food in the area, El Portal is a welcome new addition to the West Chester restaurant scene.

Upon entering the restaurant, one would be taken aback by the colorful designs on the walls that give the impression of a true Tex-Mex experience. The walls on the inside are bright oranges and yellows and are decorated with beautiful Mexican artwork that helps make the restaurant seem very comfortable. The lighting is not too bright, but at the same time not too dark, offering a reasonable balance.

Likewise, the wait staff is very friendly. While not necessarily the most knowledgeable crew, as our waitress came back numerous times to ask questions about our order, they are very accommodating and attentive. Never does one feel overwhelmed here as everything seems to be very relaxed.

The wait for the meal is not painfully long nor is it too quick. This continues to perpetuate the relaxing feel that permeates from El Portal. Overall, El Portal, aesthetically, offers an atmosphere that is pleasant and inviting. This pleasant décor compliments the food nicely, as does the quality wait staff.

The menu offers traditional items that one would expect to see on the menu of a Mexican restaurant such as tacos, burritos and quesadillas, as well as traditional Mexican dishes that many of us may not have tried before. This offers some variety and allows the diner to experience something new. Everything tastes very fresh, and there is a lack of heavy oils and fat, things that have become all too common with Mexican restaurants.

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