Cafe Noche - Mexican Dining in the Mount Washington Valley
Written: Jun 13 '06 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: inexpensive but good quality, ambience
Cons: inconsistent service
The Bottom Line: For something different in the Mount Washington Valley, Cafe Noche is a great place to kick back and enjoy a meal.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Cafe Noche |
Fine Mexican food is not often synonymous with New Hampshire, but in the case of Cafe Noche, you can. It’s also proof that good Mexican food is available and not from the chain restaurants that often populate the malls around the country.
With a dearth of ethnic offerings in the area, ten years ago the owners of the restaurant saw a niche they could fill. Located almost directly across from the local high school in Conway, New Hampshire, it’s nonetheless a great place to dine, or just go in for drinks and appetizers.
The atmosphere at Cafe Noche is casual. The interior is somewhat dark but augmented by bright colors. The seating is mostly made up of tables and chairs although there are a few booths to be had. I’ve never been here when there’s been a wait, but the other day when I drove by there were quite number of motorcycles parked out front, a result of Bike Week in Laconia, NH. We usually like to sit in the front of the restaurant where we can look out the big windows onto the street.
My business partner has always enjoyed going here for tequila. His favorite is a selection of three tequilas served on a wooden paddle. Some afternoons after a hard day, he gets tequila and I get a margarita and we just have that along with chips and salsa. There are over 25 different margaritas on the menu at Cafe Noche and I am trying very hard to work my way through all of them.
Other appetizers are offered and are good as well. The Mexican potato skins are one of my favorites, as are the grande nachos with beef (also available with chicken). The jalapeno poppers remind me of what I get in the frozen food section of the supermarket. They aren’t bad, just nothing special.
The food is consistently good as well. Most of it are familiar Mexican offerings such as quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, chimichangas, burritos, and more. They are spicy but not overly so. There are sauces on the table to add more spice to any dish, if you choose. Full dinners are available too with items like seafood in addition to the Mexican selections. These are served with chips, salsa, rice, and beans. The rice is traditional Mexican rice with tomatoes in it, and the beans aren’t soupy as I’ve found in other Mexican restaurants I’ve visited. For those who don’t like Mexican food, there is a small selection of “Gringo Fare”. I wouldn’t go here for that, but if you want to try the place out and someone in your party doesn’t care for Mexican food, there are a few dishes for them.
The prices are really great. A burrito can run as little as $5.00 at lunchtime. Their dinners are a bit more expensive, with the most expensive item being the Shrimp and Scallops at $14.25. There are plenty of dinners available for under $10. A children’s menu is available as well, with Mexican selections as well as more traditional items if your kids won’t go for those.
I have had quite a few of the Mexican offerings and have yet to be disappointed in them. They are all tasty and well made with plenty of flavor. The main dishes are terrific too, the Monterey Chicken being a favorite dinner of both me and my partner.
The service has been good. There have been a couple of afternoons where we had to wait a long time to get the check, or hunt the waitress down, but overall I don't have complaints. In the off-season most restaurants around here usually keep staff is kept to a minimum, so that accounts for a lot of the inconsistency we've seen.
If you’re in the area and looking for something a little different, Cafe Noche is a great place to stop for an inexpensive, quality meal. It's suitable for the entire family, as well as a cozy and romantic meal for two.
Other places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH ~ Yankee Smokehouse, West Ossipee NH
Sites to see in the area:
Attitash Bear Peak Ski Resort ~ Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Loon Mountain Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ White Mountain National Forest ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2006 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
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AliventiAsylum
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Reviews written: 2132
Trusted by: 692 members
About Me:
Now writing reviews to pay for the "out of network" costs of our health insurance...
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