Is this real cheese??
Written: Jul 27 '00 (Updated Jul 27 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap food, but we all know what it is. That's why we go there!
Cons: This last time was a problem, management and corporate couldn't figure it out
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| hearseman's Full Review: Pancho's Mexican Buffet |
I am 23 years old. For as long as I can remember, I've been exposed to Pancho's Mexican Buffet. The earliest I can remember is when we went to Pancho's in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When we moved to Texas 15 years ago, Pancho's was here too (actually it was here first). I live just outside of Fort Worth, the location for Pancho's headquarters.
I realize that Pancho's DOES NOT have the best Mexican food, I wouldn't even dare to call it Mexican food. For the most part, the food is tolerable, and CHEAP.
Upon entering the restaurant, you notice the Mexican motif. Spanish fresco's and artifacts are on the walls. There are wood beams that appear to support the ceiling, as decorations they really don't. Of course there is Spanish music piped in to really get you in the mood.
Another thing you'll notice are little paper animals all over the place. These are called Pinatas. For those of you who don't know, Pinatas are paper mache like creations usually in the shape of an animal. For birthdays and other holidays, you fill these with candy. The children line up and literally beat the stuffing out of the animals with a bat or stick. When the candy comes raining down, everyone runs to grab as much as they can. Pinatas are at Pancho's because they used to give these out on your children's birthday, though I'm not sure if they still do or not. When you join the Pancho's birthday club, children 11 and under get a free childs buffet and a gift on their birthday.
In our area, the dinner buffet is $5.95 Monday-Thursday. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday it is $6.19. On the buffet line are such things as chili rellenos (re en os), tacos, beef, cheese and chicken enchiladas, taquitos and flautas, rice, beans and stews. At the table you are also presented with tortilla chips and salsa. At the end of the meal you are also given sophipillas. These are a sweet flour tortilla type item that is fried into a pillow. Put butter and honey-like sauce into them...mmmmmm. Everything on the buffet line is available for take-out.
When dining in, you go through the initial cafeteria style buffet line. Select 5 items. They are placed on a fire hot metal platter, which is placed on a plastic plate. Get your beverage and you are almost ready to chow down. After going through the line you are seated. A server comes to your table and introduces himself or herself. They bring you hot chips and salsa.
On your first visit, you wonder what a green, white and red flag is doing on the table. Well, this is a replica of the Mexican flag. When you need anything, raise it. Finished with your 22nd cheese enchilada, raise the flag. Mouth burning from the salsa and out of drink...raise the flag. This is a terrific invention in food service. Never again are you bothered at the wrong time for more tea. No longer will you die of thirst waiting for more tea.
As if you haven't already eaten enough already, there is also a desert bar. It is typical buffet style fare. Soft serve ice cream with all the goodies, pudding, jello, etc.
I haven't eaten the buffet in some time. I usually get take-out now. Pancho's has a Fiesta Party Pack that we normally get. It has 20 tacos, 12 flautas, 1 pounds of tortilla chips, 1/2 pint of cheese sauce and 1 pint of salsa. All of this for $10.99. Not too bad. We also get a dozen of cheese enchiladas.
From what I've written so far, you'd think I just love this place. Well, I don't hate it but I only get food from there every couple of months. It is a tolerable place to get lots of cheap Mexican style food.
So, now ask me what the deal is with the title. Why do you question the realness of the cheese? Well, last week I went and got the usual: 1 Fiesta Party Pack and a dozen cheese enchiladas. Normally, we have tacos and enchi's left over for lunch the next day. We just reheat the tacos in a 350-degree oven and nuke the enchiladas for about a minute or two. The cheese melts on the tacos and the enchiladas are gooey inside.
This was not the case this last time. When we got the food home I noticed something different about the enchiladas. They seemed much more firm. When you cut into one, there was a mangled mass of shredded cheddar cheese. The tortilla was very firm. Even when microwaved for an extreme amount of time, the cheese stayed the same. When we heated the tacos up the next day, I noticed that the cheese on them would not melt at any temperature. This lead me to believe that the cheese this time around was not dairy cheese. When I called the store manager and the corporate offices, they claimed that they only use dairy cheese. They had no response to the problem. It must not have been dangerous, I still alive and not ill 2 weeks later :)
Don't let this problem discourage you. This is definitely not the usual experience for Pancho's. Normally the food is fine. Don't expect a gourmet meal when you go to Pancho's, but it is better than Taco Bell.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hearseman
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Member: Brandon VanOrden
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Reviews written: 87
Trusted by: 14 members
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