Please, no dairy. Please, no sour cream. That was the request. But everything came to the table with cheese anyhow, at least the first time around.

I love Fonda San Miguel, but last night’s experience was not a perfect one. The margarita was beyond reproach. Despite the no-dairy request, repeated with variations, stringy cheese was found at the bottom of the cup of soup, but for the most part could be avoided. The rice and pureed black beans were on the pedestrian side (and came the first time with cheese!). Entrees took a long time to arrive. The mole was still the best in town, with no hint of sweetness and with great complexity of flavor. The pork enchiladas in green sauce made their first appearance blanketed in cheese but the wait was not nearly so long for version number two, delicious in every way.

I’ve always thought that the vinaigrette dressing at Chez Nous is the best restaurant offering of its kind anywhere in Austin. The current dressing for the green salad at San Miguel rivals it, truly fresh and delicious tasting. Was that basil? or mint? or both?

We were a two-top and in the first seating. When we left, the tables were full and people were waiting in the bar area. There was music on the sound system and we recognized Vicente Fernandez before the lively hum of conversation dominated the acoustic environment.