Bandolero Cocina de Mexico recently opened in Scottsdale Arizona. The owner and chef specializes in Mexican and Spanish cuisine and also owns a tapas restaurant (I was told by my waiter). The restaurant has an unmarked entrance (subject to change). It’s between a juice shop and Pomo Pizzeria. (***update the sign will be installed 12-8-20)
The atmosphere is rich and stunning.
They also offer a dog friendly patio.
Bandolero means bandit or outlaw from Spain or Mexico but they offer a comfortable well spaced patio equipped with misters for cooling and portable heaters for those few chilly days.
They serve cocktails and specialized margaritas but (at the moment) are without a menu (soon to change). (****update cocktail menu will be out 12-9-20)
I had several questions about certain food items…My waiter was unable to answer my questions and neglected to ask for answers….
Anywho-
They started us off with complimentary chips and salsa.
The salsa and chips are very unique and unlike any I ever had anywhere before.
The chips are light and very thin but crisp. I suspect that they are perhaps made with different flours. Usually corn chips are made with nixtamalzation (lime water soaked corn) so they have that special corn chip taste. These taste different….like mixed with something sort of like rice flour. The salsa is different too. It’s a blended tomato sauce that is very mild and delicate and is mint forward. (******update I was told that the chips are indeed corn made from thin corn tortillas)
We share the huitlacoche (Mexican Truffle Corn Smut) as out appetizer and took home the rice and beans.
The huitlacoche inside the enchiladas is mixed with a lot of mushrooms. It’s less flavorful or maybe more delicate than most huitllacoche that I have tried. The chili glaze over the enchiladas is also very mild and delicate. The corn kernels are very soft…….
For my main I ordered the lubina a la sal (salt crusted whole stripe bass) served table side.
I asked what the green was…….I wasn’t told what it was but I was told not to eat it….so I didn’t. The fish really was amazing. It was as if it was just caught and was prepared to perfection. It was seasoned just so I have to add. It almost tasted like it was still swimming in the ocean. I was told that this fish was just caught and flown in today.
I tell The Forking Truth so…….I have to say that the menu reads that I am suppose to get rice with my meal…For whatever reason someone served me mashed potatoes. (cool I like that better anyway) They are seasoned nice but are lumpy. (I don’t mind) I also was served two sauces with the fish. I asked what they were and my waiter didn’t know. The top sauce tasted like a buttery white sauce and went really great with the fish (this sauce was actually mojo de ago and was made with fish stock and tequila). The bottom sauce tasted like chipotle mayo and would be really delicious on a burger but was too overpowering for this fish…….(did someone give me a wrong sauce?) This was also a very large portion of food. I should have made it into two meals but wasted some potatoes and brought home some fish for my dogs.
My husband had the arroz con mariscos (spicy rice with shrimp, clams, mussels and jalapeños).
Everything here was prepared to perfection, was delicious and wasn’t too spicy either. It takes a lot of skill to prepare all these different seafood items and have them ready at the same time perfect.
We really enjoyed both dinners.
Sadly I was too full for dessert….this time.
That was my trip to Banolero Cocina de Mexico in Scottsdale AZ.
*****Update****The owner contacted me to tell me that they are closing the restaurant Dec. 7th & 8th for training****
I returned to Bandolero Cocina De Mexico for lunch about two weeks later. I see that they do indeed have new signs now.
Today we sat on the front patio.
It’s nice and open. I like how all the walls in the front open up too. Today we get a team of two waiters. They welcomed us and were able to answer questions. Soon we are given complimentary salsa and chips.
The salsa is much better today. It has a chunky vegetable texture and some acid and heat today. I also prefer that this batch taste cilantro forward. The chips are ok today.
I start out with the pumpkin soup.
It’s presented with a beautiful fried squash blossom and little coating pumpkin seeds with a drizzle of cream. The soup is ok….but for my taste is a bit heavy with too much added cream. Some people like it this way so it’s good for those people.
For lunch I tried the Monday chefs stew special. It was tortilla crusted chicken with rice, beans, salsas and corn.
I think it’s a great value for only $10.00. It’s a lot of food.
My husband tried the cochinita pibil tacos (achiote rubbed pork, slow baked with spices in banana leaves.
It was a little dry…..
From our first visit both fresh flown in seafood dishes were excellent (salt crusted whole strip bass & Spicy shrimp with shellfish and rice). From second visit the $10.00 lunch special was a good value and tasty.
www.BandoleroAZ.com
Everything is subject to change.
