I would surmise that a lot of folks who take the time to review restaurants have a noble feeling that they are helping a place generate business-sustaining patronage in some way. In many cases that may be true, but in this instance El Rodeo absolutely does not need my, or anyone else's, opinion to help their bottom line. This has consistantly been the busiest restaurant in Cheney for years, and when you mention El Rodeo to area residents, it's the place that evokes the most praise and adoration. This is restaurant number two for this family. The original El Rodeo is in Moses Lake, and was/is a regular stop for my family on trips to and from Seattle. Imagine our surprise when we saw that familiar sign put up in front of the old Fiesta Charra building several years ago. But perhaps surpise is lacking in description. Euphoria, ecstacy, naked cartwheels are all probably better characterizations of the joy...
Creatures of habit that we are, we all have that one plate of food that winds up being that 'go-to' comfort provider, and for me it is the dinner portion Tamale Enchilada & Relleno Platter with chicken, otherwise known as---The Number 26 (veinte-seis, for those of you keeping score at home)...
You only have your 50th birthday once... My choice of celebratory dining was easy. The hardest part was to veer from what I know and love (see above). Chided by my lovely wife and oldest son to try something special and new, I chose the crowning glory of the El Rodeo menu: The Chef's Special. Made with your choice of rib steak or carne asada, this is the most expensive dish in house at $17.50. Best steak ever? Of course not. This is a Mex place and not a steakhouse. But was it good? Of course it was, and one of my teenage sons agreed when he ate the other half of the platter that I couldn't finish--due to complete and utter engorgement...
Most good Mex places have Molcajete (pronounced mole-ka-hay-tay). Molcajete is, in actuality, the description of the serving dish, not the food itself. In Mexico, it is usually served in a large, hot stone bowl to keep it's contents soothingly warm throughout the dining experience. Shrimp is normally the dominating protein, but beef, chicken and pork can always be included in the savory stew that fills the molcajete. El Rodeo's was obviously not in a stone bowl, but was no less delicious with a nice spicy bite to it, that--while it took a few bites to get used to--wound up warming my wife up and she enjoyed it very much. Once again, another teenage son at home finished off the leftovers with glee...
Writing this was a labor of love and agony for me. Sometimes you enjoy a restaurant so much that you just don't know how to start, or what to say. In my mind there are too many superlatives to list for this place: the food, the wonderful family who run it, the location (for me), etcetera, etcetera, infinitesmal etcetera. But let me put it in this perspective... Will everyone share my opinion when dining here? Certainly not. But they might. And that's the way it should be. Everyone's tastes are different, and rare is the establishment and dining experience that we will all agree upon. But we all have that one special place that makes us feel the happiest, the most satisfied, and the most comfortable. For me and my family....it's El Rodeo.
BUSINESS NOTES: El Rodeo is open seven days a week for lunch & dinner, and is very affordable. Most meal combos are under $10. Their specialties are at a reasonable premium, but hey, look at the photos folks. You get a lot of goodness for your investment. They have a small, full service, lounge hidden from the restaurant, with happy hour offerings/specials and the full menu available. There is outdoor dining when beautiful weather allows. I do not believe they cater, but I do know they can accomodate large parties with prior notification.
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