The Night I Fell in Love with La Paloma’s Chips

By: Mr. Wilson on July 27, 2009

I love New Mexican-style food. My in-laws live in Albuquerque. Every time we visit them I gorge myself on green chile. It is very difficult to find anything similar around here. The closest I have found -- both in style and distance -- is Cristina's in Crete, located in the former Wanek's building. Every time I go there I try to talk them into opening a location right near my house, but no dice so far. When I heard that La Paloma offers New Mexican style green chile on some of its menu items I got pretty excited. For one thing, located at 139th and O Street, La Paloma is closer than Cristina's. And the possibility of having two New Mexico-style options was pretty intriguing. My father and I visited La Paloma on Saturday evening. The restaurant sits in a strip mall on the north side of O Street between Lincoln and Eagle. Not quite as alluring as its former 8th Street location in the Haymarket, but it'll do. We walked in to find a pleasant, single-room atmosphere. The register is near the door; the small bar, server prep area, and kitchen window are near the back; booths line the wall and tables fill up the space in the middle. We were warmly greeted and, upon being seated, were told about the night's special: a fajita-like dish featuring fire-grilled pork loin for $11.99. The rest of the menu was smaller than what you will find at a lot of Mexican restaurants, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Why stuff the menu when you can focus on what you're good at? Especially when a couple of those items feature New Mexican-style green chile!

Like almost every local Mexican restaurant, La Paloma offers diners a complimentary basket of chips and salsa. The salsa was a well-blended red, with just enough kick to keep a spice hound like me from being bored. The chips ... what can I say about the chips? They were awesome. I haven't had chips like La Paloma's anywhere else in town. They were served warm and fresh, and they were thick and flaky, almost cracker-like in some ways. I had to pace myself lest I fill up on chips before my meal came. Two big thumbs-up on the chips, though I do have a suggestion. They could be offered with honey in addition to the salsa. I think they would work very well with honey.

My father ordered the special, and it didn't disappoint. The pork loin was served with sauteed onions, jalapenos, and tomatoes, all of which my dad wrapped up in the tortillas served with the dish. He practically licked his plate clean.

I went with the Rio Rancho burrito ($8.99), a meat and bean burrito topped with New Mexico-style green chile and cheese. I'll be honest, I was a bit disappointed. The green chile was New Mexico-style, as advertised, so that's good. But it wasn't nearly as spicy as I like my chile, and it was overwhelmed by the heavy, non-New Mexico-ish contents of the burrito. The style of chile used at La Paloma would be excellent on a breakfast burrito (i.e. eggs, potatoes, black beans, chorizo), however. Don't get me wrong. That the meal didn't live up to my unfairly inflated expectations doesn't mean it wasn't good; it was. It just means La Paloma won't be able to compete with Cristina's on my green chile list. In the end, I left with a strong desire to return. And not just to try more of the menu items. The restaurant gave off a very warm and friendly vibe. I want to support that. If you haven't already OD'd on Lincoln's myriad Mexican-style restaurants, take a short drive east on O Street and give La Paloma a try.

Comments

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West A Dad

July 27, 2009 at 1:10PM

Noticed Saturday evening that Las Herraduras on West O Street is no more.

Mr. Wilson

July 27, 2009 at 1:15PM

Bummer, thanks for the update. I can’t help but think they bit off more than they could chew with that huge space. They probably should have started smaller.

July 27, 2009 at 1:47PM

I am also a lover of New Mexican cuisine having spent plenty of time in the Pueblo, CO - Santa Fe, NM areas. I will definately be checking out La Paloma.

I have found the Green Chile Stew (Friday’s weekly lunch special) to be one of my favorite little menu items in Lincoln. A little light on the pork for my tastes, but hits all the right spots otherwise! It comes with rice, beans, and tortillas, as it should.

Fletch

July 27, 2009 at 2:47PM

I also noticed that place on Salt Valley Roadway or whatever - north of the arch near the Saltdogs’ field, is empty again, with a sign for Super Taco II coming soon.

That place could set a Lincoln record for the most failed restaurants in one location.

Nikkidemas

July 27, 2009 at 3:46PM

Good luck to them. I love Super Taco, but I doubt I’d ever make it out to that location.

beerorkid

July 27, 2009 at 4:16PM

The liquor store next door never opened. I was under the impression that they were the same owners. LH has been gone for more than a month. Unique and good so I am a bit bummed.

Garrett McConnell

August 10, 2009 at 9:27PM

The chips at la paloma are amazing, but so are the margarita’s. Go with the peach one if you want the best, or go with the jalapeno one if you are the daredevil type.

That place has some delicious food.

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