Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives scout hits Mexico City Lounge

Its menu boasts that Mexico City Lounge has been family-owned for over forty years -- and every year shows in the depth of flavor this modest kitchen gives its green chile (offered hot or mild), its fried tacos, its steak and breakfast burritos, even that squeeze bottle of salsa. Although...

By Patricia Calhoun

February 17, 2014

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Its menu boasts that Mexico City Lounge has been family-owned for over forty years -- and every year shows in the depth of flavor this modest kitchen gives its green chile (offered hot or mild), its fried tacos, its steak and breakfast burritos, even that squeeze bottle of salsa. Although this stretch of Larimer has become almost unrecognizable over the past decade, with costly loft projects going up on all sides and fashionable restaurants up and down Larimer, Mexico City remains a down-home cantina full of guaranteed good food and good times. But good enough for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives? See also: Five reasons why Guy Fieri should drive to Douchebagistan and never come back

A renovation job elevated Mexico City above true dive status years ago, and with the crowds that now fill the 2100 block of Larimer Street, it's tough enough finding a parking place; there's no drive-in here. Even the hours are more limited than at a typical diner -- on Saturday, the place closes at 3:30 p.m.

And an hour before closing, it was still packed -- with hungover hipsters, Latino families, and a scout from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, who went for the green chile plate and a single fried steak taco.

In recent years, the show has highlighted Steuben's, Sam's #3 and Highland Tavern. Will Mexico City make the cut?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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