Pablo’s fresh Mexican food is worth the potential wait

Since the pandemic, I’ve made a personal rule to never go out to eat on a Friday night. It’s not just the fear of getting sick; not everyone has the patience for long wait times. However, my mother, a friend and I happened to be in Old Town one recent Friday evening for Preuss Pets’ Howloween event. It was getting late, and we were getting hungry. My mother, not sharing my uneasiness with crowds, wanted to try Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant. When I saw how small the restaurant was, I was worried there would be a wait, but we got in right away.

Luck must have been on our side that night. In addition to its limited seating, Pablo’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Old Town. Everything on the menu is made fresh, including the basket of warm tortilla chips and accompanying salsa you get upon arriving at your table. The decor, like most Mexican eateries, is bright and colorful, and the smaller space makes you feel like you’re in a genuine south-of-the-border restaurant.

Since it was my first time, I had some difficulty choosing what I wanted. There are so many different entrées, including burritos, mini burritos (for those who find the regular ones too filling), gorditas, tacos, sopes and tostadas. I decided to try the chimichanga dinner. While I like all Mexican food, I have a special affinity for chimichangas, which are basically a deep-fried burrito. As usual, I chose shredded chicken as my protein.

The plate comes with rice, sour cream, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes and a dollop of guacamole. The chicken, thankfully, wasn’t too spicy for me, though even if it had been, the cool sour cream drizzled on top would have dulled the effect. The rice was flavorful without being greasy. The beans, on the other hand, were a little bit plain — other Mexican places coat them with melted cheese, but since I like beans, I didn’t mind that much.

In the end, I’m glad my mom convinced me to risk a Friday night crowd at Pablo’s. Even if it had been busier than it actually was, the food alone would have been worth the wait. That doesn’t mean I’m going to break my Friday-night restaurant rule, but I won’t wait until next Halloween to visit Pablo’s again. It’s not only my new favorite restaurant in Old Town, but it makes the list of my favorite Mexican restaurants overall.