The Pioneer
2401 S University Blvd
Denver, CO 80210
Dinner Date: July 9, 2009
Attendees: Jen, Lara, Ang., Rhonda, Caroline, Cat and Marie
(Confession: It's been awhile since our dinner at the Pioneer...the dog days of summer having made us lazy in the old blog department...but I have my notes so here goes!)
Mexican food...give it to me...tortillas, corn or flour, I don't mind...beans, black, pinto, fried, refried, borracho, yeah yeah...chiles, I'm an admitted dead-center medium on the old Scoville scale, but yes, I love me some chiles....and we won't even go into how I have a self-imposed margarita limit, for a good reason.
As for the Pioneer Tacos and Margaritas, I can safely say I remember liking it, but that's about it...it was like, not love.
I had the Al Pastor Tacos...pork with a really yummy garlic and pineapple salsa...but that was it. That was it as in that was all that was on my plate...no beans, no rice, no sides...except for these pink, pickled onions that were okay but I still can't figure out their purpose or why they were pink. Also...my tacos a) not hot and b) not edible by hand as the second I picked up the first one, the bottom fell out and I ended up having to use my fork.
What I should have ordered were the Chile Rellenos...cause Rhonda, sitting next to me ordered them, I had 2 bites. They were really good, deep-fried stuffed poblanos, cheesy and delicious.
That's pretty much all I got on the Pioneer...Joe, our server was very nice, friendly and attentive as I recall, and their patio was lovely and not too bad for being right on University but the margaritas were pretty much middle-of-the-road but at Happy Hour they are $3.00 and throw in an extra shot for 75 cents! so they were worth it, for sure.
Overall, in summation , I liked the Pioneer but there are just too many, non-chain, Mexican restaurants in this town that are far superior that I probably wouldn't go back unless somebody else invited me and then I would be sure to remember to order the rellenos or the beans and rice.
xoang.
1 comment:
Well, my comment is so long after the Pioneer fact that I hardly even remember being there! I don't even remember what I ordered. I think my impression of the place was that if I happened to live in a 5 or 10 block radius, you might find me there on occasion. But with all of the great mexican food in this town, I don't think it left enough of an impression to make me want to go back. And they charge extra for chips and salsa -- and the salsa wasn't great - I do remember that. Blue Bonnet gets away with it but they have good enough food to justify it -- and I'm not sure that is the case with The Pioneer. I suppose I'd have to try it again to be fair, but that is what memory tells me. xoxo
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