Conveniently located by my house in Vero Beach, my family and I recently had an opportunity to dine at El Tapatio Mexican Grill for the first time. A new restaurant - we had to check it out. Besides, we do enjoy a good Mexican meal once in a while.

Crammed into a booth built for four, my youngest daughter had to sit on the end, on a chair added to the table. Mikayla was our server and it was dinner for five - two adults and three children. Tortilla chips and salsa were quickly served.

Kids chicken tenders and kids cheeseburger for my twins, a super burrito for my oldest daughter, and the combo chicken/steak fajitas for the adults at the table. Water for all and a Sprite for my son. Dinner check totaled $42.15 before tip.

Mikayla was polite enough and kept our drinks full. She even replenished the tortilla chips upon request. Biggest problem with dinner, you ask? The combo chicken/steak fajitas for two. The meal was served "out of order" with the sizzling fajita portion of the meal served a full five minutes before the beans/rice/side portion of the meal. By the time the sides arrived, the sizzling platter had lost all of it's sizzle and was starting to get cold.

My daughter loved her super burrito. It arrived hot and was more than enough to fill her up. No complaints from my twins on the kids chicken tenders or cheeseburger. Plenty of food on the table - no complaint on the serving portions. Enough food that some had to be taken home.

Small and cramped restaurant - the place was packed upon arriving. Like us, many of our neighbors were checking out the new place in town.

El Tapatio Mexican Grill in Vero Beach receives 3 stars for this particular visit for the reasons stated above. While the "new" restaurant in town, they should have it down pat by now and serve meals all at once and "together" as I mentioned about the fajitas above.

William E. Lewis Jr. Vero Beach, Florida.