Simply getting a table at Chiquito in Sheffield’s Centertainment had been something of a task after arriving the previous evening to be greeted with hundreds of Dancing on Ice fans, who had taken every table for the next hour.

But when we returned the next day for a Sunday lunchtime treat we didn’t have to wait a minute to be seated in a very cosy looking booth, and to peruse the extensive menu.

Chiquito does everything it can to try to give you the full tex-mex experience. There’s funky music playing in the background, sombreros on the wall and a real Mexican feel to the décor.

I immediately ordered a Virgin Colada which was extremely tasty, although slightly disappointing as it didn’t come with the slice of pineapple nor the cherry which were promised on the menu. Nevertheless, I could quite happily drink one of those cocktails with every meal if given the chance.

When it came to choosing a starter we had a bit of a job on our hands as almost everything required sour cream. But we decided to give the nachos a chance anyway and to see whether the other ingredients could compensate for its absence.

We certainly couldn’t argue with the amount which arrived before us. A pile of tortilla chips the size of Mexico itself descended onto our table, covered with lashings of salsa and guacamole.

This did however prove just how vital an ingredient sour cream is. The salsa was a bit overwhelmingly spicy on its own and could really have done with something to cool it down.

I spent a lot of the time trying hard to find chips which had not been smothered in sauce to give my tongue a break from the heat but soon had to give up.

For our mains, I opted for a Cowboy Sandwich which comprised ciabatta bread with chicken, bacon, barbecue sauce and monterey jack cheese, with a generous portion of crunchy chips and coleslaw. Feeling the need for something healthy on my plate, I ordered a corn on the cob as a side dish which added some much needed moisture to the meal.

I was very impressed with my main and regretted having a starter because this might have left me with more room to finish it. The chicken was perfectly done and the barbecue sauce was drizzled in just the right amount and, as far as I’m concerned, cheese is welcome with almost every meal.

My boyfriend chose the vegetarian enchilladas which came with rice. He didn’t seem quite so impressed as it seemed very much like a rehashing of the nachos experience. Having ventured as far as Mexico himself, he didn’t seem too satisfied that the true essence of the culture had been captured.

Chiquito was possibly not the best choice for a lunchtime meal, but more somewhere to go with an empty stomach and the mood for a hearty meal.

If you are going to head to Chiquito, I suggest you take a considerable appetite with you because with all that cheese, chicken, tomatoes and tortillas, you’ll soon be full to the brim.

by Charlotte Reeve

Star rating HH