Manuel's - Downtown
Manuel's features upscale regional Mexican food, including many dishes "a la parilla," meaning wonderful cuts of meat and seafood served straight from the grill. While the chips are served cold, what particularly keeps people coming back are the drinks, the authentic mole and the tortilla soup. The margarita's are not overly sugared, the award-winning chicken in the mole is tender and juicy, and the tortilla soup is dark and creamy. The dining room is backlight a vibrant purple, a more jazzy choice for a Mexican restaurant in Texas.
The salsa verde is to die for and worth requesting with your dish. Also, this is regional Mexican cooking, so expect queso flameado rather than a liquid bowl of Velveeta and Rotel. Lastly, the Sunday brunch showcases live music.