216 East Center Street
Monticello, UT, 84535
Phone: (435) 298-8270
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076579636108
Entering the fifth week of their opening in Monticello, Gustavo’s Mexican Restaurant is doing well, and keeping the staff busy. An offshoot of the original Gustavo’s, located in Cortez, CO, this cuisine is completely unique from other Mexican based restaurants. The owner, Gustavo, and the majority of his staff are from Guadalajara, and the cuisine of that region can only be defined as “fancified”.
Upon entering, expect to be warmly greeted by Kelyn, a local resident, who is being trained for the wait staff. Gustavo believes in giving back to, and sharing with, the community. Training of the staff is of utmost importance, as everyone will benefit from learning and knowledge. Our waiter though was Angel (also the manager), who hails from Guadalajara, and lives up to his name. Very friendly, ready and willing to serve, and a wealth of knowledge about the menu selections, and the cuisine of the region. A truly excellent bonus to the diners is the chef, Miguel. He is a graduate of the University of Guadalajara, with a degree in culinary arts; and his assistant cooks are trained to do it up delicious!
The salsa has a kick, but then you crave more;
in the words of John Cougar Mellencamp, “it hurts so good!” In fact, even though all supplies are shipped
in from Gustavo’s in Cortez, all main dishes, appetizers, salads, desserts, and
condiments (except ketchup) are made freshly in house.
Bestselling main dishes are the vast selection of Street Tacos, Chile Rellanos Crispie and Gustavo’s Enchiladas. My hubby, Roy, went for the Rellanos, while I looked forward to a diverse selection of enchilada and chimichanga.
Now be warned, the food you receive will not be what you are used to seeing. In fact, it is so pretty, a wave of guilt occurs when cutting into the food, for who wants to destroy artwork!?!
The Chile Rellanos Crispie
is topped with a Caesar salad that mixes with the chiles and cheese; a slight
crunch comes from the tortilla wrapped around each rellano and deep fried. This dish is packed with flavors, perfectly
cooked; the Hatch chiles sweet and filled with a creamy cheese.
My chicken enchilada was
stuffed with shredded chicken, a mild red sauce intermingled with piped over
crème fraiche; the flavors are mild. The
chimichanga is filled with a mildly seasoned ground beef, surrounded with a
crispy exterior, almost like a delicate puff pastry. While I wanted to finish up every bite, room
for dessert had to be left. All the mild
seasoning allows the palette to experience the various tastes, while spicy heat
would only hide the flavors.
By the way, after
ordering, the food does come out quickly, but do not expect to be rushed to eat
and leave. The atmosphere at Gustavo’s
is casual, so just relax and enjoy. Looking
around at other diners, everyone was either eating heartedly, or laughing and
talking between bites. Recently,
Gustavo’s was awarded a liquor license, so if you are looking for a more potent
potion to have with your meal, they will have it.
Monticello locals, or their taste buds I should say, have gained plenty from the addition of Gustavo’s to its restaurant lineup. Currently hours of operation are Monday thru Saturday, 11am – 9pm; closed on Sunday. Located on Center Street, catty-corner to Maverik, it will not be a surprise to see tourists and truckers also flocking into Gustavo’s.
Keep an eye out for advertising on their Facebook page, and shared to locally based groups; a Valentine’s Day Special is in the works.
Mary Cokenour
