Also, there are a few new salads are on the menu. They are delicioso! Try the salad with avocado slices and grilled chicken.

“Welcome to Moe’s!” Moe’s is a premium fast food franchise that serves a tortilla stuffed with your choice of goodies. What Panera is to Subway, Moe’s is to Taco Bell. A comfortable dining room with nice lighting rock music paintings and classic rock background music. Bottled beer is available.

Every plate comes with tortilla chips. So head over to the salsa bar with five or six choices. One of which is a tangy tomatilla (green salsa). Hot melted queso blanco is available in little plastic cups.

If you are a college student that needs to eat three times off one burrito, or you need a local urban hipster restaurant, “Welcome to Moe’s.”

Location:
2604 Southwest 19th Ave Rd
Ocala, FL 34471

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Latinos Y Mas is renovating their location. And what a makeover! In the mean time, since no one likes eating to the sound of construction workers, they have picked up the whole operation and moved a few blocks down the road to the old Roadhouse Grill. (Yes, you’ll have to remember the parking rules of that strange lot.)

In addition to the renovations, is a new logo. I’m impressed. It’s familiar, but new and iconic. I love the toucan.

The place was packed. The chefs have acclimated to the new kitchen, because the food was excellent as always. I look forward to the new digs.

Casa Mexicana offers a deli with seating area attached to thier tienda. Perfect lunch menu if you are on the go. If you don’t speak Spanish, it’s ok, just point. Then pick a soda from the cooler, and pay at the convenience store counter.

Try the Beef in green chili sauce.  It’s very tasty and spicy enough to warm the mouth, but not painful.

Location:
4422 W Silver Springs Blvd.
Ocala, FL 34482
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Location:
4279 W Silver Springs Blvd
Ocala, FL 34482
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The Cafe is just that a cafe. It’s a speed line with a cooler full of drinks and a choice of one meat, rice, beans, and plantains or yucca. All at a reasonable price. After a short wait in line, you’ll make your selections. Then find a seat. I recommend ordering to go, just in case you can’t finish. Trust me. You’ll want to take the rest home.

Cafe Havana is one of the few places in Ocala, perhaps Central Florida, that carries Ironbeer, a softdrink a light cream soda taste. Cuba’s national beverage hasn’t changed its original flavor since it was introduced in 1917. I like it. It’s light, sweet, caffine-free and made in Miami.

Cafe Havana also has flaky pastries with a sweet guava jelly inside. Try the one with jelly and cream cheese. Relax is comfortable rattan chairs at simple tables while enjoying these dainty treats. Come early for breakfast.

Most Cuban restaurants pride themselves on their pressed Cuban sandwiches. The Cafe has a couple. Unfortunately, this is where my expertise stops. It’s not that I don’t like a good mixto; I just don’t like what a grocery store calls a Cuban sandwich. So I am looking for an expert to take me on a week long tour of Ocala’s best Mixtos. Then I’ll update my review of Cafe Havana.

For now, drive as far as your work break allows to find this little slice of Cuba’s capitol. It’s healthier than and more tasty than McDonalds, and perhaps just as fast.

Location:
823 N. Magnolia Ave. Ste 300
Ocala, FL 34475

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What makes this a great restaurant for a date is the mystique. This is one of those special gems, where you have to have a password to get in. A friend whispers the directions. You wear sunglasses for the drive over. So Romeo’s here’s your line: “You like Mexican food? I know a great little place.”

Let me explain. Pepe’s is a grocery store, complete with cereal, meat, fresh bread, and cd’s from Mexican bands. But in the back of the store, past the bread, and an invisible barrier that scares the Olive Garden crowd away, and just about the time your date grabs your arm, you’ll be seated in a tastefully decorated restaurant with delicious food.

Pepe’s offers a mix of Mexican dishes from tacos and enchiladas to savory meat and Spanish rice. The recipes are very authentic with a personal twist. Refried beans come with a crumble of queso for color and flavor. I had a great dish with steak slathered in a spicy tomato sauce. Warm corn tortillas came on the side.

The salsa is fresh and spicy. Not too hot, with plenty of onion and cilantro. The chips are thick and crunchy and go perfectly with a glass of horchata, a sweet rice water beverage. Pepe’s is knows for having particularly good horchata. If you want to go all the way to Mexico, try the syrupy guava juice. It comes with a glance from the waitress. I think I heard the kitchen stop when I ordered it.

I always get the sense that this is a big family operation, because the servers are so friendly. They will happily explain anything on the menu. Their accent and tone is very reassuring for those who gave up bread sticks and marinara.

Go to Pepe’s. Have an adventure. Travel to a little store on the outskirts of town. And step into a delicious world all its own.

Location:
7915 W Highway 40
Ocala, FL 34482
Google location is incorrect. Take 40 past I-75. On right, before intersection of SW 80 Ave.
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The expansive menu includes enchilada and taco combos, as well as chicken, steak, and seafood dishes. The full bar provides plenty of domestic and import beers. On tap brews can come in an impressive 32 ounce glass. Lunch portions are a little smaller and priced accordingly, but only available till 3pm.

The salsa is tasty and fresh. It is served in a small carafe to refill your dipping bowl and accompanied by a basket of crunchy tortilla chips. The salsa is far from ketchup, but almost as smooth. It is a puree. Thankfully it has enough cilantro. I recommend ordering the queso, a white American cheese served melty and flavored with a little jalapeño for a spicy kick. By the way, queso is where nacho cheese comes from. Sadly, something was lost when it was translated over to the movie theater and bowling alley.

Everything is big at El Taxco. It is possibly the largest Mexican restaurant in Ocala. It is divided into standalone tables, booths, a full bar, and pool table area. There’s still plenty of room. The walls are decorated in Mexican folk style depicting a border town. Each booth sits at a house complete with a mock Spanish tile awning. The feeling is fun and relaxed. El Taxco is perfect for large groups, especially lunch with co-workers. My dinner party of 7 was seated immediately. I also saw couples tucked away in their booths.

We received our food promptly. A mistake in the order was corrected quickly with compliments of the house. Our server was friendly and kept our drinks filled and chips stocked, but she seemed a bit overwhelmed by the 5 page menu. I can’t blame her, I was still overwhelmed by my friend’s 32 ounce beer.

Location:
4901 E Silver Spgs Blvd # 800
Ocala, FL 34470

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They offer burritos, enchiladas, and tacos. Also they have a good flan and fried ice cream. Yum!

The salsa is mild and comforting. It is made from a tomato paste base, with perhaps mixed vegetables pureed into the mix for a hearty taste. It’s different and not quite ketchup.

Since this is still a new restaurant (only a year old), it still has that start up feel. The servers work hard to make sure your experience is a good one.

The atmosphere is quiet and intimate. There are plenty of seating options to accommodate any size party, whether dining alone or taking business lunch with the whole office.

So too with Latinos y Mas. The Columbian dishes have more of the old world influence with black beans and yellow rice. While the Mexican dishes are typical of other Mexican restaurants and consist of ground beef, refried beans, and enchilada sauce, and always come in large cheesy portions.

You should know that I have never ordered the same dish twice, and I have never been disappointed. Each and every dish has been excellent. So far my personal favorites have been pollo con arroz, a savory chicken served in yellow rice with bell peppers, and pollo something I can’t remember, a flattened chicken breast that is breaded with coconut and served with a sweet glaze.

As soon as you are seated, expect tortilla chips and fresh salsa compliments of the house. The second order is added to your bill. The salsa is the finest quality. Fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro make a crisp, light taste that will have you double dipping in no time. It uses chopped tomatoes as a base, instead of tomato paste.

The decor is simple and clean. Booths and tables are available. The dining area is cramped, but can accommodate larger groups easily. If there are any shortcomings, I’ve only noticed when dining in a pair during lunch rush.

The servers are always friendly and sharp looking in their bright white shirts. Most speak English very well.

Website: www.latinos-mas.com
Location:
2030 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471

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