Getting Fresco on Cinco de Mayo?

Well, not so much.

If there is any day when a new tortilla place might want to pull out the stops it would be today.  I thought this might be a fine day to try out the new quickie  Mexican place I spied in Armory Square a couple of weeks ago.  Fresco Tortilla Grill, on Walton Street (where Movino Pizza used to be) was to be my ticket--I needed lunch, I hadn't much time, and I wanted to try something new.

Call me naive--I thought this was going to be like the Cali-Mex burrito places I used to frequent in California.  They can turn out the freshest, flavorful burritos with all the fixin's like nobody's business.  I'm afraid Fresco Tortillas Grill disappointed me.  Even though it was a chain (most of it's storefronts are in NYC) I thought I'd give it a chance. 

Let me say this--the food wasn't bad.  It just wasn't great.  Friends of mine compared the chicken to the same recipe used at some of the establishments serving chicken in the food court at Carousel Mall.  I ordered a chicken burrito but it didn't have me celebrating.  The tortilla was stuffed with chicken, white rice, black beans, and large shreds of iceberg lettuce.  There was a hint of cheese of some type.  It came with a spicy salsa that added a necessary kick.  These basic ingredients aren't bad in and of themselves, indeed, in the right hands, they are all you need for an outstanding burrito.  This rendition, however, was just pedestrian.  I had hoped that the dining room would have put me in a Cinco de Mayo mood but it was eerily quiet and when I asked about Cinco de Mayo at the counter, the staff didn't know what I talking about.

Que lastima--It is too bad because I think this end of downtown could really use a good taqueria.  To add insult to injury, a friend told me later this evening how rocking Boom Boom Mex Mex was.  I must get there soon--my craving for good Mexican food is stronger than ever.

Fresco Tortillas Grill, 214 Walton Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 472-8226

Comments

[Jen]

Have you heard about a little bar in Tipp Hill that does Mexican only on Thursday and Friday nights? One of my foodie friends told me about it and we're going next week. I'll keep you posted!

[Mary Sue]

You do know that in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated about as much as Arbor Day is in the US, right?

[Pam]

Have you tried Ponchito's yet? They have delicious tacos and they are a local, family-owned and operated business. Their toppings are not as good as alto cinco's (no pickled onions or shredded cabbage) but their chicken, carnitas, and veggie fillings are deliciously well seasoned. AND they have soft corn tacos, which no one else here has.

[Jill Hurst-Wahl]

Perhaps you and your posse need to coordinate a run to Boom Boom Mex Mex?

[Ally]

I was going to suggest trying Ponchitos as well!! I've only been there one time and I can't attest for their chicken but I had a grilled veggie burrito there and have been craving another one since.
Still haven't tried Boom Boom Mex Mex yet myself but I'll be looking forward to a review from you!!

[Ally]

Oh, I also forgot to add I think the bar that Jen was referring to in the first post is called Steve's Cantina. But I don't know any details, like hours or menu or anythign.

[Jane]

I discovered your blog last July right after my husband and I made a business trip to Syracuse, and I've been following it ever since. We'll be making another run to your city again this July and I wanted to ask you about some good restaurants, etc. that we could check out. If you have any recommendations, I'd appreciate it! The one place we did find was Dinosaur BBQ and that was great!

Thanks,
Jane

[joebass123]

that's a shame about fresco's. i haven't been in there yet, but i was skeptical when i took a walk past it the other evening. and i agree that armory could use a good taqueria - a shame that fresco's couldn't fill that niche. as other's have pointed out, ponchito's has very tasty mexican food. i had a burrito there not too long ago that was very good. and that place on tipp hill is "steve's cantina and grill". but it's by reservation only now and i think you have to call ahead before going there.

[Owen O'Neill]

Definitely another vote for Ponchito's. It compares favorably with the taquerias found all over California and IMO is the best Mex/Tex-Mex food in the area.

[Dennis]

I may be totally wrong, but I'm not really fan of that amount of rice in burrito.

Dennis
http://www.witu.com

[Melsky]

I am from California and I had about the same reaction to this place. Very bland! I'm sad to say I'm not much of a Ponchitos fan either, they are super salty and incredibly dense and greasy. They just don't have that extra something that boom boom mex mex does, which is too bad because I drive by Ponchitos all the time and BBMM is way out of my way and only open half the year.

http://www.wanderingthroughsyracuse.blogspot.com/

[linuxgrl]

I've been to Boom Boom Mex Mex twice now thanks to your post, and it's been fantastic both times. Try the pork al pastor burrito, with the pineapple and cilantro. Yummy!

[DefChef]

Yeah, FresCo's is kind of in a category of its' own. As an ex-LAer now in NYC, I sooooo badly wanted this to be my East Coast answer to Baja Fresh (which is IMHO, the best chain there is). Instead, it's really just the sum of its' parts: rice, beans, chicken, tortilla. If you like those flavors, you'll love FresCo.

[linuxgrl]

We thought fresco's actually wasn't bad. Their standout really is the fresh tortillas. I think we ordered the fajitas and were amazed at the fluffy tortillas that came with it. We had our food to go so I think that may have lowered our standards a bit, since the food wasn't super hot when we ate it, though.

[Orange County Organic Farms]

If there is any day when a new tortilla spot might want to take out the prevents it would be these days.