Restaurant Review: Mr. Jalapeño in Stuart serves plentiful, delicious dishes

Susan Dennis
·2 min read
Mr. Jalapeno is located in Plantation Plaza in Stuart.
Mr. Jalapeno is located in Plantation Plaza in Stuart.

STUART — It all started when my husband said where would you like to go for dinner and I said I don't know, but let's Taco ‘Bout It. That's how we ended up at Mr. Jalapeno, in Stuart.

Located in Plantation Plaza, this Mexican restaurant has a lovely outdoor dining area, a lively bar with a tantalizing margarita selection and a colorful dining room.

The menu is vast, boasting excellent descriptions of the offerings. We received a complimentary bowl of tortilla chips along with some tasty salsa. We then continued with a bowl of chicken tortilla soup ($9.99). The portion was huge and could easily have been a meal. Brimming with shredded chicken, Spanish rice, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, an avocado garnish and served with tortilla chips. Unfortunately, it was underseasoned.

A bowl of chicken tortilla soup was brimming with ingredients, but lacked flavor.
A bowl of chicken tortilla soup was brimming with ingredients, but lacked flavor.

An order of supreme nachos ($10.99) definitely filled the void. Loaded with creamy queso dip, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, black beans with shredded chicken and beef was delicious. I tried pushing the plate away, but it kept finding its way back to me.

An appetizer of supreme nachos was a meal in itself.
An appetizer of supreme nachos was a meal in itself.

Wondering where I was going to put it, I looked over the array of entrees.

The Molcajete was served in a lava rock brimming with meats, veggies and cheese.
The Molcajete was served in a lava rock brimming with meats, veggies and cheese.

I'm always interested to try a mole, a fragrant spicy, sweet, earthy sauce but listed under Chef Specialties, the molcajete ($21.99) caught the attention of my palate.

Served in a molten lava rock, it was a carnivore's dream featuring chicken, shrimp, chorizo, steak and carnitas accompanied by grilled peppers and onions. The dish was garnished with buttery Oaxaca cheese and creamy avocado slices along with a plate of rice and beans. This dish boasted a plethora of tastes and textures along with an impressive portion size. I enjoyed leftovers for two days!

Listed on the menu as a Chef Specialty, the Pina Loca steak and chicken entree was served inside a pineapple shell.
Listed on the menu as a Chef Specialty, the Pina Loca steak and chicken entree was served inside a pineapple shell.

My husband surprised me by passing up his usual pork carnitas and going with a specialty dish dubbed Pina Loca ($19.50). Generous portions of tender grilled steak, chicken, peppers and onions piled high in a warm grilled pineapple shell topped with melted cheeses was a perfect blend of savory and sweet. It must be a house favorite, as a family of three who came in after us all ordered that very same dish.

The fried ice cream was refreshing, but lacked crunch.
The fried ice cream was refreshing, but lacked crunch.

After a heavy meal, I just have to have something sweet, and fried ice cream ($7.25) was on my radar. The presentation was lovely. Served in a crunchy fried tortilla bowl garnished with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Unfortunately, the coating on the dip of vanilla was unappealing as it tasted stale. We just scraped It off and enjoyed the rest.

I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to our excellent waiter, Jhosgar, who kept our table neat and our drinks full, all while engaging us in interesting conversation.

Mr. Jalapeño Cocina Mexicana

Cuisine: Mexican

Address: 1602 SE Federal Highway, Stuart

Phone: 772-287-8161

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Alcohol: Full Bar

Online: mr-jalapeno.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant Review: Mr. Jalapeño serves plentiful, delicious dishes