STEPH DEROSA: SLOW BURN >>>

Reyna's Mexican Restaurant
Price: $8.95-$10.95
Burn Factor: One out of four Molotov cocktails

Family owned by Reyna and Felix Guzman, Reyna’s Mexican Restaurant holds true to what a family restaurant should be.  Reyna herself greets you at the door and helps you decide what to pick from the menu.  After indulging in their homemade salsa, Felix makes his way out of the kitchen, pulls a chair up to you table, and asks you how your day’s been.  It doesn’t take more than a few visits to really feel as though you are part of their family.

As Reyna looked over my menu, I asked her if she had anything spicy.  “Like, really, really spicy,” I said.  She thought about it and answered, “Not anything really, really spicy.  But pick what you want and we’ll put lots of jalapeños in it,” she suggested. 

Right on, Reyna.  I can definitely do that.

My chicken quesadilla came out warm, thick, and chocked full of those damn pickled jalapeños I love so much.  Those little suckers are on my list of top five favorite pickled food items.  Yes, such a list exists. Don’t laugh.

While typically I would stack large amounts of pickled jalapeños on top of any burger or nacho chip I bite into, they don’t necessarily burn my mouth or make me go into frantic salivary convulsions.  For this, I chose to give this dish a lower rating on my spicy scale.  Yummy quesadillas, but not very spicy at all. 

Love ya, Guzman family!

[Reyna's Mexican Restaurant, 411 Garfield St., Parkland, 253.538.2368]