Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010
Join la familia for hot meals, low prices
Habaneros Mexican Restaurant
Setting the Table
There's a group that, by routine accident, began to gather each Tuesday like a sort of foster familia at Habaneros in Pawleys Island.
It's what my Bible study teacher and his wife excitedly told me: Tuesdays at Habaneros have become a haven to their family of four, a couple of other church members, a family of snowbirds and various Mexican food-hankerin' Yanks, who all became fast friends after a few weeks of seeing each other's familiar faces at tables nearby. It was enough to get me to check out what the fuss was all about.
Habaneros just screams "Fiesta!" from a few blocks south of the Hammock Shops, with colorful signage and a massive front deck anchored by a tiki bar I can imagine surrounded by a crowd squeezed in more than a lime in a margarita during the summer (not really in January).
Inside, tables are also squeezed in close together here and there in the main dining room, around the bar and in the back dining room. I can see how the fun, festive atmosphere and floor layout easily lends itself to meeting new amigos.
Down the Hatch
The quiet back dining room (basically Mom, eldest son, sleeping younger son in car seat, me and the stuffed bull head on the wall) on our lunch visit gradually became a crowded casa of Pawleys locals - like a South of the Border version of "Cheers," with two cops, a table of nurses in pink scrubs, white collar professionals and a trio of UPS drivers filing in on lunch break.
And, after scooping a few warm, salted tortilla chips into the bowl of fresh salsa and taking a look at the "Bring a Bunch to Lunch" section of the menu, I realized there were more than a dozen more reasons why this place was hotter than a chili pepper: 14 combos for less than $6 - and not served through a drive-thru window.
The lunch special I ordered for my son was extra special the day of our visit. Normally $5.75, Special Lunch No. 4 was $3.75 and included a hot plate (really, it was extremely hot to touch) piled with helpings of Spanish rice, refried beans and an enchilada stuffed with your choice of beef or chicken (he chose shredded chicken) and cheese.
Mom chose Special No. 3, a chile rellenos (an Anaheim pepper stuffed with ground beef and cheese), soft chicken taco, refried beans and guacamole salad (fresh guacamole scooped onto a bed of lettuce and quartered tomatoes ($5.75). The chile rellenos was smothered in tasty melted cheese, which Mom loved.
I went with Special No. 6, a cheese quesadilla, beef burrito and guacamole salad ($5.75). It was a trifecta perfecta. I couldn't get enough of the seasoned beef and Habaneros' sauce drizzled over the burrito's flour tortilla. My eldest son couldn't get enough of my cheese quesadilla - much more interesting than a boring grilled cheese sandwich on wheat - which I reluctantly shared.
We settled for a couple of pink lemonades and a Diet Coke ($1.80 each) at lunch, but I vow to try to sample one of the $2.75 margaritas on the rocks next time.
Check, Please
I give a huge "Hip, Hip, Ole" to Habaneros for a warm, inviting environment; uber-affordable and delicious food; and cool, attentive service. Our server smiled and talked to my sons like she was an adopted aunt. It really is like one, big, happy familia here.
Habaneros Mexican Restaurant is at 1151 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For additional info, call 235-9595.
