(TV Diner) - A large Aztec relief among woven baskets, turquoise pottery and eye-grabbing red chilis marked the entrance that split into two small dining areas at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana in Concord, New Hampshire. The big menu was definite Mexicana!

Four real Mexican starters nesting on blue and yellow chips on the Appetizer Plate opened our dinner. The baby quesadilla gentled the heat of green chilis with cheese while the sirloin beef flautas and mildly hot shredded pork taquitos--- each in their deep-fried rolled corn tortillas--- gave more of a bite and played off the baby chimichangas stuffed with refried beans---all amazing with frijole dip, sour cream and an incredible guacamole that let the buttery nutty avocado come through.

Pollo Picante Skewers spiked a savory wallop of red chili sauce to the chicken tenders without diminishing the flavor of the tender poultry with punishing heat. Based with cheese and chili sauce on a crisp flour tortilla, the Mexican pizza was loaded with finely chopped lettuce, tomatoes, sweet onions, scallions, black olives, moist chicken and---AGAIN---that GREAT guacamole. With just a sprinkling of cilantro, the amalgam of distinct tastes and textures was awesome. A Veggie burger Burrito and Bruce’s Chimichanga highlighted our Combo Plate served up with chili, rice and refried beans—hearty and satisfying!

Pushing chocolate through a dense layer of nuts, the Mexican Chocolate Pecan Pie was ---well—just really plain good!! Unusually thick, the graham cracker crust on the Key Lime Pie supported a hit of sweet and a citrus tang in a dense filling for a bright refreshing ending. Our server was efficient and pleasant. The good prices varied for the ample and quality portions with appetizers running from five to twenty dollars, entrees seven to twenty dollars and desserts five to seven dollars.

Hermanos Cocina Mexicana is steps above the typical Tex Mex corrupted by too much cheese, salsa, and cilantro drowning the food. Each ensemble is painstakingly prepared with distinctively allocated ingredients that do not overpower each other. The fine array of food choices and specialty drinks on a well-explained menu combined with good service, a pleasant southwestern atmosphere and affordable prices make for great and fun dining. It earns the Gold Plate. Located at 11 Hills Avenue in downtown Concord, New Hampshire, it can be reached at 603-224-5669 or by visiting:

www.hermanosmexican.com

Hermanos Cocina Mexicana

dover, NH

United States

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