??Hablas espa?+/-ol? Save your money and forget about a passport - you don't have to study abroad to get everything you need out of a trip to Mexico: delicious food and friendly people.
Take the five-minute drive over to El Palenque Mexican Grill on Niagara Falls Boulevard and you'll feel like you've just crossed the border.
While the outside may seem drab, the restaurant's inner-d?(c)cor looks like a pi?+/-ata exploded. Brightly colored tables and chairs with fresh tortilla chips and salsa on top await diners. The menu is full of cantina essentials like grande burritos, sizzling fajitas and spicy enchiladas, all at student-friendly prices.
The best part: all the waiters are native Spanish-speakers, happy to help as you stumble through your translation of, "Can I have guacamole on the side, por favor?"
They might chuckle at your faux-Mexican accent, but if you make an effort you'll come away with a full stomach and a few new words in your vocabulary. And that's more than you can get at Taco Bell.
El Palenque is located at 951 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
