RESTAURANT: Besito Mexican
LOCATION: Blue Back Square, West Hartford, CT
DATE OF SERVICE: May, 9th, Mother’s Day 2010
My husband and I absolutely love Mexican food. We love the chips and salsa. We love the guacamole. We love the enchiladas. And of course, the margaritas don’t hurt either! For about three years after we got married, we lived in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a suburb just south of Denver. We were incredibly lucky to have several noteworthy Mexican restaurants within minutes of us, and we frequented them as often as possible.
When we found ourselves back in Connecticut a few years later, however, we really started to understand just how lucky we were as far as Mexican fare went in Denver. Because Connecticut really didn’t have any restaurants that came close to the quality of the food we got out West. I am pleased to report that we aren’t missing our old Denver haunts anymore. Ladies and gentlemen, Besito Mexican Restaurant in Blue Back Square in West Hartford may be a fairly new kid in town, but it is quickly setting the standard as the leader for the best Mexican dining experience in the state.
My husband and I have been to Besito several times for date night, and I’ve been there a couple of times for cocktails and munchies with the girls, and each and every time I go I come home raving about how wonderful the whole experience was. We decided that having dinner there with our four year old son would be a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day this year as well! We’ve recently begun taking our son to eat at places that are more upscale than traditional kid friendly restaurants, so we figured that it was about time to introduce him to Besito’s. We figured that if we can bring him along once in a while instead of shelling out cash for a babysitter every time, then we’d be able to visit Besito even more frequently! And we were pretty sure that he’d be totally into the whole experience. And he was!
From the minute you walk into Besito, you feel like you’ve been magically transported to a hidden location somewhere in Mexico, complete with Mission-style decor, warm lighting, and the undeniable urge to sip a margarita. And their margarita list certainly doesn’t disappoint. In addition to their margarita choices, there is even a full Tequila menu! The bartenders are very knowledgeable of the different tastes of each selection. My husband has sampled quite a few different ones when we’ve been there for pre-dinner drinks.
On our Mother’s Day visit, we were escorted into the dining room upon arriving and it was completely full with other patrons who had also chosen Besito for their celebrations. Even at full capacity, the room doesn’t feel crowded. The high ceilings give the room an open and airy feel, while the tables with their high-backed chairs and the booths that are sort of tucked away into one side of the restaurant give the venue a homelike and cozy vibe.
We ordered our margaritas first, and wound up just ordering a water for our son since the traditional kid-friendly beverages such as chocolate milk and apple juice were not available. Besito doesn’t specifically have cups that are designed for kids, but they aim to accommodate young diners by bringing out their drinks in a little to-go container with a lid and straw, and it fits the bill just fine. (I would suggest bringing your own sippy cup or bringing a juice box with you in your purse if you have a little one who is particular about that sort of thing. I’m lucky because my kid was pretty cool about it).
Along with our drinks, our waitress brought out a basket of freshly baked tortilla chips and homemade salsa. And let me just tell you that the salsa is TO DIE FOR. They should seriously bottle it up and sell it. I’d buy five jars each time if they did.
Our son loved munching on those chips, and then my husband and I got a little giddy because we knew that the perfect accompaniment to those chips would be making it’s way over to us very soon. I’m talking about Besito’s signature “Tableside Guacalmole.” They literally bring a little cart over to your table and make the guac fresh right there in front of you, even going so far as to slice open the avocados! They customize the level of flavor to your liking with three choices of mild, medium, or spicy, and we always go for the spicy version! And we devour it each and every single time. Dining at Besito without having the guacamole is like going on vacation and never leaving your hotel room. Do NOT miss it!
While they don’t offer a kids’ menu, the staff at Besito was more than happy to put together a little cheese quesadilla for our son’s entree. I am a creature of habit, and though I’ve tried a few different things on the menu, I always come back to the same dish, the “Pescado Con Pipian Y Atole”, which is a pan seared blue corn and crab crusted grouper filet served with pumpkin seed pipian and sweet corn atole. It is absolutely delicious and so different from the entrees that are typically served at Mexican restaurants. My husband wound up trying something off the menu that he’d never had before, and he absolutely raved about it and will be ordering it again on our next visit. It is called the “Budin de Mariscos”, and it is a tortilla pie of shrimp and jumbo lump crab layered with spiced tomato salsa and baked in a poblano cream sauce.
We were far too stuffed after our guacamole and gourmet entrees to squeeze in dessert that evening, but I can tell you that I’ve had it before and Besito serves this Tres Leches cake that is one of the best desserts I’ve ever tasted. I think next time I’ll take it to go!
And even if you don’t have room for dessert, a traditional Mexican “donut” treat will be brought to your table at the end of your meal, along with a tiny little “Worry Doll” to place under your pillow at night. The legend is that you tell your worries to the doll, place it under your pillow, and in the morning your troubles will be gone. Want to know if it really works? Guess you’ll have to make a reservation at Besito and find out for yourself!
(In addition to the West Hartford location, Besito also has restaurants in Huntington, NY and Roslyn, NY. All locations are open for lunch and dinner, and the West Hartford location also offers a Sunday Brunch).
FINAL VERDICT: Superior Food Accompanied By A Full-Blown Dining Experience
I’m already looking at my calendar to see when I can make my next reservation at Besito. I will return time after time for these reasons:
1. Besito is more than just your typical “taco and burrito” place. The food is authentic Mexican fare, not of the Tex-Mex or Southwest version. It is fresh, innovative, and absolutely delicious.
2. Each and every time I dine there, I spend half the night talking about how I can’t wait to come back. Besito is a great place to go for lunch or dinner any day of the week, but it’s also a great spot to celebrate special occasions. I love how a single restaurant can provide the perfect backdrop for cocktails with friends, a great business lunch, or a birthday dinner.
3. Besito brings FUN back into going out to eat. There are lots of great restaurants out there, but things can get pretty mundane and routine when you are just sitting down at a table, eating, and leaving. The whole Besito experience encourages you to engage with whoever you are dining with, savor delicious food, and enjoy the experience from beginning to end.
Disclosure: I was not compensated by Besito Mexican in any way for my review of their restaurant. I conducted the review on my own time, with my own money. All opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own and were not influenced or dictated by Besito in any way. If you have any questions about Besito, please contact them directly. If you have any questions about this review, please feel free to email me at thespymom(at)gmail(dot)com.
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