Check Please! 9-10-08
Rating: 
We were wary because we often feel that the Mexican cuisine at some restaurants is too manufactured, too generic.
This location was a B.Y.O.B., but the Tortilla Press Cantina in Pennsauken serves alcohol.
The interior was brightly decorated with bold colors and pictures. On the night of our visit, the small dining room was nearly filled.
Once we had been seated, our server brought us water and some tortilla chips with salsa to snack on while we browsed the menu.
The salsa seemed homemade, with visible chunks of pepper, tomato and onion, not just a mush of tomato like salsas from the jar. The chips were tasty as well, very crispy, but not too salty.
The first thing we noticed about the menu was that the choices were unique. Many of the Mexican classics, like burritos, enchiladas and fajitas, had been dressed up with seafood and interesting vegetables and sauces, like the sweet potato and portabella mushroom burrito or the La Prenza Carne Asada.
We were extra hungry that night, so we ordered the crab and avocado quesadillas ($9.50) as an appetizer.
The tortillas were softer than I like, but my dining companion enjoyed them.
For my entrée, I chose the chicken and sweet potato burrito ($14.99), which was chicken, sweet potato, lettuce and tomato all wrapped in a warm tortilla shell, served with red rice, salsa for dipping, pinto beans and vegetables on the side.
The chicken was spicy, and the sweet potato squeezed out of the burrito in a wonderfully messy way.
The burrito was so big that I barely touched the rice, vegetables or beans, but I did use the salsa to flavor my burrito.
My dining companion went with the grilled steak fajita ($16.99).
A sizzling plate of steak, onions, peppers, guacamole and Pico de Gallo was brought out, along with a plate of warm tortillas. He confirmed that it was as pleasing to his tastebuds as it was on my eyes and nose. We were both too full for dessert, though the selection was tempting.
We left with full bellies and an expanded horizon for our idea of Mexican food.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
The Tricky Taster’s reviews are based on unannounced, anonymous visits. To contact the Tricky Taster, e-mail trendkop@phillynews.com.
