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Hijole Arturo’s! Let’s Eat!

By 136 Comments

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I participate in the Restaurant.com #ReviewCrew and receive perks which allow me to dine with a discount at the restaurant of my choice.

As much as I love Mexican food, I hardly ever go to Mexican restaurants. They just don’t auto-pop in my mind when I’m thinking of places to eat, but I hit upon a superstar when I was out on a date the other night — Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant in New Bern, North Carolina.

Arturo's Mexican Restaurant New Bern

The decor was warm and inviting and I liked it instantly upon walking inside.

Arturo's Mexican Restaurant_New Bern NC

But they hooked my heart the moment they plunked down a complimentary basket of tortilla chips and salsa.

Arturo's chips and salsa

I liked those chips so much that I ordered some queso too. (Rumor has it there was also a second basket of chips involved.)

Arturo's chips and queso

One thing I love about Mexican restaurants is that it’s super easy to find vegetarian options, and even though I’m not a vegetarian, I eat like one a heck of a lot. So I ordered a cheese quesadilla with a side of Mexican rice.

Arturo's Cheese Quesadilla - Mexican rice

Across the table from me was one man and two plates of Mexican goodness. He ordered burritos deluxe, re-fried beans and rice.

Arturo's Burritos Deluxe
Arturo's Mexican rice and refried beans

I don’t normally rave about the food in Mexican restaurants because it’s usually good, but not worth a flip. In this case everything was outstanding. The service was also friendly, responsive and efficient. I’ll definitely hit up Arturo’s again and again.

Psssst, I’ve been search-stalking the independent restaurants on Restaurant.com lately because I’ve been having such good luck with the places I find there.

New Bern is a charming waterside community and I wanted to take a little ride over there for dinner and a stroll for date night, and that’s why I picked Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant. Of course, I used a restaurant.com gift certificate to save on the check total too.

Do you have a favorite Mexican restaurant? What’s your favorite Mexican food?

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Comments

  3. Marcie W. says

    I LOVE Mexican food and I think that comes from being a West coast girl. We can drive just 4hrs to Southern California and experience the best Mexican food on the planet (even better than some I have had IN Mexico!)

    Reply

  9. Colleen says

    I love Mexican and queso, looks like a lot of options. We recently went to a new Mexican restaurant here and my husband enjoyed it and he is not much of a Mexican peson.

    Reply

  14. Shell Feis says

    Looks yummy! I feel like we go to Mexican restaurants 9/10 times! Part of the reason is like you said, it’s easy to find vegetarian options. {I eat chicken, but even that is hard to find at some places.}

    Reply

  16. MommaDJane says

    I am so hungry now after looking at those photos. Our local Mexican restaurant offers some queso and chips that are gluten free so I’m happy! We might have to go today for lunch and eat some enchiladas.

    Reply

  18. Vanessa: thequeenofswag says

    I love Mexican food. I love chicken fajitas. We go to a restaurant here in LA called Mexicali all the time.

    Reply

  22. Carmen's Coupon Blog says

    I love mexican food (it helps that I am mexican lol) but I usually have to make he food my self at home since most of the time really good mexican restaurants are hard to find.. but if I ever go up to N. Carolina I will have to check this place out… In Naples I love Maria’s Restaurant their food is delish.. and my favorite food is Tacos.. de Pastor.. yummy… Ok now I am hungry and its your fault…

    Reply

  31. Heather says

    I have to admit.
    I usually don’t think Mexican when we go out for dinner either!
    The last time we ate At a Mexican restaurant was when we were in Mexico!
    Looks like you had a great time and the food looks amazing 🙂

    Reply

  33. patricia says

    These dishes look great. I love Mexican food but never think to go to a mexican restaurant. When I lived in Mass we went to one and I loved their mexican food and fried ice cream!.

    Reply

  38. Tammy S says

    This looks really good. I love Mexican food and there is nothing better then great tasting fresh Mexican food. I wish we lived close so we could try it.

    Reply

  40. Theresa says

    Ooh, you’ve got me craving some queso right now! I do have a favorite and it’s called Salsas. Super cheap prices, quick service and the food it amazing!

    Reply

  43. Jackie says

    I love Mexican restaurants and finding that one that has the perfect tamales and best salsa. It’s hard because generally it’s one thing or the other that they’re good at.

    Reply

  45. Cynthia L says

    I love Mexican food! This looks like a great place to eat. I love the atmosphere and the food looks delicious. I wish I had a bowl of that cheese dip right now!

    Reply

  47. Nichol says

    We have an amazing Mexican restaurant here, but they are so expensive. My favorite is the tortilla chips and salsa always complimentary, but for my main meal; their sizzling fajita with refried beans, mmm. Now I want to go there!

    Reply

  48. Mimi says

    We just found a cute little Mexican restaurant that we tried last week and it was amazing. I could live off of their salsa! This place looks amazing! Yum!

    Reply

  64. Michelle H says

    The food looks yummy. I usually try to compliment the manager when the waitstaff, food, etc., is really good- I figure we can never get enough good news & encouragement.

    Reply

  85. Rosey says

    We have a local Mexican restaurant that is always a score when we hit it too. We don’t go often either, but when we do we always leave happy.

    The decor at Arturos looks fun!

    Reply

  86. Kita says

    I love some good mexican there is a new place that just opened up next to me and I am in love we went for the first time two weeks ago and have been back 4 times it’s that good.

    Reply

  88. Jennifer says

    OH MY GOODNESS you are killing me here. I love Mexican food!! LOL there’s always a second basket of chips involved when we go out, too! 😉 This place looks GOOD!!

    Reply

  94. Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest says

    That looks so yummy that I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m in that area. My FAVORITE Mexican restaurant though is Los Tres Magueyes in the Raleigh, NC area. Although my favorite location is the Wake Forest, NC one. They have such great food AND great service.

    Reply

  101. Dawn says

    Your food looks really good but you are only missing one thing: guacamole! Yum! I HAVE to have it when I eat at a Mexican restaurant. 🙂

    I think Mexican might be my favorite food. I am jealous of your post. 😛

    Reply

  104. Amy @ Oh So Savvy Mom says

    I grew up in San Diego surrounded by Mexican friends and authentic Mexican dining. Since moving from California I’ve found it very difficult to find Mexican restaurants that I love. Arturos looks awesome!

    Reply

  110. Tara says

    I love Mexican food and I am craving this and there isn’t one any where close to me….insert sad face. Lucky that you found one you love!

    Reply

  114. Kayla @ TheEclecticElement says

    You know, I completely understand where you’re coming from on Mexican restaurants; I LOVE Mexican food, but I always forget it’s an option until AFTER the fact! I don’t go nearly enough as I would like.

    It definitely does look like you’ve found yourself a winner! That food you got looks quite delicious 😀

    Reply

  117. Ms. A says

    Now THAT’S something we have a lot of around here, Mexican Restaurants! We go often. Plus, the better the chips the more often we visit. I like a good chip!

    Reply

  119. Maria Iemma says

    We love Mexican food and we have a favorite restaurant we visit since it opened up in our village not too long ago. The food at your restaurant looks fantastic.

    Reply

  125. Tammy says

    Oh your quesadilla and rice looks delicious! I like Mexican if it’s not too spicy, we tend to stick to chain restaurants for Mexican because there’s usually more main stream options and of course my husband and daughter are not fans of Mexican food at all, except for the chips and salsa LOL!

    Reply

  132. Patty says

    I don’t do Mexican for the most part because I am deathly allergic to peppers. (Cut a jalapeno near me and I can’t breathe. Not fun.) I can say that New Bern is a lovely place to visit. We traveled through when we were in the trailer….

    Reply

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