Looking for a festive locale for an authentic tasting Mexican dinner? I recommend going to El Encanto. There are four locations throughout the valley, one in Cave Creek, one on Carefree Highway just East of Tramonto, one in Fountain Hills, and now one in Scottsdale at the OdySea attraction. At each location they all have unique settings and the same menu. The minute you sit down you are given fresh tortilla chips and three types of salsa and a carafe of ice water. Each salsa has a unique flavor profile and allows for each taste level to enjoy the chips.
The menu is not very large but is packed with flavor options. We started with the guacamole appetizer ($6.99), which also comes with the warm tortilla chips. It is a large amount that can easily be shared by a party of four. It is made fresh daily with avocados, tomatoes, and peppers. It is also mixed with onions and herbs, for added flavor. It is a very creamy guacamole even with the mixed in additions. It is full of fresh avocado flavor and it is a nice addition with the salsa dipping sauces that come standard at the table. We also ordered the Cheese Crisp/ Quesadilla appetizer ($4.99) for the table to share. The quesadilla is served open face, so many people consider that more of a cheese crisp. It is sliced like a pizza, so very easy to share. The restaurant offers options to add on to the cheese crisp, and if you select a protein, they then fold it over into a traditional quesadilla. This does have an added cost involved. The thin tortilla is nice and light and they melt the prefect amount of cheese as to not overwhelm the bite. When mixed with the salsa or guacamole, it takes it to another flavor level.
We then moved on to entrée orders. The first item we had was the cheese enchiladas plate ($9.99). This is comprised of two cheese enchiladas that for an extra charge you can have additional meats added to. You get the choice of red or green chili sauces to put on top of them. It comes with rice and refried beans too. You can also opt for a small portion ($7.99), which only comes with one enchilada and no side items. Another option is to get them Christmas style as we did. This has one with green chili and one with red chili. If you like cheese enchiladas, I recommend trying this at some time. The mixture of the two chili sauces brings multiple sensations during each bite. You get a bit of spice from the red chili, a bit of sweet from the green chili and then creaminess from the cheese inside.
The next item was the Pollo Fundido ($11.99), which is a chicken burrito with extra onions and peppers, rolled into a crispy tortilla and covered with their famous Jalapeño cream cheese sauce and cheddar cheese. It is served with rice and is also available in a small portion version ($9.99). This is a dish that is appearing on more and more Mexican restaurant menus throughout the valley. The extra crispness of the deep fried tortilla is reminiscent of a chimichanga, but it is larger like a traditional burrito. The cream cheese sauce gives it a creamy topping, yet with extra heat from the Jalapeños. The chicken is perfectly cooked and partially shredded to make it easier to cut into smaller bites.
The last entrée we ordered was the Beef Fajitas ($16.99). This is an order of marinated mesquite grilled strip steak that is cooked with fresh onions and peppers and served on the sizzling skillet. It is also enhanced with tomato and lime wedges for added flavoring. It is served with steamed tortillas and refried beans, lettuce and a scoop of their guacamole. The meat to tortilla ratio is off, so you will need to ask for more. It is also available in a chicken version or a strictly vegetable style. The smokiness of the mesquite cooking style does add an extra delightful pungency as well as flavor.
They have a lot of fish and vegetable options as well. The Cave Creek location also has a duck pond in the front restaurant courtyard eating area. Each location has unique feeling and great staff. The food is full of flavor and served quickly. There are lots of great options to chose from on the menu and you will enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant as well.
1112 E. Carefree Highway Desert Hills, AZ 85085
http://elencantorestaurants.com