New Mexican restaurant serves it up fresh

By Andrew Hardenbrook

Aqui is a sharp, cleanly kept grill and bar situated in downtown Willow Glenn, which daily serves up fresh Cal-Mex cuisine.

Now I know what you're thinking: "I've heard of Mexican food and even Tex-Mex, but what in the world is Cal-Mex?" Well, if you take Aqui's menu as a guide, Cal-Mex is reasonably sized burritos filled with black beans, wrapped with whole-wheat tortillas and accompanied by fresh ginger-slaw.

In other words, healthy Mexican food. After looking at the burrito-dominated menu, I decided to play it conservative with the bean burrito, perhaps a little nervous on my first visit ever to a Cal-Mex restaurant. However, upon receiving my food, I was quickly surprised both by its large size and great taste.

Adding to the restaurant's appeal is its full bar featuring several different types of margaritas. I was easily persuaded into purchasing the reasonably priced house margarita and it quickly took the edge off a long week of school. Aqui also contains a large salsa bar and the sun dried tomato salsa is a must-have.

The only real down side to this Willow Glenn eatery is the ordering system in which you must place your order with the cashier, find your table, and wait for your number to be called. This process takes away Aqui's potential of being a nice, sit-down restaurant and transforms it into a lunch/quick-dinner-on-your-way-to-a-movie spot.

So, if you are tired of deep-fried, high-fat items that fill most Mexican restaurant menus, but do not have a lot of time on your hands, Aqui Cal-Mex is your place. * * * $

Aqui Cal-Mex

1145 Lincoln Ave.

San Jose

(408) 995-0387

Sun.-Thur. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.