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| 256 Nachos at Fire & Spice TexMex Smokehouse in Huntsville AL |
This massive platter of herbivore favorites was enough to feed a family of four. The 256 Nachos includes tortilla chips, pinto beans, rice, vegetable medley, spicy slaw, salsa verde, guacamole, and cilantro. I began to nibble away at this mountain of vegetation knowing that a take-out box would soon be needed.
The chips are heavier than average and easily hold the weight of whatever goodies are piled upon them. I got a hint of burnt oil in the chips, but it didn't take away from the meal. It just gave it a classic fried food flavor. The pinto beans were peppery with a very nice home-cooked bean flavor and texture. The beans were my favorite part of this meal. The bell peppers and jalapeno peppers were fresh and flavorful. Whether or not they were cooked was unclear. They still had a crisp snap when bitten. The spicy slaw was definitely spicy. It was also crisp and peppery. The salsa verde and guacamole were both refreshing and cool. The sweet tea was perfectly made.
Overall, this was a very good meal. There was just a bit of tension between the heavier chips and the fresh natural flavors of the toppings. Either a lighter chip or the addition of vegan cheese would help neutralize that tension. This meal was spicy but the cooler ingredients kept it all well balanced. The price of this meal was $16.35 plus a good tip. I don't usually spend
that much on food, but it was a nice treat that ended up being 3 meals.
I would buy this again if the moment was right.
The interior of Fire & Spice TexMex Smokehouse looks clean and smells clean. They have wooden seating, corrugated metal details, and graphics on the walls. It looks like a casual, trendy barbecue restaurant. The music during my visit was classic pop hits from the 1960s and 1970s. They have full service plus a bar with a nice selection of adult beverages. During my visit, the service was fast and friendly. Every table gets a bottle of sriracha sauce and a whole roll of paper towels. There's plenty of omnivore foods. Other vegan options include quesadillas made with vegan cheese, a veggie bowl, and vegan tacos. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes good food and has a digestive system.
UPDATE: I returned to Fire & Spice for another awesome meal. I
have more details on the food. All fried foods share the same oil, so
the tortilla chips and fried cauliflower may not be considered
acceptable for very strict vegans. That explains why I thought the chips
tasted kind of unhealthy during my first visit. The sauteed veggies are
cooked on the flat top grill, but they do have a separate area for the
veggies. This may still not be acceptable for strict vegans, because it
is the same grill with possibilities for cross contamination. The vegan
burritos and quesadillas are toasted on the same flat top grill.
On
my latest visit, I had a friendly discussion with a server and a member
of management just for clarity. They are very familiar with food
restrictions. They went over the menu and helped me understand how
things are done in the kitchen. For my recent meal they gladly made it
"allergy style". They used a clean pan for the sauteed veggies and to
toast my burrito. They made it their mission to make it right. The
service and food were excellent. It was the best food I've had in
months! I will surely return!
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