After hearing good things about a new Mexican restaurant on South Park, my wife and I decided to pay a visit this past Sunday. We also heard that the best time to grab a meal was non-peak hours (especially if you’re in a hurry), so we decided to head over around 3pm, which was perfect seeing that there were only a couple other customers in the joint.
We were greeted by the owner himself, Hector Martinez, a man who spent a lot of time in NYC cooking before ending up in the construction trade. It was only when he was asked by a friend to work on a job in Buffalo that he made his way here, and that was two years ago. After working on the East Side for a while, he learned that his friend also owned a property on South Park, that happened to have a history as a bar. “I told him that I wanted to open a restaurant,” said Hector. “I got the keys and went to work fixing this place up. When my friend saw what I had done I think he was very surprised. Now my wife (Angelica) and I work here sometimes seven days a week. My son told me I was crazy when he first took a look at the large menu, but since then he thinks that I made the right decision – business has been good so far.”
When it comes to Mexican food, if you prepare and serve super authentic dishes, word of mouth will take care of the rest. Just beware, that if you are not overly familiar with the real stuff, you might have some issues with the ambitious menu – it’s a bit daunting. But if you’re lucky and you catch Hector at the right time, he can walk you through the menu once he knows what you like. For us, I was going the veggie route, and my wife was back on the meat wagon. Either way you like your Mexican food, Valle of Mexico can accommodate. They offer everything from dishes with tongue beef to refreshing fruit juices. There are a number of different sauces, spice levels, and overall options… so much so that it’s a bit dizzying, but in the end the food will rock your world. The guac is bright and flavorful, and is especially tasty when scooped up with a chip and then dipped into the salsa for good measure (chips and salsa are gratis).
My wife ordered a chorizo and cactus dish that came with beans and rice. She told me that the chorizo was smoky and spicy and cooked to Mexican perfection. I tried the cactus and it was not to my liking – it was a bit pungent and didn’t agree with my olfactory senses. Overall the dish was spot on and a big success. I got the enchilada that came with a corn tortilla (instead of flour – standard at Valle). I also opted for the roja sauce, which Hector suggested. If you could ever classify Mexican food in the “comfort” category, the enchilada at Valle is the key. It was full of flavor and very filling. If there was a couch nearby I would have grabbed it. As I finished my meal I began to wonder why we even ordered the picaditas, which were kinda like personal pizzas, but served in a slightly healthier manner with a Mexican twist. They were a meal on their own… and a personal favorite.
The only thing that was missing at our delightful mid-afternoon Mexican meal was a patio and a couple of cervezas, both of which Hector says will come in the future.
In the end, Hector took a big risk by throwing together such a complex culinary undertaking on South Park. The menu ingredients alone could break the bank if traffic was not what he hoped for. “It was not easy doing this,” Hector told me. “That’s what I find interesting though – I like a challenge. I am fortunate to be in the business that I love [again], relatively free from competition here in Buffalo. I have been given an opportunity here that I did not have in NYC.”
Buffalo is lucky to have such a truly authentic Mexican restaurant open within close proximity to downtown. Now that there are bike lanes on South Park, this place will most likely be frequented by cyclists and motorists alike (some bike racks are needed however). The tough part will always be trying to navigate through all of the different menu categories, let alone the individual items… but I think we may be up to the task!
Valle of Mexico is solid authentic fare, with eclectic traditional music, served up in a festive setting. ¡Orale, güey!
Valle of Mexico | 1586 South Park | Buffalo NY 14220 | Facebook