Grubtrotters

Frida Mexican Cuisine in Glendale is huge. The newest outpost of the Beverly Hills original is part of the monster mall known as Americana at Brand. The bar is big. The dining room is spacious. The menu is extensive. Would it kill them to validate parking? Hey, the Cheesecake Factory validates, but then again you can eat at one of those if you’re in Tulsa or Boise, so a parking perk isn’t everything.

Frida had been open just a few days when I popped in for a lunch earlier this week. Business was brisk, but the room was large enough that the atmosphere didn’t scream chaos.

This was my first visit to any of the Frida locales, so I asked my server for suggestions on a signature dish. He was very helpful as he cited about four entrees and provided an explanation beyond what was printed on the menu. After mulling it over for a few minutes, I opted for the enchiladas suizas, one of his picks.

“An excellent choice,” he said.

I thought to myself, an excellent choice? You’re the one who recommended it. Who are you complimenting here, me or you? This was more of a humorous sidelight than an actual gripe, but for some reason it stuck in my head.

Anyway the enchiladas — shredded chicken with some green tomatillo sauce — were, in fact, quite tasty. Rich without being too heavy, an important consideration if you’re going to spend the rest of the afternoon power-shopping at Americana’s various upscale retailers. –Victor.