La Mina

The Space: 617 West Lake Street Addison, IL 60101. Table author sat at full of crumbs. Restaurant smelled good and had good room temperature. Hand made signs all over restaurant. Mexican radio station playing ( La Que Buena). Picture of Virgen de Guadalupe on wall. Bright green walls. Real plant hanging. Colorful tablecloth on all tables. Some chairs did not match one another. Chairs and tables very simple.

People: 2 families. One consisted of mom, father, and a baby. Family spoke English. Other family consisted of mom and 2 siblings (in their teens). Family spoke Spanish. Both Hispanic. Not a lot of conversing. Wore casual clothing. Middle class. Both families ate more than they conversed.

Staff: One man and two woman. All Hispanic in their twenties. No dress code. Man politely asked author what she wanted on taco. In a couple of minutes, waitress brought the order to author’s table. Asked if author needed anything else.

Food: Steak taco. $2.00. Consisted of home-made corn tortilla, steak, cilantro, lime, and chopped onions. Green salsa on table. Served on a plate. Steak seasoned well and chewy. Tortilla a bit crunchy. Completely authentic taste. Author was reminded of Mexico while eating taco. Exactly the same as an authentic Mexican taco. Home made tortillas reminded author of tortillas her grandmother makes in Mexico.

Atmosphere: Humble. Colorful table cloths and simple tables made author feel like she was eating at home. Casual furniture and decor made the atmosphere very home-like. Hand made signs like signs in small restaurants in Mexico. Everything very authentic. Restaurant had Mexican mother’s house vibe to it.