The Stockbridge New Town Independent Review Sept 07

Nestled in fashionably quaint Thistle Street, only five minutes from Princes Street, Tex Mex II is a cosy eatery brightly decorated, with shades of purple being the dominant colour and a cheery golden sun god beaming down on the eaters.

For starters I had soft shell crab flautas (crab meat in tortilla flutes). The crab was fresh and retained its delicate flavour and the softness of flesh contrasted well with the tortilla. My companio nwent for the Chorizo Quesadilla (tortilla stuffed with melted cheese and spicy sausage), which was full of flavour and almost a meal in itself.

For main course I had to have the Carnitas Con Guacamole (slow roast pork with tortillas) and very glad I did as it was perfect, with the meat melting in your mouth and being washed down by a very welcome bottle of San Miguel. My companion opted for the Grilled Swordfish, which was an excellent choice, being fresh and lightly grilled the unfussy flavour spoke for itself. The swordfish was accompanied with a range of salsas, to which Donald had added pomegrante seeds to great affect, with the crunchy coolness of the seeds contrasting well with the chilli heat. Donald even produces his own tasty chutney giving a good lift to the meal.

By the end of the mains, we were fully but manfully downed several more Margaritas and ate an extremely tasty banofee pie, accompanied with straight Tequila. In addition to our choices, Tex Mex II boasts a wide range of dishes including vegetarian options. The bill came to about £35 for two, which given it included a reasonable amount of alcohol, was good value for filling an enjoyable meal at a time many other places are shut.

EAT WELL, FEEL WELL, BE WELL