ENTERTAINMENT

‘Watts for Dinner’: Nacho Mama’s – Top of the ooey gooey Tex Mex pile

Will Watts
Correspondent

Nacho Mama’s was the next stop on the Marco food train. By the way, the apostrophe is a pepper in the logo. Just want to make sure we got that out of the way.

So, Mama’s is not what you’d call authentic Mexican food; but it’s a lot more than you run of the mill Tex Mex. It’s creative, unique and naughty as H-E double hockey sticks.

Chile rellenos at Nacho Mama's, Marco Island.

Things got off to an appetizing start with the nachos grande ($12) – Nacho Mama’s “signature item.” And the emphasis should be strongly placed on the grande. It’s HUGE! Who needs entrees with an appetizer like this? We stopped halfway through so we could finish the column. And it was hard to do.

So, there’s chips, melted cheese, your meat of choice, jalapenos, etc., etc., and a scoop of sour cream and guacamole. Loved it all, except the guac. The taste was a little off. Call me a guac snob.

For my entrée, I choose the chile rellenos ($16), two poblano peppers, one stuffed with beef, the other chicken. It came with rice and beans.   

Nachos grande, Nacho Mama’s “signature item.”

Typically, the peppers are coated in an egg batter; and stuffed with melted cheese. In this case, the breading was more like fried chicken; and the inside was meat and a melted cheese sauce. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious. But different. And there was a cheese mixture on the outside too; very yummy.

My partner in dine had three Mama tacos, with tacos, aka carnitas, on soft corn tortillas ($12.50). You can also choose soft flour or hard corn shells. Well done; and kudos for having soft corn tortillas. But those who are taco connoisseurs might want to ask to hold the tomatoes and lettuce.   

Mama tacos, with tacos, aka carnitas, on soft corn tortillas, at Nacho Mama's, Marco Island.

If you only like authentic Mexican, look elsewhere. But if you want something that rises above typical Tex Mex fare, at a fair price with friendly faces, look no farther. Nacho Mama’s is the island’s guilty pleasure.

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If you go

  • Nacho Mama’s
  • 599 S. Collier Boulevard, Marco Island
  • 239-389-2222
  • Thenachomamas.com