Picante, Anguilla - Good Taste is the Worst Vice

As far as I can tell, there’s only one Anguillan Mexican restaurant – Picante. On an island where most menus are influenced by Caribbean, European, or even Asian cuisine, it’s certainly different.

And that’s 1) why the restaurant was opened to begin with, 2) probably why I didn’t eat there until this trip, and 3) definitely why, I discovered, I’m a fan!

Picante was opened by a couple from Marin who, like any good Californians, had a craving for Mexican food while visiting Anguilla and decided to take matters into their own hands. This time, we got the same craving and decided to check it out.

Picante isn’t beachfront, but it’s festively lit and overlooks a little bridge to the parking area. In the dark, it’s very pretty! Inside, there are wooden tables covered with colorful, brightly patterned oilcloth, and plenty of lanterns.

I started with a margarita – perfectly made with fresh lime juice and Cointreau! – and grilled chili-queso corn on the cob (elote) that was salty and cheesy and bright from a squeeze of lime.

D went with a mojito and generously-sized Picante salad.

Next up, I went straight Tex-Mex with chicken enchiladas in green sauce, with rice and refried beans. I had been tempted by the steak enchiladas with spicy red sauce, but I’m glad I went with the green, which was tangy with tomatillo. This dish definitely hit the spot – tasty, familiar food done very well. The refried beans weren’t the pasty kind that come out of a can; they had the tender bite of dried beans that have been soaked and cooked.

D had fragrant and sizzling prawn fajitas, which kept him busy for a while with assembly.