Just add lime

Skirt steak never looked so good.

After such a long absence on a  topic such as food, it only  makes sense to come back with a bang.

A local group that specializes in enhancing both ethnic and American food recently opened a Mexican-based restaurant. The name, Local Lime, obviously gives one something to expect. All the food comes accompanied with a lime wedge. The one basic tool for the meal.

Myself, Rachael and three friends found our way there recently after the power went out in the movie theater we were in. Don’t worry, Silver Linings Playbook cast and crew, we saw you later. Four stars out of five, I say.

The atmosphere at Local Lime is anything but ethnic based. And I think that lends itself to the guests. You hear the name, then walk in, and both refuse to show their hand. Then you look at the menu.

The menu is based with a Mexican feel. Various seafood, chicken, steak and vegetarian options await the diner. I myself took in a Sol — a solid Mexican beer, about the equivalent of a Bud Light, really — and, after sampling a group order of various salsas and guacamole, order the Grilled Skirt Steak Taco Plate.

Three soft shell tacos came to me on a rectangular wooden plate. Surrounding the succulent cuts of meat (rare, by the way, though they don’t ask how you want them cooked. But trust me, it won’t matter) was a healthy dose of rice, cilantro, onion, manchego and chili sauce. I threw in my two sides as beans with bacon bits and lime rice (see the whole lime connection?). The beans, which as some might know, I’m not a huge fan of, were great, especially with bacon. The texture, which is more my dislike than the taste, was light. The lime rice was just so good. I ended up putting a ton of it on the tacos. Sweet and soft. The rice was cooked perfectly.

The steak was tender and the bits were so small that it didn’t matter the way it matters when biting into an actual steak. The chili sauce livens up the taste buds and makes sure you want more. The tacos came in threes for all us who ordered them, which was enough to eat, but still left you wanting the sides, which is perfect.

I’ve always been intrigued by places like Local Lime, from the ambiance to food, you have nothing to expect, because nothing is shown.

The lime doesn’t hurt.