Hidden Gem: Los Arcos

Pizza, Chinese food, cheeseburgers, donuts — what do all of these things have in common? They’re all cheap, they are all usually located relatively close to college campuses because college kids love them, and they would all be worthless without the addition of a good Mexican restaurant.

Mexican food is a necessity for an economy. It balances out the blandness of the rest of what might be offered in a community. Of course, there are great Mexican fast-food restaurants like Xalos in town, but we need a hidden gem — we deserve a hidden gem.

Tequila 61 is too bougie for us college kids, and much too far, not that downtown is too far for a hidden gem, but it's too far for its price. We need something close, cheap and with a server who pours heavy — enter Los Arcos.

Los Arcos is located off Dowling Road only 1.8 miles from the Student Union. They are open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. every day except for Saturday and Sunday, when the hours are 12-10 p.m. and 12-9 p.m., respectively, making this the perfect spot to grab dinner and pregame before a night out on the town.

You might be wondering to yourself, “Why would I want to go two miles away when there is a Taco-Bell right near campus?” Well, Taco-Bell doesn't come with a fully stocked bar or service as quick and hospitable as Los Arcos.

That points to another staple of any good Mexican restaurant: its bar. While yes, you are primarily going to a restaurant to eat, but you also want to have a few drinks — right? I mean, we are in college after all.

Los Arcos boasts in their menu that they offer 50 different margaritas. That’s a lot of margaritas to try. Sadly, on this occurrence, only two were able to be tasted.

The Cadillac margarita and the agave margarita are both good picks if you are going to drink at this establishment, and they are both incredibly strong without tasting too heavily of alcohol. Out of the two, the agave margarita stood out the most. It is sweet, citrusy, and just strong enough to knock your socks off.

Los Arcos also states on their menu that on the weekends, they offer a variety of $7.50 mimosas, which is a pretty good deal considering how strongly they pour. You’ll definitely find me there on a Saturday sometime in the future.

The atmosphere here was pretty standard. You have dine-in seating on one side and bar-side seating on the other. The bar is dimly lit and appropriate for what it is, while the dining side has a curved wall full of windows, which makes the sit-down experience pleasantly lit with natural light.

The food was good, but overall similar to what you would find from any other Mexican restaurant in town. It’s decently priced for a sit-down restaurant and is not too expensive for a Mexican restaurant.

What stole the show was the hospitality of the waitstaff and the speedy service with which they brought the drinks and food. The drinks came in less than five minutes, and the food was out of the kitchen within 10.

It is important that we value the ways that we spend our time. If you are sitting with a group of friends waiting for food, it may not be so bad if you have to spend a longer time waiting.

If you are eating alone, however, you may want your food to come fast so that you can eat and go about your day. This is by far the fastest service that I have received anywhere in the city, including some fast-food restaurants.

This treatment was not exclusive to me.. After I finished eating, I observed the staff as they tended to their other tables, and each table was greeted with the same polite and speedy hospitality.

Los Arcos clearly focuses on the attentiveness and professionalism of their staff, and it is noticeably paying off. This is a refreshing break during a time when it seems that customer satisfaction is an afterthought for many establishments.

Overall, Los Arcos impressed me. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a reasonably priced Mexican restaurant. Its proximity to campus means it isn’t bothersome to get to, the sit-down experience is enjoyable, the drinks are strong and the staff is friendly and attentive. I went looking for a hidden gem, and I found one.