Is there smack in this salsa? No, of course not. But the addictive quality of El Pueblito’s version of the condiment will make you wonder. At this Guatemalan/Mexican restaurant, owned by Eduardo and Monica Lopez, the salsa is more than just something to dip the chips in while waiting for your main course — in fact, stopping there would be almost impossible. The mixture of fresh cilantro and ripe tomatoes makes everything on the varied menu taste even better than it does plain — from the vegetarian quesadillas to the fresh bay snapper — so go ahead and cover your plate with the stuff. The chunky sauce is blessed with a sharp bite that somehow makes your mouth feel cool and hot all at the same time, and if you become a regular salsa junkie, the staff will string you out even more by bringing you extra big cups of it. Forget pot — after one visit it’s obvious that El Pueblito’s salsa is the true gateway drug.
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2002.