Score: 8 out of 10

On today's plate we'll look at one appetizer:

• The Shrimp & Sweet Corn Tomalito

And one course:

• Fresh Mex Artichoke & Mushroom Enchilada

I'll be honest with you, strip-mall chains like:

• Chevy's
• El Torito
• Fridays
• Chilis
• Mimi's Cafe
• Etc...

They will never get higher than an 8 or 9 for me.  They're cookie cutter, and they don't have (at least I've never experienced) a dining experience that is entirely unique or exquisite.  But on the upswing they tend to be consistent, and offer enough variety that it is enjoyable to eat there.  Most of the employees look like college students (not that it's a bad thing), and it never has spectacular gastronomic faire that's worth cheering about.  And across the board, the price is much more expensive than eating fast food.

Higher level than a Dennys, but way lower level than a gourmet gastropub or 4-5 star restaurant. 

That being said, the last time I recall eating at a Chevy's, I was worming my way through college.  The female overpopulated psychology club decided to have a big dinner there, and I sat in a sea of co-eds.

Sufficed to say, I did not notice the food.

This time around, my wife was stricken with a craving, and I said 'meh, why the hell not.'  Although it takes about 5 times as long to get there, as would going across the street to El Toritos, or down the road to On the Border, something different like Chevy's is a welcomed distraction.

The vibe you get from walking into a T.G.I. Fridays, or a Chilis is exactly the vibe you get from Chevy's.  "Oh, hey what's going on, we've got a lively bar-ish atmosphere, but families are eating in the restaurant.  We have kitchy theme-based decor, feel casual coming in!"  Not a plus, and not a minus, just the feeling of same-ol same-ol.

Menu selection was a mean average of El Torito's and On the Border.  It didn't Amerimex you like On The Border, but the selection was guero enough to be more American than El Torito. 

But let me tell you about the Chips & Salsa.

I usually have a disdain for chipotle.  I don't love being spicefucked by Jalapenos, but at the same time I really don't enjoy the smoky burnt flavor of chipotle.  Most places that serve chipotle make me sad.  On the flip side, most table-salsa is too spicy for me.  I mean it makes sense.  Don't let your guests fill up on the free chips.

Chevy's salsa was damn delicious.  Not too spicy, it IS roasted jalapenos, but the server never used the term chipotle.  It's fresh flavored and seasoned wonderfully.  The chips aren't too oily or hard, they're perfectly crispy, and it beckoned at least a second bowl. 

Pretty badass.  In fact: Chips & Salsa Score: 10 out of 10. 

I looked over their specials menu and found this item called the Shrip and Sweet Corn Tomalito.  For $9.99, it looks great.  I enjoy that sweet corn cake paste thingy I get at other Amerimex joints.  Why the hell not.

Lisa ordered the Fresh Mex Asparagus & Mushroom Enchilada.  It sounded like an interesting idea...

The Tomalito came in, and I wasn't quite sure how to respond to the flavor.  The shrimps are crunchy and juicy and taste fine.  The chunks of avocado are fresh.  There's this white sauce they drizzle on is flavorful and tasty.  The Corn Cake/Paste is excellent.

Now do they all belong together on one plate, posing as an appetizer? 

Kinda sorta.  They belong together 'on one plate, posing as an appetizer' the way an appetizer plate with chicken strips and eggrolls and sliders and mozzarella sticks belong together.  But no one would dare BLEND them all together, drizzle on some sauce, and call it good.

I guess that's how I felt about this Tomalito.  It was very delicious pieces of a puzzle, but looking at the big picture once it was assembled, was kind of a weird mess.  So delicious, but poorly executed.

Lisa's plate came in next.  Well not really.

We THOUGHT her dish came in, and we started eating it. Plated with beans and rice, it tasted... well, not so much artichoke-y or mushroomy.  But chicken-y. 

Because it was.  It was quite delicious, but before we could get our second bite, a very apologetic waiter arrived to take it away from us.  They gave us the wrong dish.

When the right dish came in, we had already tasted the apple from the tree of knowledge.

Comparatively, it was not a match.

I'll keep it simple.  The veggies were oversteamed and bland.  The main course was flavorful and crunchy, but the lingering taste of the previous dish was a haunting reminder of the food ghosts of christmases past. 

It made what might've been a tasty dish, into a "i ordered the wrong" dish.

The service was friendly and quick, and the atmosphere was casual and fun.

I'd probably eat there again, if for anything, the chips and salsa.

That's some damn good salsa.