A new Mexican restaurant has replaced the former Cilantro at 81 W. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem. Talavera Mexican Cuisine, named after the traditional tile and pottery that is hand-formed from the white and black volcanic soils of Puebla, Mexico, brings authentic south-of-the-border flavors to the heart of ‘Restaurant Row.’
The interior of Talavera Mexican Cuisine at 81 W. Broad St., Bethlehem
I hadn’t visited this location since it was True Blue. I didn’t notice any major changes to the interior since it’s been under new ownership for the second time in the past couple years. The lighting is soft and the overall atmosphere is laidback, with simple hardwood floors, comfortable plush pink chairs and plain black tables. Talavera is BYOB, but we stuck with water for the evening, which is served in trendy mason jar glass mugs. We were offered a complimentary margarita, but I wasn’t made aware if this is always offered or if it was a one-time special.
A complimentary margarita was served in a mason jar glass.
The menu offers numerous classic Mexican dishes prepared by Chef Maria Garcia, from appetizers like taquitos and quesadillas to entrees like enchiladas and carne asada. Specials were also available that evening. Right away our server brought chips and salsa to our table. The salsa didn’t have enough of a kick for my liking, but it was a nice complimentary snack to hold us over while we decided on main courses.
Complimentary chips and salsa were immediately brought to the table.
For an appetizer we went with the classic Nachos with Chicken ($9), which has freshly made corn tortillas chips topped with refried beans, melted cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapenos. The menu states that there are white refried beans in the dish, but they seemed to be black beans when our dish arrived. It was flavorful nonetheless. The chicken was cut into nice bite-size pieces so that it was easy to eat on the nacho. However, I wasn’t finding any jalapenos on my plate. The dish definitely could have used the heat, both in flavor and in temperature.
Nachos with Chicken ($9) is an appetizer on Talavera’s menu.
I wanted to step outside my comfort zone for my entree, so instead of my typical favorite enchiladas I went with the Carnitas ($16), which is slow-roasted pork served with sauted green peppers, onions, tomatoes, a side of pico de gallo and guacamole. I also had the choice of flour or corn tortillas with my meal, along with rice and beans.
Carnitas ($16)
My guest, who doesn’t eat red meat or pork, went with the Quesadilla De Vegetales ($10), which has sauteed poblano peppers, onions, mushrooms, squash, zucchini, corn and melted cheese on a flour tortilla with a side of sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole.
Quesadilla De Vegetales ($10)
My carnitas were a little dry, but packed a ton of flavor. The pork was still fork-tender, and was seasoned perfectly. It was great eaten as a taco in my corn tortilla with pico de gallo, and just as good on its own. My guest’s quesadilla was loaded with gooey cheese and fresh vegetables. Besides being a touch on the salty side, they were still delicious and the meat is definitely not missed in these quesadillas.
Though the our meal was filled with both hits and misses, Talavera is definitely worth giving a chance. The service is excellent, and there are a great number of dishes to try on the menu including some enticing desserts, like Tres Leches Cake and Fried Ice Cream. Also, being a BYOB location is also a plus in the downtown Bethlehem area. And who can say no to a free margarita?
INFORMATION ABOUT TALAVERA MEXICAN CUISINE
Address: 81 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
Phone number: 610-419-6237 (reservations are accepted)
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Website/Menu: TalaveraMexicanCuisine.com
Facebook page: @TalaveraCuisine
Parking: On street or in nearby public parking garages
Special Notes: In addition to being BYOB, Talavera hosts live music Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm, according to their website.