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Sure, eating seafood at a Mexican restaurant tucked inside a truck stop doesn’t sound all that appealing. But the Bypass Fiesta Grill quells the concerns once the dish is served.
The only indicators to the existence of the restaurant, which is nestled between a “casino” and gas station, is a small sign and a lone billboard advertisement near Terrebonne Parish.
What it lacks in commercial aesthetics, it makes up for with daily lunch specials. Monday through Friday, for less than $7, diners enjoy a meal and fountain drink. The specials rotate, but seven more Mexican-styled deals are always on the lunch menu. This particular week’s other lunch-special entrees were pork stew, grilled pork chops, grilled chicken fajitas and marinated beef or chicken fajitas.
My $5.95 seafood platter this day hits the spot.
Immediately after seating ourselves, we’re treated to an order of chips, spicy salsa and melted nacho cheese. Not 15 minutes later, our orders arrive.
Perhaps the fish was a little overcooked. The large filet, however, was seasoned with just enough spice to coerce me into returning to the straw.
The same can be said for the four jumbo shrimp that came with the order. Although the number was at first disheartening, the taste and the fact that it was not of popcorn variety purchased frozen from a local grocery story made up for the underwhelming number.
And it’s not like the meal won’t fill the average stomach. Two slices of toast, and an order of seasoned French fries – fried just crisply enough to give the order a crunch without ruinng the lushly textured center – complement the seafood, lettuce, tomato and cheese.
My guest ordered the deluxe burrito, which costs just more than $8, from the regular menu. He’s pleasantly surprised when a quesadilla is served.
The quesadilla was delicious and the mixture of meat, chili and beans were a solid blend to exercise his taste buds. The rice served with the dish could have been better, but it’s a change-up to the strong flavors within the beans, quesadilla and meat. Overall, it’s a solid Mexican dish.
Bypass Fiesta Grill may not seem appealing from the outside, but its daily lunch specials meet the mark.
$5.95
