Chevy's shut down a while back. But since there are still some Chevy's around the country and because someone (like you) might run across this old article in the archives, we'll keep the article posted. Please keep in mind that the Chevy's on Bald Hill Road in Rhode Island is no more. --- The Editors

Being from Texas, I'm always happy to eat Mexican food whenever I can. Chevy's found a great location when it moved into the old East Side Mario's location on Bald Hill Road -- right in the middle of the action, among lots of other restaurants, and in an interesting building. They've also brought Tex-Mex foods, something that's hard to find in Rhode Island restaurants. Chevy's version of Tex-Mex is generally good, and at times excellent.

Diners find a lively atmosphere with huge posters proclaiming "Chevy's" in unexpected ways. The old East-Side Mario's Brooklyn Bridge now supports sombreros, cacti, and other "Mexicanna".

Their fajita chicken nachos, with cheeses melted over beans and chunks of seasoned grilled chicken breast and served with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo are an excellent choice for appetizers.

They also serve complementary tortilla chips and hot sauce. In Texas, the chips are always served hot, but that part of the Tex-Mex experience seems to have been lost in the translation. Their hot sauce, however, is a joy. It's not overspiced like many other sauces, just delicious with a roasted tomato flavor.

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I usually order their "Super Chevy's", a large combination plate with enchiladas, a tamale, a crispy taco, rice, beans, and a chili relleno. It's accompanied by their special sweet corn tomalito side dish unlike anything I've ever tasted in Mexican restaurants from California to Texas -- delicious, and garnished with a little cactus-shaped tortilla chip. It's a lot of food, but I have a very big appetite.

They brag about the size of their fajita servings. While their fajita servings are smaller than those usually served in Tex-Mex restaurants in Texas, their "El Gordo" (the Big One) is a huge helping of fajitas and well worth bragging about. This oversized sizzling sampler platter comes piled high with grilled fajita steak, chicken fajitas, shrimp, and portabella mushrooms. It even comes with a quarter-piece of barbecue baby-back pork ribs. The grilled onions and peppers were considerably crisper than what is normally served with fajitas, but not so much that it distracted me from gorging myself on with the vegetables, meat, and toppings wrapped up in their warm home-made tortillas.

Adding to the meat and vegetables, there's more guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, and shredded lettuce. Oh, and we can't forget about the rice and beans which seem to accompany almost every entree. You have a choice, by the way, of the variety of beans, either "frijoles" refried beans, black beans, or "beans a la charro", all three are good, which only adds to your dilemma of choosing from their full menu.

Chevy's has had two problems worth noting in our previous visits. First, the spiciness of the dishes other than the sauce at Chevy's has been inconsistent. On some visits, the guacamole is practically aflame from jalapenos, in the latest visit the guacamole was mild and tasty. This visit, the rice was much spicier than on previous visits. And second, during rush periods, the restaurant's waitstaff appears to be stretched too far, making them less than attentive.

But even with those problems, Chevy's is a good choice for Mexican food, especially if you come outside rush times and ask about the spice levels when you order.

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Chevy's is fully handicapped accessible. There is generally good separation between smoking and nonsmoking areas. They serve food until 11pm, which is a big plus to night-owls. Their iced tea is fresh brewed and plentiful. Expect a very filling meal for two excluding drinks and appetizers to run about $25 to $30. El Gordo costs $13.99 by itself.

To find Chevy's on the web, go to Chevys.com. To find them in person, they are located on Bald Hill Road, right across the street from the Home Depot turn-off.

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