By Pamela Brownstein
Built to look like a traditional Spanish-influenced missionary or church, San Jose Mexican Restaurant on Lady’s Island has high ceilings, colorful frescoes on the walls, intimate booths and long, carved wooden tables. There are two words to best describe San Jose: mucha comida. There are more than 20 plates to choose from in the Lunch Only section, and 32 combinations offered on the general menu, so come with an appetite.
Tess ordered Lunch No. 7: Enchilada Supreme with one chicken, one cheese and one beef enchilada, all topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.
Elizabeth’s shrimp fajitas came out on a sizzling platter full of color from the sauteed onions, bell peppers and tomatoes. Her dish also came with rice, beans and flour tortillas. Nikki also tried fajitas, but she had hers with steak as part of the Lunch No. 9 plate. I tried something similar with Lunch No. 15 Fajita Quesadilla, a flour tortilla filled with grilled steak, peppers, onions, cheese and guacamole salad.
Kim decided to go big with the Carne Asada: tender rib-eye served with rice, beans, sliced tomatoes, avocado, onions and flour tortillas.
Buck had No. 18 under the combinations menu that included one burrito, one taco, rice and beans.
April wanted the Taquitos Mexicanos from the “Mixed” menu. These four fried corn tortillas
filled with chicken are served with rice, beans and guacamole salad.
Happy Hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m. include .99 cent draft beers, .99 cent margaritas, and .99 cent chips and salsa. Although it was too early for Happy Hour, the Lunch Bunch believes lunchtime on a Friday is the perfect time to relax and sip a margarita.
San Jose is located on 5 Sams Point Road, Lady’s Island, across from Publix. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; it is also open for dinner. Call 843-524-4001 for more information.