Consuelo's offers fresh, homemade food

We are in heaven, taco heaven, that is. Consuelo's Taqueria in the former Albee's in Manchester is a find for any fan of authentic Mexican street food. This is definitely a taqueria, originally taco stands that have moved inside but still offer limited menus of good tacos, burritos, quesadillas and the like at reasonable prices that are ordered at the counter.

But more than that, there's a real sense of community and family. Martin Delgadillo, who owns the shop with his wife, Marigen, has been known to pop over to your table and regale a diner with great stories about growing up in Mexico City as one of 14 children. Delgadillo would come home from school when he was 10, wash his uniform, then help his mother cook. His family has owned restaurants in his native land since long before he was born.

In fact, the taqueria is named for his mother. "Consuelo means consolation," he said, as he pointed to a vase of calla lilies, his mom's favorite flowers.

And indeed, the food has the fresh ingredients and bright flavors prepared in a home kitchen. The atmosphere matches, with delightful folk art, bright goldenrod-colored walls and some nice Frida Kahlo prints.

Mr. and Mrs. T for T shared a Chorizo Taco a la Parrilla (meaning from the grill). Your $6.25 buys you three fresh corn tacos with homemade salsa on top. These were amazing. The spicy sausage had a great bite on the tongue, complemented by the acid in the garden fresh salsa. We also love the fact that tacos are served on soft corn tortillas and not flour tortillas, which are often used for tacos in America. The corn is authentic and adds mucho to the flavor. We could eat these babies every day.

To wash it down, we had Dos Equis ($3.50), which were crackling cold, having been put on ice to store, and we've sampled the sangria in the past, and it was some of the best ever.

We also shared a beef Alambre Taco ($5.25), with bell peppers, onions, bacon (it also comes in a chicken version), the salsa and a side of what Consuelo's calls "a squirt," a combination of guacamole and sour cream, which is well worth the 95-cent extra charge.

We also shared a Carne Asada or Grilled Steak Quesadilla ($5), made with a grilled flour tortilla stuffed with steak and cheese, with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and salsa on the side. You can get all the hot sauce you want in the form of mild, hot and -- our favorite -- verde made from tomatillas. All this makes for a very happy mouth full of amazing flavors.

Junior T for T also had choices here in the form of children's menu, which included a Silas Sandwich ($3), a quesadilla with chicken and cheese; a Gael Gourmet Quesadilla ($3), with beef and cheese, and, his selection, a Kaya Quesadilla ($2.50), a grilled flour tortilla with only a cheese filling.

Did you see those prices? Homemade food with fresh ingredients for half the price of a Happy Meal.

And instead of soda, why not treat them to Agua de Jamaica ($1.65), hibiscus-flavored water, or Agua de Horchata ($1.65), a rice-milk flavored drink.

**** Consuelo's Taqueria

36 Amherst St., Manchester.

622-1134, www.consuelostaqueria.com.

Food: ***½

Service: ****

Value: ****

<b>CUISINE: </b>Mexican.

<b>Prices: </b>$4.95-$7

<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (dining room open until 9 p.m.) Saturday, closed Sunday.

<b>Handicapped Accessible: </b>Yes.

<b>Vegetarian Friendly:</b> Yes.

<b>Alcohol: </b>Yes.

<b>DRESS: </b>Casual.

<b>OULD WE GO BACK?</b>Yes.

***** = Perfect

**** = Excellent

*** = Good

** = Fair

*= Poor

<i>Overall rating is not necessarily an average of Food, Service and Value ratings.</i>