After a five-minute drive from Ankeny High and through the bustling streets of Ankeny, passersby will notice Hernandez Bar and Grill, a new Mexican restaurant. Located on 2010 SE Delaware Avenue, Hernandez Bar and Grill has received glowing reviews from food critics with a five-star rating, despite only being open for three weeks. After seeing these overwhelmingly positive reviews, I wanted to see if Hernandez Bar and Grill will be a cornerstone for restaurants in Ankeny.

In order to give Hernandez Bar and Grill a fair and honest review, I will be critiquing and reviewing four aspects of the dining experience: the atmosphere, the cleanliness, the service provided, and the food.

The atmosphere

When you first walk into the restaurant, there is a unique charm to the dining room. Paintings and artworks of various landscapes and people are plastered all around, providing some character on the yellow walls. The lighting is great, as there is both good artificial and natural lighting. Upbeat music was playing in the background. There were TVs positioned on the front wall above the bar, providing everyone with an excellent view no matter where they are seated. The bar itself has lots of room and serves many types of beverages. The atmosphere was welcoming and lively, which is exactly what you want to walk into when you go out to eat.

The cleanliness

The tables and chairs in the dining room were clean, and the floor was swept and mopped. The layout of the dining room was well organized and allowed for larger parties to be accommodated and seated easier. The bathrooms were also clean. The toilets and urinals were sanitized and spotless. The soap dispensers and the paper towels were fully stocked, and there was also a wall mount that provided a nice escape from the typical stench in public bathrooms. Overall, the cleanliness of Hernandez Bar and Grill was perfect, with no concerns or anything negative worth noting.

The service

My favorite part of the whole dining experience was the service. When I walked in, the server held the door open for me and had a nice conversation as he led me to my table. He then took my drink orders and quickly returned with my drink and some chips and salsa. When I ordered, he was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu and even offered samples of the sauces used in certain meals to ensure I would like it. Even though he was cordial and had genuine conversations with me, the thing that impressed me most was that he also showed the same hospitality to other guests. Not to mention that other staff members also refilled my drink and got some more chips during my time there as well. Overall, the service I received was exceptional, and it was refreshing to have legitimate conversations with my server.

The food

The most important thing in a restaurant is, of course, the food itself. The menu was expansive and provided vegetarian options as well. The kitchen was also totally willing to accept special requests, which is nice because that opens up your menu even more to cater to every customer. I ordered the cheese steak burritos around 4:57 p.m. and got my food at around 5:06 p.m. Having your food within ten minutes of ordering is impressive, no matter how busy the restaurant is. The presentation of my dish was well organized and looked solid on the plate. That first bite of the burrito was exceptional; the queso was nice and hot and added a lot of taste to the burritos. The steak was cooked nicely and had a firm and chewy texture. The rice was seasoned well and was cooked nicely. For dessert, I ordered some churros and some sopapillas as well. I also received the food exceptionally fast, and it was plated beautifully. Both the churros and the sopapillas had a nice amount of sugar on them; it was not too much, but it also was not too little. Both the sopapillas and the churros had a nice amount of flavor to them, especially with the chocolate sauce and the whipped cream that was provided. All in all, the food was exceptional. 

Overall, Hernandez Bar and Grill deserves all of its positive reviews and will be another great Mexican restaurant in Ankeny. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes Mexican food or anyone who wants to support a well-deserved local business.

Hernandez Bar and Grill scores 5/5 stars from me.