When asked to write a restaurant review to start off the semester, I started racking my brain for a local gem that few Wake students know about. I was having some trouble coming up with ideas since hidden favorites like Diamondback and Little Richards have already been covered (by my older brother nonetheless.) While scrolling down the large list of dining spots in our Dining Directory, I was stunned to see that the classic La Carreta was still available for comment. This restaurant is well-known among our students; I feel it's almost shameful it hadn't been reviewed until now.

If you haven't already heard or experienced it for yourself, La Carreta is a great local Mexican restaurant. It is close to campus, located between Reynolda Road and University Parkway on Coliseum Drive. There are smaller second and third locations off of Polo and Jonestown, but Coliseum is the original. La Carreta's atmosphere is similar to most other Mexican restaurant with wall murals and background music. It also has a back room that can be used for private parties and a patio for the warmer seasons.

The menu at La Carreta is extensive: appetizers, salads, combination plates, specialty entrees and most other Mexican favorites. I've tried most everything the menu has to offer with no complaints, but the Quesadilla Grande with chicken is timeless. It's essentially a huge quesadilla (go figure) filled with every ingredient in the kitchen. Chips and salsa are a given and Carreta's cheese dip, a staple of America’s Mexican restaurants, is always a good start. Also, for those of you 21 and up, the drink selection is substantial with reasonable prices.

As made obvious, I am a La Carreta fan and if you're looking for impartial journalism, I'm sorry for having wasted your time. That having been said, I’ve lived in Winston for almost 12 years and La Carreta is not only the best Mexican food around, but also an affordable and convenient option, understandably popular among the Wake crowd.