I took some family members to one of Appleton's two El Azteca restaurants. I've avoided it for quite a while, but I finally went after hearing several endorsements, including praise from a friend of mine from Mexico. Service was excellent and the staff was very friendly and helpful, the place was clean and attractive, and the chips and salsa were excellent, with both red salsa and a good bean dip. But apart from the chips and salsa, the food was average at best. The prices were lower than average, and it seemed that numerous cost cutting steps had been taken to keep the price down. Instead of the standard rice and refried beans, the beans on my plate had been replaced with a handful of pale yellowish lettuce. The mole sauce on my chicken enchiladas was a thin, dry coating instead of the rich layer of sauce that a mole dish should have. (Mole, of course, refers to a wonderful class of sauces originating in Oaxaca, Mexico, often made from ground, roasted seeds and, in the case of black mole, some chocolate.)

My boys like the red sauce on their enchiladas, but the other adults in the group were not impressed with their burritos or chimichanga.

Sorry, El Azteca. Nice place, but I think they'd be better off raising prices a little to afford an extra dash of quality.