Bedford has always been missing something when it comes to restaurant choice. Foregoing the obvious omissions of chains such as Ask or Cafe Rouge, there has been one giant missing piece which my taste buds have not thanks me for since moving to the town; the lack of a Mexican restaurant.
Whilst many may not agree with me that Mexican food is some of the tastiest, loveliest, most homely cuisine you can honour your tongue with, I happen to absolutely love it. So as soon as I saw the sign, I was in like a shot to make a reservation (definitely something to consider if you want to go at peak times).
My calamari starter.
Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment though. When you’ve been waiting for and wanting something for a long time, in the end it’s more than likely to disappoint. So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I entered Baja yesterday evening ready, as ever an Englishman tends to be, for disappointment. What I got was an explosion of spice, flavour and a sense that I’d been returning to this place again and again. I’d just found the best food in Bedford by quite some way.
The restaurant itself is clean and modern, with just the right amount of colour to set the scene. A combination of tables and booths overlook, well not too much to be honest. The view outside wasn’t spectacular (just some empty shops), but the view on my table turned out to be more than adequate. (As an aside, the bar at the back of the restaurant does have a better outlook, with the Castle Mound and river just in sight).
I started with a bowl of Breaded Calamari and Tentacles, which was not only delicious, but also came in a portion that could feed a family of four. I’m definitely not complaining though; the squid was a perfect texture and the breadcrumbs gave a satisfying crunch. Spot on.
Enchilada and frijoles.
There was the risk that after such a humongous starter, there wouldn’t be any room left for the main course. That was until it made its heavenly appearance on the table in front of me. My Enchilada was stuffed with chicken, Mexican rice and beans, and sat on a bed of passata. Topped off with melted Monterey Jack cheese, salsa and crema, it practically melted in the mouth. There was a hint of coriander running through the dish, which set the whole thing off for me.
As my Mexican-loving eyes are probably too big for my belly, I also chose Frijoles as a side. Black, pinto and kidney beans, refried and topped with crema and melted cheese. They were truly stunning. I could have happily sat and had a couple of those as a meal on their own.
The Big Baja Salad
My dining companions’ food was also very well received. In particular, the Big Baja Salad was a definite hit, coming in its own huge edible tortilla bowl and with more lamb than any one person would dare to eat in one sitting (again, not a complaint).
Desert was a big no as we were all completely stuffed from the wonderful food, though next time I’ll try and save enough room to sample a Sweet Chimichanga.
The only real disappointment was with our cocktail. Our mojitos tasted of not much other than rum and definitely needed more than the single leaf of mint that had been put in the glass.
But that’s not really much of a complaint, when the meal itself was so well prepared. I made a point of saying before the meal arrived that I hoped I would finally find a restaurant in Bedford that I would want to return to frequently. I found it.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is a five star review. *****
Take a look at their menu over at www.bajabedford.co.uk.
