Stacy Hutto
Managing editor
It’s not often that accidents end up being mouthwatering, filling and extremely good, but that is what happened when I discovered Ceviche.
One day I was craving Mexican food and the first place I tried was closed, so I decided to try this little restaurant. I had heard different people around Southeastern raving about it.
I loved the food so much I ended up eating there three different times in the next week.
For those who don’t know me, it is very rare for me to eat at a restaurant more than once a week. There are too many good restaurants with so much variety.
When I go to Ceviche I usually get the pork carnitas fajitas. When the cast iron plate comes to the table, the carnitas are sizzling and the aroma is mouthwatering.
The carnitas are mixed with onions, bell peppers and bits of pineapple. You also get another plate with refried beans, rice, tomato, lettuce and sour cream. Add the tortilla container and you end up with a feast spread out in front of you.
Something Ceviche does differently that I love is giving you a small plate for building fajitas. Most restaurants expect you to hold the tortilla as you’re building. Even with the plate this is what I do.
The genius of the plate is when you stuff as much as you can in a tortilla, some of the filling falls out. The plate catches everything that falls so you’re able to eat every last bite.
These fajitas are so good I end up eating everything that falls out eventually.
Most of the time I run out of tortillas before I run out of filling. Instead of asking for more tortillas, I finish up the rest with a fork.
The chunks of pork are flavorful and tender, with a hint of pineapple. The onions and bell pepper are cooked so they have some crunch left, but are cooked enough that all the flavors come out.
Refried beans can be hard to get right. At some places they have no flavor and are bland.
Whenever I eat at a Mexican restaurant I always try the beans first. If the beans are good and full of flavor, then chances are the rest of the meal will be good also. The refried beans at Ceviche are full of flavor and taste delicious.
Everything on the menu at Ceviche looks delicious. The menu is varied and has many classic Mexican dishes that remind me of being back in California. I’m sure the dishes would look familiar to anyone who has been to Mexico or loves authentic Mexican food.
In addition to a mouthwatering menu, Ceviche is affordable for a college student. For the fajitas and a sweet tea I paid $9.54 and was able to have a light dinner without being hungry
The award-winning chef Felipe Gaytan, who has worked in notable kitchens across Texas before coming to Durant, owns Ceviche. Gaytan’s passion for food comes out in the dishes his restaurant serves.
Gaytan recently opened another restaurant in Durant. Tacos Factory opened the beginning of March, and is located across from Nichols on Washington Street.
Ceviche is open seven days a week and is located at 729 N. First St. in Durant.