CARLOS BAR & GRILL For locals with a taste for Mexican that goes deeper than the warmed-over “numero treinta y siete” at El Microondas, Southwest Little Rock is invaluable, with its abundance of Mexican groceries and taco trucks dotting every other corner. So when a veteran of Las Palmas opened Carlos Bar & Grill, announced in the Executive Inn lobby with a crooked, hand-painted sign outside the entrance, it caught our attention. The staff immediately brought us chips and the usual accoutrement — the salsa was fine, if a bit watery, same for the queso — as well as a strange, light green dip, part avocado, part tzatziki sauce, that was a mystery to not only us, but the waitress as well. We looked on the brighter side and decided it was a special mix from scratch instead of an anonymous muck. The chili verde plate came out, green as the plain and soaking everything, as well as our beef and chicken enchiladas. Both dinners were underwhelming, but edible. Here’s hoping the newest addition to Southwest’s treasure trove of south-of-the-border authenticity only has a few “new restaurant” kinks and scrapes to attend to. On the bright side, the margaritas are hefty and cold, not to mention a head-vibrating brew that may be the single strongest in town. 2600 W. 65th St., 501-562-1551. LD Daily. $-$$. Beer, wine and tequilas.

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article A&E News, Nov. 11 Next article Thursday: Andrew Anderson, Michael Carenbauer, ‘Hamlet’