I didn’t go to Point Place frequently, but I now found a reason to go back often.
La Chalupa is a small Mexican restaurant in the recently revitalized Merchant’s Landing, 6186 North Summit St., just off of I-75. It’s the fourth location opened by the owners of local favorite El Camino Real, and the festive environment is the perfect spot for a happy happy hour.
The entry façade features a brightly colored mural of a woman in a canoe-like vessel floating down a river. (“Chalupa” is a Spanish word that means ‘small boat.’) Inside, the restaurant is a happening little place with stone walls and gray wood floors, funky pendant lighting and a unique glass chandelier over the bar. Jesus, the owner, brought many of the interior touches back from trips to Mexico. The tasteful décor features wooden barrels emblazoned with the Jose Cuervo label, no doubt a nod to their tasty margaritas, and I couldn’t stop looking at the fabulously kitschy decorative vegetables hanging on the wall above our cozy booth.
Something special
Happy hour specials run from 3-6pm Monday – Thursday and include $2 beers, $4 margaritas, and half-price appetizers and dips. Recently, they also added a weekend happy hour, 3-5pm on Friday and Saturday.
My friend and I hit up La Chalupa on a Tuesday afternoon at about 4:30. We ordered chips, salsa and queso dip, as well as some margaritas. For my entrée, I chose the Armando’s Brothers Pizza ($13.50), which is less pizza, more quesadilla, and stuffed with so much meat—well-seasoned strips of beef and chicken and huge succulent shrimp—beans, cheese, peppers and onions. It also comes with sour cream and the best guacamole I’ve ever had. Ever.
My friend ordered the street tacos on flour tortillas—carne asada with cilantro and onion ($3.25), shrimp with avocado ($3.25), and carnitas pork with cilantro and onion ($3.75).
One boat fits all
Service was fast, and everything was well-prepared. The crowd was a little thin, but the regular dinner patrons started to trickle in around 5:30pm and the place was nearly full when we left. Families crowded around the large tables in the dining room, friends and co-workers sidled up to the bar to take advantage of the drink specials.
La Chalupa, only open since August, already has a loyal following. Their Facebook rating is a 4.4/5. One reviewer gave it five stars and said she’ll be a regular, thanks to the great food, drinks and atmosphere. If you’re looking for a vibrant place to catch up with visiting friends or family this season, this is a great choice.
6186 N. Summit St., Point Place. 11am-9pm Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday. facebook.com/LaChalupa43611,
419-726-0700.
