A taste of La Sandia Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar
by Liane Marette Davis
La Sandia Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar (la sandia meaning watermelon in Spanish), is the place to be with its dazzling décor and upbeat atmosphere.
Relax in the comfortable, colorful dining room or take the stairs to the spacious rooftop bar and patio. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and mesmerizing sunsets, all the while enjoying the modern Mexican menu created by chef Richard Sandoval and cooked to perfection by executive chef, Patrick Maxey.
When seated, if you are greeted by Jose (always with a smile), you are in for a treat. With a wealth of knowledge of the cuisine and especially the tequila, he makes your dining experience enjoyable and educational.
Start with their tasty generous portions of tableside guacamole, brought in a lava stone molcajete and their queso fundido, served bubbling hot in an iron skillet with tortillas. One can make a meal out of these two but you will not want to stop once you get started. For lunch try one of the lunch trios, served with Mexican rice and black beans. The tortilla soup is unlike any other with a creamy base and a bit of a kick. There are other delicious items on the menu as well, such as the shredded beef barbocoa burrito, green chili burrito or grilled skirt steak taco.
For an entrée, choose from one of the chef’s specials. The anchiote salmon is a favorite among guests, as well as the chicken zarape; pan roasted chicken breast served with a blend of bacon, cheese, chipotle sauce, rice and beans. The grilled chicken tacos, iron skillet fajitas, or enchiladas are satisfying choices as well. Just make sure you save room for dessert. You won’t want to miss the banana empanada or the melt-in-your-mouth morenita sundae. Or, a brownie covered with sweetness, cinnamon ice cream, chocolate sauce, cajeta sauce and topped with walnut brittle might be your choice. Enough said.
Happy hour is Monday thru Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., where sangrias and margaritas flow by the plentiful. Sip on beer, wine, or indulge in any of the more than 200 different tequilas or try one of their festive drinks. Be bold and go for the prickly pear-blueberry margarita or a michelada (beer on ice with lime juice and a salted rim). Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. From the happy hour menu, munch on the torta sliders, beef and chorizo empanada, tacos, chipotle BBQ pork ribs or nachos, ranging from $3 to $6.
La Sandia is located at 8419 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree (the Vistas at Park Meadows). Hours of operation are: lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner Sunday thru Thursday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information regarding the menu, upcoming events or hosting a private event, call 303-586-5511 or go to www.richardsandoval.com. 
