Al Fresco diner offers Edinburg a fresh take on fusion cuisines

The menu for Al Fresco features about 15 items, plus some sides. It’s two pages long. Occasionally the restaurant, located within walking distance of the Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg, offers a daily special.

But for the most part, owner and head chef Marco J. Davila sticks to the offerings he has perfected through his culinary career, which includes time spent as a chef working at hotels and catering companies in Austin.

“Instead of having a lot of items that are OK, I want a small menu that’s really, really good,” Davila says.

What he has developed is a mixture of the food he has created, made on the job or learned to do in school. He has culled items from every place he ever worked and from his time at the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin. Davila trained in Austin, but he’s a native of Edinburg, graduating Edinburg High in 1995.

Some of the highlights of his menu include the fish tacos, which aren’t fried and use a mixture of ingredients that really ignite the taste. They come with fresh fish, roma tomatoes, red onion and house lemon cilantro ranch dressing.

The Al Fresco Burger and the Chicken Salad Sandwich are also popular among the steady lunchtime clientele that frequent the eatery. The real star of the menu, however, is the jalapeno cream cheese corn bread.

Davila has always enjoyed corn bread. One day he was experimenting with some ingredients he had on hand, which just happened to be jalapeños and cream cheese. The mixture worked – really, really well.

Served warm, the jalapeño cream cheese corn bread is a unique concoction with a spicy kick.

Al Fresco is normally only open for lunch, but Davila readily admits it’s box lunch and catering orders that keep him in business.

He also does special events, including an upcoming four-course Valentine’s Day dinner. Prices vary, and selections range from beef tenderloin to rosemary chicken breast, all with soup, salad and dessert. Call now for reservations at (956) 414-6211.

Al Fresco

219 E. Cano St., Edinburg

(956) 414-6211

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AlFrescos

CUISINE: American

TRY: Jalapeno cream cheese corn bread $3.25