Two-minute Review: El Maguey

El Maguey is the well-lit Mexican behemoth of a restaurant housed on the corner of Chestnut Expressway and Glenstone Avenue, where several restaurants (Trotter's, Corky's) have gone to die. However, El Maguey (631 N. Glenstone Ave., 417-865-1453) has things going for it that might give it staying power despite its location. 

Inside, one finds a loud, proud Mexican joint: loud greens and reds, leather chairs and Bud Light posters extolling soccer with upside-down exclamation points. The ambience is nice, especially when compared to the faux-ethnic drabness of Springfield's most popular Mexican chain (ahem).

Aside from the atmosphere, the dish I tried, Guadalajara Sample, lived up to its name: a bit of every Mexican restaurant staple-taco, taquito, burrito, tamale and rice in one ginormous dish. The salsa was fresh and heavy on cilantro; a spice which, when quality, is sublime. While the food didn't blow me away, there was tons of the stuff that was actually cooked, not dropped from freezer to fryer.

The thing to know about El Maguey is that they have $2 margaritas every day of the week. Strong ones, too. It wasn't on the menu, so I asked if this was just a Tuesday thing. Nope. It's proving popular, so it's an everyday thing now.

El Maguey is a decent Mexican restaurant, and they make earnestly good food. But you can't beat drink specials like that a stone's throw from the colleges, and ultimately, that's what the people will come for.