We also tried nopales, which featured the paddle cactus common in the cuisine of desert inhabitants. The cactus is tossed in lime dressing with peppers, onions and tomatoes, and served on a bed of lettuce. It's a tangy and tart salad big enough for two at $6.95.
Lightly sweetened homemade fruit drinks -- mango, hibiscus, or lime -- are sold along with sodas imported from Mexico. Beer, wine and margaritas are not on the menu at Ay! Caramba, but you're welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages.
Ay! Caramba's serve-yourself salsa bar features a smooth red hot chili salsa, a chunky medium-hot blend of tomatoes, onions and cilantro, and a puréed mild green chili salsa.
Adding to the casual feel are paper plates (the heavy-duty kind), a small outdoor seating area, and the come-as-you-are patrons. The wait staff are very friendly, and if you get the urge to speak Spanish, they'll reply expertly.
When we showed up for lunch recently wearing tees and jeans, we were right at home with the mix of clientele: folks on break from work; young, cool urban-types with pricey sunglasses; and serious thinkers taking notes on the life around them.
Conversation was humming throughout the two dining rooms. But when the food was served, the volume dropped as everyone focused on the authentic bounty they were about to receive.
Good heavens! -- Ay! Caramba is the real deal