Dishes displaying a botana (for one), with fajitas, enchiladas, Spanish rice, refried beans topped with queso, grilled onions and french friends; chips, salsa, and a torta stuffed with meat, veggies and beans are seen here at Pilo’s Mexican Café. (Staff photos by Heather Cathleen Cox)
By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
If you like plump, flavorful fajitas, and you haven’t visited Pilo’s Mexican Café in San Benito, you’re doing yourself a potential disservice.
Café owner Porfiro “Pilo” Hernandez hails from Matamoros, Mexico and spent over 40 years as a restaurateur in the Houston area before relocating to San Benito, to be closer to his mother.
In 2005, he purchased Pilo’s Mexican Café, which remains a family owned, friendly establishment. Pilo says he is happy to serve customers and greet them personally because he feels that personalizing interactions with clientele helps differentiate Pilo’s from other Mexican restaurants. Well, the personal service and the botana platters.
Pilo says, “Botanas are a crowd favorite. I think this is the original place for botanas,” he laughed, because he said his patrons just can’t get enough of Pilo’s botana platters, which can be purchased for one person, two people or a larger group.
There is something in Pilo’s special fajita marinade that makes the fajitas burst with flavor. And not just because I’m a “fajita girl.” Pilo’s strips of tender fajita are thick, juicy and decadent. When wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla and coated in the green chile (the hot, hot salsa), and complimented with the authentic-style Spanish rice and decadent frijoles refritos con queso fresco, the fajita lover finds a winning dish.
The botana for one is served also with a cheese enchilada, a few French fries and a big mess of grilled onions. The only trouble I foresee would be finishing the whole plate. I attempted but did not succeed.
From cooking to greeting customers, Pilo said he loves his customers and has customers who travel from McAllen just for the Pilo’s experience. As compared to running a restaurant in Houston, Pilo explained, “It’s a lot different here (in San Benito), more calm, less stress. The people are nice, and I have more time to get to know them.”
Pilo said, “I try to be here at the restaurant every day. If customers come in and don’t see me here, they notice it…a lot of people comment on the customer service.”
Due to the recession, Pilo said the café has seen at least somewhat of a financial hit. Fortunately, as Pilo pointed out, “The location (of Pilo’s) is great for a Mexican restaurant.”
Pilo’s also makes a delicious torta which is served in a plate-size piece of torta bread and coated in refried beans, stuffed with meat, lettuce, tomato, avocado, Mexican cheese and sautéed onions. According to Pilo, the dish is very well received by patrons.
Pilo’s menu prices are agreeable for even a tight budget, but if you are in the mood for a quick and satisfying lunch, you might want to try their lunch buffet, served hot and fresh Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s just $7.25 for all you care to eat, and I hear the flan is not only spectacular but also comes free with buffet purchase.
If you want breakfast, you’ll be sure to note that breakfast is served on Saturday and Sunday, with tacos starting at less than $2.00. Pilo says the menudo is a big seller for breakfast, as well as for lunch or dinner.
In addition to the real, Mexican-flavors offered at Pilo’s, the café specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine like chicken fried steak or hamburger steak, not to mention their seafood platters. With the recent cool front, foodies might even wish to try Pilo’s caldos, which are sure to hit the spot.
Since this is Texas and all, where everything’s reportedly bigger, Pilo’s Mexican Café caters specifically to a Texas-size appetite. “I think we’re the only ones (Mexican restaurant) who have a Texas menu,” said Pilo. A smile widened across his face as he discussed the Texas-sized options on their menu – from a taco to a quesadilla or burrito, if you’ve got a hunger the size of the Lone Star State, Pilo’s may just have the plate for you.
Trust Pilo’s to take care of your catering needs. Pilo said, “From weddings to anniversaries and quinceañeras or school events, we cater Valley-wide.”
Pilo’s Mexican Café has the following hours: Monday thru Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. thru 10 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. thru 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. thru 8 p.m. You can call ahead to place your to-go order at (956) 361-3380 or stop by 1100 U.S. 77 Business in San Benito during regular business hours. You can even find them on Facebook, just search “Pilo’s Mexican Café.”
When you do stop by and order the botana, be sure to tell them Heather sent you. So until we meet again, compadres, let’s keep it in good taste.
Read this story in the Dec. 12 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comment
Well I know they have been on the news many times (for high demerits) Food Patrol, and even the new restaurant he opened in the mall came out with high demerits, very scary hmmmm Matamoros.