I tried Elon Musk's favorite Mexican restaurant in Austin to see what the big deal was. I left impressed and feeling like an A-lister.
Fonda San Miguel is still housed in the same building Gilliland and Ravago found in 1975.Gilliland told Insider the pair moved Fonda San Miguel from its original location in Houston to Austin after stumbling upon the abandoned building that once housed another restaurant.Katherine Stinson/Business Insider
Gilliland said he and Ravago met while attending a foreign trade school in Phoenix, Arizona, and Ravago's family essentially adopted him.The authentic Mexican cuisine that Ravago's grandmother cooked is what inspired Gilliland. Ravago, the restaurant's namesake, has since died.I arrived about 20 minutes before the restaurant opened at 5 p.m. on a Wednesday. I was surprised guests were allowed inside before opening, but it added to the restaurant's cozy atmosphere.
The two front-of-house hostesses told me I was welcome to sit anywhere in the atrium. The atrium had bar seating for walk-ins who still wanted to enjoy the full menu.The two hostesses warned me to grab a spot quickly before the restaurant opened. The moment 5 p.m. hit, guests started to flood in.Don't be fooled by how small Fonda San Miguel appears on the outside: The restaurant interior is spacious and filled with multiple dining rooms for guests.The restaurant was packed within 10 minutes.
Service was incredibly fast. Soon after I sat down, I was provided free chips and salsa as a starter.Gilliland said this is an Americanized tradition and not standard in Mexican restaurants — it was the only compromise he made when attempting to keep Fonda San Miguel as authentic as possible based on customer feedback.Musk ordered the house frozen margarita in the Financial Times article . Since it was happy hour when I arrived, every tequila-based drink was $1 off.
The Silver Coin tasted like tart alcoholic watermelon juice. I preferred the traditional house margarita, which was a bit sweeter.I was intrigued by the Silver Coin, a watermelon-based tequila margarita served straight up, so I ordered one for comparison. I preferred Musk's drink of choice.For an appetizer, I tried one of the dishes Musk ordered: the Cordero lamb chops, which cost $24.95.
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