Same good service at El Pescador north; new dishes on the menu

The same good service you've come to know at Mariscos El Pescador's San Dario location is waiting for you at the company's new north Laredo restaurant. You'll also enjoy the pleasant ambiance and the big open spaces.

But what you'll really enjoy, in case you had a hankering for Mexican fare instead of seafood, are El Pescador's offerings of traditional dishes, which the MC's party of six thoroughly enjoyed.

The MC diners began with botanitas of Panchos and MexQuesitos. Enchiladas were the hit of the evening. The MC's party tried three of the four on the menu -- the Oaxaqueñas, Suizas, and the Marineras. The Oaxaqueñas are filled with chicken, covered in a mole poblano sauce, and topped with queso fresco panela. The chicken-filled Suizas featured a delectable salsa de tomatillo with cilantro and were topped with queso flameado. The Enchiladas Marinaera were a wonderful surprise of cooked mariscos mix in a mexicana sauce topped with queso flameado.

Two members of the MC's party tried the Tacos del Pueblo and the Camarones Ahogados, and we understand from another diner in the party that the Albondigas en Chipotle hit the spot for hot and delicious.

On the evening the MC dined there, Chef Gerardo Ugalde was the shaker and the mover in the kitchen. The plates were beautifully and amply served. Service staff kept the iced tea glasses filled and made sure the party lacked for nothing.

The MC spent about six minutes on hold on a call to Home Depot to find out if an item was in stock. It was in stock and in a walk through the store, the MC couldn't help but compare the store and the service to Lowe's. Though Home Depot may seem to have a more vast inventory, Lowe's is much easier to get around and the lighting is better. Nursery stock at Lowe's is better tended, and that part of the store is well staffed. As a whole, the Lowe's experience is far more pleasant that the Home Depot experience.

The MC is very appreciative of the check-out service at Office Depot, where a store manager kindly knocked a handsome sum off a discontinued Samsonite satchel.

The MC discovered great service in the shoe department at Academy.

The MC reports the same good service at Jiffy Lube. There are no surprises here, just consistently good service done right.

It's a little hard to surprise the MC, but surprise was part of a first-time visit to Dr. Amador Flores' office in the McPherson Medical Center . The MC was called exactly at the moment for which the appointment was set. The eye examination was thorough and educational. The selection of eyeglasses was very good and members of the doctor's staff were well-experienced and friendly.

Out of town guests reported an excellent weekday stay at La Posada and were full of praise for extra steps taken to ensure their special needs.