Fred's Mexican Cafe in Old Town San Diego

One Saturday night, I was contemplating on where to go with my 3-year-old daughter. Girls' night out in Old Town San Diego sounded just right because the area has one of the best candy shops. Walking up and down San Diego Avenue, I heard great music and sensed a family-friendly vibe coming out of Fred's Mexican Cafe. The wait seemed fairly short compared to the other busy restaurants. There was also a woman preparing handmade tortillas for passersby to watch.

At that point, I didn't even have to go up to the hostess. She saw right away that I was eager to try them out and asked how many people were in my party. Fifteen minutes passed and we were on our way to the table. She even kept my stroller by the entrance so I wouldn't have to carry it all the way to the table.

As soon as we sat down at the table, we were greeted with free tortilla chips and salsa. The chips were seasoned with what appeared to be chili pepper and salt (the salsa wasn't even needed). I did try the salsa, but it wasn't very palatable.

There was much to choose from on the menu, but I was in the mood for some shrimp. When the waitress came to take my order, I asked for the cajun shrimp taco and cheese quesadilla for my daughter. Both meals came with rice, beans and colorful tortilla chips representing the Mexican flag (red and green). The service was very quick, and my daughter was already entertained by the flower cut-outs hanging all over the restaurant and the crayons that came with her menu.

Our entrees were placed on our table and were ready to be devoured. The first bite of my cajun shrimp taco was delicious! The shrimp was perfectly seasoned, and you can't go wrong with any of their tacos. The freshly made tortillas were made to perfection - soft, warm and chewy. My daughter's cheese quesadillas weren't bad either. I ate her leftovers later that night. Ha ha! The rice and beans that were served with my meal weren't very good. I don't particularly like carrots in my rice, but the rice itself was OK. The black beans looked dried out, but frankly, I'm not a big fan of beans!

All in all, it was a very pleasurable experience for me and my daughter. I didn't have their Margaritas, but it looked very popular from looking at other tables. They are also pet-friendly on Mondays after 6 p.m., which I think is a fun idea! They call it Doggie Date Night. You bring your dog dressed up and they will get a free doggie meal on their patio. Woof! Woof!