Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, Authentic Mexican Food in Lighthouse Point, Florida

Tucked away in a tiny strip mall on North Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point is the Garibaldi Mexian Restaurant. It's small, it sits only 64 people and it's cozy. The decor is charming. There are heavy carved wooden chairs, interesting artwork showing Dios de las Muertes, Zapata, and traditional Mexican scenes on the walls. In the middle of all this great looking Mexican decor there is a flat screen television on the back wall playing Spanish programs.You can sit outside at two tables for two but you would be sitting facing the parked cars and the parking lot with Federal Highway a few feet away. It's still a nice option if you're a pet owner who likes to bring their dogs to dinner. You can sit outside with them and still enjoy the food. If you're wheelchair bound this is a good place to sit. You can also access the restaurant, there is handicapped parking in the back and you come through an alley to reach the restaurant. Out front you would have to get over the curb to get in.

The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. for breakfast and offers lunch, dinners and take out. All the food is freshly prepared in the kitchen which looked sparkling and clean. They offer wine and beer. You can get imported beer for $3.98. Your selection includes Corona, Dos Equis, Negro Modela and more. Domestic beer is available for $2.98. You could also try the red or white Sangrias .

When we were there it was the middle of the week. There were two other tables that were occupied.

As soon as we sat down the waitress brought us our drinks and a basket of chips and salsa. The salsa was excellent. It was chunky, very fresh and not too spicey for me but spicey enough for my fire breathing husband.

For dinner I ordered Skirt Steak Fajitas. I received a huge portion and I ended up taking most of it home. The steak was very tasty and was covered in grilled onions. I also got sides of cheese, guacamole and sour cream with it. Hubby had the Mole Poblano, two pieces of chicken topped witih a delicious smokey dark mole sauce with rice and beans as sides. There are so many delicious selections. The couple at the other table had been coming regularly they said, and were working their way through the menu. They had nothing but good things to say about everything they had tried. We might start doing this as well.

There are many different dishes offered. You can get seafood like Camarones Enchiladas, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo, Pescada Veracruzana . This last one is catch of the day in wine, garlic and Veracruz sauce ($14.95). There are Chicken dishes, Chicken Quesadillas or Fajita. The Garibaldi Tamales have pulled chicken with pico de gallo, cheese, mole and raja all wrapped in a corn husk. That's only $7.99. You can get Tortillas, Tempequena, Chilequlles (fried tortilla strips in Mexican cheese sauce), Huge Burro Grandes, Garibaldi Tamales and more.The price range is very comfortable.

Lunch is served 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can get Chile Releno, a Burrito, Taco Salad, Carne Asada or Cheese Quesadilas.

On Saturday and Sunday only Garibaldi offers Menudo soup , a tradtional spicey soup with Tripe. You can get Pozola soup made with chicken or pork, Carnitas, Barbacoa or Calde de Rea. This is beef soup with beef short ribs and vegetables. All of these come wiih salsa and tostadas. Prices range from $7.99 to $10.99.

If you just want a sampler there is the Garibaldi sampler that offers Chicken fajitas, nachos, guacamole, sour cream, Pico de gallo and Chicken flautas. That is only $9.99. You can order this as an appetizer for a group or for your self. Other appetizers are Cheese nachos, Sopa de dia (soup of the day, see you can brush up on your high school Spanish), Tostadas, or Nachos and Carne Asada. All are very reasonably priced.

For dessert they have a very rich, thick Flan at $3.50 as well as Natilla (custard pudding), Aroz con Leche (rice pudding) and Gelatina de Sabor. You can also get a simple cheesecake. For $4.95 you can get Fried Ice cream. This is ice cream coated witih cornflake crumbs. I took the Flan home since I was so full from this huge meal.

I would highly recommend this restaurant if you want some real authenticity in your Mexican meal.