By Patrick Greenwell
Around the University of Louisville one can find a McDonald’s, a Wendy’s, a Subway, no less than three pizza restaurants, and both Chinese and Mongolian cuisine, all within walking distance. Bizarrely, until last year, if a student wanted to walk to a Mexican restaurant, the only option would have been Taco Bell.
Conveniently located on South Fourth Street, across the street from Kurz Hall, Bazo’s Fresh Mexican Grill provides a much needed second option for students living on campus.
Bazo’s operates on the same fast casual concept as Qdoba, offering a substantial array of made-to-order burritos, tacos and salads. Avoiding the assembly line presentation of similar restaurants, Bazo’s service is very fast, so there is minimum amount of waiting for one’s meal. Pricewise, Bazo’s is actually a bit cheaper than Qdoba, with the most expensive items on the menu being the three taco combo and the burrito combo, coming in at only $6.99. Most items are under $6, which makes this an excellent choice to fit any student’s budget.
Bazo’s is most known for its fish tacos, featuring fried white fish, salsa fresca and, for added health value, cabbage. Individually, a fish taco runs $2.59 – 10 cents more if you want grilled fish. Of course, fish is also an option in the three taco combo, but at an extra 10 cents per taco.
The burrito especial is also a good choice, and more in line with other standard fast casual Mexican options. While not as large a burrito as you might find at Qdoba, it is a substantial meal. The additional salsa fresca and chipotle sauce combination gives it a unique flavor unlike most of its competitors. If a burrito alone does not seem like enough, for only $1.49 more, you can have any burrito on the menu served ranchero style, which includes chips, melted cheese and ranchero sauce.
In terms of beverages, Bazo’s offers Jarritos, a brand of Mexican soda that is less carbonated than most sodas found in the United States. They come in a number of fruit flavors, all of which are quite good and offer a unique experience unavailable at most restaurants.
Cheap, close to campus and tasty, Bazo’s is an excellent choice for any student, but especially those living on campus looking for a true Mexican option.
