New Mexican restaurant opens in Wright Food Court

Sure, the quesadillas looked good. But looks aren't everything. In fact, for sophomore Lizzy Grady, the aroma of nacho cheese seemed to carry the most appeal.\n"It smells so good," Grady said.\nSimilar smells highlighted Monday's opening of The Mexican Connection, the newest addition to the Wright Food Court, and helped draw plenty of hungry customers.\nGrady helped work opening day of the restaurant alongside fellow employees sophomore Megan Singel and freshman Ashley Boone, while assistant manager Jerry Russell watched over the project with satisfaction. \nThe Mexican Connection will continue for the rest of the semester as a test-run and may eventually hold a permanent spot among The Wright Place, which already boasts restaurants specializing in Italian, Chinese and American cuisine.\n"We're still in the experimental stage here," Russell said. "But it's been doing very well so far." \nThe chicken chimichanga is the most expensive item offered at a mere $3.69, and reasonable pricing is considered only a minor advantage by restaurant employees. \nThe limited size of the restaurant has been countered by a prime location in Wright, making it a very efficient use of space. Stationed almost adjacent to the entrance of the food court itself, it's the only restaurant every customer must pass when they come to eat.\nAnd the tiny restaurant offers nearly as many different choices as the larger restaurants around it. \n"It may be a small area, but there's a lot of variety there," Russell said.\nGrady said the restaurant's most appealing aspect is the options it offers, as it gives students a wide variety of meal choices with a daily changing menu, consisting of everything from tacos and nachos to spicy fajitas and chimichangas. \nBut when the employees were asked of their personal favorite item, there was hardly a pause to think before all three shouted the same response -- "enchiladas."\nCustomer response seemed to share the enthusiasm, though student reaction was not all positive.\nSophomore Tom Cummins said he didn't consider the food new and exciting, as he thought it tasted similar to the former taco bar ingredients.\n"I'll probably never eat there again," he said.\nOthers seemed more anxious to try something new, and for them, The Mexican Connection was just what they needed. Freshman Kambra Gunn couldn't resist the appeal of a new place to eat and was satisfied with her fajita. \n"It's always nice to try something different," Gunn said. "I just wish they would have started it sooner."\nSandy Porter, manager of the Wright Food Court said she hopes students will try The Mexican Connection for its new and different appeal.\n"This time of year, anything is fun," Porter said. "This is a positive alternative to other food choices."\nThe Mexican Connection is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday with daily menus posted at the food court entrance.\n-- Contact staff writer Russell Puntenney at rpuntenn@indiana.edu.