A Rebirth

The Lamadrid family bring Mexico back to Moscow.

For five years, Annette and Arturo Lamadrid co-owned, with two other business partners, San Miguel’s Family Mexican Restaurant on Main Street in Moscow, but in June of last year, San Miguel’s closed its doors, taking with it some of the Palouse’s finest Mexican fare. The Lamadrids have worked in the restaurant business for nearly two decades, and the talented restaurateurs weren’t done doing what they know best.

So, in November of 2011, they opened Lamadrid Mexican Restaurant and Tapas Bar in Moscow’s Eastside Marketplace.

“Both sides of the partnership were ready to move on,” says Annette Lamadrid about the closing of San Miguel’s. The menu the restaurant offered also played a role.

“My husband, for the longest time, wanted to be able to be more creative with his food,” she says.

For dinner, I ordered the chile relleno ($9.75).

The lightly charred poblano chile was stuffed with with our Entrèe newsletter. Visit Inlander.com/newsletter to sign up.

gooey Monterey Jack cheese and tender chicken, egg-battered, and covered in a mild tomato sauce, sour cream, and queso fresco, then served with generous portions of refried beans and rice. While I ate, my guest noshed on the Poblano’s Plate ($11), a delicious blending of poblano peppers, potatoes and spinach in a creamy sauce with Parmesan cheese and a variety of Mexican seasonings.

Most entrees fall between $10 and $20, and based on our plates, you get more than you pay for at this eatery, both in terms of quality and quantity.

The restaurant also offers weekday $6 lunch specials and a daily happy hour for both food and drink from a full bar. Every Wednesday they serve two-for-one margaritas, with patrons receiving a token for their second drink, which can be used during a later visit. The tapas — such as tuna salad bites ($5), ceviche of tilapia ($6), fried chicken tacos ($6) and tinga tostadas ($5) — are all tantalizing and reasonably priced.

“[Arturo] tries to incorporate more traditional flavors and more traditional dishes,” says Lamadrid of her husband. She adds that Arturo also has a great imagination when it comes to food.

“Our customers are confident in his style of cooking. They feel like whatever they order off the menu they’re going to like it.”

Lamadrid Mexican Restaurant and Tapas Bar • 1420 S. Blaine Street, Moscow • Open Mon- Sat 11 am–10 pm; Sun 11 am–9 pm (208-882- 9226)