There's undoubtedly no better place for a fiesta than the vivacious Prickles, unashamedly more Tex than Mex and entirely entertaining (especially after a couple of tequilas). You can't miss the scrawny cactus outside the front door, and once inside there's Mexican music, sombreros and buffalo skulls, the walls playing host to brightly painted murals of dessert vistas full of prickly plant life and long blue skies.
This spiky saloon is certainly no place for the diet brigade, and loose fitting pants are recommended before tucking into the "great balls of fire" (crumbed balls of cream cheese, hot jalapenos and spices with dipping sauce). The seafood quesadilla of prawns and salmon sauteed in creamy tomato salsa is slightly less sinful but equally as tempting. Before you fill up on too much of the jalapeno and cheese bread, order up some spicy fare from the main menu, where in addition to chilli con carne, burrito and enchilada you’ll find Texas-style barbecued ribs, Mexican meatballs in red wine and tomato salsa with rice and sauteed vegetables, and salmon Veracruz (oven baked and topped with a salsa of tomato, capers, olives and jalapenos). For the little amigos there are pint-sized serves of nachos and ribs.
Fiona Davies
