Pepito’s Sets a Broad Mexican Table
757 Harbor Blvd, Destin, 650-7734
Open daily @ 11am
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By Bruce Collier February 22, 2007 Issue

Pepito’s Mexican restaurant has a menu with so many items they have to use both numbers and the alphabet to designate everything. I counted up to number 59 and the letter “U.” Then there’s the un-numbered, unlettered stuff. Unless you’re one of the many regulars, or have a favorite dish, you need time to absorb your choices. Fortunately they take care of you while you work.

If there is a sit-down Mexican restaurant that doesn’t give you chips and salsa upon sitting, I have yet to find it. Pepito’s is no exception, though they do take the trouble to serve their chips warm. The salsa is on the mild side, but three bottles of hot sauce on the table allow for experimentation.

Pepito’s is a large place, with a main dining room, booths along the windows, and seating in the bar. The decor is what you’d expect in a Mexican restaurant seeking wide appeal. Service is polite and accommodating, with a generous waiter-to-table ratio.

The menu consists of appetizers, sides, combinations, chicken and vegetarian dishes, enchiladas, house specialties, platters, and a special seafood (mariscos) section. Prices vary, with the seafood menu occupying the higher end, but you can spend as little or as much as you like.

In addition to the complimentary salsa and chips, we ordered queso dip and guacamole. I wanted a chile rellenos, so we got one from the sides menu. The starters were all piping hot. The chile oozed melted cheese, had a nice spicy bite, and could be habit-forming. The guacamole had a good chunky-to-smooth balance, and tasted even better with a few drops of jalapeno sauce.

Moving on to the main course, we had our work cut out for us. My friend ordered one of the seafood specials, shrimp enchiladas with pico de gallo and rice. I chose machaca, shredded beef served with beans, rice and soft flour tortillas.

Mine came out slightly ahead of my friend’s, and had a small surprise. The beef was shredded, but mixed with scrambled egg, sort of like you’d find in fried rice. I’m not a fan of eggs, and I wish I’d known, but it separated easily enough. Still, you may want to inquire about any unlisted ingredients. The dish came with plenty of rice and beans, and a packet of warm tortillas that made tasty meat pockets and allowed us to get the last of the queso dip.

My friend’s enchiladas were especially good. They were overloaded with shrimp, onions, cheese, and tomatoes. On her request, the kitchen left out the bell peppers. She was hungry, but I ended up helping her finish.

As stated before, Pepito’s menu selection is enormous, so this is only a partial listing. Appetizers include assorted nachos, wings, and stuffed peppers. Among the sides are chili con carne, tacos, rice, refried beans, flautas, salads, burritos, and tamales. Chicken comes grilled, in salad, and in tacos, quesadillas and burritos. The platters and combinations offer numerous options, and I expect you could custom-order if you wanted. House specialties include fajitas, steak various ways, carne asada and pork carnitas. In the seafood section are grilled shrimp, fried whole fish, shrimp soup, seafood chimichangas, and seafood diablo, which as you’ve probably guessed is the hot stuff. There’s even mar y tierra, or surf-n-turf, with steak, chicken, fish and shrimp.

The menu lists three dessert items — flan, fried ice cream, and apple burrito. The waiter said they also had “coffee cake” and chocolate cake. We ordered the last two. The waiter brought out two hunks of what appeared to be the same cake. He told us they didn’t have the coffee cake, and said these were chocolate. Actually, they were more of a chocolate-Oreo-peanut butter ice cream cake. My friend didn’t care for hers, but I was in a mood for mine, which resembled a chocolate sundae with a cookie base.

On its own decision, the house took both desserts off our bill, apparently to compensate for our disappointment. We protested then let it go. One of the staff told us that the kitchen is in the process of adding some new menu items, including additional kinds of cake. If you’re curious, ask in advance and save room.

If you’re seeking what’s considered “traditional” Mexican restaurant fare, or a few more out-of-the-way dishes, you should travel toward Pepito’s. The staff and kitchen will meet you more than halfway.

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