Queens Tribune

Iguana’s Mexican Grill
179-11 Union Tpke.,
Fresh Meadows
(718) 969-5447
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: Mon.-Thur. noon to 10 p.m., Fri. noon to 11 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bar open late.
Parking: Street
Credit Cards: No
Delivery: No

Complete with a real live lizard, Iguana’s Mexican Grill on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows is a Mexican haven. Both a bar and a sit-down restaurant, the place offers hearty Mexican cuisine and colorful, fun drinks – and more than 1,400 different types of tequila – at very reasonable prices, considering the huge portion sizes.

My guest and I visited Iguana’s for an early dinner on a recent Tuesday. Though we were the only ones eating there at that time — it was 4 p.m. after all — the atmosphere made up for the emptiness. With its many colorful paintings and decorations hanging from the ceiling, the place just screams fiesta. I could only picture how packed and lively it must get on nights and weekends.

My guest and I sat in the side room reserved for sit-down drinks and meals. This is a good option if you wish to be away from the bar, which emanates fluorescent blue light – perhaps a little too much stimulation for a late afternoon meal.

We immediately felt at home and cozy, and our server, Eddie, who was extremely attentive during our entire meal, started us off with tortilla chips and fresh salsa served in a huge margarita glass. The salsa had juicy tomato chunks and was fresh and tangy.

Iguana’s offers an impressive variety of appetizers including guacamole, empanadas, which are patties stuffed with meat or cheese, and grilled flautas, a flour tortilla rolled up with filling.

We decided to be a little redundant and order the baked bean and cheese dip served with tortilla chips to start us off. This was by far our favorite part of the meal. The beans were smooth and creamy and were covered with warm melted cheese. We couldn’t help but finish two baskets of tortilla chips, and there was more than enough dip to accommodate us.

For our main course we went the chicken route – I ordered the chicken enchilada and my guest ordered the tortilla encrusted chicken. Even though my guest’s initial reaction to my dish was “Is that a pizza?” I thought it was fantastic. Covered in cheese and stuffed with a generous portion of chicken, you can’t go wrong with the enchilada, which was recommended to us by Eddie. He also suggested the Arroz del Rey with grilled chicken, Mexican sausage and sliced grilled steak buried in Mexican rice and served with black beans and plantains.

The tortilla encrusted chicken was also to my guest’s
liking. The crispy chicken was served over yellow rice and came with tostones, fried green plantain.
Though we weren’t able to finish even half of our meals – perhaps we were stuffed from all the tortilla chips and dip – we certainly know what we’ll be reheating for dinner for the next several nights. And for $16 and $17 for my entrée and hers, respectively, it’s a great deal.
Even though we were full, we couldn’t leave without at least sampling some dessert. We ordered the flan, which was drizzled in chocolate sauce and whipped cream with sprinkles. What a way to cap off a meal.

If a hearty Mexican meal and perhaps a few drinks at lively place is what you’re looking for, than look no further than Iguana’s.