Neighborhood Mexican fare

The menu tells us the guacamole en molcajete ($7.75) — molcajete is a stone implement used to mash the avocado — will be prepared at our table, though that’s only partly true. The avocado has already been mashed and seasoned, and our waitress adds cilantro, onions, tomatoes. She leaves the small bowl of jalapenos on the side, as requested. One complaint: La Posada is skimpy with its homemade tortilla chips, both the complimentary bowl served with salsa at the start of the meal and the accompaniment to guacamole.

One of the most expensive things on this budget-priced menu is carne asada ($12.95), steak rubbed with spices before it is grilled. The meat, though a bit tough along the edges, is a salty feast, topped with a cheese enchilada. Callitos (pictured, $11.95), scallops sauteed with mushrooms and tomatoes, arrive with a caramelized crust. Chile verde ($7.95) is our favorite burrito, braised beef and caramelized onions with an earthy poblano pepper sauce. Enchiladas en tomate ($8.95) comes from an old family recipe, corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken and topped with a tomato and jalapeno sauce.

La Posada has no liquor license, but the restaurant serves interesting nonalcoholic drinks, including aqua frescas, or cold, sweet drinks. We love horchata ($2), made from rice and sugar, sweet enough but not treacly. Tres leches cake ($3.95), however, is very sweet, and happily so, the most sought-after dessert at our table one night. Flan ($3.95) is also quite good, though it seems amiss served atop a square of chocolate cake. Why mess with the simple beauty of an authentic sweet custard?