By Melissa Trenary
Baja Billy’s Restaurant and Cantina located at Bronco Billy’s Casino is the only place in Cripple Creek to enjoy an all Mexican fare, and they do it up right.
Every dining experience starts off with a generous portion of tortilla chips, hot and mild salsas, and refried beans. Its a good thing too, because it will take you some time to decide what to order from the extensive menu.
Baja Billy's Restuarant and antina in Cripple Creek offers premier South of the Border dining in a warm cantina setting. Photo courtesy of Baja Billy's.
For starters, Baja Billy’s offers a variety of appetizers from guacamole and chips to taquitos or ceviche de camarones, a dish of lime marinated shrimp, tomatoes, onions, sliced avocados and cilantro. If you have a hard time deciding, order up the appetizer combo with bean and cheese nachos, a chicken flauta, a cheese quesadilla, and a chicken taquito. I chose the flautas, three crispy flour tortillas filled with flavorfully seasoned shredded chicken and served with pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce. Definitely an appetizer meant to share.
Moving on to the main course, the choices are nearly endless. Those that lean toward a burrito have seven different variations to decide from. Enchilada fans can enjoy the delicacy topped with traditional enchilada sauce, a creamy ranchero sauce or green salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Also available is a seafood enchilada stuffed with shrimp and crab and smothered with cheese and a creamy habanera sauce.
If you are one of those who like to build your own meal, try the sizzling hot fajitas. Choose from beef, chicken, shrimp or a combination. All are served with Pico de Gallo, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and choice of corn or flour tortillas. Each is wonderfully seasoned with a mild mix of spicy seasonings.
There are several wonderful specialty dishes to choose from including a pollo rellano – a chicken breast stuffed with shrimp, poblano pepper strips, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and topped with a creamy ranchero sauce.
Baja’s also offers up more non-traditional south of the border dishes like fish tacos, seafood chimichangas and Enchiladas, Tilapia sautéed in garlic and topped with mushrooms, or shrimp and mushrooms in a creamy ranchero sauce. Those who prefer not to eat meat can pick the vegetarian taco salad, veggie burrito, or veggie fajitas.
Most of the entrees are served with Pico de Gallo, choice of beans, sour cream and guacamole. These items can be added to any order for a mere dollar more. You can also order up a side of Enchilada, Ranchero, habanera or chipotle sauce for a dollar.
Generous portions, wonderful Mexican food at reasonable prices, and a Cantina atmosphere combine to make Baja Billy’s a premier dining experience. The average appetizer price is $8 and the average entree price is $12.
Baja Billy’s is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, visit www.broncobillyscasino.com or call toll-free: 877-989-2142 or 719-689-2142.
