Nonsolo

One look at the menu at Nonsolo and we were already expecting something pretty strange. What self-respecting Italian restaurant would put items such as Quiche del Giorno (Quiche of the Day), Insalata Vikinga (Viking [salmon] salad) or Pollo al Cordon Bleu (Chicken Cordon Bleu) on the menu? I mean, really!

The ambiance in this place was a bit depressing as well. The hostess wore jeans, the type that are purposely torn as to be badge stating, I have both tattoos and body piercings. She was friendly but didn’t really seem like she wanted to be where she was. The waiter was dressed about the same except for a plaid apron.

The bread, although stale, was served in a cheap, tin bucket.

I was certain the Cordon Bleu would be a disappointment so I figured I’d order the most basic of all Italian dishes I could find on the menu to see if they might just get that one right.

There it was. Smack dab in the middle of the pasta section. Spaghetti alla Bolognese. Out comes a bowl full of slightly undercooked and obviously not fresh pasta sitting in a soupy pale red sauce. It was obvious that either the pasta had not been drained properly or that the cook at accidently spilled his glass of water into the bowl. The texture of the Bolognese piled on top was a bit like baby food. It didn’t taste any better than it looked.

If ever there was proof that Google Reviews is a horrible source for determining where to dine out, this is it. This restaurant scored 4.5 stars? Huh? We were amused by a Tripadvisor consumer-reviewer that said it had good Italo-French cuisine. Huh? What the heck is Italo-French cuisine? We think MTorre of Mexico City summed it up accurately in his review stating, “This is a very informal place that serves “average to bad” pasta at a good price. Don’t expect any flavor or original ingredients. Be safe and order the lasagna.”

The only objection we have to that review is we don’t even think it would be safe to order the lasagna based on the spaghetti we received. True, the prices are pretty low. And the service was adequate. But bad food, even if free, is not a value.

Although this place hasn’t received rave reviews, it generally has received 4 stars or better on consumer review sites. That unfortunately is enough for us to add this one to our list of most overrated restaurants in Mexico City.