El Rodeo Makes Lunch a Colorful Mexican Feast

A plate can begin with thick corn tortilla chips and fresh salsa, then take any number of directions at El Rodeo: a buffet taco, a helping of carnitas, a bubbling fajita platter, or an enchilada covered in queso. The restaurant brings plenty of choice to a casual Mexican meal without making lunch feel complicated.

On Steltzer Road in the Giant Eagle shopping center between the airport and Easton, El Rodeo has the useful flexibility of a place that can handle a quick solo lunch, a family dinner, a coworker gathering, or a bigger table that wants to linger over margaritas. There is a bar, booths and other indoor seating, plus a patio when dining outdoors sounds better.

The lunch buffet is a major reason to stop in. Its spread includes tacos, fajitas, carnitas, vegetables and other hot Mexican dishes, giving diners the pleasant problem of deciding how much can reasonably fit on one plate.

The food is kept hot and well seasoned, with enough variety to avoid the sense that a buffet is simply a fast route to the same old lunch. Carnitas have been a particularly strong choice, and homemade tortillas add a welcome extra to the taco-and-fajita lineup.

The buffet has been offered in an 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. window. Hours and buffet availability can change, so it is worth confirming the current schedule before heading over.

The regular menu is broad enough that skipping the buffet is hardly a consolation prize. Fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tamales, chimichangas and combination plates cover the familiar Mexican restaurant favorites, with plenty of room to order exactly what sounds good that day.

A build-your-own burrito is a good example of the menu's more customizable side. It can be filled with chicken and assorted toppings, then finished with cheese sauce; the chicken has been noted for staying moist and flavorful.

There are also street tacos, Hawaiian tacos, hard tacos, a California quesadilla, chicken flautas, chicken enchiladas and chicken chimichangas. Steak fajitas arrive with toasted tomatoes, a small detail that gives the sizzling platter a little more character.

The Ramon combination plate is built for the diner who does not want to commit to just one thing. Depending on the selection, it can bring together a ground-beef enchilada, chicken enchilada, chicken flautas or taquitos, a thin-shell taco and garlicky rice. Queso on the enchiladas makes it an especially full plate.

Shrimp ceviche with sliced avocado offers a cooler counterpoint to the hot platters. The menu also includes a salad bar and a sizable vegetarian selection, with vegetarian dishes or sections identified on the menu. That range makes ordering easier when one table includes meat eaters, vegetarians and people with very different appetites.

The chips and salsa deserve their own moment. The chips are on the thicker side, made from corn tortillas, and the salsa is fresh enough to keep hands returning to the basket while everyone decides on an entrée.

Fresh guacamole is another easy starter for the table. Margaritas come in multiple flavors, giving the bar menu a festive option for a leisurely lunch or casual evening meal.

Inside, the dining room is clean and comfortable, dressed with colorful Mexican-style accents rather than a stripped-down modern look. The atmosphere can work for an easy conversation over lunch, but it also has enough energy for groups and family tables.

Outside, the patio has numerous umbrella-covered tables. One portion overlooks a lake, a nice bonus when a meal calls for fresh air and a little more room around the table. The patio setup and availability can vary with the season.

El Rodeo has a few playful touches beyond the plates and drinks. A selfie wall gives groups a spot for a quick picture, while several televisions make the room useful for diners keeping an eye on a game.

Birthday tables have had fried ice cream arrive with a sparkler candle and a sung greeting. It is the sort of cheerful flourish that suits a family celebration without requiring the whole meal to become a formal occasion.

Service moves at a friendly, attentive pace, which matters when some diners are studying the menu and others have already spotted the buffet. Lunch guests can choose between the buffet and ordering from the menu, and staff may offer a look at the buffet before that decision is made.

Free parking is available in the restaurant lot, and reservations are generally not necessary for a typical meal. For gluten-free needs or other dietary restrictions, discuss requirements directly with the restaurant in advance rather than assuming a particular dish or preparation will be suitable.