My wife and I are connoisseurs of Mexican food and the last place we would have expected to find an authentic Mexican restaurant would be Macon, GA. El Sombrero, however, is exactly that.
The restaurant is decorated, like most Mexican restaurants, with posters of peppers, advertisements for Mexican beer and, of course, the namesake sombreros hanging from the ceiling.
Immediately after you sit down, the friendly and engaging wait staff are at your table with a fresh bowl of salsa and hot chips. They make both mild and spicy salsa here fresh daily, and I would recommend trying them both as they are quite excellent and extremely flavorful.
On one of our first visits to this restaurant we asked about the house specialties and were pointed towards an appetizer called, very simply, "white cheese dip." It's a thick blend of melted Mexican white cheeses (the exact varieties are a secret recipe) and assorted spices that make for a fantastic and, if you're not careful, very filling appetizer.
All the entrees that we have tried here have been excellent--and it's hard to picking just one. Their menu is six-pages long and loaded with specialties like beef nachos, fajitas, chili rellenos, tacos, enchiladas, and all the other traditional favorites. I recommend trying a combination plate to sample different styles and flavors of Mexican food. My favorite combination has a chili relleno (a deep fried pepper stuffed with ground beef and white cheese), a burrito (which they cover in a red sauce that I've yet to match anywhere else) and a taco (loaded with so much ground beef and shredded white cheese, you'll be lucky to keep it all in the shell). Their fajitas are also excellent and a single order is plenty for a two people; they arrive sizzling at your table and smell so wonderful that they'll turn the heads of everyone sitting near you.
If you're not full yet, take a look at the dessert menu. I'm a fan of their fried ice cream, which they serve in a crispy, cinnamon-covered edible bowl (think a scoop of ice cream covered in corn flakes and dropped for a brief second into hot oil), covered with hot fudge, and topped with cherries. It is a delicacy and a delight that I look forward to on every trip through Macon.
The most wonderful aspect of visiting El Sombrero is that you can have a fantastic authentic Mexican meal complete with appetizer and dessert for about $10 per person. Not only will you leave with a smile on your face, but you won't overburden your wallet either. Enjoy!