Espinos Mexican Bar and Grill

As the far west hinterlands of the Chesterfield Valley continue to expand, so does the restaurant scene out there. Fortunately, several independent restaurants have popped up as fast as the cookie-cutter chains. Espino's is one local Mexican restaurant that's a cut above the lettuce-cheese-sour-cream-laden crowd. A whole sea bass sautéed in white wine comes slathered with roasted garlic, cilantro and lime. The carne asada is tender skirt steak marinated and char-grilled to a smoky delight. There's Dos Equis Amber on tap and a short but pleasant all-Spanish wine list. Espino's doesn't claim to be "authentic," but it does strike a balance between regional Mexican cooking and Spanish and Southwestern influences while not selling out to the masses.