Authentic Mexican fare at Round Lake's Blue Taco Bar anything but ordinary

In May, Carmen and Tommy Lawler bought a small bar and eight-table restaurant in Round Lake, right by the Metra station, and set about making a business they could be proud of. And as it turns out, they have. Their place, the Blue Taco Bar, has a full bar and a neighborhood bar atmosphere, but it also has a small menu of exceptionally prepared authentic Mexican food. At first, we were a bit turned off by the bar feel - loud TVs, several slot machines - but the service is great, the people are friendly, and the food is delicious.

For an appetizer, we had the queso fundido. We expected the typical cheese dip and tortilla chips, but we received something much better. The queso fundido arrives on a shallow platter, sizzling fresh from the oven, with a side of both flour and corn tortillas. You may be tempted to dive right in, but trust me - wait until the cheesy boiling slows down. At that point, the bottom will have caramelized just a bit and become a crispy, tangy treat. Also, because the queso fundido is not a dip, rather a skillet of perfectly stretchy cheese, make sure to use a fork and knife; it's much easier that way.

Our entrees were the cheese flautas, a carnita taco and an el pastor taco. The cheese flautas are an excellent option for vegetarians who typically have a difficult time finding meat-free dishes at local Mexican restaurants. Four flautas come in an order, served with Mexican rice, a salad with jalapeños, refried beans, avocado and a sprinkling of cheese on top. I would recommend not getting both the fundido and the cheese flautas in one sitting; the cheese is the same and it can be an overload. But the flautas were delicious, fried nice and crisp with warm, stringy cheese inside. The rice was great as well, flavorful but not spicy. Unfortunately the refried beans lacked flavor. A bit of seasoning could go a long way.

The carnita and el pastor tacos were a hit as well, with flavorful meat cooked properly and fresh toppings that were still crisp. The tacos come on corn tortillas that seemed to be homemade, and made well. They didn't fall apart and had a great flavor. Blue Taco Bar served our tacos American-style, with lettuce, tomato and cheese, plus onion, cilantro and lime; keep in mind that if you'd rather have traditional-style, you should ask.

For dessert, we had the la conchita. We weren't quite sure what to expect; the menu describes it as a Mexican concha filled with ice cream and fudge. But we had no idea what a concha is. Turns out, it's a big fluffy piece of sweet bread with a crunchy topping. And when you cut it open, fill it with ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream like la conchita, it's even better. I highly recommend this dessert.

Overall, though Blue Taco Bar has a bit of a rough first impression, I will definitely be going back for the excellent food. Besides, I have to try the flan!

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Blue Taco Bar

304 N. Cedar Lake Road, Round Lake, (847) 886-7510, thebluetacobar.com

Cuisine: Mexican

Atmosphere: Casual

Entrees: $7-$15; tacos $2.50 each

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, kitchen closes at 10 p.m.; closed Mondays

• Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.