I was headed to Lake Mary for a lunch meeting – different from a lunchmeating – and decided on Mr. Chuy Taqueria & Cantina on Lake Mary Boulevard.

Mr. Chuy – not to be confused with Chuy’s, the chain restaurant; no relation – occupies the space that previously was Grato, the Italian restaurant that had also opened a location on Park Avenue in Winter Park. Both Gratos (Grati?) are closed.

Mr. Chuy’s menu features the usual array of Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, and most of the food is executed adequately.

My guest and I started with the “homemade” tamales, one each of the pork and chicken. They were plump and well filled with meats. The pork was sauced with red salsa and the chicken green.

My companion had the carne asada, pictured at top, which had nicely grilled ribeye steak accompanied by a roasted jalapeño, guacamole and pico de gallo, roasted corn, and rice and refried beans, with warm tortillas to wrap it all in. A nice bargain for $15 on the lunch menu.

I went for the create your own combo option, choosing a chicken enchilada and a ground beef taco. I liked the enchilada, especially the piquant sauce, but I would have preferred the taco is a soft corn tortilla rather than the hard shell. This also came with rice and beans and was filling at $13.

Our server was more than pleasant, and all the staff greeted us and thanked us when we left.

Mr. Chuy Taqueria & Cantina is at 3801 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary (map). There is another at 1635 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando. It is open for lunch and dinner daily. The phone number is 321-363-1252.