Rosita's: Cool For Kids, And A Hot Spot For Adults

Our guest reviewer today is Casey, who at age 6 1/2 is an experienced admirer of Mexican food. When we offered to take her to Rosita's near Green Lake she was enthusiastic. ``I like it; the whole place is delicious,'' Casey announced.

Apparently others share that opinion, for on a recent week night the attractive green and beige restaurant was alive with babies, toddlers, pre-teens and the obligatory adult or two. Apparently Rosita's, begun in 1979 by a family from Guadalajara, Mexico, takes its role as a family restaurant seriously.

Our two girls, plus Casey, each opted for one of the two $4.50 meals on the children's menu: an enchilada with refried beans or Spanish rice and Rosita's special celery and green-pepper laced cole slaw. The other kid choice is a taco with the same side dishes. For $4.75 Rosita's also offers a burger and fries.

The girls' dad chose the $6.50 burrito, a flour tortilla filled with beef and topped with red enchilada sauce and cheese. I had one of Rosita's three chicken specialties, the gallina en mole, $7.95, half a bird in velvety chocolate-laced sauce. Everything is made fresh from scratch.

It was quickly apparent that the service was terrific. Our waiter was very attentive, especially to the children, making sure that those who'd die instantly if sour cream touched their lips were rendered breathing by its absence. He also quickly delivered killer margaritas: $3 for 7.5 ounces, only 50 cents more for 15 ounces. Guess which one parents with a table of squirming kids usually order?

The food was fresh, nongreasy and appropriately spicy. In other words, negligible for the kids, moderate to hot for the adults. Only picky point was my half chicken. It had no wing, no breast. Suppose I got the half from the waist down?

No matter. As Casey and our girls decided, the place really is swell for families.

Restaurant: Rosita's Mexican Cuisine, 7210 Woodlawn Ave. N.E., Seattle. 523-3031.

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Fri: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat: noon-10:30 p.m.; Sun: 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Highchairs/booster chairs: yes.

Children's menu: for kids under 10.

Nonsmoking area: yes.

Beverages: full bar.

Taking the Kids appears the first and third Saturdays of each month. Seattle Times reviewers visit restaurants anonymously and unannounced. They pay for all food, beverages and service. When they interview restaurant personnel it is after meals have been appraised. They do not accept invitations to evaluate restaurants.