Snapper Jack's Taco Shack

Snapper Jack's Taco Schack

No chips.

I've been to 'Mexican' places that charge extra for chips, but I try to avoid them. But this was a bit odd. 

My older daughter and I were hungry, and decided on tacos for a quick, light, post practice dinner, and I didn't feel like driving to the Avenues, which were clear across town from where we were. I figured Snapper Jack's would be okay.

I've eaten at Snapper Jack's before. Now that I'm thinking about it, I've been eating there since the place opened, but I just don't go in that often. It's located across the street from Ventura College, in the old Mound School building. It's got all kinds of surf paraphernalia, with the idea of being a 60's surf shack, an idea that not surprisingly appeals to me. They make white Mexican food, along the lines of Baja Fresh or Rubio's, and in the past, I remember it being okay. Not great, but okay. I do have a few white friends that swear by the place, though.

What I do like about them is the rather extensive salsa bar. Again, it's white people salsa, not particularly spicey or hot, but tasty. They've been voted "Best Salsa" (and also "Best Fish Tacos") in the VC Star, and walking in, I was looking forward to having several salsa types on my chips. 

So I ordered a steak quesadilla, and my daughter ordered a chicken taco kid's plate, which had rice and beans, small drink and cinnamon chips. I had a small soda, too, which came out to just under $16. The order came out of the clean kitchen quickly, and when I got it, I noticed two things. First and most important, we didn't get any chips. Second, they gave us only one napkin.

Over next to the salsa was a big stack of napkins, so that was no big deal, but I had already gotten six different salsa for our chips. I figured I'd better get some, so back to the counter I went.

The same kid who took my order a few minutes before was still there, tall, skinny, with glasses, who again asked me what I would like.

"Chips."

"For here or to go?" An interesting question, I thought, since I'd ordered just a few minutes before. And I didn't recall their chips being anything special. I couldn't imagine that they had many people coming in and saying they wanted chips to go. 

"Here," I said a second time. "I'd like to have some with my meal." 

He took my money, and handed me a receipt. "Number 48."

I was too surprised to say anything. To his right was a large tray of chips, and there was another large tray directly behind him. Stunned, I took the number back to my seat.

My daughter looked at the receipt and asked where the chips were. I explained that clearly the ordering of chips was complicated, and perhaps a bit beyond the register operator, who passed that sort of thing on to the kitchen staff. My daughter looked over at the large tray of chips behind the register, and then gave me a look that only a 12 year old girl can give.

I shrugged. Normally, I would have taken pictures of our food at this point, but I was still a surprised about the chips, and so started to eat. For the record, my quesadilla was a bit small, but did have a huge helping of guacamole and sour cream on top, and wasn't bad. My daughter said her taco was good, as were her rice and beans. We split her cinnamon chips, which I thought were pretty good.

They called 46 and 47, and my daughter and I exchanged looks. "Maybe the chips come artfully arranged," my daughter said. I suggested that perhaps the cook each batch of chips fresh, and that the ones behind the counter were just for display. Then 49 and 50 were called, and I just gave up on getting the order.

We finished, and I went to get my money back. There was a different kid at the counter. "I never got my order." I said to him. 

"I'm sorry. Would you like it now?"

"No. Just give me the money back." He looked surprised. "I wanted to eat the chips with my meal, but I'm done now," I said in explanation.

The registers were already closed for the night, so he went to the back to get my cash. He came back and handed it to me, and I returned to where my daughter was sitting. We cleaned our table, and I went over to get some iced tea for the road-and discovered the iced tea tub was long gone.

So in conclusion, like Baja Fresh, Snapper Jack's is a good white people interpretation of Mexican food. The service is quick, portions a touch on the small side, but everything is clean and neat. The food is just a bit bland, but not bad, and I do like their salsa bar.

Just order your chips with the meal.