Frida Mexican Grill

117 State St., Madison, Wis., 256-4000

Food: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Service: 2 out of 5 stars
Value: 1 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 1 out of 5 stars

Last weekend my pal Becks and I planned a brunch outing to the Sunroom Cafe on State Street to complement some shopping. Unfortunately, they were packed. Not wanting to wait an hour hanging out with the post Mifflin Street Block Party crowd, we strolled up State Street, checking out a packed Orpheum brunch and finally, for some inexplicable reason, settling on a decidedly unpopular Frida Mexican Grill.

The high point of the brunch came and went with the warm, crispy, free chips and salsa. From there it devolved into a brunch of regret. Regret about spending $8 for a bad drink. Regret that we didn't wait at the Sunroom. Regret that we weren't at the El Dorado. Even a small tinge of regret that we weren't being served cheap and tasty breakfast tacos by the absent-minded bartender at the Atwood Taco Palace.

To start I ordered an $8 Margatini. On its face, you'd think a Margatini would be boozetastic with a nice punch of tequila. Instead I was served what can best be described as a chilled martini glass of sour mix with a lime garnish and no discernible liquor. The story was the same for my companion's bizarrely orange $6 Mimosa.

I ordered the huevos rancheros for 7 bucks and change. It came served with rice and black beans. While I liked the beans and huevos, I couldn't get past the crunchy, flavorless rice. Becks' 7 bucks and change breakfast burrito was large, but unimpressive.

Overall we paid too much for bad brunch drinks, marginal service and one of the worst atmospheres on State Street (if you're serving food outside, consider sweeping up the cigarette butts near the tables). I don't say this often, but there are a few places I will never dine at again, and Frida has made the list.