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York's Mexitaly: Burritos, pizza, beer and loads of flavor


Mexitaly Brick Oven Brewhouse

Location: 2440 E. Market St., York (Springettsbury Township)

Cuisine: Mexican and Italian

Ashley's pick: Mexitaly pizza, small, $11.99 and sopapillas, $4.99.

Parking: Lot

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays and Mondays; 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays

Price range: Big Bean Burrito, $4.99 to Grilled Delmonico, $18.99

Alcohol: Yes

Accepts: Cash and credit

Takeout: Yes

Kid's menu: Yes

Details: Call 717-600-8226 or visit mexitaly.com .

When I called Mexitaly owner Greg Skirboll last week, he remembered me from my repeat orders of fish tacos. He knows his customers and betting by how many times he gets stopped in a grocery store, they know him, too.

Mexitaly is a community place. It's hidden in a shopping complex in East York. Most days I've gone, there's a mix of 20-somethings and families. There's an island bar table near the center of the dining area that encourages conversation. The open kitchen and microbrewery asks customers to stay a while.

Food

There's pizza. There's burritos. There's fish tacos, my personal favorite. And, there's so much more. Skirboll wants customers to know the "more" tastes fabulous, too.

Gourmet pizza is a specialty. The Mexitaly pizza comes recommended. It's made with salsa instead of pizza sauce. For a York County girl who appreciates meat and potatoes, this cheese and bean gourmet pizza is one I've enjoyed — and one I would order again. The beans provide plenty of protein and fresh ingredients are packed into every bite.

"It's not as if we are a pizza joint and everything else is filler," Skirboll said.

Beyond pizza, there's a wide variety of options from salads to chimichangas to quesadillas.

There's a level of care that goes into each menu item. Flavor is top priority. So much so, cinnamon sticks are ground in house because they pack a better punch. It's not what you get in the grocery store. Same goes for coriander and nutmeg.

Last summer, Mexitaly introduced entrees. Think lamb and homemade meatballs.

And, don't forget dessert — Mexitaly offers cinnamon sticks (funnel-cake-like fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar) and sopapillas. I ordered the sopapillas recently and my husband and I ate every one. The fried chips drizzled with honey and topped with powdered sugar melt in your mouth. A perfect treat paired with the house-brewed beer.

Beer

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There's a microbrewery inside Mexitaly. So, after you order your food at the front counter, you can swing by the bar. (It's a full-service bar, so you could also order your food and brews there.)

Mexitaly's brewmaster makes drinkable beers, meaning nothing is too hoppy or heavy. Most have a clean taste. Up to eight are on tap at a time.

I favor the Blood Orange Hefeweizen and the Vanilla Porter (Blackberry Vanilla currently on tap is also a nice choice).

If you fall in love with a beer, get a growler. Beers change often.

Not a beer drinker? Don't worry, Mexitaly offers Pennsylvania wine by the glass and also mixed drinks, including margaritas and sangrias.

Live music

If Skirboll wasn't running a restaurant, he'd be a musician. So, when he books musicians for live music nights at Mexitaly, he takes it seriously.

"I won't book a band unless I listen to them first," he said.

And, he doesn't want to hear covers. Original stuff is best.

"The idea is to provide a platform for people to display their own music," he said. "I want to hear something I've never heard before."

Tuesday nights are open mic and Friday and Saturday nights offer live music. Check the Mexitaly Facebook for details.

So, if you're someone like me who's always on the lookout for emerging artists, this is a prime spot.

Or, maybe you just appreciate good food and beer. Either way, I'm sure I'll see you there soon. I'm not hard to spot — I'm the one in the corner booth with the Hefeweizen and the fish tacos.