Cinco de Mayo’s already over, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid eating Mexican food or other cuisine’s south of the Rio Grande. There are plenty of other reasons.

Garcia’s Internazionale Restaurant at 2573 North High Street (beside Jack & Benny’s) has been serving its mix of Mexican and Peruvian fare for decades from its Southern Clintonville location.

When you first walk in you question whether anyone is working there at all. You may have to wander around and seat yourself, and perhaps move some chairs around. There are only a few tables in the main room, and the back room was closed off. With only one person in the front – who was running back and forth between the kitchen and taking care of four tables – you can imagine how overworked the staff is and as a result, how slow the service is.

It seems more like a bar than a restaurant and would make a fairly chic bar if it ever decided to stand alone, and maybe just serve tapas. There are wood floors and old photos, drawings, mirrors, and a ChiChi’s sign that decorate the walls.

Even at night Garcia’s is hot, and there are only a few slow-moving fans to counteract the heat. When it’s humid outside, it’s not the most comfortable of places. But then again it may just be a sneaky move by the restaurateurs to evoke the atmosphere of Central and South America.

To cool down, a margarita pitcher is a must have. The strong, icy drink tastes good, and comes in a variety of flavors. However, it was evident in the appearance and stench, that the glasses the drink was poured in had not been washed. The smell was a bit like a cup found beside a keg when there are no other cups around and it pervaded with every taste of the margarita. Other glasses, silverware, and plates were clean though.

There is also a descent selection of Mexican beer including Dos Equis, Corona, and Modelo if you would rather drink from the bottle.

The Hot Tamales ($2.99) arrive steaming hot, but as for spice, there is still some room to fill. Many of the tortilla cloaked dishes are hearty and pleasant tasting with a nice mix of beef, beans and cheese.

It’s a shame that far too few area restaurants avoid serving Fried Plantains ($3.25). The least sweet vegetable cousin of the banana, which is a staple in most diets in the Caribbean, Central, and South America, is fried to golden brown perfection and reason enough to bear the heat. The taste is a little bit sweet and a little bit earthy.

The Fried Shrimp ($4.95) are small but plenty. They are golden brown like the plantains, but heavier in breading.

The Crab Relleno ($7.98) doesn’t disappoint.

The term Relleno refers to a pepper, which is stuffed with different interiors, battered in egg, and fried. The result is crisp, spicy, and chewy; overall an interesting use of peppers. The soft texture and overwhelming taste of crab, contrasts with the spicy shell of the pepper, but still maintains harmony.

The Mexican Tres ($9.95) also includes a dish from the Relleno family, this time with cheese rather than crab. The burrito that accompanies it must weigh at least a pound. It’s filled with lots of beef and refried beans, and dabbled with cheese and hot sauce.

One of the most surprising entrees was the Peruvian Stuffed Potato ($6.95). Like the Relleno, the potato is battered and then pan-fried. It is stuffed with black olives, beef, and pieces of hard-boiled egg. The appearance looks like a simple baked potato, but the taste is far more vibrant.

Each of the entrees come with some combination of rice, beans and salad. The yellow rice was about as exciting as it sounds. The beans are refried like they should be and speckled with cheese. The salad consists mainly of iceberg lettuce and comes with a thick mayonnaise like dressing.

Garcia’s Internazionale restaurant is only open Thursday – Saturday (or jeuves-sabado as it says on the sign) from 5 -11p.m. No phone number is available.