Tempe Restaurant Guide

Sitting over one of the sweet, potent margaritas at Mucho Gusto - the one fashioned with house-made tamarind syrup is especially cool - alternating sips with mouthfuls of chips dipped into zingy, multichile salsa, I almost regretted my professional obligation to move on to the rest of the meal. Indeed, if the cheap-bag-quality chips had been better - they're Mucho Gusto's weakest link- I'm not sure I could have summoned up the willpower to get on with my work.

Despite the University Drive address, Mucho Gusto is far enough from campus, and just costly enough (entrees range from $10 to $16), to keep most students away. The setting is as grown-up as the clientele: wood accents, red banquettes, votive candles glimmering behind pre-Colombian masks on the wall, paintings of overweight grotesques in the style of Fernando Botero and tasteful vintage photos of nudes in the men's room. The inviting patio, with fireplace and heaters, is a plus at this time of year.