Shorty’s Mexian Roadhouse

This popular eatery has refocused its efforts on a quality dining experience at affordable prices.We stopped in at the Nashua Shorty’s and it’s obvious they are still doing many things right. The décor is fun, the lights are at the right level and the tables are not too tight.Looking over the menu, none of the entrées was more that $15. I ordered the Fresh Haddock Espinaca ($13.99) encrusted with panko bread crumbs. Panko crumbs tends to stay crispy, as was the case here. The fish was moist and sweet, and definitely fresh, not frozen – a new mantra for Shorty’s. Many places serve frozen-at-sea fish, but although it’s fresh when frozen, it’s not as good as really fresh fish. This is a major step for Shorty’s, and I hope it works all around.We tried a few appetizers, too. The fried avocado slices ($7.99) were crisp and not greasy.The guacamole was served with spicy tortilla chips – nice, if you like spice. The espinaca, a Shorty’s signature dish, has just the right about of spice and creaminess. This sauce also tops a few of their entrées if you are looking for a more judicious serving.My husband ordered the California Burger ($9.99) and guarded it from my predatory fork. Burgers here are hand-pattied, giving the meat a better chance to fire up nicely.A nice light touch was the Terry Chicken Avocado Tortilla Soup ($5.99) with a nice balance of piquancy and smoothness – probably low-cal, too.I didn’t care for my pomegranate martini, but the bartender graciously remixed it to knock down the sweetness.For dessert I tried the peanut butter pie – very rich and buttery. It came with a substantial dose of chocolate sauce for the perfect food pairing.