Thinking about traveling across the border for some authentic Mexican food? You only have to travel as far as Broad Ripple.

La Piedad has authentic style Mexican food and an atmosphere that places guests right in the heart of Mexico. Mariachi music is softly played overhead and the restaurant is decorated with colorful flags and serapes.

Along with a welcoming indoor environment, outdoor seating is available during the warmer seasons in a cottage-like setting that overlooks the Monon Trail.

On a Saturday night during dinner hours, seating is almost instantly available, even when the restaurant looks full. Since La Piedad is family owned, the service is exceptionally quick and friendly. Everyone is greeted with a smile by the employees.

Lunch and dinner are both served, but lunch is highly recommended and will be easier on your wallet, too.

The menu offers many different choices for all kinds of tastes varying from chili rellenos, enchiladas of all kinds or even the basic quesadilla.

The complimentary tortilla chips and salsa that are brought to the table before you order is enough to keep you coming back.

One of the best things for lunch is the taco salad and a side of queso for the warm tortilla chips that come out freshly baked. My personal lunch favorite are their beef tacos which are the perfect portion size for a light lunch.

Dinner doesn’t quite break the bank, either, and is usually under $10 a person.

The options are endless when it comes to the dinner menu. The combination dinners offer a variety of three combinations of your favorites, like an enchilada, a taco and a chimichanga for one available option.

I highly recommend the Burrito La Piedad which comes with your choice of chicken or beef. When ordering, ask for cheese sauce on the burrito which complements the main course nicely.

I enjoyed the dinner menu specifically because the dinners come with a side of rice and refried beans at no extra cost. As a college student, I take what I can get.

Dessert is also a must when dining at any authentic Mexican restaurant because fried ice cream is like heaven in a sundae bowl. At first it may sound strange, but fried ice cream has a cinnamon type flavor and melts instantly in your mouth.

Whether going just to have a few drinks with some friends or to have lunch with the family, La Piedad will not disappoint any Mexican food lover’s taste buds and doesn’t cost as much as a flight to Mexico.

La Piedad is located on the corner of E. Coil St. and at 6524 Cornell Ave.

I have been a Republican for quite some time now.

I can recall, in the second grade, being devastated when Bob Dole lost the Presidential election, as I was the only one in my class to vote for him in the mock election.

I can also remember my joy and excitement in 2000 when George W. Bush upset Al Gore in the craziest election of my lifetime.

I had the same reaction in 2004 when Bush defeated John Kerry.

Of course in 2006 and 2008 my reactions were quite different.

With the Democrats regaining control of both houses and taking the White House in 2008, it goes without saying that it was a somber time to be a Republican.

I personally believe in strong fiscal responsibility, small and transparent government and free markets.

I believe that the United States is the best country in the world and will be for generations.

For me, this is why the coming midterm elections are so important.

With almost every major pollster in the country predicting a Republican sweep, it is likely they will gain control of the House, and possibly even the Senate.

Next week,  Republicans will hopefully be given an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the party, as well as the country.

This will be a crucial moment for the party and their ability to show true character and devotion to the country and their constituents.

In 2006, when Republicans lost control of Congress, people were not pro-Democrat but anti-Republican. With an unpopular war, an unpopular President and a poor economy, almost anyone could have predicted the outcome.

My party had lost its way.

If a Republican congress is sworn in to office in January of 2011, the focus will need to be on bipartisanship and reaching across the aisle; both things that Obama promised in his platform.

In a recent interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of North Carolina stated that President Obama was slanted too far to the left and after the midterm elections would need to become more moderate.

Not only does Obama need to be more moderate, but so do the Republicans.

In 1994 after the Republican revolution, in which 54 Republican seats were gained in the House and the Republicans gained eight seats in the Senate, gridlock followed soon after.

In September, Senate candidate Rob Portman of Ohio said “there will be plenty of room for common ground” amongst the two parties.

Gridlock on Capitol Hill for the next two years could be a deadly blow to the country and public policy in general.

There are some people who say that gridlock is good for the country because it prevents lawmakers from making large policy changes. In reality, it erodes away the governance of the nation and is a cause for ineffective policies.

With thousands of Americans out of work, a growing national debt that is up $2 trillion from two years ago, a broken government and a growing threat in the Middle East, something must be done.

Clearly the country is upset with whats happening.

So am I.

The nation is ready for the “hope” and “change” promised to them two years ago.

If you have not been to Taste Café, then you have not experienced what food is supposed to taste like. Maybe that is why it is called Taste.

Taste Café primarily specializes in breakfast and lunch but has recently begun serving dinner as well on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

For first timers entering the restaurant, it is very simple to figure out how Taste is organized. The line can begin anywhere from near the main counter to out the door depending on the day, and the menu board sits above for guests to examine.

The café was particularly clever by putting foreign cheeses and delicious desserts on display to tempt you before you reach the counter to order.

Ordering is the crucial part and deciding what to get is always extremely difficult.

Depending on what time you go and what type of person you are, you may want to skip breakfast and go straight to lunch. However, the founders of Taste must have been big fans of the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The dishes reflect that in taste, presentation and portion.

Many of these breakfast dishes will make your taste buds jump for joy, but the one that puts the cherry on top—almost literally—is the waffle special.

Piled high with approximately a pound of fresh, in-season fruits with powdered sugar and cinnamon, this dish will make your mouth water upon arrival.

If you choose to eat all of the fruit first, then you have saved the best for last. The waffle is simply the best waffle you will ever taste—I maintain this opinion even after trying the famous Roscoe’s House  of Chicken’ N Waffles, waffle in Los Angeles.

Other spectacular dishes that will not upset are the egg omelet, with your choice of meat or cheese and the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Taste also offers “wake up juice” (aka coffee) and freshly squeezed orange juice.

For the lunch menu, you can have either a salad or one of the gourmet sandwiches.

The salads are very appetizing, especially the “pear and  Roquefort,” but the gourmet sandwiches are the go-to item on the lunch menu. The italian grinder and the smoked ham and cheese are both excellent choices, but the roasted turkey and smoked bacon is my particular favorite.

Topped with provolone, its house made Thousand Island dressing, vine ripe tomatoes, organic field greens with a side of refrigerator pickles on your choice of french or wheat baguette, it is not just a sandwich, it’s an experience.

To top off the delicious salad or sandwich you order, a must at Taste Café is the pommes frites.

Served hot out of the kitchen with a side of creamy basil aioli, the pommes frites serve as an incredible appetizer with a rich flavor that McDonald’s could only dream of.

To wash everything down, go with the fresh lemonade. It is not only freshly squeezed, but mint leaves are added for a subtle flavor that refreshes every time.

Not only is the food excellent, but the service and the atmosphere are superb as well.

The atmosphere is not like a typical breakfast/lunch place because the music selection gives Taste an air of genuine relaxation.

On busy days it may take a few extra minutes for your food, but that is to be expected with a small restaurant. At all other times, the food is always out quick and looking exquisite.

While not the least expensive option for a college budget, lunch will run around $10 per person. Believe me, the price is well-worth the quality.

Taste Café is located at 5164 N. College Ave. and is open seven days a week, though the hours vary.