In search of cheap eats

No one can underestimate the importance of a good meal before a night of bar-hopping. Therefore, before heeding the advice of the Traveling Lush and embarking on your own pub crawl through Davis Square, you need to find a place for the perfect pre-drinking eats. Your criteria: something simple, something filling, and something cheap. After all, you don't want to blow all your beer bucks on dinner.

While the task may seem daunting at first because of the number of local eateries and your strict standards, the question of where to grab a bite is easier to answer than you might think. Anna's Taqueria, conveniently located on Elm Street, is just a few short steps from Davis hotspots like Joshua Tree and The Burren. With its simple Mexican fare and a price that's right, and you've found your perfect pre-drinking meal.

While you're unlikely to ever find a quiet time to dine at Anna's, the fast, no-nonsense service ensures that you'll never wait more than five minutes to place your order. But be advised _ until you're certain of exactly what you want, stay away from the line. Fast service also means little patience for those customers who have to linger over questions of sour cream and hot sauce, and experienced Taqueria-goers demand that you know what you want and how you want it.

Someone from the assembly line behind the counter will take your order when you're ready and make your burrito, taco, or quesadilla to your specifications. The eatery's selection of trimmings includes all the Mexican staples from guacamole to jalapenos, ensuring that whatever you decide to order will be made just the way you like it.

You pretty much can't go wrong at Anna's _ the combination of Tex-Mex expertise and only the freshest ingredients guarantees your satisfaction. The appetizer menu includes everything from a plate of chips and salsa to a mini quesadilla. Burritos, tacos and quesadillas are made to order with your choice of grilled chicken, carnitas, chili verdes, steak, vegetables, or simply beans and rice. If you're feeling especially hungry, you can order a Super Burrito _ for less than a dollar extra, you can get any of the above burritos...just a whole lot bigger.

For a truly Tex-Mex experience, you can stay away from the traditional beverage options such as Coke and Sprite and instead purchase a bottle of Jarritos, a sparkling water-type beverage with natural flavors such as pineapple, guava or mandarin.

The chips and salsa are an excellent choice when all you can handle is a snack _ an order for at least two people is only $1.75. Anna's salsa is unique but secret blend of tomatoes and spices that is anything but your typical store-bought variety. And while you're bound to stumble upon a stale chip here and there, the freshness factor remains high.

The grilled chicken burrito is a crowd favorite, generously stuffed with beans, rice, and fresh grilled pieces of chicken. The trimmings make all the difference. I recommend ordering a burrito with all the extras _ the coolness of the sour cream and guacamole takes the edge off the hot sauce, which invariably adds some spice to the meal. For the more vegetarian-ly inclined, the veggie burrito is another excellent choice, blending an array of fresh vegetables with traditional Mexican flavors.

Unlike the quesadillas at other fast food joints, Anna's quesadillas are low on grease without sacrificing taste. The tortilla is warmed over a grill, then sprinkled with a thin layer of cheese that almost melts on contact. The steak quesadilla is overflowing with pieces of tender, juicy steak. Again, the rule for burrito trimmings holds true for quesadillas _ the more extras you get, the more flavor-bang for your buck.

While Anna's Taqueria is a great place for a quick bite before your drinking extravaganza, the eatery is not without its drawbacks. The restaurant occupies too small a spice for its enormous clientele, making it difficult to find a table if you've come to dine with more than one or two people. Rather than endure the frustration of having to wait for a seat while your steaming burrito approaches room temperature, you're better off taking your food outside (dining on the Square can actually be quite nice) or bringing it back home with you. The size factor also contributes to the noise level, which is often so loud that conversation is simply futile.

You also have to keep in mind that for all its special touches, Anna's is still a fast food joint, and is decorated as such. With the exception of the mellow lighting (which is certainly more pleasant than the fluorescents that loom overhead at McDonald's), little attention has been put to creating an authentic Mexican atmosphere. The walls, painted a mild yellow, are completely bare, and not counting the few decorative chandeliers, the place actually borders on drab. Contributing to this less-than-aesthetically-pleasing environment is the haphazard, almost chaotic, assembly of tables and chairs.

But back to the point _ you're here to eat. It may not be the place to wine and dine your latest love interest, but it's one of the best local places for cheap, clean food. In fact, it was nominated this year by CitySearch for Best Cheap Eats, and last year for Best Burrito in Boston The feeling you get from Anna's might not be "gourmet," but the fact of the matter is that you'll leave fully (and happy) every time