IF YOU aren’t hungry before you step inside Chiquito, you sure as heck will be once you have.

A thick waft of spicy chilli smoke envelopes you the minute you push through the front doors, immediately setting the tastebuds alight. And if that doesn’t do it, the smell and sound of the sizzling fahitas (which have caused the smoke in the first place) will have you grabbing at your menu to see what can fill the gaping hole that has suddenly appeared in your stomach.

That menu is huge, and deciding which Mexican speciality to go for isn’t easy. My son, whose birthday it was, got to decide the starter for us – a giant fiesta platter to share (£14.99). “It’ll be the quickest,” he assured us, and he was right, as it arrived in no more than five minutes. They must have seen us drooling.

The platter is a selection of all things deep fried and deeply unhealthy, and therefore deeply satisfying. There are chicken wings, potato wedges, chilli poppers, tostados (garlic flatbreads), onion rings, cheesy nachos with guacamole, salsa and sour cream, and the one slightly healthy saving grace, corn on the cob.

The platter can be ordered for two people or four, and there’s one of everything to go around. Be warned though; if you’re not quick enough, you’ll be left with just the corn and the sliced jalapeños to pick at (well, it was his birthday).

For those not prepared to share, individual starters include chicken and corn chowder (£3.99), calamari (£6.29) and chipotle meatballs (£5.29).

Having lost out in the platter war, I wanted something hearty from my main course, and chose the chilli con carne (£8.99), which came with spicy rice, tortilla chips and sour cream. It was hot, but just the way I like it, and the cream helped to temper the chillies as intended.

My husband had been tempted by the fahitas (£14.99 for a combo of beef and chicken), and they arrived duly sizzlin’ an smokin’ as he’d hoped. There was talk between mouthfuls of ordering extra tortillas, but with the meat, guacamole, salsa, cheese, sour cream and salad to heap inside, he was defeated by the time he’d scoffed five.

The boys went Tex-Mex for their main courses, ordering a chicken and ribs combo (£14.49) and a Texan chicken melt (£12.99). I haven’t a clue how they tasted but it must have been pretty good as they didn’t surface again until their plates were clean.

On another visit I’d like to try the quesadillas (from £5.99) which looked delicious when they arrived on the table next door, or maybe one of the steaks (from £13.99) which you have have smothered in jalapeño, lime & coriander butter for 99p or a Cuervo tequila sauce for £1.49.

It’s making my mouth water just writing about it.

Who says it’s just ladies that lunch?

Chiquito has a deal running all through the school holidays that means kids can eat for free. Children at Chiquito receive a main course, dessert, drink and activity pack absolutely free when an adult is dining. Click on www.chiquito-offers.co.uk/wb-kids/ to find out more.

Chiquito host fiesta nights on the last Thursday of each month. Today it’s a Pimms summer party with free Pimms and lunch prices for diners.