It seems that this time of year marks the beginning of the hustle and the bustle of shopping. Shopping also makes the hunger pangs come on quicker than anything else. The cold weather outside, conjures up a desire for a warm meal. Ramon’s Jalapeno Grill is a great place to warm up the stomach and is stationed not too far from shopping at the Galleria.

Ramon’s, located at 44 N. Brentwood, is just the right place to go to add a little spice on a cold December day.

Southwestern entrees line the menu at Ramon’s, so if you’re looking for a burger and fries, it’s not the place to go. A margarita is a great way to start off any meal, especially after the horrors of Christmas shopping. Try a few of the many different versions of margaritas.

What would a margarita be without an order of nachos to accompany it? The nachos ($6.75) consist of blue and yellow corn chips covered with Monterey Jack cheese and topped with black beans, pica de gallo, fresh guacamole, sour cream and jalapenos. The choice of steak or chicken for toppings add an extra taste to an delightfully cheesy creation.

The dinner menu offers exciting and seasoned items, including a number of combination platters. Ramon’s platter ($8.55) is the favorite, consisting of a steak taco, a steak chimichanga and a chicken enchilada.

The steak chimichanga full of vegetables and lean pieces of steak was excellent. The outside of the tortilla was crispy, while the inside remained flaky. The chicken enchilada and the steak taco also proved worthy of consumption, making the platter a blockbuster trilogy.

The ribeye steak dinner ($13.95) is another justified choice. Ramon’s takes a 12 oz. mesquite-grilled steak and tops it with a wine and mushroom sauce. The tender steak melts in the mouth with each succulent bite. Surprisingly, the wine and mushroom sauce was not overpowering. Fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes accompany the dinner.

Tasty treats fill the dessert menu at Ramon’s. Two of these are the chocolate enchiladas ($4.25) and the sopapilla ($2.75). The chocolate enchiladas consist of a shell stuffed with a banana cream filling and topped with a chocolate sauce.

The sopapilla is a fluffy pastry covered in cinnamon and a strawberry tequila sauce. The strawberry tequila sauce was not overwhelming but delivered the right kick to send you warmly out into the cold again.

The service at Ramon’s varies with each visit. At times they appeared understaffed, but the servers did try their best.

Overall, the restaurant does not offer the worst service, but it’s not the best either.

Ramon’s opens the doors seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Smoking is permitted only at the bar, leaving the air quality top-notch. Ramon’s does get crowded, but the wait is short. Saint Louis University students will find a warm spicy meal after a full day of shopping at Ramon’s. The dinners are filling and affordable for college students.

A spicy good time is waiting to happen at Ramon’s Jalapeno Grill.