"Welcome to Moe's !"
   Bib Taler wasn't sure what to make of that boisterous greeting from the guys and girls behind the counter when we first entered Moe's Southwest Grill in North Little Rock, but he has since delighted in yelling it himself.
   Bib Taler's friend, Jumpin' Jack, caught on to the fun right away, however, and amused himself (and us) by bellowing it in the general direction of patrons who came through the door during the hour or so we were there. (OK, we gently prodded him into saying it the first time... but he took it from there.) Moe's is a comfortable serve-yourself, seat-yourself kind of place, so after we were welcomed we studied the menu board on the wall and got in line.
   I ordered a Joey Bag of Donuts (all menu item names are rooted in pop culture), a burrito with rice, black or pinto beans, shredded cheese and salsa, and a choice of chicken, steak or tofu ($5.29). Bib Taler's dad had the Triple Lindy, which is basically the Joey Bag of Donuts, plus guacamole ($5.79). And we added an order of queso ($2.99 for a cup, $4.99 for a bowl). Jumpin' Jack and his dad, Madman Mike, arrived at the restaurant a few minutes ahead of us and although he didn't place an actual order until we were ready to eat, too, he did go to the counter to buy a drink to pacify Jumpin' Jack at a table while he stood in line for food -- and the nice man behind the counter charged him nothing for the cup.
   Our burritos were swaddled in foil and nestled in plastic baskets with tortilla chips, and we headed directly to the restaurant's salsa buffet to pick out a selection.
   At the table, Jumpin' Jack questioned the absence of cheese in the extra plain flour tortilla Madman had rolled up for him to eat.
   "It must have fallen on the floor," we told him, knowing full well there was never any cheese in there to begin with. But Jumpin' Jack is an innovator and he just dipped that rolled up tortilla in the cup of queso and chowed down.
   Bib Taler wasn't as enthralled by the queso as his friend. He preferred his tortilla chips bare, and he took great pleasure in crumbling them between his fingers and sprinkling them all over himself and the floor. (Sorry, Moe's cleanup crew.)
   Other than that, he was mesmerized by Jumpin' Jack's antics, and he ate whatever we put in his mouth without protest -- beans, rice, chicken, flour tortilla, whatever. Bib Taler was still eating long after Jumpin' Jack was done, but the Jack show continued and got great reviews from Bib Taler until the star of the show pulled a straw out of the lid of his plastic cup and splattered red punch in Bib Taler's face. That's a surefire way to anger a critic, no? Bib Taler was gracious about the whole thing, but it was time to go, so we packed up the boys and headed out.
   Adios, Moe's ! Hasta la vista! Bib Tales is a monthly column on where to go with a baby in tow. MOE'S

SOUTHWEST GRILL Address:
4834 North Hills Blvd., North Little Rock

Hours:
11 a.m.-10 p.m. every day.

For the parents:
In addition to burritos, there are tacos, like the Full Monty, with beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa and your choice of meat ($2.29); quesadillas, including the Newman, a vegetarian selection with shredded cheese, beans, sauteed vegetables and served with a side of salsa and sour cream ($3.99); salads -- the Close Talker, with lettuce, beans, cucumbers, salsa, shredded cheese, black olives and your choice of meat ($6.29) as well as nachos and fajitas. And there's a selection of beer and three kinds of margaritas -- the Blabbermouth Soup (lime); the Village Idiot (strawberry), for $3.99 each or the Fun Bobby (a pitcher) for $7.99.

For the kids:
The kids menu includes Puff the Magic Dragon, a hard or soft taco with your choice of meat, lettuce and cheese ($2.99); Moo Moo Mr. Cow, a kid-size burrito with rice, beans, meat, cheese and salsa ($3.99); and the Mini-Me, a kid-size cheese quesadilla ($2.99). All kids meals include drinks and a cookie.

Highchair report:
Standard plastic ones.

Family budget:
Prices are reasonable, portions are aplenty and the salsa bar is neverending.

(501) 812-5577

This story was published Friday, August 04, 2006