Ruiz Mexican Restaurant offers vegetarian items on their menu, but the quality of those items is debatable.

When I first looked at their menu, I was happy to see that they have appetizers, fajitas and burritos that are vegetarian friendly. If you are a vegetarian, steer clear of their refried beans (frijoles) as my server informed me that they're made with lard. He also told me that the rice (arroz) is typically served with a meat topping as well, so be sure to specify that you are a vegetarian and do not want the meat.

To start the meal off, my friend Olivia and I dug into the complimentary chips and salsa that were served at our table. A few of the chips were a bit stale, but the nice kick of the fresh salsa counteracted that for the most part.

For an appetizer, we had the Spinach Empanadas ($7.59), which were very delicious. The mix of the spinach and cheese was delicious and flavorful, and the flaky crust of the empanada was perfect. The next time I visit Ruiz, I would consider ordering them as my entree.

I ordered the black bean-filled Burrito Melt ($11.99) for my entree. The dish consists of three burritos stuffed with beans and topped with a healthy layer of cheese with rice and beans served on the side.

Since I couldn't get their refried beans, I had more of their "black beans" on the side. I use quotes around black beans because the beans that I consumed that night were not in fact black beans, they were what we believed to be kidney or red beans covered in a black-ish sauce.

I was looking forward to enjoying some black beans, which are usually a lighter bean, but the heaviness of all those heartier beans was just too much for me.

Olivia ordered the Veggie Fajitas ($10.99), which came with an assortment of mixed vegetables (mushrooms, green peppers, red peppers, onions, corn, broccoli, tomatoes and green beans), along with pico de gallo, sour cream, beans and rice on the side. A container of tortillas also came with the fajitas for you to make them to your liking.

The vegetables were cooked well and held their flavor, making the fajitas a clear winner for our favorite entree of the night. However, the rice that was served on the side of both of our entrees was way too salty, which eliminated any other flavor the rice may have had.

I was hoping for a good experience with my dessert, Fried Ice Cream ($4.99), and my wish was fulfilled. It was very well made; the fried coating they put on the outside of the ice cream was very thin and light, and they added nuts to it for a little flavor. It was also drizzled with honey, which made for a perfect sweet treat at the end of this salty meal.

For more information about Ruiz, including their full menu, you can visit their website, dineruiz.com.