Does anybody know anything about when this place is going to finally open? I believe it was a Bob Evans before they moved and built on Benore. I want some good close Mexican food, dangit. And it looks like it has been “done” (nice bright paint job, btw) for months now.
Cinco De Mayo on Alexis
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Isnt that the place where they broke in to and stole a bunch of copper plumbing?
Nice looking place tho. Too bad they chose such a shitty neighborhood to move in to.
Oh, the area isn’t that bad. There is even a lovely vacant mall across the street that you can not shop at.
Honestly, I just need good Mexican closer to Point Place is all.
I agree, ryan - besides Taco Bell of course. For the life of me I can't see what people see in El Camino Real. (it only wins No.1 Mexican restaurant in the City Paper because the drinkers on the patio are the ones who vote - but they aren't buying food. Even their Margaritas are bad I think - strong, but bad.) We tried the food there & it was the first time, both of our entrees were not edible. They were horrible,smothered with some nasty generic red sauce that tasted like they'd mixed canned taco sauce & spaghetti sauce together. Carmels & Ventura's are by far the more superiour restaurants. But a bit far when you live in the Point/Shoreland area. A franchise that I think would be very successful, is "Chick-fil-A". I think the only one in Toledo is in Franklin Park Mall (it will always be named that to me) with no outside entrance - you have to go into the mall to get to it, which is a pain & time consuming. The original Chick-fil-A was a stand alone with a take out window, but I have never seen one like that. Who ever takes the plunge to take on a franchise like that will do well I think.
posted by starling02 on Feb 06, 2008 at 05:24:21 pm #
I actually didn’t care for El Camino Real at first, but over the years they have improved in my opinion. A lot of people are put off by authentic Mexican (no orange cheese, no sour cream, etc.) and it may take a bit to become acclimated. I did just hear that a Del Taco just opened near Westgate, fast food like The Bell, but supposed to be a grade higher quality-wise. I did like Carmels, but after the whole fake kidnapping and dog murder I can’t bring myself to go there. And Venturas is wonderful, but like you said quite the haul from The Point. Magdalenas and La Fiesta in Michigan are fairly close and good. I don’t enjoy Fritz and Alfredos Mexican.
I"ve eaten a lot of "authentic" Mexican food (some at restaurants where there was no English on the menu) - and El Camino Real is not what I call good, authentic Mexican food. Perhaps you acclimated to it? It was the worst Mexican food I've ever had, and everybody else at our table said the same thing - we could not eat it, left it uneaten. Just the look on my husband's face when he took his first bite was a picture worth a thousand words - I thought he'd throw up (and it wasn't because it was spicy). Carmels, Magdelena's, Ventura's & Loma Linda's is about as good as it gets for Mexican food - in this area. I was angered at what the son did to his parents (who own Carmels) - blackmail, killed his dog to make it look 'real'. I guess he has to live with what he did to his dog & I hope it haunts him the rest of his life. However, it's not really fair to punish the owners of Carmels for the sins of their grown son (by avoiding the restaurant). None of that happened at Carmels anyway. If I recall, the guy did do prison time - not enough, I"m sure. And I believe his parents forgave him - he's their son & they love him (and they fell for his sad story of financial problems I'm sure). But Carmels is a treat to me & I can see past the ugly history of their son enough to enjoy the food (take out only since the smoking ban).
posted by starling02 on Feb 07, 2008 at 05:32:07 pm #
I just wanted to bump this thread up.
They are now open and we actually went on Easter (I know, how traditional – lol!).
I am going back tonight with some friends.
It was very good, the service was top notch and the margies are va va va voom!
Has anybody been there yet? If so what did you think?
I don't think there are any authentic Mexican restaurants in Toledo. Maybe authentic Tex-Mex. I have eaten in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Ciudad Acuna. Also, an authentic Mex City restaurant in Tucson, AZ; the only one of 35 in the chain located in the US. That being said, if you grew up around here and frequented Loma Linda, Casa Baron, Venturas, etc., then you have that as your base and that is what you like. I lived at Loma's for years before I went off and explored the world. If you have been elsewhere, then El Camino or Mi Hacienda may be for you. I have never found chile verde, carnitas or some other delicacies anywhere in Northwest Ohio except at those two establishments. They definitely have the real goods; not a concocted "gringo" version of Tex-Mex or the real "Mexican" specialties listed. I also judge a restaurant on its service and waitstaff. They are all Hispanic at El Camino and Mi Hacienda and really hustle. If I call an establishment and a young, blonde high school girl answers and says their specialties include deep fried mozzerella, I know it's not the "Mexican" restaurant for me.
Yes, I have had a bad meal at El Camino, but 1 out of 50+ isn't bad. They do NOT have generic red sauce and I don't hang out on the patio but I still vote them number one in Toledo. And if you must believe that drinking is required to make the food good at El Camino, you must believe the same thing about Loma's; I have seen very few there who could pass a field sobriety test before dinner!
To each his own. Thank heaven we all have different tastes. But please, how can you mention Del Taco and Taco Bell in the same post with all the other fine restaurants listed?
posted by annsaphire on Apr 07, 2008 at 06:24:42 pm #
Besides El Camino, I like El Vaquero on Secor by the Home Depot near Central.
"They are all Hispanic at El Camino and Mi Hacienda and really hustle."
Same with El Vaquero.
"I have never found chile verde, carnitas or some other delicacies anywhere in Northwest Ohio except at those two establishments."
Carnitas is on the El Vaquero menu.
Thanks for the El Vaquero update. Since we started frequenting El Camino and Mi Hacienda I have not been back there in two or three years. We always went to the one in PBurg though I have recently seen the one you mentioned on Secor.
posted by annsaphire on Apr 08, 2008 at 10:43:11 am #
Probably May 5th, of course.
posted by elmahico on Feb 05, 2008 at 01:26:18 pm #