| Author |
Message |
    
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 508
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 1:55 pm: | 
|
Debby;
I am currently on vacation in Delray Beach, and there are two really good, reasonably priced Mexican restaurants here in town. One is Armadillo on Linton boulevard in the Delray international strip mall, and the other is Ay Caramba in the Pineapple Grove section the downtown area. Try them both--really good food. |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1661
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 2:28 pm: |
|
Thanks for the heads up, Lizziecat! I love Delray Beach - but never noticed a Mexican Place. |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 564
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 2:29 pm: |
|
And talking about good Mexican food, once again I'd like to remind all MOL'ers that Carmelita's Weeks starts tomorrow.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES--BUY LOCAL! |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2168
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 2:59 pm: |
|
Hey Marian,
My family discussed this over the weekend and will be dining at Carmelita's one night this week. (Even my 8.5 year old said she'd do it to try and save the place.)
Did anyone let Carlos know he might expect more than the usual crowd this week? Will he have guacamole? I'm looking forward to having a nice meal there. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 1774
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:51 pm: |
|
IMHO, the bigger question is how many people who jump on this week's bandwagon will continue to patronize Carmalita's on a weekly basis? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5476
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:58 pm: |
|
More than would if we didn't have a Carmelita's week, because I expect some people to notice that it's worth going back. And it might make the owner realize he should think twice before moving on. |
mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 764
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:30 pm: |
|
Sorry I can say much positive about Lot 15. Hard to believe it is a Cent'anni restaurant. First, our table for 5 was in the dining alcove to the right of the entry, smack up against the cold window and a wall. The lighting was non-existent. One spotlight was directed on the adjacent table for two, while our table had no, nada, lights. I could not read the menu! The server finally brought two very short, glass candle holders which allow for a glimmer of light.
Very expensive! Shrimp scampi not with lingini or rice doesn't work for me. The shrimp were place atop two or three slices of oven fried potatoes, with a scoop of some greens atop the shrimp. Second visit for me and I found the food just isn't piping hot when it arrives at the table.
Others commented that their food was very average. One, however, loved her lobster tail (or she was being kind since I picked up the tab). It was the total lack of ambience, however, which spoiled the experience.
We have always enjoyed Cent'anni's - maybe Lot 15 is trying too hard to be different and has an identity crisis.
Not a casual dining spot when the hamburger goes for $18! Tab was over $200 - with no wine or alcohol and only 1 dessert. Won't stop there anytime soon. |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 565
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 9:53 pm: |
|
Shh,
Carlos know. I spoke with him on Saturday, told him about the thread, and even asked him to lower his avocado standards! |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 1837
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 1:28 pm: |
|
We're planning to go this evening, possibly on the early side of 7. Will we be able to get in the door? I'm looking forward to the guacamole! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4953
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 5:22 pm: |
|
Marian:
We also told Carlos about Carmelita's Week when we had dinner there on Satuday night. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2186
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 8:09 pm: |
|
I saw SAC & Jamie, Dave and I guess their mom.
I was with my three little monsters, I mean angels. Mr. Shh was working late so I ordered him a chicken burrito to go.
I ordered a side of guacamole which was really good. Otherwise I would order differently next time, I tried the veggie chimi—I just don't love all that squash! I really liked the rice and beans so maybe when we return (which we decided we will) I'll either get fish (tonight's was shark which just seems to meaty for me) or do the rice, beans and salad thing.
It's definitely not typical NJ Mexican—not a ton of cheese—so it's relatively healthy. Hopefully my husband will enjoy the chicken burrito and we'll make it our point to go back. The guacamole was probably the best I've had in a long time. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5287
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 8:18 pm: |
|
That was us. I guess you were hiding behind me somewhere. Nice to see a full house, but it's tough to tell if that was due to the magic of the food, the All You Can Eat Tuesdays or the MOL Carmelita's Week announcement.
Philosphized with Carlos about why these online conversations are called "threads" and decided it's because people are mostly spinning yarns.
Two more days left in Carmelita's "Week". Stop by and say you're from MOL.
ps. The Camarones, the Carmelita Burrito, and the veggie quesadilla are great! |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2187
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 8:39 pm: |
|
I was to your left Dave. Not the table directly in front of the refrigerator, but the one behind that.
You didn't notice my gorgeous daughters?!
What are you blind?! 
FWIW I did say hi to Jamie when he came in. |
galileo
Citizen
Username: Galileo
Post Number: 171
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 11:53 pm: |
|
I was there too and I did notice your darling daughters.So well behaved too. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2191
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 7:22 am: |
|
Oh, thank you Galileo. So nice of you to notice!
(And where were you?) |
Hank Zona
Citizen
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2037
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 8:00 am: |
|
galileo,
her daughters are darling and well behaved. the real question is...was shh well behaved? |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2192
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 8:19 am: |
|
Yes, and I didn't even drink.
(Or was it because I didn't drink?)
Truth be told, they got fair warning before we went out, and not having their dad there actually can make eating out easier—they don't fight for his attention, and I'm not involved in conversation. They usually are well-behaved though. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 78
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 9:53 pm: |
|
OK, so we went tonight the last night of Carmelita's week. We arrived at the very end of the evening, and we thought, it's so late maybe they won't serve us. Well to our surprise Carlos said, "Sorry but we don't have any food left".
OK, I can only assume that Carmelita's was a HUGE success. |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 422
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 12:40 pm: |
|
Where did you go to eat instead? |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 932
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 5:33 pm: |
|
Alleygator -
quote:Well to our surprise Carlos said, "Sorry but we don't have any food left".
That is SO cool!
|
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 123
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 6:22 pm: |
|
A business that says "sorry, we don't have any food left" would make me think they can't afford to buy enough., not that they were a "huge" success. They would have had to have such a busy evening, that when the next day came, they would be too busy prepping they would not have time to cook. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5582
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 6:26 pm: |
|
Carmelita's is a small place. As I learned earlier in this thread, business hasn't been so hot. So we MOLers boosted the business to the point that sales exceeded expectations. If he turns away enough people for lack of food, that would be a problem, but I'm not worried about that. Sales exceeding expectations is a good thing if it's short term. Let him adjust his buying to match the new level of patronage. And I hope it stays high, though I don't expect it to stay at this peak. |
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 124
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 6:38 pm: |
|
Small business's are a challenge. It can go either way, and it takes a good two to three years to see a profit. I have friends in the culinary field and they have told me stories beyond belief. One in particular was a very popular place at one time "Red Lobster" which was a booming place for two years. Then, out of the blue, dropped in sales so dramatically they had to close. This was a major chain. Small bistros or cafe's are harder, but also do have the ability to maintain their numbers if they have smart people working in each dept., including the smiling faces at your table. |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 341
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 6:53 pm: |
|
All right, I's sold. No more Toro Loco. We'll give Carmelita's a shot. Assuming they can put up with my crew. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 85
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:31 pm: |
|
I too was a bit put off that he couldn't serve us anything, but as I said it was the end of the night (like nearly closing -- which is our fault), and I also knew that us MOLers really did drop on him like a plague of locust these last three days, so I am willing to cut him some serious slack.
As for where we went instead... It was a toss up between Monster Sushi (which I'm not a particular fan of in Milburn) or Bill and Harry's. Chinese won out, which to be honest was a really good thing cause the chefs were singing in the back of the place and I suspected that there was just a little bit of extra love in the food last night. I say this cause my wife and I both felt like our meals were the best we ever had there. Almost as good as what we get in the city. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 695
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 10:38 pm: |
|
Tried Carmelita's for a third time, and was just as disappointed as I was the first two times. I guess it's just an acquired taste. I really want to like the place.
Meanwhile, have had probably a dozen great meals at Toro Loco in the year we've lived here, and have taken large groups there three times with excellent results. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5322
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 11:06 pm: |
|
There's no accounting for taste. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 89
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 11:41 pm: |
|
Actually, I do see a pretty dramatic difference between the two places and I could understand how you might like the style of cooking at one place over another. I see Toro Loco as the same ole same ole Tex-Mex joints that litter the country. I see Carmelitas as a bit different, a bit fresher, a bit less American style. There are times when I want a place like Toro Loco, but heck there are times when I want Taco Bell too, so there DEFINITELY is not accounting for taste. The thing is can totally appreciate the differences and am glad that all three exist in our general area. |
Me2
Citizen
Username: Me2
Post Number: 111
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 1:29 am: |
|
Dave,
Your promotion to save Carmelita's was a great idea. I went there last evening, and it was quite busy.
Now that lots of MOL'ers have had a chance to try Carmelita's, I wondered whether Chef Carlos would be interested in getting feedback from everyone. If so, could you provide a vehicle for that? I don't think that the open forum is the right place, especially if reviews are mixed. Perhaps just posting Carlos' email address and inviting folks to send feedback would be sufficient. What do you think?
I see potential for all struggling businesses in the area to get good feedback in the future via some sort of MOL-publicized dedicated time period for sampling and feedback. Yes, there are already lots of comments posted in various threads regarding lots of Maplewood businesses, but I don't expect business owners to monitor MOL consistently. They need something more focused.
Just my 2 cents!
|
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3512
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 1:16 pm: |
|
"I don't expect business owners to monitor MOL consistently. They need something more focused."
IMHO, if they own a business in Maplewood/South Orange, I can't imagine any business being focused on anything more important than www.maplewoodonline.com , bar none! |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3513
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 1:26 pm: |
|
On second thought, I have to apologize for totally understating my last post...
IMHO, I can't imagine how any business, or resident living and/or working in Maplewood/South Orange would focus on anything more important than www.maplewoodonline.com to put their finger on the pulse of our combined communities, bar none!
|
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5330
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 3:21 pm: |
|
I think some advertisers and businesses would like this kind of feedback capability, so we'll likely do it at some point in the near future. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page