Last weekend The Wife was in the mood for Americanized Mexican and being that so many people have recommended Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant as a place I should review, we headed down to Lakeville and walked into the restaurant at 5 PM on a Sunday.
We walked in what was apparently the side door and found a sign directing us to the hostess. After some confusion we finally got a buzzer and sat down and waited for a seat as the restaurant was quite busy–especially for an early dinner on a Sunday. After about 20 minutes we were seated at a booth and our server provided us with the usual chips and salsa as well as menus for us to look over.
The menu is quite extensive and includes the usual Tex-Mex fare such as enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, etc. Honestly there was so very much that it was difficult to take everything in at once but we had plenty of time to do so as our server was busy elsewhere in the restaurant. Nothing really caught my eye as interesting but I eventually settled on something that didn’t carry a ridiculous name like the “Gringo Burger”. Seriously? “Gringo Burger? Atrocious. While looking over the menus for ourselves The Rooster was getting fussy even though he had already had his dinner for the evening. I saw a sign on the table which noted that kids eat for $1.99 all day Sunday so we decided to grab him a plate of something too–he can’t be whiny when his mouth is full right?
Eventually our server returned and found that he had been gone so long that our chips and salsa were empty. He apologized profusely and took our orders. The Wife went with the Classic Chimichanga which was listed as a “House Specialty” and described as, “two flour tortillas, deep fried, filled with shredded beef and topped with cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, grated cheese, served with rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream,” for $9.25. I ordered the Steak Tres Marias which was described on the menu as, “three enchiladas stuffed with steak or grilled chicken. One topped with green sauce, one with cheese sauce and one with red sauce, with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream,” for $8.75. We ordered an enchiladas plate for The Rooster which came with beans, a single beef enchilada, and rice.
While we waited an additional 30 minutes for our food to arrive we noticed the steady stream of people coming into the restaurant to wait. It was during this time that I decided that the only reason that Casa Nostra remains open is because the long lines at Teresa’s provide a good reason to go next door to eat “authentic” Italian food instead of “authentic” Mexican.
After being in the restaurant for over an hour our meals finally arrived. As you can see from the pictures the items are covered in “sauces” and cheese and are your typical Americanized Mexican meals. While I was already annoyed with the descriptions on the menus of color + sauce, I dug in. As is the case with many Americanized Mexican places around the metro, each and every single item on my plate tasted exactly the same. It was like eating at an Americanized Chinese buffet. In fact, the food could have been Americanized Chinese and I wouldn’t have known the difference because it simply didn’t taste like anything. I wondered if the orange and cucumber slices on top of the lettuce was meant to help wash down the awful flavor. I found the entire dish to be so absolutely and utterly terrible that I was seriously tempted to stand up on the table and tell everyone waiting in line to get out and go to Taco Bell instead–at least there it would taste like the fillers they use and they’d save a good bit of money. They could have left off the out-of-place cucumber and orange slices and taken 50 cents off the entree price.
The Wife’s Chimichanga had a bit more flavor that my meal but I’m guessing that it only tasted “ok” because I had just eaten a plate of flavorless mush. I’m guessing Styrofoam would have had as much flavor. While I was utterly disturbed at how awful Teresa’s was, The Wife noted that she enjoyed her meal and would eat it again.
With The Rooster getting more fussy and fidgety by the second we flagged down our server and got our $22.50 bill for what should have been about $6 worth of mush. While I signed the receipt I came to realize that restaurants like Teresa’s exist solely because people wouldn’t know a decent meal if it slapped them in the face. Any person knowingly willing to wait 60+ minutes to eat that food is the reason why the restaurant selection in the South Metro is what it is. In addition to the slow service and unbelievably awful food, we were charged $2.99 for The Rooster’s enchilada even though the sign said $1.99. While $1 isn’t anything to get upset over, it’s the principle of the thing and it was just the icing on the cake of the worst meal I’ve had in a very long time.
Suffice to say that I will never ever step foot in Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant in Lakeville again and as crazy as this may sound I’d rather have gone next door to eat astroturf at Casa Nostra as I’m guessing it would have a ton more flavor than what I had that long night over a week ago.
Have you ever eaten at Teresa’s in Lakeville? If so what did you think? What do you eat when you go there? Are the wait times always as long as what we experienced? Whatever you have to say about Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant in Lakeville go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Address:
Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant
20202 Heritage Dr
Lakeville, MN 55044
Phone:
952-469-8903
See all the pictures from Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant in Lakeville on Flickr here.
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
Loading ...
February 22nd, 2011 at 9:10 am
Ive ate there a few times. I supposed I have never really given much thought to the taste of the food because I am always drinking a HUGE BEER with it :)
February 22nd, 2011 at 9:14 am
I’m sad you didn’t have a better experience. I’ve been there quite a few times for lunch on weekends and there has never been a wait to be seated and food always comes out quickly. The one time I was there on a Saturday evening, I was shocked at how busy they were, and there was a wait to be seated, but food still came out quickly after we ordered. The Changa Vegetarian is probably the best thing I’ve ordered but have tried other things off the vegetarian menu as well which have been good. The thing that I am disappointed about however is that they changed their chips. Up until maybe 6 months ago or so they had these chips that would melt in your mouth and then they changed the recipe. Every time I go back I keep hoping they will have brought back the good chips, but so far no luck.
February 22nd, 2011 at 9:46 am
Many friends rave about Teresa’s so 2 yrs ago, we gave it a try on a Friday night. The place was packed, which we took to be a good sign. But, the food was just as you described, a mash of flavorless beans, cheese and rice. I don’t remember what we ordered, just that both of us left feeling disappointed with the food and the prices. Friends still give great recommendations for Teresa’s, but we won’t go back. There are too many other restaurants that we enjoy, and many more to try.
February 22nd, 2011 at 9:53 am
I think Schnergun had a couple of those HUGE BEERs before typing his post. Rarely do I have to read a sentence 3-4 times before figuring out what it’s trying to say. Bill, sounds like another “reason why the restaurant selection in the South Metro is what it is.”
I don’t think Teresa’s is horrible, but I don’t really eat that kind of food very often. The mixed fajitas for two are decent and can easily feed our entire family of 5 which makes Teresa’s a fairly good bargain if we’re in the area (rarely).
Anyway, thankfully the kids like the freshness and flavors of more authentic Mexican vs. this style, so we stay closer to home and hit Taqueria La Hacienda if we’re in the mood for Mexican food. Never a wait there.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:17 am
I have dined at Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant and found the food to be quite good. Their enchiladas are authenticate Mexican; exactly what I eat in Mexico. The molcajete;s are excellent as are the seafood and sopas. Cucumber slices, radishes and orange slices are always served on the side salad in any decent Mexican restaurant. As for the wait times, 60 minutes would be a speedy meal. As for side salsa – here is a picture taken a few days ago at an outdoor restaurant.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 am
Scooterbum, I’m surprised to learn that authentic Mexican food has no flavor whatsoever. I find that hard to believe.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:34 am
I’d be willing to bet that Teresa’s did an adequate job creating this kind of food: bland Americanized Mexican-like mush. And, you hit on it in your review, Bill; people like this because it’s what they expect. And they expect it because that’s all they know. Most people around here think that’s Mexican food.
I always laugh when I see these extensive menus, because a majority of what’s there boils down to wrapping meat in a tortilla and pouring cheese all over.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:50 am
Could not agree with you more and the same goes for Casa Nostra, bluck.
But hold onto your hat…lunch is even worse. We had been to Teresa’s for dinner and should have known better but after attending a funeral at the nearby All Saints we skipped the church luncheon and went to Teresa’s figuring it would be faster as we needed to get back to work.
Well, it was fast. Lunch arrived within five minutes but the cold ham and cheese on a bun with a side of green Jell-O and Kool-Whip would have been 1000 times better than whatever it was we ate at Teresa’s.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:53 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by garciasn, LazyLightning.org. LazyLightning.org said: Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant: Lakeville, MN http://ow.ly/40NXh [...]
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 am
I ate there last week with my buddies. The food out outstanding, they really captured the flavors if Texico. I’m from New York and have eaten a ton of this kind of food and this is the best in the world. The owners are fantastic, they capture the flavors of their homeland. The service was outstanding. We tried a little of everything on the menu. The only thing we didn’t like was the grape leaves. Can’t win all the time.
I can’t wait to go back to Chili’s.
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:26 am
Sank, that was awesome! :D
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:33 am
#7 “And they expect it because that’s all they know. Most people around here think that’s Mexican food.”
Well it is Mexican food! I don’t know what expectorations people have of Mexican cuisine? Enchiladas – tacos – etc are mushy in Mexico – not spicy or hot.
Usually the sauce selection served on the side. I live in Mexico 5 months of the year and eat “real” Mexican food daily -
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:39 am
Sank, you forgot to use a whole bunch of exclamation marks.
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:43 am
sank,
homeland?
bb
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:50 am
We enjoy Teresas, although I dont normally eat the things you ordered. Quesadilla’s, fajitas, or chimichangas are my american mexican food of choice. Not sure what was going on, but we have seldom waited to be seated, and usually our food is at our table very fast.
We dont make the trip down there very often, as we prefer El Parian, but to be honest they are nearly indentical in terms of flavor. Both are much better than El Loro in my humble opinion.
February 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Chad, based on the recent reviews elsewhere (U/S and #3 above) it would appear that the quality has degraded recently. Perhaps they have begun to cut corners instead of raising the prices.
February 22nd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
While I don’t find Teresas’ to be *quite* as bad as Bill’s review, it is pretty bad. We only darken their door when friends invite us. There is much better Mexican fare available but, from my experience, it’s very hard to find south of the river. El Tequila is worth the drive to Northfield, or Faribault. The Farmington El Tequila was our favorite until Louis got deported – after his departure… not so much. The Farmington replacement, Cancun, is OK (same guy in the kitchen) but it’s not the same — but still better than Teresas’ in my opinion.
February 22nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Ate at Teresa’s once several years ago. Blech. Scooterbum, I have also eaten in Mexico. I have eaten at one of Rick Bayless’ restaurants. I have made a god bit of Mexican food myself, from scratch. Teresa’s was terrible. El Loro(s) are terrible. We call that style of slop “ChiChi’s Mexican”. Oddly enough, though, ChiChi’s got their act together very well just before going bankrupt and closing. Too little, too late.
February 22nd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Sandy, comparing Teresa’s to Rick Bayless restaurant(s) is sort of silly. Really not fair to either place.
My guess would be they are fine being compared to Chi Chi’s, as its the same style of food, and I would say they compare favorably. Beyond that, you are certainly not the target audience. My guess is you would have the exact same response to El Parian.
February 22nd, 2011 at 6:13 pm
1. El Parian was less money ($14 compared to $20).
2. El Parian had flavor.
3. El Parian had no wait.
February 22nd, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I meant that Sandy would feel the same about El Parian vs Teresas. No argument from me, we prefer El Perian, however the difference is minimal imho.
February 22nd, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Sounds disgusting. My wife has been bugging me to go to the one in Mendota Heights. Now, I won’t.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Chad, my point was in reference to Scooterbum’s assertion that Teresa’s was authentic. I was actually pointing out that I know what “real” Mexican food is, and, NO, Teresa’s is NOT it. Sorry if I was unclear.
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:18 am
[...] Mexican Restaurant in Lakeville is “like eating at an Americanized Chinese buffet” writes Bill Roehl, Zimmern brings some context to the closing of 20.21, Rachel digs the “first-rate” food [...]
February 23rd, 2011 at 10:32 am
I ate there a few years ago and thought it was terrible. Granted, I lived in south Texas for 8 years and am a bit critical but still I have to wonder why the margarita came out colored seafoam green. It was bizarre and tasteless. The fajitas also completely boring, tasteless and had tomatoes. Huh? Tomatoes are never, I repeat, never on a cast iron pan meant to steam and crisp the meat, onions and possibly green peppers. Won’t go back.
February 23rd, 2011 at 1:31 pm
We’ve eaten at Teresa’s several times. The picky teenager in my family enjoys it, so we tend to go when celebrating something for him. I’m very surprised to hear about your long wait for food. Usually, it comes out speedy fast! The enchiladas aren’t great. It’s taken me awhile to find something I actually like there. Some of the burritos are pretty good.
I really wish the restaurant selection in the South Metro was better.
February 23rd, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Based on the comments here, the basic range of opinion seems to be “It is sort of edible” at best to “pile of tasteless mush” at worst.
Yeah, I don’t think I am going to give this dump a try.
February 23rd, 2011 at 2:20 pm
I’d suggest that
• there is (here and elsewhere) a generally accepted division (debate?) between “Real Authentic Mexican” and “Americanized Mexican, Super-Sized, With Cheese for Da White Folk™” whereby the division between the two generally widens the further north one goes.
• Bill asserts and few disagree that Teresas is pretty much in the latter group.
• Talk of “Real Authentic Mexican” seems to mandate that one drop their “I’ve been this far south!” resume’
• Teresas may or may not be very good at doing Americanized Mexican, Super-Sized, With Cheese for Da White Folk™ Nobody seems to claim that they excel.
I’m hungry
February 23rd, 2011 at 9:01 pm
My husband and I went to Teresa’s shortly after they opened. While we were waiting for our server, I saw a busboy take a rag and wipe something off the floor and then wiped the table next to me. We left and have never returned.
I am also mystified how El Patio stays open. It’s usually busy and serves great tequila, but I sure don’t like the food.
February 23rd, 2011 at 10:45 pm
60 minutes is a speedy meal?!
I don’t mind Americanized Mexican food once every few months. I’ve eaten in Mexico before (twice) and the food I had wasn’t anything special. I didn’t find a food that I absolutely had to search out for in the U.S. so authentic/not authentic Mexican food doesn’t really matter to me.
I’ve yet to have authentic Italian though. One day I will make it to Olive Garden.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:04 am
There are way too many crappy mexican places like this in the metro. I call this brand of mexican food “St. Cloud Pot Luck Mexican” No spice, no flavor, no character. The sauces and plastic cheese they smother on everything are beyond boring. But when taken as a whole, I guess that’s how our palates can be described (at least in the ‘burbs). Giving customers what they want – can’t hate on that I guess.
If you like it thats fine, but 1) don’t go around saying you “LOVE Mexican food”, and 2) don’t recommend it to your friends/family as if you have some great tip on a good place to eat.
The El Azteca (El Crapteca) chain is another offender, they are all over the place and looks like the same food as Teresa’s. I think El Azteca’s are individually owned some may be better than others, but same concept. I mean cmon, they serve their chips with salsa and somekind of hybrid salsa/ranch sauce. Just goes to show what they think of our palates here. Kind of insulting, really. I wonder what the workers/owners say about the packed houses, when they know they eat the good stuff at home or somewhere else. They probably just shake their heads and go to the bank.
The only pluses to these places are the cheap prices and free chips/salsa. I can only imagine how bad their margaritas are.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:19 am
Authentic Mexican and American Mexican can both be very good – it depends upon the quality of their ingredients, the choices offered on the menu, and the skill and attention of the cooks.
Authentic Mexican food is widely varied and only sometimes spicy – it goes beyond the few items that are widely recognized in this country. Also, there is certainly bad food in Mexico, the same as in any country (but especially so in the good ol’ U.S.).
Places like Teresa’s are the same as any genre of bad to mediocre restaurant in America – an insult to anyone who likes honest food made tasty and well from real ingredients.
Taste buds differ between people, also, both in number and perceptions. Here’s an interesting tastebud test that I’ve been meaning to do:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/senses/tongue_experiment.shtml
If anyone does this, let us know how it turns out!
February 24th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
While not necessarily Mexican, those that want a really good creative meal should go to Chaya La Bistro on Lyndale and 46th. The chef is from Mexico, learned to cook in Italy and is really doing a great job. I have been there twice in the past month and one of the nights ranks #2 best meal of the year and the other night would rank #5 best meal of the year for me (out of probably 25 total meals out this year not including lunch).
#1 Corner Table
#2 Chaya
#3 Ronin
#4 Fogo De Chao
#5 Chaya (visit 2)
February 24th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
La Chaya Bisto (www.lachaya.com) looks extremely inviting! I’m there soon.
Thanks lefty!
February 24th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for pointing out the fact that I can’t even remember the name of the place properly! :>/
I hope you like it. Try the molten chocolate cake with chipotle. If you don’t like it, I will pay for yours. That’s the lefty guarantee! The other benefit of this place is that you don’t have to pass Corner Table on the way there since it is two blocks south of it.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:51 am
I think saying “Mexican” food is a lot like saying “BBQ”. There are a ton of regional differences. I mean compare Texas, Kansas City, Georgia and Minnesota BBQ. Strange to think they are all called the same thing, right?
I gotta say Mexican is one of the types of food where my mood is the major indication of if I like a place or not. Personally, I didn’t like Teresa’s and stay away from chain Mexican in general. I think beer size, margarita variety, spicy vs. taste ratio, and type of cheese play an important role. Generally the bigger the beer, the more varieties of margaritas, the more spice is used (or completely not used) to compensate for lack of taste and the oranger the cheese the worse the Mexican place.
That’s not to say sometimes I really just want Taco Bell or Don Pablo’s.
I don’t really have a favorite Mexican place here in Minnesota, unless you count my sister’s place when her mother-in-law is in town. She makes this potato and beef dish that is just delicious. Mmmmm!
February 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Thank you for this review. I’ve been to Teresa’s twice and have hated it both times. The second time I tried it because I’ve had friends rave about the place so I thought I must have had a bad experience. But no, I got the same bland cheese sauce piled over everything once again. Nasty.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:58 am
hey lefty,
La Chaya 4537 Nicollet Ave S. Minneapolis 55419
too many surlys perhaps:)
bb
February 26th, 2011 at 10:41 am
Hey bb,
Post 35
Also, no such thing as too many surlys! The Depot had Abrasive on tap last night. Win.
Lefty
February 27th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I like Teresa’s. We’ve always had good service, and the food is typically quick to be served. I tend to order the more non-traditional menu items, my favorite is the Burrito Juanito, which is filled with chicken, squash, and french fries and topped with a creamy sauce that has a hint of lime flavor. Is it authentic? I have no idea. Do I care? …nope.
I do enjoy TLH and visit much more often than I do Teresa’s, and if I could get a 32 oz. Dos Equis at TLH for $5, it might become my favorite of all.
My favorite “Authentic” Mexican restaurant is 1,523 miles away.
April 4th, 2011 at 9:52 am
ChapterandVerse:
Did you make it to La Chaya Bistro yet? We had dinner there again on Saturday, making it our 4th visit this year. Every time we go there it gets better. I don’t understand how this place is not on the top ten of every list for “best of” for the metro area. It is not only top notch food, but the inventiveness of the menu that grabs me.
One highlight is the filet of beef appetizer. Basically, they heat up a cast iron pan to some obnoxiously high heat, put a bit of oil in it along with chili peppers, garlic and rosemary and right before they serve it, they put extremely thinly sliced beef on the plate and bring it to your table. It literally cooks right in front of you. If you like it rare, you eat fast, if you like it more done, you watch it cook and eat as you like on the grilled bread it comes with. The peppers have a nice kick to them as well and most every thing on the menu has a bit of spice to it.
Service is spot on as well. So glad to have found this place.
Also, I have no interest, financially, familial or otherwise in this place…not that it needs it since it seems to be pretty busy most of the time. I am having a hard time finding a reason for this not to be my favorite place to eat right now.
April 4th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
lefty, no we haven’t – dang it. We drove by it the other day and it reminded us we need to get there. The place even *looks* inviting. My better half loves Pizzeria Lola so much it’s hard to divert her to another venue. But, she agreed the place looked like a place to visit. I’ll be sure to post our opinion when we eat there. It’ll probably be a few weeks before get there – we’re off to Utah next week [Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park].
April 4th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I would agree on La Chaya, have been a couple times and each time has been great. For what its worth though, I also like Teresas.
On a side note, as La Chaya and Corner Table are only a couple blocks apart, for my money, I thought La Chaya was much better.
April 4th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Chad,
Apples to oranges IMO.
April 4th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Very true.
April 7th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
I’m hoping Las Totillas in Rosemount will be good as I it would be nice to have a good Mexican option close to home (I live between Cty Rds 42 & 46 off of Chippendale in Rosemount).
When I’m at home and don’t want to go too far, I have liked El Patio, and I have enjoyed Las Margaritas in Hastings the couple of times I have been there. Also the Cancun in Farmington is OK but not the greatest.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:32 am
[...] 1. Ramadan Restaurant and Grill 2. Andiamo 3. Stockmen’s Truck Stop 4. Bella Pizza 5. Valley Tap House 6. Morgan’s on Nicollet: A New World Tavern 7. Burger Time 8. Reno’s Pizza 9. Burger Jones 10. Las Tortillas 11. Zest Bar and Grill 12. Taqueria Hidalgo 13. Ernies Pub and Grill 14. Teresas Mexican Restaurant [...]
February 11th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Teresa’s is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. El Azteca comes in a close 2nd. I don’t think much of El Patio. I have been to Teresa’s numerous times and really like the food, and their margaritas are the best around. The decor isn’t the best. It’s kinda plain and the tables and chairs are on the small side and really crowded together. I really like that their service is always fast, they don’t make you wait long for your food once you’ve ordered! I also really like that they give you extra salsa for your chips in a little bottle right away so you don’t have to ask for more when you empty the dish that comes with the chips. I have always had good experiences at Teresa’s and will continue to go there when I’m on the mood for some good Mexican food!….
February 12th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Mopey, I am glad you can somehow find a good experience at Teresa’s. The fact remains that their food really is absolutely TERRIBLE, however.
February 13th, 2012 at 12:02 am
But where else can you get like a quart of beer for $5.50 (or less I don’t remember) during happy hour?
Granted the draft selection is severely limited, but it’s a cheap drunk.
February 13th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I guess it all depends on what your expectations are Sandy. Do I expect anything close to Mexican food here in Minnesota that I have had in Mexico? No I don’t. Since I don’t expect that I’m not too disappointed when I get the Americanized Mexican food served by most of the places here. Honestly, I’m fine with that. I like the Americanized stuff too. Personally, I have not found any Mexican place here in the cities as good as a place called the Mexican Village down in Mankato, where I went to college. They do Americanized stuff there too, but they do it better then anyone else! People always tell me to try other places around the cities, but the thing is, even though I like to go out to eat and go out quite often, I am creature of habit who doesn’t like to stray far from home. Just ask my wife, trying to get me to go somewhere much more then 15 minutes front my front door for lunch or dinner isn’t easy. So, I never try any of those places people tell me about since even if I did, and even if I liked them, I still wouldn’t give them repeat business since I just don’t want to go that far from home. Teresa’s works for me because it meet my criteria for what I am looking for. It does decent Americanized Mexican food, has awesome Margaritas and is 10 minutes from my house. That’s all I’m looking for, and Teresa’s has never disappointed me, like say El Patio has!
February 13th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
http://www.lazylightning.org/taqueria-la-hacienda-3-burnsville-mn
http://www.lazylightning.org/andale-taqueria-mercado-richfield-mn
February 13th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Then why are you posting here about restaurants? Are you lonely for conversation? Are you trying to persuade people to spend money on averageness? I don’t get your point.
You just typed a big long post about how you’ve replaced Molly Cool’s/Copper River with Carbone’s. Besides having bars/bartenders, there is no correlation between the two.
Hey…I just started taking back roads instead of the interstate to and from work! Cool. Now both of us typed irrelevant points that add nothing whatsoever to the discussion.
February 13th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I am posting on here because I like to go out to eat. Granted, I stay in a small area, but just about every place I have posted on is a place I have been multiple times so I know something about. I am writing my opinions down like everyone else is all. If you don’t like my opinions, that’s fine. I don’t really care, don’t read them. Chances are I’d probably think that most of your opinions on most of the places in my little area are off base, but I am not a troll and am not interested in picking fights and bashing what others say if I don’t agree with them.
So is this one of those places where the oldtimers/regulars feel the need to pick on newbies?
February 13th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
MSPD is just pissed off he was wrong about M. Erickson in the Copper River thread. Just ignore him.
February 13th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Mopey, I happen to agree with you on Teresa’s, and I think your opinion is relevant, because you are certainly not the only one posting/reading on here who wont drive across the cities to eat.
My parents come to visit quite often, and they get so frustrated that I will drive from Burnsville into St Paul or South Minneapolis to take them to dinner. I have learned they are just as happy with something average that is close by as they are with something that takes 30 or 40 minutes to drive to, costs more, and might taste a little better.
I prefer El Parian to Teresas, but honestly might have a hard time telling them apart in a blind taste test, with the exception of the Carnitas at El Parian being very good.
February 13th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I haven’t been to EP in several years but at least you don’t have to wait 60 minutes and then get served crap like you would at Teresa’s.
February 13th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
I’m not bashing you, just wondering what your point is. You say you’re posting opinions but what are they? You yourself said you have low expectations, won’t try anything new, won’t support a new place even if you liked it, and you won’t go outside of 10 miles. You also never named a specific dish, drink, or type of food. So is your “opinion” that people shouldn’t be passionate about food and seeking new/great experiences?
We’re glad you like you go out to eat within 10 miles of your home. Congratulations. But, what does that contribute to a meaningful discussion? (especially among people that are passionate about food/restaurants)
Newbie or old-timer…have a point.
And, yeah, you probably wouldn’t like my opinions, what with their details, emphasis on quality of food, and open-mindedness.
February 13th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Chad, you bring up a point that I think is important to a lot of people. That being distance they have to travel. Personally, I would be much happier eating something good within 15 minutes of my home then have something outstanding that I’d have to travel a half hour to get to. When I got out to eat I know what I want and the places that I can get it at close to home.
February 13th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
MSPD, I haven’t seen a point out of you yet! Granted I haven’t read much of you. Only what I have seen on this thread and the Copper River one. All you seem to be interested in doing is arguing with people whose posts don’t conform to what you want them to. I haven’t seen much in the form of an opinion from you either, other then you don’t like what other people are posting. I haven’t seen you mention a dish or anything yet your self. Exactly what meaningful have you added to this discussion or the one at the Copper River thread.
What? Do you want me to say that Mollys use to have an awesome paella and I’ve been lobbying Copper River to bring it back? Do you want me to say that I think the Carne Asada burrito at Teresa’s is really good? Do you want me say the surf and turf at Rudy’s Red Eye Grill is awesome? That Panino Brothers has the best french dip sandwich in the area? That the deep dish pizza at Carbone’s is the best pizza around? That Old Chicago makes a mean bacon cheeseburger and their fries are the best in the south metro? I can go on and on….Is that what you want?
I think I have mentioned more dish’s in this 1 post then you have in all the ones I’ve read of yours combined!
Do you even know what the word hypocrite means?
Whatever, I don’t care if you like what I say or not, I’m going to say it anyway. I am not interested in hearing from you about how I should compose my posts. I didn’t know you were the board Nazi around here. My apologies….
February 13th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Mopey,
I think all that drinking has killed your ability to evaluate good food. Every single thing you seem to like is the worst. Old Chicago hamburger? For real? Carbone’s best pizza. C’mon man.
There is a place here for you for sure. You get to play the typical easily pleased Minnesotan who keeps all the crappy places open around here. We need people like you so the good places have a seat for us once in awhile. Appreciate the service.
lefty
February 13th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Chill out guys.
February 13th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Well lefty,
All the places I mentioned seem to do a pretty good business, so I guess I’m not the only easily pleased Minnesotan around. And, if being easily pleased means being different then you, I’ll take that as a compliment and be glad to keep the places I mentioned in business so you can enjoy where ever it is you like to go!
February 13th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Sorry Bill….
February 13th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Mopey,
I hope you stick around. Nobody agrees with me on much here, so you are closer to the norm. Even though I don’t really agree with you, you are obviously putting some thought into your comments.
February 13th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Mopey,
This site has been around for nearly 6 years. In that time we have had NUMEROUS discussions about the lack of acceptable food options in the South Metro due to the general South Metro resident’s lack of decent taste in food.
This site is a resource for places you should be eating at instead of chains (local and national) as well as other small places (like Panino Brothers) which you should avoid due to any number of reasons (asshole ownership, shitty service, horrible food). We offer tons of suggestions on where you should spend your money instead.
You coming here to tell us that Olive Garden or Teresa’s, with their 1+ hour wait on a weeknight, is the best Italian or Americanized Mexican food you’re going to find in town is your prerogative but don’t expect that we won’t push back due to having more experience and better knowledge of food than you do.
Hey, by all means believe that Old Chicago offers the best burger. I’m glad you like it. You have no idea how ridiculous that statement sounds when you openly admit you refuse to try The Nook (where you’ll pay less and get more) or Junior’s, or even Valley Tap House (according to some). For you to tell me that TLH #3 or Andale (or any other traditional Hispanic restaurant around town) isn’t as good as the trash you’re eating at Teresa’s is just amazingly naive and disappointing to those who have spent the last 6 years on this site talking about all these great and nearly undiscovered spots while you, and so many others, continue to eat the congealed and nasty bullshit served to you by the various shitty restaurants around town.
So don’t get all high and mighty and claim that we’re ragging on the new guy when you haven’t even taken the time to observe, read, and try to learn something. We’ve all been where you have and you admit you haven’t been where we have. We know what we’re talking about and you don’t. That’s the problem here. So either step back and reassess the situation and your place within this community or continue to go through life with blinders on while missing some truly eye opening experiences.
February 13th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Mopey, you have no idea how stupid a post you just made. Not only did I compare Copper River price points to specific dishes at Bachelor Farmer, I also provided M. erickson with several specific recommendations based on her stated preferences, which led to a tangent on burgers complete with specifics on what makes a good burger to me and how Shantytown’s rates.
Besides that half the restaurants Bill reviews are based on tips from me. Read my post under the Village pizza thread. I gave a detailed description of the food, but what fuels my passion for food.
YES…WE DO want to hear about the paella at Molly Cool’s and all that other stuff. That’s useful information. Stop being so freaking defensive and sensitive. I agree with your/Chad’s point about dining close to home so share something of use to the locals…get specific and add something that goes beyond “Teresas meets my extremely low standards” and not bothrring to explain why.
Step your game up.
February 13th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Bill,
Everyone has their opinion. For the record I have never mentioned Olive Garden here. Nor have I said that the Mexican places you mentioned are trash. I wouldn’t because I have never been there before, hence you won’t see me commenting on them. I said Old Chicago makes a mean bacon cheeseburger. I never said it was my favorite. I tried it one night and was pleasantly surprised since OC is not a place know for burgers. Is it the best…No, for burgers Kings Place is the best in my opinion. I have been to the Tap House a few times and love it. I was even invited to the soft opening too since I know some of the staff there, but I had plans that night and had to miss it.
I’m not here to bandy words. The thing is I am happy with the places I go to and I am happy with what I eat there. Isn’t that the point of going out? I’m sorry you think I am uneducated and don’t have a clue. I’m sorry you think people like me need to broaden our horizons and try other places. But, you see, we don’t need to do anything as long as the places we want to go are open and we are happy with what we get there. I may try the 2 places you mentioned. I had never heard of them before and if I like them I will say so. If there are all these great undiscovered places around here, then apparently they aren’t doing their market research well because they aren’t being discovered and packing them in like some of the places you don’t like. Maybe they need to advertise better or maybe the people that do like them aren’t representative to the local area that those places are trying to draw business from and they need to reassess either the market they are in or relocate to one that would be a better fit for them. Once again, it all goes to market research and giving that market what they want.
Bill, I am not going to pretend to be as educated as you and some others here, but I will give my opinion. If I am a naive nit wit, then so be it, at least I am a happy one and happy with the places I go. For some reason I think that will work better for me being angry and upset that the people that live down here don’t “get it” and eat at crap places and should be eating elsewhere……Actually, the people that don’t get it are the ones trying to change everyone. You can’t make people try things they don’t want to. You can’t make them go places they don’t want to go. Maybe people like me (which apparently make up the majority in the south metro) don’t have sophisticated palates, but hey we’re the majority for a reason and the places that succeed down here cater to us. I am sure I would like several places in Minneapolis or St. Paul, but I am also sure I’d complain about their prices and wouldn’t go back.
Anyway….I guess I did one thing right. I live in an area where I am happy and content with the dinning options around. Of course, maybe that’s because I am small town person not use having options. I had to learn to make do with what we had.
February 13th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Mopey,
I understand and mostly agree with your “live and let live” point. Unfortunately, there is one thing that prevents me from going along with it entirely.
When masses of people blindly support mediocre restaurants, other mediocre restaurant chains decide that “the people have spoken” and move in with even more mediocre restaurants. Then those who might have opened great restaurants around here decide that the population is too (insert desired adjective here) to appreciate good food….and then those of us who want fresh, interesting food options that aren’t 24 miles away are screwed.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:06 am
Lefty, every place needs people who are different and end up being the devils advocate to spice things up and keep things interesting. Forums can get awful boring if everyone agrees with each other all the time.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:22 am
Sandy, I can’t disagree with a word you said. This is where it all goes to market research. People that want to open a great restaurant around here need to understand the market they are dealing with and come up with away to get the people in the community to come in and give them a try and to create a buzz about them that will want other people to come in and try them too. Apparently, not many places have been able to do that.
The best advertising is word of mouth. When people are new to an area or unfamiliar with and area and they are looking for a good place to eat they are 1st going to ask their friends, neighbors, co workers, etc where a good place to eat is. If they don’t know anyone they will probably ask a local. What ever places these people mention will be where they’ll try. I know when I moved into my neighborhood the people overwhelming recommended 2 places. The Ole Piper Inn and Rascals. Old Chicago was also a place that got mentioned. Guess what the 1st 3 places I tried were? If you ask people around here that same question today chances are those would still be the top 3 answers. Do I think these are the best places our neighborhood has to offer? Not particularly. Of the 3 OC is my favorite and probably the only place that are in the top 3 of places I go to around here.
My point being anyone who wants to open a place like you seem to want needs to figure out a way to get that local community behind them and to mention them as being one of those must go to places in the community. How do they do that? I have no clue. But, the one that figures it out will be the one that succeeds where others have failed.
February 14th, 2012 at 8:09 am
Don,
That is an excellent point. I am going to try harder to speak my mind the next time I don’t agree with someone on the board.
lefty
February 14th, 2012 at 8:13 am
Mopey/Don, your username is “Mopey”. A couple slipped through as Don. Oops.
February 14th, 2012 at 8:51 am
Mopey, as noted previously, I agree with much of what you said, but we disagree in regards to how a place can be successful.
Market research has little to do with Ruby Tuesday, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Outback (although I like Outback once in awhile) being packed with a 30 to 45 minute wait every Friday and Saturday night. It has much more to do with people being happy paying middle of the road prices for frozen food, packed with salt and preservatives, being rehated and served to them. I admit that I fail to understand this, but its certainly a fact here in our section of the burbs.
Places that I often go, that are independent and struggling, with great food, have no wait and you can walk rigth in. A mile down the road people are lined up out the door to eat at Ruby friggen Tuesday.
You may be right. Maybe it is just market research. Maybe these little mom and pop places need to realize people are quite happy paying 8.95 for a burger and fries that were frozen 12 minutes prior to being ordered instead of 9.95 for fresh food.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:05 am
I would think having a sizable advertising budget helps the big guys as well.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Nurd52′s comment was the 35,000th comment posted to the site! Here are the other milestone comments:
5,000th on 2/22/2009
10,000th on 8/26/2009
15,000th on 2/12/2010
20,000th on 8/23/2010
25,000th on 2/16/2011
30,000th on 8/24/2011
February 14th, 2012 at 9:07 am
Those dates are amazingly consistent.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:18 am
It’s unfortunate really and shows a bit of stagnant comment growth overall. However there are some reasons for the lack of variation:
1. I no longer have trackbacks to Twitter posts referencing a particular post URL (those counted towards the totals shown above).
2. I have less internal linkage between posts due to general laziness and WP’s inability to automatically handle the trackbacks without my intervention.
3. I post less both in posts and comments (my usual comment metrics do not include my own but they are included in these total counts).
4. Comment growth is more or less stagnant except for Lefty. ;-)
February 14th, 2012 at 9:32 am
Well I feel honored to have posted the 35000′th comment. So where’s my free 7 course dinner for two going to be at?
February 14th, 2012 at 10:17 am
This is what you’d get outta Bill:
- 3 items from the $0.99 value meal at McD’s
- 1 napkin
- 1 straw
- 1 bag
- 1 pack of ketchup
February 14th, 2012 at 10:18 am
hah.
February 14th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
” Comment growth is more or less stagnant except for Lefty. ;-)”
My comments are down because no one here likes me. :-{
‘Cept maybe lefty….but only a little.
February 14th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Actually Sandy,
I was wondering why you had slowed down. I like your comments and you add a lot of cool perspective, so you are right that I like you. I also liked the part where you acknowledge how good looking I am.
I think your mistake was calling Vincent’s A Restaurant burger better than The Nook. You need to back off that one cause that sounds like something our new buddy Mopey would have said. :)
February 14th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
sandy, if I worried about what people thought of me when I comment I wouldn’t have the site at all ;)
February 14th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
“I think your mistake was calling Vincent’s A Restaurant burger better than The Nook. You need to back off that one cause that sounds like something our new buddy Mopey would have said. :)”
GAK. Sounds like burger wars.
Thanks, lefty!
Good point, Bill………;)
February 14th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Wait….
This site has been here for 6 years?
You fuckers age me.
:P
February 14th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Never been to Vincent’s or the Nook. My favorite place for a burger is Kings Place. One of the few places I will make the extended drive to go to!…I remember really liking Lions Tap too. Been a long time since I’ve been there, though. Don’t wander over to that part of the cities much.
February 14th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Oh, here we go. lefty, please be kind.
February 14th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Chad, In this part of town I have noticed a few things. I could be wrong, but this is what I think. It’s all according to the world of Mopey, which I have the feeling that many around here think is quite myopic.
1. Word of mouth is the best advertising there is. Everyone tries places that their fiends, co workers, neighbors, etc recommend. As long it’s some one they know on a face to face level, it’s all good. Successful places are the ones that people recommend off the top of their heads when asked where a good place to go is.
2. People around here don’t want to pay much more then 15 dollars for a plate of food. 20 tops. Sure once in a while they’re willing to pay more on a special occasion (like anniversaries and b-days), but any place that charges those kinds of places won’t be seeing a lot of repeat business.
3. I think people around here like to stay close to home. That helps explain the theory around here that crap places, like Teresa’s do such a good business.
For a mom and pop place that has the fresh food like you are talking about to succeed down here I think they need to do a few things. 1st, get the local community behind them. Advertise. Go on the popular radio stations, get them involved. Have something like a chili cook off (or cook off any kind) where the proceeds go to charity or something. Radio stations eat this stuff up, and so do local sports teams. Get some event like this going. It will get their name all over the air waves and people will start to think about them and maybe give them a try. 2nd, have reasonable prices. Make something fresh and good and keep it in that 15 dollar range, and 3rd have a menu that locals will embrace. This goes back to know your market. The bottom line is that they need to create a buzz and get the locals talking about them
I have lived and worked in this part of the cities since the mid 90′s. I know lots of people around here. Bill recently recommended 2 Mexican places to me in Burnsville, I think, and I had never heard of them before. I can’t help but wonder why? If they are that good why hasn’t anyone I know down here mentioned them? Why do I hear El Azteca, Teresa’s , El Patio, and El Loro all the time. I use to hear Estabahns or Chi Chi’s or whatever that place by Burnsville Center was called too. Why am I not hearing about these places that Bill recommends? Is it because they are new and people don’t know about then yet? Is it because they don’t advertise well? Is it because they or too expensive? Is it because the locals think their food sucks? Or is it something else. There has to be a reason the locals aren’t talking about them.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Part of the answer to that is because conversations about really great food get watered down/buried by talk of mediocrity like Old Chicago and Rascal’s and Teresa’s.
If we could get more and more people to open their minds, travel outside their self-imposed 10-mile comfort zone/self-imposed mediocrity and taste great food, (not EXPENSIVE food, mind you) they wouldn’t settle for Rascal’s and Teresa’s and El Patio and El Loro and Panda Express and Leeann Chin.
This was a proud and telling moment for me the other day. My 5 year-old daughter said to her Mom, “Mom…is it OK if we never, ever eat at McDonald’s again?” Even a 5 year-old, who has thoughfully been introduced (not forced) to flavorful food, the basics of nutrition, and quality ingredients recognizes that the food peddled at these places is flavorless, unhealthy crap. Even she won’t settle for garbage.
Marketing isn’t the only reason why these places are a hit. It’s our constantly lowering standards – things like “It does decent Americanized Mexican food, has awesome Margaritas and is 10 minutes from my house. That’s all I’m looking for” spoken amid a community of people with a passion for food/restaurants. When people are OK with blowing their $15 on $2 worth of ingredients microwaved by a 17 year-old and served in a fake cantina, that’s what’s going to continue to thrive.
Another part of why you don’t hear about places like Bill recommends is…yes…your myopic approach. You said yourself that you pretty much don’t want to hear about new things. Like you, I get restaurant recommendations for places like the Ole Piper, Teresa’s, Rascals, and Old Chicago. I politely say “hey thanks!” and then I go ask someone else for a tip. I don’t settle for/waste my money on food like that. But I work a little harder to find things that are better and I keep an open mind. And I participate in communities (like the core of this one) that has higher standards. That may not be your M.O.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
I’m with MSPD.
I do most of the cooking here; especially dinners. I’m not bad at it. So, when I go out, I want to be amazed by something I simply cannot pull off in my own kitchen.
Convenience is rarely an excuse, either, because one can typically make something at home faster, better and cheaper than a trip to nearly any restaurant.
So, if i take a seat in your place, humble me.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Mopey, you should read some reviews on this site and, you know, go try some food. ;)
February 14th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Good luck getting people to open their minds to you MSPD. You seem to be the type of person that people won’t listen to the message from because they don’t like the messenger.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Pot. Kettle.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
“I’m with MSPD.”
February 14th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Oh Mopey, Mopey, Mopey… I get the feeling you one of those folks who is in a rut. The rut is so deep you can’t see out of it, therefore you have no idea what you passing by as you travel down at the bottom of your deep ditch. Do yourself a favor, STOP, climb out and look around. There are kitchen heros who are offering up fantastic, creative, flavorful dishes that are beyond anything you can imagine. Listen-up, take the advise offered here. You’ll thank Bill, MSPD, lefty, Joey, Jorn, on-and-on, later.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
You may be right C&V. Time will tell. There are probably several here I would thank, but I pretty much know there is one I won’t….
February 14th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Mopey, you are quite possibly the most sensitive and defensive people I’ve ever encountered. YOU SAID YOURSELF that you won’t try new things, won’t venture out. What exactly am I saying that’s mean to you? You came on a blog that’s largely about the pursuit of great food…what do you want? All I’ve been saying is contribute something that doesn’t point to mediocrity. Is that really that offensive to you?
Bill said it well yesterday. We’ve been here for SIX YEARS talking about this stuff and you’re joining a pretty sophisticated and discerning group of people. ADD SOMETHING USEFUL and quit taking debate personally (especially when I’m just repeating back your own qualifiers of your lack of knowledge and desire to search out great food)
February 14th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
I was wrong. We’ve been around for almost 7. Not 6. ;-)
February 14th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Mopey,
I am beginning to wonder if you are actually Bill trying to get the post count up here because you are saying some of the dumbest things I have ever read on the internet.
For fuck’s sake. Go try The Nook. Go to Vincent’s even, but that is more a place to drop 200 for an anniversary or something. Read the advice of the readers here who know what they are talking about.
That you choose to assume that because you have personally never heard of a place means it is not successful is moronic. The places we are talking about are doing just fine. Hell, I can’t go to The Nook at 3 PM on a weekday and hope to find a table much less on a weekend evening. I don’t know if they have spent one penny on marketing ever. Don’t need to. Stop cocking off about “if the locals are not talking about it”. Get this, we are. We just generally don’t talk much to Old Chicago burger loving persons. (actually, until yesterday, nobody knew one existed.)
Anyway. MSPD has done a good job of telling you why you could benefit from the fact we are all mostly wiser than you, and for sure have better taste in food. Why you choose to insult and fight it just makes you a troll. If you have no intention of driving more than 10 minutes from your house, why are you even here? Maybe if you did, it would open yourself up to a world you didn’t even know you could appreciate.
All of us were in your boat at some point, even MSPD’s child when she was 4, apparently.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Because people, and I see it almost daily on Urbanspoon, think that all of those other places are “AUTHENTIC” Mexican when, in fact, they are Americanized Mexican (Tex-Mex). TLH#3 and Andale (and numerous others I am too lazy to list here) are far more traditional yet people, like you and so many others, would be horrified not to find flour tortilla soft tacos, burritos covered in dyed and shelf stable cheese sauce, and enchiladas made with the world’s finest can of Old El Paso sauce.
Customers who rave about those Tex-Mex joints seriously wouldn’t know what to do with beef tongue, grilled onions, and tacos with some cilantro and lime wedges. In fact they’d probably send it right back and beg for a Styrofoam container to munch on with their soggy chips and crappy ultra mild salsa. These are the people that cried when Chi Chi’s closed.
This isn’t limited to Tex-Mex either. Plenty of people rave on and on about the authentic dishes at Lai Wah or Hunan Palace. These are the people who think that some the best Chinese food is found at Leeann Chin and across the street at Panda Express. They would shit their fucking pants walking into a Hmong market and would run away screaming for their General Tsos and deep fried eggrolls served with syrupy, MSG loaded, sauces that oddly all taste the same.
But again, I’ve visited these places and the others. I know which are better. Let’s take Apple Valley’s awful El Azteca for instance. Typical bullshit served at any number of other shitty Tex-Mex places. You know what’s hilarious? That there is a Hispanic market in that same strip serving REAL Hispanic items including a wonderfully spicy homemade chorizo in natural casings that blew my mind when I made it for the holidays.
But hey. El Azteca serves shitty fried tortilla chips and BIG margaritas. Who cares what it tastes like when your taste buds are blown out by the numbness provided by a gallon of bottled margarita mix and some cheap tequila right?
February 14th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Lefty that is the most hilarious fucking thing I’ve read all year.
February 14th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Signs I need to up and leave a “Mexican” restaurant right away:
• They only have José Cuervo branded* tequilas.
• Flour tortillas** are the default for every dish.
• There’s a filbert/hazelnut/whatever in my margarita. And/or orange juice.
*Extra flaming hate when I ask for something other than Cuervo and the response is, “Well, we have 1800.” Seriously; this happens all the fucking time. People actually say this with a straight face. Die Die Die!
** May a festering boar hump your dead mother’s corpse if your corn tortillas are the hard-shell variety.
February 14th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Thanks Bill. I honestly could have written that I didn’t even know OC SERVED hamburgers. :)
February 14th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
I was told the fun is over. :-(
February 14th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Mopey,
Don’t leave! Go to The Nook! If it does not change your life, send me the receipt and I will reimburse you. Seriously. My treat, your meal only if you don’t love it.
Then come back and we can start talking food. Real food.
lefty
February 14th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
“You’ll thank Bill, MSPD, lefty, Joey, Jorn, on-and-on, later.”
I don’t know C&V, until a few years ago I would have directed someone to El Loro for Mexican. I had no idea that LH3, just a mile from me (if that), was so much better.
Like Mopey, I’m from a small town with generally bland food options. I’m also not a picky eater. I grew up with lots of rice and beans and very little flavoring. Much of what I ate was overcooked, burnt, or simply unseasoned. When you’re 1 of 11 kids, your options are limited. 1 course was pretty typical for any meal. We never ate out, and fast food was a treat.
However, when I came across a community that cared about food (i.e., Lazy Lightning), I listened. I learned.
Eventually I started ordering my burgers medium. Then medium-rare. Now I go rare. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even put in an order for a blue burger?
I can still be content with just about any meal, but I’ve realized that there’s a big difference in simply being content with my meal and truly being happy with it. It’s not enough to just walk out full. It matters more that I walk out feeling like I had a really great culinary experience for what I paid. I’m not talking about something you have to pay $50 a plate for. I’m just talking about going to a place where they care about the food. That’s it. Some of my favorite places are total dives with line cooks who probably didn’t make it through high school. Good food isn’t magic. But it does matter and it’s astounding how many places don’t get it right.
February 14th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
This guy. ^ Right here.
February 14th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Sandy, while I rarely agree with you on here, I met you at an event once and found you to be incredibly kind and welcoming. just throwing that out there.
February 14th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Also, I still like Panino Bros.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Thanks, dm. I agree with you….sometimes!