TravelValue: Restaurants Across The U.S.: Washington

Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Seattle, WA: Decent Mexican Food In A Warm, No Frills Setting ... Olé!

El Sombrero Family Mexican Restaurant

4868 Rainier Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98118

Phone number: (206) 722-1717

Website: elsombreroseattle.com

Prices: $$$$

In an attractive, early 20th Century neighborhood in southeastern Seattle we came across El Sombrero while searching for some chow. It looked simple and inviting, so in we went in.

The prices were fair as was the service and the chips hot, the salsa tasty, and the guacamole ($4.25) decent, although it needed some extra salt - we were off to a good start. My Negra Modelo (on tap - $4.50) was relatively cold, but yummy nonetheless.

My wife had a small Vegetarian Quesadilla ($8.55) that was actually pretty big, so I would not fathom to guess how big the large one might have been. It came with both a scoop of guacamole (still needing some salt) and sour cream (which she hates). I had a bite and it was as good as a flour tortilla with cheese and potato could be.

I had the Tacos Rancheros ($12.25), three deep fried corn tortillas filled with shredded beef and pork, and potato, then topped with loads of lettuce, a little tomato, and not so much cheese. However, they were very tasty and my arteries will never be the same, but those are the sacrifices I must make for my readers. I saved some salted guac for the tacos and was glad I did, while the server brought me some green chili salsa which complemented the tacos quite nicely ... OLÉ!

Being a California native, a 20+ year Texas resident, and a relatively new Portland, Oregon area transplant, I have been completely unimpressed with Pacific NW Mexican restaurants to date, but this experience gave me a glimmer of hope that there might be sunshine on the horizon. Not great by any stretch, El Sombrero was a good find, a decent value, and a tasty treat ... HOOAH!

CombatCritic Gives El Sombrero 7 Out Of 10 Bombs ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Washougal, WA: No Bueno Compadres! ... Not Good Mate!

Los Dos Compadres

701 E Street

Washougal, WA 98671

Phone number (360) 335-1706

Website: They Do Not Have One

Prices: $$$$

I thought Mexican restaurants in the Midwest were bad ... until we moved to Portland, Oregon. I love Mexican food, but I would rather cook at home then eat the crap places like this put out.

I paid $20 plus tip ($24) for a dinner for one with NO DRINKS, only water, and all I had was a taco, enchilada, and chimichanga (it was actually a burrito) with refried beans and a small side of guacamole ($4.95). I like to have a margarita or a beer when I eat Mexican food, but I refuse to order drinks at restaurants that do not print drink prices on their menus. Soft drink prices were on the menu, but you have to guess how much the alcoholic drinks will be, meaning they are probably trying to gouge you.

The chips were store-bought, about the same quality as you can get at Safeway just down the street and the salsa likely out of a plastic tub. You apparently have to pay extra if you want more than one bowl of their mediocre chips. I asked if they had "hot" salsa, something every Mexican restaurant I have ever been to has, but was told "that's all we got". The guacamole was not bad and was well seasoned, but the serving was skimpy for $5.

The taco came on a pre-fab shell, a sure sign that you are eating at a substandard Mexican restaurant. If they do not even bother to fry their own taco shells, that tells you about their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Tacos are one of America's favorite foods, so why would anybody eat at a place that uses Rosarita or Old El Paso taco shells? There was plenty of ground beef, but it was an odd red color and so greasy (see video below) that the crappy shell was falling apart shortly after arriving at my table. I had to eat the last half off of the plate with my fork.

The cheese and onion enchilada was the sole highlight of the meal, but that is not saying much. The supposed "chimichanga" that I ordered was actually a very small burrito, the smallest flour tortilla I have ever seen with shredded beef inside and two small dabs of guacamole on top. I asked the server if that was what they call a "chimichanga" and he said it was, telling me that it was supposed to be deep fried, a step they apparently had missed. Being so dismayed by my experience, I politely declined when he offered to have it remade.

The service was friendly and good with the food coming very fast and my water glass topped-up without delay. Unfortunately, the food sucked just like at their sister restaurant a few blocks east and the fork they gave me still had food on it from the last customer. It was not the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever been to, but it was close.

CombatCritic Gives Los Dos Compadres 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Long Beach, WA: A Dive With Good Burgers ... And Proud Of It!

Long Beach Tavern
302 Pacific Avenue South
Long Beach, WA 98631
Phone number (360) 642-3235
Website: longbeachtavern.com
Prices: $$$$

Not a bit of a dive, this place IS a dive and they are proud of it! We steered away at first after looking at the menu which had only burgers and pizza for the most part. A guy coming out while we stood there said to us, “they got cold beer and good food”, so after realizing that many places in town were closed on Wednesdays, we decided to give them a shot.

This place has not been remodeled since the 1970s and that’s OK because they do not pretend to be anything they are not. This is a working tavern with beer, burgers, pizza and a cast of regulars who all know each other. The corner of the bar has a sign next to it saying: “RESERVED – Liars Corner”, so I guess the guy and gal sitting there cannot be trusted to tell the truth. They have a decent selection of tap and bottled beers on-hand, so I got an IPA or two which were both cold and a decent value at $4.75 a pint.

Mushroom Swiss Burger ($8.25) with fries ($2.50)

Double Burger ($8.50) with cheese ($1), bacon ($1.25), and a side of fries ($2.50)

We ordered two burgers, me a Double Burger ($8.50) with cheese ($1), bacon ($1.25), and a side of fries ($2.50) and my better half a Mushroom Swiss Burger ($8.25) with fries ($2.50). I could have probably gone with a single beef patty because there was so much meat, I could barely open my pie hole wide enough to bite the damn thing. The fries were supposed to be “beer battered” according to the menu, but they were closer to “shoestring” and straight out of a bag, being the only “disappointment” of the meal. My wife’s $10.75 burger plate was much larger and tastier than the one we paid $2.25 more for just up the street a few nights before.

CombatCritic Gives Long Beach Tavern 7 Bombs Out Of 10 … More Bombs Are Better!