CATching Myself
Well it looks like I've caught myself coming and going on the Tijuana Flats review.
I should have been writting up my review for Johnny Carinos.
On a jaunt we decide to try them out, the parking lot was nearly empty and it looks like a very nice place despite it advertising "Country Italian". A place that looks like it woudln't take kindly to 20-somethings in jeans and t-shirts.
We were promptly greeted and seated in a curtained table off to the side. Nice and private, we wished it had been a booth, we don't care for chairs but the large curtain could have been drawn. It was a little odd the table beside us that would have been seperated by the bar wall had a glass window set in it. Charming, but for privacy I think stained glass would have been a better idea. All in all it had a cross feel of Olive Garden and the Cracker Barrel with all the old photos, decorative plates, and signs on the walls.
Our waiter was an extremely curteous man, and I wish we could have tipped him more for the BEST service we've had in a long time. We had waters, he brought out a small loaf of soft bread probably seven or so inches long and four around. He then dispensed flavorful olive oil mixed with herbs like fennel and basil into a plate with roasted chopped garlic. Then we had the 'pepperoni bread' which was more like a pepperoni calzone in all seriousness, and just as large and stuffed. Then on top of it, our entrees came with soup and salad.
My husband had a salad but the vinegrete he picked was a little too strong. I enjoyed my minestrone, it was good but I wish it had more of a vegetable variety than beans and tomatoes. We had more bread with our dinner- I had cheese ravioli and he had their version of the Tour of Italy- a chicken parmsean, 12 layer lasagna, and spagghetti. My ravioli was easily covered in a pound of cheese, after all the appetizers I could only eat three before I asked for a take out box. My husband ate his pasta and lasagna, he couldn't eat the chicken since it is breaded (it was good later). The lasagna was a work to behold. Our check came out to under forty, impossible at Olive Garden. We swore to come back.
The second time we went we had a booth this time. The waitress took forever to get to us and bring our drinks. The pepperoni bread was burnt on the bottom and was much smaller with less filling. My salad was mostly full of lettuce stems and heels to be mostly inedible. Our entrees finally came out, my hubby had gotten the lasagna after being so impressed with it last time and I had gotten Baked Cheese Tortelloni-
Cheese tortelloni tossed in alfredo & meat sauces with ricotta & romano cheeses, then baked under mozzarella & parmesan cheeses. Sounds nice?
It was rather thin and certainly not as impressive as the ravioli. No cheese sealing over the top, and lacking in flavorfulness. It was still ok though. But the lasagna was shameful. For a couple dollars more he could have gotten the 'tour' again. Instead, they gave him a pitifully small cut of lasagna that was floating in grease and was layered totally different. Most days I'd give props for making variety, but the large chunks of italian sausage and meatballs are not for a neat and nice lasagna. The chef who prepared it should have been ashamed for that substandard italian. Stouffers would have been comperable.
To boot on our lazy waitress, she was heckling the old ladies behind us. Old people tip well in my experience. They have the money if they are going out and they appreciate being treated with respect so they can have a good time. I guess our waitress didn't want to be working today. She had an attitude of impatience at repeating herself, the dietary special requests, and the many questions. When they finally were served, one asked for a different fish since hers was burned. The waitress made up with her coddling routine of 'of course dear' and such pooh pooh noises. The attitude I overheard from the kitchen (open space) staff was scornful and positively scathing. I have an idea of what happened since we saw the chefs play more with head high flames. It wasn't through cooking.
Most people would try and go back a third time to see which experience is the true fluke. But I'd rather try and forget the last experience and never go back again. I DO NOT recommend Johnny Carinos, at your own risk.
I should have been writting up my review for Johnny Carinos.
On a jaunt we decide to try them out, the parking lot was nearly empty and it looks like a very nice place despite it advertising "Country Italian". A place that looks like it woudln't take kindly to 20-somethings in jeans and t-shirts.
We were promptly greeted and seated in a curtained table off to the side. Nice and private, we wished it had been a booth, we don't care for chairs but the large curtain could have been drawn. It was a little odd the table beside us that would have been seperated by the bar wall had a glass window set in it. Charming, but for privacy I think stained glass would have been a better idea. All in all it had a cross feel of Olive Garden and the Cracker Barrel with all the old photos, decorative plates, and signs on the walls.
Our waiter was an extremely curteous man, and I wish we could have tipped him more for the BEST service we've had in a long time. We had waters, he brought out a small loaf of soft bread probably seven or so inches long and four around. He then dispensed flavorful olive oil mixed with herbs like fennel and basil into a plate with roasted chopped garlic. Then we had the 'pepperoni bread' which was more like a pepperoni calzone in all seriousness, and just as large and stuffed. Then on top of it, our entrees came with soup and salad.
My husband had a salad but the vinegrete he picked was a little too strong. I enjoyed my minestrone, it was good but I wish it had more of a vegetable variety than beans and tomatoes. We had more bread with our dinner- I had cheese ravioli and he had their version of the Tour of Italy- a chicken parmsean, 12 layer lasagna, and spagghetti. My ravioli was easily covered in a pound of cheese, after all the appetizers I could only eat three before I asked for a take out box. My husband ate his pasta and lasagna, he couldn't eat the chicken since it is breaded (it was good later). The lasagna was a work to behold. Our check came out to under forty, impossible at Olive Garden. We swore to come back.
The second time we went we had a booth this time. The waitress took forever to get to us and bring our drinks. The pepperoni bread was burnt on the bottom and was much smaller with less filling. My salad was mostly full of lettuce stems and heels to be mostly inedible. Our entrees finally came out, my hubby had gotten the lasagna after being so impressed with it last time and I had gotten Baked Cheese Tortelloni-
Cheese tortelloni tossed in alfredo & meat sauces with ricotta & romano cheeses, then baked under mozzarella & parmesan cheeses. Sounds nice?
It was rather thin and certainly not as impressive as the ravioli. No cheese sealing over the top, and lacking in flavorfulness. It was still ok though. But the lasagna was shameful. For a couple dollars more he could have gotten the 'tour' again. Instead, they gave him a pitifully small cut of lasagna that was floating in grease and was layered totally different. Most days I'd give props for making variety, but the large chunks of italian sausage and meatballs are not for a neat and nice lasagna. The chef who prepared it should have been ashamed for that substandard italian. Stouffers would have been comperable.
To boot on our lazy waitress, she was heckling the old ladies behind us. Old people tip well in my experience. They have the money if they are going out and they appreciate being treated with respect so they can have a good time. I guess our waitress didn't want to be working today. She had an attitude of impatience at repeating herself, the dietary special requests, and the many questions. When they finally were served, one asked for a different fish since hers was burned. The waitress made up with her coddling routine of 'of course dear' and such pooh pooh noises. The attitude I overheard from the kitchen (open space) staff was scornful and positively scathing. I have an idea of what happened since we saw the chefs play more with head high flames. It wasn't through cooking.
Most people would try and go back a third time to see which experience is the true fluke. But I'd rather try and forget the last experience and never go back again. I DO NOT recommend Johnny Carinos, at your own risk.
posted by Razorhoney at 14:16
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