Don't let the cactus fool you - this is a strip mall in Connecticut.
Smartphones have decidedly changed the way my family travels. On a long road trip, web access has settled arguments with a quick Google search. And even better, finding a Starbucks or a place to eat is a snap thanks to sites such as Yelp and Citysearch. So while driving through Connecticut on our way home from Amish Country, I turned to my BlackBerry to help us find a good restaurant that all of us would like.
Because we wanted to avoid the national chains, we were excited to try what was reviewed as a "hidden gem". We were swayed to drive to El Sombrero (off I-84) in a quiet Connecticut town thanks to reviews such as "THE best salsa EVER" and "the best Mexican food in CT hands down!" El Sombrero even had a Facebook fan page, so it had to be good, right? Well, not exactly...
Located in the Oak Hill strip mall, we walk in to find the place decorated with pinatas, sombreros, and every other cliche you can think of. We were seated right away in the "main" dining room and given menus. The dinner menu was extensive but a little gimmicky. The boys were given childrens' menus and crayons. From their off-the-shelf kids' menu, there was a selection of burgers, chicken fingers, hot dog, mac-n-cheese, and grilled cheese (groan). There was also a taco, enchilada, burrito and quesadillas, so we ordered our youngest the kids' quesadillas ($5.50). Our oldest loves fish tacos, so we order him the fish tacos ($10.25) off the regular menu. Umdaddy got the Carnitas Asadas ($11.95) and I went with the chicken and beef fajitas ($13.95).
Fish Tacos with rice, refried beans. Notice the kid's menu?
After chowing on some corn chips and possibly the WORST salsa I've ever had (think tomato sauce from a can), our food arrived. The kids quesadillas were two flour tortillas with a side of rice and beans. The little one ate some rice and corn chips. The fish tacos platter was big enough for three kids to share, so it was no surprise our son ate half of one taco and a forkful of rice. I had a bite of the fish tacos and was unimpressed with the lack of flavor and texture as compared to the fish tacos at Dorado Tacos and Cemitas (our favorite).
Watch out kids - hot sizzling meat at your fingertips!
Then came the sizzling hot platter of meat and peppers and onions. Learn from me - not a good idea to order fajitas with children and an overcrowded table! My meal was just okay - the meat was tough and over cooked and everything else was pretty bland. Umdaddy found his dish to be mediocre as well.
El Sombrero hardly met our high expectations, especially after reading all the rave reviews. I guess this means there are not a lot of good Mexican joints in Connecticut? I guess we'll stick with pizza.
El Sombrero
151 Queen Street
Southington, CT 06489
(860) 621-9474
Ahh, you've stumbled upon an important lesson. Do not trust online restaurant review sites, unless you're really familiar with the site and the poster making the recommendation. One Yelper's "Best. Salsa. Ever." can equal an experienced Chowhounders "mediocre at best - try the salsa at these three other places instead."
ReplyDeleteI actually am one of the silent many who love El Sombrero (and yes -- think that the salsa is some of the best ever. Not sure what was wrong with it the day you went, but rather than being out of a can, it is fresh-made daily -- so perhaps you had a bad batch). Sure, the restaurant is full of cliches.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, calling Southington a "quiet Connecticut town" and supposing that because some of the locals love their local restaurant -- kitschy sombreros and "Andale, andale" Speedy Gonzalez rug and all (which I enjoy ironically) -- the entire state must only have pizza to offer in the culinary fare department, is also a cliche. And I find it hard to take those particular cliches ironically.
I'm not trying to encourage you to reconsider your opinions. My only point is actually that it's painful to see a place that locals love lambasted on the basis of one trip, by someone just passing through, with the implication that we must not know what we're talking about when we say that we love it. It's the last point that stings in particular; you're certainly allowed to hate the food you got, and not participate in the kitchy atmosphere, and call all of Queen St. a strip mall if you like.
But we're also allowed to love it, and we're capable of loving it without being idiots, or living in a "quiet Connecticut town" (the implication being that we're too naive or untutored to understand good food).
We're allowed to love it without necessarily being provincial idiots. That's all.
Carry on.
Hi Alicia -
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. By no means was I implying the locals of Southington all must be idiots to like El Sombrero. I grew up in a small CT town myself and had our share of favorite local establishments. Southington is a quiet (and lovely) CT town when comparing it to New Haven, which was our second choice to stop. I think its great to see El Sombrero has such a loyal following. And nothing against kitsch. My family had a chinese restaurant that was super kitschy, so I can get past the decor. I hope we just came on an off night - which all restaurants have. I just learned with any review, from locals to national critics, to take what is written with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own opinion on what makes one restaurant a destination. And that is what makes dining out so much fun.
I am from Cheshire and El Sombrero's is the best Mexican joint this side of the California border. I was just there this week and the service was awesome. The salsa was great, the Margarita's knocked my socks off and the service was better than Morton's steak house. I had 3 chips left in the bottom of my bowl and the waiter was there with a new plate of chips and a fresh bowl of salsa. This restaurant is definitely Connecticut's BEST!!!!
ReplyDeleteSmart post admin but i think you need more explanation and more Pics
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