Can't recal the name, but there's a place on Burlingame Avenue. Been there at least twenty five years. Don't know if it would be called upscale. Definitely more than a burrito joint though. Also, for quality Mexican food I like the Michacoan on "B" Street near 3rd (same block at Barley & Hops [r.i.p.]) in San Mateo. Karen O. wrote: > > iMp! wrote: > > > > > > Are there good Mexican food places on the Peninsula that aren't just > > glorified burrito joints? Don't get me wrong- I love burritos, but I'm > > looking for something a bit different. Are there any places around here > > besides PA Sol that serve fancier Mexican food and (ideally), in a place > > where a group of people could have a sedate conversation? I know most > > people probably don't think high cuisine and Mexican in the same thought, > > but that's what I'm looking for. > > I am keeping an eye on this thread because I am curious, too. I can't > think of any Mexican places that are any more than just plain and > casual. I don't think of PA Sol as very fancy, either. > > Karen
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Upscale Mexican Food on the Peninsula?
Karen O. wrote: > iMp! wrote: >> >> Are there good Mexican food places on the Peninsula that aren't just >> glorified burrito joints? Don't get me wrong- I love burritos, but I'm >> looking for something a bit different. Are there any places around here >> besides PA Sol that serve fancier Mexican food and (ideally), in a place >> where a group of people could have a sedate conversation? I know most >> people probably don't think high cuisine and Mexican in the same thought, >> but that's what I'm looking for. > > I am keeping an eye on this thread because I am curious, too. I can't > think of any Mexican places that are any more than just plain and > casual. I don't think of PA Sol as very fancy, either. > I agree with that. The answer to the original question depends on whether the food or the atmosphere is more important to you. For example I find the specialties (Oaxacan, largely) at Estrellita's, on San Antonio Rd. quite interesting; but the room is the antithesis of fancy, and the restaurant was long known mainly for its giant burritos. Still, I suggest you try it. It's probably pretty sedate on a weekday -- it really depends on how noisy your fellow diners are.
iMp! wrote: > Are there good Mexican food places on the Peninsula that aren't just > glorified burrito joints? Don't get me wrong- I love burritos, but I'm > looking for something a bit different. Are there any places around here > besides PA Sol that serve fancier Mexican food and (ideally), in a place > where a group of people could have a sedate conversation? I know most > people probably don't think high cuisine and Mexican in the same thought, > but that's what I'm looking for. > > Thanks for any help you can give. > > -Manuel Red Pepper on El Camino Way, Palo Alto; next to Togos. Not fancy or anything, but definitely not a "burrito joint". Very quiet. Also, there is Casa Lupe on Main Street in Las Altos, but I have only been there once, about 3 years ago. Steven Goodman [email removed]
Geoff M. wrote: > > In Mountain View, there's La Fiesta on Villa near Calderon, > a block up from Evelyn. Their food is among the best Mexican > fare I've ever had. Check out their mole. I think La Fiesta not only has great mole but just about everything else here is delish -- but would never consider this to be upscale dining. I just don't picture Mexican cuisine as upscale but casual around here, which is probably part of its appeal, when I think about it. I remember one place (but not the name of it) in Mexico City where I had Oysters Rockefeller (I think it's where it was invented, wasn't it?) and it was definitely upscale and Mexican cuisine. No chips and salsa were served in wicker baskets here. Karen
Geoff M. wrote: > >I really wonder if there *is* such a thing as an upscale Mexican >restaurant. Of course there is. I don't know that Guayma's in Tiburon is "upscale", but it's certainly yuppified and the food is interesting and delicious. Definitely not a burrito and taco joint. Lovely view of the bay and city too. I would be thrilled to have a restaurant like that somewhere nearer Palo Alto.
Geoff M. wrote: > > I really wonder if there *is* such a thing as an upscale Mexican > restaurant. There is, but I haven't been successful locating one like it on the peninsula. If you're ever in Austin, TX, look up a place called Fonda San Miguel and experience genuine Oaxacan food - Marinated onion, real Mole Chicken, Beef in banana leaves and such. No burritos and no tacos. A wonderful dinning experience but sometimes accompanied by a (sacre bleu!) 15 minute wait. Say hello to Mercedes at the front door. I guess she's been there for over twenty years now. Good restaurants serving good food have a tendency to stick around ... Phil (just a little home-sick)
Try El Charro in Campbell on Winchester. Very quaint, quiet, dim lights, etc iMp! wrote in article ... > > Are there good Mexican food places on the Peninsula that aren't just > glorified burrito joints? Don't get me wrong- I love burritos, but I'm > looking for something a bit different. Are there any places around here > besides PA Sol that serve fancier Mexican food and (ideally), in a place > where a group of people could have a sedate conversation? I know most > people probably don't think high cuisine and Mexican in the same thought, > but that's what I'm looking for. > > Thanks for any help you can give. > > -Manuel >
NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 14:42:44 PDT Xref: pale-rider.INS.CWRU.Edu ba.food:34563 Someone wrote: > > Geoff M. wrote: > > > >I really wonder if there *is* such a thing as an upscale Mexican > >restaurant. > > Of course there is. > > I don't know that Guayma's in Tiburon is "upscale", but > it's certainly yuppified and the food is interesting > and delicious. Definitely not a burrito and taco joint. > Lovely view of the bay and city too. > > I would be thrilled to have a restaurant like that somewhere > nearer Palo Alto. While not exactly next to Palo Alto, the Blue Agave Club in downtown Pleasanton would be worth your while. I don't know what your definitions of 'upscale' are, but this place is certainly very nice, with very good to excellent gourmet Mexican offerings served in a well lit ambience. They have wonderful fish, pork, steak, and chicken plates, and a mole that is to die for. The margaritas are strong enough to make you forget what you just said, and are not slurpee textured. They also offer over fifty different types of tequila. One of these goes for $50 a shot. I suppose you could call that upscale. Greg