10/12/09

Ok, I'll try again

by Still Annoyed

I went to this establishment two years ago for a birthday celebration and I won't go into those details but let's just say the staff seemed to make a point to be rude. No, we were not drunk or obnoxious. It started from the moment we walked in the front door. I swore I'd never go back but coworkers wanted to go there for lunch. I said I'd give them another try. Looks like their employee training program hasn't improved much. So slow and so rude. I guess they forgot who the customer is there. The food is ok but not anything special. It's just there smothered in WAY too much cheese. I have officially vowed to not spend my hard earned money there again under any circumstances.

• Pros: Can I get back to you?
• Cons: More than I can write on one line.

11/18/08

Excellent food, good specials, and friendly staff

by nattbrisviskar

My husband and I lived just a few blocks away when we were first married so we would walk over when we wanted to go. I love all the food but the potato skins with bacon appetizer is what keeps me coming back the most. We live in Vancouver and will still drive all the way there just for the food and those yummy potato skins! If you haven't been, then you must go. Early in the week is best since it's slower and they have specials too!

• Pros: Good food, specials, salsa!
• Cons: Sometimes smell smoke coming from the bar

11/02/08

Sorry Service

by RangerFerg

My wife, son and I went to La Carreta and experienced the worst service of any establishment. My wife and I ordered Fajitas for Two, and my son wanted a cheese burger with catchup only. First off, my wifes drink had a fly in it, and when we brought it to the servers attention, the server sneered and sighed???WTF? Did we inconvienance you??? We ordered my sons burger with catchup only, but it arrived with mustard only. We sent our sons burger back and they they returned it to us with the mustard half way scrapped off and heavily smothered in catchup. They brought out my wife fajitas, but it was for one and not for two--I guess that I don't get to eat. We also had ordered sides...none of them were brought out. Finally, we got up and walked out. They did not even get half of our order correct and the sorry server had an attitude. Taco Bell will be a much more rewarding experience for you than to go to the horrible La Carreta.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Poor Service

09/22/08

Save your time and money.

by sneeches

The first time I went to this place it was in the middle of the afternoon and there was no one else there. We had good service and the food was cooked well and was delicious.

The second time I went there it was a busy night and there was a small wait. We were told we could wait in the bar area. Fine. They do not honor the intermediary driver's license that the DMV gives you until your real one arrives. We had three people in our party with these and were asked to leave the bar area. Fine.

We were eventually seated at a crowded table and the waitress did not come over for 10 or so mintues to greet us. She took our orders and when they came out, three of six were incorrect. The waitress did not come back to check on us so we could not tell her our orders were wrong. I had the pleasure of locating the wait station so I could refill the waters at our table. Overall, the waitress spent approximately 2.7 seconds at our table and she did not smile once. Dreadful.

• Pros: It's a big place.
• Cons: The service is wretched and the food is not good.

08/29/08

good mexican food

by exppdx

These ratings are old, so I have weigh in. Our family has been going to La Caretta at McLoughlin & Holgate for the last couple years, and the service is always friendly and prompt, and the food is great. Contrary to an earlier review, the menu includes a choice of ground or shredded beef, weekends they have a fun Mariachi (sp?) band, and there's all kinds of fun drinks. Good specials too.

• Pros: Good food - good service
• Cons: rest rooms could be cleaner

06/26/07

No longer impressed

by beentoportland

It used to be that there was a waiting line to be seated at this restaurant, but I have noticed over the past couple years that anytime we have arrived there is no longer a wait time. The service has steadily declined in the past few years, and I prefer sitting in the bar as we seem to get better service that way. When we have sat in the main restaurant service is poor, and several waiters and staff are standing around talking because it isn't a busy. We have been there on a Friday night when there are only 5-6 tables seated in the whole place and it still took over 45 minutes after we ordered for our dinner to be served. Food is definately in the Mexican-American category since they actually use ground beef in some of the dishes. I have never been served or seen ground beef on a menu in a truly authentic Mexican restaurant. Definately do not go to this restaurant in the hot summer months if you are thinking of cooling your heals in the evening while you enjoy your meal. The air conditioning hasn't been working correctly for the past two summers and they have box fans running. Something I would expect in a hut or a small place but not in a restaurant where dinner for four can run $50.00 or more. The place has really gone down hill and the owners don't seem to be re-investing any of their earnings into the building, general up keep hasn't been taken care of in a while. On the positive side they do serve the absolute best pina colada's in town and the Carne Asada dinner plate is the best dish offered and closest to authentic as they get.

• Pros: good chips and salsa,
• Cons: poor service, average food, air conditioner doesn't work properly

01/06/07

Not a friendly place

by bridgep

We went to this restaurant last night and the service was horrible. It took the waitress 15 minutes to take our drink order, then another 10 to get us our drinks. She told us she would be right back to take our order and that took another 10-15 minutes. So we ordered something easy and small. It took an aditional 40 minutes after ordering for us to decide to leave. I went here one other time about a year ago and the service sucked and the food was nothing special. I decided to give it another chance because my friend who moved away five years ago wanted to go for old times sake, she left sorely disapointed. I really do not recomend this place to anyone.

07/23/06

Friday and Saturday evenings at La Carreta are so nice!

by silviat

I loved the place! Their carne asada is the best I've had outside of Latin America and the service was very very good. They had a great trio of guys playing the guitar and they really made it a special evening (I think they go there on friday and saturday evenings). I will certainly return, I really loved the unpretencious scene, the food, the music, the people, etc.

(Their tamales are nothing special... I would probably avoid them)

• Pros: Carne Asada, the band that plays on fri and sat, the service
• Cons: The tamales.

02/12/06

Great value mexican food

by slovakjaso

For cheap american-style mexican food this place is very good. Food is fairly decent, atmosphere is entertaining if a bit loud, prices are right, good menu and the place is big enough that I have always been seated right away. I have tried several other places and since there are so few quality or authentic mexican places in town I usually end up back here. My only mild complaints are that the service can be quite mediocre/slow and language is sometimes a barrier. Also, the drinks aren't that great - seems they might tend to use cheap stuff even when you call something better. ]:

• Pros: large menu, decent food, good prices
• Cons: can be loud, service is ok, drinks aren't great

08/26/04

THE FOOD IS GREAT

by ms_calhoun

I currently live in Fort Worth, Texas, but have been a faithful customer to La Caretta. Their drinks are great and the food is unremarkable. I suggest trying their Burrito Cancun. It is real crab, large shrimp and shredded chicken, with diced onions and tomatoes, that have been sauteed and wrapped in a big flour tortilla. It is usually smothered in cheese and topped with a mushroom sauce (I do not get the mushroom sauce). It is also topped with an avacado, tomato slice and sour cream. It is not for the faint, but if you like seafood this is great! The location on Burnside is good too - I believe they are calledTacho's. I have yet to find a place that compares to La Caretta here in Fort Worth.

• Pros: Good Atmosphere, Price, Good Service
• Cons: , Noise