Don Pablo's ?

Seems like we always end up discussing chain operations so what the heck? I am not a fan of this restaurant chain. It's far from authentic for starters. I wonder if there are other comments about this chain, and I also wonder if you like the Americanized typres of Mexican food, or if you prefer a more authentic type of Mexican food?

carl reitz

As for the food variations, I enjoy both of them... As for the chain, we have one not far from here and they're always packed... I've never eaten there, since my local (non chain) Mexican restaurant is less then 1/2 mile away from there..

One of the best things about being in the NW quadrant is being ignored by so many "national entites". I feel great to have never seen a Don Pablo's.
We do have the distinction in the Rogue Valley of having so many good Mexican Cafes that our Chevy's actually closed down, unfortunately to be replaced by a Olive Garden, (same holding company). We don't have a big Italian population around here, so people think it's wonderful.
As to whether ethnic foods of any variety are "authentic", I figure that once Ethnic folks of all stripes are in America, the food, by definition, starts to be a mixture of where they came from and where they are now. People are adaptable and they use what ingredients are around, and then you get the progression of cuisine that is so wonderful. Mexican Food in Oregon is (my guess) a whole lot different than Mexican Food in Tennessee because it's been regionalized.
I don't care about authentic as much as delicious.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Seems like we always end up discussing chain operations so what the heck? I am not a fan of this restaurant chain. It's far from authentic for starters. I wonder if there are other comments about this chain, and I also wonder if you like the Americanized typres of Mexican food, or if you prefer a more authentic type of Mexican food?

carl reitz

We are always discussing chains because that is what people bring up......how about starting a new topic and telling us about Mexican restaurants or Americanized ones (real ones) in your area?

OK, now that I got my thoughts out about Don Pablo's, I'll talk about a local Mexican Restaurant here in West Warwick called Mr. Taco. If you like Alpo in a can, then this is a place for you. Of course the locals rave about this place- Of course the locals here rave about the Smoky Bones chain being the best BBQ ever.

I think the closest quality Mexican (or Mexican American Restaurant) to Rhode Island is probably in the Tulsa OK area.

In my humble opinion, Don Pablo's is another wretched chain restaurant.

Why would anyone expect good MEXICAN food at Don Pablo's when their corporate parent, Avado Brands, is located in Madison, GEORGIA. Is this place known for Mexican food???

quote:

Originally posted by chezkatie

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Seems like we always end up discussing chain operations so what the heck? I am not a fan of this restaurant chain. It's far from authentic for starters. I wonder if there are other comments about this chain, and I also wonder if you like the Americanized typres of Mexican food, or if you prefer a more authentic type of Mexican food?

carl reitz

We are always discussing chains because that is what people bring up......how about starting a new topic and telling us about Mexican restaurants or Americanized ones (real ones) in your area?

I've tried doing that a few days ago Chezkatie! http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5336

I've been to the Don Pablo's in Sterling, VA, and it's pretty horrid. You've heard of "big box" stores? Well, this is a big box restaurant with concrete floors, concrete block walls, and a corrugated steel ceiling. The noise from a couple of hundred mostly teenaged people was deafening and the food bad. In St. Louis, visit La Tropicana for your Mexican or Cuban fix.

quote:

Originally posted by jm199



In my humble opinion, Don Pablo's is another wretched chain restaurant.

Why would anyone expect good MEXICAN food at Don Pablo's when their corporate parent, Avado Brands, is located in Madison, GEORGIA. Is this place known for Mexican food???

JM199,

There was a horrendous Mexican restaurant in Mt Lebanon called Jose and Tony's. When I was living in Pittsburgh, I went there, not once, but twice, each visit was more dissappointing than the other.

I do have to retract my previous statement about Mexican food outside the Southwest. When I was living in Seattle, there was a nice little Mexican dive downtown called Mama's Mexican Kitchen. Although it was more or less Cal Mex Style (very mild with lots of guacamole, flour tortillas and tomatos), I thought it certainly held up to
Southern Cal standards.

I really can't criticize Don Pablo's, as I've enjoyed the food each time I've been there (although I agree the noise makes the experience less pleasant). The reality is that there is no need or reason to go there anymore, at least where I live (Twin Cities). We have so many quality authentic Mexican restaurants now it is difficult to choose amongst them, much less go to Don Pablo's.

Wanderingjew:

Unfortunately, Jose and Tony's is still serving Mexican food (if that is what you call it) at the same location for 30+ years. I have not stepped in that place since high school in the 1970s. I don't know how it stays in business.

El Campesino (name is spanish for the Peasant) has locations in Monroeville, North Hills and Altoona, and is the best mexican in the Pittsburgh area these days.

Ok, we don't got anything closer than 90 miles away that is authentic Mexican. In Scottsbluff we have the famous TACO TOWN, best tacos in the world!!! Authentic, yes, they even put peas in the taco meat. Homemade HOT sauce, not a big menu, but wonderful food

Also Roseita's - Authentic, I guess, greasy, and the restaurant is not to clean, first and only time I went there, had upset stomach for 2 days.

And I still like Taco Bell, so shoot me!

Legally speaking

OK; beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cheese, cumin, and pepper, and tortillas.

Serve it in a chain or make it authentic, it's going to be at least OK, as long as the ingredients are not rancid. Don Pablo's is microwave Mexican, but it's OK enough.

I'd pick a chain over an unknown Mexican restaurant. There's a very authentic Mexican restaurant here in WIlkes-Barre; I ate there twice, once it was good and the other time I wondered how long the meat had been left out before it had been cooked. I haven't been back, even though the first time was really good.

What was that Mexican place north of Pittsburgh, in Etna? That was really good. And there was a taco place on Rt 51 in Pleasant Hills, right south of the cloverleaf, that had absolutely KILLER burritos; it started off with no seating at all, and then grudgingly added maybe half a dozen tables.

We have a new Mexican here in Wilkes-Barre, La Tolteca. It's the newest entry in a mini-chain of 7 stores; all the others are in Delaware. I was there for lunch today. I'll write it up in a separate thread.


Tom

Several years ago, Don Pablo's and Chi Chi's were all we had to choose from when it came to "Mexican food" in Cincinnati. Since that time we've had dozens of small, non-chain Mexican restaurants popping up, some good, some not so good, but very few of them couldn't beat the hell out of Don Pablo's. We've discovered several that are truly worth a special trip, and we have yet to fail to feed four on what it cost us to feed two the last time we went to Don Pablo's.

A recent menu change has put DP's prices out of sight! $11.00 for the "preferred" marguerita (with grand marnier and tradicional)?

I think the Don Pablos on Kingston Pike in Knoxville has closed.

I have never heard of Don Pablos. From reading the above posts, it sounds like the Monterey House chain or Casa Ole down here. TV dinner Mexican food.

El Tiempo is one of the best here.

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

Several years ago, Don Pablo's and Chi Chi's were all we had to choose from when it came to "Mexican food" in Cincinnati.

..and thank the good lord that Chi Chis is gone :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

Since that time we've had dozens of small, non-chain Mexican restaurants popping up, some good, some not so good, but very few of them couldn't beat the hell out of Don Pablo's. We've discovered several that are truly worth a special trip

Indeed, I'd call the sudden growth of the 1-4 location mexican restaurants locally an explosion, matched only (perhaps) by the growth of the number of chinese takeout places.

Please name your favorites, I'd love to check out a few myself.

My faves:
Acapulco's in Fairfield and in Milford
and the place in the lower level of the Newport Shopping Center

Overrated and on a downslide:
Margarita's - 4-5 locations around town. Loved the original on Beechmont when it first opened up.

One caveat: I still like the chili con queso best at Don Pablo's. The stuff they make at the smaller operators is either thin, or lacks spice/peppers, or both. Also, The fresh tortillas at Don Pablo's are pretty good, imho.

As long as we are "dissin" chains again, here's my post from yesterday on another Mexican chain (admittedly a small one) that I really like:

There is also a Rio Grande chain with several locations in the D.C. area. It has excellent Mexican specialities including stuff that's somewhat unique like barbequed goat. Their house made tortillas and salsa are my favorite of all the Mexican places I've ever tried. The chain also operates under the Uncle Julio's name in the Dallas/FW area. I think they are expanding into the Atlanta area as well. Well worth checking out for some definitely above average RF Mexican!
QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

We only have a few "authentic" Mexican restaurants here, and they are on the far side of the county while Don Pablo's is in my town and only 6 minutes away. To the chain haters, yes, I have had better, but it's not bad and we usually go a few times a year when we are in the mood. I like their enchiladas, and it's hard to mess up rice and refried beans. Their rice is too dry for me, but the salsa is excellent, and I just keep getting refills, then add some to the rice when the food comes.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson
Acapulco's in Fairfield and in Milford

TJ, there is an Acapulco's in Xenia in the town square (look for the Fulmer supermarket west of Detroit St./US 68; it's in that shopping center). I ate there last year. Not bad.

I got a card from there that said that Acapulco's had six locations. Other than Lawrenceburg, Indiana, I can't remember where the others were.

Did someone say BBQ goat? Don Pablo's in Knoxville closed. I went there 2 times. Once to try it out and then again becasue a friend of mine really liked it. I can't say it was awful, but nothing special. I enjoy Pelancho's (formerly a Garcia's which I did actually like)in the Downtown West shopping center. I do not believe it is a chain, but I can't be sure. The food seems "authentic mexican" to me but I am no way an expert!

quote:

Originally posted by jm199


Wanderingjew:

Unfortunately, Jose and Tony's is still serving Mexican food (if that is what you call it) at the same location for 30+ years. I have not stepped in that place since high school in the 1970s. I don't know how it stays in business.

El Campesino (name is spanish for the Peasant) has locations in Monroeville, North Hills and Altoona, and is the best mexican in the Pittsburgh area these days.

I came across this thread while searching google for info on Jose and Tony's in Pittsburgh. Glad I read reviews here first!

Just FYI for the Pittsburgh people. The El Campesino in Monroeville is much better then the one in the North Hills. I have know idea why, but it just is.

Also, there is a Mexican restaurant in Oakland called La Fiesta that is very good. It's my favorite Mexican place in Pittsburgh. There is a small chain aroud called Cuzamel which is ok. The Mad Mex chain is pretty good if you don't mind a young crowd.

While in Fort Lauderdale last year I ate at a place called The Mexican Cantina. They screwed up my order and I didn't notice until after I took a bite, but it was very good and I decided to stick with what they gave me. The tortilla soup has a yellowish broth but that was very good too.

Don Pablo's was so noisy the nite we went,I turned everyone around and we went elsewhere. Some of my friends have been tricked into going(business stuff) and their reaction to the food was consistent....AWFUL

quote:

Originally posted by Mosca

OK; beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cheese, cumin, and pepper, and tortillas.

Serve it in a chain or make it authentic, it's going to be at least OK, as long as the ingredients are not rancid. Don Pablo's is microwave Mexican, but it's OK enough.

I'd pick a chain over an unknown Mexican restaurant. There's a very authentic Mexican restaurant here in WIlkes-Barre; I ate there twice, once it was good and the other time I wondered how long the meat had been left out before it had been cooked. I haven't been back, even though the first time was really good.

What was that Mexican place north of Pittsburgh, in Etna? That was really good. And there was a taco place on Rt 51 in Pleasant Hills, right south of the cloverleaf, that had absolutely KILLER burritos; it started off with no seating at all, and then grudgingly added maybe half a dozen tables.

We have a new Mexican here in Wilkes-Barre, La Tolteca. It's the newest entry in a mini-chain of 7 stores; all the others are in Delaware. I was there for lunch today. I'll write it up in a separate thread.


Tom

have you tried that place above scranton, i think it's called fresno's or something likt that, you are missing some really good mexican food in conyngham called the brass buckle i can give you directions if you like

Another FYI for the Pittsburgh folks - try The Franklin Inn on Rochester Rd. in Franklin Park (near intersection with Ingomar Rd.) - they've been quietly serving Mexican food for years from scratch, not the corporate Don Pablo (aka Taco Bell on a plate) stuff.

For authentic Mexican, try stopping at a "Tienda Mexicana" (small stores catering to Latino population with goods from Mexico and Latin America) - many have small restaurants. We've had great experiences at them and the prices can't be beat.

Two small but great Tex-Mex chains in the Houston area are Bravo's and Gringo's.

It isn't a chain, but Carmelita's has decent Mexican here in St Pete.

quote:

Originally posted by Kristi S.

It isn't a chain, but Carmelita's has decent Mexican here in St Pete.

Kristi, used to eat at Carmelita's for lunch when I worked in Largo for about a year. Want to remember that it was on Ulmerton Road, but am not sure. Have good memories of it and the food. Would like to find it again some day. Have I got it right? Are they related?

QFan
Bonita Springs