OK I want to hear why everyone loves El Camino? I too am guilty of this weird obsession and I am not even a St. John's native. Every time I have been there we are treated poorly. Who are these people? The Sopapilla Nazis? It is like they know they have something we crave and so they can get away with treating customers poorly, closing at strange hours, and not keeping the cleanest conditions. This time we arrived at 3:30 so the restaurant was basically empty and we were waiting to be seated (as the sign indicated). After five minutes of waiting (with 2 children mind you) a waitress told us someone would be with us soon and then she sat down right in front of us and started eating a zappy burger with fries! Ty then starts complaining that he is hungry and Jonthan is being a bear. We wait five more minutes and then we are seated. Our waitress was nice enough but why can they get away with bad service? It is because I had the best Mexican Pizza, and sopapillas that I can remember. Theron had his usual stuffed sopapilla and even Ty and Jonathan gobbled up their cheese sandwiches and burgers. This place is addicting! Right now I am craving a greasy, delicious Mexican pizza supreme with red sauce (grande) and yes I can eat the whole thing alone.
So what is it about this place? Theron claims it is the enchilada sauce. I say that it is the grease they use to fry everything in. Those of you who are 'El Camino' addicts-don't be ashamed and let me know what you think....
I remember this Spanish bull rug since I was a little girl(maybe around five). It is actually one of my earliest memories. I was staying with my Grandma Brown(Elda) and Uncle Art (her brother) came by to visit and he wanted to take us out to lunch so we went to the only restaurant in town "El Camino." I didn't like Mexican food when I was little so I picked at the chips and stared at this bull rug for about an hour. I couldn't understand why they would want to show a bloody bull fight in a restaurant?
11 comments:
Thanks a lot, now I am really craving my El Camino Taco!! I've never really thought much about the service there. Probably because that was all we were used to. I'll have to pay attention to it come September.
That's funny. We ate there as a family for the 24th. Jesse (Michelle's husband) said that it's not all that. He wonders why people like it so much. I'm not a big Mexican food eater but I enjoyed my shredded beef enchilada and devoured my sopapilla (definetely worth the grease and fat). Mike also thought it wasn't that great-he thought the portions were too small. It's not that clean and one of the waitresses was a little rude. But it'll always have (mostly) fond memories.
We never ate at El Camino this last weekend. What were we thinking? Probably because the last time we took our kids to a restaurant (Booga Reds), people actually started telling us that we shouldn't have any more kids. :)
I love the chimichangas and sopas! I think that the service is bad and the building's decor needs to be updated. It's time for the bull wall hanging to go away, (it's been there along time). But it is addicting. We have Casa Manana here and its pretty close to good, but not El Camino good!
Cousin Lynette M.
I used to really love the food. Deep down I still have a small liking towards the grease and the sopapillas...:) But I have to agree with my husband Jesse. It's really not all that great. The service is terrible. Actually some of the waitresses were so rude that my jaw dropped. The food isn't good enough to put up with that. I think the whole experience is what matters (food and how its delivered and how your treated) Call me crazy but I was actually very disappointed when we went over the 24th weekend to El Camino. The child in me wants to love love love this place but the grownup in me is like why why why???
Hey Amanda--this is Kristen (formerly Platt), Jill's cousin. I found your blog from hers and I am just cracking up at this post. That is why Jill and I would leave coupons for tips when we were in high school:) By the way, that bull fighter wall hanging is one of my earliest memories too--I guess it leaves an impression:).
I haven't been to El Camino since I was very little and yet seeing your photo of the bull fight brought back the image so clearly. It truly made and impact on me as well. I have no recollection of food, service, etc., but that bull fight rug still lingers with me. You will have to take Ryan and I the next time we visit St. Johns. I have a feeling Ryan will like it and I will not. . .:-)
It took me 7 years to love that place but OMG I have to eat there every time we go there now.
well i don't know about you all, but i have pretty good luck with the service there. maybe the waitresses like me or the stars align every time i eat there. who knows. i love their enchiladas (green or red) and their chips and salsa. heck i could even drink it like a beverage. i don't have a favorite favorite thing but when that is all you are used to it creates a pretty strong sensory memory.
Hi Amanda! I thought your post about El Camino was hysterical, and totally true. Hope you don't mind that I found your blog. This is your cousin Stephanie Hall Barclay. Ours is www.dougandsteph.blogspot.com
My sister Kristen (Platt) told me I would appreciate this post, I hope you don't mind a stranger reading. :) I ate there last weekend, and it was the oddest thing, because the service was FAST. It just didn't seem right. The waitresses there always call everyone "honey" and "sweetheart," and it makes me feel weird.
PS. I love the bull rug too...
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