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What People Are Saying About El Zarape Mexican Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Mexican food in a quaint cafe setting adds spice to University Heights' walkable main drag.
12/03/07
Not Mexican. Pure Shitzican.
by chefnilou at Citysearch
So, my boyfriend and I decided to check this place out last night. Very cramped lil shop. I'm all for cozy, but this was BAD. The semi-exposed small kitchen housed 4-5 sad lookin cooks, who in turn served some sad looking/tasting food. We ordered Fish tacos....which tasted like last months tilapia, and smelled even worse, Nachos Supreme...which consisted of nacho cheese from the can, and thigh pieces that, I swear, had been sitting under a heat lamp for several hours (apparently its possible to get dry thigh pieces..), and lastly the infamous house burrito..all I can say for that is DON'T DO IT. We waited about 20 minutes for our food. The food was served at room temperature...Room temperature nacho cheese from a can not so delicious...room temp fish tacos...not so delicious... They even managed to mess up the horchata, it came unmixed and settled into an inch thick powdery film at the bottom of a medium sized cup. Everything was disgusting. I wouldn't recommend this to my enemies, because less than an 30 min after we left I had the WORST stomach cramps, and spent the night over the toilet. It was the worst $25 we ever spent. I'm not one to nag. I'm a cook myself a a restaurant in Huntington Beach. But holy guacamole....I still feel sick this morning, and felt it my place to warn you all.
- Pros: You don't have to walk far to eat somewhere else
- Cons: Spoiled food served at room temperature.
11/12/07
Great food, low prices!
by asm618 at Citysearch
We went here while on a weekend vacation to San Diego. The food was excellent. The salsa bar also was great. Parking is limited to on the street. We parked in a residential area about a block away. The atmosphere is very casual. You order at the counter and your food comes on Styrofoam plates with plastic utensils. Seating is also limited and was almost all full when we got there, plus a bunch of people coming to get take-out orders. Prices are cheap, portions are plenty (not too big, not too small). Overall, the food was excellent, the atmosphere was fine ? as long as you?re not expecting a nice sit-down restaurant.
- Pros: great food, great salsa bar
- Cons: styrofoam plates, street parking
The Details on El Zarape Mexican Restaurant
Look Good:
The mood and decor are more upscale than a taco shop, but the prices fall comfortably below the Old Town sit-down spots. It's great for casual dinners with friends.
