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First Taste: Garibaldis
Here we are again, writing about food in Seminole Heights. What do we need more than one Mexican restaurant in the area? Two, of course. And now we've got it. Just a block East of the famous Taco Bus is a new restaurant called Garibaldis.
"Next Door?!" You may be wondering. These two restaurants can easily survive this close to each other because they are quite different in the experience they offer. I've highly recommended the Taco Bus to anyone that will listen. Well, after my first taste, I think Garibaldis will earn a spot on my list of regular eateries.
The journey to Garibaldis started with the same old question "So. Where do you want to go for lunch?" My mind kicks into gear, lists all the restaurants in the Heights, and then slowly removes the ones that do not serve lunch, which is nearly every single one. You know you're scraping the bottom of the barrel when the local grocery gets listed as an option for a restaurant. Then my lunch mate blurts out "How about that new Mexican restaurant on Hillsborough?"
To which I responded, doing my education proud -- "Huh?"
Yes folks, the Mexican restaurant near 13th and Hillsborough has traded hands and is now called Garibaldis. They serve lunch, too. Being an adventurous (and hungry) sort, I was game to give this new place a try.
We order from the lunch special list because this was lunch and lunch needed to be cheap. The specials are exactly that. A cheap plate of decent food. I ordered the enchilada special and got a large, oval plate filled with two chicken enchiladas, beans, rice, and a soda. All of this for just $5.50. Holy frijole's. The quality was decent and the portions were large. Chips and Salsa were complimentary. The other luncher got a steak burrito which came flat on the plate and covered with cheese and sauce, beans, rice, and a soda. This aint cuisine, folks, but it is good, solid food.
Will Garibaldis unseat Taco Bus for the quick taco lunch? No. Our beloved Bus has nothing to worry about here. However, what I did notice is a well-stocked, full bar, a karaoke machine, and lots of indoor space for having fun--maybe even enough for dancing. There is a large television over the bar that would be great for sports (probably soccer) and was tuned to spanish-language soaps while I was there. What the Taco Bus isn't is a night spot for locals looking for a beer or mixed drink. If you want a sit-down Mexican dinner and a margarita, Garibaldis is your best bet.
Stay tuned for a full review when I visit a second time and order drinks and dinner. Until then, if you've got the itch for beans and rice in a sit-down environment, Garibaldis is a local option worth considering.
1235 East Hillsborough Avenue
I went to dinner at Garibaldi's last night and ordered the chile relleno. The chile relleno is a good "indicator dish" for me on how good a mexican restaurant will be. They are complicated to make, require a mixture of make-ahead and make-on-order ingredients and have simple enough ingredients that the quality of the meal is as much cooking skill as the recipe.
It did not pass the minimum mark for me. The relleno had no ranchero or other sauce on it. The cheese center was not melted at all--you could see the pre-grated cheese they used. The entire thing was blanketed in cheese to the point where it was unappetizing.
My dinner partner had the enchiladas ranchero. They had no ranchero sauce either, contrary to the picture on the menu and, well, the name of the dish itself. Again, it was covered in a thick layer of cheese.
My lunch above was the enchiladas rancheros so I was able to compare my initial lunch with what we were served for dinner. The dishes were exactly the same in size and quantity. The dinner was roughly $4 more in price and not the same at all in quality.
I was very disappointed in the meal.
Spot on review. I would love to plan a night visit....let us know when you are going.