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MacRae O.'s Profile
So Why Don't You Run across the Border, Mama?
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1. 24 Express Food Store
It's a combination convenience store and Latino market, serving (what my friend says is) outstandingly delicious fried chicken and (what I know from experience are) fabulously flavorful fried plantains. Pick up your jicama and your car air…More »
2. Alma de Cuba
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1799
Categories:
Latin American,
Caribbean
Neighbourhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
Of all the places I ate in Philadelphia, this is the one joint where I didn't get any pictures.
"Why, MacRae, whyyyy?" you ask?
Well, it's not that I didn't try. But it was *so dark* in AdC's dining room that using flash would have mimicked the…More »
3. Austin Grill
3.5 stars.
A perfect storm of circumstance found me at Austin Grill for the first time in almost 10 years this weekend:
1) I've been on the hunt for a viable Mexican replacement since we nixed Los Toltecos from our restaurant rotation a few months ago.…More »
4. Bar Acuda
I have to say we were spoiled by our meals on Kaua'i. Hardly a bad one to be had. But our dinner at Bar Acuda ranked right up there with the best of them.
First off, I really enjoy the atmosphere here. All dimly lit and whatnot, modern, refined and…More »
5. Broadway Café & Grill
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 276-0414
Categories:
Diners,
Breakfast & Brunch,
Latin American
Neighbourhood: Fell's Point
3.5 stars.
So we ended up at the Broadway Café & Grill completely by accident. We were Yelp app'ing our way to Blue Moon for breakfast, but we were in a hurry. When we saw the line wending down the block from Blue Moon, we had to scratch that plan.…More »
6. Cafe Atlantico - CLOSED
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 393-0812
Category:
Latin American
Neighbourhood: Penn Quarter
Café Mmmmmmm-lantico! I really enjoy dining here, tho it's a bit pricey, so I don't visit as often as I'd like. I love the set-up, with the three levels all open to one another, and the bright, airy feel of the whole restaurant. You can watch the…More »
7. Café Habana
Moms, Pops, husband, and I headed to Café Habana for brunch with my NYC-dwelling college Bestie. It is a perfect, casual spot -- swivel stools at the diner counter, Formica tables, tiny space -- with excellent food.
We started with the elote, or…More »
8. Casa Oaxaca
Holy mole! Casa Oaxaca is *the* place for this comforting Mexican sauce. I'm convinced that Ponce de Leon's famed Fountain of Youth gurgled mole as opposed to water. Mole I can see people flocking to. Water, not so much.
Amidst a proliferation of…More »
9. Columbia Restaurant
Columbia is a local Florida chain with a few restaurants in the Tampa area. The original opened in 1905. I don't know exactly how long this one on St. Armand's has been operating, but 40+ years at least. When Moms was a college co-ed in Sarasota,…More »
10. Consuelo Mexican Bistro
Consuelo Mexican Bistro is San Jose's Rosa Mexicano -- upscale Mexican fusion for yuppies. They even do table side guac in a molcajete like all de rigueur Mexican fusion joints these days. And apparently there's a RM in L.A., so left- and…More »
11. DaMoim
3.5 stars.
I'm titillated by this place. It's good now, has the potential to become great, and we were happy with our overall experience. I am a huge Asian food freak, but I admit to being sadly uneducated about Korean food in particular. So my…More »
12. El Agave
You know what's weird? The menu at El Agave is almost exactly the same as the menu at the Los Toltecos chain...right down to names like the "Speedy Gonzales" on the lunch menu. I figure they must be connected, but there's no indication of that fact…More »
13. El Paraiso II Restaurant
El Paraiso is a nondescript little storefront in a nondescript, internationally-inclined strip mall in Alexandria's West End. They specialize in Puruvian and Salvadorean foods. From the outside, you might never notice it. The inside is fairly…More »
14. Firefly
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 369-3971
Categories:
Tapas Bars,
Tapas/Small Plates
Neighbourhood: Eastside
Killing time playing Blackjack on a Saturday night before 8 pm dinner reservations at Firefly, we mentioned to our pert little dealer we were dining there. "I *love* that place!" she squealed, "Get the mac 'n' cheese!" When we piled into the taxi…More »
15. Guapo's Restaurant
3.5 stars.
Guapo's is nice stuff. It has the largest outdoor patio in Shirlington, so on the first nice days of Spring it's probably your best bet for getting a seat outside. You'll still have to wait, tho, if you show up any time after 6:00,…More »
16. Jaleo
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-7949
Categories:
Spanish,
Tapas Bars
Neighbourhood: Penn Quarter
I like Jaleo. I really do. The food is quite nice (albeit hit or miss), and the atmosphere is fine. But there is something...something I can't quite put my finger on...something that keeps me from leaping for joy at the mere mention of Jaleo. Maybe…More »
17. Jose's Real Cuban Food
Muy deliciosa y muy agradable! (My Spanish is completely stupid, so forgive me. I studied French for 13 useful years.)
So I guess I have a TV antenna or something, because somehow I knew this spot had been featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives"…More »
18. Justa's Chicken
Justa's Chicken occupies the former Saigon Citi, which itself occupied a former Pizza Hut. It's a counter joint with basic decor, but the Peruvian menu extends far beyond the simple chicken that the name implies. Justa's does offer pollo a la brasa…More »
19. La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria
Cinco estrellas todo.el.camino.
The subject of La Mexicana is raised near weekly in our house.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you. I was just thinking about a La Mexicana carnitas torta."
"I'm craving La Mexicana's zetsy guacamole and homemade chips. Lunch…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/16/2011
Cuatro estrellas y media. Dios mio, this place is legit.
Service: the gentleman at the counter is… Read more »
20. La Palapa Grill & Cantina
3.5 stars.
I don't get how people can come to a Mexican joint with a cartoon chile pepper wearing a ridiculous sombrero on its signage, and then complain about the food not being "authentic." Were you expecting tamales hand-shaped by a wizened abuela…More »
21. La Tasca
3.5 stars.
I love tapas places because you can order a ton of food without appearing like a hog. I love food, I love to eat, and love any place where I can just keep ordering and eating without being judged. La Tasca is a fairly good tapas joint. I…More »
22. La Union Restaurant
[kazoo fanfare] All hail Áine F. and B"OO"M! I definitely take most Yelp reviews seriously, but there are some I take seriouser than others. It's why -- coupled with the other really favorable reviews here -- husband and I made La Union our…More »
23. Los Tios Grill
If you live in Alexandria and pay any attention to local culture (read: eat your way through town like I do...), then you're well aware of the perpetual Los Tios vs. Taqueria Poblano debate. The two restaurants are blocks apart on Mount Vernon…More »
24. Los Toltecos
Ohhhhhhh, no. You went from Los Toltecos, four star joint, to Dos Toltecos. Shame.
How far Los Toltecos has fallen in a short amount of time. Sad. And infuriating at the same time....I guess because we've been regulars since they opened several…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/5/2009
We hit Los Toltecos on a weekly basis because the prices are great, the food is really tasty, and… Read more »
25. Marcela's Bakery
One of the reasons I love Yelp: I didn't even realize Marcela's had a brick-and-mortar storefront until I went to write a review of their farm market goodies. Anyway.
Marcela's Bakery shows up at area farm markets each week during season with their…More »
26. Mi Rancho
A friend of ours celebrates her birthday here every year. Over the last 4 years, I have compiled the following notes on this joint:
Mi Rancho 101
I. Atmosphere
A) Outdoor Patio
i) It's big.
ii) It's hot in summer.
iii) You can…More »
27. Mi Rico Peru
Thanks be to Maya C. for 1) suggesting husband and I give Mi Rico Perú a try; and 2) guiding us through the unfamiliar world of Peruvian delicacies by suggesting some truly fabulous dishes to sample!
Stopped by on a Friday night and shared the dining…More »
28. Mixto
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-0363
Categories:
Latin American,
Cuban
Neighbourhood: Washington Square West
Well, it's true what they say: "Nothing propinks like propinquity." (Don't pretend like you don't hear this aphorism on a daily basis.)
I first visited Mixto on a trip to Philadelphia a few years back with a dear girlfriend of mine, because it was…More »
29. Oyamel
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 628-1005
Categories:
Mexican,
Tapas Bars
Neighbourhood: Penn Quarter
4.5 stars.
I'm gonna break it down Dana Z. style, because she and I were in strikingly similar Oyamel boats:
Reviewed by: 1 following, 30 friends.
Oyamel has been in my bookmark list for what seems like eons. I enjoy all the José Andrés endeavors.…More »
30. Pedro and Vinny's
I usually write too much in my reviews.
So here's the low-down: Burrito Man is back. You are lucky/happy. Take your pick.
You want black & tan with the works. You want a plain flour tortilla. Forget the designer BS, it only masks the flavors. You…More »
31. Red Hot Mama's
Ima go ahead and give these guys a solid 4-star, despite my bro debating me on it during our Hawai'ian vacay. Why the debate? He moved to Northern California 4 years ago, and suddenly he fancies himself a burrito connoisseur. *snort* "It's hard…More »
32. Rosa Mexicano
Surprise (at least it was for me)! Rosa Mexicano is a chain chain chain...chain of fooo-oood.
This explains the rather uninspired textbook decor. Host stand goooes HERE. Adobe fireplace siiiiits HERE. Napkins fold liiiike THIS. It also explains…More »
33. Skye's Restaurant
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 463-7707
Categories:
Mexican,
Breakfast & Brunch,
American (New)
You're craving a patty melt and beer. Your friend wants chicken enchiladas and a margarita. You're at a dining impasse, caught in the eternal "where do we eat with such conflicting palates?" conundrum.
But have no fear: Skye's is here to placate you…More »
34. Sra. Martinez
4.5 stars.
SIL and I had a brief 36 hours in Miami and dinner plans with Meat-and-Potatoes Cuzzo and his gal pal. Come hell or high water, tho, I *was* going to eat at a Michelle Bernstein venture -- time constraints and unadventurous palates be…More »
35. Taco Bar
The devil made me do it!
After nearly two decades as a strict vegetarian, I recently came back to the dark side -- but (mostly...) as an ethical flexitarian in my current incarnation. So when I see "free range", "hormone-free", "grass fed", or…More »
36. Taqueria el Poblano
I still like Taqueria Poblano quite a bit. I think they (*usually*) serve up some of the better Cali-Mex food in the area.
But four of us went for brunch today and were completely underwhelmed. The food, while tasty, wasn't remotely hot:…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/5/2009
We frequent Taqueria Poblano and find the food consistently good. Sure, the restaurant is small and… Read more »
37. Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe
My extensive research into Tex-Mex restaurants has led me to two conclusions:
1) Outside of pizza, Tex-Mex is *the* most kid-friendly cuisine of all time. Every Tex-Mex joint I've been to has been packed to the gills -- half the patrons kids under 10…More »
Recently updated lists from MacRae O.
I Think I'm Alone Now... (41)Despite their popularity, I find these places somewhat (if not totally) overrated. |
Think Globally, Buy Locally (71)The best places to pick up farm-fresh, local, homemade, organic, and/or good-for-you goods! |
Bubbles in My Beer (66)Here's where I been watchin' 'em. |
Westsiiiide! (65)Alexandria's West End is wonderfully diverse, ethnically varied, and abuzz with activity -- why I love to call it home. |
Your Body Is a Wonderland (13)Here's where to treat it like one. |
I'm Flexible (19)After nearly two decades as a strict vegetarian, I decided to adopt a "flexitarian" lifestyle and reincorporate farm-raised, grass-fed, organic, and humane meats back into my diet. Here's where I find that ethical food. |
Carbo Loading (76)Wraps, enchiladas, pitas, spring rolls, quesadillas, crepes, turnovers, pupusas, samosas, tacos, calzones, empanadas, pierogies, dosa, pot stickers, burritos...I'll eat anything in a carbohydrate shell. Except pot pie. Not pot pie. |
Two Tickets to Paradise (46)Hawai'i's Garden Isle of Kaua'i is as close to heaven on earth as it gets. Here's just a few of its amazing offerings. |
The Rainbow Connection (34)Someday we'll find it. |
Feel the Burn (50)If you like spicy fare as much as I do, here's where you can find it. |
See all 81 lists »
"These pretzels are making me thirsty."
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Review votes:
9705 Useful, 6462 Funny, and 8166 Cool
Alexandria, VA
Yelping SinceJanuary 2009
Things I Lovestinky cheese, Belgian beer, boutique hotels, lurid gossip, ahi poke, dry humor, scotch, surprises, everything bagels, snow globes, Virginia wine, tuna salad, the ocean, Pickapeppa, Jelly Bellies, Texas, crushed ice, cold pizza
Find Me InMonk's Café
My HometownDallas, TX
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm people watching.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsThey've won Pulitzers.
My Second Favourite Website The Last Great Book I Read"At Home" by Bill Bryson
My First ConcertU2 Zoo TV
My Favourite MovieEmpire Records, Glory, The Sound of Music
My Last Meal On EarthStone crab, cole slaw, hush puppies, and ice cold beer beachside.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I can't remember the last time I bought new socks.
Most Recent DiscoveryBacalao
Current CrushIceland