371678 Thu Feb 15 21:25:02 -0800 2007 11 3 California 0 2298065 Hey Hounds, okay, so I didn't think this whole thing out, forgive me (I'm also planning a wedding while this goes on, and so I've probably posted a few too many topics... but you're helping me get a sense of what to wolf down while in your awesome state. Day 4 is our much too packed adventure down to the central coast, stopping in Cayucos for the night. Day 5 we continue towards LA, stopping in Santa Monica/Venice to check things out there. My fiance loves Mexican food (she's part chicana, grew up in Dallas but doesn't just like "texmex" but all kinds of mexican food). Also, she's a pescatarian of the scales variety). Day 4 is most likely our only dinner alone for the trip, so I wanted to do something nice, tasty, and romantic, but I've noticed a lot of hounds RAVING about Taco Temple. If we move out at a decent pace on the morning of Day 5 (wednesday), we could do lunch at La Super Rica. I don't know that I could do two mexican meals back to back (with so much else to taste going on), so if you had a choice, which would choose and why? Either Taco Temple for Dinner, or La Super Rica for lunch? Thu Feb 15 21:25:02 -0800 2007 45031 voodootrane 1 2299670 Both are good, but neither has a romantic ambiance. The specials are worth checking out at TT, other threads have recs for favorites at LSR. This isn't what you asked, but if you are going to be in Cayucos, you might want to try Hoppe's for your romantic dinner on Day 4. We never miss a chance stop there. The food has always been very good and the room is nice--I think there is dining in the garden as well. Also recommended is Chef Rick's in Orcutt, near Santa Maria, if you have room for one more meal on Day 5. http://www.hoppesbistro.com/ http://www.chefricks.com/home.htm Fri Feb 16 11:10:21 -0800 2007 2298065 10861 Babette 2 2300192 Just saw your other threads & realized you'll be in Cayucos when Hoppe's is closed, and La Super Rica will be closed the following day, simplifying your choices. (Windows on the Water should make you happy on Tuesday, though). I think Chef Rick would brighten your spirits after missing out on Hoppe's--but it's only about 1 hour past Taco Temple. Maybe have a little taste at Taco Temple followed by delicious choices and great service at Chef Rick's. We always try to stop there, even if we've been dining so well that we need to just split something. Fri Feb 16 13:21:52 -0800 2007 2299670 10861 Babette 1 2300356 Personally I think La Super Rica is very good but over rated. You can tell that all their ingredients are very fresh and everything tastes great. However, there are many taco stands that have equivalently good food (there are two within a couple miles of where I live that are as good which is not Santa Barbara tho). If Julia Child had not made La Super Rica famous no one would make such a big deal out of it. Fri Feb 16 13:56:21 -0800 2007 2298065 21571 RBCal 2 2302251 Julia Child, Rick Bayless, Martha Stewart and many other 'clueless' food professionals! And the 'mindless' masses that try it and keep returning for their overly hyped chow year after year. Yea, right! Thanks for helping to keep the line short! Sat Feb 17 09:19:24 -0800 2007 2300356 10864 sel 3 2310135 Yes, even the famous can be mindless sheep. Tue Feb 20 09:11:48 -0800 2007 2302251 21571 RBCal 2 2304242 Either that, or the delicious food... Sun Feb 18 08:29:07 -0800 2007 2300356 13564 Snackish 1 2300553 It's hard to say which is best because comparing Taco Temple to La Super Rica is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. Taco Temple is more of a fusion of California cuisine (whatever that is) and Mexican. Imagine Californian food heavily influenced by Mexican ingredients and preparations. You'll find fresh ingredients, interesting combinations of ingredients, like maybe (hypothetically) a fish taco with a vegetable salsa and an oil and vinegar dressing instead of the more typical red or green sauce and crema. It's Cal-Mex created for white people, and it's very yummy, and Babette is correct: no romantic ambiance. La Super Rica, on the other hand, is more like what I think of as traditional Mexican food. It's a taco stand kind of place. I hate to use the word "authentic" to describe it (since I don't think the word applies much to food anymore) but it's closer to what I think of as Mexican-American food that white folks have discovered. Also no romantic ambiance. Both are quirky, but it different ways. Hope to hear what you ultimately do/did. Fri Feb 16 14:49:51 -0800 2007 2298065 16340 alanstotle 1 2301091 hello, indeed it's apples and oranges. Very little in common between the two menus except the vocabulary, and they go through a lot of tortillas (at super rica made on the spot as they serve). I've stuck to the fish at the temple because quality fresh fish simply prepared is as good as anything fussy/fancy, decent beer on tap and a wine selection at the temple, with significantly higher prices and more 'big plate' combinations compared to s.r .Have a safe trip Fri Feb 16 17:59:04 -0800 2007 2298065 11012 moto 2 2304248 I agree with alanstotle and moto...If I ate the two meals back to back, I would not feel like I had two of the same types of food at all. La Super Rica is more heavy and rich (in a good way) and Taco Temple is lighter and more California-style cuisine. There is really very little Mexican about it. But it is good. Sun Feb 18 08:31:12 -0800 2007 2301091 13564 Snackish 3 2308314 You're absolutely right that TT is lighter, but why do I always leave so much heavier? Mon Feb 19 16:27:02 -0800 2007 2304248 18150 PolarBear 4 5146858 One more difference that accounts for that full feeling (not that this is relevant anymore to the original inquiry): The portions at TT are LARGE (and more expensive). Of course, if you order enough, you can duplicate the quantity of food (and cost?) at LSR, but no booze there, and the traditional vs. nouvelle definitely applies. TT will run out of specials for later dinners and won't allow take out on items that they think don't travel well. LSR doesn't care about any of that. Sun Nov 01 09:55:38 -0800 2009 2308314 1120829 XB77