Quick Quixote's Mexican Grill Update (SF)

[susancinsf]

Hubby and I had to run a few errands near the Foresthill nabe, and I was hungry. I was really craving a Bahn Mi, but I know of no place to get one in that area, so I decided a torta might be the next best thing, and we stopped into this new spot next to ChouChou...I've been curious to try this place since reading a recent review in the Bay Guardian which dinged some of the food for being too spicy, which I thought could be a good sign that it wasn't overly bland.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, we were the only patrons, so it is not surprising that we had none of the service issues that pwm mentions in the CH link below. Menus were brought right away, and drink orders taken. Hubby wanted ice tea, and unfortunately that meant Snapple. I was more fortunate, since I wanted a soda and they do have a good selection of Jarritos and Senorial. Chips were brought out: not fresh, not really stale either, just sort of ok, along with two salsas in squirt bottles and two small dishes to squirt them into (no longer plastic, I am happy to report). The red salsa was complex and had a good level of heat; the green was sweet and fairly bland. Our orders were taken and food brought promptly and with a smile. No complaints about the service.

I ordered a torta de carnitas; hubby, who unlike me had already had lunch, decided on just a mahi mahi taco as a snack, mostly to keep me company and to try a bit more of the menu.

Sigh. The torta was a miss. First of all, despite being an in-house (not to go) order, it came wrapped in foil, which I am sure steamed the bread a bit, even though it wasn't wrapped long. That was particularly unfortunate since the bread was already too soft. Worse yet, there was waayyy too much mayonaise (it was a lot, and any mayo on a torta is too much mayo in my opinion), and thus the mayo was the predominant taste, overwhelming even the jalapenos, not to mention the guacamole, which was bland. If I were ever to order this sandwich again, which is doubtful, I would specify no mayo! (In fairness, I realized after the fact that the mayo was specified on the menu. Wish I had noticed that before ordering).

The one potentially bright spot in the sandwhich was the carnitas: juicy, nice porky taste once I pulled out a bit and tasted it. Might be worth trying on a taco or in some other incarnation. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of the meat in an otherwise generously sized sandwich.

Hubby was much more pleased with his taco: only one tortilla that I am sure was not house made, but it was topped with a generous slice of grilled mahi mahi that he said was fresh, cabbage, and some decent looking mango salsa, that he also enjoyed. (it disappeared before I could taste it).

Total cost for our lunch with tax and tip was about $14.

Bottom line: a mixed verdict: I say thumbs down, but hubby gave it a thumbs up. Might have to give it one more try and order more wisely next time...

In the meantime, does anyone know a good spot for bahn mi in that neighborhood?

Bay Guardian Review:

http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=3685&catid=77&volume_id=254&issue_id=297&volume_num=41&issue_num=34

Recent discussion on CH:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/37779...

QUIXOTE'S MEXICAN GRILL
Mon.–Thurs. and Sun., 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat., 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
406 Dewey Blvd., SF
[phone]

[Windy]

Nearest banh mi is probably the place on Taraval and 20th (if it's still there) but it was neither great nor often open. Nearest banh mi you want to eat is Irving and 23rd (meatball), which is less than 10 minutes if you keep going on 7th and then blast down Judah.

[susancinsf]

Thanks! We drove by Taraval and 20th later in our rounds, but didn't see anyplace, though that doesn't mean it isn't still there. Yet later, I noticed a bahn mi place on Ocean Ave., perhaps two blocks west and the other side of the street from Beep's, which I might check out soon...

[Windy]

The Vietnamese place on Ocean next to 24 Hour Fitness has banh mi, which I don't recommend. The rest of their food is okay if you're in the area.

[rworange]

Ya know, I wouldn't give any place a thumbs down based on the torta which is 99 percent dismal in the Bay Area.

If there weren't less than zilch chance of me eating there (too many years with mom at LH ... never even drive by there if I can help it) .. anyway ... I might try the chile relleno which the Bay Gaurdian wrote ...

"the proper kind, a poblano, deep green and tapered, with a breath of heat — had been roasted and peeled, not dunked in batter and deep-fried. He also approved of the cheese inside (molten queso blanco, oozing) and of the ranchero sauce"

I've never been thrilled with Bay Guardian food reviews. At most they let you know the restaurant is there. I kind of worry about that writer complaining about the heat. I hope the restaurant doesn't dumb down the heat.

I can kind of excuse that type of review in the Contra Costa TImes. They are catering to a largely suburban Applebee's-eating crowd. A recent positive review of Tabla, an Indian restaurant that sounded great to me ... the guy hacks up a whole goat every wednesday for curry ... and received positive reports on Chowhound ... elicited a huffy letter to the editor by someone who complained the food was too spicy and the ambiance was missing. I thought it was crummy that the CC Times printed that letter.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/enter...

But in SF that sort of review is unecessary where one would hope that there are a wider range of palates. While I realize there are sophisicated diners in the suburbs, my experience from working and living there is that for the most part people are looking for crowd-pleasers. In SF, the review seems wrong. If you don't like or can't eat spicy food, don't review the place.

[susancinsf]

I tend to agree with you, actually, though in this case the review worked in reverse: I figured if it was too spicy for the SFBG it was worth checking out! :-)

And yes, the description of the chile relleno did catch my eye; I totally agree that it sounded promising. Oddly, however, I didn't see it on the menu when I got there. I am not sure if that was because I was fixated on a torta or because the menu changed (many of the menu items are written on a chalkboard on the wall, so I imagine the menu changes fairly frequently).

I was also tempted to try the sangria, and probably would have had I not still had a number of errands to run. They did have a few outdoor tables; if summer ever comes to the City it might be fun to sit out there and try it....

But not with the torta. while I agree that the torta is not a strength of Mexican cuisine in SF (what is?), there are many, many better places to try one.

[SpiceMogul]

Having passed by the location many times, I have eaten there on three occasions now, and I have to give it a thumbs up. Quixote's is exactly the sort of place that SF (the city) seems to lack: a good mid-market Mexican restaurant, that won't blow the bank, won't make you stand on line for your food, and provides the well executed classics and a good margarita to wash it all down with.

Especially recommended is the home made fiery red salsa that comes with the chips, which has just the right amount of hear balanced with a smokiness. The chile rilleno is also recommended: not gooped up in a lot of spongy batter, but lightly battered and lfried, and served so crisp on the outside, but tender (not slimy) on the inside that you will want to pretend it's your vegetable for the meal. The margaritas, always an important ingredient in a meal such as this, are the perfect balance between tart and sweet, and pack a good degree of punch.

My spouse grooves on the Camarones Rancheros, which has just the right amount of heat, and a dish that is ordered (and shared) each time we visit.

Overall, an asset to the neighborhood, and a welcome addition to an otherwise lackluster Mexican dining scene at this price point. Although easily reached by buses and Muni (K,L and M) and ewith plenty of street parking, its a shame there are not a few more branches spread around the city - it's a winning formula.

[susancinsf]

Those margaritas must be made with soju or wine; I don't think they have a full liquor license.

I still do need to get back to try the chile relleno....thanks for the update.

[rworange]

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