Cuckoo's Nest - Old Saybrook, Ct
It has been a while since we have been to Cuckoo's Nest
And now I remember why - - the food is never consistent.
I was hoping for a little Cinco de Mayo cheer over the weekend - - but nothing.
Ok we stay anyway.
We both ordered off the 'special" menu.
Blackend Scallops w pesto over Rigtaoni pasta
and
Enchiladas Mole.
Sangria to drink.
First - the Sangria was just on the border of waste of money - the wine was watered down - the fruit was not ripe and the overall beverage lacked the depth , fruitiness and spice that a really good Sangria brings
Enchildas Mole - the promise of the menu was not on the plate - it was to be 3 enchildas - cheese, beef and chicken with mole and green sauces - beans and rice
The tortillas were dry around edges when served
The sauces looked dried out around the edges as well -like it had just started to sit too long - - I go let it go and proceed to eat.
The rice is flavorless, dry and cooler than room temperature
The beans pedestrianally spiced
The Enchildas "special" - also a overall disappointement
- the Cheese was fine - hard to ruin cheese - ended up being the hilite of the plate
- the Beef - was minced ground beef in a hard to describe spiced sauce
- the Chicken was chunks not shredded and several mouthfuls I swallowed dry pieces
- the Sauces - well - lets just say they did nothing to help - I ended up adding the table salsa on top.
The waitress was very good and helpful -but she couldn't save the tasteless Enchilda Special and Sangria for me.
The other dish was the Blackend Scallops - - I did not taste them - but my dinner companion seemed to like them - -
Overall - I will not be going back to Cuckoo's Nest anytime soon until they get their Mexican food back on track - esp their specials for crying out loud.
For the money you pay there - - they should be doing better by the meal and presentation.
P.S.
In an near empty room - they want to seat us by a serving station which had a trash bin right behind the table.....acted annoyed when I asked to have another table - - - I should have known then what I was in for
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Morganna
Apr 27, 2009 06:04 AM
I'm not sure how I did this but I think I must have confused reviews of this place with some other place. We ate there last night and it was AWFUL
Cheese enchiladas stuffed with muenster (not a totally awful choice, really) then topped with AMERICAN cheese. EUGH! My husband's chicken taco had one huge chunk of chicken in it, and it looked like a supermarket taco shell. He said the chicken wasn't dry, but it was flavourless. The best thing to say about the beans were at least they were cooked through. They also managed to be flavourless. We each had different styles of rice. His was cooked in some sort of red sauce, mine was yellow. I couldn't taste any ingredients in my rice at all. It was just grains of texture. Not a bad texture but, I like flavour with my food. The ground beef filling of my beef enchilada was OK, it actually had some onion in it but the raw onion they sprinkled on top was, astoundingly (HOW did they MANAGE this??) FLAVOURLESS! Raw onion with NO onion taste.
No, I didn't have a cold! This meal set us back $43 (we didn't fail to tip well enough, not her fault the meal sucked), and if it had been free I still would have considered it too much.
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re: Morganna
kattyeyes
Apr 27, 2009 06:40 AM
Oh, shoot, Morganna! I was actually thinking of you yesterday as we were down in Old Saybrook biking, then went to Johnny Ad's. I was hoping you were enjoying your stay CT and having some good chow. Are you still "here" in the state? Please get over to Bistro du Glace in Deep River (on Route 154) for some pastries and console yourself with some nice fried seafood at Lenny & Joe's--Westbrook for a sit-down meal; Madison for a more casual atmosphere. Maybe even the "lobster lady" is open (Lobster Landing in Clinton).
Cuckoo's Nest has *totally sucked* for more years than I can count--nevermind what Connecticut Magazine says as that's bunk. Sorry you had to experience such a lack of deliciousness on your vaca. Hope you are still around and have plenty of time to check out tastier options in/around OS.
I know you researched this trip months ago when you were planning. Check those old threads--I recall there were lots of good suggestions.
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re: kattyeyes
Morganna
Apr 27, 2009 06:55 AM
Yep we';re still here. I'm at an unremarkable diner called the Parthenon (had some yummy french onion soup last night as a snack here) for breakfast. It was near our motel and I don't need outstanding for breakfast. :) Thanks so much for your recommendations, we're here until Wed, plenty of time to explore. Love a place with wifi ;)
Going to the sub museum after this, and to a nature reserve or something like that. The weather has been OUTSTANDING and I got a rec from the Indian owners of the motel for an Indian place that's new. He promises me it's good, so we'll give that a try, too. :) I'll definitely report back on that!
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re: Morganna
kattyeyes
Apr 27, 2009 07:02 AM
Cool--yeah, I've driven past that diner a million times and never heard/read one word about it. I've never investigated because the best diner in the world is right in my hometown (O'Rourke's--Main St., Middletown). ;)
Will be glad to hear of other options you find. Don't forget Samurai on Route 1 for Chinese/sushi/hibachi. Can't vouch for the hibachi, but the Chinese and sushi are very good. And Tuesday is now 50% off sushi day, so keep that in mind if that appeals.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/596600Sounds like you have a fun day ahead and perfect weather, too. Have a great time!
Edit: P.S. Try Frankie & Gianni's on Main St. OS for panini. I forget if that was on your list of suggestions. Very nice and you can eat outside if you'd like!
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re: Morganna
When I went to the Parthenon, I pretty much only ever ordered the Greek vegetarian platter and that always made me happy enough. Will be interested in your report on the Indian place, Darbar was always a favorite of mine but it's been a while. I miss Johnny Ad's and Lenny & Joe's...
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"Inconsistent" would be way too kind. This place is a disgrace. Food is disgusting, place is filthy. It was horrible the last time I went 10 years ago and may have actually gotten worse. Great example of a restaurant that is totally out of touch. Can't imagine why it seems to do business. And by the way, we were seated next to the serving station too: the trash bin is still there. I hate to pan a restaurant, I know how hard it is to run a good one. I feel like I'm doing a good deed if I help one potential customer avoid this dump.
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re: jameskohn
shaogo
Mar 1, 2009 01:08 PM
I wouldn't call the place a "disgrace," but it is mediocre at best. We went exactly twice when I lived in Clinton; we were bored with everything but the salsa, which we bought more of to take home. A recent "re-try" in the summer disappointed, as well. Indeed, what their food needs more of is *flavor.*
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When my office was in New Haven, I would stop once or twice a month at Jalapeno Heaven on rt. 1 in Branford. It was head and shoulders above the nest.
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The Cuckoo's Nest has never been good. I have been talked into going there with friends several times and have always regretted it. The Mexican food is tasteless. It really annoys me that they have been named Best Mexican in CT Magazine almost every year. I really don't know how they pull that off.
My favorite Mexican is a little place in Groton called Ortega's. It used to be BYO, but now they serve beer and Margaritas.
