- Posted by: Spicy
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- Apr 15, 2010
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- No Comments
Camarones Restaurant (Scottsdale), Spicy’s review
For such amazingly gorgeous architecture you would expect the food, service and drinks would be exceptional.
Not the case for Camarones Restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Ste A102, 8787 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253)
My husband and I came into Camarones looking for a margarita and a meal. When we walked in I was completely in awe of the decor of the place. Incredibly high sky-painted ceilings, paper star lights hanging from the entryway, massive pillars, lots of fancy stuff to look at, it was probably the most incredibly beautiful Mexican Restaurant I had ever laid eyes on. And believe me, that is saying something. Mexican food is my favorite food, hands down, and I have visited literally hundreds of Mexican restaurants all over the Western Hemisphere in my lifetime.
Besides the decor, the second thing I noticed is how empty the place was. It was 6:30pm-ish and prime time for the dinner rush. We took a seat at the bar and decided to have a drink there then move to a table when we were ready. However, we never made it to the table.
First off, compared to the dining area, the bar had zero ambiance. And I mean zero. It was really bright, plain and didn’t fit in with the rest of the place. It was as though the bar were an afterthought. We ordered their top of the line Cadillac margarita (a whopping $9!) and it probably the single worst margarita I have ever ordered. The bartender carefully measured exactly one shot of tequila and dumped it into the drink. I was a bartender for years and know that a Cadillac is not a one shot drink. It tasted like a $3 margarita.
As I accepted that I was going to be drinking a less than optimal margarita, nature called. I went to el banos and was again, surprised at how beautiful the bathrooms were. But once it came time to wash my hands and there was no soap to be had, I, again, was disgruntled.
When I made my way back to my seat I noticed that the few people there had left or were leaving. My husband and I looked at each other like, “Uh, maybe we should go.” The place was nearly empty.
Although our bartender was attentive at times, she wasn’t interested in making any small talk – except with another employee on the opposite end of the bar. We decided to not dine here as we weren’t very pleased with the quality of drinks, the service or the overall feeling we got from Camarones. As a matter of fact we were pretty anxious to leave and try a restaurant next door, which turned out to be a fabulous idea.
We were in Scottsdale for business and stay in this area often. We don’t plan on visiting Camarones again. Someone should tell them that a smile and a good margarita go a long way, especially in a Mexican restaurant.
In a nutshell, if you want to see million dollar architecture and sacrifice everything to do with your meal, go to Camarones. But in our opinion, you are better off at one of Scottsdale’s hole in the wall Mexican restaurants. I guarantee you’ll leave happier, more satisfied and with more money in your pocket.
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