|
more articles like this
Las Palmeras
updated: Oct 23, 2010, 9:00 AM
By Ms. Lemonjelly
I work at a company that gives its employees a paid day off to do
volunteer work around town, so I did my volunteer work in the downtown
area and at lunchtime I went to check out the newly opened las
Palmeras down on Haley.
This restaurant has taken over the former las Conchas location, just a
couple doors down from the Rose Cafe no. 1. I guess it was a nightclub
in its former days, because the interior is massive, with a stage and
a long bar that practically stretches the length of the space.
However, at this point in time they do not have a dance or alcohol
permit so there are signs placed throughout the area to remind people
that dancing is NOT permitted, and there is no beer or wine available.
Based on what I first read on John Dickson's santabarbara.com blog,
they probably do at least want a beer and wine permit so the
restaurant can be a local spot for eating, having a beer and watching
the futbol during the day. It's early days yet. For now, they have
good Mexican food, which is what mattered most to me at lunchtime.
# # # #
It was quiet on this drizzly day, with a couple other tables taken by
men on their lunch break. We were brought chips and a condiment tray
of sauces, including the usual tomatillo salsa, a roasted tomato and
chile salsa and what looked like guacamole. The man helping us was
very quick to point out, however, that it was *not* gaucamole, and
that is was very hot. It turned out this was a jalapeno aioli, which
I'd never heard of or tasted ever before. Just jalapenos and oil
whipped into a creamy emulsion. It's the lower left corner of the
photo below.
# # # #
# # # #
The chips were housemade with thick corn tortillas, these weren't on
the bill, so it looks like chips and salsa are complimentary. Really
crunchy and fresh.
I'm always on the "taqueria tour" so of course tacos were ordered, and
also some sopes. The tacos are $1.99 each or three for $5.00, topped
with lettuce, onion, cilantro and a wedge of avocado. There's a basic
selection of meat available, and we got asada, lengua and pastor. The
sopes are two for $6 and come with beans, lettuce, cheese and a wedge
of avocado on top. The meats we selected were lengua and pastor.
# # # #
# # # #
We also got two big cups of horchata. There wasn't much available by
way of drinks, btw. The man waiting on us had only gotten as far as
listing Sprite, but since we'd spied the jar of horchata on the bar we
immediately asked for that.
# # # #
Between two of us, we ate perhaps two thirds of the food, and had to
take home an entire sope. It's just a lot of food, especially with a
top-up of chips. The corn tortillas are freshly made, as are the masa
bases of the sopes, and the lengua was wonderfully soft and tender.
The lengua is also cut in thick wide slices, so it's really obviously
tongue and some might be a bit squeamish to that.
Although we loved our food, we noticed that everyone else in the
restaurant was eating caldo de res, or a Mexican beef stew loaded with
chunky vegetables, beef and beef bones in a rich broth. The men were
seriously heads-down focused on eating it up, with some squeezes of
lime juice and a stack of tortillas. If there had been more in our
group, someone would have ordered that, but we'd committed to the
tacos and sopes and couldn't even finish those.
Our bill was about $16, after tax, before tip. This was for $5 tacos,
$6 sopes, and $4 for two large cups of horchata. Cash only!! I'm
looking forward to coming back, and this time to get the caldo.
Especially if we have more cool drizzly weather.
# # # #
Las Palmeras
432 E Haley St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
6 comments on this article. Read/Add
# # # #
|
