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32 Responses to “A very brief review of Carlos O’Kelly’s”
Hmm. Not a wise move. Peoria has an authentic Fiesta Ranchero or whatever on every block, dont they? And if you want to go to a more established chain, Chevy’s would be my reccomendation, only a few miles away if I remember correctly, one of my favorite restaurants before I skipped town.
Nope, don’t know why anyone in P town would ever go to Carlos o’Kellys.
Let’s start off by saying their food sucks. My actual entree was edible if not a bit bland, but the rice is so horribly bad tasting I don’t even think I’d feed it to a pig, and I’m serious. It’s BAD. The refried beans were runny along the edges, and clumpy in the middle. We couldn’t decide if the nacho chips were stale or made like that on purpose.
I didn’t have a big problem with the service and left her a nice tip. Our waitress had 5 tables. Maybe this is being nit-picky, but that place wasn’t real busy, yet they had to seat all 5 tables right next to one another. I understand you don’t want a waitress running all over the whole place, but why couldn’t they leave an empty booth between a few of us?
We should’ve ate Vallarta’s lunch buffet as my wife suggested, but I said we hadn’t been to Carlo’s O’Kelly’s in years, and besides, it was just across the street from where we were, so I suggested we give it a try. I mean really, how bad can it be?
By far the best Mexican in this town is Gran Azteca on University near Pioneer Parkway. Never had problems with the food or the service, and they make their own horchata if you like that stuff.
Most of the other places everyone thought were good have closed.
Pepe Taco
Chi-Chi’s
Fiesta Ranchero
Cinco de Mayo
The place that moved in after Cinco de Mayo
Fiesta Ranchera is still open in Morton. The same family owns most of the Mexican restaurants in town, no matter what the name. They are affectionately referred to in certain circles as the “Mexican Mafia”.
There is a great Mexican place on the East Bluff at Wisconsin and Kansas(? — a few blocks from Nebraska). There is no sign outside, other than a stencil that says “Cliff’s Place.” The real name is Mi Familia. The food there is AWESOME. I also concur w/ Billy re: El Mexicano on Jefferson. Tremendous.
My wife and I went to C O’ K once when we first moved here because we had a coupon. By far the worst dining experience I have ever had in Peoria, if not my life.
I think the Carlos O Kelly’s drink coupons are what keeps them in business. Cheap watered down drinks. The food is definitely not what keeps them around. It’s slop. Probably not wise to eat at a restaurant that combines mexican/irish names. Big hint right there. El Mexicano on Jefferson is fabulous. I’m living in Miami at the moment (I know, pray for me) and have yet to find Mexican fare here as good as El Mexicano. Plus, the people there are fantastic – very kind, hard working. Hmm… when’s the next flight leaving for Peoria?
Angela,
You’re much better off going for the Cuban cuisine in Miami. The shadier a restaurant looks, the better the food will be. If you want good Mexican, you almost have to get north of Broward County. It seems counterintuitive, but it’s true.
“The story behind the name “Carlos O’ Kelly’s” is a company myth but has been adopted as the official birth of the restaraunt and its base. Two men were supposed to have met one day, a mexican named Carlos, and an Irishman with the last name O’ Kelly. They decided to open up a store with a mexican restaraunt and irish bar. Many would say the two cultures would clash but instead, they act as compliments to each other.”
Uh-huh. I don’t think they even serve Guiness at Carlos O’Kelly’s. And I’m almost certain you won’t find Corona at the Brazen Head in Dublin.
I liked C O’K’s flautas so I’m sometimes tempted to go there … and whenever I give in, I’m always sorry because, other than the flautas, it’s pretty appalling.
I stopped in at Vallarta’s last night. Who I assumed was the owner was pretty down in the dumps about business and quite open about that fact. He seemed especially pissed off at the Chinese Buffet and that their parking lot was always packed.
I asked if business picked up after Fiesta on Dries closed, and he said so-so, but not really. I didn’t dare say I ate at Carlo’s O’Kelly’s a few days earlier. I think he would’ve killed me on the spot. As it was, he comp’d me a couple of drinks.
Jalepeno’s is the same thing. One in the Metro, one just off of Pioneer Park, and I am told they opened a new one at the Shoppes. I liked the one on Dries because it was closest to my house.
Geez, another myth. mortonmalaise sez: “I don’t care how good it is, Mexican food isn’t worth getting mugged or my car getting stolen.”
I go to Walt’s Dos a lot and used to go for the great chicken when it was just Walt’s. By the way, if you wanted to meet a judge, high powered lawyer, the mayor, or whatever, then go to Walt’s on a Friday or Saturday night.
On the other hand, how do I find the Mexican restaurant in Morton? Aren’t ALL the buildings made from Legos?
I’m with Em. Been there several times at different times of the day. Never an issue. And Mahkno, I think you will be waiting a long, long, l-o-n-g time
It is just disappointing that the ‘mexican’ restaurants are going the same route as Chinese restaurants went, offering basically the same stereotypical faire. You would get the impression that mexicans only eat maybe six different things, which just isn’t true.
I love watching Rick Bayless’s show on PBS. Its a vacation guide and menu all rolled into one. He brings out what the locals really eat. The diversity and unique character of food in Mexico is immense and under appreciated. We don’t need some 4 star chef, I would be happy seeing a enterprising Mexican family actually try and fix food like back home and not like some up scale taco bell.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hmm. Not a wise move. Peoria has an authentic Fiesta Ranchero or whatever on every block, dont they? And if you want to go to a more established chain, Chevy’s would be my reccomendation, only a few miles away if I remember correctly, one of my favorite restaurants before I skipped town.
Nope, don’t know why anyone in P town would ever go to Carlos o’Kellys.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Hmmm… that sounds like a conversation my wife and I had about 10 years ago. And what a stomach-distress free ten years it has been…
March 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Bring back Pepe Taco!!
March 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Ditto David. I learned that lesson in the mid 90s
March 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
El Mexicano. Located at the corner of Mary St. and N.E. Jefferson. There are only six tabled inside the place. But the food is FANTASTIC!
March 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
[...] has written yet another restaurant review. It’s brief, and bound to really tick someone [...]
March 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am
PI,
Just because they couldn’t keep up with your beer drinking, doesn’t make it a bad restaurant.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
MortonMalaise- defender of Chain Restaurants.
Let’s start off by saying their food sucks. My actual entree was edible if not a bit bland, but the rice is so horribly bad tasting I don’t even think I’d feed it to a pig, and I’m serious. It’s BAD. The refried beans were runny along the edges, and clumpy in the middle. We couldn’t decide if the nacho chips were stale or made like that on purpose.
I didn’t have a big problem with the service and left her a nice tip. Our waitress had 5 tables. Maybe this is being nit-picky, but that place wasn’t real busy, yet they had to seat all 5 tables right next to one another. I understand you don’t want a waitress running all over the whole place, but why couldn’t they leave an empty booth between a few of us?
We should’ve ate Vallarta’s lunch buffet as my wife suggested, but I said we hadn’t been to Carlo’s O’Kelly’s in years, and besides, it was just across the street from where we were, so I suggested we give it a try. I mean really, how bad can it be?
March 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Is Carlos O’Kelly’s a chain? I didn’t know that. I’ve only ever seen the one in Peoria.
I was just giving you a hard time. I do agree that the quality of the food is not up to par. I had the same experience with my beans last time I went.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Vallarta’s, oh, Vallarta’s, it’s my son’s favorite, and sounding mighty good to me right now!
But you are right, Carlos O’Kelly’s, blah! I wonder how it even stays open for business?
March 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
By far the best Mexican in this town is Gran Azteca on University near Pioneer Parkway. Never had problems with the food or the service, and they make their own horchata if you like that stuff.
Most of the other places everyone thought were good have closed.
Pepe Taco
Chi-Chi’s
Fiesta Ranchero
Cinco de Mayo
The place that moved in after Cinco de Mayo
March 12th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Fiesta Ranchera is still open in Morton. The same family owns most of the Mexican restaurants in town, no matter what the name. They are affectionately referred to in certain circles as the “Mexican Mafia”.
March 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
There is a great Mexican place on the East Bluff at Wisconsin and Kansas(? — a few blocks from Nebraska). There is no sign outside, other than a stencil that says “Cliff’s Place.” The real name is Mi Familia. The food there is AWESOME. I also concur w/ Billy re: El Mexicano on Jefferson. Tremendous.
My wife and I went to C O’ K once when we first moved here because we had a coupon. By far the worst dining experience I have ever had in Peoria, if not my life.
March 12th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I think the Carlos O Kelly’s drink coupons are what keeps them in business. Cheap watered down drinks. The food is definitely not what keeps them around. It’s slop. Probably not wise to eat at a restaurant that combines mexican/irish names. Big hint right there. El Mexicano on Jefferson is fabulous. I’m living in Miami at the moment (I know, pray for me) and have yet to find Mexican fare here as good as El Mexicano. Plus, the people there are fantastic – very kind, hard working. Hmm… when’s the next flight leaving for Peoria?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Angela,
You’re much better off going for the Cuban cuisine in Miami. The shadier a restaurant looks, the better the food will be. If you want good Mexican, you almost have to get north of Broward County. It seems counterintuitive, but it’s true.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Mi Familia has the best mexican food in Peoria. Look for it.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I was never able to get past the name. My mind works like this: “Carlos…” (ah, a Mexican restaurant!) “…O’Kelly’s.” (What? …. What?)
See, PI, that’s the problem. Never order Mexican food from the Irish.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
From Wikipedia:
“The story behind the name “Carlos O’ Kelly’s” is a company myth but has been adopted as the official birth of the restaraunt and its base. Two men were supposed to have met one day, a mexican named Carlos, and an Irishman with the last name O’ Kelly. They decided to open up a store with a mexican restaraunt and irish bar. Many would say the two cultures would clash but instead, they act as compliments to each other.”
Uh-huh. I don’t think they even serve Guiness at Carlos O’Kelly’s. And I’m almost certain you won’t find Corona at the Brazen Head in Dublin.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I liked C O’K’s flautas so I’m sometimes tempted to go there … and whenever I give in, I’m always sorry because, other than the flautas, it’s pretty appalling.
Vallarta’s FTW!
March 13th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I stopped in at Vallarta’s last night. Who I assumed was the owner was pretty down in the dumps about business and quite open about that fact. He seemed especially pissed off at the Chinese Buffet and that their parking lot was always packed.
I asked if business picked up after Fiesta on Dries closed, and he said so-so, but not really. I didn’t dare say I ate at Carlo’s O’Kelly’s a few days earlier. I think he would’ve killed me on the spot. As it was, he comp’d me a couple of drinks.
Go patronize him!
Oh yea, dinner was DELICIOUS!
March 13th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
No love for Chevy’s yall? I know they’re a chain, but damn. Best homemade tortillas in Illinois.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
For those of you still hellbent on Fiesta, there’s one in Morton and one in East Peoria.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Jalepeno’s is the same thing. One in the Metro, one just off of Pioneer Park, and I am told they opened a new one at the Shoppes. I liked the one on Dries because it was closest to my house.
Billy Bob, I like Chevy’s too.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Mi Ranchero Grande (ex-El Somberito, Cinco de Mayo building on Pioneer Park) and Walt’s Dos at Garden & Westmoreland.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:59 am
I am still waiting for something more original akin to the Frontera Grill/Topolobampo in Chicago.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Kevin,
I don’t care how good it is, Mexican food isn’t worth getting mugged or my car getting stolen.
March 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Geez, another myth. mortonmalaise sez: “I don’t care how good it is, Mexican food isn’t worth getting mugged or my car getting stolen.”
I go to Walt’s Dos a lot and used to go for the great chicken when it was just Walt’s. By the way, if you wanted to meet a judge, high powered lawyer, the mayor, or whatever, then go to Walt’s on a Friday or Saturday night.
On the other hand, how do I find the Mexican restaurant in Morton? Aren’t ALL the buildings made from Legos?
March 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I’m with Em. Been there several times at different times of the day. Never an issue. And Mahkno, I think you will be waiting a long, long, l-o-n-g time
March 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Yes.. it will be a long time Chef Kevin.
It is just disappointing that the ‘mexican’ restaurants are going the same route as Chinese restaurants went, offering basically the same stereotypical faire. You would get the impression that mexicans only eat maybe six different things, which just isn’t true.
I love watching Rick Bayless’s show on PBS. Its a vacation guide and menu all rolled into one. He brings out what the locals really eat. The diversity and unique character of food in Mexico is immense and under appreciated. We don’t need some 4 star chef, I would be happy seeing a enterprising Mexican family actually try and fix food like back home and not like some up scale taco bell.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I only made the statement to provoke rants from Peorians. It seems to have worked well.
Fiesta is on W Jackson, right next to KMart.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:49 am
La Fiesta is the one in Morton; Fiesta Ranchera is in East Peoria, and is pretty darn good. I’ll have to try Vallarta’s – where is it?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I love Carlos O’kellys.
Eat there all the time. Service is always perfect. Waitress is always smokin hot. Food is always good. The atomic salsa is da bomb.