Comments on: A very brief review of Carlos O’Kelly’s

By: master_dman

master_dman — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:56:22 +0000

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.

By: maubs

maubs — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:49:34 +0000

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?

By: mortonmalaise

mortonmalaise — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:36:31 +0000

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.

By: Mahkno

Mahkno — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:52:53 +0000

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.

By: chef Kevin

chef Kevin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:57:23 +0000

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

By: Emtronics

Emtronics — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:19:41 +0000

Geez, another myth. mortonmalaise sez: “I donâ€™t care how good it is, Mexican food isnâ€™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?

By: mortonmalaise

mortonmalaise — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:57:17 +0000

Kevin,
I don’t care how good it is, Mexican food isn’t worth getting mugged or my car getting stolen.

By: Mahkno

Mahkno — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:59:03 +0000

I am still waiting for something more original akin to the Frontera Grill/Topolobampo in Chicago.

By: Chef Kevin

Chef Kevin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:18:17 +0000

Mi Ranchero Grande (ex-El Somberito, Cinco de Mayo building on Pioneer Park) and Walt’s Dos at Garden & Westmoreland.

By: PeoriaIllinoisan

PeoriaIllinoisan — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:22:07 +0000

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.

By: mortonmalaise

mortonmalaise — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:36:08 +0000

For those of you still hellbent on Fiesta, there’s one in Morton and one in East Peoria.

By: Billy Bob Jolie

Billy Bob Jolie — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:01:37 +0000

No love for Chevy’s yall? I know they’re a chain, but damn. Best homemade tortillas in Illinois.

By: PeoriaIllinoisan

PeoriaIllinoisan — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:59:05 +0000

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!

By: Eyebrows McGee

Eyebrows McGee — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:57:13 +0000

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!

By: mortonmalaise

mortonmalaise — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:04:19 +0000

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.