Restaurant update (Osprey: houses, casino, closing) - Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area - Florida (FL) -Manatee and Sarasota Counties - City-Data Forum

SRQ123 · 10-27-2010, 10:11 AM

Hey all,

We recently visited two restaurants that have been discussed and/or recommended here, and just wanted to give our opinions. I hope they are helpful to some degree. I apologize in advance for being so long-winded.

Burritos on Clark:
Great chips and salsa (IMO), and we both had "wet" burritos. She had the bistek, and I had chicken. I LOVED mine, she liked hers.

She was expecting more of a pepper-steak-type meat, but it was ground beef.

The service from the owner was EXCELLENT. The food was out really quickly.

Retropolitan:
This one is tougher. As mentioned before, the service left something to be desired. Not terrible, but slightly subpar. As we walked up, there was only one table occupied.

It was well before closing time, but business was so slow that they were preparing to close early. The hostess greeting us had us wait as she went to check with someone regarding whether they would seat us. This is understandable, I guess.

The complimentary potato chips and dip that were brought out were pretty bad. The chips were soggy and stale-tasting. The sour cream-based dip was......irrelevant.

However, the burgers and fries we ordered were AWESOME! Cooked exactly as we requested, and those fries were the best I have ever had. I had the bison burger, and she had the bleu cheese burger.

We ordered a side of onion rings as well. (Hey! Don't judge!) They, too, were AWESOME! In lieu of fries, she ordered a tomato/cuke salad. This was a pretty uninteresting side, just tomato/cuke slices and some greek salad dressing.

Back to the service, again, not terrible. But, the staff seemed preoccupied with getting the busy work done so that they could take off as soon as we were done. Again, I guess this is understandable for people who are working for tip money, without any decent # of patrons.

Rushmore · 10-27-2010, 11:01 AM

I couldn't understand the negatives i had seen about Burritos. I think it is pretty solid, and the price is right. I would choose this place every time over El Paso Grill (also on Clark).

We had some company in town a few weeks ago, and stopped by Two Senoritas downtown on Main. There were five of us, and three thought it was excellent (especially the slow-cooked, shredded steak burrito), but two thought it was abysmal (one of whom got the vegetarian platter, so she doesn't really count [KIDDING!]).

Go figure.

beachymom · 10-28-2010, 09:03 PM

This reminds me that we still need to try Burritos again. And not for take-out this time. (We have a three strikes rule before we take a place off of our list and we have only had take-out there once.) I recently found out that I can't have gluten...

yes, rotten news..and what's more rotten is that this gluten-free thing is actually working for me. There are many places around here with gluten-free options..Burritos is a gluten-free friendly restaurant and is on my list..I can't wait to try it out there.

mrs.cool · 10-29-2010, 03:24 PM

Mr.cool has to be gluten free too!! We found out almost 3 years ago he has Celiac Disease. Is that what you have as well?
His biggest two problems are beer, and bread. Everything else is fine. We've found cakes, cookies, pasta, crackers, just about everything else but those that taste just fine. But bread is a problem, we can't find a decent one, and he loves the wide variety of breads as much as he loves variety in beers. The only gf beer he likes is called "Red Bridge" and is made by Anheuser-Busch. Which is fine if you're home, I can get it at my local grocery store, but it's never available when we're out. The only places we've found it are Outback Steakhouses, and New York New York Casino in Las Vegas!
Good luck with your being gluten free, and if you need any shopping/cooking tips, dm me, I've been at it for nearly three years now. Good luck!

beachymom · 10-30-2010, 01:10 PM

Thank you, Mrs. Cool! I was afraid that I would have to live on a big salad for the rest of my life but I have already found many good substitutions for my faves...I'm not a big beer drinker at all (even one sip always made me feel gross~hmmm...now I know why!) and I'm still loving my Pinot Grigio. There is a great g-free bakery here on Stikney Point with great bread, treats, pizza crust, etc. And a couple restaurants in the area use their breads on their g-free menus. Like Cosimo's... makes great pizza and flatbread sandwiches from that bakery.... and Beckham's Osprey Grill has a nice g-free menu (they even use a separate fryer) that I'm excited to try. Like your husband, I LOVE bread...I'm going to start experimenting with my own since there is nothing like fresh, hot bread out of the oven....I will definitely send you a message if I get stuck on something. Thanksgiving is coming up and I always have made a mean southern cornbread dressing. I will have to tweak that quite a bit!!

beachymom · 10-30-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rushmore

I couldn't understand the negatives i had seen about Burritos. I think it is pretty solid, and the price is right. I would choose this place every time over El Paso Grill (also on Clark).

We had some company in town a few weeks ago, and stopped by Two Senoritas downtown on Main. There were five of us, and three thought it was excellent (especially the slow-cooked, shredded steak burrito), but two thought it was abysmal (one of whom got the vegetarian platter, so she doesn't really count [KIDDING!]).

Go figure.

Had the shredded steak enchilada at Two Senoritas last night....(had to go to Whole Foods so we just ate downtown) ...oh, mama!! Excellent!!

ladyflyfsh · 10-30-2010, 01:25 PM

I had a steak burrito the other day for lunch at Burritos and thought it was pretty bad. The meat was chopped up so small you could hardly tell what it was and it was way too salty. I like salt but this was even too salty for me! The chips are always good but I wish the burrito had been better. I got pretty spoiled living in the SF Bay area for so many years and having great Mexican food in the Mission district. I am craving a really good Carne Asada burrito served ONLY with whole pinto beans, salsa fresco, freshly grilled Carne Asada (should be skirt steak) and wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. That is all that goes into the perfect Carne Asada burrito. (no cheese, no lettuce, no sour cream, no guacamole and NO refried beans!) Maybe I will find one someday around here .....

beachymom · 10-30-2010, 01:40 PM

My husband is from CA and we are spoiled from the real Mexican food there! Half of his extended family is from Mexico...I make my own Carne Asada...marinating the steak overnight is the key. MMmmm...I've never put the beans inside, though, just on the side. I'll have to try it that way!

***don't add the citrus to the marinade overnight, though...coat with the oil, spices, garlic, cilantro overnight. then add the lime, orange juices, vinegar a few hours before it goes on the grill...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyflyfsh

I had a steak burrito the other day for lunch at Burritos and thought it was pretty bad. The meat was chopped up so small you could hardly tell what it was and it was way too salty. I like salt but this was even too salty for me! The chips are always good but I wish the burrito had been better. I got pretty spoiled living in the SF Bay area for so many years and having great Mexican food in the Mission district. I am craving a really good Carne Asada burrito served ONLY with whole pinto beans, salsa fresco, freshly grilled Carne Asada (should be skirt steak) and wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. That is all that goes into the perfect Carne Asada burrito. (no cheese, no lettuce, no sour cream, no guacamole and NO refried beans!) Maybe I will find one someday around here .....

Rushmore · 10-30-2010, 02:35 PM

I used to live right smack dab in the middle of the Mission is SF (16th and Dolores), and believe me:

You have to forget about that food entirely, or you will NEVER enjoy another Mexican meal for the rest of your life.

In the Bad Old Days (long story), I would have huevos rancheros and an ice cold Tecate at 9AM at any of a bunch of places right on Mission.

There's no way to explain in words what made that food so superior to all other Mexican food I have had. It would be pointless to try.

Anyway, no point using it as a yardstick either, because everything else will come up to about an inch and a half.

Rushmore · 10-30-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachymom

Had the shredded steak enchilada at Two Senoritas last night....(had to go to Whole Foods so we just ate downtown) ...oh, mama!! Excellent!!

Now that I think of it, it was an enchilada on a combo plate, and not a burrito as originally reported.

I have no idea why that one particular dish is such a standout, but I will go back there just for those shredded beef enchiladas.