Carmelita’s Mexican Restaurant
7705 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL, 33771
Carmelita’s Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
7705 Ulmerton Rd
Largo, FL, 33771 - Phone (727) 533-8555
- Website https://www.carmelitas.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Kelleigh M.
I do love me some Carmelita's, but this location is one of my least favorite. My favorite, on East Bay drive , is closed due to the shopping center being demolished. This one is the closest for my friend and I. The food is still equally as good-tex mex at its finest, but the atmosphere is lacking. This last time, the service was pretty awful and my usual 20-25% tip got knocked down to 15%. My go to is a generous portion of their chips and salsa (sometimes I get a bag and container to go) and their cheese enchiladas. So good! My friend typically orders the chicken verse enchiladas. Those too are pretty fantastic with a sour cream based sauce on top. Although I'll still continue to patron this location, I will switch back to my original once they re-open.
(4)Tony R.
I was so sad when the east bay location closed and was initially hesitant about going to this location. I must say that I have enjoyed the Ulmerton location even more. The food seems to come out hotter and fresher and one of my favorite servers transferred from the other store. Although not authentic they know how to do tex mex. Love the cilantro infused salsa as well as the hot salsa. I empty the contents on my chile rellenos and wash it down with the house Rita. I don't know what I would do without this place.
(4)Cris S.
Good chicken enchiladas, but got a seasoned beef enchilada and it was a cheese enchilada with seasoned beef of top instead inside. Queso was okay, kinda just plain, needs more spices. Flour tortillas and rice are really good. The salsa wasn't all that, its sweet. My wife got the chicken taco salad, she says it was really good.
(3)Liyakhat K.
Service sucks. This used to be my favorite place to go for Mexican food. They recently increased the prices and don't give refills on salsa and chips. Not going back again. They are doing the same thing at all other locations as well
(2)Tom M.
I have been eating at Carmelita's almost from the beginning -- 100s of visits. I don't think I have ever had a bad meal. Sometimes there have been variations, but the flavors were still great. Probably not authentic, whatever that means, but I never really enjoyed those "authentic" places. However, a Mexican waiter from another of my favorites, says that other than where he works, he likes Carmelita's. I have eaten at the Ulmerton location a few times and find it to be the equivalent of the original.
(5)Nancy G.
I love this place! I just moved to the area and happened upon Carmelita's during my move. I have since been here at least 10 times and the experience is consistently good. I tried some of the combination platters but once I had the Chilies Rellenos, I have been stuck getting that every time since, because it's so good! (I don't even look at the menu anymore!) I get a lot of visitors from up north and I've brought everyone here! And everyone loves it. They are generous with the chips and homemade salsa. What I like, is that they give each person their own dipping bowl so you don't have to worry about double dippers! The service is usually excellent and very courteous. They always make me feel at home and I've been there several times by myself.
(5)Mark H.
Carmelita's has never seemed like the most authentic or best-tasting Mexican grub to me, but they've been consistent thru the many years, so for that reason I always return. This is the kind of place to bring white people as a mild introduction to Mexican food. I've read some of the other reviews and I see some missed opportunities on service speed, but I've been fortunate enough to always receive polite and speedy service during my visits. Normally when I eat here, I stick to the CARNE ASADA, which is very good with a nice char-grilled flavor. However, due to a slight change in diet for medical reasons, I've been staying away from beef lately. This prompted me to eat something outside of the box during my last visit. I ordered the DEL REY (wet burrito) with chicken, frijoles de la holla and Mexi rice. I'm guessing not many people order those beans because mine were a bit cold in the middle, but that's OK. I pressed on and cut into one of those meaty burritos I've come across to date. I mean, this this was jam-packed with shredded chicken man! I could barely cut thru the thing with a fork and nearly needed to involve a knife with the situation. There wasn't much filler in there either, 95% meat. It was also piping hot, juicy and delicious. A definite good alternative to the carne asada for sure. We also had some chili cheese dip on the table, which was OK, but not really worth the $6 price tag. It tasted like canned chili and melted Velveta cheese. The absence of authentic white Mexican melting cheese at Carmelita's is disturbing. Lastly, order the sangria. It's great. You're definitely going to want a pitcher.
(3)Benjamin G.
I adore Mexican food and never cease to crave things like pinto beans, flour or corn tortillas, salsas of all kinds, etc. My parents are huge fans of this place and I was so excited to head back for a return visit after a year or so. I've had a few different items over the years, but there are a few things anew to me that I think make this place shine far brighter than I had ever thought before -- First of all, what Carmelita's calls "Pico" is not what you'd expect. This stuff is pure magic. A compilation of chiles, of which the majority is poblano, onion, and cilantro. It packs a bit of a spicy whollop, but its a pain worth enduring for the flavor. It goes well on anything -- mix it into your salsa, alone on chips, tacos, you name it. It's the kind of flavor that will work with anything that hits the table. I wish they would sell this stuff by the barrelful. I'd be a happy patron. The other thing I must note is the Tacos al Carbon. I'm not typically one to go for steak of any kind, but they came after many recommendations from my folks. I can't say I've ever had steak more flavorful than this. The marinade and spice mixture they use on this skirt steak is heavenly in flavor. Though well done, it doesn't matter. They could serve this steak in tacos or upon a plate with rice and beans and I'd be just as happy. It hits all of the right notes on your palate and only beckons for more of the same. I absolutely love this and see why my folks order it time after time. Those two things alone make me a fan of Carmelita's. I seriously can't wait for another visit next time we're in town.
(5)Heather H.
I enjoy this place every time I come home to visit my parents. Since the health issues they've cleaned up their act. I love there beans and rice and have tried everything on the menu. Love it all.
(5)Marty C.
We haven't been by here in some years but the TriCity shopping center is awaiting demolition and renovation. We were instantly greeted and seated. We ordered the cheese dip(queso blanco). For entrees, I ordered the Vegetarian Combo and my partner ordered the Enchiladas Verdes. I know I don't seem like the type to order a vegetarian dish but I love this one. It comes with a whole bean layered tostada with cheese and topped with a generous amount of tasty guacamole, a cheese filled chili relleno, I opted for the cheese enchilada and the Mexican rice. It was the lunch portion but it was a whole lot to eat. The Enchiladas Verdes lunch portion comes with two large chicken enchiladas covered with their verde sauce and then covered with a seasoned sour cream sauce. The dish came with one side dish; rice was chosen. The chips and salsa were plentiful throughout the meal. The service was speedy and pleasant. If you're on Ulmerton around Belcher and are craving a big plate of Mexican food, come fill your face at Carmelita's.
(4)Mitch L.
I really liked Carmelita's a lot. I was told it was good by some local folk. They weren't wrong. First of all the tortilla chips were different colors regular and red. I just thought that was cool. The salsa was the best I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant. The reason for that is I was able to eat the chips and salsa without downing 15 glasses of ice water!!! I saw a couple near me eating something that looked delicious. They said it was Mexican pizza. I had seen that at Taco Bell and always wanted to try it. This was a real Mexican restaurant so I figured I would try it here. They told me the Mexican pizza was the best and they were right. It was delicious!!!! Being a little over $10 I thought it was a good buy as well. The ones at Taco Bell are not cheap!! I indulged myself and was happy I got the Mexican pizza. I got the ground beef one with piles of goodies layered on top of it!!! Of course I could only eat half of it and I took the rest home!!! I would have given them five stars except for one thing. In the menu it said chips and salsa come with your meal and you were allowed one refill. When I asked for a second helping the waiter said they were out of chips. I pose this question to you, have you ever heard of a Mexican restaurant running out of tortilla chips ? My waiter, well he wasn't the best. I came in at 8:30 PM and they close at nine. I felt a little rushed by the waiter and I don't believe there were no more tortilla chips. I tipped him 20% even though I didn't get a second helping. I wasn't being a pig I just thought they were very tasty and wanted more chips and salsa.
(4)Jason M.
The worst service ever and we didn't even have a bite to eat. Came here for Cinco De Mayo around 3:30pm. There were about 5 tables of people. The hostess tried to sit my wife and I at a 6 top table. We asked for a booth, she replied that she would have to wipe one off. After sitting there for over 10 minutes and 3 of the servers looked right at us, no one approached our table. When I went to the back of the room near the server station to ask if we had a server, I was told "We're a little busy BUD"! Yes, 3 servers and 5 tables... Busy... We left and won't be back!!
(1)Josiah G.
I came here after hearing good things, but unfortunately, I did not have a good experience. The salsa was actually pretty good and it's the reason they get two stars. The 40 minute wait for our food at lunchtime and below par food, itself, get one star. The waiter was friendly and our drinks were always full, but 40 minutes for 3 people to get their food? With the hopes of good food on the way, I patiently waited. Finally, the food arrived and before I even took a bite, I was deflated. The "sides" consisted of a scoop of pale, sad looking rice and a scoop of bagged, shredded iceberg lettuce topped with three tiny black olive slices. I went with my Mexican barometer dish, the chicken chimichanga, and this one was at the bottom with the worst I've had. It looked pathetic and It was covered in a red sauce and topped with a scoop of sour cream. For looking as bad as it did, it tasted about the same. The sauce on top literally tasted just like Taco Bell mild sauce. That's the only taste I could identify in my whole dish, because I couldn't taste any chicken and the tortilla was soggy and just as tasteless as the sides. It seems the lunchtime pickin's are slim around this area, so I'm just hoping I won't have to come back here any time soon.
(2)Stephanie V.
Reasonably priced Tex/Mex food. The beer came in a frosty mug which was a nice touch and super refreshing! We both liked our meals and the portions were very large. The chips were warm and we were told when seated that they were in the process of making more. The chips and salsa was particularly good and fresh. The flavors really stood out in the carne asada. Big robust flavor as my husband put it, lol. We enjoyed our meal and would frequent Carmelita's again in the future!
(4)Ed A.
This was my first visit to this location. I was not so impressed with the service. We waited way too long for drinks during our meal, and dirty appetizer plates and other trash sat at the end of our table for the entire visit. The food was pretty good though. I'm a stickler for service, so I'm not sure I will visit again. The other location off of east bay was better.
(2)Mike M.
Jason is the best waiter and very helpful on suggestions. Very good authentic Mexican food. I'd give it five stars, but cheap on the chips and salsa.
(4)S H.
We've finally found a good Mexican restaurant in the Clearwater area since moving from Texas 2 years ago! Boyfriend had the durango combo plate ( taco, tamale, beef enchilada) and I had the steak fajitas. When they came out I could tell they would be great and they were. Boyfriend liked everything on his plate as well. The chips were great and they give you a hot and mild salsa which we mixed together to get the right spice.
(5)Mike F.
First time here after living across the street from it for over nine years. I must say that if I knew it was that good I would have gone a long time ago. My wife and I had dinner, she ordered the chiles rellenos and she said they were delicious. I had the fish tacos and they were tasty. They use tilapia which I love, it was seasoned and cooked perfectly. In addition we had the sampler platter as an appetizer which contained cheese sticks, flautas, poppers and fajitas and all were good. The dinning room is nice but I have seen better. The Mexican aroma coming from the kitchen is great and only gets you more hungry. Overall a good experience and good service, I will certainly be back for more.
(5)Rick C.
This specific location is fantastic, have been to others and they are just NOT up to par! I have one closer to my new house however I make the drive to go to this location.
(5)Samantha G.
It was alright. The staff were nice and accommodating, especially considering we were a large group who wanted the TV on convention coverage. And they were really nice about the fact that we showed up minutes before they closed. So 5 stars for all of that. The food, however, was just mediocre. It was standard Americanized Mexican fare. And the packet of salad dressing was kinda creepy. Between 2 and 3 stars. So we'll even it all out to 3 stars. It was an alright experience. If you're in the area and hankering for Mexican, why not.
(3)Ciji C.
My family loves this place. It's quaint and casual and the food is delicious! My mother drives 20 minutes just to eat here. There are a couple things on the menu that we love: their steak rocks, so we tend to stick with the steak fajitas or tacos al carbon. My husband loves their homemade flour tortillas and I love their homemade soft corn tortillas. Their rice and refried beans are delicious too. I saw some people say that it's typical American/Mexican fare and, sure, there is some stuff on the menu that I can see falling into that category but for the most part, the flavor is authentic. It reminds me of my childhood growing up next to a Mexican family who had daughters my age and sometimes I was allowed to eat over their house for dinner and it was awesome. Carmelita's food tastes like my childhood and I love it! Dinner for 4 people averages at $65 (that includes 4 steak taco/fajita dinners, 4 drinks and 1 dessert). It is a bit pricey but when it's that good, who cares?!?
(4)Jamie W.
Just okay food and over-priced for the quality. My daughter had the kids bean and cheese burrito which actually was just a bean burrito with a tiny amount of cheese on top. The beans were tasty, but not what was expected by the description. All in all not worth the price. Most entrees were over $10
(3)Marianne D.
Consistent, delicious and friendly. I love coming here for a Mexican treat! Food is always good. Durango combo is awesome.
(5)Valerie K.
Somehow this carmalitas is not as good as the one up the street on east bay. Not quite as fresh and just seems dark in there.
(2)Drake M.
The weather outside is horrible so I didn't want to go too far for food so I decided to stop into Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant and I am pleased to say that I was not at all disappointed. The chips and salsa that come when you sit down were pretty awesome! the salsa had substance to it and a nice sweet and spicy flavor. I prefer salsa that has some substance where others prefer salsa that really just a red hot sauce with no substance, to each their own I say but theirs was nice and chunky. I had the Enchiladas Verde with 2 sides of beans and it was awesome, great flavor on the seasoned chicken mixed well with the Verde and sour cream. The re-fried beans are the best I have had since I left California. I was very impressed with my meal here. The prices here were pretty cheap, less than $10 per person and I left full. When it comes to Mexican food though everyone seems to have a variation of what a decent price is. I do to, I don't believe that Tacos should be more than $1 each but that's just me, I grew up eating at Taco stands in California. But for a more in depth meal I'll pay more. The also sell tamales by the dozen here is you wanted some. I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Brandon F.
This was my first time trying Carmelitas and I decided to go with the Mexican pizza. I placed an order "to go" for lunch and while I wasn't blown away by any means, it was tasty and pretty filling (easily feeds two for just around $11). I plan to stop by again and try something else from the menu to update my review a bit
(3)Jim N.
Went back to Carmelita's for my annual pilgrimage to get TexMex...seriously, they've been the "Standard" for good Mexican food in my family for 20 years. We met friends here last weekend and, sadly, were disappointed that they had declined. The place was busy; but, the flavors were less than in the past, the rice was dry, the salsa seemed a bit weak, and I was disappointed. My wife's fajita's were better; but, still we were disappointed. We'll go back...20 years is a long time to only have one disappointment....but the old 4 stars/5 stars, dropped a couple of stars.
(3)Henry C.
I knew things weren't looking good when I saw chili cheese fries on the menu. There are two things you can always tell the quality of a Mexican restaurant on; the salsa and tamales. The salsa was like thick soup. No chunk, no spice to it, just red. The tamales weren't bad, but I can get the frozen ones at Target for less. The chicken carbon came with all the trimmings, be sure to use all guacamole and sour cream to keep the dry chicken from sticking in your throat. The dining room looked like it had some charm once upon a time, but still had last years dirty cinco de mayo decorations still up.
(1)Daniella S.
Carmelita's is pretty good. It depends a lot on what you order. Whenever I come here I usually order chilles rellenos, or stuffed poblano peppers with cheese. Their vegetarian options aren't extensive, they do make a good cheese enchilada. They have a full bar and their wait staff is really friendly. Also, their chips and salsa are especially good here.
(4)Mir N.
All my younger life, I lived in an area where Mexican food was a highly developed art created by people of Mexican heritage, so I like to think that I understand how certain dishes and flavors should taste. I've lived in Florida for nearly 20 years, and have been so grateful to have Carmelita's in my life. Their food is delicious, and over all of these yeas, much of he same wait staff also contnue to work at the restaurants. While I have had, maybe 1-2 instances in all this time, when the food was not quite as prefect as usual, I have never been disappointed, and have NEVER had a bad meal at Carmelita's. We were in just last week, and my better half had the pork chops. They took a really long time to prepare, but... they were utterly PERFECT (thick chops, seasoned lightly, grilled until cooked through, but so so so juicy and not dry dry dry). I do not believe I have ever seen pork cooked by a restaurant that was not cooked unto submssion, near to the point of being pork jerky, or raw in places, so as to make you wonder if you would have an anti-trichonosis drug for dessert. We've gnerally visited the Ulmerton an Park restaurants most frequently due to location, but I've found them all to be fairly comparable/consistent. Someone mentioned that this was Tex-Mex, and I would have to respectfully disagree. Carmelita's menue and preparation is general, quasi-California "Mexican Rsstaurant"-type fare. Hope this helps you decide to give them a try.
(5)Andrew M.
The food is rather bland and dried-out, but the atmosphere and service are good, so Carmelita's earns a few stars in my book.
(3)Felipe G.
I've been going to Carmelita's for right around 23 years now. That makes up a pretty big chunk of my life, and in that time I've gone through a three part progression of dishes I always order and also a three part transformation of my opinion of the place. Growing up I was stuck in a rut and always ordered the #20 Chorizo burrito which is like a breakfast scrambled wrapped inside a flour tortilla. The Chorizo sausage is the soft ground Mexican style instead of the harder Spanish kind, and looking back at it this was more of a breakfast type meal for dinner, but still I probably ate it for 15 straight years! Eventually I moved on to their #39 Enchiladas Banderas with shredded chicken which I always ordered spicy. The dish has three different sauces including a salsa verde, sour cream, and tomato based ranchero. This dish was probably my go to dish for 5 years, and is one of their better ones. When ordered spicy the chicken is still not hot by any means, but it does give everything a great flavor, and the three sauces let you experience different flavors. Lastly, for the last 5 years I have been eating a more pescatarian/vegetarian diet and have moved on to the Guacamole Tostadas. The entree includes two crispy corn tortillas covered in pinto beans, shredded lettuce, tomato, cheese, and delicious homemade guacamole. One thing to keep in mind is that I've always had the best luck at the Belcher and Ulmerton location with providing you the most guac on the tostada. I've noticed at some of the other locations that they tend to skimp you on the guacamole and that irks me considering that's the name of and the best part of the dish. Out of these three dishes I've had over the years I think the tostadas are the best in terms of being a signature item that I've yet to find better. I've had tastier versions of the other two at other Mex and Tex-Mex places over the years, but the tostada remains unmatched in its simplicity, tastiness, and consistency. The other signature item that I think Carmelita's does better than anyone is their mild and hot table salsa. The mild salsa is addictive and has strong note of cilantro and onion. It is so tasty one could almost eat it as a chilled soup! The hot salsa is darker in color from the bright red mild and has a very strong jalapeno flavor. They are both excellent, and available for purchase to enjoy at home. Also this location off Ulmerton is my favorite as the food is the most consistent, there are never any roving mariachi bands, and it is never so busy that there is a wait like the original Park Street location. In terms of tables/size it is probably the smallest along with New Port Richey, but like I said it is probably their least busy location so getting in is never an issue. Remember how I had mentioned that along with my three part progression of their menu I also had changing opinions about the restaurant as a whole. Well to expand upon that-- as a kid Carmelita's was my favorite and I considered it the best Mexican food ever. I would tell everyone it was the best and I meant it. This opinion eventually started to change and I realized as I got older, traveled more, and eventually moved away from the area that there were indeed better Mexican restaurants out there. I started to become a believer in the biggest complaint I hear and read about Carmelita's, that it can be a little bland and a little too Americanized. Eventually, I had a new favorite Mexican restaurant after all these years and that was La Carreta in New Hampshire of all places. Was my faith in Carmelita's dwindling? To be honest perhaps a little. But after moving back to Pinellas County I have come to terms that yes while Carmelita's isn't the most authentic place, and until their addition of Fish Tacos just recently the menu has remained stagnant for over 20+ years, but they do so many things right and that's what counts. After all these years I still enjoy their food, and the chips/salsa and guacamole tostada remains as delicious as ever. Congratulations Carmelita's, like an old friend you're always there for me!
(5)Lauren V.
Holy guacamole! (literally and figuratively)...finally made my way to Carmelita's today for lunch and it deserves some high marks from yours truly. I used my standard ranking criteria: salsa and rice. While the salsa is not my absolute favorite (skews a little bitter), the rice was probably the most authentic that I've had in the TB. Seems like a decent variety of veggie options and lunch was $7.50. Sold. 4-stars going on 5 except for those pesky Lone Star beer signs on the wall and out front. Don't mislead a Texan!
(4)Steven N.
Not that great. Portions are just acceptable with the chimichanga being small. Chimichanga had wet sauce over it along with cheese which kinda defeats the purpose of deep frying a burrito IMO. Also got 2 hard shell tacos. Tacos reminded me a lot of Taco Bell shells. They were crispy and tasted fine but had nothing special about them. The tacos weren't even hot. Fried ice cream wasn't great either. It seemed like it was taken out of the freezer or something because the crust was not even warm or crispy. The outside covering had something crunchy which was nice but overall it wasn't very good. I likely won't come back unless someone I know really wanted to go here.
(2)Brittany P.
Really not to great. The chips were cold and stale, the salsa to thick and sweet. I had some combination platter with a chicken burrito, crunchy ground beef taco and a shredded beef enchilada. The crunchy taco was good, but nothing special about it. The enchilada was awful. It was a cheese enchilada covered with this brown shredded beef gravy that was too thick and just odd. The chicken burrito was the best of the 3, but again nothing great. I would bypass this.
(2)Virginia G.
I have to disagree with the other posters. I find Carmelitas neither authentic or delicious, and unfortunatley far from clean! My hubby used to work for this family back years ago and knowing inside information from a restaurant always turns you off doesn't it?? So the food is basic american mexican, kind of bland, salsa is very bland. Mariachi band is like the band that wont go away. Do I need to be serenaded when out with the girls?? No, think not
(2)ML M.
I cannot believe there would be bad reviews. The chips are fresh and not salty. The salsa is the best, I often spoil my dinner eating too many. I always get the same thing...tacos al carbon. Could stand more cheese, but always great. The staff is almost always attentive. Best Mexican in town...in Florida.
(5)Patty R.
You mean there are other Mexican restaurants in town? I didn't know that! We have always eaten at Carmelita's ! We always have great food and great service. I guess we never had a reason to go to another Mexican restaurant because we were very happy at Carmelita's!
(5)Thomas J.
Food substandard. Not as good as the other Carmelita's. Carne asada was inedible, impossible to chew or even cut with a knife. Service slow and impersonal. Table top was sticky and silverware had dried food on it. Yuch.
(2)John N.
Carmelita's Tri-City location was my favorite. Now gone, so I had to pick another one. This is their best now... The "not authentic Mexican" reviews are just uninformed. Carmelita's is not authentic, and that's a good thing. Most outside of the SWest US, were never exposed to real Mex until a few years ago. Besides, authentic Mex is now available at many other joints. If this is what you seek, you should have taken the trendy BUS? Carmelita's is our local "KING" of the Americanized Tex-Mex food you grew up with! As for the menu stand-outs? Their simple refried beans beat the sombreros and serapes right off of ALL the other "authentic" Mex joints in our area. Seriously! Senor Who? Carmelita's refrieds are not only creamy but have a depth from being made with lard or bacon fat? You can taste that meaty goodness in every bite! Decadent... Plus call me crazy, but sometimes I really enjoy the simple "gringo" tacos from my youth. Almost like I make at home, meaning a CRISPY corn tortilla shell, ground beef, and lettuce/tomato/cheese. Carmelita's are always the very best in our area, and I've sampled many. Do you crave those traditional real Mex tacos with a floppy corn tortilla, stuffed with meat, and just topped with raw onion and cilantro? Look elsewhere. This is not the place... Carmelita's also has great shredded pork tamales if you care for more traditional Mex fare. My favorite authentic Mexican dish is mole negro. Hoping to find an amazing one here is like hoping to see a giraffe at SeaWorld... Finally, the real menu secret here is their "kitchen special." It's just simple shredded beef, slow simmered in a complex sauce, served over rice with tortillas on the side. There is a reason this joint has survived so many years, and has spawned so many other locations... It's because they put out the best TEX-MEX in our area...
(5)Josh S.
Margaritas were good.. The food was great. My wife didn't like the cheese enchilada said it was rubbery.. But the tacos are really good and so was the chili bean dip appetizer.
(3)Coia W.
Probably won't come back here. I've been ignored for about 10 minutes for a pick-up order. Not looking forward to the food but I'm here so we shall see. I usually find Carmelita's food decent but I do not like the service at this location and for the price I definitely will not be back.
(1)Boon C.
I have a late lunch here. I walk into the restaurant at 2:20 pm and they have two table occupied. I was sit immediately. The furniture is a bit old. The table is a bit sticky. The waiters were nice and courteous. I got the steak taco with rice combo. It is $9.95. The food came out in 10 minutes. The tortilla is a 8 inches flour tortillas. It is big and they have to stick the tortilla with toothpick. The steak is regular steak nothing fancy. No special cut section. It is definite good with fill up you stomach. They guacamole, cheese and salsa for the add on. The rice is nicely cook and typically prepared. Before the meal come, they provide the chip and salsa. The salsa came in a small dish. It is easily finish with less than 10 scoops. I have to ask for more. Overall is not the five star restaurant. Service is good. It is done that check off deal.
(3)Steven N.
Not that great. Portions are just acceptable with the chimichanga being small. Chimichanga had wet sauce over it along with cheese which kinda defeats the purpose of deep frying a burrito IMO. Also got 2 hard shell tacos. Tacos reminded me a lot of Taco Bell shells. They were crispy and tasted fine but had nothing special about them. The tacos weren't even hot. Fried ice cream wasn't great either. It seemed like it was taken out of the freezer or something because the crust was not even warm or crispy. The outside covering had something crunchy which was nice but overall it wasn't very good. I likely won't come back unless someone I know really wanted to go here.
(2)Brittany P.
Really not to great. The chips were cold and stale, the salsa to thick and sweet. I had some combination platter with a chicken burrito, crunchy ground beef taco and a shredded beef enchilada. The crunchy taco was good, but nothing special about it. The enchilada was awful. It was a cheese enchilada covered with this brown shredded beef gravy that was too thick and just odd. The chicken burrito was the best of the 3, but again nothing great. I would bypass this.
(2)Felipe G.
I've been going to Carmelita's for right around 23 years now. That makes up a pretty big chunk of my life, and in that time I've gone through a three part progression of dishes I always order and also a three part transformation of my opinion of the place. Growing up I was stuck in a rut and always ordered the #20 Chorizo burrito which is like a breakfast scrambled wrapped inside a flour tortilla. The Chorizo sausage is the soft ground Mexican style instead of the harder Spanish kind, and looking back at it this was more of a breakfast type meal for dinner, but still I probably ate it for 15 straight years! Eventually I moved on to their #39 Enchiladas Banderas with shredded chicken which I always ordered spicy. The dish has three different sauces including a salsa verde, sour cream, and tomato based ranchero. This dish was probably my go to dish for 5 years, and is one of their better ones. When ordered spicy the chicken is still not hot by any means, but it does give everything a great flavor, and the three sauces let you experience different flavors. Lastly, for the last 5 years I have been eating a more pescatarian/vegetarian diet and have moved on to the Guacamole Tostadas. The entree includes two crispy corn tortillas covered in pinto beans, shredded lettuce, tomato, cheese, and delicious homemade guacamole. One thing to keep in mind is that I've always had the best luck at the Belcher and Ulmerton location with providing you the most guac on the tostada. I've noticed at some of the other locations that they tend to skimp you on the guacamole and that irks me considering that's the name of and the best part of the dish. Out of these three dishes I've had over the years I think the tostadas are the best in terms of being a signature item that I've yet to find better. I've had tastier versions of the other two at other Mex and Tex-Mex places over the years, but the tostada remains unmatched in its simplicity, tastiness, and consistency. The other signature item that I think Carmelita's does better than anyone is their mild and hot table salsa. The mild salsa is addictive and has strong note of cilantro and onion. It is so tasty one could almost eat it as a chilled soup! The hot salsa is darker in color from the bright red mild and has a very strong jalapeno flavor. They are both excellent, and available for purchase to enjoy at home. Also this location off Ulmerton is my favorite as the food is the most consistent, there are never any roving mariachi bands, and it is never so busy that there is a wait like the original Park Street location. In terms of tables/size it is probably the smallest along with New Port Richey, but like I said it is probably their least busy location so getting in is never an issue. Remember how I had mentioned that along with my three part progression of their menu I also had changing opinions about the restaurant as a whole. Well to expand upon that-- as a kid Carmelita's was my favorite and I considered it the best Mexican food ever. I would tell everyone it was the best and I meant it. This opinion eventually started to change and I realized as I got older, traveled more, and eventually moved away from the area that there were indeed better Mexican restaurants out there. I started to become a believer in the biggest complaint I hear and read about Carmelita's, that it can be a little bland and a little too Americanized. Eventually, I had a new favorite Mexican restaurant after all these years and that was La Carreta in New Hampshire of all places. Was my faith in Carmelita's dwindling? To be honest perhaps a little. But after moving back to Pinellas County I have come to terms that yes while Carmelita's isn't the most authentic place, and until their addition of Fish Tacos just recently the menu has remained stagnant for over 20+ years, but they do so many things right and that's what counts. After all these years I still enjoy their food, and the chips/salsa and guacamole tostada remains as delicious as ever. Congratulations Carmelita's, like an old friend you're always there for me!
(5)Lauren V.
Holy guacamole! (literally and figuratively)...finally made my way to Carmelita's today for lunch and it deserves some high marks from yours truly. I used my standard ranking criteria: salsa and rice. While the salsa is not my absolute favorite (skews a little bitter), the rice was probably the most authentic that I've had in the TB. Seems like a decent variety of veggie options and lunch was $7.50. Sold. 4-stars going on 5 except for those pesky Lone Star beer signs on the wall and out front. Don't mislead a Texan!
(4)Virginia G.
I have to disagree with the other posters. I find Carmelitas neither authentic or delicious, and unfortunatley far from clean! My hubby used to work for this family back years ago and knowing inside information from a restaurant always turns you off doesn't it?? So the food is basic american mexican, kind of bland, salsa is very bland. Mariachi band is like the band that wont go away. Do I need to be serenaded when out with the girls?? No, think not
(2)ML M.
I cannot believe there would be bad reviews. The chips are fresh and not salty. The salsa is the best, I often spoil my dinner eating too many. I always get the same thing...tacos al carbon. Could stand more cheese, but always great. The staff is almost always attentive. Best Mexican in town...in Florida.
(5)Patty R.
You mean there are other Mexican restaurants in town? I didn't know that! We have always eaten at Carmelita's ! We always have great food and great service. I guess we never had a reason to go to another Mexican restaurant because we were very happy at Carmelita's!
(5)Jim N.
Went back to Carmelita's for my annual pilgrimage to get TexMex...seriously, they've been the "Standard" for good Mexican food in my family for 20 years. We met friends here last weekend and, sadly, were disappointed that they had declined. The place was busy; but, the flavors were less than in the past, the rice was dry, the salsa seemed a bit weak, and I was disappointed. My wife's fajita's were better; but, still we were disappointed. We'll go back...20 years is a long time to only have one disappointment....but the old 4 stars/5 stars, dropped a couple of stars.
(3)Henry C.
I knew things weren't looking good when I saw chili cheese fries on the menu. There are two things you can always tell the quality of a Mexican restaurant on; the salsa and tamales. The salsa was like thick soup. No chunk, no spice to it, just red. The tamales weren't bad, but I can get the frozen ones at Target for less. The chicken carbon came with all the trimmings, be sure to use all guacamole and sour cream to keep the dry chicken from sticking in your throat. The dining room looked like it had some charm once upon a time, but still had last years dirty cinco de mayo decorations still up.
(1)Daniella S.
Carmelita's is pretty good. It depends a lot on what you order. Whenever I come here I usually order chilles rellenos, or stuffed poblano peppers with cheese. Their vegetarian options aren't extensive, they do make a good cheese enchilada. They have a full bar and their wait staff is really friendly. Also, their chips and salsa are especially good here.
(4)Mir N.
All my younger life, I lived in an area where Mexican food was a highly developed art created by people of Mexican heritage, so I like to think that I understand how certain dishes and flavors should taste. I've lived in Florida for nearly 20 years, and have been so grateful to have Carmelita's in my life. Their food is delicious, and over all of these yeas, much of he same wait staff also contnue to work at the restaurants. While I have had, maybe 1-2 instances in all this time, when the food was not quite as prefect as usual, I have never been disappointed, and have NEVER had a bad meal at Carmelita's. We were in just last week, and my better half had the pork chops. They took a really long time to prepare, but... they were utterly PERFECT (thick chops, seasoned lightly, grilled until cooked through, but so so so juicy and not dry dry dry). I do not believe I have ever seen pork cooked by a restaurant that was not cooked unto submssion, near to the point of being pork jerky, or raw in places, so as to make you wonder if you would have an anti-trichonosis drug for dessert. We've gnerally visited the Ulmerton an Park restaurants most frequently due to location, but I've found them all to be fairly comparable/consistent. Someone mentioned that this was Tex-Mex, and I would have to respectfully disagree. Carmelita's menue and preparation is general, quasi-California "Mexican Rsstaurant"-type fare. Hope this helps you decide to give them a try.
(5)Andrew M.
The food is rather bland and dried-out, but the atmosphere and service are good, so Carmelita's earns a few stars in my book.
(3)Boon C.
I have a late lunch here. I walk into the restaurant at 2:20 pm and they have two table occupied. I was sit immediately. The furniture is a bit old. The table is a bit sticky. The waiters were nice and courteous. I got the steak taco with rice combo. It is $9.95. The food came out in 10 minutes. The tortilla is a 8 inches flour tortillas. It is big and they have to stick the tortilla with toothpick. The steak is regular steak nothing fancy. No special cut section. It is definite good with fill up you stomach. They guacamole, cheese and salsa for the add on. The rice is nicely cook and typically prepared. Before the meal come, they provide the chip and salsa. The salsa came in a small dish. It is easily finish with less than 10 scoops. I have to ask for more. Overall is not the five star restaurant. Service is good. It is done that check off deal.
(3)Thomas J.
Food substandard. Not as good as the other Carmelita's. Carne asada was inedible, impossible to chew or even cut with a knife. Service slow and impersonal. Table top was sticky and silverware had dried food on it. Yuch.
(2)Kelleigh M.
I do love me some Carmelita's, but this location is one of my least favorite. My favorite, on East Bay drive , is closed due to the shopping center being demolished. This one is the closest for my friend and I. The food is still equally as good-tex mex at its finest, but the atmosphere is lacking. This last time, the service was pretty awful and my usual 20-25% tip got knocked down to 15%. My go to is a generous portion of their chips and salsa (sometimes I get a bag and container to go) and their cheese enchiladas. So good! My friend typically orders the chicken verse enchiladas. Those too are pretty fantastic with a sour cream based sauce on top. Although I'll still continue to patron this location, I will switch back to my original once they re-open.
(4)Samantha G.
It was alright. The staff were nice and accommodating, especially considering we were a large group who wanted the TV on convention coverage. And they were really nice about the fact that we showed up minutes before they closed. So 5 stars for all of that. The food, however, was just mediocre. It was standard Americanized Mexican fare. And the packet of salad dressing was kinda creepy. Between 2 and 3 stars. So we'll even it all out to 3 stars. It was an alright experience. If you're in the area and hankering for Mexican, why not.
(3)Nancy G.
I love this place! I just moved to the area and happened upon Carmelita's during my move. I have since been here at least 10 times and the experience is consistently good. I tried some of the combination platters but once I had the Chilies Rellenos, I have been stuck getting that every time since, because it's so good! (I don't even look at the menu anymore!) I get a lot of visitors from up north and I've brought everyone here! And everyone loves it. They are generous with the chips and homemade salsa. What I like, is that they give each person their own dipping bowl so you don't have to worry about double dippers! The service is usually excellent and very courteous. They always make me feel at home and I've been there several times by myself.
(5)Mike F.
First time here after living across the street from it for over nine years. I must say that if I knew it was that good I would have gone a long time ago. My wife and I had dinner, she ordered the chiles rellenos and she said they were delicious. I had the fish tacos and they were tasty. They use tilapia which I love, it was seasoned and cooked perfectly. In addition we had the sampler platter as an appetizer which contained cheese sticks, flautas, poppers and fajitas and all were good. The dinning room is nice but I have seen better. The Mexican aroma coming from the kitchen is great and only gets you more hungry. Overall a good experience and good service, I will certainly be back for more.
(5)Rick C.
This specific location is fantastic, have been to others and they are just NOT up to par! I have one closer to my new house however I make the drive to go to this location.
(5)Ciji C.
My family loves this place. It's quaint and casual and the food is delicious! My mother drives 20 minutes just to eat here. There are a couple things on the menu that we love: their steak rocks, so we tend to stick with the steak fajitas or tacos al carbon. My husband loves their homemade flour tortillas and I love their homemade soft corn tortillas. Their rice and refried beans are delicious too. I saw some people say that it's typical American/Mexican fare and, sure, there is some stuff on the menu that I can see falling into that category but for the most part, the flavor is authentic. It reminds me of my childhood growing up next to a Mexican family who had daughters my age and sometimes I was allowed to eat over their house for dinner and it was awesome. Carmelita's food tastes like my childhood and I love it! Dinner for 4 people averages at $65 (that includes 4 steak taco/fajita dinners, 4 drinks and 1 dessert). It is a bit pricey but when it's that good, who cares?!?
(4)Jamie W.
Just okay food and over-priced for the quality. My daughter had the kids bean and cheese burrito which actually was just a bean burrito with a tiny amount of cheese on top. The beans were tasty, but not what was expected by the description. All in all not worth the price. Most entrees were over $10
(3)Marianne D.
Consistent, delicious and friendly. I love coming here for a Mexican treat! Food is always good. Durango combo is awesome.
(5)Valerie K.
Somehow this carmalitas is not as good as the one up the street on east bay. Not quite as fresh and just seems dark in there.
(2)Drake M.
The weather outside is horrible so I didn't want to go too far for food so I decided to stop into Carmelita's Mexican Restaurant and I am pleased to say that I was not at all disappointed. The chips and salsa that come when you sit down were pretty awesome! the salsa had substance to it and a nice sweet and spicy flavor. I prefer salsa that has some substance where others prefer salsa that really just a red hot sauce with no substance, to each their own I say but theirs was nice and chunky. I had the Enchiladas Verde with 2 sides of beans and it was awesome, great flavor on the seasoned chicken mixed well with the Verde and sour cream. The re-fried beans are the best I have had since I left California. I was very impressed with my meal here. The prices here were pretty cheap, less than $10 per person and I left full. When it comes to Mexican food though everyone seems to have a variation of what a decent price is. I do to, I don't believe that Tacos should be more than $1 each but that's just me, I grew up eating at Taco stands in California. But for a more in depth meal I'll pay more. The also sell tamales by the dozen here is you wanted some. I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Brandon F.
This was my first time trying Carmelitas and I decided to go with the Mexican pizza. I placed an order "to go" for lunch and while I wasn't blown away by any means, it was tasty and pretty filling (easily feeds two for just around $11). I plan to stop by again and try something else from the menu to update my review a bit
(3)Liyakhat K.
Service sucks. This used to be my favorite place to go for Mexican food. They recently increased the prices and don't give refills on salsa and chips. Not going back again. They are doing the same thing at all other locations as well
(2)Josh S.
Margaritas were good.. The food was great. My wife didn't like the cheese enchilada said it was rubbery.. But the tacos are really good and so was the chili bean dip appetizer.
(3)Coia W.
Probably won't come back here. I've been ignored for about 10 minutes for a pick-up order. Not looking forward to the food but I'm here so we shall see. I usually find Carmelita's food decent but I do not like the service at this location and for the price I definitely will not be back.
(1)Benjamin G.
I adore Mexican food and never cease to crave things like pinto beans, flour or corn tortillas, salsas of all kinds, etc. My parents are huge fans of this place and I was so excited to head back for a return visit after a year or so. I've had a few different items over the years, but there are a few things anew to me that I think make this place shine far brighter than I had ever thought before -- First of all, what Carmelita's calls "Pico" is not what you'd expect. This stuff is pure magic. A compilation of chiles, of which the majority is poblano, onion, and cilantro. It packs a bit of a spicy whollop, but its a pain worth enduring for the flavor. It goes well on anything -- mix it into your salsa, alone on chips, tacos, you name it. It's the kind of flavor that will work with anything that hits the table. I wish they would sell this stuff by the barrelful. I'd be a happy patron. The other thing I must note is the Tacos al Carbon. I'm not typically one to go for steak of any kind, but they came after many recommendations from my folks. I can't say I've ever had steak more flavorful than this. The marinade and spice mixture they use on this skirt steak is heavenly in flavor. Though well done, it doesn't matter. They could serve this steak in tacos or upon a plate with rice and beans and I'd be just as happy. It hits all of the right notes on your palate and only beckons for more of the same. I absolutely love this and see why my folks order it time after time. Those two things alone make me a fan of Carmelita's. I seriously can't wait for another visit next time we're in town.
(5)John N.
Carmelita's Tri-City location was my favorite. Now gone, so I had to pick another one. This is their best now... The "not authentic Mexican" reviews are just uninformed. Carmelita's is not authentic, and that's a good thing. Most outside of the SWest US, were never exposed to real Mex until a few years ago. Besides, authentic Mex is now available at many other joints. If this is what you seek, you should have taken the trendy BUS? Carmelita's is our local "KING" of the Americanized Tex-Mex food you grew up with! As for the menu stand-outs? Their simple refried beans beat the sombreros and serapes right off of ALL the other "authentic" Mex joints in our area. Seriously! Senor Who? Carmelita's refrieds are not only creamy but have a depth from being made with lard or bacon fat? You can taste that meaty goodness in every bite! Decadent... Plus call me crazy, but sometimes I really enjoy the simple "gringo" tacos from my youth. Almost like I make at home, meaning a CRISPY corn tortilla shell, ground beef, and lettuce/tomato/cheese. Carmelita's are always the very best in our area, and I've sampled many. Do you crave those traditional real Mex tacos with a floppy corn tortilla, stuffed with meat, and just topped with raw onion and cilantro? Look elsewhere. This is not the place... Carmelita's also has great shredded pork tamales if you care for more traditional Mex fare. My favorite authentic Mexican dish is mole negro. Hoping to find an amazing one here is like hoping to see a giraffe at SeaWorld... Finally, the real menu secret here is their "kitchen special." It's just simple shredded beef, slow simmered in a complex sauce, served over rice with tortillas on the side. There is a reason this joint has survived so many years, and has spawned so many other locations... It's because they put out the best TEX-MEX in our area...
(5)Mark H.
Carmelita's has never seemed like the most authentic or best-tasting Mexican grub to me, but they've been consistent thru the many years, so for that reason I always return. This is the kind of place to bring white people as a mild introduction to Mexican food. I've read some of the other reviews and I see some missed opportunities on service speed, but I've been fortunate enough to always receive polite and speedy service during my visits. Normally when I eat here, I stick to the CARNE ASADA, which is very good with a nice char-grilled flavor. However, due to a slight change in diet for medical reasons, I've been staying away from beef lately. This prompted me to eat something outside of the box during my last visit. I ordered the DEL REY (wet burrito) with chicken, frijoles de la holla and Mexi rice. I'm guessing not many people order those beans because mine were a bit cold in the middle, but that's OK. I pressed on and cut into one of those meaty burritos I've come across to date. I mean, this this was jam-packed with shredded chicken man! I could barely cut thru the thing with a fork and nearly needed to involve a knife with the situation. There wasn't much filler in there either, 95% meat. It was also piping hot, juicy and delicious. A definite good alternative to the carne asada for sure. We also had some chili cheese dip on the table, which was OK, but not really worth the $6 price tag. It tasted like canned chili and melted Velveta cheese. The absence of authentic white Mexican melting cheese at Carmelita's is disturbing. Lastly, order the sangria. It's great. You're definitely going to want a pitcher.
(3)Ed A.
This was my first visit to this location. I was not so impressed with the service. We waited way too long for drinks during our meal, and dirty appetizer plates and other trash sat at the end of our table for the entire visit. The food was pretty good though. I'm a stickler for service, so I'm not sure I will visit again. The other location off of east bay was better.
(2)Mike M.
Jason is the best waiter and very helpful on suggestions. Very good authentic Mexican food. I'd give it five stars, but cheap on the chips and salsa.
(4)Josiah G.
I came here after hearing good things, but unfortunately, I did not have a good experience. The salsa was actually pretty good and it's the reason they get two stars. The 40 minute wait for our food at lunchtime and below par food, itself, get one star. The waiter was friendly and our drinks were always full, but 40 minutes for 3 people to get their food? With the hopes of good food on the way, I patiently waited. Finally, the food arrived and before I even took a bite, I was deflated. The "sides" consisted of a scoop of pale, sad looking rice and a scoop of bagged, shredded iceberg lettuce topped with three tiny black olive slices. I went with my Mexican barometer dish, the chicken chimichanga, and this one was at the bottom with the worst I've had. It looked pathetic and It was covered in a red sauce and topped with a scoop of sour cream. For looking as bad as it did, it tasted about the same. The sauce on top literally tasted just like Taco Bell mild sauce. That's the only taste I could identify in my whole dish, because I couldn't taste any chicken and the tortilla was soggy and just as tasteless as the sides. It seems the lunchtime pickin's are slim around this area, so I'm just hoping I won't have to come back here any time soon.
(2)Stephanie V.
Reasonably priced Tex/Mex food. The beer came in a frosty mug which was a nice touch and super refreshing! We both liked our meals and the portions were very large. The chips were warm and we were told when seated that they were in the process of making more. The chips and salsa was particularly good and fresh. The flavors really stood out in the carne asada. Big robust flavor as my husband put it, lol. We enjoyed our meal and would frequent Carmelita's again in the future!
(4)S H.
We've finally found a good Mexican restaurant in the Clearwater area since moving from Texas 2 years ago! Boyfriend had the durango combo plate ( taco, tamale, beef enchilada) and I had the steak fajitas. When they came out I could tell they would be great and they were. Boyfriend liked everything on his plate as well. The chips were great and they give you a hot and mild salsa which we mixed together to get the right spice.
(5)Tom M.
I have been eating at Carmelita's almost from the beginning -- 100s of visits. I don't think I have ever had a bad meal. Sometimes there have been variations, but the flavors were still great. Probably not authentic, whatever that means, but I never really enjoyed those "authentic" places. However, a Mexican waiter from another of my favorites, says that other than where he works, he likes Carmelita's. I have eaten at the Ulmerton location a few times and find it to be the equivalent of the original.
(5)Jason M.
The worst service ever and we didn't even have a bite to eat. Came here for Cinco De Mayo around 3:30pm. There were about 5 tables of people. The hostess tried to sit my wife and I at a 6 top table. We asked for a booth, she replied that she would have to wipe one off. After sitting there for over 10 minutes and 3 of the servers looked right at us, no one approached our table. When I went to the back of the room near the server station to ask if we had a server, I was told "We're a little busy BUD"! Yes, 3 servers and 5 tables... Busy... We left and won't be back!!
(1)Heather H.
I enjoy this place every time I come home to visit my parents. Since the health issues they've cleaned up their act. I love there beans and rice and have tried everything on the menu. Love it all.
(5)Marty C.
We haven't been by here in some years but the TriCity shopping center is awaiting demolition and renovation. We were instantly greeted and seated. We ordered the cheese dip(queso blanco). For entrees, I ordered the Vegetarian Combo and my partner ordered the Enchiladas Verdes. I know I don't seem like the type to order a vegetarian dish but I love this one. It comes with a whole bean layered tostada with cheese and topped with a generous amount of tasty guacamole, a cheese filled chili relleno, I opted for the cheese enchilada and the Mexican rice. It was the lunch portion but it was a whole lot to eat. The Enchiladas Verdes lunch portion comes with two large chicken enchiladas covered with their verde sauce and then covered with a seasoned sour cream sauce. The dish came with one side dish; rice was chosen. The chips and salsa were plentiful throughout the meal. The service was speedy and pleasant. If you're on Ulmerton around Belcher and are craving a big plate of Mexican food, come fill your face at Carmelita's.
(4)Mitch L.
I really liked Carmelita's a lot. I was told it was good by some local folk. They weren't wrong. First of all the tortilla chips were different colors regular and red. I just thought that was cool. The salsa was the best I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant. The reason for that is I was able to eat the chips and salsa without downing 15 glasses of ice water!!! I saw a couple near me eating something that looked delicious. They said it was Mexican pizza. I had seen that at Taco Bell and always wanted to try it. This was a real Mexican restaurant so I figured I would try it here. They told me the Mexican pizza was the best and they were right. It was delicious!!!! Being a little over $10 I thought it was a good buy as well. The ones at Taco Bell are not cheap!! I indulged myself and was happy I got the Mexican pizza. I got the ground beef one with piles of goodies layered on top of it!!! Of course I could only eat half of it and I took the rest home!!! I would have given them five stars except for one thing. In the menu it said chips and salsa come with your meal and you were allowed one refill. When I asked for a second helping the waiter said they were out of chips. I pose this question to you, have you ever heard of a Mexican restaurant running out of tortilla chips ? My waiter, well he wasn't the best. I came in at 8:30 PM and they close at nine. I felt a little rushed by the waiter and I don't believe there were no more tortilla chips. I tipped him 20% even though I didn't get a second helping. I wasn't being a pig I just thought they were very tasty and wanted more chips and salsa.
(4)Tony R.
I was so sad when the east bay location closed and was initially hesitant about going to this location. I must say that I have enjoyed the Ulmerton location even more. The food seems to come out hotter and fresher and one of my favorite servers transferred from the other store. Although not authentic they know how to do tex mex. Love the cilantro infused salsa as well as the hot salsa. I empty the contents on my chile rellenos and wash it down with the house Rita. I don't know what I would do without this place.
(4)Cris S.
Good chicken enchiladas, but got a seasoned beef enchilada and it was a cheese enchilada with seasoned beef of top instead inside. Queso was okay, kinda just plain, needs more spices. Flour tortillas and rice are really good. The salsa wasn't all that, its sweet. My wife got the chicken taco salad, she says it was really good.
(3)