Talk of The Villages Florida

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-   -   Ay Jalisco (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/ay-jalisco-349232/)

retiredguy123 04-13-2024 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrHitch (Post 2321282)
Of all industries that have to monitor social media for a firestorm, the restaurant industry faces the biggest tidal wave of negative reviews.

If you don't like the provided service or quality of the food, simply speak face-to-face with the owner/manager. There's no need to spam a negative review WITHOUT SPECIFIC REASONS all over un-social media....

Bigger than timeshare companies and car dealers?

As long as a restaurant review is detailed and accurate, I think it serves a useful purpose. Negative reviews of great restaurants usually help the restaurant because other posters will call out how good the restaurant really is. But, I agree that informing the manager is also helpful.

retiredguy123 04-13-2024 08:23 AM

///

msilagy 04-13-2024 08:43 AM

My assessment is the rating of restaurants in TV depends on where you come from. Big cities, jobs that allowed you to entertain customers $$$, experience the best food wherever they were. Those that come from small cities, no real high line restaurants have a totally different opinion. I cannot recommend one restaurant here. A bunch of us eat outside of the TV and enjoy excellent food - large portions, tasty. My opinion is a 4 for most of the restaurants here.

Fuzzyjourneyfan 04-13-2024 08:44 AM

Name of Restaurant?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321213)
Ay! Jalisco isn't Tex-Mex, and that definitely might be the problem. They're South-Western Mexican, near Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco is a state). I always get the shredded beef tacos. It's more like a combination of a guisada and barbacoa - tougher shreds of beef from a stew, and sometimes there's pieces of potato in it. It's very wet, which is why I think it's probably part of a carne guisada (beef stew). Their salsa is thin, and they've changed the recipe so I think it's no longer ketchup-based (which is a western Mexican thing and an acquired taste for Americans).

It's a family owned-and-operated restaurant. Unfortunately they use a mix for their pina coladas so I can't recommend those, but this seems to be common around here.

Ground beef tacos is absolutely an American thing, not a Mexican thing. The best tacos are carne asada (marinated skirt-steak), chopped onion, cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime and a squirt of salsa roja on a double-stack of small, made-to-order soft tortillas. You can't get good ones in The Villages at all.

There's a place I get them on 301, and they're outstanding. Two asada tacos and a bottle of Mandarin Jarittos, it hits the spot. Most of their customers are Mexican, and most of the non-Mexican customers are from somewhere in South America. Hearing them talk in Spanish with each other, with all those different accents and regionalisms adds to the experience. That and the chickens that sometimes wander through the outdoor eating area - which is pretty entertaining. It's like visiting a friend in Mexico and being served lunch in their back yard. Always a treat.

But all you ground beef taco eaters stay away, and don't take up space in line there. Stick to your Taco Bell.

This sounds great! What is the name of the restaurant? 301 near what other main street?

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-13-2024 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ecuadog (Post 2321225)
Viva Mexico Taqueria?

That's the one! They look like nothing special but you can tell they're the real deal by the line at lunchtime and all the construction/roofing/landscaping trucks in the parking lot. They're not the only taqueria around (there are a couple others) but they're the most popular with the people most qualified to know.

Deden 04-13-2024 08:59 AM

Campo Azul across the street from Walmart in Summerfield.

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-13-2024 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2321278)
Isn't everyone entitled to their own opinion about what is delicious? To me, tacos and burritos are handheld foods, like hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches. I don't like eating tacos and burritos with a knife and fork, which is usually the only way to eat them in most restaurants, along with rice and beans which most people leave on their plate. I like taco sauce, which is sold in grocery stores in a jar and included in the taco kits. It is not the same as salsa. The kit recipe calls for ground beef, not shredded beef. By the way, Taco Bell does not claim to be authentic Mexican food. They call it Mexican inspired food.

Your opinion would be more valid if you'd simply acknowledge that you don't like Mexican food. Rather, you like Mexican-inspired American fast food. You'd probably love TacoTime, which is like Taco Bell, but with fresher salsas.

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-13-2024 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regorp (Post 2321283)
I will stick to Fiesta Grande in Colony Plaza, as our favorite Mexican eatery in the bubble.

I liked Fiesta Grande, but I stopped going there after they'd been shut down for the second time in a year for health violations.

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-13-2024 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSGirl (Post 2321288)
Does Taco Bell REALLY use ground beef? Or the texture of ground beef?

They use real ground beef. It's brought in as chubs to a central kitchen somewhere, around 70% lean (30% fat and gristle). It's loaded into an industrial mixing vat and several sugars, corn starch, some spices, coloring agents, and emulsifiers are mixed in. Then it's cooked some how (No idea how, steamed maybe? Convection oven? Who knows), and loaded into measured plastic bags. The bags are then sent to the stores, and they rip the bags open and toss the contents into a steamer tray as needed.

The total contents of actual meat in the meat is 88%.

charlieo1126@gmail.com 04-13-2024 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msilagy (Post 2321300)
My assessment is the rating of restaurants in TV depends on where you come from. Big cities, jobs that allowed you to entertain customers $$$, experience the best food wherever they were. Those that come from small cities, no real high line restaurants have a totally different opinion. I cannot recommend one restaurant here. A bunch of us eat outside of the TV and enjoy excellent food - large portions, tasty. My opinion is a 4 for most of the restaurants here.

it must be tough for all the gourmets living here . I guess I must have not developed my palate as well as others while living within walking distance of Bostons Chinatown , the Italian North End And the Boston water front and spending much of m life outside USA . However by not having the sophisticated palate of many on talk of the villages , I’ve been able to enjoy my self with the many other happy people eating in village restaurants that if we had lived in big cities we would realize how bad the food we are eating is . FYI your critique kind of went sideways when you used the words large portions. , I mean that’s always moves the meal up a couple of stars for some

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-13-2024 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan (Post 2321301)
This sounds great! What is the name of the restaurant? 301 near what other main street?

Viva Mexico Taqueria, on 301 up NEAR 42. Not golf cart accessible but if you know where the First Responders Rec Center is, exit onto 42 from their parking lot, take a left. A few blocks up you'll see the gates for the railroad track crossing, make sure you're in the left lane. Careful, there are potholes there. At that traffic light, take a left. Go up the hill, and then halfway down the hill you'll see their big feather flag near the street. Immediately after that is a U-Turn lane on the left. Make the u-turn and CAREFULLY drive into their dirt parking lot. More potholes.

It's basically a huge family compound with a food truck in front of it. They have chickens and an enormous farm dog (who is friendly and you should absolutely NOT feed any of their animals, it's disrespectful and unhealthy for them).

Nicest people in the world. If all the tables are occupied, just point to an empty chair and give one of the seated people a questioning glance. Chances are you'll be welcome to sit at their table so you don't have to eat standing up. There's no bathroom, and if you really need to rinse off your hands there's a spigot behind the tarp. Just make sure to use it sparingly, turn it off when you're done, and there aren't any paper towels.

It's about the most unpretentious place you could possibly choose for lunch. And it's absolutely delicious. Warning: you might find a chunk of asada that's all gristle. Just spit that chunk into your napkin and continue with your meal. Asada is made with skirt steak and that sometimes has gristle in it.

4$ALE 04-13-2024 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrHitch (Post 2321282)
Of all industries that have to monitor social media for a firestorm, the restaurant industry faces the biggest tidal wave of negative reviews.

If you don't like the provided service or quality of the food, simply speak face-to-face with the owner/manager. There's no need to spam a negative review WITHOUT SPECIFIC REASONS all over un-social media....

:BigApplause: I agree. What you forgot to address is there may be no need, but a big want. OP has been here a couple of weeks already. :rolleyes: Welcome. Gonna fit right in!

retiredguy123 04-13-2024 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321314)
Your opinion would be more valid if you'd simply acknowledge that you don't like Mexican food. Rather, you like Mexican-inspired American fast food. You'd probably love TacoTime, which is like Taco Bell, but with fresher salsas.

Ok, I like Mexican-inspired American fast food. By the way Ay Jalisco has 100 Yelp reviews with an average rating of 2.6 of 5 stars. Not great.

charlieo1126@gmail.com 04-13-2024 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321319)
Viva Mexico Taqueria, on 301 up NEAR 42. Not golf cart accessible but if you know where the First Responders Rec Center is, exit onto 42 from their parking lot, take a left. A few blocks up you'll see the gates for the railroad track crossing, make sure you're in the left lane. Careful, there are potholes there. At that traffic light, take a left. Go up the hill, and then halfway down the hill you'll see their big feather flag near the street. Immediately after that is a U-Turn lane on the left. Make the u-turn and CAREFULLY drive into their dirt parking lot. More potholes.

It's basically a huge family compound with a food truck in front of it. They have chickens and an enormous farm dog (who is friendly and you should absolutely NOT feed any of their animals, it's disrespectful and unhealthy for them).

Nicest people in the world. If all the tables are occupied, just point to an empty chair and give one of the seated people a questioning glance. Chances are you'll be welcome to sit at their table so you don't have to eat standing up. There's no bathroom, and if you really need to rinse off your hands there's a spigot behind the tarp. Just make sure to use it sparingly, turn it off when you're done, and there aren't any paper towels.

It's about the most unpretentious place you could possibly choose for lunch. And it's absolutely delicious. Warning: you might find a chunk of asada that's all gristle. Just spit that chunk into your napkin and continue with your meal. Asada is made with skirt steak and that sometimes has gristle in it.

great place took a friend there she was terrified of the dog but by the time we left she wanted to take the dog home

ouicestmoi 04-13-2024 10:50 AM

I personally like Casa Agave 90% of the time. The other 10% the flavor is there, but the meat is tough.

Just my 2 cents.

Good article re regional Mexican food:

The 7 Regions of Mexican Cuisine — Gusto Mexico

Carla B 04-13-2024 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey (Post 2321260)
Ay Jalisco's is okay but nothing special for our tastes. We now go to a new ownership Mexican restaurant in Lady Lake called 'Fresh Jalapeno' which is owned by a Mother & Son who does all the cooking and everything is made fresh every day, and it is noticeable. They are on 441/27 before Fruitland Park at the red light on the right. Since we have been here, it has always been a Mexican eatery and it had frequent health issues but the new owners made it very clear that they have zero connection with any previous owners. Service was prompt, happy servers and very clean!

Glad to hear it and will give it a try. That location has seen many different restaurants through the years, Chinese, Texas Barbecue, a couple Mexican. Hope this one makes it.

Carla B 04-13-2024 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coleprice (Post 2321243)
My wife and I love to eat at Moe's, which is on 441/27 near The Villages. They will make your Taco or Burrito with the meat and "toppings" that you designate. They also have a Salsa Bar with 5 or 6 different salsas, so you can add the sauce that you desire. Their prices are reasonable.

Love Moe's too, their salsas are really good, especially the cilantro.

Michael 61 04-13-2024 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321317)
They use real ground beef. It's brought in as chubs to a central kitchen somewhere, around 70% lean (30% fat and gristle). It's loaded into an industrial mixing vat and several sugars, corn starch, some spices, coloring agents, and emulsifiers are mixed in. Then it's cooked some how (No idea how, steamed maybe? Convection oven? Who knows), and loaded into measured plastic bags. The bags are then sent to the stores, and they rip the bags open and toss the contents into a steamer tray as needed.

The total contents of actual meat in the meat is 88%.

The process doesn’t sound appetizing to me at all. Times sure have changed. I worked at Taco Bell as a high school student in the late 70s. My job was to cook the beef every afternoon. Back then, the meat was sourced from a local meat market. It would come into the store already ground (fresh not frozen). I would cook it in a large tub over a gas burner, adding several scoops of Taco Bell seasoning and water. Once cooked, I would transfer to smaller metal bins, that could fit in the steam table. The cooked beef would be kept in the walk-in no more than two days before being used. The taco meat had a way different taste back then than it does now.

defrey12 04-13-2024 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2320861)
Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

That’s because there is NO such thing as taco sauce at a REAL Mexican restaurant. The meat is already seasoned. If you want it spicy ask for REAL homemade hot sauce. And they wouldn’t dare use ground beef either! Why bother? Best Mexican we’ve found is Casa Agave’. They do it right. Or as close to right as possible east of the Rio Grande.

defrey12 04-13-2024 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueblaze (Post 2321132)
Like most folks (myself included), I see you like TexMex, not Mexican. Unfortunately, the farther you get from the Texas, the less likely you are to get TexMex. Real Mexican restaurants are usually run by real Mexicans, and that's what you usually find, when you find a Mexican restaurant 1,500 miles from Texas.

I haven't had a decent fajita since we moved here from Houston. Like Quesadilla's, it's not a dish you would find in Mexico. And I completely agree -- tacos are not improved with pork or shredded beef, much less fish! But I love fajita burritos if they're made with real grilled steak.

That said, I think Ay Jalisco is better than some of the other Mexican joints we've tried here. I'd hate to see them close.

Casa Agave’ is MUCH better.

jmaccallum 04-13-2024 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2320861)
Very mediocre food and terrible service. I asked the server if they could make the tacos with ground beef. She said yes, but brought me tacos with shredded pork, and never returned to the table. I left no tip.

I hate to say it, but the best tacos in The Villages are at Taco Bell. They use ground beef, and they have actual taco sauce. Other Mexican restaurants use shredded beef or chicken, and, if you ask for taco sauce, you get a blank stare.

In Mexican cuisine nor TexMex is there anything called “Taco Sauce.” What you are eating at Taco Bell is an American fast food concoction - but keep eating it if you like it. Different strokes for different folks.

BettyInFL 04-13-2024 06:19 PM

For Florida, pretty good Mexican food.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com (Post 2320829)
If ever you find yourself tootling along in your golf cart, feeling rather peckish, and you pass Ay Jalisco, just keep going. Nothing to ‘eat’ here.

We are from Texas, so the bar is a little higher. Ay Jalisco is AUTHENTIC Mexican and the service is just fine. The flavor is going to be a bit more 'bland'. While we miss our Tex-Mex food from home, this is pretty good. Just add some hot sauce to give it a zing.. We have always been happy with the food AND service.

All you who complain about service (here or any other restaurant). Give it a rest. These are human beings and no one is perfect or having a great day every day
. I've always found their servers to be great at service, and several have been there for years. Maybe you were not clear on your preferences.

margaretmattson 04-14-2024 04:53 PM

Ay Jalisco is a chain restaurant. If you are searching for authentic Mexican you need to dine at mom-and-pop types. Ocala has several.

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-15-2024 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by margaretmattson (Post 2321628)
Ay Jalisco is a chain restaurant. If you are searching for authentic Mexican you need to dine at mom-and-pop types. Ocala has several.

Ay! Jalisco is a FAMILY-operated small-chain restaurant. I think they have just three stores; one in Spanish Springs, one in Clermont, and a third in Sebastian. Definitely a mom and pop type.

margaretmattson 04-15-2024 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2321945)
Ay! Jalisco is a FAMILY-operated small-chain restaurant. I think they have just three stores; one in Spanish Springs, one in Clermont, and a third in Sebastian. Definitely a mom and pop type.

There are several in South Florida a little north of West Palm Beach. The first was in Vero Beach. There may be one in Orlando. My definition of mom and pop type is family runs the entire restaurant. No outsiders. With 6-8 restaurants in this area, I consider it a chain restaurant.

LeRoySmith 04-16-2024 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael 61 (Post 2321186)
Lots of fresh seafood is incorporated into California Mexican cuisine, since the proximity to the Pacific. (Ceviche - yummy!)

I stopped at a roadside tent north of San Diego in the early 70s and was introduced to fish and shrimp tacos. As a midwestern I thought the old Mexican lady was nuts when she recommended it, seafood in a taco?! Yummy!

mraines 04-16-2024 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2321190)
Can someone please explain to me why you can get taco sauce at Taco Bell, but, when you order tacos at any other restaurant, they don't even know what taco sauce is?

Taco Bell is not a Mexican restaurant. That is like going to McDonald's for a steak.

OrangeBlossomBaby 04-16-2024 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by margaretmattson (Post 2321950)
There are several in South Florida a little north of West Palm Beach. The first was in Vero Beach. There may be one in Orlando. My definition of mom and pop type is family runs the entire restaurant. No outsiders. With 6-8 restaurants in this area, I consider it a chain restaurant.

It's all family owned. It's not owned by a corporation, and it's not franchised. So yes it's a chain. But it's a family owned and operated chain, restricted to just a handful or two of restaurants in the same state.

margaretmattson 04-16-2024 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2322073)
It's all family owned. It's not owned by a corporation, and it's not franchised. So yes it's a chain. But it's a family owned and operated chain, restricted to just a handful or two of restaurants in the same state.

My son lives in West Palm Beach. Ay Jalisco started in Vero Beach. It was very popular with lines out the door. They added 2 new restaurants. Throughout the years, they have continued to expand. Unfortunately, the food now served is not the same authentic Mexican that folks raved about. The family does own the business but are no longer involved in day-to-day operations.


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