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MyspaceWhere: 3544 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez; 688-0033; doscarlitosrestaurant.com.
What: A Mexi-fresh restaurant and tequila bar that provides an upscale dining experience indoors or on a warm outdoor patio in Santa Ynez.
How Much: Lunch grilled sandwiches $9.50-$12.50, dinner especialidades Mexicanas $14.50-$20.50.
The Dish: Although a restaurant formula with a proven track record of success is seldom multiplied by three locations without seemingly spreading a good idea too thin, Dos Carlitos maintains the highest quality of ingredients and freshness as its Santa Barbara and Montecito sister restaurants, Carlitos and Cava. The newest member of the trio opened this year on Santa Ynez’s Sagunto Street, and the combination of Mexican fare and an upscale dining experience is unmatched in the area. Portions are ample, plates are colorful, and bean/corn salsa flows in an all-you-can-eat manner for dipping freshly prepared blue and yellow corn tortilla chips. Traditional Mexican specialties are filling yet fresh, using the grilling method most frequently to char vegetables, rib eye steaks, fresh mahi mahi, rock shrimp, or chicken. The homemade tamale trio (chicken, beef, and corn) is a favorite for starters, as well as the grilled chicken quesadilla with sweet Manchego cheese, caramelized onions, poblano chiles, and guacamole. Vegetarians favor the grilled vegetable tostada, while adventurous and hungry meat lovers gear toward the grilled churrasco rib eye steak (grilled Anaheim chiles with queso fresco, roasted red potatoes, and chimichurri sauce).
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Comments
Good food, but watch out for the check at the end. Talk about "sticker shock!"
This place is becoming infamous for "pumping up the tab" by pouring the most costly tequila into their margarita pitchers. Many I've talked with have just shaken their heads and and said, Never again!"
You can save many dollars, and have jsut as tasty Mexican food by by heading to Taco Roco, Rudy's or better yet, the new, soon-to-be-reopened, Manny's in downtown Solvang staring mid-January 2010.
Barron (anonymous profile)
January 6, 2010 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great food and margaritas. In fact $5 margaritas at happy hour. Yes it's true, this is no Taco Roco or Rudys, but instead a comfortable and more formal restaurant. They have a ton of tequilas to choose from in a range of price so you don't need to feel like your "tab is pumped."
We really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back! Welcome to the Valley.
Cooper (anonymous profile)
January 23, 2010 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)