Las Margaritas-Good..But Garibaldi is Better!

7750 Harkness Ave S. Cottage Grove, MN 55016


I went here with a few friends last Friday after hearing great things, (both from friends and reviews and ratings on Urbanspoon) and in all honesty I was not that impressed.  When great expectations are assumed though, often disappointment is sure to follow.  


It is not that the food or service was bad, in fact both were good, but neither was exceptional..  I judge every Mexican place using Plaza Garibaldi as the barometer, and this place fell short of the Garibaldi standard for three reasons; #1-the food tastes about exactly the same (except Las Margaritas has much better seasoned and tasty rice,) #2-the price of that same tasting food is $2 more than at Garibaldi, and last but not least #3-they only have the salsa dip, unlike Plaza Garibaldi, which has the cream colored deliciousness dip.  


So I ordered the same combo as I do at Garibaldi (you'll have to read that review to find out what) and it tasted about the exact same, and the portion sizes were about the same if not slightly smaller than Garibaldi, but Las Margaritas rice is much., much better.  I sampled the much hyped fajitas from friends plates and they were very unimpressive.


Also they REALLY need to remodel the bathroom area-looks more like a boxing gym bathroom entrance (complete with communal washing station) than one that should be in a restaurant.

Swede Hollow Cafe - Good Coffee!

725 7th St E. St Paul, MN 55106


I have had the coffee here a few times and it is really good, though not as great as Black Sheep (obviously) or Sati.  For some reason though, every time I drive by to get a coffee the place is closed.  How about some regular hours?

Wong's Kitchen - Delicious..and Jumbo Portion Sizes!

214 13th Ave. S. South St. Paul, MN 55075

I went here for lunch twice now, and for 7-8$ you cannot beat the combination of deliciousness and quantity.  If you are very hungry and you want to filleth your stomach until it floweth with deliciousness, then you may want to waddle down to Wong's Kitchen!  For that price you can get a lunch special on a variety of standard items that are staples of the Chinese Kitchen, and also included is a heaping pile of fried or steamed rice, and 3 Cream Cheese Wonton's (or a choice of the other appetizers) with the perfect amount of dipping sauce.  Everything is freshly made on the spot and is very generous for both it's taste and size-I can not stress this enough!  Both times I went in I chatted with regulars who had been going for years.  As we awaited our fresh meals they told of it's greatness.  Great things do come in small packages, (enough about my manhood) Wong's Kitchen is surely proof of this.

Both times I entered this tiny establishment I ordered the sweet and sour chicken for lunch (testing for consistency mind you,) and both times it was exactly the same-excellent in taste and gargantuan in portion!  When I went in to Wong's the first time, I was starving (and I have a big appetite as it is) so I didn't expect that my stomach would be fulleth no matter how much I ordered..  Astonishingly, I was wrong and I struggled to finish all of the food.  Near the end I found my taste buds wanted more than my stomach would allow..  As I struggled with the cream cheese wanton's nearing the finish line of the Wong 500, my stomach contorted and begged for mercy, but my taste bud's would have none of it and inspired both to the finish.