So Joe and I ended up at ix tapa cantina after the Ferrari show in Old Town Pasadena. We actually wanted to try the hot dog place around the corner recommended by Jerry, but it was closed so we thought we’d check out what used to be Fred’s – and besides, they were offering 2 for 1 lunch entrees.
What a disappointment. Let me start by saying Joe and I had deep discussion about how this location is always going to have troubles staying open. It’s a very large space on the very edge of Old Town on a corner with banks and commercial buildings. There’s very little pedestrian traffic around here.
There were only about 3 other tables with customers and I counted atleast 5 employees working the floor. This did not equate to good service. Very Very Very slow.
Here’s the breakdown:
-Sat us, didn’t take a drink order. Came back for drink order
-Drinks arrive
-Drinks (one alcoholic, one ice tea) sat empty for minutes as we waited to order.
-Chips and salsa came. – Not from our waiter
-Still waiting to order.
-Order an appetizer (Guacamole)
-Non-Alcoholic drink refilled
-Drinks Empty
-Appetizer arrives
-Refills Drinks/Waiting to order
-non- alcoholic drink Empty
–Order another appetizer (fish tacos) – use restroom (which were not maintained very well, smelled of sewage, only 1 of 3 soap dispensers worked, and the paper towel roll was placed on the sink instead of inserted in the dispenser.) With that many employees and slow business, someone can atleast maintain the restroom.
-non-alcoholic rink still empty
-Fish Tacos Arrive
-wait to order
-order two carnitas tacos
-Carnitas Taco plate arrives
-Drinks refilled
After being there over an hour, we never actually ordered lunch.
ch-ch-ch-ch- changes:
they put some repainted the walls, put in some new furnature – took down all the weird falic cupids and art, put in some “lounge” areas in the corner and upstairs. Put in wood/red upholstered furnishings, and a blueback or bottom lit bar.
As for the food:
Guacamole – fresh, but tasted just of avocado and onion – there was no flavor/seasoning/salt – the chunks of avocado were too large- over 1 1/2 inch cubes and they do the gimmicky red/green/white tortilla chips which i’m not a fan of. Immediately doesn’t cry fresh made when there are food colorings in the chips.
Fish Tacos – (2) small, “grilled” style with julienned cucumber on top. Not bad
Carnitas Tacos- small street taco style but was not authentic at all. The carnitas were cut up into 1/2 inch cubes, not shredded/pulled and did not have that post roasting, crispy outside, moist delicious inside pork flavor that I expect from carnitas. The meat did not have good color (brown/grey) or texture. – They do not offer a la carte tacos at lunch!!!!!!!!!
rice/beans – very generic – the rice tasted like lower quality El Torito and the beans tasted like they were straight from a can.
This food + 2 margaritas (which Joe really enjoyed) and an Ice Tea = about $50 for lunch. NEVER AGAIN! We should have had our fish and chips at Lucky Baldwins!!
