Mexican meal in Stuttgart @ Hacienda

This week's anti-theme theme meal will be Mexican.

This is a chain, but I've been told it's excellent.

Enchilada
Eberhardstr. 69-71
70173 Stuttgart

This is in central Stuttgart. Please let me know if you're coming; if numbers look high I'll make a booking on the day.

Excellent? This is Stuttgart - not Mexicalli. It's mediocre. Been there more than once. Asking for a frozen margarita, I was faced with 'deer in the headlights' looks by the servers. Okay then, how about ice with that margarita. I got one cube. Have fun.

We're going mainly to eat rather than to ask for margaritas with ice cubes in them, so should survive.

More importantly (for us) moctoj2, is the food any good?

There used to be a restaurant called the Hacienda which was close to Koenigsstrasse. The food and the vibe was quite good there. They also had live music and flamenco.

Interesting reviews of Hacienda and another place called Cocainn here-

http://tinyurl.com/6xgwoo

Also interesting list from 1.5 years back of favourite restaurants from a blog here -

http://europeforthesenses.blogspot.com/200...01_archive.html

Count me in, would be good come along and met you all. Lemme know what time.

Food: it's mediocre. I did like the fact it wasn't buried in cheese like most American/mexican restaurants, but I just wasn't impressed. I've scraped it from my list. I can recommend Bestitos nearby that has decent Spanish dishes/tapas instead. I think their food (and drinks) are better.

cool - thanks for that feedback moctoj2. A decent spanish tapas looks like a contender for the next week's meal!

Nowhereman - become somewhereman at 7:30pm.

Rowhan - gosh, Enchilada is looking more and more shite ;) Might change to Hacienda ...

hacienda is the one i've been to, can't vouch for the others. but this one had good (for german mexican food standards) food, live dancing/music and big tables where it's ok to be loud. i'd vote for there

update: just checked their website and they have live flamenco music every Wednesday for 'spanish night' (http://www.domino-catering.de/hacienda/index.html --> schedule on right side)

yo, I find the whole debate about mexican food quite interesting, at risk of insulting a whole nation, isn't it a bit like arguing over McDonalds v Burger King? The places I've been to have all been ok, but it is basically pretty stodgy simplistic food. I guess the quality of the ingredients can make a little difference, but to my European tastes I'm still waiting to be impressed by Mexican food period, that's why I'm intending to try the place in Fellbach to see if they can convice me otherwise!

Hacienda can be good fun, the food is fine and amazingly quick to arrive at the table. I've been there Tuesday nights where they have salsa bands etc.. and it's a bit more like being in a club than a restaurant. Only downer for Wed is that it is underground, so no option to sit outside

I agree with you JDee, I never find Mexican food particularly exciting; but I love the whole atmosphere of Mexican restaurants/bars.

However, I've never been to Mexico (or anywhere close). American friends who live in cities where the Mexican food is meant to be great rave about it. But they are American ;)

One criteria I was given after the Ethiopian dinner was that this meal had to be outdoors. However, if Hacienda is decently air-conditioned then it'll be fine.

That's a bit of a rebound insult really. All the Mexican food in Europe, including in the big cities, is just mediocre even when it's on the right side of acceptable for consumption. People looking for Mexican food tend to be those who have eaten good Mexican food in north America, and miss it enough to settle for the lousy imitations you get in Europe. Odd, since you can get really good Russian food in north America, sometimes. I'd say Europeans are overall less adventurous in culinary terms than north Americans, and that tells on the distant cuisines.

Hi ,i was only twice in the Hacienda but they have really good recommendations and the food is also good too.
However you decide i be there.

Mexican food on this side of the pond is not much to write home about. However having made by the people who grew up perfecting it, it is quite an excellent cuisine. Both the Native mexican version and the Americanized version (no not taco bell, immagrants to America).

I understand your point of view based on your expierences however, done correctly, Mexican food is one of my favorite cuizines (along with Thai and Italian).
..and much like both of those the quaility depends greatly on the Kitchen...

So ... Hacienda or Enchilada?

Is Hacienda airconditioned down there in the basement?

I'll bethereman at 7:30 put me down for one place at which ever venue is decided

Hacienda is A/C, Enchilada has no A/C. Just called them both to check.

Yes, I am taking suggestions for a more interesting job.

I'll betherebeetle at 7.30... wherever that may be.
My vote is for fast service - always appealing when there is a large group of hungry TTers about

A lumberjack??? All together now...Iiiiiiiii chop down trees...

So that tips it in favour of Hacienda?

I like Hacienda, I think I've walked past Enchilda and the menu looked a little iffy. That being said, if we go to Hacienda and it's awful, it's Rohan's fault.

Either way I'm in.

Will not be able to attend this time

Hacienda it is!

So, Wednesday 7:30pm

Hacienda
Tübingerstr. 8
70178 Stuttgart

what the f*&! ??? start looking for that new job now!

btw im in

I are coming.Yus.

TT live, at least once a week ... :)
So yes, I'm in.

Hi All

I plan to be there, if I remember to go

Cheers

Thanks in Advance Adrian

if you say so, madam...

>nods< count me in.

Yum! I can just taste the salsa right now.

count me in

This is looking good! I'll count up the posts tomorrow and make a booking for a table near the stage.

I will come too, and will probably bring my Germ with me this time, so make it 2
Janet

See you all there.

The restaurant isn't open at the moment and they're not answering the phone. As soon as it does open (5pm) I'll make a booking for 16-18 people.

In the name of? Adrianlondon? So we can easily find you.

we're usually a pretty big, quite loud english speaking group - i think we generally stand out like a sore thumb, so no worries about finding us see ya tonight!

quite late entry I guess, count me in too..

Thought maybe anyone fancy to go to Biddy's after the diner???

Insomnia stopped me from coming out on Sunday, but I am off work, and would like to join tonight.

I'm headed there anyway so i'm in.

Sera - no problem; just turn up.

Thanks to everyone (20 people!) who turned up tonight. The food wasn't bad, the service was excellent and fast, and we had a whole corner of the restaurant to ourselves so we could wander around and mingle with beers and cocktails after we'd finsihed eating.

Someone left a bag behind containing a "Peak Flow Meter". If you can wheeze your way to replying then we'll meet so I can return it.

Thanks to everyone for the nice company. Hours just passed a little too fast ...
And thanks to the cook who made the delicious mint muffins (Janet?).
Last not least: to Adrian for making it all happen .. :)