tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post3835828493323247011..comments2023-10-12T10:14:57.556-04:00Comments on Delicious Durham: Tonali: Gourmet MexicanKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15331097325265278610noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-46081417565429158842009-06-28T18:42:24.550-04:002009-06-28T18:42:24.550-04:00Tonali is simply one of the four or five best rest...Tonali is simply one of the four or five best restaurants in the whole triangle region. in fact, it's amusing that some of your posters don't get it. incidently you can get mexican wine there, not an easy feat in the united state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-2985527355497120652008-03-14T09:05:00.000-04:002008-03-14T09:05:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author..https://www.blogger.com/profile/02212889032353085794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-40193963811051289132007-07-17T22:28:00.000-04:002007-07-17T22:28:00.000-04:00When I ordered the snapper, on Friday night it was...When I ordered the snapper, on Friday night it was perfect. Not chewy or overcooked. The quality might depend on staff. The pork was excellent too. <BR/><BR/>As far as Tonali being "authentic" I never claimed that.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15331097325265278610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-61874504708402603222007-07-17T21:21:00.000-04:002007-07-17T21:21:00.000-04:00I and my girlfriend went there tonight based on th...I and my girlfriend went there tonight based on this glowing review. We've been craving something a step up (or three) from El Rodeo. We were both disappointed.<BR/><BR/>We ordered the "first course" fish taco as an appetizer. One word: Gorton's. Honestly, the fish was an overly breaded deep fried mystery fish that compared to frozen fish sticks in a box. While the rest of the ingredients tasted good and were fresh, the fish detracted from the dish.<BR/><BR/>I ordered a smoked turkey dish with a mole sauce. It turned out to be a thick *deli sliced* smoked turkey and cheese quesadilla with mole on the side. The mole sauce was good but overall it was disappointing. Who puts lunch meat in a quesadilla?<BR/><BR/>My girlfriend ordered red snapper. It looked good but the fish was slightly overcooked and chewy. <BR/><BR/>For an appetizer, two entrees, and two drinks and tip we came in about $60 for the two of us. Neither one of us finished our food (rare for us!).<BR/><BR/>The service was polite and prompt but not overly talkative. The atmosphere nice. It was nearly empty on a Tuesday night.<BR/><BR/>We won't be going back.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08658440817637616504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-47128249339279147082007-07-17T17:06:00.000-04:002007-07-17T17:06:00.000-04:00Las Portales at Holloway and Hoover has the best M...Las Portales at Holloway and Hoover has the best Mexican street food I've had outside of the southern Arizona/California (and of course, Mexico). I moved here from Tucson, so finding this kind of food has been kind of a priority for me...<BR/><BR/>The asada and barbacoa burritos are especially good, and either will set you back less than $5. <BR/><BR/>English is rarely spoken there.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06799024060528185282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-17166817369824480362007-07-16T14:30:00.000-04:002007-07-16T14:30:00.000-04:00The one near Big Lots is La Fontina. Los tacos di...The one near Big Lots is La Fontina. Los tacos diablos (sorry, my Spanish is next to non-existant) are top notch for those who like to feel the burn...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02110812867350647246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-87504587904453597552007-07-16T08:53:00.000-04:002007-07-16T08:53:00.000-04:00The go-to stand on chapel hill road opposite four ...The go-to stand on chapel hill road opposite four square is called "la vaquita." If your spanish isn't so good, don't fret, they are really friendly. <BR/><BR/>Does anyone know a place to get champurrado in durham?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-85339097741018238332007-07-15T18:12:00.000-04:002007-07-15T18:12:00.000-04:00I'll have to try Tonali again. My earlier impress...I'll have to try Tonali again. My earlier impressions were both different and not as positive.<BR/><BR/>My sense of Tonali is that it is two things: <BR/><BR/>(1) hybrid Latin American food that begins with traditional recipes then-modified to reflect (a) northern (i.e., US) tastes and (b) interest in fresh foods, and "new" taste combinations that may have never shown up in Mexico, but are more in line with how American chefs currently innovate.<BR/><BR/>and<BR/><BR/>(2) an effort to make more-authentic Mexican food available to gringos who aren't likely to visit a restaurant where Spanish may be required if you want to order with efficiency.<BR/><BR/>Sure, El Rodeo, Torero's and the rest are neither gourmet nor particularly authentic to Mexico or other points south. <BR/><BR/>If you want authentic Latin-American food, most of the local choices are on the gritty side: Azteca across from Lakewood Shopping Center, the place-I-can't-remember by Big Lots and Super Compare Grocery, and the to-go stand at the Cow Store on W. Chapel Hill St. are examples. <BR/><BR/>In the last few years, we have been getting more and more restaurants with higher-quality menu items and regional variety. Taqueria Lopez on Hillsborough is one good example. Their 7-seafood soup costs $15, is yummy, and wouldn't have been on any local menus in 1997. Around town you can find a Honduran restaurant, a Salvadoran restaurant, a Nicaraguan restaurant, etc. (T. Lopez is Oaxacan). I look forward to the time when we can get more "upscale" authentic Mexican food -- a restaurant where, say, the mojarra frita costs $25 but uses only ingredients that would be typical if were served in, say, Veracruz.Marsosudirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14660784579365832969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-30628531887520286052007-07-15T17:35:00.000-04:002007-07-15T17:35:00.000-04:00I think Pop's is not as good as it used to be. Tha...I think Pop's is not as good as it used to be. That's for sure! I've always had very good food at Alivia's. I put Alivia's under both Nana's and Magnolia Grill.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15331097325265278610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8561067909668880188.post-20373820464303276162007-07-14T18:13:00.000-04:002007-07-14T18:13:00.000-04:00Wow. You put Alivia's above Pop's and just below ...Wow. You put Alivia's above Pop's and just below Magnolia Grill? I've got to be ordering the wrong things there. I've eaten there three times, and was hugely underwhelmed each time.<BR/><BR/>Regardless, thanks for the update on Tonali. I kept hearing rumors about it, but was never sure where it was.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02110812867350647246noreply@blogger.com