I’m delighted to introduce to you Chris Heim, our newest Senior Correspondent. Chris’s first report is from sunny Florida — from even sunnier Fort Lauderdale. Chris has managed to find a very reasonably priced, very generous, and very tasty place to eat on Las Olas, El Camino.
Here’s his report.
El Camino has become the “must-stop” on our annual trips to Pompano Beach, Florida. It’s at 817 East Las Olas, the main high-end shopping and dining boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, and only about fifteen minutes north of the Fort Lauderdale Airport. El Camino is part of four-link local chain. Other locations are in Boca Raton, Del Ray Beach, and West Palm Beach.
On this occasion, our visit took place during prime lunch time on a Wednesday at the end of July. Paid but low-cost parking is readily available in the vicinity of Las Olas Boulevard, the street on which El Camino is located. If you are interested in high-end shopping or just have time to kill before or after lunch, consider taking a short walk up and down Las Olas to check out some of its commercial offerings and to scan some of the many other restaurant options for future dining opportunities.
Once we were seated, my wife, daughter and I were eager to get our orders in. We had learned from our previous visits that the queso is very thick (think “pizza cheese”!) and probably a meal for two unto itself. So, we decided to go a different route this time. We knew that the chips and guacamole appetizer, the chicken quesadillas, and the beef tacos were excellent, but I am always inclined to try something new. This time around, we kept the chips and guacamole and the chicken quesadilla in the order, but took a chance on the smoked brisket nachos appetizer. They were calling my name!
Our friendly server efficiently greeted us and took our order, and we soaked in the laid-back atmosphere.
Upbeat music played on speakers inside, though not so loudly as to impact our conversations at all. Similarly, the medium-sized crowd thankfully failed to drown out our chatter. The open-air entryway to the restaurant probably helped with the noise level, as well as by keeping refreshing air circulating around us.
We began after a short time, and the chips ($5) and made-to-order guacamole ($14) were first to arrive based on the recommendation of our server.
The corn chips were warm, thick, and not overwhelmingly salty, providing a satisfying crunch that held up nicely to the guacamole post-dipping. The guacamole was very fresh, with a creamy consistency, cilantro leaves woven in throughout, and small chunks of avocado adding interest to the texture. That the three of us had to work hard to finish this appetizer gives you an idea of the portion size.
The chicken quesadilla ($16) was every bit as good as we’d remembered it. It looked and tasted very fresh, with a good queso blanco to chicken ratio. This is a solid, dependable dish we all love.
The showstopper on this occasion, though, was the smoked brisket nachos ($17). When my wife spied them over my shoulder on the kitchen counter, awaiting delivery, she said we’d have our work cut out for us with them! Our server humorously noted that nobody had ever finished them. We wouldn’t be the first. Not even close.
The portion size was massive, as was a true mountain of nachos.
[ed. – Can we get an aerial view? Sure.]
The smoked brisket had been shredded and was tender and delicious, and the same thick, crispy corn chips held the brisket and cheese nicely on top of a bed of refried beans. We gave it a valiant effort, but wound up taking more than half of the nachos (and one piece of the chicken quesadilla) with us to eat another night. Baked in the oven at 300, they reheated better than we thought they might and were still a lot for the three of us to eat for dinner another night!)
If you’re in the vicinity, this three-time customer of El Camino gives this restaurant a recommendation as hearty as its portion sizes for its comfortable, casual atmosphere, its friendly staff, and its delicious Mexican fare.
El Camino sounds amazing, if only because three adults managed to eat for $52, plus the usuals — and have leftovers for another dinner. Well, I see a beer ($6-8), but still. Las Olas is a pretty posh area. How many places in, say, Bethesda, will feed three adults just once for $60? Well, Peter’s, and the Tastee Diner, which you would not compare to El Camino any more than you would compare a metallic mint green Buick Skylark to a Corvette. And good food at that! Give El Camino a try next trip to Fort Lauderdale. It’s now on my list.
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