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Caliente Mex-Sea Kitchen & Bar

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by SchwarzFamily, Feb 11, 2010.

  1. SchwarzFamily

    SchwarzFamily New Member

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    Has anyone been to the new Mexican joint in Brambleton. Reviews?
     
  2. JLC

    JLC Member

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    I think only the upper bar is open right now. The restaurant is aiming for March.

    Here's a discussion from the Brambleton Boards: Caliente
     
  3. kmjtt

    kmjtt New Member

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    We have been several times. The place is beautiful. Both the upstairs and downstairs bars are open. Dining room will open March 1st. Small menu up and running...half price appetizers (maybe 5 choices?)and drinks from opening (5pm???) until 730. Can't beat it. The food has been good. They are continuing to tweak some recipes but we have enjoyed the things we have had. Bartenders Matt and Christie are very personable with great memory for names. Definitely give it a try.
     
  4. db0916

    db0916 New Member

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    My husband and I went to Caliente last night for drinks and dinner and sat at the downstairs bar. Matt makes a very good Margarita! The food was excellent! We had the shrimp appetizer and the steak and chicken fajitas. The steak was extremely tender as was the chicken. The shrimp appetizer was a meal in itself... very good and spicy. The chips and salsas are excellent too!! These aren't out of the bag chips. They were fresh, hot and crispy! I won't be driving into Reston anymore to get Uncle Julio's chips and salsa. Can't wait for the full restaurant to open.
    We will be returning for sure.
     
  5. TDT

    TDT TDCKY

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    The pork enchiladas were great. They are made with shredded pork that had a great smokey flavor. Everyone at my table thought they were much better than the fajitas. The shrimp appetizer was huge and much like the bang bang shrimp at Bonefish. We also loved the half price drinks until 7:30pm.
     
  6. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    We were there last Thursday and it will be a regular go-to for us. Great chips/salsa and margaritas, on par with Rio but so much closer! Calamari was good as were the fajitas. Can't wait for spring with the open patio.
     
  7. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    We also went last week and it was real good. Seems like they really improved after the first couple weeks. The place will be a big hit!
     
  8. ChrisL

    ChrisL Member

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    Went on "Opening night" a couple weeks ago. Queso and Steak Fajitas were outstanding. The drinks were fabulous. I too can't wait to see what happens when they actually manage to open the whole restaurant and have an entire menu.
     
  9. Shyam333

    Shyam333 New Member

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    Went there for happy hour last night (50% off drinks) and really enjoyed it. The queso caliente appetizer was really good as were cheese enchiladas and quesidilla.

    The margarita's were good and strong, except for the blue lagoon as we did not like that one at all (tastes nothing like a margarita).

    Give it a thumps up and will repeat.

    Shyam
     
  10. AZPapillion

    AZPapillion New Member

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    My husband and I have tried 4+ times to go, but each time the wait is 45 min or more (up to "less than 2 hours"). Must be good and I hope they open soon and actually have some space for two to get in and try it.
     
  11. db0916

    db0916 New Member

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    We always manage to get seats at the bar.
    The wings are fabulous!!
     
  12. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    We had dinner at there tonight. We ate upstairs and had no wait at 5:45. By the time we left, it was really busy. I had a house margarita and chicken enchiladas, my husband had beef tacos and soda. We had the fried ice cream for dessert. It was all VERY, VERY good. Service was also excellent. Will definitely go back.
     
  13. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Does anyone know when the whole restaurant will be open?
     
  14. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Target was beginning of March... dunno if that's been delayed for any reason.
     
  15. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    March 1st is their grand opening. Also, at the same time they open up, they're closing the upstairs bar temporarily and renovating it into more of a over 21 club. They were using all their rooms last night, but the main dining room on the first floor only has booths and a large wide open space where obviously tables will be going in.
     
  16. Liss

    Liss New Member

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    We've tried to go a couple of times but could never figure out how to actually get seated with a menu and served. We've been with kids each time, so sitting at the bar hasn't been an option and sitting at a table didn't actually accomplish anything.

    Maybe we'll try again in a few months.
     
  17. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    When we walked in, there was a hostess who directed us to just go upstairs. When we got up there we were met by a waitress who seated us and took or order. Very easy and the service was very good.

    Liss, not sure what you mean in your post about not being able to figure out how to get seated, etc. What exactly do you mean?
     
  18. Liss

    Liss New Member

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    Each time we've walked in, we've stood there for 5-10 (once more like 15-20) minutes waiting for anyone who looked like they worked there. Never once saw anyone near the door, so wandered in to the bar area and flagged down someone who said "a hostess will help you" (but no hostess was ever seen). Tried seating ourselves and never managed to catch the eye of any one of the (very few) server-looking people.

    The first time, we were eventually informed that they weren't "really" open and our best bet was to sit at or near the bar and get food from the bartender - doesn't work well with a 16-month-old and a 4-yr-old.

    I don't know if they've just been understaffed on the front end or are just still "not really open", but it's been frustrating at best (the under-five crowd isn't known for their patience when the first try doesn't work).
     
  19. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    luckily there are LOADs of more kid-friendly establishments- i felt like this was an excellent date night place, after the movie with friends, happy hour vibe.
     
  20. Liss

    Liss New Member

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    Very true - happily (or sadly, depending on your point of view) we generally have no problem eating out with out kids. We're hoping that they do get more kid-friendly, though, because "fish and spicy rice" is a big draw for the 4-yr-old!
     

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