Short Orders: Carolina's Mexican Cuisine

Mi Cocina it ain't...kind of.

Carolina's Mexican Cuisine
3950 Rosemeade
469-568-0988

The not-so-prosperous little shopping strip Carolina Galvan ex-Rodriguez chose for one of her promised slew of new restaurants doesn't scream "I'm gonna crush those Mi Cocina bastards."

You think it would, but it doesn't.

Inside Carolina's flashes some interest, appearing as either a hip industrial lounge or upscale cafeteria, depending upon which direction you happen to look--except for the back patio, which is just pretty damn cool. They stock a bar-length line of beers on tap, brag about their drinks and seem hell bent on achieving a very familiar vibe...only better, perhaps.

Now, it's far too early for a proper review of the place, but
Carolina's tacos and margaritas aren't bad. In fact, apart from the
funky sweet-starchy flavor of corn tortillas steamed back to life, the
combination of meat, salsa verde and the other odds and ends is rather
what you want from a beef taco: a little rustic, somewhat fatty with
tangy heat and a bitter crunch from pearl white onion. On the other
hand, they trot out the same old chips with a forgettable red salsa.



So many of the city's Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants are guilty of the
'same old' impression they almost run together. Carolina's feels like a Mi Cocina competitor, although that may just be projection. All I can really say for certain is this: After just a couple
weeks in business the kitchen is already up to par.



That means they've already crushed those other bastards...