BajaNomad

Done with Mama's

Santiago - 10-20-2012 at 09:05 AM

After so many hits and misses at Mama's we thought we would try it again last Saturday about noon - we had a Baja rookie with us and it seemed appropriate.
Leaving we looked at each other and said in unison, "No point ever going back". Too many new places to try and believe me, they couldn't be any worse.
Example: on the way down a week earlier, lunch at Sta Maria in north San Quintin was very good, two had the machaca burrito lunch plate that had three burritos with all the fixings and presented attractively. At Mama's, there were three rolled burritos on a white platter. That's it. Nothing else. Oh, a big bowl of what we were sure was Kirkland's re-fried beans plopped down in the middle of the table.
They have installed safety grab bars at the step down where so many have tripped.

Lee - 10-20-2012 at 09:37 AM

Obviously, Mama has no control over quality and those running the show have not been trained properly. Out of respect for Mama, the name should be changed. If she knew what was happening, she might be embarrassed. Wonder why they (the staff/cooks) haven't gotten the news?

There's always the theory that what some find as unappetizing slop other's find as a banquet.

Udo - 10-20-2012 at 09:41 AM

Our banquet item has always been the CRAB SOUP which has always been outstanding and it is the only reason to go back.
The ret of the menu items, including their chile rellenos, have been so-so.

Lee - 10-20-2012 at 09:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Our banquet item has always been the CRAB SOUP which has always been outstanding and it is the only reason to go back.
The ret of the menu items, including their chile rellenos, have been so-so.


Crab soup would be worth stopping for. If it's consistently good, that is.

dtbushpilot - 10-20-2012 at 11:44 AM

Done with mama's X2......too bad.

Russ - 10-20-2012 at 11:49 AM

x3

Bajaboy - 10-20-2012 at 12:23 PM

x4

vgabndo - 10-20-2012 at 12:55 PM

X5, there isn't a Mexican restaurant in Mt. Shasta, CA that doesn't have more appetizing Mexican food.

My best memory of Mama's was running into Dave Despain one evening at dinner. He wasn't eating:lol:

[Edited on 10-20-2012 by vgabndo]

dave despain.jpg - 13kB

gnukid - 10-20-2012 at 01:13 PM

Maybe they aren't ready for tourists just yet, sometimes some places don't get going until November.

When I go to Mamas I ask if the cook is here and can I speak to them and ask what they are actually capable of making today, discuss what will actually be on the plate and expect to wait an hour for a full meal. Best to reduce your expectations to beer and looking at old shells and fossils.

Ateo - 10-20-2012 at 01:24 PM

X6.

Although my kids french fries were the bomb last time.

BajaBlanca - 10-20-2012 at 01:37 PM

I love the atmosphere and the history and I havegotten over the fact that the food isn't really up to par.... one BajaNomadergot really ill though and that is scary. I stick to the basic quesadillas and beans/guacamole -almosti imossible to mess up.

rhintransit - 10-20-2012 at 01:39 PM

x7
have stopped in 'on' and 'off' seasons and never had a good meal no more.

mtgoat666 - 10-20-2012 at 01:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
I love the atmosphere and the history


the atmosphere ain't much. the food is mediocre to bad. best to remember what it was, look at it fondly as you drive by, and then eat somewhere else!

Hook - 10-20-2012 at 02:39 PM

Now that the road to El Rosario is in the best shape of her life, maybe Mama's cooks are just following that old Baja adage...............I think I learned it from David K.

You know the one,






Bad roads, good food.
Good roads, bad food.

:saint:

mulegemichael - 10-20-2012 at 03:36 PM

x8....stopped there day before yesterday but it wasn't to eat...when i drove out of mulege it was with only the clothes on my back, which i had been wearing for three days in less than perfect conditions..i stopped to buy a t shirt...it took 5 people 15 minutes to figure out how much it was..and i was in no condition to be patient..pretty frazzled...so when i finally paid for the shirt, i took my old one off right there, threw it on the floor of the gift shop and put the new one on...kinda like jack reacher, ya know?...they all just looked at me with slack jaws.....i knew that i was getting pretty ripe when at the last military check point when he poked his head in the window just waved me on....made me laugh out loud when i pulled away, and believe me, i needed a laugh right then.

thebajarunner - 10-20-2012 at 03:53 PM

Had a wonderful meal there- lobster burritos!!! Absolutely awesome

That was in 1972 on a Mexican 1000 pre-run
never had a good meal there since., sad to say.

DENNIS - 10-20-2012 at 05:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Had a wonderful meal there- lobster burritos!!! Absolutely awesome

That was in 1972 on a Mexican 1000 pre-run
never had a good meal there since., sad to say.

Just assign your memory to the good one, Dick. :biggrin:

going back to 1989.......

tripledigitken - 10-20-2012 at 06:29 PM

I took my Dad on his first trip to Baja. He was an experienced mainland Mexico traveler, but never had been to Baja.

I had never stopped at Mama's before, but thought it was a good opportunity to try those legendary lobster burritos and take in some ambiance and soak in some Baja history. We each ordered lobster burritos, the cost (in 1989) was $7.50 for three very skinny burritos and some watery beans. We were both very dissapointed.

For reference on prices, around the same time I took him for lobster dinner at Puerto Nuevo. We had a great dinner of Lobster (good legal size), beans, tortillas, quacamole for...............$7.50 a plate.

NO MAS MAMA's

rts551 - 10-20-2012 at 06:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
I took my Dad on his first trip to Baja. He was an experienced mainland Mexico traveler, but never had been to Baja.

I had never stopped at Mama's before, but thought it was a good opportunity to try those legendary lobster burritos and take in some ambiance and soak in some Baja history. We each ordered lobster burritos, the cost (in 1989) was $7.50 for three very skinny burritos and some watery beans. We were both very dissapointed.

For reference on prices, around the same time I took him for lobster dinner at Puerto Nuevo. We had a great dinner of Lobster (good legal size), beans, tortillas, quacamole for...............$7.50 a plate.

NO MAS MAMA's


We had the same experience in the 60's. Burritos were ok, but price was high. been back only when had to (staying at Baja Cactus arriving late) ever since.

liknbaja127 - 10-20-2012 at 07:36 PM

Still a great stop, the food for us has been good! the people are great! little slow
but thats Baja. we got a chance to meet Mama in august! what a great lady!
at 102 years old. was a great baja experience! will be stopping on the way down in nov for sure.

rts551 - 10-20-2012 at 08:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by liknbaja127
Still a great stop, the food for us has been good! the people are great! little slow
but thats Baja. we got a chance to meet Mama in august! what a great lady!
at 102 years old. was a great baja experience! will be stopping on the way down in nov for sure.


102....now you did it!

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=63250

David K - 10-20-2012 at 09:44 PM

Well, the book Mama told me was the authentic biography of her life she sold and signed to me says her birth was in 1910. However, an earlier book she helped write gave the year as 1908 and it also had all her siblings birth years. Mama (Anita) was the youngest.

chinolbz - 10-20-2012 at 10:49 PM

Any other suggestions for a good spot to eat? We will be in the area in a couple of weeks. Chino

Bajaboy - 10-21-2012 at 07:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chinolbz
Any other suggestions for a good spot to eat? We will be in the area in a couple of weeks. Chino


We really like Las Pasaditas....it's across from Tacos Mission. I first started eating there a long time ago when it was just a small taco stand. They now have a few tables inside. Wonderful family and good food.

If you are staying at Baja Cactus, Tacos Poblanos located just around the bend has made a huge comeback. The place used to be great but then was sold and went down hill. Another family took over and makes outstanding tacos but menu is very limited.

I know Woody will pipe in about the birria stand located next to Tacos Mission...he loves the people and food there. Tacos Mission can be good, too.

Zac

Terry28 - 10-21-2012 at 10:20 AM

Mamas= medicore food, slow and rude service, overpriced----never again

El Jefe - 10-21-2012 at 12:14 PM

x another
Do ya think maybe that the food was never really that great? Maybe it was just that Mama's was on the edge of nowhere and we had spent days driving bad roads, camping in the bush, eating out of cans etc. and a cold beer and any warm so-so food that somebody made and served to you tasted AWESOME.

bajafam - 10-21-2012 at 12:49 PM

We'll still get our burger fix from Mama's when we travel to and fro. Had one on 10/14 and it didn't disappoint :)

yikes

aguachico - 10-21-2012 at 01:38 PM

That place sucks so bad. That whole corner is a disaster.

I have done so much better for food and lodging on the south side. La turista for rooms, with my boat in tow. I can't remember the place to eat, but there's a brown-skinned chaparita that works there from Pipila. Food was really goods there.

Ate at mama's once. The food was old and smelly. Smelled like trash.

durrelllrobert - 10-21-2012 at 07:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Terry28
Mamas= medicore food, slow and rude service, overpriced----never again


Terry28 - 10-22-2012 at 06:19 PM

Dude, that's pretty cool..

24baja - 10-22-2012 at 06:42 PM

La Turistica to stay, clean nice rooms, good showers and coffee in the morning . Baja's Best across the street has fantastic crab rellanos and good drinks.

David K - 10-22-2012 at 07:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 24baja
La Turistica to stay, clean nice rooms, good showers and coffee in the morning . Baja's Best across the street has fantastic crab rellanos and good drinks.

Ed's tequila sunrise made with fresh squeezed OJ is wonderful!

mtgoat666 - 10-23-2012 at 05:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert


robert:
when i was high school age, we used to spit in a customers food if the customer was an @ss,... just a forewarning to you that for every immature, petulant customer, there is an immature, vindictive restaurant worker :lol::lol::lol::lol:

bent-rim - 10-27-2012 at 10:07 PM

i knew that i was getting pretty ripe when at the last military check point when he poked his head in the window just waved me on.


I don't mean to hijack, but that is some great advice.

[Edited on 10-28-2012 by bent-rim]

woody with a view - 10-28-2012 at 10:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajaboy
I know Woody will pipe in about the birria stand located next to Tacos Mission...he loves the people and food there.
Zac


^^^what he said^^^ say hi to Beranecia for us!