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Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
By Bonnie Small
1972 was a big year for the budding hamlet of Dana Point, as it hosted the first annual Festival of Whales and opened the doors of Dana Hills High School. That same year, Carlos Lamas bought a burger stand at the southern convergence of PCH and Del Prado. By 1975 the restaurant had been remodeled, expanded, renamed, and with the help of his daughter Mercedes and her husband Neal Winvick, has continued to evolve ever since.
Chiles rellenos are a favorite of mine, but I try to avoid the battered & fried items on any menu these days. Lucky for me, Carlos’ version is a brilliant alternative – beautiful deep green poblano chiles are filled with cheese and cooked on the stove (not in the fryer) then draped in paper-thin scrambled egg and served in a tasty ranchero sauce. They are light and delicious and the flavor of the pepper shines through un-muddled by batter and oil.
The kitchen also has a nice touch with shrimp – the Mexican shrimp cocktail features perfectly cooked prawns in a slightly spicy (and not overly sweet) tomato sauce combined with pico de gallo and diced avocado. The shrimp mojo de ajo is nicely executed, with the prawns cooked just right and smothered in a buttery garlic sauce.
Another big plus – Carlos serves menudo and posole every day (not just on the weekends)! Both have rich, meaty broths with hominy and tender pieces of tripe or pork and are accompanied by diced onions and serrano peppers, cilantro, sliced cabbage, and lime wedges. The combination of the fresh crunchy vegetables and the steaming soup is fabulous.
Regular readers know that I am a big fan of flan and I’m always searching for my next fix. Carlos’ homemade flan is silky smooth and the caramel-bathed custard is rich and dense, a perfect portion to top off the meal.
Dana Point has come a long way in 40 years and when the weather is nice (and it usually is) the patio at Carlos is a great place to enjoy it. Stop by for Taco Tuesday from 2 to 9 p.m. or savor a lobster dinner on Wednesdays from 4 to 9 p.m. for a mere $24.99!
