El Paso place on L Lane

[seanmlow]

What is it like?

Was thinking of taking my sister there for her birthday? It looks like it could be good fun. We want somewhere cheap and cheerful!

[SeanMacGabhann]

I find it fun, cheap and cheerful, especially with the right crowd

It has been discussed a few times on here: you can find more at

Cafe El Paso

[figgins]

It's a fine, unpretentious place. I have no idea if "real" Mexican food is anything like this stuff, having never been to Mexico, but I like it anyway. Cheap and, indeed, cheerful.

[Jah Lush]

Not a place I've ever actually ventured into but I'm told that the Margaritas are worth the visit alone.

[spadetownboy]

best mexican on lordship lane, i like it others dont, nice food good drink, but only thing is to go along and make your own mind up, and if you dont like it you can always get the 176 home;-)

[TillieTrotter]

Suits a big crowd or for somewhere to take the kids. Food isnt particularly the best part of the experience. In saying that I havent really got any complaints about the food!

[James]

Worst restaurant I've ever been to! Awful dirty 70s decor, 70s style food too.

[Mellors]

I've been when I first moved to East Dulwich. Never again. Its empty all the time for a reason you know...

[TillieTrotter]

Been open for donkeys years though, so must be doing something right for someone!

[meccadave]

Shocking service when I went in there, kept running out of beers, nachos were out of a packet, waiter refused to remove the service charge too.

The one up in New Cross is much more fun and really quite cheap, cocktails are ?3.75 or so really good.

[SeanMacGabhann]

The ongoing emptiness does bother me - I can only assume a favourable lease negotiated long ago, unsustainable when it's up for renewal

I've never had a bad time there but the food is, well it's not great and prone to being ridiculously salty. It has served well but if I was the owners and wanted to stay there I would shorten the menu, get some good mexican dishes on there and try and attract more punters

[figgins]

Often quite empty during the week, very full on a Friday. The decor is naff and tatty, the food is not exactly haute cuisine, but I still like it.

[Jeremy]

James is right... it's a bit grimy, and the food is somewhat "retro". It is also usually empty, so would not go with a small group.

However, if you don't mind the above, and you have enough people to provide your own atmosphere, it's worth a go. Food is inexpensive, beers are cheap, and the cocktails certainly look "interesting". Service is friendly enough.

[JenniferJ]

I was put off visting this eating place for ages when I first moved to ED a few years back, due to the tacky exterior. However, I have to say I love it, good food, reasonable prices and the decor makes for a lighthearted evening. I'd recommend trying it if you haven't been before, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Jen x

[luddite]

agree worst place ever , re re re fried beans .......

probably gun running

dusk till dawn ?

[ratty]

Used to really like it in there, then one day had steak fajitta made out of what can only be described as dog meat! After that I kinda avoided it!

[spadetownboy]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The ongoing emptiness does bother me - I can only

> assume a favourable lease negotiated long ago,

> unsustainable when it's up for renewal

>

> I've never had a bad time there but the food is,

> well it's not great and prone to being

> ridiculously salty. It has served well but if I

> was the owners and wanted to stay there I would

> shorten the menu, get some good mexican dishes on

> there and try and attract more punters

in other words send in gordon

[SeanMacGabhann]

oops spadetown boy I honestly did mean to put a

© GR

at the end of that post but got distracted - well spotted tho

[Brendan]

Cheap, cheerful and cheesy >:D< which are all plusses in my books but I think they could benefit from a bit of a menu revamp and a spruce-up.

I am not for a minute suggesting they become some purveyor of poncy, ?authentic Mexican cuisine? for those who can tell the origin of a re-fried bean by its smell and consistency and will only touch a nacho that has been prepared with the Guatemalan clay-ground method. (As such people should be locked in lead boxes and shot into the sun to prevent their self-awareness from turning the space-time continuum into any more of a slurry pit than it already is.)

Just a window clean, carpet shampoo and some fresher ingredients.

Other than that. Cocktails, beer and burritos. What?s not to like?

[Keef]

I love the place, it's tacky, it's old school, it's fun, it's cheap, the food is okay - not special, but not horrible, and lines the stomach. The drinks are great :)-D

I always read things on here saying how empty it is, but whenever I've been in there it's been at least half full.

Opinions are divided, so just give it a try and decide for yourself, even if you don't like it, it won't have set you back too much.

[snorky]

rusbbish if yer after authnticity, good for a night out

propa mex - El parazon (sp) at the Dogstar in Brixtonia - never had better in the UK

[Brendan]

Please see comment re. "locked in lead boxes and shot into the sun" ;-)*

* Not intended in ernest.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I went there for my birthday last year. It was absolutely awful.

I used to go a lot but it has gone really downhill and I would never recommend it to anyone.

[BarryRoad]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Not a place I've ever actually ventured into but

> I'm told that the Margaritas are worth the visit

> alone.

What I reckon:

Yes, the food certainly isn't Mexican food like I have had (and that wasn't 100% as I was in southern California), but it's not a terrible effort given the ingredients available to them.

The Margaritas ARE EXCELLENT! Although I think I may have had to ask to keep the ice in mine, can't remember...

Service was good when I went.

Overall it's a bit of fun, and even more fun if you like margaritas as much as I do. Oh, and I love the decor, and how they spell it 'Passo' out front.

[Asset]

spadetownboy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> best mexican on lordship lane, i like it others

> dont, nice food good drink, but only thing is to

> go along and make your own mind up, and if you

> dont like it you can always get the 176 home;-)

Only Mexican on LL isn't it? Ha ha. I've been to Mexico (several years ago now) and the food there was crap all over, nothing like the 'Tex-Mex' vibe in restaurants here. I lived on Avocadoes (which were fantastic) in Mexico and don't think I saw a refried bean the whole time. Anyway I digress, never been to El Paso but I'm interested in the claim that it does great Margheritas. Can anyone second that?