El Corazon Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Kiama

Look... I want to start this review by saying that I'm not looking to 'punish' a business because of some petty grievance. Nor am I trying to be overly-snobbish. This is intended to be a thoughtful and honest review and I want to explain - in detail - why this restaurant doesn't deserve the rating it gets.

I don't consider myself a culinary expert by any means, however I regularly eat out, and - most relevantly - I've been to Mexico. Let's get one thing clear: This is not Mexican food. But more importantly - it's not good food.

I visited with a group of friends tonight, and we ordered two plates of nachos to share, and a range of mains, including a variety of fajitas and enchiladas.

But before I comment on the food, let me start with the drinks. I ordered a michelada. For those of you unaware, a michelada is a Mexican beer cocktail made with a light mexican lager, and tomato and clam juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, served in a salt rimmed-glass. The bitter/salty/sour/spicy flavours are supposed to be balanced in order to create a refreshing drink.

What did I get? An empty glass with some tomato salsa (not juice) which tasted as if it came fresh from a can, sprinkled with some cracked pepper. I was given the beer in a bottle to pour it myself.

Moving on to the nachos. To be fair, this was the most enjoyable item we ordered. However, that's not saying much. The meats were under-seasoned, and the ingredients were haphazardly arranged, with pockets of cold frijoles refritos hidden under corn chips in order to be discovered like your roommate's used Q-tip on the bathroom sink.

I ordered steak fajitas for my main, and this was definitively the final nail in the coffin for my hopes of any redemption from this establishment.

The steak itself was cooked medium - as it should be - however it had clearly not even heard of salt. The cut of steak was beef shoulder, which is notoriously tough as shoe leather when grilled, and this was no exception.

Far be it for me to complain that a restaurant uses more expensive ingredients, however it betrays a total ignorance of the cuisine they're claiming to serve since not only is flank steak more authentic, it's also cheaper, way more flavoursome, and easier to cook.

I opted for the corn tortillas. This was a mistake. They were dry, crumbly, and couldn't withstand a slight fold before completely disintegrating like my hopes for an enjoyable meal. This is everything a corn tortilla shouldn't be, and is exactly the reason so many people say they hate corn tortillas.

Corn tortillas are quick and easy to make fresh, taste immeasurably better - and again - will also save money.

To top it all off, all of this commanded a price far in excess of what is objectively less satisfying than any 'Tex-Mex' fast food chain.

We had high expectations due to the high rating on here. I can only conclude after our experience that either this restaurant has drastically dropped its standards, or it is frequented by locals who think Domino's passes for Italian food.

My suggestion to the restaurant owners - please for your own sake; do some basic research into what constitutes Mexican food - or even better - actually visit Mexico City and see for yourself, because frankly, you should be embarrassed.

EDIT: Wow, I have never received such a petulant, condescending reply to a review. Do you realise how that sounded? It sounded like someone who owns a pizza hut saying that they've been to Italy and their pizza is as good or better. That's how ridiculous you sound. I guarantee that your boss has never been to Mexico City because your food is an insult to the whole country. I was originally trying to offer constructive criticism, but after that poor, self-righteous reply, it seems your conduct is in just as poor taste as your...

Dog food for the cost of a fine dining meal. $78.15 for 2 (Lunch Sized) Veg Nachos and a loaded fries.

Was charged $24 surcharge for Sunday / public holiday on top of eftpos surcharge.

Meals were cold. Got charged extra for everything under the sun, even just to sit down. Child was charged a $6 surcharge just to have an empty plate to share some of our main meals.

If you want good tasting Mexican, Just go to Guzman & Gomez. The service, is even better there.

Absolutely absurd amount of money to spend when trying to support local business.

EDIT ADDITION: Response to the owner's reply:

I completely understand you may "want" to charge a surcharge to pay your staff on a Sunday / public holiday - May I ask, do you pass on PENALTY RATES to your staff? Only reason I ask, is if this is the case, its a step towards justifiable, however, the surcharge would normally be calculated as a PERCENT (MOST businesses, like yours, charge a standard 10% surcharge) If I was to calculate your PER HEAD surcharge as a percentage of our meal total, then we paid almost 50% AS A SURCHARGE. which is absolutely ridiculous, sure you have a decent view from the restaurant, but you're serving basic comfort food. Bowl of corn ships with some salsa n sour cream, not to mention you also charged us $6 EXTRA for a couple extra slivers of jalapeños when your waitress walked by us... Essentially, you are taking advantage. So you can sit there and try to justify it all you want, people will read this review and make their own minds up, I'm saving them the disappointment by writing this review. Like i said, it's taking advantage of your clientele. A lot of people are doing it tough currently, businesses and individuals alike, we try to support local business and try to enjoy a nice casual Sunday snack with a friend and son, and you guys took us to the cleaners, offered sub par service, and then have the audacity to comment on my mood when dining, my mood was poor because your service was poor, and the value for money was none existent, my mood was a reflection of my experience at your basic, sad excuse for a restaurant. It's a real shame, because Amigos is pretty much the only other non fast food Mexican outlet in the Illawarra region, and Amigos isn't great at all, but it was significantly better value for money than El Corazon... As stated before, Guzman & Gomez for Mexican, best way to go, fast, cheap, always hot (unlike yours, from a restaurant), always delicious, and despite being overrun by teenagers and young staff, they're service is leaps and bounds ahead of yours. Which should be...

El Corazon in Kiama offers a magnificent view over Black Beach that enhances the dining experience. The ambiance is warm and inviting, providing a perfect setting for a memorable night out.

From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. The staff were attentive and friendly, ensuring that every need was met promptly. Their professionalism and warmth contributed significantly to the overall enjoyable experience.

The food at El Corazon was nothing short of superb. My friends and I indulged in a variety of dishes, including several small plates and fajitas, both single and double serves.

We tried the Steak, Fish and Chicken Tenders fajitas. Both were marinated to perfection and chargrilled, providing a delightful mix of flavours. The accompaniments of tortillas, guacamole, salsa, and other toppings complemented the dishes beautifully.

The small plates were a highlight, showcasing the culinary creativity of El Corazon. Notably, we had the Barbecued Corn Ribs, Tostaditas and Fresh Oysters. Each plate was presented with care and attention to detail, making the dining experience visually appealing as well.

A special mention must go to the drinks. Jimmy’s Margarita and the Cosmopolitan were highly recommended, and they lived up to the hype. El Corazon in Kiama is a must-visit for anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience. The combination of excellent service, superb food, and a stunning view of Black Beach makes it a perfect spot for a memorable night out with friends. Highly...