Carlos Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Dana Point

This Mexican Restaurant has a great location off the PCH freeway near the lantern district in Dana Point, except there are no views of the ocean. It has an excellent outdoor seating area complete with a central fireplace. The vegetarian food and drinks were anything but great though. Their enchilada sauces all have meat in their preparations; so that makes the enchilada off the menu for vegetarians. My wife was quite disappointed by this as she loves enchiladas. My daughter and I opted for Veggie Fajitas. Their preparation of the Fajita veggies was ok, nothing great; the squashes, peppers and onions were cut huge instead of moderate or smaller size, making it very hard to put them in a small corn tortilla. When our server brought the fajitas, there was a piece of cooked meat sticking out from the side. Fortunately, there was no meat inside the plate. The fajita sauces were good, and also the quantity of veggies. We couldn’t finish the plate even though we shared. Their unlimited chips and salsa were complimentary and were good. The server kept fresh chips coming which we always tend to overeat. We ordered a large table side guacamole; let’s just say that this is the smallest order of large guacamole that I’ve seen at any Mexican place. Their special Margarita drink was OK. Again, it felt like something was missing. The service was good. We felt that the restaurant can cater better to vegetarian...

Hello Everyone,

Normally I don't write reviews on anything but I feel the need to let people know my experience. I came to this restaurant in celebration. The wait staff was great and very nice. The beef tacos were good and the meat was juicy. The beans and rice were ok not the best but good. The chips and salsa were also good but the reason I am writing this review is because of the House Margarita. I ordered the first one and thought it was a little sweet. I was going to watch them make the next one but I became distracted. The third margarita I wanted to make sure that the first 2 even had tequila in them. I watched them make the third one a younger kid that looked like he didn't want to be there. I saw him pick up and rim the glass, put ice in it and then the margarita mix. He filled the cup with the mix and delivered it to my table. I took a sip and tasted really sweet just like the other 2. Just as I was going to speak up to my waiter. I watched my waiter go and make what appeared to be the house margarita because he made it the exact same way for another customer. So unless there was tequila already in the plastic bottle that the margarita mix came out of these drinks had no alcohol. Just a warning to anyone...

Made an online order. I have a fairly ethnic name so when I came to pick it up I wouldn't expect to be pressed so hard but maybe Laguna is suddenly dealing with an online food theft ordeal. I was asked to get my phone in which I complied and showed the order confirmation text but I guess that wasn't enough as I was then asked to provide ID. I showed my drivers license and was given my order. But the worst was yet to come. Upon the first bite, we found something in the burrito. It was like an eggshell texture and thin. I could have easily escalated the situation not know what the hell a black shell was doing in a burrito but I called the restaurant and told them about it and later brought it back. Giving them the benefit to be service forward they only doubled down in their lack of customer service and whispered amongst one another while only providing to make a new burrito. I genuinely wish I would have just kept the burrito instead of returning it to them as they didn't even make an attempt to explain what the black shell was. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this but it definitely was my first and last...