Carmelita's Mexican Grill & Cantina — Restaurant in Dunedin

Went here for lunch with my mother and my daughter for a three generation family afternoon. The largo location has always been phenomenal! But now that we are living in the northern part of the county we figured we couldn’t go wrong going to this newer location when my mother came to visit, well more wrong we couldn’t be. I hate leaving bad or rather less than stellar reviews but it sucked! Our lunchtime waitress couldn’t have had less of a personality (which hey everyone is different I’m not rating on that) but she couldn’t even explain what pops/sodas they carried. The waitress asked for our drink orders as we were handed our menus so my daughter didn’t know and when my daughter specifically asked do you have Pepsi or coke she replied with “uh yeah??” Alrighty then.... I’m surprised she’s in the service industry because she appeared not to like people. We knew what we wanted, so didn’t ask any questions so we weren’t those annoying people who don’t read menus and ask a million and one questions but it seemed to bother her people showed up. I would also like to note it was only our table and one other party of two and beside what seemed to be owners/managers in a back table so they weren’t busy at all. Granted it was mid week early afternoon but after 12pm. Anywho the food was subpar, no flavor, so salt, no seasoning at all even the chips (with salsa) had nothing on them. All three of us ordered different entrees or rather I should say lunch specials and I actually got meat that was nothing more than cooked ground beef, nothing else / no seasoning no flavor, it’s not like it lacked flavor, there really was nothing more than ground beef. My mother ordered chicken enchiladas and again no seasoning no nothing, tasted like boiled chicken made like an enchilada but no seasoning at all. I have loved Carmelita’s in Largo since I was in high school! Used to be my favorite restaurant ever! Not just Mexican restaurant but of all time! Heck I even had my baby shower/having a baby girl party at their location nearly two decades ago....whelp Dunedin location lacked and sadly I won’t return. It was truly a bummer and a waste of money. Actually we didn’t spend to much because they have killer lunch specials but it wasn’t worth the price -_- It was disappointing. But I don’t want to be complete negative nancy, the decor was true to the Largo location and the margaritas were good and a nice little treat but the food, the reason why we went lacked all the way around. I’m actually sad writing this, but between the service we received and the food...yeah no need to beat a dead horse you get...

We have been here twice, exactly one year apart. Each visit was the day before Cinco de Mayo. Each time we had a wonderful server. Both were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and patiently answered our questions on menu items. On our first visit last year we were given a basket of chips and mild salsa complimentary . I like a little kick to my salsa and I remember the waitress warning us that there is the mild and then fire. The bowl of fire salsa she brought out was exactly that 🔥 🔥 🔥 We got the loaded nachos as an appetizer as that is a favorite. It's a generous portion . By the time our meals came we were almost too full and ended up taking food back to our hotel room for the little fridge. This year when the bowl of chips and salsa came out I again asked for the fire salsa. This time I mixed it in the bowl of mild and I have to say it was more enjoyable. Still on the 🔥 side but almost perfect! We, again ordered the nachos as an appetizer but I decided for myself to just get another appetizer for my meal thinking I could manage to finish it. I asked the waitress about the appetizer combo. A mini sampler of cheese quesadillas, taquitos(?) and cheese jalapenos and tequila boneless wings. I can't fault her but I said I do not like tequila and she assured me you couldn't taste it. I ordered the plate and unfortunately, I was disappointed in pretty much the whole thing. The tequila wings had a powerful smell and taste I did not like. The remainder of the sampler was not hot enough and each item was lukewarm and I could not enjoy it at all. My boyfriend got the burrito. There are several types and I can't quite remember the whole name. He enjoyed his entree. There was still a lot of food but this time we did not get the doggy bag. We would definitely come back. The atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful and we do enjoy the food. I would just not choose that sampler again. My one suggestion would be that if they advertise a Cinco de Mayo Weekend of specials that they offer a bit more variety. It was one drink ( Margarita) one food(taco) with no variations or choices. Overall, the specials were not what brought us here to begin with or why we would go back again . Overall good eats 🌮 Parking isn't necessarily plentiful but we went there on a Sunday and the parking lot next to the restaurant is for an office building of some kind and is apparently closed on Sundays. There was plenty of parking on that side of...

Yesterday, On Sunday ,November 17th in the late afternoon we dined at this location and were seated directly across from a younger women with an infant a few months old,two younger kids and a younger man in his late 20's or early 30's . We noticed they both ordered food for everyone, but the women did not touch her taco salad while there,but both adults had multiple alcoholic drinks and a shot or two while there on top of mixed drinks. We actually heard the guy say to the women "I'm really feeling the alcohol " and you gotta be more than me,because you've not touched your food. Clearly you could hear them getting louder and louder from drinking ,but the Server Brandon kept serving them drinks. I personally went back to the wait staff area to alert Brandon of their drinking and probably going to drive with three small children home. We felt he was not be responsible as a Server and though these two adults seem to know each other definitely not using common sense on the welfare of these children. Brandon the Server acknowledged they been drinking, but came back with maybe their taking Uber. I listened to his other lame excuses and went back to our table still concerned. Bottom, He came back to their table with (2) Dansai Bottles of water and told them be careful driving home. The best part when they left he came over to our table and took us,I quote " I watched him sign his receipt and seemed okay and when they walked to leave they were walking straight ". Now, the worst part of all the guy who down roughly the most alcoholic drinks was the driver of the car. Obviously liquor sales and higher tips for Brandon are more important than the well being of patrons and their children. When adults make bad choices it's the liquor license holder/employees to insure they're cutoff. Having been seriously injured as a child by a drunk driver it's no joke. Brandon we learned has been employed have for a long time as shared with us,but his service was very good. His responsibility for serving alcohol a zero and I'm positive other Server's heard my conversation with Brandon. Not one other employee nor Management approached this couple to stop them from driving away,Oh ! Yes in...