Caracol — Restaurant in Houston

Caracol, a beautiful building, a place we have enjoyed several evenings. We enjoyed an awesome Wine Tasting Dinner months ago in Hugo’s, we could not fault it, service, food and wine amazing, so were very excited for Caracol, a sister restaurant. Last nights experience is one we will never forget, we have absolutely no desire to return. We were so looking forward to the Argentinian wine tasting with food pairing. We could not have been more disappointed. Our reservation was for 6pm. We arrived on time and were told to check in at the reception desk. We did, and we were told to wait outside in the street with what turned out to be the entire dinner guests, in a line as if waiting for a bus, there we stood for almost a hour. Waiters passed around, we came to find out was our ‘first wine’, to be paired with canapés, that we didn’t get, and in the parking lot???, not even offering a top up as we stood waiting for someone to tell us what was happening and what went wrong. Waiters intermittently passed around mini tacos, that was all we saw or tasted while we waited, out of the 4 proposed canapés the other 3 we never got served. At approx 6.50 we were herded into a packed dining room, told to look for our names on a table, lots of tables, lots of people, very very cramped tables, no assistance. Unable to locate ours we finally found someone to ask, he told us he would look in the back room. No one had mentioned a back room. One of our party went back and found our seats, it was so very very cramped, seats very close together. We waited until 7.34 before we got water…yes no wine yet. When finally we got the first wine, guess what, no food. We had all finished the wine before the first course, we asked for more wine to pair with our food but it never came. Surprisingly, with each and every course, we never received the wine and food together. It was crazy, so disappointing. We would have walked out only for we were with friends and did not want to upset or embarrass them more than they already were. Before we got the first course The GM and Head Chef came out and gave their speeches. NOW, you would think with the head guys there supposedly managing, they would have corrected the bad mistakes, eg. no water or wine on any table, but no, they never even bothered to come back to apologize for the mistakes. All the food received was either lukewarm or cold, it was supposed to be hot or warm at least, subpar at best. When finished we were asked if we’d like to order wine to take with us which we did. However, when the person came back to us with our order lists, we were told they ran out but could ship some to us. Mr. Hugo Ortega, please review what went wrong and please, to maintain your otherwise great reputation, don’t offer any wine tastings again...

After eating at Xochi I was hoping for the same or better. Sadly this wasn’t the case. There is no parking here except using the valet. There is a parking garage but didn’t want to test the hourly rate. When seated I asked the waiter what his favorite dishes were and tried some. Again, I was disappointed with the recommendations. I wasn’t sure if he was pushing old dishes or he just hadn’t eaten his recommendations in a while. Ceviche de Chile canario: while visually appealing the flavors were mostly muted. The red snapper were strangely mildly lime flavored to no flavors. Unexpected since it was cured in lime. The taste was clean and not fishy but it’s just the same as bland. The sauce was mildly fruity. Overall it was just bland. The brightest things I. This dish are the cucumber and cherry tomato. Pulpo Ahumado: The octopus pieces were very smoky. Unfortunately they were cut into little bits and when placed in the corn tortillas with the potatoes and other fillers with the chipotle tomatillo sauce, it was just muddled. I don’t get how you can make a tortilla with potatoes and a mild sauce. It would have been better to offer pickled cabbage, salsa and pico. Better yet, offer the whole octopus legs with better sauce. Costillas de Res: This dish was served slightly warm. It was dry and crusty in some spots. It was fatty and tasted old. Mole was tasty. My wife and I had one bit each and didn’t finish it. I don’t think this short rib was made on the same day. It felt like a leftover and lacked finesse. Pato con Mole de Higos: Like the short rib, it was served slight warm and tasted like a leftover. While the mole was enjoyable the duck was not. I tried eating more than a bite but just felt overwhelmed by the greasiness. I pretty much left most of it alone and ate the tasty confit potato, which was good. The Tamal Azteca was interesting and could have been better if it was halved in the height. It would have made for a better testing with the sauce in terms of tortillas to sauce ratio. El Coco. When the name of the dessert says coconut, it should be mostly coconut in your face. Instead I felt it wasn’t coconut enough but I did enjoy everything especially with the streusel.

I would have given this rating 2 stars for poor execution. It got a 1 star because later that evening I felt nauseous and had diarrhea all night. My wife struggled with acid reflex. I’m not sure which dish did it but I’m thinking it was either the short rib or duck leg. No more Hugo...

Restaurant Review: Unmet Expectations at Caracol Unfortunately, my experience was far from the high expectations set by the restaurant’s reputation.

To begin with, while some dishes did shine, such as the grilled oysters and fried taquitos, most of the menu was decidedly underwhelming. The oysters were perfectly charred and infused with a delightful blend of flavors, making them a highlight of the meal. The taquitos, crisp and well-seasoned, also stood out as a tasty offering. However, these positives were overshadowed by the lackluster execution of other dishes. The charred taste of the grilled fish was overpowering and the rest was bland in flavor. The margaritas were average and not worth the cost. One would expect better from an establishment of this caliber.

Beyond the food, I was struck by the atmosphere and service. While the decor is undeniably chic, there was an uncomfortable undertone to the service that I found disheartening. It became apparent that certain customers were treated with a level of attentiveness and respect that others, including myself, did not receive. This bias created an unwelcoming environment that detracted significantly from the overall experience.

I was disappointed to witness such a divide in service based on perceived status. In a city known for its diverse culinary offerings, Caracol’s approach feels out of touch and dismissive. An older couple of a different ethnic group received table side pours of the same drink we ordered while we had to wait just to get our drink.

In conclusion, while Caracol may have a polished exterior and a trendy reputation, it ultimately fails to deliver on the promise of quality food and service. While the grilled oysters and fried taquitos were commendable, the overall experience fell short. There are many dining options in the area that celebrate both culinary excellence and inclusivity, and I would recommend exploring...