We tried out the new, second location of Adobe Cafe way down at the bottom of E. Passyunk Ave. a couple of weekends ago. I've never been to the original Adobe Cafe, a Southwestern and Mexican restaurant in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philly.From our South Philly (almost Queen Village) house we strolled past the authentic taquerias along Passyunk, deeper into South Philly past Cantina Los Cabalittos, and finally reached Adobe's new abode.
One smaller room holds a horseshoe-shaped bar with TV's, and the other larger room (quite large!) holds booths and tables surrounded by walls covered in hand-painted murals and glue-gunned decorations. I felt as though I had been transported to a suburban Mexican restaurant where square footage is cheap, and cheap decor is the norm. Kind of refreshing, actually.
On a late Saturday brunch, there was no one in Adobe. No one! Except for a couple of people drinking beers at the bar. We had the entire dining room to ourselves. The bartender was our waiter, and since we were the only table we got mediocre service. You'd think it would be the other way around, but I guess since we were the only ones there he didn't have much reason to poke his head around the corner frequently.
The complimentary chips were tricolor from a bag. I'm not a chip snob or a chip lover, so could care less. The complimentary salsa was slightly spicy with hints of marinara. Huh?
The taco salad with finely shredded iceberg lettuce, shredded cheese from a bag, runny guacamole, sour cream, and diced stewed tomatoes that tasted like a cross between Italian and Mexican tomatoes from a can was the worst thing that we ordered. It came with a side of some very sweet dressing that we never even considered pouring on top. I imagine something of this caliber is offered at college cafeterias. I wouldn't know, though.
What is awesome about the Adobe Cafe is that they have a lot of vegetarian options. I just couldn't resist ordering vegetarian chicken wings. I secretly hoped they'd be in the shape of chicken wings (kinda how you hope someone makes a seitan turkey in the shape of a turkey), but we got hunks of seitan smothered in sweet and spicy barbecue wing sauce. The accompanying ranch dressing, shredded iceberg lettuce, and paltry celery sticks and baby carrots was lame. But isn't that about right with wings? I'd probably feel the same about real wings. Meh. Order this dish on the bar side of the restaurant when watching a sports game, not while eating Mexican.
Adobe's sweet and slightly spicy seitan tips were the best thing that we ordered if you discount the shredded iceberg lettuce, and overly sweet chipotle aioli sauce that didn't taste a thing like chipotle or aioli. Seriously, that little bit of seitan sitting in the blue corn tortilla cup was the only decent thing we had at Adobe.With Mexican food that's as good as when I reach into my fridge and pull out a tortilla from my grocery store pack of ten and fill it with leftovers and a dab of salad dressing for a quick snack, Adobe Cafe is going to have some stiff competition with the always packed Cantina Los Caballitos just a few blocks north. And the funny thing is that, considering we were the only people in the entire place, we waited longer than we should have to get food comparable to my late night snacks.
I wish any business the best of luck, but I can't see myself returning to Adobe Cafe. I always have tortillas in my fridge.
Adobe Cafe
1919 E. Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19148
215-551-2243
7 comments:
aw i'm very sad to hear about your experience at adobe! i didnt know there were two, and i've only been to the one in roxborough..but ive been back numerous times because i always think its awesome! i've gotten the vegan seitan quesadilla(with veg sour cream & cheese) and so far that's probably my favorite..maybe the one in roxborough is better? haha
next time you should really try some of their hearty mexican dishes like the enchiladas, chulipas and fajitas. even the taco plate. it's a ton of really good. the vegan cheese works well and i really like the seitan they use. i find it a refreshing change from cantina which is definitely unique(which is good, unless you're looking for some classic mexican food which they just don't do) and has about 3 vegan options.
I was assured by a server at Adobe that their food was waaay better than Cantina Los Caballitos, but I found it hard to believe just by looking at the place. Adobe does have that cheesy suburban pseudo-Mexican feel to it that you mentioned. The food we ordered was decent, but I thought a little overpriced for what it was. I think it's a good place to go to watch a game and order a pitcher of beer ($14 for Dos Equis) and some appetizers, but I definitely prefer Cantina!
I love Adobe Cafe. The reason your chipotle aioli didn't taste like chipotle and wasn't at all aioli like is because it's neither. They serve the seitan tips with jalapeno mayo. Might want to read the description on the menu more closely before you bash something. Cantina is a rip off. Who pays $11.95 for a veggie burrito?
J. - I could be completely wrong in stating that the seitan tips come with chipotle aioli, but chipotle aioli is a sauce on their menu, and I could have sworn that our server said it came with chipotle aioli. Seeing as how the sauce in the photo is orangish, it would make more sense that the sauce has chipotle in it than jalapeno, which would theoretically make the sauce greenish or have green specks. Chipotle is nothing but a dried, smoked jalapeno, anyway.
As of right now, Cantina's rice and bean burritos start at $8, and the vegan beef burritos are $9.
E. Passyunk Adobe just spread their fliers through my neighborhood; and I came across this review and discussion searching reviews out through foobooz.
The menu I have in hand says the "skilled seared steak tips or seitan tips" come with smoked jalepeno mayo. It's possible Taylor ordered a special not on the menu since she described them as "sweet and spicy" and it's possible the cook mixed up the two dishes.
J, as far as people "who pay $11.95 for a veggie burrito," apparently people who go to Adobe do. Their vegetable burrito is listed in this menu for $13. Looking it over, everything on the list that has a Cantina equivalent is actually a bit to a lot more than what you'd pay at Cantina.
Menu looks a little "Chili's" southwestern, but I've heard neighborhood buzz liking the place for cheap beer on game nights.
their honey-chipotle wing sauce is bomb as well as the wings themselves. they used to have a special for 2 lbs of wings and a pitcher of dos equis for 10 bucks and some odd cents, but apparently they dont do it anymore regardless of the fact that it is still advertised on the menu as a happy hour special... Their beer and shot special kicks the Cantina's special in the ass(a pint of any beer + one dollar for a shot of Cuervo so, with a Yuengling Lager that equates to about 4 dollars)
Although their chips and salsa also surpass those of the Cantina, the Cantina's nachos reign supreme. as for the remainder of the menu items... i feel both places are rip-offs. adobe is a winner b/c of its lack of hipsters, no wait, and BEST wings of the city. too bad they dont have those caliente margaritas tho...
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