Caliente Mexicana

[AGUATOWN]

Fans of the mexican restaurant caliente will be glad to hear that chef dave marks ( caliente owner and chef ) will be working with spike's junkyard dogs in fall river to make some of caliente favorite menu items available in spike's starting january 5.

[an opinion]

Awsome! Missing my empanades!

[bigsam27]

awesome! i've been needing a taco fix!

[bigsam27]

went to Spikes to get some Caliente for lunch. Menu is as follows:

==================================

** All products are fresh and hand-made to order **

Chicken - 100% white meat, lightly seasoned, hand pulled
Pork - slow roasted pork shoulder, marinated in garlic & smoked chiles, hand pulled
Beef - 100% ground chuck simmered in chipolte/oregano/cumin
Vegetarian - pinto beans smashed with garlic & onion

Tacos (3)
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
crunchy corn/soft flour tortilla served with cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

Burrito
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

Classic Chiminchanga
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
(a/k/a deep fried burrito) served with cold fillings on the side

Tostada
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
three layers of crunchy corn tortillas served with cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

$2.25 Empanada (2)
Spanish turnover filled with hand shredded pork, cheese and onions, deep fried to golden brown, served with sour cream and scallion.

$1.75 Chips and Salsa
Bold fresh tomato flavor, fresh-squeezed lime juice, cilantro and jalapeno

$1.50 Refried Beans
pinto beans smashed with garlic & onion

==================================

I had the chicken tacos (two soft, one hard) and an order of empanadas.

If memory serves me correct, the chicken tacos at the *old* Caliente had hand-carved slices of chicken breast; the *new* Caliente offers hand-pulled, shredded meat. Very tasty, but I do prefer the sliced meat better. Also, I think the soft tortilla used to be served warm, it is now room temp.
I'm sure the changes are due to some combination of price point and kitchen layout logistics. Regardless, the tacos were awesome. They were accompanied by a small handfull of chips and a small container of homemade salsa. Both the chips and salsa are as they used to be - excellent.

The empanada was just like I remember - very very VERY tasty. Yummy pork and onions.... drool! And they are quite a good deal, two plump pastries came with a big dollop of sour cream and scallions atop a small bed of lettuce and tomato with lime wedge and jalapenos for $2.25.

I wish they still offered my favorite - the carne asada taco (flank steak/caramelized onion/salsa verde) - but I will settle for what they still offer.

Prices
The *old* taco prices were $1.95 each (3 x 1.95 = 5.85) so you can get almost the same tacos 2+ years later for LESS money. The empanadas are cheaper now as well ($2.25 vs. $5.95). In fact, everything is cheaper now: the burrito was $6.95, the chimichanga used to be $7.95.

I'm VERY glad to see Caliente (or at least Chef Dave's food) back in FR!

[ibanez]

life just became better for any mexican foodies in fall river. Caliente was excellent and I am sure they will continue to be at Spike's. Now we don't have to travel 2o miles for good mexican again. Muchos Gracias!!!!!

[Rebecca]

Originally Posted by bigsam27

went to Spikes to get some Caliente for lunch. Menu is as follows:

==================================

** All products are fresh and hand-made to order **

Chicken - 100% white meat, lightly seasoned, hand pulled
Pork - slow roasted pork shoulder, marinated in garlic & smoked chiles, hand pulled
Beef - 100% ground chuck simmered in chipolte/oregano/cumin
Vegetarian - pinto beans smashed with garlic & onion

Tacos (3)
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
crunchy corn/soft flour tortilla served with cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

Burrito
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

Classic Chiminchanga
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
(a/k/a deep fried burrito) served with cold fillings on the side

Tostada
$5.25 Chicken/Pork/Beef $4.50 Veg
three layers of crunchy corn tortillas served with cheese/lettuce/tomato/salsa/sourcream

$2.25 Empanada (2)
Spanish turnover filled with hand shredded pork, cheese and onions, deep fried to golden brown, served with sour cream and scallion.

$1.75 Chips and Salsa
Bold fresh tomato flavor, fresh-squeezed lime juice, cilantro and jalapeno

$1.50 Refried Beans
pinto beans smashed with garlic & onion

==================================

I had the chicken tacos (two soft, one hard) and an order of empanadas.

If memory serves me correct, the chicken tacos at the *old* Caliente had hand-carved slices of chicken breast; the *new* Caliente offers hand-pulled, shredded meat. Very tasty, but I do prefer the sliced meat better. Also, I think the soft tortilla used to be served warm, it is now room temp.
I'm sure the changes are due to some combination of price point and kitchen layout logistics. Regardless, the tacos were awesome. They were accompanied by a small handfull of chips and a small container of homemade salsa. Both the chips and salsa are as they used to be - excellent.

The empanada was just like I remember - very very VERY tasty. Yummy pork and onions.... drool! And they are quite a good deal, two plump pastries came with a big dollop of sour cream and scallions atop a small bed of lettuce and tomato with lime wedge and jalapenos for $2.25.

I wish they still offered my favorite - the carne asada taco (flank steak/caramelized onion/salsa verde) - but I will settle for what they still offer.

Prices
The *old* taco prices were $1.95 each (3 x 1.95 = 5.85) so you can get almost the same tacos 2+ years later for LESS money. The empanadas are cheaper now as well ($2.25 vs. $5.95). In fact, everything is cheaper now: the burrito was $6.95, the chimichanga used to be $7.95.

I'm VERY glad to see Caliente (or at least Chef Dave's food) back in FR!

Thanks for supplying the menu. I love the veggie burrito, and the salsa is the best around.............Rebecca

[bigsam27]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

Thanks for supplying the menu. I love the veggie burrito, and the salsa is the best around.............Rebecca

you're welcome.
and i agree, the salsa is great... it must be the cilantro and lime that does it for me.

[bigsam27]

went to Spikes/Caliente for lunch today and was very disappointed.
i wanted three chicken tacos but they were out of chicken (!)
out of chicken on a Saturday at 12:30 pm?
so instead i ordered one soft pork, one soft beef, and one crunchy beef.

- the pork was dry and stiff.
- the beef was okay but blah.
- the lettuce was old and white.
- the salsa was flavorful but thick like paste.

i guess they should stick with hot dogs!

[Rebecca]

Originally Posted by bigsam27

went to Spikes/Caliente for lunch today and was very disappointed.
i wanted three chicken tacos but they were out of chicken (!)
out of chicken on a Saturday at 12:30 pm?
so instead i ordered one soft pork, one soft beef, and one crunchy beef.

- the pork was dry and stiff.
- the beef was okay but blah.
- the lettuce was old and white.
- the salsa was flavorful but thick like paste.

i guess they should stick with hot dogs!

bigsam, your breaking my heart. I had plans to hit Caliente's Fridayfor lunch. I've being thinking of the chips and salsa all week. Would it be wise of me to just head South of the Border (Taco Bell) instead. I hate disappointing meals, especially when I'm paying for them..........Rebecca

[raven mae]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

bigsam, your breaking my heart. I had plans to hit Caliente's Fridayfor lunch. I've being thinking of the chips and salsa all week. Would it be wise of me to just head South of the Border (Taco Bell) instead. I hate disappointing meals, especially when I'm paying for them..........Rebecca

Went to Caliente for dinner and the food was amazing!!! I personally would suggest this restaurant to anyone who loves mexican food. As much as I love Taco Bell... Caliente is the real deal.