"I came in with my wife not knowing what to expect. When our food arrived, the aroma was incredible. I looked at my Mexican wife, pointed at my plate, and exclaimed, "THIS IS LIKE MOM'S COOKING, NOT THE DISHES YOU MAKE!" She was taken aback, clearly offended by my comment. However, after taking a bite, she nodded in agreement, acknowledging that I was right.
Tony's is fine but can't compare in terms of authenticity. HORTENCIAS is a letdown, unfortunately. On the other hand, El Pajaro Azul in Blue Jay comes in second to Carnaval. I've seen some complaints here about poor customer service. As someone who works in customer service myself, I know that we all have our off days, and sometimes customers can be really difficult. But I personally had excellent service, even being checked on by the owner to ensure everything was satisfactory.
After living here for two years, I regret waiting so long to try Carnaval. My wife and I are big fans, and our four-month-old stopped crying the moment he smelled the food. We truly love this place!
Respectfully,
Leo B."