It was early (4 pm) date night Tuesday at Los Dos Compadres in Deland, FL. When we arrived, the place was nearly empty, air was cool, music was alternative calming. Met at the door and escorted to our booth which gave me full view of the kitchen door and staff work-table. We ordered a draft and a top-shelf margarita (no 100% agave, sad). Our server brought chips and salsa. No drinks. We ordered their "made at the table" guacamole, mixed meat fajitas for two and a grilled hot pepper for me. Our server brought the guacamole and deftly mixed it at the table. No drinks. "Are our drinks coming?""Yes, yes." No drinks. The guacamole--chunky fresh avocado, chopped onions, tomato, cilantro and a dash of lemon juice was so good!
Ahhhhh!!! Drinks! Finally! Brought to me ceremoniously by a grinning Horatio, the manager. What a lovely margarita! Big glass, cold, thickly salted, and perfect. Horatio left and returned with a sizzling platter of steakshrimpchicken atop a bed of sauteed green peppers and onions. Our server delivered two platters of refried beans, yellow rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, lettuce, a healthy dollop of sour cream and fresh corn tortillas wrapped in foil. Everything hot. But no grilled hot pepper. We were so hungry. The steak was tasty and tender. The chicken, a large breast piece sliced, was well flavored and juicy. The shrimp were grilled to perfection. The tortillas looked and tasted like someone's mama was rolling them in the back. Oh, my gosh, it was all SOOOOOO good!
As our feeding frenzy slowed, we picked at the food, ordered another beer (Margarita was too big for seconds) and watched. Judging from the help-wanted sign on the front door, Los Dos Compadres was understaffed. The existing staff were never still as the restaurant filled up for dinner. If they were not waiting on customers, they were rolling cutlery together at a table or prepping something else. Horatio flitted through his staff, helping where needed, greeting, and seating customers, serving, clearing tables--- he was even able to hold a quick staff meeting without missing a beat in the restaurant. They are a well-oiled staff who seem to like working with each other.
Were there ANY cons? One big one. Our booth position gave me restaurant view, while, unbeknownst to me, Tracy had a big-screen tv in his immediate view. I gave him kudos for his effort to pay attention to me rather than the tv. It was only when he mentioned the weather report that I realized he had been well aware of the television on the opposite wall. Please take the television OUT of the dining room. There are already two or three other TVs over the bar.
Our bellies full and drinks gone, we asked for our tab which was a reasonable $47.00 for the great food, big drink, and a happy staff.
Other than the tv issue, the slow arrival of our drinks and the missing (and charged $1.39) hot pepper, Los Dos Compadres is awesome and worth our many more visits! read more