The Observation Deck

Snapped this as I was driving by El Tango on Madison.

That's wonderful and a beautiful new sign to boot.

Charlie Page wrote:Snapped this as I was driving by El Tango on Madison.

IMG00431.jpg

Charley

Thanks for the image, and thank you for being so supportive of your wife.

She through MAMA (Madison Avenue Merchant Association) and now the Observer she
is making miracles happen. While some steal glory for personal gain, wealth and ego.
Mel has done it through love and respect for the city, on a level I have rarely seen.

Your family, is what this city is all about.

Thank you.



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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Charlie Page wrote:Snapped this as I was driving by El Tango on Madison.

IMG00431.jpg

Charley

Thanks for the image, and thank you for being so supportive of your wife.

She through MAMA (Madison Avenue Merchant Association) and now the Observer she
is making miracles happen. While some steal glory for personal gain, wealth and ego.
Mel has done it through love and respect for the city, on a level I have rarely seen.

Thanks to all those involved. I think the Mars bar has also installed an outdoor eating area.

One suggestion: Replace the parking space in front of the restaraunts with expanded patios.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Thanks for the image, and thank you for being so supportive of your wife.

She through MAMA (Madison Avenue Merchant Association) and now the Observer she
is making miracles happen. While some steal glory for personal gain, wealth and ego.
Mel has done it through love and respect for the city, on a level I have rarely seen.

Your family, is what this city is all about.

Thank you.

Thanks Jim! Mel has done an outstanding job with MAMA, the Observer and other things she is involved in. She has worked with so many good people to make good things happen in Lakewood.

Bill Call wrote:One suggestion: Replace the parking space in front of the restaraunts with expanded patios.

Reminds me of this place in the New Orleans Garden District named Jacques-Imo's Cafe. The place was always jam packed. The owner had a somewhat beat up pickup truck sitting in front of his restaurant. In the pickup he had a table and four chairs.

I went into El Tango this afternoon to take some pictures, they were ArtWalk participants. The art in the decor is amazing.

But what's even more amazing is the aroma as soon as you step in the door. It's marvelous.

I found out that they also serve vegans versions of their food. My daughter and I will be going there soon.

I like El Tango.

The food is great.

But I went in once with my family and bought burritos and drinks all around, and they wouldn't give us a glass of water. They wouldn't even sell us a glass of tap water. The only way for us to get water was to buy it in a little plastic bottle from them.

The tables on the sidewalk sure are nice.

I'm with Michael. My wife and I have sworn off this establishment for good. Food is great. Service is absolutely the worst I have ever experienced. If that's not bad enough, the people who work here have been just plain rude to us more often than not. Plenty of other places to get good food so need to tolerate the ridiculous attitude from El Tango. One more question, the outdoor space is in front on the sidewalk. Do you really want to eat your food while virtually sitting ON Detroit Rd? Is this to appease the smoking ban?

El Tango did have some problems with their "friendliness", but I think much of that
has been resolved. The food is wonderful and I hope that those who were turned off
by their previous unfriendly service give them another try.

I love Mexican. I still haven't tried this place because of the many stories I heard about the terrible service and attitude there.

That said, in regards to the smoking ban... unless they have some way of keeping the smoke outside, this area still cannot have smokers. With the location and if any doors or windows connect the patio area with the inside, it is considered an extension of the establishment and must remain smoke free.

In regards to the location, I don't mind its proximity to the street. Makes the street more active. I would love to enjoy a margarita and some food out there. We need more of these in Lakewood.

I was waiting on this thread to turn from a feel-good story to sharing bad experiences at the restaurant. I knew it was just a matter of time.

Give credit to the restaurant for being one of the first that I can think of (other than Beer Engine) to implement sidewalk seating. With the weather as beautiful as it has been lately, I hope this new feature draws new patrons to all Lakewood restaurants that use this new feature in their favor.

The restaurant is right across the street from me. Not the biggest restaurant hopper. Generally, I've had really bad experiences at restaurants in Lakewood, so I stick to making food myself. I've heard both great and bad experiences at El Tango by friends.

It was within the last month that they wouldn't give us water.

We even asked for empty cups--the kind that they used for our kids' lemonade--which we would have filled in the restroom. They wouldn't give us empty cups, even when we offered to pay.

I do like the sidewalk tables, and their food is great.

Outdoor dining has been a project shepherded by Council representative Nickie Antonio. Really, this is something Nickie did on her own and she deserves credit for a good job, well done.

Nate Kelly in the Planning Department also did a great job.

This is one of those little quality of life economic drivers that just make sense.

One other small but extremely important detail is that there are no "smoking patios" in Lakewood, only outside dining areas. Food must be served. Sidewalk dining had to be addressed as a separate issue with the Planning Commission and Council.

Ivor,

It can only be a feel good story if there is something to feel good about. I am generally a laid back, forgiving sort of person. I don't believe many people on this board have ever met me to know any different but I generally will let things roll off unless something so bad has happened to breach that forgiveness. The ONLY reason I say anythng about this is because the things that happened at this place were so absolutely beyond anything I could have even dreamed up that it became unforgivable. We tried and tried. Probably went back somewhere around ten times before we finally said enough. Every experience was very similar. Exceptionally slow service, no interaction at all with us to explain what was taking so long, when we asked we would get snarked at and once when we asked for our money back so we could actually eat we were told no. I'm not making this up, it's real experiences. If I had something good to say about the service, believe me I would. The food is THAT good.
With that being said, I'm willing to give it another try if I hear the service is better and at least one person has said that it's improved. In the meantime, I couldn;t say enough good about El Jalapeno's on West 117th. Very good food, outstanding service and won't break the bank!