Location: 1205 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
In the ever growing Plaza Midwood neighborhood comes a new restaurant, where the once very popular, but now expired Penguin once stood. A visitor can easily tell this, because as of 4/24/2016 the Penguin sign still stands above the restaurant, with no Comida sign in site. As I walked in, I noticed that the décor has completely changed, with the restaurant looking a lot smaller than I remember. I believe that this is mainly do to an added bar that was absent in the days of the Penguin. The management team created a lot of buzz behind Comida before opening and I thought it was nice to finally have an option besides Soul Gastro Lounge. After my experience at this restaurant, I realized the eatery did a great job of capturing the idea of “small plates,” but not in the proper sense. It was more along the lines of a lunch that belonged in a dollhouse; requiring a microscope to eat my meal, I was left hungry and disappointed. While some of the items may have been tasty, they fell short due to the high prices and ridiculously small portions.
The Good: I tried several items on the menu and once I discovered them on my plate, I liked most of them. On my first round, I had several different tacos: my first bite was a cactus taco, which was my least favorite, I found it somewhat bland (i.e., like eating air). On my second bite, I tried the pork taco, which was a little more flavorful, kind of like eating a really good corn chip covered in pork. All the tacos resemble something you would get off of a street truck in Southend, with a desperate attempt to be upscale. My favorite bite (I am reaching..) was the Sopes De Arrachera, (as pictured) had the crunch, texture and flavor of a nice flaky biscuit, which was unfortunate – because I had hoped for a tortilla with my beef. Lastly we also tried the guacamole which while not bad, was certainly not terribly unique.
The Bad: As I mentioned in previous posts, I am what can be considered by some to be “value conscious” (i.e. cheap); whatever I am, I admit I want a good value in my meal. Comida drastically under-delivers in this category. The portion size was so small it was insulting. Really, the food must have been made by Leprechauns, because no one with normal size hands can make a taco so small. To add insult to injury the price doesn’t match the size, tacos are cheap, and in this reviewers opinion, should be a decent size to satisfy my hunger. Comida failed miserably to do this; so much so that after a quick stop at the brewery across the street, I decided to stop at Sabor to satisfy my nagging hunger. While there is no comparison between the two restaurants in terms of value; Sabor has tacos that are three times larger and just as tasty. Personally I have no desire for a overly fancy taco, if you want to improve on a street taco, try using better ingredients and increase the size. Comida unfortunately, bastardized its central product in its attempt to glamorize a traditional dish.
Parking should also be considered when attempting to eat here; although there are spaces directly in front of the restaurant, in the event those fill up you will have to contend with the now typical (see also, nightmare) Plaza Midwood parking scenario.
The Ugly: One of my biggest problems with this restaurant are the outliers: the sign that is up -is STILL that of the Penguin, while the inside is nice, it is cramped and the hostesses seemed flustered. Moreover, Comida doesn’t have a workable website, which is insane to me! (I have a website and I am by no means a computer genius.) I know it is new, but ‘Coming Soon’ is not an appropriate message for a company trying to attract business.
The Verdict 4.5 out 10: Comida has a long way to go before I can recommend it, or return for that matter. There are far better options for Latin food through out the city where one doesn’t have to settle on a pretentious, overpriced meal.