Some bloggers got pretty excited about the Nachoria opening; like this comment from Pat Giorni
"I laughed when a coffee shop opened and expected to last while charging the unheard of price of $3.00 for a cuppa coffee and now we all call it 5 Bucks. I was again amused when I read about the concept behind Nachoria and wondered once again how long this business would last until I went in at 4pm today to check it out. I know you were understaffed because it took about 10 minutes to place my order with only 3 parties ahead of me...all deuces. But after sitting down my order was placed before me in under 10 minutes. All during my meal people continued to POUR in. When I left at 5:45, your restaurant was turning the tables for a second full seating. Having worked in the full service restaurant business...not fast food... for 35 years I have never seen tables turn so fast, especially during the dead period between lunch and early bird dining.
"I had the Super quesadilla filled w/ Pollo, Carne asada, and carnitas. I will definitely be back when the Al Pastor makes its debut! I enjoyed the use of a thick sour creme rather than the usual watery stuff. The quesadillas were crisped up nicely, and a cut above the usual preparation. The only thing I would add is that if they are grilled w/ butter rather than oil, the flavor and appeal would be spectacularly enhanced. bottom line is that your food is good enough to bring me back again and again.
Well, I had a bit more of a mixed reaction partly based on what I ordered and what I didn't drink. I ordered the triple tacos with diablo shrimp (an extra $2) and they were pretty shrimpy. Nicely spicy but 9 small shrimp for the price didn't cut it! A dinner partner ordered the salad with ceviche (extra $3) and that was a much more substantial meal. Selection envy set in. Another dinner partner ordered the nachos. While there were plenty of nachos, the meat was a bit sparse. Like the tacos, they were more of an appetizer than an entree. The real shocker was the $12 glasses of wine. The selection (Acacia, Ferrari-Carano, William Hill) was pretty good, but in a nacho place with no table service and modest stemware I would have thought $8-9/glass would have been the right price point. The sparklers were priced higher!
All in all, I don't think Sixto's, Steelhead or the pizza places on the Avenew have much to worry about. I also did Rangoon Ruby (take out) last week and while very good, they also appear to be accounting for the rents on the Avenew--or maybe a bit more than accounting for their rent. Here is Nachoria.
As long as a 2000 square foot restaurant cost a minimum of $60,000.00 a month, anyone who starts an independent restaurant that is not apart of a chain-Applebee's, Panda, etc. is the worst businessman in the world.
Unless that businesswoman is laundering money.
Think about how much money is needed per day to just break even.
Figure it out in very broad terms and it does not make since that these "operations"-restaurants, Hello Kitty, and other chatskyesq huge storefronts in San Mateo, Burlingame, and Millbrae are even close to being above board."
Then again, I may be just another poor money manager.
Posted by: [email protected] | January 22, 2016 at 07:27 PM
You are just another poor money manager.
Posted by: hillsider | January 22, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Dear Mr. Hill,
Thank you for your comment.
Posted by: [email protected] | January 27, 2016 at 05:45 PM
12 hours a day and a semi full house will pay the rent. Problem is when someone new is on the block and you lose the fickle patron. Very hard dollar to make in the restaurant business. Will try it but the Taco place on the Ave.(Cornett) is a better deal.
Posted by: Mike Beltran | February 01, 2016 at 06:59 PM
Forget La Corneta. If you want a great cheap Mexican meal, go to any one of the places on B Street in San Mateo. Pancho Villa is my fav. Staying local Sixtos blows La Corneta away.
Posted by: hillsider | February 01, 2016 at 09:44 PM