Latin Flavors, Missed Timing: Adobe Restaurant and Bar Delivers Strong Appetizers but a Frustrating Dining Experience

Adobe Restaurant and Bar, a relatively new establishment located at the corner of State and High streets, features Latin-inspired cuisine, using fresh ingredients to create memorable dishes that capture the essence of Latin flavors. They consider themselves a fine-dining establishment, with a menu crafted with passion. They are open every day from 4 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Fridays they don’t close until midnight. For weekend brunch, they open at 10:00 a.m. 

Reservations are via Open Table, and takeaway orders can be made online at https://adoberestaurantandbar.com. You can reach the restaurant by phone at (971) 915-2384. Now, let me tell you about my experience.

I try to attend as many shows at the Elsinore as I can, and always schedule a nice dinner beforehand so we make a night of it. On this particular evening, an ABBA cover band was playing. Elsinore shows start at 7:30 p.m., so dinner reservations must be made for no later than 6 p.m. I have a long-standing account at Open Table, which allows you to send a message to the restaurant when making your reservation. These are handy for alerting the establishment to an anniversary, birthday, or other celebration. In my case, I always advise the restaurant that we need to complete the meal in time to make the show.

Our dining companions arrived at 5:45 p.m. Staff acknowledged the reservation and the note regarding our timeline. I got there a little before 6:00, and we immediately joined our friends. The wait began. Our friends had a drink while waiting for us, but when we joined them, the staff was very slow to attend to us. When one did show up to take our drink order, she acknowledged our deadline and assured us it would not be a problem. It took a long time to get a drink, and twice- requested water was not forthcoming. At long last, our order was taken, and again we were assured it would be quick fired. It was not. The appetizers came out when one would have expected the mains, and the mains did not show up until 7:15 p.m. Needless to say, we had little time to eat; most of the food had to go into takeout boxes. This did us little good, as the Elsinore does not allow food in the theatre. We essentially paid for a dinner we did not get to enjoy.

Not once did anyone offer apologies for the situation. We were given our takeaway boxes and sent out the door. For the first time in my years of dining experience, I wrote a harsh note on the receipt about the experience. Thanks to you all for allowing me to vent. 

Now a little about the food. The menu is fashionable, and there is a Latin flair to it. Don’t count this as a Mexican joint, or you will be disappointed. Despite the fine dining claim, they offer a $20 all-you-can-eat taco bar. This offering is not on the menu or signed. We were not advised of its existence until we asked what was going on in the back. None at my table was interested; turns out, that might have been our best bet!

For our appetizers, I ordered Papas Brava at $13.00, Tostada and Guacamole at $10.00, and Pork Belly for $8.00. All three of these dishes were wonderful. The Papas Brava consists of cambray potatoes tossed with garlic butter and chile de arbol powder, topped with avocado cilantro crema. They’re always one of my favorites, and this version was delicious. Cambray potatoes are small, marble-sized baby potatoes typically characterized by their thin skin and tender texture.  The Tostada and Gaucamole were fresh and tasty, and a nicely sized portion for our four diners. The Pork Belly was nicely cooked and seasoned, and very acceptable as either an appetizer or side dish.

It is difficult to discuss the main dishes, since we had no time to eat. I ordered the Lomo Saltado at $32.00, which was minced garlic and soy sauce-marinated flank steak, sauteed tomatoes and red onion, served with white rice & seasoned cambray potatoes. I got one bite of the flank steak, and couldn’t go further: it was shoe leather thin and tough, with literally no flavor. The tomatoes looked inviting, but I never got the chance to eat them, so who knows? The potatoes were obviously not cambray. Diners everywhere agree that if the menu makes reference to an ingredient, that ingredient better be on the plate when served. A secret swap in the kitchen is a total turn off.

For me, it was a disastrous dining experience. The place did everything wrong. I could find no reason for the horrible timing, with the place only half full, with apparently sufficient staff. I can’t recall ever writing a bad review in my many years of covering restaurants for the West Side - until now. I hope that, if you risk it yourself, you will be graciously served in a timely fashion with wonderful food. 

I wasn’t.