La Camelia - Álvaro Obregón

Our hungry family of six happened to La Camelia on a Saturday afternoon in San Angel. The restaurant has a prime location on a lively corner. Surprising at 1:00, it wasn't too crowded and we sat right away. (In an hour... it filled a little bit). The restaurant seemed very accommodating for large groups. We ordered a variety of seafood and all dishes were very delicious. Prices were not cheap but appropriate for the location. We enjoyed seafood like Sopa de Marisco (Seafood Soup), Pulpo (Octopus) and Calamari, but there were also typical Mexican dishes on the menu.

Visited La Camelia on Thursday with some friends, with the intention of playing dominoes, place is perfect for that. Great choice of spirits, not so much on the food side... some munchies to spend the time between drinks, good conversation. Dominos with friends... for the food, better go for many better options

I've been here twice, one year to the mark. Query why I'd come here twice notwithstanding the terrible service and food? It's one of the only restaurants in the area open on Xmas day. My first visit was on Xmas day last year. The place...was reasonably full and it's been in the neighbourhood as long as I can remember it so I thought the place would be fine. I sat at a table that was pretty close to the bar, near a window. I ordered a michelada (beer with lime juice and a salted rim) which I will say was very reasonably priced at 35 pesos. I also ordered a scalop appetizer. No word of a lie, two beers in, the appetizer had not arrived in 45 minutes, so I called the waiter over and asked what was happening. He then made inquiries and I finally got the appetizer a good 15 minutes later. This was odd because the other tables seemed to be getting their food faster. Once the appetizer did arrive, it was not at all good. It was an overbreaded mess that was actually rather tough to chew on. I paid my bill and thanked my lucky stars that I didn't order more food. Fast forward exactly one year, and I found myself wandering the neighbourhood again looking for a place for a drink and snack on Xmas day. It was nice and sunny outside and they had a few tables available so I thought I'd give it another shot. Afterall the place did look pretty full so I thought that perhaps the previous year's debacle was an momentary lapse. Once again I ordered only an appetizer, this time the Botana Camelia (I wish I could tell you what it is but the menu had no description and I never actually got it). Now, I know exactly when I placed the order because I sent an email right after putting in my order. No word of a lie, 45 minutes later, and once again I had not received the appetizer. What aggravated me most was that a 5 person table was seated next to me some 10 minutes after I arrived, and in that same time period they got their appetizers AND main courses. Fed up that this happened twice in a row, I called the waitress over (note, my beer sat empty for a good 15 minutes and no one bothered to come by my table), and just asked her to give me my bill and cancel my appetizer. Now, you'd think that once someone points out that an appetizer had not arrived in 45 minutes which is why you are cancelling the order and requesting the bill, you'd think that you'd hurry in bringing the bill. Not so. She took another ten minutes and made multiple trips to my vicinity before bringing the bill. No apology offered. When I paid my bill I pointed out that this was the second time in a row that the exact same thing had happened, and rather than fess up and tell me that they forgot the order, she then proceeded to give me a b.s. excuse that the appetizer was delayed because they were so busy: as if I couldn't see that the table next to me got their appetizers and mains while I was waiting. Overall, this restaurant is a total and complete disaster. I imagine that they remain in business based solely on location and their ability to pick off tourists. Stay away unless you're into crappy food and have plenty of time to burn.

Simple, tasty dishes with real local taste. Have a shrimp cocktail, fish tacos and a beer. Relax on the colourful inside. You fill the feeling of being in a small Mexican city.

Despite previous reviews, I found this café/restaurant for a drink and lunch snack. Place was busy, but I found the service fast. Prices were good