La Bamba

As you might guess, Cory and I have been super swamped at work. Mostly eating over our keyboards. I saw Cory eat in the kitchen one day actually, which I have never seen before. It was only because the paint fumes in our suite were so strong that we were all dizzy and gagging. If I hadn't already felt like fainting, I would have fainted from seeing Cory eat in the kitchen. Anyhow, I can say quite assuredly that it bites eating at our desks. So, there's that.

Anyhow- this adventure took us to a place called LA BAMBA. Cory chose this place- I don't know how we got to where we are choosing the places that the other person will have to write about, but personally I would like to turn that around. I like to write about my own success or failure in selection. In this case, Cory's selection was based on seeing a sign outside this joint that read:

We're a restaurant! Try us! We don't want to close!


Cory- kindhearted Cory came back and told me we were going to help save this restaurant. And when we finally got a chance, there we went to try them.


Upon initial viewing I thought DANGGGG that patio looks great! This place looks festive! And also- What a weird place for a restaurant in this residential neighborhood! Perhaps, I thought, that was why there was an attendance issue- as it sort of blends in with the homes. It very well could be, but ultimately I think Cory and I had to agree... that might not be the only reason.

The Basics:
The food at La Bamba is basically "island" or "Carribean" cuisine. This means lots of ajillo. You know- GARLIC. It also means lots of seafood, beans, rice, fries and even yuca and plantains. They have a big list of soft drinks, beer + wine. Liquids a-plenty. The seating is on a covered patio- so grab a table and watch cars cruise through the neighborhood. ?


Alissa:
Uhhhh what the hell did I get? This is why I need to write my report right after I go. Let me look at the menu... Okay. I think I got a Garlic Avocado Shrimp burrito. That sounds right. Anyhow, it had everything it said it was going to have in it- shrimp in garlic sauce, diced avocado, cheese, rice but hold the pico de gallo. All in a flour tortilla. I think partially the reason I forget is because I tried to forget.

I admit it- I was disappointed. I really tried to enjoy it- but the shrimp was not really my fave, and there was cilantro stuck with the avocado or in the sauce, and the whole thing just sort of opened up and limply fell apart in front of me.

I tried to eat it with a fork- but then got disheartened and just quit. I supplemented my meal by stealing garlic fries from Cory... but god they just had so much chunks of garlic. So much chunks. My mouth was suddenly just an unholy hole of stinky garlic. You know how sometimes the garlicky thing was so good you are like... proud of your breath? Well I just felt shame. 13 dollar fall-apart-burrito shame.

The only thing saving me here from disappointment and burning mouth was a TWO DOLLA BUDWEISER! Which I guess is available at that price always. That is great. And the patio is pretty great. I bet it looks really nice with those lil lights on when the sun starts going down. Ambiance CITY.

I mean... if you are within walking distance this would be the BOMB - I mean- LA BAMBA. Wait. No. La BOMBA. That pun works better out loud. Sorry. Anyhow- 1.95 beer. Yeah. I was at El Cid in Silverlake last week and Budweisers are SEVEN DOLLARS. God. How could you purposely drink a Bud for 7 dollars. 2 dollars? Okay. Yes. That has hints of sanity.


Cory:
You know...I was really really really REALLY ready to love this place the moment I accidentally stumbled across it while driving aimlessly around Burbank. Sure it was in a bizarre location, but it looked quaint. It even looked like it had the potential to be fairly festive.

And, considering that it specialized in Mexican-ish food, I could only assume that it would at least be decent. I mean, how hard could it possibly be to make a decent burrito? Well, as Alissa already mentioned, it's apparently next to impossible for these guys. Her burrito managed to rapidly unravel right in front of my very eyes, distracting me from enjoying the terrible carne asada grilled cheese I'd ordered.

Yes, I said carne asada grilled cheese. Sounds good, right? Nay, sounds GREAT! Well, it wasn't. It was strangely seasoned - a little too sweet & tangy, and way too tough for my teeths.

I actually had to add all the cilantro-laden salsa (which was actually AWESOME, btw) & cholula within arms reach just to make it palatable. I'd write more for you about this, but it honestly doesn't deserve the wear & tear my fingertips have already given it...

Thankfully, the crappiness was quelled by the wonderful $1.95 Bud Lights.
There. I'm done. Sorry this was crappy, but so was the food.

Good bite? Or just totally bites?
A: Uhhhh well. I guess there could be amazing things on the menu. But they are not the thing I ordered. I would give this a 'Good place to sip a 2 dollar beer on a patio.' And our waitress was really nice.

C: Boooooo! If you can't build a burrito that won't completely unravel & fall to pieces onto the plates of you patrons, maybe you don't deserve to be a restaurant! Or, at the very least, you should take burritos off them menu. And, if that's not an option, how about putting some food that actually tastes good inside there? Skip the food, drink the beer. Maybe they'll get the hint & either step up the food or just become a bar. A bar that I'd totally hang out at, btw...


Info:
2600 North Glenoaks Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91504
(818) 846-3358

Sexy Cory Pose
**Our reports are based on one visit/meal- so we're far from experts on these joints! If you have advice or experiences you'd like to share, please feel free to enlighten us & our readers! Our goal is to give enough info that someone might feel okay trying somewhere new (or know to avoid it!). Thanks for reading :)