Lynn Straight

This was a fantastic dinner to end our California vacation with. My strawberry jalapeño margarita was fantastic and my fajita avocado salad with grilled chicken was superb. My husband enjoyed his chimichanga and he is hard to impress. Thank you to my brother and sister - in - law for taking us out for this delicious meal! I highly recommend it for anyone in the area.

JING WANG

The food is packed with flavor and super creative. The stars of the night were definitely the Shrimp Taquitos and the Pork & Pineapple Tacos. The taquitos came with shrimp wrapped in this crispy spring-roll-like shell (so fun and different!), and the pork with pineapple was an absolute flavor bomb. Didn’t expect it to be THAT good, but wow. Oh, and don’t skip the drinks! Sitting by the lake, with the warm lights, sipping on a cocktail—it was the perfect vibe to just chill and enjoy the night.

+5

Cynthia Cavalli

Stopped by for date night with my husband when the place we’d planned to visit had an hour wait. The design and decor was beautiful the service was attentive and excellent. The food - chimichanga for husband and fajitas salad for me - was artistically presented with special unique twists and it was delicious! My hard to please thrifty husband loved the food and didn’t complain once about the cost! We had a lovely time and I definitely recommend - especially suggest sitting on the deck overlooking the lake. It was full so we sat next to a window but it was still lovely!

Jackie H

Carmelita's is now even better - in addition to their new patio cover with fans and heaters, they have converted all the tables on the patio to luxurious booths! Delicious food and drinks and great service on a picture perfect outdoor patio with a stunning view of the lake! Try the Pork and Pineapple Tacos with a Cadillac Margarita and then burn off some of their yummy chips with a stroll around the lake!

+25

Alfonso Aduna

What a great experience, great food and with good views. I had the chilli Verde here and I have also had the al pastor tacos. Mathew helped us and the service was great.

+4

Nanette Hall

Kelly and Christina did a terrific job as our servers. This was the first time we have been to Carmelita’s and will definitely be going back. We sat out on the patio and the patio cover helped keep it very pleasant. We had tacos and enchiladas. I also had the cilantro and cucumber margarita—excellent! I also highly recommend the street corn cut off the cob. Don’t miss Carmelita’s!

Zeynep K.

Wow what an experience! From their strawberry jalapeño margarita to amazing chicken tostada, from the guacamole to shrimp ceviche. And also, Kaylee you made our experience even better, thank you for your service and positive attitude.

+6

hamid jafari

I had a fantastic experience at Carmelit's . The service was attentive and friendly, and the ambiance was perfect. The food was exceptional, especially [mention a standout dish]. Everything from the presentation to the flavors was top-notch. Highly recommend for a memorable meal!

+1

Celeste Carmen

Some of the better Mexican food I’ve had in Orange County. The food was excellent. I had the steak fajitas and chipotle tacos. Would recommend both but loved the tacos more. Their salsa and bean dip is also delicious. You definitely have to get a margarita. Had the strawberry jalapeño and house marg. Both are great. Service was quick and nice and the outdoor patio is wonderful to sit at.

+2

H V

So peaceful on the patio. The food so amazing! Goldie was our server. Excellent service from her. Spicy pineapple margarita was the best I’ve had. (No picture)But I demand you try it! We also tried the halibut tacos, yum! And my hubby had the steak fajitas!! Ceviche as your appetizer won’t disappoint.

+4

John Michaels

Our server was attentive and sociable. They use real candles, something not often seen anymore. There is a literal wall of candles and they're all real. The food was excellent. My steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The chicken enchiladas were cheesy and the chicken had the perfect amount of char adding some crisp. I hate black beans, but the black bean dip was amazing. I'll definitely be coming back!

+4

This is a great lunch place, especially on a sunny day. Eating on the patio with a view of the lake and a cocktail in hand makes the experience entirely worthwhile. The food is typical Mexican fare and the dishes are a good size - perhaps a bit too much on the carb side, but certainly tasty. The service is polite and professional, but if the place is busy you may wait a while for food and drink.

Nelle B

This place offers an amazing lake view that truly enhances the dining experience. The service was excellent—attentive, friendly, and quick. While the food is a bit on the pricier side, the quality is good and the portions are satisfying. A nice bonus was the free chips they provided, which were a nice touch while we waited for our meals. Perfect for a special occasion or just enjoying a scenic meal by the water. Overall, a great experience!

Went for hubby's birthday. Service lovely. Food ok. Nothing special. Expensive.

KG

This restaurant is only a 5-minute walk from my house, but I rarely come here probably because I usually prefer heading to Calo’s (lol). I was told the owners of this place and Calo’s are brothers, which makes sense because there are definitely some similarities. The setting is great: cozy indoor seating and a patio overlooking the beautiful RSM lake. Perfect for a casual dinner with a view. Staff is friendly, though they tend to disappear at times since they’re stretched pretty thin covering too many tables. The menu has a few things that feel very Calo’s-inspired, most notably the chips, salsa, and the black bean dip. I tried the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita, but unfortunately it missed the mark, it was overly sweet with almost no jalapeño flavor. For food, I had the Queso Fundido and Spinach Enchilada, while my friend went with the Carmelita’s Combination (I think). Everything was just okay nothing really stood out, and my friend barely touched her plate. I’ll admit I’m a tough crowd when it comes to Mexican food, but side-by-side, I can clearly tell which brother is winning the restaurant game. Even the Laguna Beach location left me underwhelmed. Carmelita’s definitely wins on location the lakeside patio is gorgeous, no question about it but at the end of the day, you can’t eat the view.

+5

The food is over-rated. The service is sub-par. These are the reasons we dont return. However, I received a significant gift card, so we thought we would try it. Saturday afternoon, 4:30 in the afternoon. The interior restaurant and outside patio were less than 25% full. There was only two of us. The nice hostess told us there would be a minimum ONE HOUR wait. The place was empty. We walked out. I will be selling the gift card.