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Ninfas is just not good at all anymore, is it?

Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:05 am
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109451 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:05 am
Used to think it was a pretty solid Tex Mex option. Somewhat fun place, decently fresh ingredients, in an okay atmosphere with okay service, and solidly prepared, if not anything innnovative, food.

I was in BR last night and went in there a little after 8. Place was clearing out, it seemed. I immediately noticed they'd gone from a somewhat trying to be upscale, if not a bit kitchsy, Tex Mex decor, to this awful bland cheap looking Hampton Inn Breakfast room look.

Hosetess literally wanted to sit us in the bus station, in a virtually empty place, and we asked to sit in the middle of the dining room, which they accomodated.

Waitress introduced herself and took our drink order. While everyone else in the place began to break down the dining room, going so far as to dusting the overhead ac vents.

Got chips and salsa, which were fine. Ordered house margaritas on the rocks which were tasteless.

Waitress pitched my wife something I knew would be an abomination when she was describing it. Basically it was fajita meat and the grilled shrimp, covered with jack cheese and bacon. Wife always liked the shrimp and fajitas and thought she'd give it a try. I got the plate with a cheese enchilada, tamale, and taco.

Wife's dish was exactly the abomination I envisioned. Although the execution was not really off, and was as advertised. She said the steak was so tough she couldn't eat it. I tasted a shrimp, and it was fine.

My tamale was a gigantic mass of cornmeal, stuffed with 6" long literal strings of beef. That was bad. Taco and enchilad completely ordinary at best.

The whole time we dined there was clearing out tables, sweeping, and general shutting down the dining room. We were finished and out of the place before 8:45 mind you. Waitress never asked us if we wanted another drink.

Has this place just completely run its course? Sure seems like it to me, as I'll be hard pressed to return.
Posted by Panny Crickets
Fort Worth, TX
Member since Sep 2008
5596 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:08 am to
I stopped in during October and had nearly the same experience. It was utterly disgusting.

Sad, sad, sad. R.I.P, Ninfa's.
Posted by cobrew
Red Stick
Member since Jan 2007
1423 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:11 am to
You are correct. It isn't what it used to be. That decor you are talking about cost them a chunk of change. The total renovation cost them $700k in July 2008.


source
Posted by TigahRag
Sorting Out OT BS Since 2005
Member since May 2005
132775 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:11 am to
i didn't have a good experience the last time i went either ... and good description of the interior makeover ... i tried coyote blues for the first time saturday night and had the osso bucco everyone has been talking about on here and it was out of this world ... people talk about this place hurting mestizo's down the street .. i think it kills ninfas, IMO ... mr. moran better get his act together in the mexicano department ..
Posted by supatigah
CEO of the Keith Hernandez Fan Club
Member since Mar 2004
89738 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:11 am to
I had heard this about the Baton Rouge location, Lafayette location is still doing fine as far as I know. The best thing about ninfa's when they opened was the would literally try to kill you with portions and we always had good food to take home.
Posted by Woody
Member since Nov 2004
2452 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:13 am to
I have had the same problems with them shutting down early and pushing me out the door. I pass it on my way home and have stopped around 8 or 9 for drinks on a few occasions and the bartenders generally treat you like a nuisance.
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109451 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:15 am to
quote:

I have had the same problems with them shutting down early and pushing me out the door. I pass it on my way home and have stopped around 8 or 9 for drinks on a few occasions and the bartenders generally treat you like a nuisance.


Just seems to be an inexusable practice for any restaurant like that, definitely any time before 9:00 pm.
Posted by TigahRag
Sorting Out OT BS Since 2005
Member since May 2005
132775 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:20 am to
quote:

I have had the same problems with them shutting down early and pushing me out the door. I pass it on my way home and have stopped around 8 or 9 for drinks on a few occasions and the bartenders generally treat you like a nuisance


i just don't understand this about restaurants .. having worked waiting tables through college ... if the place closes at, say 10PM, why start cleaning up, cleaning the kitchen, etc. at 8:30PM ? why not just clean up at 10PM when you close ?
Posted by el tigre
your heart
Member since Sep 2003
49712 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:21 am to
quote:

i just don't understand this about restaurants .. having worked waiting tables through college ... if the place closes at, say 10PM, why start cleaning up, cleaning the kitchen, etc. at 8:30PM ? why not just clean up at 10PM when you close ?


or at least 9:30.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
91060 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:23 am to
that tasty-arse creamy green sauce was the thing that always got me back in the door...
Posted by The Cable Guy
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2004
9692 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:26 am to
I agree with OP, the new interior looks horrible. It's almost like it was trying to be something really cool and then construction/design just stopped 60% of the way in. Ninfa's definitely is not as good as it was.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
91060 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:36 am to
quote:

I agree with OP, the new interior looks horrible. It's almost like it was trying to be something really cool and then construction/design just stopped 60% of the way in. Ninfa's definitely is not as good as it was.


uhhh..fwiw i get the impression i'm talking the ones in houston and you're talking about one in br...?

i liked the one off post oak near the galleria..used to go there once a week.
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109451 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 10:37 am to
I'm talking BR.

The tasty creamy green sauce is still there. I guess it'd be hard to f up the recipe for that.
Posted by TigahRag
Sorting Out OT BS Since 2005
Member since May 2005
132775 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 11:06 am to
quote:

or at least 9:30.


certainly for the kitchen .. but there's no reason to start cleaning up the bar and dining room an hour and a half before you close and make customers feel uncomfortable ... in essence, you basically close at 8:30 if that's the case ... if it takes someone an hour and a half to clean up the dining room working around customers .. it might take all of 30 minutes to do starting right at 10PM when you close, IMO ..
Posted by el tigre
your heart
Member since Sep 2003
49712 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 11:57 am to
quote:

certainly for the kitchen .


oh yeah, i meant the kitchen.

front of the house you can full bus, set for service, start bar breakdown, only seat people in one section, etc....outside of that it's pretty much floors and linens which should wait. no excuse to do those things so early.
Posted by LSUDad
Still on the move
Member since May 2004
61794 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 12:44 pm to
We were there a couple weeks ago, the food was good. Next trip I'll talk with the Mgr. Might get him to read this board. We have always done well there. Not just because we are good friends with the Mgr. I do like the froze Ritas there. I never try on the rocks.
Mestizos are the best Ritas in town...FYI
Posted by Will Cover
Davidson, NC
Member since Mar 2007
39860 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 12:49 pm to
quote:

mr. moran better get his act together in the mexicano department ..


Cue Afreaux.
Posted by Geaux2Hell
BR
Member since Sep 2006
4792 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 12:54 pm to
Merry Christmas!

Green stuff from Ninfas


Ingredients

3 medium avocados
3 medium green tomatoes
4 fresh tomatillos
3 garlic cloves
3 sprigs fresh cilantro
2-3 jalapenos
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste

Directions
1)Peel avocados and place them in a blender.
2)In a medium saucepan, boil tomates, tomatillos, garlic, and jalapenos for 15 minutes.
3)Remove from saucepan and place all ingredients in a blender with avocados.
4)Add sour cream and blend until smooth.
Posted by puffulufogous
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
6385 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 1:09 pm to
are yall talking about that green goop? I never cared for it. Much prefer the green sauce at dos hermanos. I can eat that stuff on next to anything.
Posted by lsumailman61
Gulf Shores
Member since Oct 2006
7938 posts
Posted on 12/10/09 at 1:24 pm to
Same thing for me. They were pushing us out the door before 9pm. Even sweeping at our feet. I have not been back since.
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