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Tango Restaurant & Lounge
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges American (New), Lounges
417 W Grand Ave(between Center City & Orange)
Escondido, CA 92025
Neighborhood: Escondido
(760) 747-5000
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 pm - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Tango Restaurant & Lounge
Review Highlights
"Their happy hour specials are amazing and can't be beat."
(in 14 reviews)
"The food is great, and the wine list is very nice."
(in 5 reviews)
"The 4 cheese souffle was the evening favorite."
(in 3 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Ben H.
Plymouth, MN
12/24/2011
Excellent!!!
Service was great! Food was delicious!!!!! -
Review from Cheryl D.
Escondido, CA
12/21/2011
We made a quick stop for dinner in the lounge, and were still able to eat, drink and catch a movie nearby. The bar menu is 50% off which sounds like a great deal but after a few driks and several appetizers, we spent $140 for four people (tip included).
I would come here again. The pulled pork sliders were my favorite, but we also sampled risotto, salad, soup, and calamari. The atmosphere is inviting enough but it reminds me off a hotel bar without a lot of personality. The prices are a bit high for drinks in Escondido--especially when you aren't paying for ambience. -
Review from Kirt W.
12/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've driven by this place hundreds of times not noticing it. It took Yelp to let me know it was there. I had to of the specials of the night, beet salad and rack of lamb. The salad was tasty but the most remarkable part of the meal was definitely the lamb. It was prepared perfectly, super tender, moist, and full of flavor. I'm sorry it's not a regular menu item.
As with most restaurants, bread came before the meal...but...it was freshly made and the few varieties served were especially good.
Tango has an extensive wine list and the waiter was very helpful in making selections.
Glad this little gem is close by, I'll be back, hopefully for more lamb. -
Review from April R.
Oceanside, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Only went for happy hour so I cant give a full review but I enjoyed Tango and plan to go back for dinner. The lounge is really nice, the service good, fast and friendly. The happy hour drinks and appetizers taste great and are really cheap!
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Review from Rae O.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2012
Our friends introduced us to this place and we've been making it a Monday night ritual ever since. The drinks are fantastic, and the bar food shouldn't even be called bar food; it doesnt do it justice. Food is amazing and the staff is even better. Love this place.
-
Review from Heather H.
Escondido, CA
9/17/2011
This week a girlfriend and I went to the bar to have a drink. Ethan, the bartender, took great care of us. We asked him to be creative with making me a martini and a margarita for my friend. The drinks were amazing! The martini had a homemade strawberry puree in it, and the margarita had fresh, locally grown blueberries.
I enjoyed it so much that my husband and I returned the next night to try the Wednesday night happy hour. The prices can't be beat - all drinks in the bar are 1/2 off, as are selected food items. We ordered the steak nachos (interesting take on nachos but very tasty), Cesar Salad (had a bit too much mayonnaise in it) and the hamburger (very yummy and it was huge). We also ordered drinks. The tab was exceptionally reasonable for the quality and quantity that we ordered.
Great restaurant. We are looking forward to going back soon. -
Review from Sean D.
San Diego, CA
8/12/2011
Went here last night for my wife's birthday and I wanted to try something new. I was intrigued by the souffle duo on their website menu, and it got great reviews here. Alas, it was not to be. Not on the menu this night.
I had made reservations on Open Table and said it was my wife's birthday. They completely missed that one!
Overall the food was decent, if a little pretentious. My steak was a bit underdone, but I'll give them a pass as it was a filet. The homemade snickers dessert was good, but not $8 better than a salted caramel fudge square at Starbucks. Service was just okay.
An average rating for an average restaurant. We may give it another shot, but don't think we'll be going out of our way for it. -
Review from Golden P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/11/2011
Kudos to manager Ethan and hard-working staff for persevering with our event despite a massive power outage the night before. He was excellent in facilitating our group luncheon event. He worked with us to offer a customized menu for our guests, including Mediterranean grilled chicken salad (romaine, tomato, cucumber, red onion, mint, pita chips, pomegranate vinaigrette), Grilled ahi sandwich (ahi seared rare, asian slaw, wasabi aioli on a sweet onion roll), and Penne bolognese (penne pasta with traditional meat sauce).
Everyone commented how great the food was and what a nice upscale restaurant. Our meeting room was quiet and private and the staff was appropriately attentive. We used their built-in flat screen TV for our business meeting, which we hooked up to our computer for a powerpoint presentation and a live software demo. For dessert, they served us a house specialty Twix candy bar: shortbread cookie, melted caramel, and a chocolate bar on top, served with fresh raspberries & blueberries. Excellent! (Note that they called it a Snickers bar but it didn't have peanuts so it's more like a Twix bar).
We'll be back to Tango's soon and so will many of our luncheon guests. -
Review from Cindie S.
San Diego, CA
6/24/2011
Worst Caprese ever. I really wanted to like this restaurant. If you can't do Caprese, forget it. Take it off the menu if you don't know how to do it. NO olive oil! NONE. It was desert-dry and boring bland. No hint of garlic, or salt, or flavor of any sort. The cheese was of good texture, but the tomatoes were not ready to be served. The Thai Shrimp wraps? Leather-like shrimp in a tasteless soggy swamp of who knows what. The lettuce itself tasted as if it were picked from a dumpster. Brown edges and wilted. Simply awful.
Admittedly, I was only here for lunch. Yet, when you mess up two fairly simple entrees like this, ... no hope. -
Review from Sam M.
San Diego, CA
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know when you get to a place and the servers and host are so obviously condescending that you immediately cringe? Yeah, that was the case... They take it to a new level.
We were greeted and were sat down in a corner both. Nice table. My mom and I were not terribly hungry so we thought we would have a nice French-onion soup and a salad. That was problem number one. As soon as the server realized that we were not going to order an entree, the attention suddenly stopped. I mean, really obvious. From there on, the experience pretty much went downhill...
We got the soup. I have literally had a French-onion soup at Mimi's Cafe that was way better. Ouch. Way to cheesy, not enough bread, or broiling. The beef broth was much to light and the soup needed much more onion. It was not bad; it just was not what I expected for the airs of the place, location, and 10 dollars.
Again, the server was extremely un-attentive. When he would attend, he would not even wait for us to finish asking for what we would like before he left. Needless to say, when he got back, we still needed to finish asking him for what we wanted!!!! And, of course, he was upset that we kept asking for things... Argh! I am an extremely patient person and NEVER am rude to anyone. This guy really got my goat.
The wild-mushroom salad I had was good, not great. The taste of gelato and bread pudding the same. The pudding obviously microwaved. The one saving grace was the French-pressed decaf we had with our dessert. It was actually pretty good.
By the end of the meal, we had spent 60 dollars at the place (which is what I would have spent for their fixed menu anyway)... The parting gift from the hostess was ".. Next time you should explore the entrees...", which, coming from a different person or circumstance, would have been a perfectly nice suggestion. Not in this case. Again, condescending.
Needles to say there will not be a next time.
For the money, ambiance, and quality, a MUCH better choice is to go to Bernardo's in Rancho Bernardo. -
Review from Mary E.
Encinitas, CA
4/9/2011
I waffled over the 5th star for this restaurant because the location isn't so stellar -- it's just past the cutest part of Grand Ave. in Escondido and sort of on the weird end by Center City. However, as I've sat here thinking about my experience with them, I don't have a single bad thing to say and it made up for the outdoor part of the location not being perfect. So 5 stars it is.
Event planners! Pay attention!
I planned a thank you dinner for 35 guests with Tango in the first week of January. Jennifer, one of the owners, handled my arrangements and was incredibly responsive and flexible. The pre fix menu was great with a lot of different options to choose from and the per head pricing was fantastic. We had a tight budget and I could tell that drinks were going to put us over, but they also allowed us to pay a flat corkage fee and bring in our own wine. The arrangement was incredibly generous.
The night of the even when I arrived, everything was set up as I'd requested and the wait staff were there and ready to help. They were wonderfully attentive to all of my guests and even helped us set up a projector and sound system so that we could play a presentation for our guests. They were there to pour wine the second glasses were empty, kept up on water, and delivered all of our courses quickly and efficiently without interrupting conversations.
The food was fantastic. We had several appetizers served family style, three entrées to choose from, and several desserts. Everything was incredibly tasty, cooked and seasoned beautifully, etc. I only heard the very best comments from our various tables and folks who spoke with me afterward.
I'm privileged to be allowed by my organization to work with my infant daughter at my side. The staff were totally accommodating for her during the meal as well, and a pleasure to talk to once my party had left and I was wrapping up details. There was one small error on our bill and it was handled and fixed immediately as well.
So there it is. Not a very exciting review, to be sure. But honestly, I walked away convinced that I'd hold our next dinner there as well if at all possible and determined to put up a review to thank them for our great night. It only took four months...that's not so bad, right??
Thanks Tango. Keep up the great work. -
Review from Caren L.
4/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for lunch once and it was relatively quiet. Was a bit confused because the bar area was empty so had to walk over a bit to find the dining area at the back. A bit dark in the bar area with interesting colored glass decor. Loved the atmosphere in the dining area. And even if there was a huge party in the back, the noise did not even carry over.
Good lunch selection although just opted for a lighter meal (multiple appetizers). Would definitely come back if I had the chance. -
Review from Jim L.
San Diego, CA
4/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a quiet little restaurant located on Grand in Escondido. I've never experienced dinner here however have had the pleasure of eating lunch here a few times.
It has never been too busy during the lunch hour so you feel as though you have the run of the place and receive excellent service.
The menu offers many different selections however the last time I was in, I had the calamari along with the mushroom soup. Although the calamari doesn't stand out, the mushroom soup did. It was a little on the unseasoned side but in fairness, I'm a salt junkie and love to put salt on everything. Once I did that, it was probably the best soup I've had.
The atmosphere is nice and eventually I will try the dinner menu to see what that is all about. -
Review from Andrea W.
Temecula, CA
1/16/2012
Hip Lounge area nice and lively on a Friday night. Restaurant and Lounge are seperate. You can eat the restaurant food in the lounge but you cannot order the louge food in the restaurant. Not too many appetizers to choose from in the restaurant. However, I would recommend starting off in the lounge with a drink and appetizer and then moving in the restaurant for dinner. For an appetitizer we had the scallops from the restaurant menu- great taste and cooked just right. We also split a pear, spinach and walnut salad. They went nuts on the walnuts a bit too many and dressing was somewhat bland but salad was still fresh. I had the sea bass for dinner and my husband had a steak both were cooked to perfection so much so we ended up stuffing ourselves. Since this was our first visit to Tango's, we wanted the "full" experience which I think we conquered pun intended here. We went into the lounge and ordered cappucinnos and 2 desserts after dinner to see how the dessert here was. If you are a major coffee addict like myself, I would skip Tango's cappucinno's. The flavor was off and the espresso which was something close to a Folger's coffee taste at best. The milk was luke warm. The appler tart was good the crème Brule tasted like the Saint John's children's aspirin I had growing up. Hope I am not aging myself here. All in all, even though the desserts & coffee didn't meet our expectations, Tango's dinner menu took our yummies. We were not disappointed. We would eat dinner & appetizers here again and skip out to another location for coffee and dessert.
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Review from Daniel N.
Escondido, CA
10/21/2010
Went in and sat at the bar. Restaurant side is a little stuffy for my taste, but the bar side was real busy and much more relaxed. We got there about an hour before happy hour ended. As busy as the bartender was, he did a good job keeping up with our orders and drinks requested. The drink prices were fair and good variety. I especially liked the bottled beer list of beers I usually couldn't find at other restaurants. The happy hour food menu was great. For $12 I got steak, potato and veggies (cant beat that).
Great place to go for happy hour. We will definitely go back. -
Review from Sara E.
La Jolla, CA
5/16/2011
Been to the Tango a few times, the chef here is excellent! The prime rib is an incredible order. The appetizers inside the dining room only are highly adequate for two and really delicious. Truly haven't had anything that I didn't like yet. It can be a bit pricey but worth it. The cheese souffle appetizer dish is superb, just try it.
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Review from Kelly P.
Escondido, CA
9/24/2010
Tango is a great place for dinner and or happy hour. Their happy hour specials are amazing and can't be beat! Their appetizers are delicious and the servers are very helpful in choosing wine and give their honest opinion of the appetizers and other menu items.
I have been to Tango several times. The first time was for a birthday dinner for my grandmother. We had about 12 people in our party and everyone truly enjoyed their meal and their experience at Tango. I like to send people to Tango for their wonderful food, great selection of wine and fantastic staff. -
Review from Anonymous J.
Escondido, CA
11/17/2011
Food was very good. Plate presentation was also very nice. Service staff was present and covered all the basics. Service was good, but lacking 4 star refinement. Overall was a nice experience and would recommend giving it a try. Nice gem in downtown.
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Review from Cindy W.
San Diego, CA
7/14/2010 1 photo
Decided to meet my girlfriend here for happy hour. The place was empty at first and I walked in and it was just me for a bit. Waiting around for my friend, so I had a conversation with the bartender, Nathan, who made me a really good strawberry lemonade alcoholic drink. He explained that they make their own juices as well so everything is fresh. It tasted fresh, definitely!
We got to talking about the World Cup and whatnot and he's a really friendly guy, so when my girlfriend arrived, he suggested a drink for her as well as we sat around talking and catching up. The place started to fill in with people, little by little.
We had the crab cakes to start, I'm very picky about my crab cakes, so they were good, but not great. They were a little on the smaller side too, but then again, it's just happy hour food. Then we had the beef nachos, which was very good and the waiter made sure we didn't have mushrooms in them for my sake, otherwise I'd be going into shock on the floor of their restaurant. Along with that, we had a couple more drinks.
While we were just hanging out, the bartender came back and did some magic tricks on our table, which we really enjoyed. Of course, he waited until we were tipsy and couldn't drive for awhile to do this to us. So maybe he really knows his magic or we were just really drunk.
The pianist came on and played a few songs that the man at the next table requested and we had a few good laughs with him as well. The place is very friendly!
Then to end our meal, we decided to get the assorted gelato to share, which was definitely a good ending. We sobered up enough to drive home and that was our day there. The tab came to about $58 for the both of us, which wasn't bad considering most things were half off for happy hour.
We definitely plan to come back! -
Review from Larry M.
Escondido, CA
8/17/2011
Have been to Tango many times. Their happy hour specials are really good - get their early if you want to get a seat! Really fun to listen to the piano.
Dinners are really good and service is usually excellent as well. -
Review from Bill P.
San Diego, CA
10/10/2010
Outstanding chef. Mediocre service. Average ambiance.
(Perhaps it's my bad: we were going to the theatre after dinner, so there was a bit of time pressure, and the 45 minutes from seating to entree may have just been a fluke.)
Here's the deal:
We waited, and waited, and waited...for a bottle of water, for a cup of decaf (it was FREEZING under the air conditioning vent), for bread, for the appetizer and soup (they got the soup wrong so we had to wait more while "the kitchen" fixed it), and a r e a l l y l o n g time for the entrees...which were truly outstanding AND were served promptly (still hot). Scallops over risotto (both done perfectly) and short ribs (a bit plain but quite tasty) artfully presented. Then more waiting for more coffee....
(And, if we'd had longer to wait, perhaps they would eventually have brought a spoon to stir the coffee.)
If you're the amazing chef at Tango, please know that the rest of the staff is letting you down -- you're better than this.
The bar scene might be a better way to go -- it seemed a bit more lively in there than in the dining room where we were seated, and there's definitely a (patient and loyal) locals crowd.
I'd give it another try; without the pressure of making it to a show after dinner it might be a different experience. -
Review from Jesse G.
Escondido, CA
3/16/2011
Great food always different and enjoyable.
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Review from critiCALmass L.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/12/2008
The chef's super cool mom who helps out at the restaurant is very proud of her son's culinary achievements and rightfully so. He's learned his craft from some of the best chefs in America and probably would've gone to the French Laundry if he hadn't opened this place. She's also knowledgeable about their wine selection. She introduced us to a robust and complex Cabernet Sauvignon with a wonderful nose from . . . Washington?? Surprises abound at this gourmet wine bar.
The menu offers a choice of two sets of three or five courses. You can also order any item ala carte. We started with the Duck Salad with organic yellow beets, goat cheese and strawberries, followed by the Three Cheeses Souffles, a complimentary Sweet Crispy Shrimp, Australian Wagyu Tri-Tip with assorted potatoes, and local fresh Yellow tail with Calamari.
The duck was prepared to perfection, crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. The cheese souffles were light and flavorful . . . the bacon cheddar souffle rocked. Most of it was excellent.
But 2 fumbles:
We asked for a wine pairing with the yellow tail. They brought out a Riesling. Really? Rieslings are more of a dessert wine these days, very sweet. It wasn't the right choice. We sent it back and they brought out a Sauvignon Blanc which paired better with the fish. But when they brought out the fish, it was cold! An obvious timing error, they took it back and quickly replaced it with a hot one. Both fumbles recovered, but sheesh!
Areas for improvement:
Service . . . not every server is on the same page . . . fix it. Didn't notice anything remotely Argentinean on the menu. With a name like 'Tango' perhaps the Australian beef could be replaced with Argentinean? Just a thought. Staff should get the wine pairings right for every entree and expand the wine list.
When this small restaurant is packed, the volume increases exponentially due to the hard surfaces, and the kitchen becomes stretched. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere and less haste in the kitchen, come after 8:15 when things start to slow down. You can expect to spend between $40 and $60 per meal.
Congratulations to Chef Russell and the City of Escondido's Downtown Redevelopment Program. It's all great and getting better.
5 stars if they deliver a near perfect performance next time. They're possibly entering the realm of the tip top tier eateries in the state of California . . . no exaggeration. -
Review from Michele C.
Escondido, CA
10/11/2011
Tango is our favorite place for date nights. The lounge is the place to be for sure. Happy hour is amazing with delicious food for a great price. The drinks are strong and well mixed. Great staff, friendly and helpful. And the piano bar music on the weekends adds a great element. I've only eaten in the dining room once but it too was fantastic, though much more pricey. We go at least once a month to the lounge and have a great time, every time.
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Review from Miranda B.
Escondido, CA
3/13/2011
We went there for a later dinner on a Friday night. The place was packed with a mix of hipsters and older, but hip people. We were sat in what appeared to be their only dining area (we later found out they had a much quieter, more low key dining area in a different area--ask for it). The seating was packed together and the place was quite loud. It more resembled a bar than a place to go for dinner when we were there. But, despite this, we wanted to try it and were hungry. We started with the caramelized onion tart and then I ordered the wild mushroom risotto and my husband got the salmon. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly:
-- The Good: The onion tart was AMAZING. I am trying to figure out how to make it at home. Really great idea and a great size for two people. This awesome appetizer made us excited for our entrées.
-- The Bad: The entrées were just okay. My risotto was bland and overly salted. The mushrooms were rubbery and there were too many mushrooms to risotto and it could have used something else (another vegetable added?). I wouldn't order it again. My husband's salmon was "good' but he didn't seem that enthused by it and I was trying not to gag because (at our very tiny table) I was overwhelmed by the fishy smell of the mussels that accompany it.
--The Ugly: As I mentioned the seating is super packed. We were seated next to the loudest group of dried out old, hipster alcoholics ever. And when I say loud, I mean that I could hear one old hag cackling in the bathroom in the back of the restaurant (with the door closed). They were screaming to one another and any time I made eye contact with her she shot me the "eat shit" look. It was....uncomfortable, to say the least. So, don't go there and hope to have a conversation with anyone. The people on the other side of us were on a first date and I don't think they were able to hear each other either.
Overall, I'd pass if someone suggested we go there again. Just wasn't anything to bring us back and the atmosphere was not what we'd hoped for. The prices also won't bring us back for what it bought us. -
Review from Miguel S.
Carlsbad, CA
5/21/2010
My wife and I stumbled across this place because we were going to the movie theaters across the street since that theater was the only one with IMAX and we wanted to see Avatar in IMAX. So I found this place and thought that we would give it a try.
We live in Oceanside so we really didn't know of any "good" places to go for a nice dinner in Escondido. We were delightfully surprised! The atmosphere was good and the staff was very nice and enthusiastic about the food, always a good sign.
The menu was fantastic with such things as buffalo carpaccio. The menu was truly unique, well put together, and well rounded. I worked in upscale restaurants for about 8 years and my wife and I dine out at nice places often. This place is definitely a hidden gem in Escondido!
We sat in the bar the first time and have since been back twice and sat in the dining room. The bar tender waited on us the first time and it was his birthday. The chef and entire staff had a cake and celebration in the bar area while we were there, we thought that was fun. They were sure to include us in a glass of champagne and some of the baked crisp that the chef made! A very fun and welcoming experience.
The bar tender noted that the chef pretty much managed the joint so there was a strong emphasis on the food and the menu. The chef changes the menu often so be aware of that. If you like the same things every time you may want to call ahead. But even then there is no worry because the chef is amazing!
With not alot of good options, that I know of, in Escondido Tango is a must! -
Review from Nathaniel K.
San Diego, CA
9/17/2009
Great staples, Excellent Fusions and Contemporary dishes (as per restaurant week menu)
Wanted a change of pace from the Del mar to Downtown eateries I normally venture. Tango is a little of of the way in Escondido for most San Diegans. My original thought upon entering was the food is going to be good, but probably not worth the trip back through north county; needless to say by the end of the night they had changed my mind. The dining area is a little on the small side, but the more intimate setting is definitely a plus for some.
My Appetizer -
AHI TUNA
Togarashi Dusted Tuna Seared Rare, Black Truffles, Uni Hollandaise & Shiso Salad
Absolutely amazing, very well composed, excellent combination of flavors. My favorite part of the dish was the julienned apple serving as an counter point for the Hollandaise. My ahi had a fresh taste, dark red complexion and a silky texture. My only qualm was that the truffles advertised as black though very visibly prominent lacked in expected depth and aroma. Very attractive plating to boot.
Entree -
Kobe Tri-Tip, Kobe Flat Iron & USDA Choice Rib Eye Cap with a Potato Tasting
Possibly the best prepared and executed steak I've had in a restaurant to recent memory. Wonderful seasoning, mostly salt and pepper as it should be. A nice sear, did not quite have the crust I would have preferred, but the rare in the steak far made up for it. Ordered mine Rare to Med Rare, needless to say it came out near perfect. Only the rib eye cap was a little towards the medium end, and that was most likely do to faster cook time and over resting (as it was the thinnest cut). The steaks were definitely the high point to the dish, rarely have I ordered a steak that has come out so close to perfect.
If I had to be unreasonably critical of something, I'd say again the truffled mash lacked in the depth and earthiness one would expect from truffles. I also feel that steaks in a steak tasting should be in their purest state, so once again being unreasonably critical I'd not have preferred my meat to be in contact with my potatoes.
Drinks and Dessert,
Once again for me, having a true Champagne (one actually from Champagne, France) is always a plus for me on the wine list. Decided against ordering a glass but was happy to see a Moet-Chandon Brut (non-vintage) as their selection.
MISSION FIG TASTING
Fig Newton, Apple & Walnut Cake & Cardamom Ice Cream
Cardamom Ice Cream was great, paired very well with the Apple Crisp (not listed with the tasting but it is included)
The Baklava was quite nice as wellListed in: San Diego Continental
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Review from Vicki C.
San Marcos, CA
9/12/2009
Tango is awesome. You have to go.
I had the rack of lamb, served on top of tiny black lentils, green beans, tomatoes, and fennel, surrounded by a blood orange curry sauce. Amazing.
Hubby had an appetizer trio, 1) foie gras in dashi broth, 2) ribeye on salad, 3) carpaccio with shaved truffle and toast points.
We both can't wait to go back and try other things. Even better, the menu constantly changes due to seasonal availability, so you know you're getting fresh in-season goodies.
After dinner, head over to the bar half of the place, listen to the piano guy (he's really good), have a few drinks.
Pricing is on the high side, but you get what you pay for - this isn't Olive Garden. My only complaint would be that a Tanqueray & Tonic is $8.25, a little too high in my eyes. -
Review from Kara V.
7/8/2011
This was to be our last dinner function on this business trip to this area and wow, was it a great place to have dinner. I think one of the local people picked it. This wasn't one of our super big dinners with over 20 people, but just a party of 8. Just big enough so you can still talk to everybody. We had a few drinks and appetizers in the lounge area first. Very elegant place, glad I dress up. For dinner I started with Duck Confit Salad ($12). This was wonderful, and the skin on the duck, so nice and crispy. For my entree I ordered the seared Scallops. I figured I don't get this close to the ocean everyday, so I'll go with seafood rather then a filet mignon or something. Someone else ordered the Rack of Lamb, that was my other choice, but this being a business dinner, cuttin up that rack and holding bones in my hands might not be the most lady like thing to do, or business like I suppose, but damn that dish looked good. My scallops were just seared on the outside and very tasty. For dessert I had the Creme Brulee, which was a very nice rendition. Our service was superb, wine glass kept full and served from the proper side even. I'm sure the bill was obscene, with the free for all in ordering and the wine flowing, but this was one great meal, although I wish I wasn't here on business, so I could really focus on the food experience, instead of having to do business small talk. I would definitely come here again!
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Review from Ann A.
Escondido, CA
10/19/2011
Tango's is our local favorite. We've gone there several times and it is always consistant. Heather is our favorite server, but we went in last Monday evening and they were short handed. It didn't matter though because Xavier, Ethan, and Katie were awesome. They worked together as a team and our food and service were exceptional. We plan to go back again soon.
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Review from Gary R.
Updated - 1/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
I really, really, really LOVE this place. I just had another PERFECT evening at Tango on Saturday night. My companion and I began our night with a cocktail. I had the Blueberry Jazz Martini and my good friend had a standard martini. Both were prepared flawlessly. Moreover, my martini was heavenly. In fact, I don't think I've tasted a better martini anywhere else.
After cocktails, we both decided to take advantage of Tango's prefix menu. I chose the crab lettuce wrap (appetizer), the filet and potatoes (entree), and the moscarpone mousse (dessert). My companion chose the liver and onions (appetizer), stuffed pheasant (entree), and the bread pudding (dessert). To accompany our meal, we drank a wonderful bottle of shiraz that paired masterfully.
Let me tell you that everything was perfect. I mean there is nothing that I can complain about, and that is a rarity for me. The staff is friendly and responsive. The ambience is light and pleasant, especially with the live jazz band playing in the adjacent bar.
I think Tango is arguably the BEST restaurant in North County.Listed in: The Best of Escondildo
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/6/2009
I had such a wonderful experience at Tango that I feel compelled to offer this review. After having… Read more »
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Review from Marisol L.
San Marcos, CA
9/4/2010
6 of us were here for a surprise baby shower lunch....The food was amazing. The drinks (grapefruit martini and the skinny margarita were the best) were tasty. All of our food was good to excellent. My dish -- the bay shrimp sandwich was good. My friend's cuban sandwich was okay to her -- not flavorful enough and not enough meat. Everyone else's food and appetizers were AMAZING. The souffle and all the soups were huge hits. The crab dish appetizer was great -- even came with a good sized salad.
The servers were fun and informative. They came by to check in on us just the right amount of times. The hostess even sent someone out to check on our cars to make sure they were not marked for 2 hours. Very cool. They also let us hang out for over 4 hours!!
The interior was beautiful and tasteful. A great addition to the "Grand" eateries. Definitely coming back for dinner b/c it seemed there were some innovative dishes / combos you could try. -
Review from Jennifer D.
Escondido, CA
2/28/2011
Excellent food, great service, embience is wonderful and drinks are stiff!
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Review from Mike H.
San Diego, CA
8/10/2008
We had a great time with excellent food. If you plan to be in the neighborhood by all means go but there are enough little glitches that must be addressed before this is a destination.
The menu consists of 2 prix fixe menus with dishes that can be ordered ala carte. They have a 6 course and a 3 course menu with a choice at each course. Overall were were satisfied with the quality of preparation. The 4 cheese souffle was the evening favorite.
The restaurant has only been open 6ish months and if they continue on path they've started this could easily become the best restaurant in Escondido. They have a solid foundation. -
Review from jason a.
Escondido, CA
4/19/2010 12 Check-ins Here
Delicious! Great great service! Great bartender! Made for a wonderful anniversary celebration. The crab cakes were crazy delicious, the Kobe Ribeye was great, as well as the Short Ribs. The gelato trio was a nice finish. Everything executed brilliantly. My second time here, definitely better than the first time, and definitely not the last. Thanks Tango! PS. Steaks not as good as Ruth Chris's but amazing nonetheless.
Just look at my check ins for this place... I can't stop going... (they must put something addictive in their drinks 0.o!) -
Review from Elyse B.
Escondido, CA
2/26/2010
I went to Tango for the first time the other night after an opening at Distinction Gallery, to get a drink to end the night, and I had their Tango Splash, and I must say it was easily the best mixed drink I had ever tasted. They even put in a hefty slice from a fresh strawberry. It had about 3 differing types of alcohol inside of it but you couldn't taste a bit of it. And it certainly was enough to get me feeling toasty, although I definitely qualify as a light-weight.
The friend I was with got a Blueberry Martini, which was made with real blueberry puree, and tasted equally as splendid.
I haven't had a chance to sample any of the food yet, but if it is anything like the drinks I know I will leave a happy camper. -
Review from Michael A.
Oceanside, CA
Updated - 2/5/2009
Tango- Not just for Dinner anymore!
From my previous reviews, it is no secret that I am a fan of this establishment. That is what prompted me to be first in line to experience Lunch at Tango. For the moment, lunch is available on Wednesdays through Friday, but I hope this is an experiment that lasts. There is no sacrifice in the quality or the inventiveness of these lunchtime offerrings. The portion size of the entrees are totally adequate to satisfy your hunger as a stand alone meal. But should you decide to add a starter or a dessert, you are certain to leave with that same stuffed feeling that has made those 3 course dinners famous. The service was excellent and we were served and managed to finish our meal in less than an hour. With most entrees priced between $10 and $15 it is not an extravagant price for an extravagant midday dining experience.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/4/2008
Second Chance to Make a First Impression!
Based on my original review of Tango in February, shortly… Read more »
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Review from Molly G.
San Diego, CA
5/4/2010
Is it possible to give no stars on this venue?
Let's put it this way, Tango HAD great food, but they forever put and left a BAD taste in my mouth!
First of all, I found out about Tango by a friend who worked there. The first time I was there, it was great and I was itching to go back considering their great happy hour deals. I hadn't made it back yet but 2 weeks ago I was at a charity event and they were there so I decided because they supported this charity that I would support them and join them last Monday for dinner.
My friend and I arrived at around 6pm, (Not crowded) sat in the lounge until our reservation time but then decided to eat there. Um, service was unbelievably awful. If I would have choked, I for sure would be dead and not writing this review. I couldn't get a refill to save my life. My friend ordered soup, it was so oily that it dripped off of her spoon, we ordered another happy hour entree' at 7:03pm (7 is when it ended) and we were charged full price. I ordered the short rib, not only was it incredibly dry but my cholesterol was probably off of the charts because of the lack of salt on the short rib that I had to add to give it some flavor, not good. We both took a bite and sent it back. We ordered dessert because by this time we were there for 2 1/2 hours, not on purpose and it was delicious. However, then the check came, I was charged for everything I didn't eat and full price for the happy hour item. I was asked if I wanted to speak to a manager, I said yes. About a minute later, the chef came out of the kitchen (Believe me, if you would've seen him before ordering, you wouldn't be hungry anymore) he started YELLING at us in the lounge telling us that we were to pay for everything because there was nothing wrong with the way he prepared it. My friend said it was very oily. He stated that it was truffle oil. She said she didn't care if it was peanut, canola, olive, or vegetable, it was gross. I came back with some snide remark about the short rib and told him that I wasn't paying for something I didn't eat. Blah blah blah, 20 minutes and a helping of mortification later, we were out of there. The nightmare continued the next day when I called to speak to the Manager (Who they didn't even have working there) and was told that I would get a call back, when a week went by and of course I didn't receive a return call, I made 2nd attempt and then my call was returned promptly by the owner. He basically told me he believed his staff over me and asked me what I expected or wanted him to do about it. I clearly stated that all I wanted was for him to be aware and that was that. I went on to explain that it was the worst experience I had ever received in a restaurant and their review went from a 5 star to a no star. I also let him on to believe that he had no idea who I was or who I knew and that the world would soon know of his hopeful demise of this Restaurant.
In closing, You do not deserve to be treated this way, take your business elsewhere. Customer service and "The customer is always right" means nothing to this guy and his restaurant. God help the next person who makes a complaint to him! -
Review from Stephanie L.
Poway, CA
2/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was really good. Service was great and the atmosphere was charming. Nice wine selection. My boyfriend says poor beer selection...but definitely recommend. Pricey though..but food was worth it.
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Review from Jolyne S.
Escondido, CA
They have a lounge bar menu that fits the most conservative budget, and yet the food and service is superb! Their late night HAPPY HOUR on the weekend is from 10-midnight and still serve a variety of delicious appetizers. Great place for happy hour with friends or an intimate dinner for two.
