The entrees were far more successful. Carne Asada ($9.95) was a combination plate of rice, refried beans and thinly sliced marinated beef that was char-grilled to perfection. This was a solid hit with the rice and beans adding more than just a complement to the beef. The menu at Ay! Caramba brags that it uses no lard or animal fat in the preparation of their beans or rice and while we're not always sure we are purists enough to tell the difference, we'll take this option any day. If the proof is in these rice and beans, get the animals out of our side dishes, please.
The other dish at our table was one of the daily specials, beef fajitas ($9.95). Similar to a birthday cake ablaze in candles, whenever the beef fajitas arrive sizzling and popping in its cast iron plate at your table, it is usually accompanied by a few oohs and ahhs from fellow diners. Given the fact that at Ay! Caramba many of them are virtually sitting you lap; there is the distinct sense of sharing something vaguely spectacular.
Thankfully, this notion extended beyond the pyrotechnics of the dish into the great flavor of the marinated beef, onions, and peppers served with warm, soft tortillas. It didn't go unnoticed that like dinner lemmings, several more beef fajita specials were ordered after the crackle and hiss died down at our table.
There are a few homemade desserts available, but we were so staggered under the weight of food we'd eaten for less than $30, that even in the interests of culinary journalism, we had to take a pass.
Ay! Caramba likes to underscore the fact that this is truly an authentic Mexican restaurant and while we're not sure how many beef fajitas are consumed in, say, Durango on a Monday afternoon, we think that dollar for dollar, this little place in Harwich is well worth a visit. Located at 703 Main Street in Harwich Center, Ay! Caramba Café also does a boisterous take-out business. Their phone number is 508-432-9800