text: Carlsbat Cavern or rather Carlsbad Tavern is a campy New Mexcian restaurantbar that was the ethnic concession made to me by my parents after pleading to go to at least one regionally appropriate restaurant during my visitnnWhat do I mean by campy you askn Stuffed animal bats on the ceiling As GOB from AD would say Come onn Newspaper menus headlined The Daily Guanon Bat sauce a Habanerobased hot sauce that was mild considering the basen A cavethemed interior a bar area and a decorative poolmoat exteriornnAfter I assisted my sheltered family in translating the unfamiliar menu we consumedn Nachos on HH normally Chips were a bit light for the heaping toppingsn Lobster Enchiladas Disappointing slightly bitter and not much taste overalln Chile Rellenos Peppers stuffed with pork and cheese tasty but a bit heavyn Green Chile Mac Cheese Standard with appreciably subtle pepper flavorn Chocolate Mousse Cake Too much cake and too much sugar not enough cocoan Chocolate Eruption A cake with hardened chocolate mousse and cheesecake chunks better than the aforementioned but still overly sweetnnOn happy hour for a meal made of discounted appetizers and margaritas I could see this being a fun choice but skip dinner even though admittedly I am compelled by the ample outdoor moatside seating and the Habanero burger replete with medical warnings While I do not feel I wasted my restaurant selection I also do not feel I prospected and struck pay dirt in Carlsbad Tavern either and I am sure gold is out there