Several women recently reported experiencing blackouts and feelings akin to those of drug addicts after having drinks at an upscale restaurant in Tribeca, prompting a police investigation. This has left some feeling hesitant to order drinks while out.
The women, in interviews and social media posts from last week, explained that they felt disoriented and extremely ill after just one or two drinks at Casa Carmen, a popular Mexican restaurant.
One patron recalled losing consciousness shortly after sipping her second margarita during a visit on November 22. She stated, “We had several drinks with our meal, and as soon as the second one arrived, I began drinking it. The next thing I remember is waking up the next morning.” In her recounting, she described how she felt light-headed and disoriented upon waking, instinctively knowing something was wrong.
She mentioned finding a glass of water next to her bed that she hadn’t put there, causing her to feel uneasy. “I was shaking and really knew something was off. I’ve never been in a situation like this before,” she added.
Fortunately, a concerned neighbor helped her after noticing she was stuck at the door of her apartment.
Many customers shared similar experiences, as highlighted by various reviews on Google and Yelp. One woman told of waking up sick and unable to remember her time at Casa Carmen after just two margaritas.
“The place was lovely, and the food was okay, but half of our group felt ill and some even passed out after only two drinks,” one wrote in a review.
Another mentioned their shocking experience where one friend ended up passed out and vomiting throughout the night after having two margaritas.
After reading these reviews, a concerned diner called the restaurant for clarification but felt uncomfortable with the staff’s routine response to her concerns.
“He answered in a mechanical tone, detailing our table and what we ordered and suggested I email the owner for support. But that just felt off to me,” she reflected.
In a follow-up conversation, the restaurant’s general manager suggested that those who felt unwell may have misreported their drinking or perhaps hadn’t eaten sufficiently, according to what patrons relayed.
Motivated by her own experience, the woman posted about it on Reddit, leading to a wave of shared stories from others who had similar blackouts after consuming just a drink or two.
She also filed a report with the NYPD, though faced initial reluctance from the officers involved. “The female officer asked me what I wanted her to write down. It felt disheartening and dissuaded me from reporting such incidents,” she explained.
The NYPD confirmed they are investigating the incident, currently treating it as an isolated event and mentioning they have no other related reports.
Casa Carmen responded by acknowledging the allegations and stated they are cooperating with law enforcement. “We take our guests’ safety seriously and have provided evidence to the police while inviting them to review it with us,” the restaurant stated.
On November 22, a incident was reported to the police regarding Casa Carmen. The restaurant detailed that their cocktails typically contain 2 to 3 ounces of liquor, and emphasized this was the first time law enforcement had contacted them about such an issue.
Additionally, another woman shared her experience dining at Casa Carmen in March, where she also felt extremely ill after her second margarita. “I usually handle two margaritas without any issue, especially after a full meal, but this time was different. I felt nauseous and ended up throwing up shortly after,” she recalled.
Ultimately, she reported feeling unwell for days following her visit, even needing hospital treatment due to dehydration.
The New York State Liquor Authority did not comment on the matter, and requests for comments from the city’s health department went unanswered.
