Mexican Cuisine: 3 Restaurants Found
La Serenata De Garibaldi
Address: 1416 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
After building a following for twelve years in Boyle Heights, Jose and Aurora Rodriguez opened a second branch of their traditional Mexican restaurant near Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade in 1997. During the week, La Serenata attracts nearby office workers, and weekends bring daters and tourists. The south-of-the-border décor features cast iron chandeliers, faux balconies, and a gazebo-like kiosk with a Spanish tile roof. La Serenata specializes in seafood like jumbo shrimp and market-fresh fish paired with an array of salsas. For dessert, Jose and Aurora’s son, Marco Antonio, contributes tres leches cake and flan.
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Border Grill
Address: 1445 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90401
Veterans of the Los Angeles dining scene since 1981, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have garnered national acclaim and multimedia stardom with their modern approach to Mexican cooking. Throughout their ascension, the duo has managed to keep their Santa Monica flagship vital. A magnet for both tourists and locals, Border Grill showcases colorful murals and plentiful portions of equally vibrant Mexican cooking. With encyclopedic menus and daily specials, ordering can be daunting, but regardless of the selection, the dishes are consistently flavorful. The duo’s attention to detail lasts through dessert, with house-baked cakes and strong, spice-infused café de olla.
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Las Brisas
Address: 361 Cliff Drive, Los Angeles, CA 92651
Tucked amid the beautifully landscaped grounds of Heisler Park just steps from the Pacific, the stunning location of Las Brisas in Laguna Beach is worth a trip in itself. But once you arrive, prepare to be swept away not only by the gorgeous ocean views, but by a romantic setting, gracious service, and an enticing menu of Mexican Riviara cuisine. Chef Aurelio Sanchez’s menu is a treasure trove of culinary history, with recipes culled from the 3,000 miles of Mexico’s west coast. Specialty dishes include feisty Camarones Tampiquenos—prawns sautéed in spicy chardonnay-garlic sauce—and Tostones de Tenera, veal medallions topped with breaded tomato slices and chile de arbol in a cognac chanterelle mushroom sauce. Regardless of your order, you are sure to be wooed by the rich flavors of Mexico and the rich views of the Ocean County shoreline.
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