Ortega's
141 University Ave
(between 1st Ave & 3rd Ave)
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 692-4200
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
60 Reviews for Ortega's
The chips are awesome. I actually went twice in a week. The first visit the chips were hot, the second they were lukewarm. If yours are lukewarm ask for fresh chips, they are too good to miss. I had the crab enchilada. It was ok not that great but fresh. The second time I had the Kobe Beef Burrito. It was fantastic, even better the second day out of the doggie bag. The food is all fresh but the don't seem to have a spice rack in their kitchen. What's weird is they don't have salt and pepper on the tables, so you can't the flavor yourself. Even weirder they don't have many items on the menu with cheese. What is mexican food without cheese..
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The good: The ambiance! The service! If it wasn't for our extra-attentive, considerate, and awesome waiter, our dining experience at Ortega's would've really fell short of some stars. I wish we had gotten his name, but he has music tattoos on his wrists. EXCELLENT waiter.
The mediocre: Well, I wouldn't totally dismiss the food. The quality of the food was fresh! However, the flavor was not as exciting as the presentation and how it sounded from the menu. It was almost slightly blander than other Mexican food. We were hoping for that extra kick. The salsa was missing that zesty spiciness, and likewise the food looked great, came out fresh, but in terms of flavor lacked intensity.
The alcoholic beverages were up to par. Try any of the fruit flavored margaritas.
The only real gripe, was finding parking - the plaza is small and packed, on a weekend night you might end up circling around for street parking.
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I went to Ortega's on a Sunday afternoon with my beautiful girlfriend. We both had margaritas and being the sissy that I am, I was a bit sad that mine wasn't frozen. But my pomegranate margarita was still very good. My girlfriend mentioned that mine was better than hers (raspberry mint).
The chips were very salty, but also warm and very good. The salsa was good, but not great. But the guacamole (appetizer) was awesome. Our waiter made it right in front of us and it was worth every penny.
I had the carnitas plate which was at least a 7.5 out of 10. The rice and beans were excellent and the warm tortillas, delivered in a big pot, were really good as well. She had the chicken mole plate which she loved. She also mentioned that the rice in particular was really good.
We didn't have any dessert as we were stuffed. The waiter was quiet but very helpful with refilling drinks, except for water. The atmosphere is friendly and I would definitely eat there again.
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I really love this place. The staff is young and friendly, it's never a huge madhouse, and I never have had to wait long for a table.They have a nice ambiance too, great margaritas (2 bucks on Tuesdays for happy hour), and fresh tortillas! Now I must say I'm a tortilla snob spoiled by my friend's mom in High school who used to have fresh tortillas waiting after school. But this is exactly what their tortillas taste like! Yum!
They are a little over priced with their dinner menu, that's why I always go for lunch. For some reason it's always a couple bucks cheaper. I love their tortilla soup, carnitas sopas, chicken tamales, kobe steak burrito, and their enchiladas. My somach is growling just thinking about it...
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I've only been there once - and it was for a party, so I didn't get the full run of what I could have had, but the GUACAMOLE IS AMAZING. I think we had some of the quesadillas as well. But seriously, the GUAC. YUM.
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Ryan R makes some really good points about Ortega's in his review: 1) the ambience is nice. 2) the staff is beautiful and 3) hillcrest is pretty fuckin gay.
Like Ryan, I am a poster boi of masculinity and heterosexual prowess. I gots more bitches than a puppy mill. That being said, it obviously took some arm twisting to get me up to this part of town to try Mexican food, I mean. I can get Mexican food anywhere in SD, why do I want to put my reputation on the line by being seen in this neighborhood?
After getting my nails done I was finally convinced that it would be "OK" for me to venture into hillcrest and that my reputation wouldn't suffer. "What-ev-errrr!!" I thought to myself but grudgingly, I went. We had to go to the hair salon anyway.
The ambiance was absolutely fabulous and my server had amazing hair and OMG the drinks were STIFF. Hot! Getting out of my comfort zone and venturing to such a gay part of town was TOTALLY worth it. I had kobe beef tacos with a side of beans and rice. Tasty, very nice. When I was done I felt as if I had been stuffed with hot latin meat from both ends.
I recommend this place, even to those of you who are big manly, masculine, pussy hunters like Ryan and I. rawr!
(Also, there's a great store across the street that sells fabulous mens' swimwear. To Die For O-M-G!!!)
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I'm always looking for great Mexican food...and I don't know why it's so hard to find being that San Diego is so close to Mexico. Anyway, my friend, Vero, has been raving about this place since she went around 2 months ago. The "FAM" and I were pretty hungry around noon today, so we thought we should go check this place out for ourselves.
Parking was a "B"! Should have known since this place is on University Ave. But we actually found parking in the little shopping center. Outside looks as if this place were small, but it's not! As we walked in, I fell in love with the decor and ambiance of this Mexican eatery. We sat down immediately in a booth close to the entrance, since the main dining room was packed. The waitress was nice, but seemed a little stressed.
The chips they served were a bit salty, but we just brushed the residual salt off. The salsa is OK, but not spicy at all. I think salsa should have some kick to it (bygones!).
For the appetizer, we had the table-side guacamole. It was good. You gotta be stupid to mess-up guac, right? For main dishes we had the following:
*Sopes (1 chicken and 1 pork)- My man said that they were OK, but there wasn't enough meat in these sopes. Lots of lettuce and cabbage mix, but skimpy on the chicken and pork.
*Shrimp Tacos- My kiddo ate 1 and-a-half of the 2 tacos on her plate. If she didn't like 'em, she wouldn't have touched them.
*Chicken Mole Enchiladas-I had these and they were not bad. A bit sweet for my taste, but the it was a red mole they use...not the usual chocolate mole everyone else serves.
All 3 entrees came with beans and the enchiladas also came with rice. The beans were decent, but I did not care for the rice. It was a bit "mushy".
For dessert, we shared the flan. It was served with a slice of grilled pineapple. It was way better than I expected. It was creamy, and the pineapple was really yummy.
Oh, I forgot to mention drinks...we had mango mojitos. They were yummy, but the man thought it was missing some rum. I thought they were great because the liquor didn't overpower the taste of the mint and mango.
I wouldn't give the food a "WHOO HOO", but for what it's worth, the location is awesome.
Try the chicken tacos...really good..
tableside guac is a can't miss as well...
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i have been to their restaurant down in mexico and have been to this location twice now. both times the food has been excellent. it is more upscale than other sit-down mexican places, and the food is fresh and doesnt leave you feeling heavy afterwards.
their salsa is probably some of the best in all of san diego, and they have fresh light chips to match. we came here with our dog and sat out on the patio. while the patio is basically just the parking lot, it was still nice, and they were very accommodating to our pup. they brought her out a cup of water and everything. the service was very attentive and friendly, we had a great time dining there. one of the few places in san diego where you can take your dog with you to dinner.
The queso fundido is to die for! Super yummy. Probably not the healthiest thing if you already have a few clogged arteries, but if you're out there sweating regularly, this is something you have to try. My tacos were pretty average, but some of the fish dishes are quite tasty. I echo the comments about their fresh tortillas. Their corn tortillas are authentic.
We went there on Cinco de Mayo and it wasn't too busy early on. No complaints from the service. In fact we ordered premium margaritas rather than their happy hour ritas. The server forgot to put the drinks on the bill to which we honestly told him about. He was nice enough to charge us only at the happy hour rates, saving us something like $5 per drink.
Definitely plan on going back!
First order the Guac. It is amazing. As is the Puerto Nuevo soup. Order a cup of soup instead of a bowl. The bowl is like 4 spoonfuls more in volume than the cup. That bugs!! The Kobe burrito and the fajita tacos are very good. The ceviche is very sweet (actually sugary sweet, not 'sweet' like 'rad'), so I was not into it. The service is a crap shoot. They never keep their staff around for very long. I don't know if they hire those that need to be fired or if they are dicks to their employees. It makes it sorta hard to relax when your server is always in the training stage. I love eating at this place though I have never had an issue free experience with them. I would stick to lunch and dinner. Their breakfast is...meh. The guacamole and chips are what kept me coming back.
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I would like to say that I had food here and was somewhat pleased..... the only gripe that I do have was the fact that the wait was a bit long, but must say that I had a half of chicken that was delectable... the taste was sensational, and I did enjoy every bite that I did, and could eat.... I would recomend this place for a nice meeting or just a good meal amongst friends... if you don't like it let me know, and I will have to see if I don't like it the second time....
Why in the world would I drive all the way down to Puerto Nuevo... spending all that money on $4/gallon gas and risking some guys posing as Mexican police trying to get all medieval on me... just to get lobster? Ortega's lobster is just as good if not better. The table side guacamole is wonderful, and the margaritas are perfect. I've had the shrimp enchiladas too and they are just as good... but get the lobster.
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We sat at the bar and were absolutely delighted by the Bartender, James. We were going to have a quick drink and then move on to the next place, but James not only convinced us to stay and eat, he made us some of the best cocktails we have ever had. We will be back, and we will sit at the bar because James is the best!
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I shoulda listened to my gut, the fish was way fishy smelling....I only get sick once and never visit again....
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I'm always down for some good Mexican food - especially when my fellow Yelpers in crime recommend a restaurant. This is what brought me to Ortega's last night. I had to wait a bit for everyone to arrive, so I got to soak in the great space and visited the very nice ladies room. So far, so good. When everyone arrived, we were seated promptly near the bar and the fireplace. These tables and chairs were a bit more casual than the other room (they reminded me of patio chairs from the condos I stay in when I am in Rosarito), but they fit in with the vibe perfectly.
Getting the guac was a no-brainer as was the $2 margaritas. The chips and salsa were good (did we really eat two baskets?) And the menu was intriguing - kobe beef tacos and chicken mole were tempting but I had to have the carnitas with corn tortillas.
Our food came out promptly - the tortillas were of the home-made variety and were excellent. My carnitas and the accompanying tomatillo sauce were good. So was the rice (not the fake stuff with veggies in it).
Our server was very accomodating as she allowed us to split the check 4 ways using 3 credit cards and cash (super confusing and apparently they are only supposed to allow 2 cards.) And she's actually why I am giving them 4 stars instead of 3. (I felt like this was more like a 3.5 place but anytime I feel the server goes the extra mile, I'll give the whole place the benefit of the doubt.)
I'm sure I'll be back to try the Kobe beef tacos and the Chicken mole soon.
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I am Mexican and I am telling you: I LOVE THIS PLACE!
It has taken me years to find a Mexican place that I like in this town that is not south of the border. With fresh, well-made food and good prices, it is definitely my favorite. it is also very romantic, even though I never gone there with a guy. But maybe soon, perhaps? But if I do, I am sitting next to the fireplace and I will defiantly be holding his hand the whole time.
So if you are looking for great healthier dishes at a good price and great homemade tortillas and want to get a kiss after dinner- COME HERE! It is worth it! I promise!
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Overall, a big fat meh.
Service was inattentive and forgetful.
Food: I had the 1/2 lobster and beef medallions (which were purported to be filet). The lobster was a bit on the small side and just OK, the beef was flavorless, rice & beans were nothing spectacular. The wife had 1/2 lobster and shrimp, she wasn't impressed either. This is in no way a replacement for a Puerto Nuevo run or Baja Lobster & Club in Chula Vista (now closed). As mentioned, the portions are "European" but more of the bland excuse for a food wouldn't have made a difference.
They have a microscopic parking lot, park on the street.
No reason to go here....
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2 words: Shrimp Papagayo! YUM!!!! Yes the chips and salsa are great too but stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon, c'mon. The service has always been satisfactory but last time our waitress was especially attentive. One of my fave Mexican restaurants in SD. That parking lot does kind of suck cuz it's so tiny but small price for such great food.
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2 stars for the guacamole only. The portions are tiny, overpriced, and all taste the same. Way better places to eat mex, to support this one.
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I figure I better get on it and review this place while I can.
As once there are over 50 reviews for a place, the allure of writing one greatly diminishes for me. Thankfully, I'll be number 45.
I've been coming here since they first opened and still have occasional cravings for some of their signature dishes.
They do these things par excellence:
Charro Beans with Dry, Spanish Chorizo.
Chicken Tortilla Soup with a lovely clear broth.
And most important of all, some of the best
Chips & Salsa
in town - light chips with that ephemeral crackle and salsa with oven-roasted Romas and just the right blending of Hot, Sour, Sweet, Salt.
Since it's called Ortega's, many folks with disappointing visits here came to try the Puerto Nuevo Lobster & Steak.
Save the pricey, Surf & Turf meal for a time when your parents are taking you out to Donovan's or something.
And as for Lobster, preparation is a no brainer. Buy a tail on sale, bring it home, cook it and put melted butter on the side. Not real chefery there.
Come to Ortega's for the lovingly prepared, slow cooked foods that make Mexican Cuisine famous.
As for the peopled who complain of small portions, they obviously didn't enjoy enough Chips & Salsa while they were here.
I can come here, split an order of Smartly-Stuffed Sopes with my Sweetie--with an extra side of Charro Beans of course (I don't share well when it come to those beans)--and leave plenty full and happy.
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I saw the article in some San Diego magazine so I thought I'd check this place. Who doesn't like a good grilled lobster.
I was pretty disappointed. I ordered a Blue Azul (margarita, probably the best thing I had all night). For my entree, I had the Lobster and Steak. The steak was very small, flavorless and poor quality filet. The lobster was actually decent. I was a bit surprised that my entree didn't come with more sides (I was yearning for some corn, salsa, anything!) and the only side it did come with was some really soggy and gross rice.
I think my money is better spent elsewhere.
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Table-side guacamole, huitlacoche tacos, washed down with a pomegranate margarita. Add a rocking night of hot sex, and well, that's my idea of a near-perfect evening.
Perhaps I've shared too much...
I "heart" Ortega's--and have never had a bad meal, or suffered through substandard service because I was alone (which is often). Instead owners John and Juan Carlos (of Puerto Escondido fame) make me feel like their best gal pal whenever I dine there. I get plenty of dish on and off the plate, if you know what I mean.
My heterosexual life mates and I went here Wednesday afternoon for a late lunch. Having given up alcohol for the month of January, we've discovered that sober people engage in various activities to pass the time, late lunches being one of them. Hillcrest reminds me of my neighborhood in San Francisco, not because of the hills but because it is incredibly gay.
My best friend lives a block away from Ortega's and I've always been curious each time I visit the neighborhood. Not bi-curious... I was curious to know what a Mexican Bistro has to offer. To compete with all the taco shops in the neighborhood, a Mexican bistro would have to be the cock of the walk, right? Especially located in such close proximity to Urban Mo's... I mean that place draws some serious cocks....
Anyway, back to our late lunching experience. The first thing I noticed upon entry was the heinously ugly teal polo shirts that they have their staff wearing. Immediately the fashion police sirens went quiet when I realized how beautiful everyone who works here is. I shit you not, these assholes could wear wet burlap pajamas and you would still tip over 20%. I mean my friends and I are pretty good looking for walking trash but these people were straight out of Latin pop culture magazines.
On to the food before I lose all credibility as your average straight, twenty something, reviewer. The menus themselves are really nice, suggesting that the food was something to be excited about. The selection of dishes was relatively small and eclectic with a couple stand outs.
My friend ordered the crab enchiladas and I ordered the Kobe beef burrito. He and I discussed what we wanted before hand and decided, as usual, to try something that would give them the opportunity to showcase their unique flare for the cuisine. Our server was shy but effective and the food arrived in a timely manner. I have to say, I was very impressed with the presentation of the food and the general ambiance of the restaurant.
The portions are very European, not your monster California burrito from the neighborhood taco shop. However; this was a late lunching experience and the portion size was appropriate and made us feel more sophisticated than the ruffians we are in real life. My only qualm was with the actual flavor... I'm sorry Ortega's Mexican Bistro, you have a lot going on that is great but you could stand to improve the single most important part of a restaurant...
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This is the best high-end Mexican restaurant I've been to in San Diego. I love the space and the food. It has authentic decor that is just so warm and welcoming. And their chips and salsa - oh, yum! The salsa has a unique flavor that I haven't experienced elsewhere.
Do try the the guacamole, which is made fresh table-side. I also highly recommend ordering a house margarita. Ortega's makes their own fresh margarita mix, and if you go during happy hour it's only $3! (and EVEN better: I just learned they are $2 ALL DAY on TUESDAYS! WOOT!)
Entrees run about $12-$16 each, Expensive for Mexican in San Diego if you're used to taco stands, but this experience is worth it. Ortega's is one of my new faves!
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My search is over! I found the best Mexican restaurant in San Diego. The End.
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What a great place this is...from the decor ,to the location, and the food!
Great Pomme Margaritas...and some fun new drinks to try too...the sangria is worth trying as well.
I'm not sure how their salsa is so good, but it is...omg...dangerously good...I'm not sure how the busboys keep up--refills after refills.
Try the Mahi Mahi salad...yummy. yummy.
Tuesdays you can get $2 Margaritas all night...and they have a late night happy hour every night of the week from 10-midnight.
A must try...
I was so excited for our dinner here Saturday night! It had gotten such rave reviews that I was hoping we wouldn't be disappointed. We went with another couple and had reservations for 6:45. We arrived on time and I have to say the only reason I docked them a star was because of their host on Saturday night. There was a party ahead of us that was checking in and once they were gone we stepped up to tell him we had reservations. He completely ignored us...didn't even acknowledge that we were there and then he walked away. When he came back a few minutes later he looks at us and says...oh...did we need help. Um...duh...yeah we need help...we aren't just standing here for the fun of it!
Once we got sat it was great from then on. Our server was nice and attentive even though she was really busy with a large party near us. The chips and salsa were so good and their mojitos were really yummy (a bit overpriced though). We would probably take a pass on the table side guacamole next time...wasn't anything special. We loved their tortillas and everyone's dinner was spot on - we had the Chicken Pippian, Carnitas, Chicken Mole and the Steak Taco Trio. My DH was a little disappointed with the carnitas, not the taste but the cut of pork wasn't like normal carnitas.
We really wanted to try the coconut flan with grilled pineapples but were so stuffed there was no way that was happening.
We will definitely be back!
Perfect place for a lunch meeting or a nice dinner out. Beautiful decor, just the right mix of clean lines and home-like atmosphere. It seems they have a second floor that you could reserve for a large party.
But a good restaurant has to start with good food, and they do that here. Delicious and fresh grilled mahi mahi tacos. Good spicy bite. Lots of fresh cabbage and tomatoes on top. Try the guacamole. Yummy. Nothing out of a can here. All very authentic and for the most part - not deep fried. I also enjoyed the sangria here on New Years Eve!
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I visited Ortega's for a company lunch. I love "bistros" they always seem to have a nice vibe. The decor is super cool, except the seats are a bit low for the tables...I felt like more of a shorty than I already am!
The lunch menu was very affortable with dishes ranging from maybe 9-12 bucks. Tacos, enchiladas, carnitas, etc.
Chips and Salsa - great, salsa was very different, not spicy at all (I wouldn't have minded a little spice) but very flavorful. Shrimp Cheviche appetizer - very flavorful; Poblano Portabella Quesadilla - it was ok and very small.
Carnitas Torta - I really enjoyed the insides - pulled pork, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, garlic aioli with a kick. The bread was good but I though too much. I left 3/4 of it on the plate.
Service was lacking a bit. Our waiter was gracious enough to put up with our party's numerous questions about the menu, but they always seemed unreachable when we needed things - refills, salt, check, etc.
Seems like this place would be great for happy hour margaritas.
In addtion, Ortega's has received flattering reviews from local magazines and papers as well as the Zagat survey - you can check out their reviews on their website. It's worth a visit!
While a little bit pricy, Ortega's is the very first Mexican restaurant I recommend to folks who are new to San Diego.
Simply the best guacamole in San Diego County...made fresh at your table.
The menu is exceptional including lots of lobster choices from Mexico waters. Lots of meat, fish and veggie options too.
Enjoy!
You may want to skip this review and not read this at all. All Yelper's here seem to really like this place and I don't want to hurt your feelings. If you are a single person and looking for good service and food...not sure if this is the place for you. I could be wrong.
I ate at this place when it first opened a few years ago, when I first bought my condo and when the owner of this place actually cared about his customers. I haven't eaten here in a year why you ask? Because the last two times I have tried to eat there, I was left sitting alone for an hour without service being completely ignored. Yesterday, I decided to give them one more chance, it was late on a Sunday afternoon, about 2:00 ish. I went in there, the place was crowded with families and kids running around the dining area. Since I was a "single" I decided to sit in the bar. The bored out of her skull hostess with her lazy attitude decided to sit me all the way in the back where they used to have a lounge. Well the have torn out the lounge and put more tables back there, what a bummer that is! I used to go there for Happy Hour on Friday's since it is 1.5 miles from my place. Yesterday, once again I sat there for 25 minutes, NO service, the bartender completely ignored me and the waitress was busying herself with the couple sitting two tables in front of me. I waited another 10 minutes...tick tock tick tock...NO service. I walked out, no one even tried to stop me. They really did not care.
Now I am realizing that if you have a party of 10 people, with a ton of five years in tow; you should absolutely come here! The squeaky wheel gets the food! If you are a single, "partay of one". Then skip or bring a good book, or your laptop you will be waiting for a while or possibly ignored.
I went to La Vache, I was helped as soon as I walked through the door. They were busier than Ortega's was and they went out of their way to seat me and serve me but that is another review.
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FANTASTIC!!!! In every way-fantastic. I've eaten there 3 times and each time it was 5 stars. The Kobe Beef Burrito-wow! The soups, the salads, the red snapper, the 1/2 roasted chicken! Its all stupendous. My suggestion: GO HUNGRY. The portions are big and you will want to eat every bite. The service was also excellent.
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I come here probably once every two weeks for lunch, and it is always consistently excellent. The food is fresh, and you know how when you have Mexican food in southern CA, it all kind of tastes the same? At this place every dish has a distinct flavor from the others. The prepared-at-the-table guacamole is one of the best appetizers I've had -- it's a really simple recipe but delicious and emphasizes the fresh avocado. Generally I get fish dishes, and they do a great job preparing each one. Finally, the service is excellent. I love this place.
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My wife and I love this place, and not because it's walking distance from where we live, though that was an initial attraction. The ambiance is so relaxed there and the staff is very friendly. The salsa is unlike anything that I've tried elsewhere, very unique. Get them to make the guacamole for you at the table. You don't get that at a chain restaurant. For starters, we liked the pomegranate margaritas and the $3 house margaritas during happy hour. My wife said the ceviche was very good. We're very big fans of the shrimp taco trio, though the beans aren't anything special.
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Been here once before for lunch a long time ago. I went for dinner on a Saturday night, and noticed that the restaurant had expanded into the space next door. I had a mango mint margarita, syrupy and had pieces of mango and mint leaves in it. It was quite strong (strong is good) although it knocked me out soon after...even with a meal.
The chips are good...light and not greasy, the salsa is really good and has a little bit of spice to it. The fish and shrimp ceviche is flavorful and highly recommended. I had the Chicken Mole, served over Spanish rice and accompanied with beans. The beans were made just right and had a smoky taste. My husband's beans that came with his Carnitas were prepared differently. I don't know if it was a mistake, but his tasted more broth-like.
The atmosphere is nice. I was mildy amused at the couple next to us having a friendly argument about He-Man and Skeletor. I like the way the restaurant is lit...soft warm orange-yellow all over and hanging from the high ceilings in baskets. The prices are reasonable and I remembered why....the portions are a little small (and no, I don't expect gargantuan servings wherever I go). Maybe I was just really hungry.
This is a do-over for me and I'd like to return soon for Happy Hour. The parking lot is tiny, so plan on circling for street parking.
UPDATE ON THE LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR - I had a decent sangria and my friend had a beer. The salsa that came with the chips tasted fruitier and sweeter than I remember but was still really good. I think the drink specials are half off beer and well drinks after 10 pm. On a Friday night, the atmosphere around the bar was relaxing...busy enough but not too loud. I liked the music too.
UPDATE ON LUNCH - I had the Epazote/Cilantro Chicken Breast Tacos with cilantro pesto and epazote sauce. It was OK, served on corn tortilas with black beans, shredded lettuce and red cabbage. My husband had the Adobo Carnitas tacos (carnitas in adobo sauce), which was more flavorful than my dish. Maybe I should have him order for me from now on...since his choices usually turn out to be better than mine.
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ok. so just to preface, i would have given this 4.5 stars, but as many have astutely noted, yelp does not allow such things (hint hint...). so, i have to stick with the 4 instead of the 5 because it wasn't perfecto.
this was our v-day date, a day early. not so easy to get a sitter on the day itself. i have been wanting to check this place out for a couple years, probably more for its rustic hominess than anything else. small bistros bring me big happiness. so, i booked a table and we were off.
it was lovely. spacious, almost like some remote mexican cabin that a contemporary artist came and spruced up. lots of wood, which worked here (not in scary cabins in big bear). we were seated immediately at a cute corner table, looking right out the windows. chips and some delicious concoction (salsa, but more like a spread) were brought within seconds of being seated. so this salsa...it had a delightfully peachy color, just a tad of spice, and an explosion of all sorts of flavor. good chips, too.
onto the drinks. i got a plain 'ol margarita, on the rocks. but here's the rub...our lovely waiter (who very casually, yet quite obviously hit on my husband) brought me a blended margarita. hmph. i do not like the blend. the flavor is no bueno. not only that, but it just didn't have that kick that i love about margaritas. i finished at least half, but had it been better, i'm sure i would have polished it. so, that's one strike. but forgivable.
i was feeling fishy, since it is a baja style place, and ordered huachinango (quite possibly misspelled) with rice, beans and tortillas. it was crusted with bananas and some delicious red sauce. ortega's has the sauce thing down. it wasn't fishy AT ALL, which gets a thousand brownie points, as i'm super picky about seafood. the beans were pretty average, not refried, but good. the tortillas were very yummy and homemade. but, once again, a strike. i asked the busboy 2x for a box and never got it for my tortillas. not huge, but would've been nice to bring a little treat home for chloe.
so, to wrap up, check this place out. albeit, there may be some occasional girl on girl action (as jared witnessed out the window), but remember where it's at, take it in stride, and if you're into that sort of thing, this is your place, i guess.
cheers!
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I had THE BEST Caprahina ever here....once. I wasn't as good the next time I went but wow - it blew me away that first time. It tasted like it had been made with carmelized brown sugar. I ordered another.
Their vegetarian tacos are great, though quite pricey. The beans were bland.
Service has been wonderful each of the three times I've been here. We sat at the bar while waiting for a table one night which was nice.
I may just go for happy hour next week!
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I have only eaten the tacos here, but they were terrific.
The portabello tacos were beefier than any beef taco I've had this side of the border. I've since copied the concept whenever I've hosted a taco BBQ.
I believe the chicken taco with cilantro pesto is my favorite. It's a terrific concept, expertly executed. They flavors meld and measure well, and with a herby clean bite.
The tacos are not in a traditional Mexican style. They're more along the lines of Nuevo Mexicano style.
All the taco plates come with a little bowl of black beans. I once pulled a large poblano pepper slice out from my bowl, but was stewed and mild and I ate it with happiness.
When I come here, I usually try to order a few plates of tacos and share them with everyone.
The pomegranate margarita was a nice idea, but it wasn't very good. It was too sweet, more a direct syrup of pomegranate than a balance between tequila and sour and sweet. I mean, if you don't like the way tequila tastes, fine. But margaritas really should taste of tequila.
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I know Ortega's has been around for awhile but I fell victim to someone else telling me it was gross and never gave it a shot. So last week I went in to check it out before heading over to seasons across the street. I sat at the bar and ordered a couple of their Tuesday happy hour specials. Not fantastic and it was weak poor quality tequila. Next time I'll spend the extra bucks for a better margo.
Ok, so that was the bad, We had a couple appetizers at the bar, guacamole made to order was a nice touch but I would have liked to been able to customize it to my taste, simply coming to the table with a mocajeta with chili, onions and cilantro and mashing up some avo's to order seemed to fall a little short of its possibilities, having said that, it was still enjoyable. We also had the queso fondido, which was quite tasty and the shrim