La Baja — Restaurant in Ambler

This was our second visit to the highly reviewed Ambler restaurant. BYOB was a plus. Service was OUTSTANDING, and each new dish was accompanied by a large serving utensil .The server gave us new plates and utensils without asking throughout the night which we loved. The server was kind, interactive and knowledgeable. We felt that food was good, but fell a bit short. The special Yellowtail Ceviche was a very plentiful portion and fresh, but no wow as though it needed at least one more spice. After our first visit we expected a certain "wow" or spicey pop which this dish did not elicit. We LOVED the Lechutigas salad which was fresh and also boasted a very generous serving. The sea bass was grossly undercooked, but very flavorful and I enjoyed the arbol miso flavor. My wife's Pulpo Y Mollejas was again a large portion of Octopus and tasty Sweetbreads with a yummy ayocote puree. She thought it was a big chewy, but I thought it was spot on. Side dishes were just ok. The Oyster mushroom side dish elicited smiles and anticipation due to the huge portion size and presentation. However, it had no taste at all and relied totally on the accompanying sauce on the side. It might have benefited from being marinated for a time before being fried. Costillas de Elote was a disappointment as it also had an inviting appearance but was grossly overcooked but pleasantly seasoned. The Poblano Tres Leche was AMAZING, mouth watering and a great way to end the meal.

Overall, La Baja boasted great service, extensive menu, comfortable but slightly loud atmosphere and food that was mostly a bit thumbs up but a few thumbs down. It could become the premiere dining spot in Amble. But, despite the reputation of Chef Dionicio Jiménez, while a very good dining experience, IMO it could benefit from additional tweaking...

We started with the hamachi and Octopus. I thought the octopus was just entirely too soy sauce flavored/salty and was not very soft, either. Would have liked it if it was more ponzu based but thinking about that from a cultural aspect, I believe I read that the dish is based on Chinese not Japanese food culture.

The hamachi was difficult to share, just because of how it is presented but ingredients were definitely fresh which can be a concern for raw fish. Felt it was missing some flavor opportunity in this appetizer.

For entrees, we ordered the baby goat and the pork belly. Baby goat was excellent but there was a bit of fat in the piece I was served. I think the flavor of the peas, onion and pistachio blended perfection and the meat was seasoned and remained tender. The pork belly is not crispy as one might expect, but rather served in a literal block of meat. I think this dish needed some work... Definitely a let down with the presentation but the flavor was still good.

Be prepared to freeze if you end up sitting at the table by the kitchen. It was ice cold!!!! Otherwise, the restaurant was clean, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable with intriguing personal photos along the walls and green plants. For context, we went on a week night towards the end of the dining hours. It was...

We very much enjoyed our dinner at La Baja Ambler last evening. It is described as a Mexican restaurant with Mediterranean and Asian influences. The food was absolutely delicious and complex. We started with the Polpo which came in a very spicy jalapeno sauce but softened with pineapple and the delicious grilled octopus. Next we shared the Lechugitas salad. We mentioned to the server Helena that we could not appreciate the taste of the shaved tuna in the salad so she immediately returned with more we could add to the salad. As an entree we shared the short rib risotto which absolutely melted in our mouths delicious. We had brought a delicious Spanish Rioja to this BYOB to share during dinner which was perfect. Our dinner was complete with the dessert - Poblano Tres Leches. This sponge cake was updated with lots of different textures and flavors including raspberry and pomegranate which took it over the top! A beautiful meal! I gave the atmosphere only 4 stars because it was a busy crowded Saturday night with excellent food so it was somewhat loud. But don’t miss this new...