We showed up without a reservation, despite being told we should have one. They do not offer reservations the day of, which is why we just took a chance. The hostess was able to make some changes and get us in without but a minute of wait.
We started with the chips and dips, which were pretty expensive for what you get. Some of the dips were better than the others which is to be expected, but the portioning as a sampler was disappointing for the price. The chip basket was also fairly small, but I guess I'm used to less fancy restaurants giving unlimited chips and dips.
We ordered one drink each, which again were pretty expensive as well. They were good, but not good enough to go back for round two.
My wife and I both ordered the tacos. I went with one chicken, one beef and one pork. Surprisingly, I liked the chicken taco best of all three of them. Next time I probably would order three chicken, or maybe try out the fish taco to go with it.
We then decided on the empanadas based on the recommendation from the server, which were pretty tasty. The crust was flaky and the beef inside was good as well. Like other menu items, maybe a bit steep of a price, but overall a good bite.
Lastly, my wife saw the ice cream come out with the dry ice feature to the bowl. So naturally we had to order that as well. The ice cream was good, but the fruity pebble topping seemed a bit stale after it was fried. It wasn't crunchy, but more of a stale type chewy. I was not a fan of that texture, but we definitely finished it.
As far as the spicy level for all items I tried, nothing made me go for the water. I would like to see a bit more of a kick in the salsa, but overall they were well balanced. Most people will appreciate the heat levels, but don't expect to break a sweat or have any lingering mouth-burn.
Our service was great. We had a very attentive server who was happy to talk about the restaurant and all the things that go with it. She even grabbed me a chili that hadn't been in a drink, so I could take it home and try to grow some of the seeds from it. That probably won't happen, but it was kind of her to do so without even batting an eye to my silly request.
For my wife and I, six tacos, chips+dip, empanadas, two drinks and fried ice cream, we paid about $150 after tip. Not the cheapest night out, but I watched this place be built from the literal ground up while doing drop-offs/pickups at the bottom of the hill, so it was a must try for me. We will likely come back, but it'll be a few...
Read moreWhat a fantastic new addition to Clayton! We were thrilled with our experience tonight. Awesome place for date night.
The restaurant has a classy stylish vibe inside and a lovely outdoor patio as well. It was pretty packed when we arrived - glad we had a reservation.
Everything we ordered was great. Nice cocktail selection too.
The churrasco steak plate: 5/5. A bed of sliced potatoes and sausage in a creamy orange sauce, topped by steak with a jalapeño chimichurri and baby cilantro.
Brisket empanadas: 5/5. Tender meat inside a perfectly fried shell, served with a delicious sauce that kinda reminded me of buffalo sauce - tangy and a little spicy.
Esquites: 4/5. The flavor of this was exactly what I hoped for, but I was a little surprised that the corn was still attached to the rough rind part of the cob. It was delicious but just a little different than I expected. You can’t just pick up a bite with your fork and pop it in your mouth, you have to eat it with your hands. Kinda messy but still good.
Cuban croquetas: 5/5. I was a little worried I wouldn’t like these since they have a mustard aioli and dill pickle relish, and I typically don’t like those flavors. But these turned out to be my favorite item. You’ve gotta try these.
Fried ice cream: 5/5. This dessert is a scoop of vanilla ice cream that’s lightly fried, coated in fruity pebbles, and served on mango sauce. It tastes like an elevated version of some delicious thing you’d get at a county fair. Absolutely incredible.
We had a fantastic time here and can’t wait to come back. So thrilled for Clayton to have such a cute and delicious...
Read moreWhat a pleasant surprise in Clayton. This place has only been open a month or so, and it was fairly busy. We were able to get reservation at 7:30 on a Saturday. If I were to guess, reservations are going to be a must very soon. Ambiance and vibe are great. They have an open kitchen which is takes it up a notch in my book. We got there a bit early and found a seat at the bar. Kudos to bartender Candelolrio (aka Candy) for accommodating my special drink request for a chocolate martini. He went to the kitchen and grabbed some chocolate syrup. They have amazing drinks.
The food was amazing. It’s meant to be shared and my wife, who is gluten free, has many options. We had the Mango Salad, Octopus, Pork Belly, and Skirt Steak. All were very flavorful. Looking forward to trying other dishes next time. The bill was about $100 not including the drink costs. Very reasonable for this level of food. The head chef, Mike Fischetti is well known in the Northern Cal scene and he didn’t disappoint. The owner, Kent, worked the room like a champ and shared the history and concept. This was a very nice touch. We are looking forward to our next meal there and will plan on bring more folks so that we can sample...
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