Ruta 15 Ceviche Bar|Mexican Kitchen — Restaurant in Long Beach

Fair prices. Good portions. Customer service could improve.

I had a birthday celebration at La Ruta with a friend, and while we enjoyed the food, there were several areas for improvement, particularly with customer service.

I attempted to make reservations online, but their system wasn’t working, so I called instead. I was disappointed that Carlos didn’t ask if we were celebrating a special occasion. When we arrived, the host seated us without confirming our reservation. We waited for 20 minutes without any staff acknowledging us. After 25 minutes of no service, a busser brought us tostadas and salsa, but the salsa was bland and lacking salt. The green tostadas were quite good, even on their own.

Eventually, our server Leti approached our table and asked if everything was okay. We expressed our frustration about the lack of service, and she immediately apologized, brought us water, and took our order. Leti's attentiveness turned what could have been a terrible experience into a positive one.

The food itself was delicious. The fish ceviche was rich and flavorful, and the guacamole with pork belly could easily be a meal on its own; the bits of panela cheese and the crunchiness of the chicharrón made for a great combination. For those who aren’t fans of fish, I recommend the cream of corn soup—it has a wonderful taste of roasted vegetables and pairs well with the toasted garlic bread. The salsa macha was fantastic as well, adding a crunchy, spicy nuttiness that elevated the flavors of the dishes.

As for the drinks, the first round of margaritas was underwhelming. We tried the cucumber jalapeño and the passion fruit flavors; the older bartender's drinks were noticeably better, showcasing his skill compared to the younger woman's.

Overall, the food was good and the prices were reasonable. However, the drinks were just okay, and I believe the host could enhance communication with the servers to ensure they acknowledge...

The Food: This place has been bookmarked for a bit and was so glad we finally get to dine here on a Thursday night with no wait! A ceviche bar?? Sure! They bring out a good selection of hot sauces that compliment almost every plate. The habanero was my favorite! The plates we ordered were all good and appetizing!

What we ordered: Aguachile Ruta 15 $24 Tostada Buchona $18 Mico Taco de Canasta Chilangos $15 Pulpo Zarandeado $35 1/2 Dozen Oysters $18 1/2 Dozen Scallops $18 Candy Shots $22 Mojito/Maracuya $13 Rum Chata $13 R15 Michelada $18 Coctel Campechano $26

The Service: We were greeted right away and felt comfortable and welcomed.

The Atmosphere: Love the setup and decor. They have a list of popular Mexican destinations on the wall, which got us reminiscing about which areas we have been to and gave us an idea of where to go next. The vibe was chill and not too loud.

Overall: Overall, the place was a good pick to go to if you’re feeling like seafood, and Agua Chile. The only improvement that I could think of is if they had a larger selection of mixed drinks or cocktails. They did have a good list of margaritas. It would be nice if the drinks got mixed up a little bit.

Parking: Free street parking. Can be difficult to find especially in that part of Long Beach.

Total Cost: $243.10 +tip for 4pp

Follow and Subscribe for more food and travel content! YT @RoseAndWorld7 IG...

AMAZING!!! Phenomenally surprised by this eatery/restaurant!!! Upbeat vibe ... GREAT staff knowledgeable about their menu! For starters, instead of traditional chips and salsa. I was surprised with nice little crated array of tostadas for their delicious housemade salsa that was tasty with a light smolder of heat, just enough tocsay hey but balanced perfectly as not to offend and have you saying where is the water!!! The tostadas themselves 1 open flame charred, 2nd deep fried as to make it flaky like a croissant(WOW!!!) and the third a sort of cactus tortilla tostada which was absolutely delicious and my favorite! Off their happy hour Menu, I tried their Shrimp Empenadad and they were cooked to perfection in my opinion the masa had a nice crispness to the texture the inside were as soft as what I imagine to be a the perfectly cooked corn biscuit. Another Wow Moment for me . Their Margaritas are 2 for $13 during happy hour which ends at 6PM. I was so pleased I decided to try another item but from their regular menu and I tried their Rib Eye Tacos and these knocked it out of the park for me! Perfect sear and char on the steak served with some stewed beans, choice of cilantro or Chile mayo and pico de gallo. Great Food, Great Drinks and Great service! If in this area of Long Beach or even in downtown this is definitely a stop we'll worth the little detour. SALUTE and Enjoy!!! You won't be...