La Serenata Cantina — Restaurant in Los Angeles

The staff is awkward and generally not in a good mood. We ordered chips, salsa, and guacamole while looking a the menu.

The chips were either out a bag and were very old, as they stunk like old oil. The cheese on top of the chips was not even melted nor was it fresh. The salsa tasted like sh** and was very bitter and sour, I think it was way too old and had gone bad. The worse was the guacamole, which was so old that the color on the surface was much darker than the color under and it tasted sour and as if you are having a fizzy water.

The decor was awful... the tables were covered with cheap plastic and were not cleaned properly. Food from previous customers was still spread and smudged on the table plastic cover. The room had a bad echo and was way too loud.

The service was terrible. The lady who served us could not speak a word of English and had to ask the host to help her. The host, a tall bod man, was extremely rude. When we complained about the appetizer he said "You don't like it? You still have to pay for it". That is where I just stop talking to the man and paid for the food we had order and could not resist more than a bite (which i wanted to throw up on the table). After paying we immediately left the restaurant. The valet guy was the only nice guy and told us that it is very common that people who come here are very dissatisfied and walk out after an appetizer or a drink.

One of the ZAGAT users had mentioned that this restaurant is the best Mexican restaurant. I just want to make one thing very clear... this place does not even qualify as a food sh** hole let alone being a restaurant.

Summary: Food: distasteful, old, expired, ugly Decor: ugly, nasty, filthy, dirty Service: terrible, rude, aweful Cost per person: too much!

FYI: a note to ZAGAT... you guys are screwing your review quality by even considering this place in...

La Serenata de Garibaldi proved to be the perfect venue for my milestone birthday celebration. From the moment our group stepped through the door, we were enveloped by the warm, inviting atmosphere that seamlessly blends traditional Mexican charm with contemporary style of cooking. The restaurant's ambiance always strikes that perfect balance between festive and cozy. But it's the food that truly stole the show. The kitchen elevates Mexican cuisine to an art form. We started with their signature guacamole, ceviche, quesadillas, all exquisite. Their mole, a recipe that reportedly took years to perfect, deserves special mention. Deep, rich, and layered with subtle hints of chocolate and chile, it transformed ordinary enchiladas into something extraordinary. Even simple sides like the black beans and Mexican rice were prepared with obvious care and attention to detail. Everyone was just enthusiastic! Irma and Marco supervised everything with care and cheerfulness. When it came time for the birthday cake, I was so lucky to have two: a Tres Leches and a Flan. Why choose just one? The bar program deserves its own paragraph. Their margaritas, made with premium tequila and fresh-squeezed lime juice, struck the perfect balance between tart and sweet. La Serenata provided exactly the right mix of festivity and sophistication for a milestone birthday celebration with 30 guests. Whether you're planning a special celebration or simply seeking an exceptional Mexican dining experience, La Serenata de Garibaldi delivers on all fronts. It's not just a meal – it's a memory in the making and La Serenata created one I'll cherish forever. I and some of the guests come from a culture with very high culinary expectations: all of them were met...

La Seranata is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles- period. I’m sure there are many other good ones but I’ve been going there on and off for years and the quality of the food has always been amazing. (I live in the Valley so I’m not over in the West L.A. area that much.) I lived in Mexico City for a period years ago and traveled in many states in Mexico, and this “approach” and quality of food is not extraordinary there, but here, especially in Anglo dominated areas it is, except maybe from street trucks, as in my area of Sherman Oaks, where I get a full meal for 2 for $12. Serenata is one block away from what used to be one of the busiest movie theaters (Landmark) in the area with hundreds of people pouring out and filling up the restaurant on weekends. It’s gone and Serenata is almost empty now. It’s great for me because my in-laws live close by and I go there any chance I get. I’m writing this because I know it will go away unless it gets busier, and I really don’t want that to happen.

A word about the “ambiente”, the “feel” of the place. It feels like East L.A. or Mexico, about 40 years ago. It’s calm and was so even when it was full of people, because there’s no hint of corporate music or anti-humanistic management. It is still got a family atmosphere. The menu includes moles which are first rate and are rarely offered at more corporate outlets.

Also, the small garden is very pleasant in late afternoon or evening, shielded away from the boulevard’s noise with a tropical feel. The help are super personable. My wife and I are planning to stage a party for friends and family just to introduce people to the place but also to take advantage of the sheer pleasure of...