Pez Cantina — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So having a late lunch sometimes allows me to see what a place is certainly made of, at least with the service. Meeting Mohib here for lunch was a great plan but the bigger challenge was actually locating this restaurant. Sure, I know where Bunker Hill is and the Wells Fargo Tower is located. Well, someone better place that pin on the map and describe to anyone that it is in the same building as Mellon Bank on the back side facing Grand Ave and not on Hope Street. That's what I would tell anyone I'm meeting up with in the future. It was not Mo's fault as I did assume it was on Hope Street but that's what I get for assuming.

I think coming here in such an odd hour for lunch should allow the chef more than enough time to prepare the dish. So I'm expecting a punch and explosion of flavor. We ordered chips and salsa which is called Chips and Guac with house salsa. It was a few salsas to try but I'm sure glad I'm sharing this appetizer at $9 for the order. If I was here by myself, it would be the only thing I order. In addition, I ordered the Shrimp and Octopus Coctel which I further sampled the house salsas right into the coctel glass. It is $10 for the small and $15 for the large.

When we came here, it just opened. Actually it was the very first week. They were still training wait staff and bartenders. Where they seated us is a booth but it was one of those curved booth that should have seated one person. Picture this, a table or booth no matter how you sit as the table fits the booth but two grown ass men look (at least i felt) very uncomfortable. Then you try to fit two big ass plates with an order of chips and guac. The entire time it was both of us apologizing while we sit up proper in the booth. If you slouch, BANG, knee hits the table post or the other person's knee. I did hold off from posting this review since I knew it was brand spankin' new and many things to work out for service. I thought I would be back for a second visit but have not brought myself in here. That's all I have to say about it for now until I get to come back and check...

Went for a second time last night with my business partner... hadn't visited for a couple years (!!) and last night's meal was a reminder of what I've been missing -- really good food.

First, definitely start with the chips and salsa flight -- you'll get generous portions of SEVEN very distinct and delicious salsas, arranged from mild to spicy and all great. It's a good deal for the price, which isn't much more than what you typically spend on chips & salsa, only you'll get a ton of variety.

On our previous visit, we had the octopus appetizer and the Sea of Cortez Kanpachi Sashimi, both are highly recommended as the place prides itself on its seafood (and rightly so). This time we tried the Pacifico beer battered fried crab appetizer and the vegetarian-friendly potato & broccolini-stuffed taquitos, and both of these were absolutely delicious.

Feedback about the crab appetizer: the cold salad (slaw of green papaya, green beans, red onion) which served as the bed for the crab was cold and refreshing, but maybe a little too cold. The plate itself was very cold, which suggests the slaw was already plated and sitting in a refrigerator, which is not a very appetizing thought.

For our entree, we both had the macadamia-crusted lamb chops. These were really yummy and cooked perfectly medium-rare. They come with some roasted radishes, which I had honestly never had before and are delicious as a roasted root starch. For sides, we ordered the corn esquites and the cilantro-lime rice -- both highly recommended as well.

For dessert, the churro & ice cream was a real keeper. The churros are so...

I went on Cinco De Mayo for lunch with a friend for our reservation at noon but got there a bit early and were immediately seated, the place was not overly busy for a regular day let alone the holiday. 10 minutes go by and our server never shows up, the tables seated after us with larger parties were already getting chips and dip and being asked about their drink orders. I went to the host station to ask for a server. The server that had been taking care of the larger tables comes to ask us our order, we order our chips and dip, drinks and food all at once. 10 more minutes go by and and I go to the host station and ask for our drinks and chips/dip. Our server comes back with them and blames me for our drinks/chips being late because my drink needed to be made from scratch.

Our food and drinks were great... service was still terrible. I asked the host if I could speak to the manager... after arguing with him about the bad service and how the server blamed me for our wait he decided to take the drinks off of both of our receipts. We each left the waitress $1.00! I am always giving good servers between 20-30% and I knowhow hard they work and how much they deserve it.

Our waitress added over $13 to both of our charges. Thankfully my credit card company flags things like this and I was able to dispute it. I spoke to the manager and he did not seem convinced even after I reminded him of the events and showed him my fraud alert and the over tip. I hope Angelica/Anjelica learns her lesson and doesn't do this to other people in the future.

Best to just avoid this place all together! I am...