Valle Luna “Lunatics” — Restaurant in Phoenix

Disappointing! Expectations were high based on others' pre-opening comments being excited for this place to open. Lunatics is replacing a previous mexican restaurant, so there's a direct comparison to beat.

The decor change and remodel make this place feel smaller and less energetic. No longer feels like a gathering place. Went from colorful & open to smaller feel with darker decor. The wait area remodel feels like an afterthought. Kitchen was obviously extended based on the new wall location, but the wait area seating and furniture is a Hodge-podge mix with no flow. It's like they just bought what they could find at estate sales so there could be a seating area.

The food is a definite upgrade from the previous place but more generic recipes than unique flavors. No different than Top Shelf. Not having dined at a Valle Luna before, was hoping for more unique recipes based on the excitement from others that couldn't wait for Valle Luna and raved about the food. Feels more like 70's mexican restaurant and food. I had a Chimichanga, abuelos (gramdmas) specialty item, was no different than any I've had before like Garcias or Miguel's. Top Shelf has much better atmosphere and decor with the same generic recipes, so I don't see them feeling much of an impact from this place opening. When I say "generic" I mean lacking layers of flavor. It's all cheese & sauce overflow mixing all items on a plate together where the food starts to all taste the same.

The server was friendly and checked back regularly. This is an upgrade from the prior place, although the food came out too quickly, though. We had food backed up on the table between appetizers and entrees due to timing.

I'll take Camineros' food quality & taste and their family recipes all day. Much more authentic flavors and more of a freshness to the food tasting layers of flavor.

I'll leave it to the Valle Luna experts to determine what makes Lunatics different from their standard restaurant model. Is there a difference other than size?

So, food is upgrade from previous restaurant who's family recipe was a hard shell ground beef taco that rivaled Taco Bell, service upgrade, atmosphere & energy a step back, and the food is nothing to go out of your way for or drive past other similar restaurants. Missed opportunity to blow people away. The West Side is starving for a really good, unique sit-down mexican restaurant....

Called at 630PM to place a carry out order. Was told they can't take my order because they are too busy. Then said try back in an hour and I'll see if we can help you. Not very professional. Have dined inside and food and service was great. Placed carry out before and food was not very hot and they did not provide correct salsas ordered. You don't find that out till you drive all the way home. Need to be better.

01/28/2025 New entry. Went into the establishment and placed a ToGo order. Sat at bar, ordered a pint. So far so good. I ordered two chicken tacos(Taco Tuesday). and I ordered a Shredded beef fundido dinner. in the past at this restuarant and any other in the valley, when you order the dinner, it comes with chips and salsa. Well not anymore at Lunatics. If you want chips, they charge you for them. So I went ahead and got them. Why, becuase I wanted them. To go order cam out and the chicken tacos were wrapped in foil on an actual plate. The funidido and chips and salsa were in the bag. I told them I needed that to go too and once complete, I was off. Flour chicken tacos, good. Little soggy but good. The Shredded beef fundido? Not even close. Undercookd tortilla and super soggy meat inside. Beans and rice were fine but hard to compete with the soggy undercooked and underwhelming tortilla of a mess fundido. Needless to say, it was no fun.

Won't attempt to order or go in to order a togo from here again. If you are doing dine-in, you are in for a treat. To go orders, I recommend...

I love having valley Luna next to me again! I grew up with the one on cave Creek going to it since I was a baby. I am a born and raised Phoenician, and Sonoran Mexican food is the greatest food ever created. Valley Luna is number one in my book for the best Sonoran Mexican food and restaurants in the valley. I then moved in my twenties next to the one on Bell road, and went there for a long time many years me and my wife both grew up loving it. And now that I'm in far northwest Peoria one opened up not a 10-15 minute drive from my house now! I am over around 102nd avenue and jamax but going to 67th avenue and Happy valley is worth the drive! I have lots of family friends that know the owners through the Phoenix fire department. This is not some tourist trap place or anything like that. This is one place where all Phoenix native locals know about by name and everyone absolutely loves it! The smaller atmosphere of this location I really like, but it can get really busy at times. But they're larger locations like Bell and cave Creek that seat probably hundreds of people also weekly have wait times as well. Value Luna is one place where you cannot go wrong if you want true Sonoran Mexican food, and none of that Baja junk or Taco Bell junk! This is true...