"We entered through the bar area, immediately greeted by friendly staff – all of whom were absolutely lovely. The bar itself is cozy, with a few tables and bar seating, and it had a nice dim ambiance that suggested it would be a great spot later in the day. The hostess seated us in a booth in the main dining area, and thankfully, there was no wait at that time.
The décor was quite nostalgic, taking me back to the 90s with shades of my youth, including memories of wearing dickies and my initial belt buckle. A picture from "Mi Vida Loca" added to the wave of pleasant nostalgia. The music complemented the overall theme perfectly. Our server, Arleen, was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, making our experience even better.
Both my fiancé and I are pescatarians, and we were pleased to see plenty of options on the menu, including various plant-based and vegan dishes. We started with complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was fresh and had the ideal amount of kick, while the chips were light and crispy, though they could have used a bit of salt. While there were no salt and pepper shakers on the table, we still enjoyed the chips immensely.
For our meal, we ordered tuna empanadas with chimichurri dipping sauce and a chili relleno plate that came with rice and beans. The three empanadas were incredibly light and flaky, filled with moist, flavorful tuna that wasn't overpoweringly fishy. They paired beautifully with the chimichurri. We polished off every bite. The relleno was perfectly cooked, featuring a thin egg coating with a juicy, succulent poblano pepper stuffed with Oaxacan cheese, all topped with a delicious tomato sauce and Mexican crema. The beans and rice were well-cooked and seasoned too.
Next, we tried three mix-and-match tacos: lobster, Baja fish, and blackened swordfish. Each one was fantastic, but the lobster taco, topped with crispy fried leeks, was my favorite. Although there was an enticing drink menu, we kept it simple and opted for horchata instead, which was delightful – not overly sweet and had a delightful homemade taste.
A few days later, I’m still reminiscing about how incredible the food was. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and will definitely return soon. Don’t miss out on La Unica!"
