La Serenata De Garibaldi

A slowly expanding L.A. institution, La Serenata De Garibaldi serves the greatest hits of Mexican food plus a few off-the-beaten-path dishes, in an ever-so-slightly upscale atmosphere. La Serenata, as its commonly known, began at the Boyle Heights location in 1985 and reflects the Rodriguez family’s unreconstructed Mexican approach to cooking—it’s gourmet Mexican, but by no means fusion: Appetizers include fish and shrimp cocktails; the $15 to $25 main courses stress seafood cooked in a variety of regional styles, along with the standard chicken, beef and pork favorites. But amid the enchiladas, chile rellenos and fish tacos, you’ll also find chicken in mole, shrimp in chipotle sauce and lengua—i.e. tongue—dishes that confirm La Serenata’s connection to bona fide Mexican cuisine and not the watered-down stuff that you can get at any fast-food joint in America. Margaritas from the fully stocked bar are $7 to $10 a glass and $30 per pitcher, while beer runs $3.50 to $4.25.