Toca Madera

Toca Madera Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: This sceney spot along West Third Street is a sexy ode to modern Mexican cuisine. Diners are treated to an alluring interior of Arabesque accents, intricate dark woods, risqué Dia de los Muertos artwork and a 100-foot crystal quartz bar offering plenty of photo-worthy cocktails and a large selection of tequilas and mezcals. Add in the loud music and dressed-to-impress crowd, and it feels a bit like Vegas.

Likes: tableside hot stone Wagyu; the churro ice cream sandwich.
Dislikes: if you indulge into the large selection of tequilas and mezcals, don't drive.

About the food: Everything from the entrées to the cocktails features exclusively organic ingredients and there is even a separate vegan menu that mirrors most of the regular menu. The “barrio-style fine dining” marries sustainable, locally sourced ingredients with traditional Latin flavors in dishes like ceviches, tableside hot stone Wagyu, Ensenada-style fish tacos, Oaxaca empanadas and mahi mahi Veracruz. For dessert, try the churros and cinnamon ice cream sandwich, also available as vegan. Weekend brunch temptations include a chicken and churro waffle, avocado toast and tres leches french toast.