03/05/09

WORST MANAGEMENT - DO NOT WASTE YOUR $ HERE

by ChadGut

I made a reservation at Loteria Grill using OpenTable. When I got to the restaurant, they told me it would be a 30-40 minute wait. I asked to speak to the manager. He did not offer to buy us a round of drinks while we waited. He did not ask me to come back another time and that he would take care of us. When I asked him to at least pay for our $8 parking, he told me he could "send me a check". If you want the food, go to the stand they have at the Farmer's Market, but whatever you do, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AT THIS RIPOFF, POORLY RUN RESTAURANT.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: Horrible Management, No Respect for Diners or Reservations

01/30/09

Fantastic mexican food in a very nice ambiance

by dreamchaser

Great food! Very nice ambiance. Way better than what I saw on their website. I was very pleasantly surprised at its decor. Wonderful service. I had the Suiza chicken enchillada. Fantastic! But the topper that everyone in my party was dying over was the ice cream. Soooo good!

• Pros: Great food, great service, great ambiance at a very good price!
• Cons: I wish valet was a little cheaper than $8 but that is the norm for that area...

01/06/09

Not bad for my first visit, I'll go back... Woops. Nevermind

by mhb1954

I went to Loteria last week on New Year's night and it was a very good experience, despite the initial problems we encountered in trying to understand their seating rules. The place has about 40 tables, but only 10 of them were in use, but they couldn't seat us until another three hours (9pm!) because they had reservations for the other tables. I discussed this with the owner who happened by and I explained that I thought it was odd that they wouldn't seat us. He offered us seats at the counter and immediately bought us a round of drinks and explained that he didn't want to have to turn down people who show up for reservations (all tables were booked). Thinking about it, it struck us as very thoughtful, and then we got the first cancellation and they sat us at a table anyway! The mole enchiladas were EXCELLENT, some of the best I've ever had. The rice and beans were served in smaller ramekins, which I'm not used to (I like the gewy, bubbly plates of food oozing with cheese, so this presentation was a bit spartan, but nonetheless, I would highly recommend it. The drinks were not bad (heck they were free!), the chips were ok and the salsa is probably original, homemade, but it's a different flavor than I like, but it was good, too. The service was great, and we were quite impressed with them buying us drinks without us even asking or complaining about anything (but the seating process). We definitely will go back. The atmosphere was lively, the place was open and the crowd seemed pretty nice. Definitely worth a return! I returned for a fourth visit on 25 August and I have say that I was not happy. The server kept rushing us, even tho we were still reading the menus (holding them up means "give me some more time!") and then wait staff constantly asking us if we're done and can they take the plates. There must be a plate shortage (and there was hardly anyone there!). Well, a "patience shortage" soon developed! I got really tired of the intrusions and told them so. Also, the drinks are ridiculously expensive and very small, and nothing noteworthy on taste. Last, the chicken tasted like it was from yesterday (an old taste, I know it well), so I think this is "!Adios!" for Loteria.

• Pros: Nice decor...
• Cons: Rushed service, expensive drinks and day-old chicken

01/02/09

Very good service, superb Mole Enchildas, not sure why so many others are negative, could be the

by mhb1954

Hi,

I was surprised to see some negative comments about this place, but maybe it's the "newness" factor. I initially went to Loteria on 1 Jan 09 at 6pm, not expecting a crowd, and the place was already booked. The hostess was a little frazzled by the influx of diners, and we couldn't understand why there were so many empty tables, but they didn't want to seat us. It turns out that all tables were for up-coming reservations and they didn't want to seat us and then have to bump a reservation. That made, sense, but we talked to an owner who happened to ask how we were doing, and we decided to sit at the bar. We would at least get some food and not have to wait. But get this: the owner felt badly that we would not get a table when it seemed like one could get one, so the house buys us a round of drinks, without our even ever asking for one! That's pretty generous, I thought, so then we ordered some food, and then shortly after that, the owner came by and moved us to a table, saying that someone had cancelled, so, we got not only a free round of drinks, but a table as we wanted to begin with! Then, the food: mole sauce is hard to make, I think, and the chicken and the cheese enchiladas with mole were both excellent! The serving style was not what I was used to: I love those plates where everything is hot and bubbly and swimming in cheese and sauces, but Loteria serves a more spartan appearing plate. Nonetheless, the food was excellent, as was the service. I can't imagine not going back there soon for some more mole. Loteria also has nice atmosphere, the place is clean, and table service is excellent: prompt and courteous. And how could you complain when you get a free round of drinks for the brief inconvenience of waiting for a table at the counter? The owners clearly have the customer in mind, and I don't hesitate to recommend a return. You might win "the cuisine lottery" by trying Loteria! (LOL)

• Pros: Good customer rapport, excellent mole, good drinks
• Cons: Food presentation was a little spartan, but the food was still good.

12/27/08

First time good, second time very disappointing

by GrantW

My wife and I went here a few weeks ago and were very happy. The food was excellent and the service charming (though the carnitas too spicy, it was nonetheless delicious). The restaurant was not crowded, which surprised us on a Saturday evening since LA Magazine had given it a great review. On the basis of that experience we went back last night, taking our out-of-town in laws. This time the restaurant was full of people. We were seated immediately in the middle of the room but it took 15 minutes before anyone came to us. The table next to us was seated after and served before us. Meals took ages to arrive also - we polished off 3 plates of chips before our dinners arrived. Even then, one of our party had ordered a side dish which arrived 5 minutes AFTER we had finished our main meals. We assumed they'd forgotten about it altogether. (we sent it back). We also ordered a second round of drinks which came late too). Even the food this time was disappointing - less tasty than our first visit, and wasn't hot. Overall it was just a very poor service experience. We won't be going back a third time.

12/19/08

Not great going in - Even worse coming out

by WayneB1193

Way overpriced, unless you're in the market for a $150 enema. I'm a big fan of Mexican food, but this one has been placed far, far down on the list (somewhere around El Coyote and their mayo-infused guacamole). The carnitas was very spicy, but it was nothing compared to the burn it caused a few hours later. The staff was friendly enough, though that's kind of like saying the firing squad seemed like a sweet bunch of guys.

If this sounds like I'm not being fair, consider the fact that this place charges 5 star prices. And that doesn't include parking, tips or the sweaty, painful hours you'll have to endure once you get home.

12/19/08

I FEEL USED

by eltejanogordo

As a fan of the original, I thought I'd try their new Hollywood location. Bad idea.

Things started out innocently enough. The hostess greeted us with a smile, then led us to our seats on the enclosed patio - at which point, I was nearly knocked unconscious by the aroma. The whole section smelled of mildew or warm feet. Normally, that would be enough to warrant a half star. Well, it gets worse. The waitress was quite pushy, repeatedly upselling us. It felt like we were at a Mexican Olive Garden. At her suggestion, we ordered guacamole (decent), the chicharron de queso (underwhelming - had the taste and texture of burned cheese, only greasier) and a pitcher of margaritas. The margaritas were decent, though the pitcher was very heavy on the ice. We were a party of four - we squeezed out just over one glass per person.

The entrees were good (although be warned - the sauce that comes with carnitas is very spicy), and we even considered ordering dessert (which our waitress once again tried to force upon us). All in all, if you take away the stench and the burned cheese, not a terrible meal.

Then the check arrived. We were more than a bit surprised to see how much the pitchers of margaritas cost. $30? Nope. $40? Nope, getting warmer, though... Try $65. SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS for a pitcher of ice and a splash of margarita. In all my days of dining out, this was perhaps the most offensive charge I have ever seen. Our waitress explained they may have used premium tequila. Even if Pancho Villa had hand-distilled the tequila himself, I would not pay $65 for margaritas. Had we ordered them separately - at $9 - we would have saved almost $30. And the price is nowhere on the menu. Pretty sneaky, sis...

One final note: the manager did knock $15 off each pitcher, but it was too little, too late.

Never again.

11/27/08

Stick to their stand at the Farmer's Market

by truebluesy

I am a huge fan of the the Loteria stand at the Farmer's Market, so I was excited to try their new restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. I expected that there would be an expanded menu, more traditional decor and margaritas to match their great good. I was disappointed on several levels; the margaritas were weak, small and incredibly overpriced ($12-15), the food was delivered warm to cold, and the place looked and felt like a cafeteria. To top things off, the waitress got the bill wrong three times, charging us for drinks from the table next to ours. Not a great showing--but even with all this I would recommend their food, it is delicious. Just go to the Farmer's Market on Third Street--it's cheaper and better.

The second location of the popular Farmer's Market favorite features the same authentic Mexican menu with a liquor license upgrade.

by Matthew Allard

In Short
Fans of the original location at The Grove's Farmer's Market will likely flock to Loteria's second home in Hollywood. This time around diners are greeted to a sit-down atmosphere with waiters and waitresses taking orders right at the table. The other updates include a liquor license (finally, margaritas!) and a more industrial vibe that befits the restaurant's new 'hood. Soaring ceilings with exposed ductwork and colorful lifesize Spanish tarot cards dominate the scene. Whether eating indoors or out, on a semi-secluded patio by the street, Loteria's menu is still steadfast and unchanged. Juicy chicken, beef or pork tacos are cheap--and messy, heaped with guacamole, onions and a hint of cilantro. For added spice their pollo en pipian rojo is a fiery winner, with spicy pumpkin seed, peanut sauce and onion. There's even a nice selection for vegetarians, too.

07/23/08

Great Mexican

by restaurantfoodcriticLA

The food was great. The Tacos were made to order, very fresh. I had the Vegetarian Mushroom and Onion and Potatos and peppers which were really tasty. Also enjoyed the Plantains. It took a while for the Margaritas and food but all was forgotten once we began eating. The restaurant itself is bright for Hollywood ... but comfortable and kid friendly.

Plan to go back and try breakfast.