Mr. Monkey and I went to dinner with some of his co-workers last week. These co-workers were visiting from the company's home office, which is in the Midwest. They requested Mexican food, so we headed to the nearby
La Serenata de Garibaldi.
I like La Serenata for entertaining. The food is not too Americanized, and the setting is serene without being stuffy. You can down a margarita and enjoy laughs with your friends and actually be able to hear your friends. The food is delicious, although I will admit a tad overpriced, especially given the seedy neighborhood.
Once you're in the restaurant, you will forget that you parked your car on a scary street. You will be too busy stuffing your face with complimentary fresh hot tortilla chips and mini quesadillas with picante sauce. I think I stuffed myself with too many.
Our dishes included the salmon special, mahi mahi special,
pescado gorditas, tacos, and
asada tampiquena. Our dining companions were very gracious in allowing me to snap photos of their meals! Thankfully, Mr. Monkey wasn't *too* embarrassed because at least we'd discussed my blogging ways before the food came. Tee hee!
After La Serenata, we headed to Little Tokyo to introduce our Midwestern friends to another L.A. staple.
Mr. Monkey and I tried the new coffee flavor. It seemed ok at first. I actually ate quite a bit. Then, about a third of the way through, I realized that coffee and tart do
not mix. At all. I actually felt ill. Totally grody to the max. And this coming from a pinkberry lover. Mr. Monkey ate the rest. He didn't have a problem with it. He saved me the mochi.
Luckily, our out-of-towners all got plain yogurt with their toppings of choice. They liked it.
Ooooh. I must try this new coffee flavor.
ReplyDeletei knew it! i may try a free sample. meh.
ReplyDeletei love the pescado gorditas at la serenata. the one in samo is in a slightly better neighborhood.
Mmmm...mahi mahi! Coffee-flavored Pinkberry? Hmm. I might take your word that it's not good. Tart + coffee sounds kind of gross.
ReplyDeleteoh, man. blogging from LAST week. this makes me a little sad, though i'm glad you're playing catch-up :)
ReplyDeleteand, boo. i thought for sure you'd just had a free sample of the poopberry. you paid MONEY for it. :/
I tasted a sample of the coffee flavor on Friday. It wasn't awful but I definitely wouldn't order that over plain.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the tart+coffee either. I was pretty disappointed in it, wish they would have picked something else like key lime or raspberry as their new flavor.
ReplyDeletela serenata looks yummy! i'm glad you took the mystery out of the coffee flavor; i will stick to what they do right: original! p.s. i am so glad that i'm not the only one who still uses the phrase "grody to the max!"
ReplyDeleteGreat. Even out of towners have tried this stuff. ;) The mexican food looks yummy and how cool is it that they let you snap photos? Pretty cool. :)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how that coffee flavor would taste...
ReplyDeleteYou know there is a parking lot in back with a "valet" who basically watches your car for you, right? You shouldn't park on the street there--there have been muggings on that block.
ReplyDelete