Come for the Entertainment, Stay for the Food!
It's not often I make time to write reviews, although I should, but considering I had a great experience at Alegria, I am making time...
Great Latin cuisine isn't hard to come by in SoCal, but Alegria is more than just great Latin cuisine, it is an immersive cultural experience. This was my second visit, the first since they've updated the menu and moved their flamenco performance from a tiny stage near the bar to a room of its own.
As my mother, boyfriend, and I were escorted to our table, past the curtains that separate the performance room from the bar, the flutter of flamenco welcomed us on the other side. The annoyances that dulled my first visit were quickly lifted. Gone were the distracting television sets and clamor from the bar--left was a room full of attentive spectators excited to partake in a beautiful and unique dance and culinary experience.
The evening began with a flight of Sangria--a traditional red, white peach, and a seasonal strawberry basil--paired with the Ropita Vieja and Empanadas to whet our appetites. All these made for delicious offerings, but on an especially hot evening, the crisp and fresh Peach Sangria plus the Ropita Vieja were the dream combo. The braised beef topped with arugula and feta served on a crisp mini tortilla was the right bite of savory and refreshing.
We paused after appetizers and drinks to enjoy a little more of the performance before ordering entrees. The room was vibrant with people clapping and shouting "Ole!" as Flamenco dancer, Karina Velasco, taught us some moves--the Flamenco Palmas. I looked over at my mother who was engrossed in the performance--she was beaming with Alegria! And so was I! The restaurant is basically in my backyard, and it is extremely exciting to know a place with this sort of experience exists within walking distance of my apartment.
After all that excitement we were ready for dinner. Our selections: Salmon con Whiskey, Enchiladas con Mole and El Gaucho. The presentation was gorgeous and each bite didn't disappoint. Having grown up on my mother's incomparable Mole recipe, finding a better dish is unlikely, but the Enchiladas con Mole were satisfying. Not better than mom's but the best I've had and will probably ever have outside of her kitchen!
The Salmon con Whiskey, although flavorful, did not have as much of a kick as I had hoped or would have preferred, but if you're looking for a simple healthy fish dish for the evening, it may do for you. This was my mom's choice and she was very happy with it.
El Gaucho, which our great and knowledgeable waitress Lily suggested, was by far my favorite--seared to perfection in all the right places, topped with a robust and mouthwatering chimichurri sauce and served with a side of rosemary potatoes and sauteed spinach! The menu's description certainly didn't do it justice.
During Friday and Saturday night performances, Alegria requires a $25 minimum per person. For the caliber of performance, entertainment, outstanding service and food you receive, it is such a tiny price to pay. I've paid almost double that price for a similar experience elsewhere and was extremely disappointed. Alegria doesn't disappoint. read more