Conchinita pibil family platter definitely serves 3 people. It comes with a big dish of rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas. We definitely over ordered! Pisco sour is still delicious. Service was great. Sangria had too much cinnamon. That was the only complaint from the table. read more

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The place is so nice, we had a date night here and did not regret it. I love how big, open, and clean the place was. The food was delicious and freshly made. I loved how well-seasoned everything was and even though we were full, we had to get dessert, it was such a generous amount much of it, that we had to pack it up to take home. We'll be back to enjoy another meal here soon. read more

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So bummed that our experience was as disappointing as it was. We started with chips and salsa and the aguachile. The salsa was essentially just blended tomatoes, maybe some onion, possibly lime, but it was so plain that we were genuinely surprised it was being served. The aguachile was even worse. The shrimp were only butterflied into large, floppy pieces, so we ended up cutting them ourselves just to make them manageable. Trying to scoop that texture onto a tortilla chip was not enjoyable. Hoping to turn things around, we ordered guacamole. Unfortunately, it was just mashed avocado with maybe salt and the faintest hint of onion. No depth, no balance, nothing memorable. For mains, I ordered the birria bowl, which was actually flavorful and the one redeeming part of the meal. My husband got the taco sampler, and the only taco that stood out at all was the birria. When my birria bowl arrived, it came as a bowl of shredded meat with a separate plate of toppings, including a random pile of dried herbs that looked like oregano. When I asked our server what it was for, he said, "to put on stuff." We honestly laughed because we thought he was joking. But he wasn't. It was surprising that he couldn't explain something that was on the plate. Having traveled throughout Mexico and growing up in San Diego, I've never been served a random pile of dried seasoning like that without context. Toward the end of our meal, there was live music. I have no issue with live music at all, but this was so loud that my husband and I had to raise our voices just to talk across a two-top table. It completely took away from the experience. Overall, everything felt poorly managed. The staff seemed undertrained, and aside from the birria, the food was below par. This location has so much potential, and I'd love to see it succeed. The neighborhood doesn't need an overworked or complicated menu, it needs simple, flavorful Mexican staples done really well. Right now, it feels like it's missing that mark. There's a big opportunity to bring in dishes people usually have to go out of their way for, while still keeping things approachable and consistent. Without that shift, it may be hard for this spot to last. read more

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Elevated Mexican food and then some! Ambience, food, and service was perfection. The mole was one of the best I've had! Perfect for a date night or casual dinner with friends! read more

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Had a nice meal at Nomada. Recently taken over from another Mexican restaurant. The decor was not changed but is a nice Mexican decor. Started with a couple of Cadillac Margaritas which were quite good. The chips and salsa were somewhat different with the chips being dusted wish some sort of spice. The salsa was quite good. Between us we had the Chicken Mole and Enchiladas plate. I found the mole to be quite tasty with the right amount of spice. The chicken was thighs (much better than breasts) and were very tender. The mole was served with white rice, not Mexican rice, and flour tortillas. (Given a choice of corn or flour). The flour tortillas are made in house and were very good. The enchiladas were also quite good. One with the mole sauce and one with roja. Service was prompt and friendly. Overall, a nice meal. read more

Nómada - Chicken mole with rice and flour tortillas. - Seafood Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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since late January, way too many of the family's eating out experiences have been epic failures. NOMADA was no exception. the allure of spending a hundred bucks on food that compares poorly with dinner at Taco Bell is lost on me. we ate here on a Sunday evening so maybe the regular kitchen staff had the night off after the busy weekend and the dishwashers were doing the cooking. the nineteen-year-old ordered an appetizer for the table. I was less than jumping up and down excited by the prospect of trying their BIRRIA CHIMICHANGA BITES (chili braised beef rolled in flour tortillas and fried with salsa macha aioli and consommé for dipping). fortunately, as my wife's fond of reminding me, I'm wrong most of the time. a knock-off of the Southwest Egg Rolls ubitiquious at chain restaurants since the mid-eighties, the mini-chimi's were derivative but tasty. the consommé was way too French (clean, clear, and boring as hell) and would have been better left rustic. nobody at my house has nut allergies, but be aware that macha typically includes peanuts which should have been disclosed on the menu. still, the overall dish was tasty enough to earn a second star. that they arrived hot from the fryer was a contributing factor. everything went steeply downhill from there. my POZOLE (a chili broth soup with pork and hominy) arrived at room temperature and the flavor was muddled and weak. the kitchen neglected to include the bolillo (roll) listed on the menu. cilantro, included with the rest of the adds (Mexican OREGANO, diced WHITE ONION, and a LIME slice) was dry and papery and looked like it was leftover from Cinco de Mayo (and it's March already). doubt the veracity of that statement? look at my photograph. cilantro's supposed to add an herbaceous freshness but mine was nearly as dry as the oregano. the wife unit's CHICKEN ENCHILADAS with Mexican crema and black mole and bean and rice sides was another dismal failure. nothing was warmer than room temperature. the beans (and I LOVE beans) were completely without flavor. the rice was neither rinsed (or fried in a bit of lard before cooking, my preference) and was sat on her plate in a gloppy, starchy lump. like the rest of the dinner (except for the mini-chimi's), the OVEN-ROASTED LOCAL CATCH (sea bream) with roasted veggies, salsa fresca, rice and beans was another room temperature mess. the restaurant is lovely. except that they failed to catch the kitchen's innumerable missteps, the front of the house was attentive and for the most part professional. however, the kitchen staff needs to be marched up the temple steps so their still beating hearts can be carved out with an obsidian blade. all the entrees arrived at room temperature and under-seasoned. my request for salt, devolved into serious drama and I don't remember EVER adding additional salt to a restaurant dish. confidence is high NOMADA's fat-free, under seasoned recipes were cooked up by a cardiologist and not a professional chef. the dishes we tried were poorly designed and even more poorly executed. I nearly never write a restaurant review for less than 3 stars (almost eighty percent of mine are 4 and 5 stars) that's not a national fast-food chain. This place is the exception: 2 stars rounded up from 1.1. if it's not, NOMADA should be Spanish for never again. learn from our mistake: for the love of all things delicious, resist the urge to eat here sober. have a margarita or three before moving beyond the chips and salsa. read more

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Found this place off of yelp after searching for nearby "cocktails" Very clean and fantastic ambience to enjoy authenticate Mexican food. This is an hidden area located deep in Carlsbad. I am so glad we found this little gem! The inside reminds me of an old town in San Diego but way better. We sat indoors and requested to sit facing window to see the view. The chips and salsa are very good. Not your average chips. They are seasoned with a tiny hint of spice. Ordered an espresso martini and my friend had a pisco sour. Really tasty! That espresso martini was one of a kind. Sweet enough to make me forget I actually had alcohol in it. On this visit, we shared cajeta pancakes and the birria bowl with flour tortillas. The chile braised beef melted in your mouth. The pancakes. Oh my!!!! Fluffy, moist and drizzled with cajeta (creamy caramel sauce mixed with warm spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Topped with sliced blackberries and strawberries. Our server, Kylie, was great. Not only did she serve us with so much attentiveness, she helped us when we did not know what to decide on. She was great. Prompt, professional, yet still super fun! To end our visit, we were served tres leches. It was ok. I wanted the flan but there was not any made at the time. I would definitely come back here to try other items on the menu. read more

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Super cute spot tucked away in La Costa. They've got indoor and outdoor seating and bars, so there's plenty of space! We went on a Saturday night and got seated quickly. The cocktail list looked so good, but we decided on some wine from Mexico because we've been dying to try some from down there. The cab merlot blend was nice and great body. We got the birria bites and they were really good. Great flavor, comes out super hot. They're kinda like egg rolls filled with birria and cheese with a salsa aoli. We got the carne Asad plate and the fish taco and prime ribeye taco. The plate is plenty of food. Good quality meat. The tacos were good but idk if a $17 taco is something I'd regularly do. Overall we had a great time. And they had a salsa dancing class that Saturday night! It was really cool to watch and you could easily just join in. read more

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Went back and brought some friends so this time we sat in the dining area. Such a nice, warm vibe. Great decor. Our server was Fatima and she was friendly and efficient. We tried the Cochinita Pibil Pork (strongly recommended by another friend who had gone before) and it was absolutely amazing! The overall dish was delicious, so flavorful. The pork was so tender and the veggies it came with were tender-crisp. The sides were rice and tortillas. The sauce it came with was spicy and perfect for the dish. We also had various margaritas, mango and strawberry which were perfectly balanced. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food & drinks. Another great experience and looking forward to many more! read more

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Glad to see this place has opened again this time with a new name and new food. Food was so tasty and the service was amazing. Chef Alex Carballo stopped by our table. It was wonderful to meet him and hear his ideas for the restaurant. I am looking forward to them adding the musical talent and also the weekend brunch. Will definitely be back! read more

Nómada - Seafood Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Our server (Evan) was top drawer in every respect. Totally on point and respectful in every way. We feel bad he was having to serve the food the establishment prepared. The street tacos were almost inedible - please know this review is not issued lightly - we were actually hoping and looking forward to this new establishment being a welcome addition to our neighborhood. That said we only dream of the original Crazy Burro would somehow reappear at this location !!! Sorry but we are thumbs down as the flavors, pricing, quantity make this a never return place to eat or treat our family. read more

This took the place of Alejandras. They may even still be the same owner as my debit said Alejandras on my statement. I had the queso birria, chili braised beef, cilantro, onions, consomme and cheese. Exceptional. I had the Granizados drink which was an expresso martini slushie of sorts with shaved chocolate. OMG. I would come back just for this drink alone. Staff was amazing. Seems that they are still in the soft opening phase so hours are limited. But so far I'm loving what I'm experiencing. Go check it out. You won't be dissapointed. read more

Came without reservations for dinner and we were able to sit in their patio area. We've been here a few times under the old ownership and never saw the patio this lively or even used. This place is a vibe and we loved it. Our server was friendly and attentive. Food came out fairly quickly except for my dish which lagged several minutes behind the rest of my party...good thing my margarita was delicious. Good flavors throughout and entire party was content and stuffed. Will definitely be back. read more

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There are so many great things about this new restaurant. The atmosphere and ambience is incredible, so beautiful and just very Mexican rustic. It's absolutely gorgeous. The greenery, the outdoor space, the indoor space...it's all beautiful. We went on a Sunday afternoon and the outdoor bar was closed so we sat at the indoor bar which is lighted from below and looks like a salt cave. It's really pretty. We ordered appetizers and cocktails and beer. Our bartender was Tim and he was incredible! He explained the menu, explained the ingredients, any questions we had, and any additional request that we had he went over and beyond to fulfill them. He was so friendly, chatted with us, and really made us feel at home. He can read a room! We ordered the Laguna, which was absolutely delicious and refreshing, gin forward. They brought chips and salsa to us which consisted of seasoned chips and a Smokey salsa that were absolutely delicious. I want to take all of that home! We ordered the fruit stand, the queso Fundo, no chorizo, and the fish ceviche. The fruit stand was so good, different and wonderful. It was refreshing and a little hint of spice and the coconut was so good. The jicama was a wonderful crunchy surprise! The queso Fundo came topped with a green creamy salsa That was a little spicy, but the zucchini and corn and vegetables were just absolutely so good, paired with the homemade tortillas (we ordered the half-and-half) and it was just phenomenal. I'm going to dream about that! The fish ceviche was good, but did not blow my mind. We both thought it was just a hint to fishy. However, we did demolish it. I think next time we wanna order the shrimp and see what that's all about, but really I had my eye on the AguaChile, which is not on the lunch menu. However, Tim did offer to get it for us, we declined. Overall, our experience was absolutely five stars, and we think this might be our new Sunday to hang out. It was just such a wonderful atmosphere and the food was great. The drinks were great. It was definitely worth the trek from N. O'side and We're so happy that we spent our Sunday afternoon at Nomada. read more

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Our server Carlos truly made our entire night unforgettable. From the moment we sat down, his energy, attentiveness, and professionalism were on another level. He did not just serve our table, he curated an experience. Every recommendation he made was spot on, and his drink pairings elevated the meal in such a thoughtful way. The birria tacos were incredible, flavorful, rich, and perfectly prepared, and the oysters were absolutely amazing. You can tell Carlos genuinely knows and loves the menu because everything he suggested was outstanding. He anticipated our needs before we even had to ask and made us feel completely taken care of the whole time. Beyond the food and drinks, he went above and beyond in a way you rarely see. He was warm, engaging, and made the evening feel special rather than just another dinner reservation. The restaurant itself is stunning. The fire features and lush plants create a beautiful, inviting atmosphere, but Carlos is what truly set this experience apart. Exceptional service like his is the reason people come back. He is a huge asset to the restaurant, and we cannot wait to return because of him. read more

Nómada - Seafood Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The food was absolutely delicious, I ordered the Birria tacos with the fish tacos as well, and I must say it was the best soft tacos I've tasted in a while and that says a lot considering the fact that good soft tacos can be difficult to make this good Not only was all the food i got amazing (aside from the salsa needing some more flavor), but also the service was good too! The servers were nice and making a reservation wasn't a problem. Going into the restaurant and seeing all the decorations made me know the place had potential. The music and comfy seats just added to the atmosphere. Overall this was a good spot and i really don't understand how people even with bad experiences could give this place under a 4 read more

(Visited 2026-Jan-10, during their soft opening.) Does San Diego need another fine-dining Mexican restaurant? It's a pretty big space, and was packed already, so sure, why not! The plates are very generous, and perhaps a bit "underdescribed" on the menu. So Pibil Pork seemed a bit steep at $29, but it comes with pickled onions, rice, tortillas, excellent carrots, veggies.. and it's a lot of tender Pork. If you're getting apps and dessert, you'll probably be taking some of the plate home and getting two meals out of it. It was really good. Shrimp Agua Chile was more like a shrimp ceviche, more wet than creamy. I get that they're all different, but it was heavy on onion. Tacos were well-stuffed -- San Diego style, not street tacos, which helps explain the $9 each. Birria was great. Our server was really kind and helpful, enjoyed our whole visit there. Note that they don't do anything special for Birthday reservations.. no birthday candle in our dessert or treats. The Flan ($8) was still delicious and a pretty good deal. The cocktails are pricey, as is the norm now (a perfect Pisco Sour $16, Debutante $17) but made really well. It's their soft-open, so I'll be a little easy on the wonky delivery timing.. my date's tacos came out long before mine, and sometimes the staff didn't know what table they were bringing things for, and would shop them around for the right party. Any stars I'd take away, I'd have to give right back for the SALSA. It was awesome, and they let us taste them all, from mild to wild. Really fresh, unique and varied. They could open just a chips and salsa bar and I'd be there. There is a surprise 3% Credit Card surcharge (not cool), and the charge shows up as "Alejandra's Carlsbad", the place that used to be here. read more

Writing a review because I think the current ones are harsh! I was an ignite regular and Alejandra's was disappointing. Hesitated to try this since I'm such a Mexican food snob, but it was really good! It feels like Mexico in the patio area, and it's nice and quiet. One of the best margaritas I've had - thanks Danny! Chips and salsa were great, guacamole was super fresh and delicious. Tacos were affordable! Grilled fish taco was good, dad said the chicken taco was amazing. Great service and vibes, we will definitely be back for happy hour. read more

Great food & service! We enjoyed our meal & loved the salsa & chips. Our waitresses recommendations were spot on.

Went with another couple to check out the restaurant. I want to start with the good, the ambiance is outstanding. Absolutely beautiful inside and out. Unfortunately the food was the worst part and the service was not great either. Enchiladas has no flavor and were as boring and dry as can be. The prawn starter had to be sent back due to the texture of the prawn. I mean $25 bucks for 4 mid size prawns (it was the PACIFIC CHILLED PRAWNS app.) with a mushy texture is not ok by a long shot. The tasted and felt like they had been sitting in water for days after being cooked? The elote was ok but again the price for the amount was off. Its corn.... The Carne Asada plate was the best of the dinners but it was lacking. Will not be back anytime soon :( read more

This restaurant looks good from far but it's far from good. Too much cinnamon in the pork. GMO corn tortillas. Low grade meat and poor service. There is nothing Ensenada or Baja about Nomada. It's American-style Mexican food. Revamp the menu. Get servers that know how to clear tables. Do something read more

I don't leave Yelp reviews often, but we were really impressed with our dinner here last night. First, the margaritas were excellent. We also ordered the kids chicken quesadilla which is usually pretty mediocre at most places, but this one was surprisingly good and packed with shredded chicken breast. Both of our kids loved it. My husband and I shared the ribeye make your own tacos for a family of four and it was fantastic. The ribeye was cooked perfectly and incredibly flavorful! The tortillas were delicious, the rice was great, and while the beans were slightly under seasoned they were still good. We didn't try a lot of the menu, but the ribeye tacos alone were enough to make us want to come back. I would say the portion is probably perfect for about three people. My husband and I demolished most of it and our older son still managed to grab some steak too. Overall we were really impressed and will definitely be back. read more

Our first visit a week ago was a great experience..Chef Alex was great, super food, etc. Our experience tonite was like we went to an entire different restaurant...although the staff was still great, the food was unedible. Maybe Chef Alex was gone for the evening, but they added spices to things that did not need to be spiced so heavily Anyway...pretty disappointed and walked away from the food. Went from a 5 star down to a 2 read more

Nomada is what happens when the old Crazy Burro gets a major upgrade -- and it delivers. Food was excellent all around. Happy hour bites are on point, crudo tostada, great tacos, pozole, and chicken tortilla soup. Cocktails are a standout -- don't miss the frozen espresso martini. Inviting space, live music, and a great vibe. Cheers to Sean and the team -- don't miss out on this spot! read more

Plenty of parking. Great views. Walking thru courtyard is a trip thru fantasy. Our server, Shawn, was fantastic. Arrived during happy hour and the menu was amazing with great choices and price. Food is fresh and presentation is lovely. Most tender octopus taco!!!!! Ever! Flan... perfect!!!!! Love this place! read more

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We went for the first time last night. Here's my honest review. Atmosphere was very chill in the front patio bar area. Very cool spot for gathering with friends. Would love to have live music out in the front if the can. We are at the bar inside. We ordered a classic margarita and another drink. Very strong drinks. Good! We got the elote and the duck taco trio. I liked the elote my husband did not. We both that the trio tacos were Just ok. Lacked flavor. Then we ordered the Caesar salad bc the waitress said it was really good. The portions were great! The salad was just ok. Not great at all. Lacked flavor. Not enough dressing and again not enough flavor. The DJ came on and he was ok..but it was early. Overall it was packed and has a lot of potential if they can get the food right. Great for a happy hour or watching sports but I really hope the improve the food. read more

Parking is easy in a big shared lot. Wow the location is beautiful, loved the view of the hill! Inside is decorated beautifully, outside & inside. The bar is also very chic looking. Happy hour deals are great, I got a traditional margarita which was tasty as well as the birria taco which was one of the best I've ever had. The Paloma is yummy & has a strong cinnamon flavor. I also got the tuna crudo which was very spicy & decent in taste. Service was fine. Will definitely be back. read more

Horrible service. Had multiple waiters walk past our table before getting even our drink order down. Multiple tables sat AFTER us and were waited on before the table my friend and I were at at. (Yes all tables that got service before us were white. While we were poc) Unfortunately was a 0/10 hour experience. Beautiful restaurant. Horrible service. read more

Had an amazing experience at Nómada! Sat outside by the fireplace and the ambiance is cozy and inviting. We ordered the chips and guacamole (the seasoning on the chips is spectacular), oysters, fish tacos, and birria tacos. Everything we ordered was amazing and the quality of the taco was fresh. What made our experience so outstanding was the service. When you come you have to request Carlos. He was knowledgeable about the menu items, made sure we were taken care of throughout the entire experience, and provided service that was fun and friendly. We will definitely be back because of the amazing experience he provided us. read more

Nómada - Fish tacos, chips and guacamole, oysters, and birria taco. - Seafood Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Outstanding an excellent experience from start to finish. We actually ended up dining there on their official opening day. I had heard great things and assumed they'd been open for a while, because the service was flawless you never would have known it was a grand opening. The décor is absolutely top-notch: beautifully arranged, with an interior that feels spacious and open while still maintaining an intimate atmosphere. We made a same-day reservation, not expecting a prime table, but the front-of-house experience exceeded all expectations. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by Jasmine, whose positive attitude and genuine hospitality set the tone for the evening. She seated us at an amazing table, and the service only got better from there. Jianna was outstanding knowledgeable about the menu, thoughtful with recommendations, and attentive without ever feeling rushed. Even though she was clearly busy, she remained kind and engaged throughout. The food arrived beautifully presented and tasted just as incredible. The taco arrangement we ordered absolutely knocked it out of the park and will definitely have us coming back again very soon. read more

Disappointing is an under statement. We arrived during happy hour so the only menu items available were off the very limited happy hour menu. The octopus taco was impossible to eat. Just fell apart and was soupy with bits of potato that looked like they were days old. I got 6 oysters on the half shell. I ate a couple of them and they were fine but then had a really bad one that tasted absolutely foul. The ahi tostada was just weird. The fish was fine but the sauce and tortilla didn't go together. The service was terrible. It really felt like they didn't want us there. The ambiance is nice outside with the exception of the big screen tv playing an action movie on silent just doesn't make sense. Why not something pleasant- like pictures of Mexico, if it has to be on. All around a really terrible experience. read more

We were pretty disappointed in our experience last night. The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful, but that's where the pros end. The service was pretty spotty and we waited a long time for our drinks. The food came out at all different times, one of our guests had her entree for a good 15 minutes before anyone else was served. I got the beef enchiladas and they were COLD, on top of that the white rice was totally undercooked (crunchy). The rest of our group seemed to have the same issues with cold food. Really bummed! read more

So glad this location finally has Nómada. The food is fantastic, as are the craft cocktails. The food was flavorful but not too spicy. I would highly recommend giving this place a try. I hope they grow and fill the void needed by this area. If you had the same bad experiences I did with Alejandra's, please give it another try. Totally new and so much better. Peter was our server and took great care of us. The GM, Eddie, checked in with us and wanted feedback on our experience. read more

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Went to dinner tonight with a party of 6. We all started with the chips and Guacamole. I personally loved the guacamole since no onions were in it. We all had different cocktails and all were delicious. Then our dinner was served and the chicken mole enchiladas reminded me of my dad's!! everyone loved their dinner. We all shared their 3 desserts, Churros, Flan and Dulce de Leche Cake, the Flan was our favorite! The interior was beautiful and they even had a DJ for fun music while dining. Considering they just opened a week ago, they are a Must Try!!! read more

Amazing everything! The space is gorgeous, food and drink are all incredible! Highly recommend this absolute gem.

Second time here.. I like to review after the second visit to have a better feel... as others have commented, this is the polar opposite from Alejandras in both service and food... I highly recommend!.. from the cheerful hostess Talynn, bartender and servers this place has great promise to be are goto Mexican! Recommend the Pibil plate. read more

Nómada - Cochinita Pibil - Seafood Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I live nearby and was excited to see the reopening of this restaurant 2 of us went there during happy hour I asked for a salad 10 bucks d of the happy hour menu all leaves no veggies whatsoever our total bill was 90 dollars and this is during happy hour complete and utter disappointment, I will never go back there read more

Made reservations, called to confirm the location and once I showed up they said I had to wait because they were full. Terrible service right off the bat. read more

Everything was perfect until the cheese enchilada with red sauce. It was NOT good. Red sauce was so weird. However, service was incredible, the vibe was perfect, the ceviche and chips and salsa were soooo good, and the birria was so tasty. Loved the Cadillac marg so much! Only one thing to fix which isn't bad! read more

Revamped with a lovely decor and ambience, Nomada gave us a truly flavorful dinner experience with a few rough edges which we're confident will get ironed out in time. We loved the use of bold flavors, but the chips and salsa were highly spiced, which we loved but suspect many diners would not. The pork was truly amazing, although a little awkward to eat in a stacked bowl. The ahi crudo was delicious, but looked a little sad without a little garnish, and the serrano chilies were unbearably hot. Overall we enjoyed our meal and will be back! read more