Food:
First-time visit. We're new to the area and have…read moredriven past La Cabaña many times, so we decided it was finally time to stop in.
As soon as we were seated, we were served a complimentary basket of chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and slightly warm. The salsa was good, although I personally prefer a chunkier style.
To start, my wife ordered a Dos Equis, and I tried the house Paloma. It was an excellent cocktail, although at $12.48 it felt a little pricey.
We also ordered the fresh guacamole, which was very good. It had a nice chunky texture and fresh flavor, although I think it could have used just a touch more salt.
For our entrées, my wife ordered the Pastor Tacos, and I chose the Drunken Tacos, one each with shrimp, shredded beef, and chorizo.
The Pastor Tacos were unfortunately the biggest disappointment of the meal. The pork was dry and lacked the juicy, well-marinated flavor I usually expect from al pastor. Adding some of the guacamole definitely helped. They came with double tortillas, but unlike many great al pastor tacos, there wasn't enough juice to justify them.
My Drunken Tacos were a mixed bag. The shrimp and chorizo tacos were both excellent, with plenty of flavor. The shredded beef taco, however, was fairly bland by comparison.
Each entrée came with generous portions of rice and beans. While everything was served hot, the presentation could have been better. Some of the food looked as though it had simply been dropped onto the plate. A little more attention to plating would have made the meal feel more polished.
Service:
We received a friendly greeting when we arrived and asked for a table on the patio. Our server, Shaylinne, took great care of us throughout the meal. She was friendly, attentive, and helpful with our order. The service was consistently excellent.
Atmosphere:
We spent our visit on the outdoor patio. There were plenty of tables, and it wasn't very busy. Even though the patio sits in the middle of a shopping center parking lot, it was surprisingly quiet and made for a pleasant place to enjoy dinner. There were a few families with young children nearby, but everyone was respectful, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
Overall, La Cabaña is a good choice if you're looking for a traditional Mexican restaurant. Some dishes really stood out, while others were surprisingly bland or lacked attention to detail. I'm glad we stopped in, but based on this visit, it probably wouldn't be my first choice for Mexican food in the area.