My mother was visiting from out of town, and she loves fried fish. During her last visit, I took…read moreher to a place that had good fried fish, but she mentioned that she wished it had been served with tostones (fried plantains) like they do in the Dominican Republic. Later, I remembered that I had visited Tekila's before COVID and that someone in my party had ordered fried fish with tostones. I decided this would be the perfect place to bring her.
The restaurant is conveniently located right off the highway and has ample parking. When we walked in at 6:00 PM, we were surprised to find the place completely empty. I wondered if I had misread their hours, but a staff member soon came out, informed us they were open, and told us we could sit wherever we liked.
One of the first things that stood out to me was that, although the restaurant advertises authentic Mexican cuisine with a Caribbean twist, the atmosphere felt more Dominican than Mexican. From the large poster featuring famous Dominicans to the overall vibe, I assumed that was the "Caribbean twist." I also noticed that roughly one-fifth of the restaurant was occupied by band equipment and a stage. When I asked our server about it, she explained that the owner is a musician and has a band that performs there a couple of nights each week. At that point, I began to think the restaurant's primary focus might be more of a bar or nightlife crowd.
To start, we ordered a house margarita and a beer. Both were refreshing on a hot day.
Looking over the menu, I was pleased to see three fish dishes named after places in the Dominican Republic, so I thought we were in for a treat. My mother ordered the Pescado Boca Chica, described as fried snapper served with tostones and salad. I chose the Pescado Samaná, named after an area in the Dominican Republic known for its coconut-based sauces. I also asked about the rice and beans and was told they were prepared Dominican-style.
When our meals arrived, I was surprised by the portion sizes. The fish did not look particularly large, even though my mother's fish was listed on the bill as a large portion for $34.99. It also didn't have any salad dressing. My own dish appeared sad-looking, and at $36.99, I found it overpriced. The coconut sauce was decent, but I wouldn't call it delicious. The side dishes were also quite small. Overall, the food tasted okay, but for a total of $100.56 before tip, I did not feel it offered good value.
The service was good, and we tipped 20% based on the total bill. I should also note that the house margarita was listed on the menu at $12, but I was charged $15. I chose not to mention it to the server and simply let it go.
When I asked my mother how she would rate the experience, she gave it a 2 out of 5. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 because there were some positive aspects, including the cleanliness of the place and service. However, the food and pricing did not justify a return visit for me.
