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Guerrilla Tacos

Guerrilla Tacos

When one hears about taco places, there’s the expectation that it should be cheap, inexpensive, fast food. Admittedly, I have the same mindset. Guerrilla Tacos does not fit that mold. 

My husband and I weren’t originally planning to dine at Guerrilla Tacos. We made the trek from the Westside to the Arts District to try to head to a Food Bowl Event at Everson Royce but the line wrapped around the corner.

Famished, we decided to figure out what restaurant we had been wanting to try but were reluctant to drive to from our side of town. The first restaurant on Yelp’s list was Guerrilla Tacos. I’ve heard of Chef Wes Avila but had been reticent to make the pilgrimage. Since the restaurant was right across the street from Everson Royce, it seemed fortuitous that Memorial Day be the day to partake. 

We came in and lined up to place our order with the cashier. Not having done any preliminary research, we looked up at the menu and the specials and tried to pinpoint what looked interesting. I asked what a scrambled egg was and the cashier mentioned that it’s scrambled eggs with chunks of meat similar to the consistency of a meatloaf ($16). Being a carnivore and lover of eggs, I ordered that to go with my husband’s order of a steak taco ($6), lobster quesadilla ($20) and shrimp & grits ($21). He also ordered a Belgian White ($8) on draft. The cashier suggested ordering my vodka martini with the bartender so after we paid, we grabbed our number and sat at a booth. 

There was one bartender and much to my dismay it took 10 minutes before I almost lost it and asked him, after bypassing me for at least 4 other customers, if I could get a martini. He apologized and soon I had my Loft and Bear vodka martini in hand. 

Luckily, the first dish arrived right after I paid for my martini. The steak taco seemed colorful but simple and regular size. I only had a bite of a sliver of steak which was juicy and lean. My husband seemed to really enjoy it and mentioned how there was not one bite with a grisly piece of beef and the taco was definitely of a higher quality than others. 

Next to arrive was my scrambled eggs which almost looked like a large platter of salad with more than handful of greens nestled on top. I could see it had chunks of beef incorporated within a very thin crepe like consistency of scrambled eggs. I took a bite and the combination of the greens with the herbaceous eggs and the added bonus of the seasoned meat mixture was heavenly. The accompanying “homemade” warm, buttery flour tortillas had a slightly smoky aftertaste and rounded out the dish.

As we were enjoying our first two orders, the server brought the lobster quesadilla. It was not like the traditional quesadilla as it was open faced. Interestingly, the paper thin tortilla was slightly crisp and sitting atop it were chunks and chunks of lobster mixed with a soft sunny side up egg which oozed into the amazing sauce melding all the simple but tangy flavors and textures together.

The shrimp and grits were the last to arrive. They were the most expensive of the items we ordered and the quality and texture of the grits were spectacular, totally worth every penny. Yes, there were chunks of shrimp but the grits, the flavor combination and the creamy consistency were unlike anything we had ever sampled. 

Guerrilla Tacos is not your fast food hole-in-the-wall taco place. This is Mexican cuisine which borders on fine dining but in a casual atmosphere and location. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for and Guerrilla Tacos is worth every penny.

 
Guerrilla Tacos

2000 E. 7th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90021

http://www.guerrillatacos.com

Atmosphere Mar Vista

I have driven by Atmosphere and its predecessor many times in the past several years. It seemed more of a breakfast or brunch place but I was surprised that it had a nice dinner offering. In the spirit of trying out new restaurants every week, I made a reservation for this evening and off we went.

When we arrived, we were able to find street parking on Venice half a block away. We entered the restaurant and were immediately greeted by our would-be server, Dennis. The main dining room was a third of the way full so plenty of seats were available. We chose a nice half booth, half table halfway into the dining room. 
We started off with a nice glass of Chardonnay and a draft beer.

Our appetizers included a margarita flatbread which was crispy and delicious, a light and piping hot macaroni and cheese and a large delicious helping of a Brussels sprouts salad, sans raisins with crispy bacon on the side. The trio made for a nice welcoming treat to the bohemian vibe of the restaurant. 

Our entrees arrived shortly after our appetizers were finished. I ordered the steak and Parmesan fries with mushroom sauce. The steak was quite juicy and tender and the mushroom sauce added a layer of complexity. Sadly, the Parmesan fries were flavorless and were the weakest part of my dinner experience. 


My husband ordered a burger and his order came with the garlic fries which were far superior to my order of wimpy Parmesan fries. He seemed to enjoy his burger though admittedly, I didn’t partake so I cannot truthfully vouch for it. However, his plate was practically licked clean so there’s that. 

Overall, for the price, ambiance, casual vibe and great service, Atmosphere is a solid choice in a neighborhood which has fancier and budget busting eats like The Mar Vista and Little Fatty which are both fine restaurants but take serious commitment to deal with the large and loud crowds and the much fatter dinner check.

We were quite happy with our unpretentious and delicious dining option and would recommend to all who are looking for a quiet, solid dining experience on the Westside. 

Atmosphere Mar Vista

12034 Venice Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90066

https://www.atmospheremarvista.com

Grace Gambin

A Travel Foodie

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