Kristina R.
Google
Lada is really quite an interesting mashup. While enchiladas are among my favorite things to eat, fine dining is something I usually avoid. I'm an embarrassingly picky eater and even in the more casual setting here, it' just doesn't feel OK to ask to 86 an ingredient or make a substitution. If you enjoy fine dining but don't like enchiladas, you might also end up really liking this place, as I did.
What convinced me to visit was the pics I saw in the news stories - this dining room is beautiful and just seeing it is worth the price of an agua fresca or soft drink. From the ceiling art to the brass table numbers to the pergola-like wood structures surrounding the booths, there are beautiful details to take in everywhere you look. I considered just getting an agua fresca, but once I was there, I decided to have lunch.
I ordered the cider-glazed steak enchiladas and also ordered the “hook, line, and tempura” taco (made with cod.) I ordered the taco because I wanted a backup dish in case I didn’t like the enchiladas and because I like fish tacos quite well. And I liked that the name was clever. I really expected only to eat a bite or two of it with the enchiladas as the main event, but once I took a bite of it, I couldn’t stop. It was really delicious, and maybe I liked it best because it was less of a departure from what you normally expect in such a taco.
The steak enchiladas were very good and very different from any enchiladas I've ever eaten. The tortillas were fork-tender so they weren’t as messy to eat as some enchiladas can be. Still, I was tempted to deconstruct the dish and taste each one of the ingredients. (Except the peppers - I’m not a fan of most peppers.) I enjoyed all the fresh flavors and the bright, vinegary taste of the steak glaze. I could have eaten an entire plate of those crisped onions. Following that, another bite of the full dish as served really “made sense.”
I ended up “saving” my pineapple agua fresca for “dessert.” It was astonishingly good. Next time, I’ll try the horchata for my "dessert" although I noticed they have horchata ice cream too.
The service here was warm and attentive, especially for a counter service restaurant. They were eager to get my feedback on how I enjoyed the food and to share other dishes I might like on future visits. And that’s part of why I’ll find my way back here.
I probably won’t be a “regular” here. It’s not in my neighborhood and it’s really fancier food than I want on a regular basis. But I will definitely return.
So here’s the thing. If you love traditional, cheap enchiladas, these are not going to seem like enchiladas to you. But it’s still exceptionally good food that you might enjoy.
If you like exceptional food served in a beautiful, yet casual environment, this place might end up being one of your favorites, whether you're a fan of enchiladas or not.
