At Azuca it’s Carmen Miranda on a plate, cartoon contemporary on the walls, and a menu format that channels tacky travel brochures touting the tropics. Actually, we take back part of the cartoon comment; the blown-glass wall pieces and chandeliers are classy and produced in a studio right next door. We also admit to falling for the pumped-up plating that often includes lofty fright wigs of fried tubers.

And within the menu’s Technicolor pages are some luscious Latin gems. The ceviche… [More]

We might as well just publish the walls at Cascabel; covered as they are with culinary comments such as “The food is great here. There’s no other place like it.” and “Ésta es comida mexicana!” Said walls have only become denser with opinion and attitude over the years that this singular Southtown place has been open.

And every main dish was $7.50 at press time. (Breakfast, served all day, is less expensive.) Tlacoyos, huaraches, birria … these are not… [More]