Gringo's

At Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach Cuisines: Mexican

About

This upscale space may have a downscale name, but it bears little resemblance to typical Mexican restaurants. Warm woods, cool flagstone, and trendy lighting providing a modern feel; the large patio is primed with heaters and blazing fire pits most evenings. Although the menu offers a tip of the hat to dishes the average gringo will recognize (quesadillas, fajitas, burritos), flip it over and you'll see the focus is on regional specialties from all over Mexico -- the food of Oaxaca, the Yucatan, and Mexico's Pacific Coast. So, a chicken breast is stuffed with goat cheese and corn and then lathered in a sauce of huitlacoche (a delicious fungus that grows on corn); a poblano chile is stuffed with picadillo and draped in a walnut cream sauce and a drizzle of pomegranate reduction. The margarita options are well worth inspection (with more than 100 tequilas available), as is the selection of Mexican wines. Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch is served from 9am to 2pm.

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