Quixote is connected to the side of the Lafayette hotel in a deconstructed church with stained glass, heaven and hell rooms. Super dark and I mean dark, it'll take a minute for your eyes to adjust. Tapas style menu, we were a party of 4 and ordered: Squash blossom Relleno - it's the flower part of a squash plant and stuffed with mushroom duxelles which resembles a meat mixture with squash succotash. Outside is a corn tempura with a tomato base sauce. Pulpo-grilled octopus, one of the best texture and perfectly grilled skin with a chewy yet soft interior. The sauce has a slight kick and crunch from the corn nuts. Crab corn doughnut- this is their specialty and we were about to skip out but glad we didn't. The brioche bun had a donut batter with lumps of crab salad and corn mixture on top. El Festin- perfect for our party of 4 because it was a platter full of 4 Cheese quesadilla, 4 shrimp, 4 chicken slices, 1 jalapeño bacon wrap, ribeye. Flan-we should have each ordered one ourselves! Great flavors and texture, the top had ancient chocolate soil and had crispy corn nuts. Different but yummy. Overall, delicious food that came out so quick, great ambiance, we celebrated our birthdays and were each gifted candles with our names on the label. Truly amazing from beginning to end. Street parking only. The spots on the same block are metered but if you drive down to the second street towards residential, it's free. read more

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We popped in for a drink and the place was jammin. It's decor is quite nice and the atmos was energetic. We we're not greeted at the dire so we wandered over to the bar and luckily found two seats. This is not your ordinary bar. We both wanted a gin and tonic and they have five gins.... None of which I have heard of which is amazing. I tried the prickly pear gin and wowee... superb. A little sweeter than normal but a delight. The bartender was nice and the drinks enjoyable. read more

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Great place, perfect for a third date. Parking can be tough so plan for that. Smaller venue that gets a bit loud. Dimly lit but that is part of the ambiance. Heaven and Hell theme that would make Miguel de Cervantes proud. Goths love and would love this place. The service was great as was the food. A small rotating menu with many treasures to choose from and many items to share. The plating is very unique. A bit on the pricy side but it is worth it for the experience. You need to go at least once. A good place to bring peeps from out of town as well if the budget provides. Reservations are recommended. My only real gripes are the parking (not really their fault), the prices being a bit high and the noisy and dim atmosphere, but the other perks make up for a lot of this. Also, be careful of the candles, one dripped on my date and messed up her dress. read more

Quixote - Bonus room up the steps in the back of the venue. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Visiting SD, my daughter wanted to try out this place and I was up for it. I love trying new places with her when visiting. Seeing previous reviews, felt it appropriate to dress nicely. Did as suggested, used an Uber to get there, didn't see any parking within close proximity as it is connected to the Lafayette Hotel and Club. Beautiful entry way, eyes definitely need to adjust to the darkness, lit candles everywhere; very church-like. The stained glass is beautiful. Tableware, tables, chairs somewhat Gothic. It did smell like candlewax, a bit overwhelming. Being able to see the open kitchen, was hoping to smell amazing dishes being prepared instead. I went by the reviews I read earlier, so we chose the Pulpo, perfect to share. Charred perfectly, tender on the inside on a spread of molè and bits of corn nuts, fabulous! Great presentation! Also tried the lentil spread, filling and plenty to share once again, tangy and spicy; our favorite appetizer. For a dish we shared the Chamoy bbq ribs, fell right off the bone; a tad salty. Corn ribs were tasty, wish they were fresh, a tad mushy and too salty. The pineapple Pico was just okay. We also ordered a passion fruit margarita and a Motomami, both were wonderful! Service was great, we were checked on often but then again it was a Thursday early evening and not busy yet. I would like to visit again and try other suggested dishes, when in town. read more

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I had been to the Lafayette Hotel a few times for drinks with Friends. I always wanted to try out Quixote. We made reservations two weeks in advance because they do fill up. We got there on a Saturday night and there were two weddings going on at the hotel so we couldn't even Valet Park. I had to park almost a mile away and take a lyft in to get to the restaurant. So just plan ahead if you're going on the weekends. The theme of this restaurant was amazing. Kind of a church, heaven and hell type atmosphere. We got sat in purgatory. Lol. It was a wonderful themed room. Although it was extremely dark, you need your cell phone light to read the menu or to really see what you're eating. So we couldn't necessarily see what we're eating, but it was delicious. I especially recommend the blue crab doughnut. Delicious. The drinks were good as well. It was a cool experience. read more

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Good experience with my family. Fun environment, gothic church vibes, and not the most comfortable seating. This place is part of Lafayette hotel and in the heart of North Park. Decor-very dark gothic feel. Lots of seating and several dining areas. Service-friendly, but somewhat slow. Food-4/5 stars. Fun place. read more

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We're from Anaheim, CA, and drove three hours to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Since we got married at Mission Dolores in San Francisco, we visited Mission San Juan Capistrano earlier in the day and kept our "mission/church" theme going by booking Quiote for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find it inside the Lafayette Hotel, absolutely gorgeous, and on the 4th of July the pool was packed and full of energy. The hotel has so many beautiful bars that we could've stayed there all day. Our 6:30p reservation was during a busy stretch, but the vibe was great. I love love love the interior design, cocktails, food, and especially that they allow dogs. Everyone was so sweet to her. Food came out fast, too. We ordered four small plates as recommended, but three would've been perfect for two people so it makes more room for dessert. They surprised us with a complimentary dessert and a personalized candle, which made the night feel extra special. I wish we could've seen the plating better because every dish came on a unique, beautiful plate. Staff was friendly and attentive throughout. Highly recommend read more

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The food was delicious, the restaurant was beautiful, and the service was wonderful. The only thing that threw me off was the bathroom situation which wasn't anyone's fault at all (besides whoever decided to pee on the seat). 9.8/10 experience read more

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Loved the ambiance. Very Mexican gothic aesthetic. Came here for my mother's birthday. The food and drinks were good. Just wish my server would've been a little bit nicer. She acted as the two questions I had were such an annoyance. Mind you one of them was to purchase a candle as a souvenir for both of us. Other than that, I would come back and try more food on the menu and just ask for another server next time. read more

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Loved it here. Things to note 1. Parking is bad so plan accordingly and be prepared to walk a block or 2 to get to the restaurant 2. It is very dark in here. I had to take photos in night mode so it looks a lot brighter than it actually is. If you are going with someone older or who has trouble seeing in the dark, they are not gonna see anything lol 3. I heard reservations were required months out but i went in the same day. It was the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend around lunch time but they took walk ins left and right so maybe just dinner is what needs to be booked in advance? The decor was immaculate and everything that came out was delicious and it came out very fast. It is connected to the Lafayette hotel which has the jungle room, bowling alley, pool and multiple bars. You can easily spend the day here. Mmmm not if you have kids though. 10/10 recommend read more

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First time visiting Quixote. We stopped by to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Loved the dark, idyllic vibe of the restaurant. Our server was attentive at first, but later in the evening it became difficult to find her when we needed things like water refills. We ordered the Oaxacan fondue, ribs, grilled fish, and chicken tacos. The stars of the meal were definitely the Oaxacan fondue and the ribs -- both were flavorful. Unfortunately, the grilled fish was a disappointment and didn't live up to the rest of the dishes. read more

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This place is so cool for celebrating special occasions We celebrated our anniversary and they gave us a candle with our names on it!! So sweet The interior is so cool - very gothic medieval vibes inside!! We tried a couple of items but specifically LOVED the squash blossom and the crab donut and the duck memelita! The fried chicken tacos were pretty good as well Personally I did not love the fondue - comes with corn tortillas on the side - it's not my favorite style Drinks were great - I tried the guava Paloma and liked it a lot but wish it was a bit more sweet more guava flavor read more

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Go early for privacy, decor definitely Gothic dark almost hard to see, but eyes will adjust. It's is shared plate type place , but still able to fulfill one person appetite per plate. So could be budget friendly, or can be not budget friendly and try the menu which I recommend! The signature meal of this chef was a crab doughnut, which I disagree of being the best but still good ...memelita was by far tops !!!!! Then masa fried chicken tacos 2nd but ALL was amazing !!! Can't miss this . Decor was absolutely gorgeous and romantic but also BFF romantic gothic yet... church like to me . Don't miss this spot read more

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Came here for my birthday and it was an amazing experience. This was a surprise visit for me and had no idea what to expect. The ambiance was outstanding and the overall vibe was a 10/10. The service was just as amazing as our server was extremely kind, attentive and knowledgeable about any and everything we had questions about the menu. Food was great, had the ribs, the tuna tartare and the donut( sorry not the exact names) . To top it off they gave me a special gift for my bday. I would definitely come back again whenever I come back into town. read more

Quixote - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We didn't have a reservation but were able to get some seats at the bar. The ambiance is absolutely beautiful and the service was great despite it being so busy on a Saturday night. Vibras was such a delicious cocktail and my partner loved the shrimp tacos, you pay for the food and vibes!! Would have wished they had Mexican beer to fit the goth Mexican vibe of the restaurant and a bigger menu! read more

Quixote - Vibras cocktail - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was in route to Chula Vista birthday shenanigans, figured I'd check this place out on the way. The dark gothic creepy vampire castle aesthetics was really the main reason why I wanted to come here. The vibes were so chill. Music playlist combo was perfect. So glad I did! Phenomenal service. My server Alex G. was the sweetest! I arrived shortly Monday afternoon so they weren't very busy. The food was ok, not much of a selection was available. Loved my brownie ice cream. So delicious. I was in food coma. My favorite was my personalized birthday candle! Definitely recommend this spot! read more

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Very trendy, friendly, evocative dining experience! It's located inside the Lafayette Hotel, but there's also an outside entrance to the restaurant. Beware there's only street parking, no valet service (unless you're a hotel guest), so that can present a challenge. Reservations a MUST on weekends, especially with a group. Now for the food reviews. Everything we ordered was delicious from the squash blossom and smashed tuna tartare appetizers to the El Festin platter (made for groups) . Since the main dining area is kept dark for the dramatic gothic effect, it's tricky to rely on your sense of sight for the presentation of each of the dish. The highlight for me was the chili garlic shrimp tacos. So full of flavor! The only drawback is that many of their dishes are made with nuts. So if you have a nut allergy, which one of us in our group did, the menu was limiting. Overall, it's an incredible place for first timers and out-of- towners. I might return for a special celebration, but not repeatedly. Once is good enough experience, especially with so many other special dining options in our fine city. read more

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I realize I am not the target demographic for the place so grain of salt. This place is weird in both good and bad ways. It's loud and trendy. The Ambiance is gothic/creepy and so very dark. The service was surprisingly good and the food was nothing short of incredible. Big caveat, parking is a nightmare! read more

Walking in, the dim lighting immediately pulls you into a whole different world--the vibes and decor are super immersive and unique. I ordered the Chamoy BBQ Costillitas and they were absolutely mouthwatering--definitely worth every penny, and the portion was huge. Meanwhile, my friend got the shrimp tacos... and let's just say we couldn't help but laugh at how small they looked. The drinks were just okay, nothing too memorable. But the atmosphere made it a great spot for conversation, and the staff were incredibly friendly and informative when it came to the menu. One thing that did stand out (in not the best way) was the smell in the back room. It wasn't necessarily bad or dirty, just very strong and kind of overwhelming unpleasant smell as soon as you walk in, something I personally didn't love. Overall, it's a really cool spot with great vibes and standout dishes, just with a few small things to keep in mind. read more

Quixote - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I really really wanted to like this place, I had been so excited to check out Quixote for my friends birthday so saying that I was just underwhelmed hurts my heart. Here's the good, the decor is immaculate, the stained glass the candelabras the baroque design concept was beautiful and our server Jesse was kind and checked in on us as often as he could. For drinks I ordered the motomami, I love mezcal and this drank read off really tasty. When it arrived I was like oh, this is the drink? For how ostentatious the decor and vibes are you would think the drinks would be presented a little nicer and not just in a coup that was spilled on me by another server. The drink was just fine, it's tasty but again it was okay. The food, could have been a whole lot better, for our side we ordered the guacamole with chicarron, campechana, masa fried chicken tacos and chilli garlic shrimp tacos. When the guacamole came out, I laughed, it was guacamole in a cute little molcajete with fried pork rinds sprinkled with tajin. Um, okay. I thought it would be a similar to fried pork belly, like I'm used to and have had at other Mexican restaurants. To charge an additional $5 for 8 pieces of Mission chicharrones is laughable. I ordered the shrimp tacos for myself, question, were the shrimps poached in water, because there was no flavor and taco itself was overly dressed in a greasy flavor lacking sauce, no finesse on the plating it was just sloppy. If you're wanting to upcharge you should at least do a better job plating your foods. I didn't try my friends chicken tacos but she felt like it was under seasoned and she needed to scoop the guac from our starter to add a little flavor. The campechana to us was tasty, the octopus was really tender opposed to the pulpo our other friend shared which was chewy. It's so confusing because the consistency with everything is just so off. Overall, I would not come back, although the decor is just beautiful it doesn't match or exceed the expectations for it's food. read more

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Love the gothic vibe of the restaurant. Reminds me of dark magic fantasy school. Got tuna tartare, crab dish and lamb as entree. Food was pretty delicious and had some unique veggies that I've never had before. Overall a unique experience but the service was a bit lacking. Our waiter kept forgetting our request and didn't really check up on us read more

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There was some confusion with the reservation, so we ended up just having late night desserts and drinks here. The bartender was super nice. The decor is a Neo Gothic style with dramatic red lighting. We ordered the flan and the chocolate cake. The flan was a bit rubbery, and the chocolate cake was quite dense, so neither was my favorite. read more

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Thou this place is pricey, it is worth every penny. Drink and all food are made with delicious ingredients. Everything we had we enjoyed. Staff were attentive and very courteous. Such a great experience. The vibe of restaurant was incredible and so unique! Loved all the decor! read more

Quixote - This was a personalized candle given to the birthday girl!!! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had a reservation at 7 pm. Ordered all our food and cocktails at the same time. Appetizer came before our drinks. Drinks took long after finishing our app. Ordered the mezcal in addition to our drinks and took even longer. Donut crab was actually good. I will give them that. We ordered the big ribeye entree and with the rec of the server would be more than enough- wrong. Ambience- looks better on social media than in person. Super small, they don't use half of the restaurant during weekdays to make it seem more full. After $260 of a tab, we were kicked off of our table (at 8:30, 1.5 hours after getting there) for another reservation directly after paying the tab. I needed to wait for my uber outside. Honest review- check my page as I RARELY make 1 star reviews. Never again. read more

I think I'm in love. The ambiance and vibes are impeccable. I felt like I was in an old gothic European cathedral and I was HERE FOR IT! Our party of 6 had a reservation for noon, right when it opened for lunch and there was already a little crowd on a Friday afternoon. We were seated in this side room that can be best described as a den fit for a vampire -- iconic. Dark and moody with real candlelight and red fabric on the walls and ceiling. Our waiter was incredible, providing recommendations and tons of information. It felt like he was passionate about the food. It's all small plates meant to be shared, and for lunch he recommended six little plates and a main -- which seemed like a lot of food but was literally the perfect amount of food. Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the food... not the group for me to snap a photo of literally 7 plates of food lol We ordered: Beets (an incredible beet salad), Masa Fried Chicken Tacos, Squash Blossom Relleno, Crab Corn Doughnut, Memelita, guacamole, and the Braised Lamb Belly. I'd literally order everything again, but I'll dream about that beet salad. read more

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The ambiance is amazing! It feels like you're in hell/a gothic castle in the best way possible. The food is expensive but really good so I thought it was totally worth it. We made reservations and got in right on time and got our food and drinks pretty quickly. The crudite that we ordered with the guacamole was incredible! It had such a good flavor. And there was so much delicious guacamole. I also got the Corn crab doughnut which was pretty good and comes in a super cool rock bowl. read more

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Christmas at the Lafayette is the place to be and even more if you can get reservations at Quixote! We had friends who came and got the octopus but didn't like it. We weren't into that type of seafood and based on other help reviwers, I'm glad we went! The ambiance is on another level. Feels like you're in a cathedral with all the melted wax, stainglass windows and intricately decorated details. For food: I got the beet salad (delicious) and my husband got the ribs. He loved them! We shared the queso dip and it was good as well. read more

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Usually when you go somewhere that feels/looks this cool, the food doesn't meet the same expectations...but not at Quixote! The food was amazing, unique, and fresh. I crave it regularly and can't wait to go back. Service was great but on top of that, 90% of the menu is gluten free! Staff were knowledgeable about food allergies but it was also so nice to just pick almost anything off the menu without thinking. We had the queso and multiple tacos and every single one of them were great. The place is modeled after what feels like maybe a church? Which makes sense because Quixote was like a religious experience! Definitely check it out! read more

Quixote - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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From the moment you step in, it feels like a cathedral like movie setting. My little gothic (at heart) self was mesmerized. I made reservations for an earlier dinner well in advance. So glad I did because within 30 minutes, it started to get busy. We were seated in the little room to the right. I sat there mesmerized and in awe at the beautiful detail. It was very aesthetically pleasing. Service was incredible. Our server was amazing and tended to our every request, and made sure to check on us often. Drinks, we ordered the Oaxacan Old Fashioned and Maria También. Both prepared to perfection. Food, we ordered pulpo, and Tasajo, which was ribeye. I have only had pulpo in a shrimp cocktail, and have always had a negative experience, whether it be too tough or just an odd taste. This dish was grilled, on a bed of mole pipían (tasted exactly like hummus.) The texture was very tender and tasted delicious. Ribeye was pretty good, came with a little salad, salsa, charred avocado halves, green onions, and tortillas. Very filling! The only downside to all of this, yes there actually is a downside.. a mere one at that. If you are seated in the little room, you will be beyond limited on what you can order. That table was way small and it does not fit everything comfortably. And I get it. They want to be able to accommodate a handful of people in that setting. Definitely a must when visiting. read more

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First off, shout out to Jesse. The service was excellent. And of course Bobby at the bar with the tequila old fashioned. The ambiance is amazing. Like you are in an old European church. Stained glass windows. The bar is an altar of sorts. Now the food. Clear standouts are the lentil dip. Ask for the crudite from the guacamole to go with it. The crab donut is unlike anything you have ever had! So tasty! The shrimp tacos are also great. The stuffed squash blossom relleno is terrific. You really can't go wrong with anything. We did not try any of the main dishes though. The guac is very ordinary. read more

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Really amazing service and food was pretty good :) Our server Alex G was incredibly sweet and helpful, he made our first time here memorable! The food was surprisingly good, I was wondering if it was as good as the ambiance and it sure was. I never usually like mezcal drinks but I chose the one Alex recommended and I really enjoyed the drink. Thank you!! read more

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1st off-Shout out to Tommy, he was the best server! Super knowledgeable about the menu, gave great recommendations and always kept our water glasses filled! As for the food-sooo good! There was a lot that sounded interesting on the menu, but for my first time here, I wanted to play it safe and order chicken tacos. Super flavorful and really pleasing to the eye. We got the guac to start, and there are a couple additions to choose from: chapulines or queso fresco or chicharrón. We opted for chicharrón, and it was soooo yummy, and the presentation was beautiful as well. The decor is sooo pretty, it really keeps your eyes busy in the best way-there's so much to look at! I will definitely be back soon and be more adventurous with my choices on the menu! read more

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Step into Quixote and you're immediately transported to a surreal, gothic dreamscape that feels part cathedral, part cocktail lounge. The decor is dramatic and immersive--stained glass windows, religious iconography, and statues scattered throughout. Large candelabras tower over the dining tables, casting a soft, flickering glow that sets the mood perfectly. The bar resembles a church altar, bottles displayed like sacred relics. In a smaller room off to the side, red fabric drapes across the ceiling and walls, creating a moody, intimate setting. A gargoyle-faced fireplace is prominently displayed; glowing from candles lit inside its mouth. The tables here lean on the smaller side, so dining can feel a bit cramped, but it seems this area is more for enjoying cocktails. THE FOOD. - Bay Scallop Black Cocktail. The octopus is really tender; slightly briny, rounded out by the smooth creaminess of avocado, and a hint of sweet heat from the sauce that ties everything together. - Crab Corn Doughnut. Intriguing as it sounds... a savory corn brioche stuffed with blue crab, topped with caviar, and finished with chili aioli. It's rich, indulgent, and beautifully composed--but note, it's a single doughnut, so not really shareable. THE DRINKS. - Sudden Death. A bold, herbal cocktail with a delicate sweetness and a sharp citrus edge. It's layered in complexity with every sip. - Vibras. This cocktail offers a brighter, fruit-forward profile with a hint of smokiness, yet remains refreshingly balanced; gracefully dancing between tropical and tart notes. THE PARKING. Valet parking is available through the hotel with in/out privileges, but nearby surface lots and metered street parking (enforced Monday-Saturday, 8AM-6PM) are convenient alternatives. We opted for street parking just a few minutes away. THE VERDICT. Quixote is an experience as much as it is a restaurant--visually stunning, daringly creative, and unlike anything else in San Diego. It's the perfect spot for a night of sensory indulgence and conversation in a setting that borders on the divine. read more

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This dinner was one of the most excruciating dining experiences I've had. We entered through what looked like the main hotel entrance--only to realize it wasn't really an entrance to the restaurant at all. We stood there awkwardly for several minutes in the dim lighting while a couple of servers walked past us, clearly seeing our confused faces. Eventually, I spotted the hostess stand all the way across the room, so we made our way over and were finally seated. Trying to have a conversation was nearly impossible. The music was so loud we practically had to shout, and the place was so dark that we pulled out our phone flashlights just to read the menu. After a few minutes, our server appeared and informed us--rather abruptly--that we needed to order everything all at once. I love Oaxacan food. I've enjoyed incredible meals in the region itself. Unfortunately, what we were served here felt like a chaotic mash-up of too many conflicting flavors. The tacos were so soggy that we couldn't even pick them up without them falling apart. We rushed through the meal just to escape the overwhelming combination of harsh lighting and blaring music, which was honestly starting to feel physically uncomfortable. And of course, once the food arrived, it took ages before our server reappeared. When we finally paid and made our escape, we headed to the lobby bar--where, let me tell you, the adventure continued... but that's a story of its own! read more

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What a treat this gothic restaurant was! Almost completely gluten free naturally! Most dishes used corn tortillas. Highly recommend staying at the hotel as well! read more

The place was gorgeous, they had different rooms and the inside was a little smaller than expected but it was still super nice. I made reservations in advanced for 830PM, I arrived early like they requested and I still waited 15 mins after reservation time to be sat, so not including my early arrival time. Then we sat at our table and I wish I had taken photos but every glass was dirty, like had some black pieces, maybe it was food or dirt off some other dishes from the dishwasher? I'm not sure but when I told my server she was visibly annoyed, she brought over new glasses and 2/5 were still dirty but I didn't want to tell her as you could tell she was irritated. Then the food arrived and the food honestly wasn't anything to boast over, we got the fried chicken tacos, they're fried in masa but it was a lot of masa, then we had ordered the chili shrimp tacos? They were good but honestly could've been spicier. Then we got the memelita which was pretty good, probably my favorite dish out of them all. The drinks were not good, they were all very bitter, couldn't taste the alcohol which is fine but the juice/mix added to them wasn't very great. Then someone at the table ordered wine and the wine glass was dirty, we just didn't even want to bother so we picked the two pieces out the glass. I however did like the machatata but my table was not a fan lol. We then ordered desert, one being pastel de Diablo and it did not taste anything like the description and when we looked at yelp photos it looked completely different lol. I had then ordered fritters but never got them. For my bday I did get a free desert which was probably the best tasting thing all night. Service wise wasn't great, we pretty much only got checked on if an item we ordered was brought out and only if that item was brought out by our server so I'd say over our whole stay maybe we got checked up on twice. Overall I'd say there are a lot better aesthetically pleasing and delicious places to go to if you're visiting San Diego or if you live there and are thinking of trying. Parking wise I don't think there's a lot but the restaurants right next to the Lafayette if that gives you any answer to the parking situation lol. read more

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Overall, the experience was Ok. I will give you the "fantastic" and the "work on." Fantastic- 1. Food was great. We got guacamole, beet salad, and the El Festin. Drinks were ok. The one I got was not to my taste buds. A lot of mezcal drinks. If you like mezcal, this place has some good ones! 2. Server was awesome. She was attentive, nice, and friendly. Love her. She probably was the reason why we actually left the nice tip. 3. Ambiance was a "cool young hip" vibe. Music was great and eclectic. Work On- 1. Our hostess. We made reservation at 6PM. We got there and she told us to wait while our table is being set up. They ended up taking us to the upstairs room. They had to split the 2 tables to have a seat for us. They wanted us to sit at the table that is in close proximity of the walkway. I said I did not want to sit there because I did not want to have people walk by me the entire time. They had to push the table away from the second one and we had to be closer to the entrance. I said will sit at the second table since it's not near the entrance. I had to repeat this 3 times. She finally said ok, well, I will have to take you downstairs. I said ok. They finally sat us at a table with 2 chairs and out of the way. So, here is the thing.....why was I waiting, if my table was not being set up, to where you had to split 2 tables, and put me closest to the entry way of the door? 2. The lighting is very dark. It was hard to see the food to maneuver and eat. I get this is the ambiance. So...maybe brighter lamps at the table? read more

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When planning my trip to San Diego, the one thing I booked in advance, and knew I absolutely had to do, was Quixote. We Ubered to the Lafayette Hotel, where Quixote is tucked inside. The hotel itself is a scene out of a movie- so much charm and personality. Old-school Hollywood glamour is definitely the vibe. Then you walk into Quixote and it's a whole different world: dark, moody, very gothic-cathedral energy. We visited in October, but I believe the look is the same year-round. Our waiter was super attentive and helpful at the beginning. We ordered the squash blossom and the memelita to start, and the braised lamb belly as our entrée. The squash blossom ended up being my favorite dish of the night- perfectly tempura-fried, filled with sweet potato and mushrooms in a puréed form, and paired with a horseradish aioli I've never come across before. It complemented everything so well. The memelita had duck carnitas and was packed with flavor in every element- especially the mole. This restaurant is very focused on their mole, and you taste that immediately. For the entrée, our waiter told us all the dishes are shareable taco-style. The lamb belly was perfectly tender with just the right amount of good fat. The nopales were such a great addition, too. We made about four tacos from it, and again- the mole really brought the flavor home. The only downside: when we were ready for the check, we waited around 20 minutes for our server to return before we finally asked someone else. We actually wanted dessert, but by then we were just tired of waiting. read more

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Bombaclatttt!!!!! Get there early cause finding parking is like finding the tooth fairy (ain't gunna happen and if you do you're probably DREAMIN')! It took us 25 minutes to find parking 3 blocks away across the streeeeet The service was great! Clear and concise and the food service was decently FAST. We had the Pulpo, shrimp tacos, squash blossom, cheese fondue, and crab donut. Everything here is RICH like a white girl in Beverly Hills-so, if you're looking for a balanced meal you might have to look elsewhere. The food was decent but the ambiance and the atmosphere was great. Stepping outside in the La Fayette hotel was like stepping into a movie set . Worth a try, Fo' STAH read more

Quixote - Outside hallway - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The vibes are on point but the food and drinks left something to be desired. We came on a Monday with a reservation for a group of 5. We had to wait a bit for our table but we got drinks at the bar first. What was odd was that they made us close out the checks before we could even go to our table. If we had known this beforehand we probably would have just ordered drinks at our table. I ordered the here today, gone tomorrow for a drink. I was hoping to taste more flavors like the cacao and plantain but could only taste mezcal. For food we got the guacamole, tuna tostada, crab doughnut, pulpo, memelita, the barramundi and the BBQ ribs. The best dish was probably the crab doughnut and the ribs. A lot of the smaller dishes had such strong flavors that it washed out the main component. The tuna you couldn't even taste because of the sauce. I didn't even realize there was avocado in it until I looked at the menu again. The pulpo was not tender at all and a tiny size for $23. The barramundi was well cooked but barely seemed seasoned and they gave some kind sauce for it on the side that we didn't like. The BBQ ribs were very well cooked and had a great taste. Our party loveddd the corn ribs that it came with. We didn't love that the kale salad that was on the bottom of the ribs was the same salad that came as a side to the fish. Overall pretty disappointing. read more

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