 More Than a
Mexican Hat Dance
Cantina Joannafina
“There are none” had been my usual response to
the oft-asked question, “What is the best Mexican restaurant in the Conejo?”
Amazingly, that is pretty much the answer you would also get from the
justifiably exalted Los Angeles Times Food Critic Irene Virbila when asked
the same question concerning most of Los Angeles.
It does seem amazing
that in an area with one of the largest Mexican populations in the United
States, there are very limited quality choices. Serenata de Garibaldi,
with roots in the East Los Angeles Barrio, is about the only name usually
mentioned. That is qualified, however by the fact that it is known mostly
for its seafood. The main location burned down a few years ago and Serenata
attacked the lucrative West Los Angeles market with two locations. On the
two occasions that I ate at Serenata on Pico at Bundy, it seemed somewhat
overrated to me. El Chavo on Sunset near downtown Los Angeles is
somewhat authentic and also occasionally mentioned but would hardly be a
Conejo Valley resident accepted destination even though it is near The Music
Center. You really had to go to Santa Barbara's Milpas Street for
anything close to authentic at the wonderful El Baijo
Taqueria or the more well known and OK but somewhat hyped La Super
Rica.
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I do like Adobe
Cantina run by Carlos and Ada Orozco in nearby Agoura
very much. It certainly serves fine South of the Border food in a pleasant
romantic setting. But while offering some traditional Mexican food, along
with Carlos’ excellent slow BBQ, it primarily features well prepared and
served seafood rather than the very broad and perhaps gritty Mexican menu of
authentic tamales and burritos that serious down and dirty Mexican style
foodies seek.
Joanna
and Delfino Lopez-Rojas and their recently opened Cantina
Joannafina are now a positive answer to that question asked at the start of
this article. After 15 years operating the very successful, popular and
highly rated Joannafina’s in the city of Ventura, they opened this
second restaurant last fall in the recently remodeled Paseo Marketplace
on Thousand Oaks Blvd. As you know, we like to wait a few months before
reviewing a new restaurant so that it has an opportunity to settle in. We
also like to confirm that the owner is usually in the kitchen or greeting
you at the front door. If not, we pass.
We are glad that
we waited. Cantina Joannafina
had problems at the start during the remodel construction. It was a mess.
But the experienced husband and wife duo persevered. I have been to the
restaurant recently on three occasions and either one or both owners have
been on the job overseeing every daily detail. It shows.
As stated many times I
don’t consider “My name is Tiffany and I am here to serve all your
needs” corporate cookie cutter food purveyors and franchises as
places at which one wastes leisure time and calories.
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The Cantina has a
very attractively styled heated outdoor patio. When you enter, you are
quickly greeted and seated by smiling and attentive faces. The long thin
main dining area is very atmospheric without being a caricature. At
first we were taken aback when our server turned out to be a young
blonde Moorpark J.C. student. But Nicole was energetic, well trained,
pleasant and provided wonderful, relaxed and precise service.
The restaurant is
open for authentic Mexican breakfast, lunch and dinner. It offers
everything from Chile Verde Rancheros ($7.75), Huevos con Chorizo
($6.00) or Carne Asada con Huevos Breakfast Burrito ($6:50) in the A.M.
to Fish Tacos ($2.95 each ) luncheon fish Burritos ($5.50) or Chicken,
Pork, Beef, Vegetarian Tamales ($3.00) at noon. In the evenings things
get really serious, with the rarely seen locally, gourmet Pollo en Mole
($13.50 ) and Fajitas of Pollo, Carne Asada or Camarones
($11.50-$14.50). |
Flavorful combination
Dinners and Dinner Burritos are served with a choice of Soup or Salad. The
night we visited we were offered a wonderful garlic and egg drop soup by the
apparently ever present Joanna. It clearly demonstrates the restaurant’s
desire to offer Mexican food that is not only authentic but well above the ordinary.
We dined on a
combination of our favorite, Chile Relleno, along with one of
Joannafina’s famous award winning Tamales. We chose flavorful pork. Both
were served on a hot plate with very cleanly cooked rice and beans. You
should know that the restaurant holds Tamale demonstrations during the
year. Everything on the menu seemed enticing and priced fairly.
There is
a fun Margarita Bar featuring great drinks. You actually can taste the
Tequila served in attractive and authentic stemmed blue rimmed glasses.
Finally, if both Joanna and Delfino are on the premises at the same
time, you get free entertainment. This dynamic duo may not realize it,
but as you watch them in action, |
Joanna Dishes Out a Mean Margarita
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you get the feeling that
you are part of an old timers version of the “I Love Lucy” show LIVE.
If you merely smile at platinum-haired Joanna, she will immediately invite
you to see the unisex bathroom that she designed and decorated with humorous
Butero type paintings on the wall and oozing aromatherapy. It is worth the
short walk and you will be safe.
Try as we always do, we
found it difficult to find any real downside to Cantina Joannafina.
Perhaps the only thought would be that there appears to be limited and
somewhat cramped seating inside the otherwise charming dining area. Weekends
might entail waits if you are unwilling to dine Al Fresco. But no matter
where you sit, it all will be fun and giggles and great food as long as
Joanna is around to provide her form of impromptu entertainment.
The only thing missing might be Fred and Ethel Mertz
…………and little Ricky.
Oh yeah!! If that's not enough Cantina Joannafina
will be featuring a live Cuban Band playing from 6:30 Pm till ? on Friday
and Saturday nights. Joanna will also be on hand both nights to add
(??) to the festivities.
Cantina Joannafina 3637 Thousand Oaks
Blvd. Westlake Village
Paseo Marketplace Most Credit Cards
805- 374-7744.
Reservations Not Required
Easy Shopping Center Parking
Takeout
Available
Sister Location In Ventura at 1127 Seaward
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