Description: La Golondrina is one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. It sits front and center on old Olvera Street, where the city of Los Angeles was born. La Golondrina opened as a cafe in 1924. The building it is housed in is the historic Pelanconi House, the first brick home in Los Angeles, built in 1855.
When you are strolling Olvera Street, you can't miss the busy patio. Just walking by, you get a sense of a lively fiesta.
The patio is the best place to sit. You get a bird's eye view of the street, and the people-watching is outstanding--all of Olvera Street will pass by. This last time, we ate indoors. The room was full of Mexican art, colorful and busy. However, I found it a little dark. I really missed sitting on the patio. If they do not have a patio table ready, the wait for one is well worth it.
To start, you need to have a margarita. They are excellent here, and there are several types to choose from. I always go with the House Margarita, but if you are a tequila connoisseur, they can steer to a more upscale blend. I did try the sangria here and have to say it's not nearly as good as the margaritas.
When we ate here, there were a lot of Hispanic families having big birthday parties. I feel anytime you eat in an ethnic restaurant and a lot of locals of that ethnic group are dining there, you have made a good choice!
I had the chile relleno and cheese enchilada, and it was great. Patrick had the carne asada, and Breana went with her standard bean and cheese burrito. Among the five of us at dinner, we all were happy with the meals. The meal came with fresh, hot tortillas, right out of the machine. I could have eaten a dozen!
Our wait staff was very friendly with the kids, our orders were taken quickly, and the food came in no time. Although everything was quick, we never felt rushed or hurried along.
The atmosphere here is true "fiesta". The place hums with a sense of being busy. This may not be the kind of place to come for a romantic, quiet getaway, but more the place to come with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. They even have strolling mariachi bands on Friday nights.
The food is authentic, the service good, and the atmosphere fun. Best of all, you can step right outside and explore colorful Olvera Street.
One word of caution:
In Los Angeles, all restaurants have an A, B, or C rating from the health department. This grade must be posted at the front of each restaurant. "A" is a perfect score. La Golondrina only got a B, meaning some violations were found here. I personally eat at a "B", (never at a "C"). Many folks here will only eat at an "A" restaurant.
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