LIVIN' LA TORTILLA LOCA NEW EATERY IN RESEDA OFFERS CRAZY GOOD MEXICAN FARE.Byline: Larry Lipson Restaurant Critic EMERGING AS ONE of the Valley's better Mexican eating places after being the site of an American coffee shop for many years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time new La Tortilla Loca in Reseda has already captured the fancy of local firefighters and cops. Those uniformed guys do seem to love tacos or burritos for lunch and this place obviously has some excellent ones. Check out the name and you get the reason this cafe has caught on so quickly. If you're crazy for good tortillas, you'll appreciate the lovely fresh- tasting ones here that are made by hand. Since these tortillas are the basis for tacos, that's why some of the best tacos in town - my favorites are the shrimp ($2.55) and the marinated pork (al pastor Al pastor, literally meaning "Shepherd Style", is a dish developed in Mexico City likely as a result of the adoption of spit-grilled meat brought by Lebanese immigrants[1]. The dish is similar to the Turkish döner kebab, Shawarma, or Greek gyros. , $1.80) - can be had here. There's a salsa bar with two good reds (one mild, one hot), one green, a jalapeno mix and sliced radishes. And if you're eating on the premises, little bowls are provided; so much better than those itty bitty plastic containers, which, by the way, are also available. If the initial measurements of a Mexican cafe's worth should be formed on the merits on the merits adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling of a court based upon the facts presented in evidence and the law applied to that evidence. A judge decides a case "on the merits" when he/she bases the decision on the fundamental issues and considers of its tortillas, salsas Salsas is a Portuguese parish in the district of Bragança. The population in 2001 is 424, its density is 16.5/km² and the area is 25.76 km². and guacamole, La Tortilla Loca has no problems. All three please immensely, the latter ($1.75) being nicely textured, which to me means medium chunkiness and medium seasoning. Instead of the everyday albondigas soup, soup fanciers (and red-meat haters) will thoroughly enjoy the interesting and warming shrimp ball house special soup ($9.99). It arrives in a good-size bowl and makes a fine, shareable starter or a possible main course for one person. Another of the house specials - most of which involve shrimp - is a sort of shrimp ceviche ce·vi·che or se·vi·che n. Raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice with olive oil and spices and served as an appetizer. [American Spanish, from Spanish cebiche, fish stew, from recipe called ``aguachile'' ($12.99) which features a platter of lime juice-soaked shrimp garnished with onion, cucumber and avocado. Very tasty, indeed. The Loca kitchen does a fine job with its pescado al mojo de ajo (filet of sole with garlic sauce Noun 1. garlic sauce - garlic mayonnaise aioli, aioli sauce sauce - flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food , $8.99). Served hot with the fish flaky flaky - (Or "flakey") Subject to frequent lossage. This use is of course related to the common slang use of the word to describe a person as eccentric, crazy, or just unreliable. and moist, the plate's full-flavored rice and refried bean accompaniments also indicate a skillful skill·ful adj. 1. Possessing or exercising skill; expert. See Synonyms at proficient. 2. Characterized by, exhibiting, or requiring skill. hand at work. And there's even a small salad portion as a bonus. With the bistek encebollado ($7.99) entree, the thin-sliced, well-marinated beef can occasionally be a little too chewy chew·y adj. chew·i·er, chew·i·est Needing much chewing: chewy candy. chew  i·ness n. , but there's no denying its basic satisfaction as a good old steak and onions dish. Especially when you consider the addition of those soft, warm flour tortillas. Ending with flan ($1.85) might be the usual way to go when eating a Mexican meal, but for a sweet finale at Tortilla Loca, try the crunchy coconut bar sprinkled with little chips of chocolate ($1.25). Perhaps not an overwhelming choice of the uniformed clientele, but a neat finish nonetheless. Larry Lipson, (818) 713-3668 larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com LA TORTILLA LOCA Food: Three and one half stars - Service: Two and half stars Where: 18134 Sherman Way, Reseda. Hours: Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Recommended items: Guacamole, any of eight tacos, shrimp ball albondigas soup, shrimp aguachile, pescado al mojo de ajo (sole filet in garlic sauce), barras de coco (coconut bar with chocolate chips). How much: Just about everything except a trio of shrimp items and seven seas soup under $10. Beer and wine. Hard liquor hard liquor A popular term for beverages with a high–often > 30% by volume–ie, 60 proof alcohol content–eg, gin, rum, vodka, whiskey; HLs are preferred by alcoholics as a steady state of low-level inebriation is easier to maintain. See Standard drink. license pending. MC, V, ATM. Reservations: Taken. Call (818) 344-3510. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Diners at the new La Tortilla Loca in Reseda will find a number of appealing items, such as the chicken tostada. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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