Fodor's Expert Review Diego

Authentic regional cooking is served up in a sexy space with streaming waterfalls and rosy-hued lighting that illuminates the well-dressed crowd reflected in the hammered-tin mirrors. Ingredients are fresh and infuse dishes such as the signature carne asada (beef rib eye marinated in red-chile adobo, then grilled over mesquite and served with a salsa made with tequila, roasted cactus, and onion) with ample flavors. During event nights, reserve a table toward the rear of the restaurant to curb the noise from the adjacent Garden Arena—although many happy-hour denizens seated along the bar feel the chaos outside simply feeds the fiesta within. Guacamole sure goes down easy with margaritas, especially if they're mixed with one of more than 125 varieties of 100% blue agave tequila or mescal. Late on weekend evenings, the restaurant morphs into Vida! nightclub, with dancing into the wee hours.