Franklin Avenue

Rate-A-Restaurant, #7 in a series


Restaurant: La Serenata De Garibaldi


Location: 1842 E. First Street, East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights)


Type of food: Mexican


What we ordered: Quesadilla de Pollo (appetizer); tamarind juice (drink); Fish enchiladas in green tomatillo sauce (Mike); shrimp enchiladas in green tomatillo sauce (Maria); shredded beef flautas (Clarissa)


They stipulated: That we venture east to try what some say is the best Mexican food in all of Los Angeles.


High point: Heading to East LA and Boyle Heights was actually part of the fun. There's a whole world of Los Angeles that we rarely see, so this was a chance to visit one of Los Angeles' oldest neighborhoods. Now mostly Latino, Boyle Heights has always been a strong immigrant community, famed for its diverse population of Jewish, Japanese, Mexican and other residents through the first half of the 20th century. It's where the original Canter's Deli was, and most recently was the setting for the indie movie "Real Women Have Curves."
As for the restaurant, the food was excellent. The chicken quesadilla is a nice surprise-- it's shaped in a dome and looks unlike any quesadilla you've ever seen. La Sereneta is known for its seafood, which is why Maria and I went that direction with our enchildadas. Meanwhile, the restaurant recently underwent a renovation, and the result is solid.


Low point: Who let the bugs in? A group of bugs hovered in the air, but not close to us. Meanwhile, I realized that tamarind juice is an acquired taste. Wasn't sure at first, but I downed it all and got into it toward the end. I guess I like tamarind candy better.


Overall impression: Glad we headed east.


Chance we will go back: I actually really enjoyed making it out east, and this is reason to hit Boyle Heights again. That, and Mariachi Plaza, where groups of musicians dressed in mariachi garb stand around on the weekends, waiting to be hired for parties. That's a sight.