Gringo's Cantina y Cocina

Description:

• The Scene
  When out-of-town guests come in for a visit or if you just have a special occasion to celebrate, this is the go-to restaurant in Pacific Beach. Unlike the beach hut-themed restaurants up Garnet, Gringo's space is elegant and modestly designed with Spanish-style furnishings and a sleek, but never generic atmosphere.
  
  The Food
  While there's nothing new here (everything is relatively recognizable), the kitchen is good at taking a traditional dish and making it their own with technique and seasonings. Two good examples are the Conchita Pibil - Yucatan-style baked pork in banana leaves in an achiote marinade - and the Pescado a la Parilla of grilled swordfish topped with papaya-black bean salsa on a bed of Mexican pilaf. Of course, the restaurant is also a great place for drinks and appetizers on a hot day: a couple of the bar's mojitos and an order of nachos is a hard afternoon to top.