by Calvin T. on if you blink, you'll miss it. I was driving by catalina and my GPS said it'd be on my left... I don't see it anywhere? It's because it was in an alleyway. I just parked my car on the street and searched on foot. This place is awesome. The bartender was really nice and great at recommending the various types of beer they carry. I'm not a big fan of beer, but they had a nice cider I enjoyed there. They have a nice crowd there as far as i could tell. Everyone is chill and mellow with sports on the tv screens. They also have a bunch of pool tables and other bar games which I didn't get to try out. It's great that it's not too noisy because you can actually talk without yelling to each other. I definitely plan to come back on a Tuesday night- it's trivia night w/ prizes!
by Ashley A. on I'm not usually so generous with my reviews, and I fully believe that a 5-star review is like a 10 in gymnastics and must be earned through a plethora of details regarding patronage, cuisine, mixology and ambience. In other words, let me put it this way: LOCA LUNA IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. When i went to college at Auburn (AL), I was in atlanta most every weekend, and at Loca Luna most every time. The old location was an amazing sight (right next to Backstreet) with the open air back and eclectically decorated walls. The salsa bands (and salseras) would be loud, raucous and all over the place, but it was exactly what I loved about it. The tapas, all 50 of them, were PERFECT. When i had family in town, they'd demand we go there and we'd eat our weight in ceviche and drink our fill on mojitos of several varieties. When I heard Loca Luna was closing down, I cried. I cried big fat girly tears because one of my fixtures, one of my best memories, one of my favorite places in the world was gone with the wind. In Atlanta last week, I discovered that not only was Loca Luna still alive and thriving, it had moved into the Amsterdam Ave block in Red Chair's old venue! I immediately drove there, got a seat and sighed a sweet sigh of relief. The food was as good as ever, the drinks were as brilliantly concocted as ever, the service was magnificent (thanks, Brad, for that extra plate of empanadas that "fell out of the kitchen") and the music was amaaaaazing. I found it strange being the only kid there who knew how to dance salsa, but at least everyone was trying. I was so excited I practically jumped on stage and hit the bongos myself. 3 hours and $60 later, i was dancing around the parking lot in the rain, with a happy belly and a happy heart, knowing that some things just never change.
by Jacquelynn Trasher on SECOND SATURDAYS. Reggae/Dancehall. Mixed crowd made up of some of everybody including those who probably came on the wrong night but stayed cause they paid. Open 'til 4. Leave by 3. Minus a star for the stank ass single-stall ladies room with the line wrapped around the bar. Plus a star for bay area classic status and for the DJ. Brap Brap!
