Cha Cha Cha

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
It's always a party at this festive restaurant's Mission location. The setting evokes a cavernous, old-school Irish pub, complete with an enormous horseshoe bar and brick walls. The stylish clientele come from throughout the city--and get louder with each sip of sangria.

The Food
The Caribbean- and Latin-influenced food is always good, often great and a fabulous bargain. Diners need to be careful not to order too much. The restaurant's slogan, "small plates--big food," is actually true. The deliciously complex jerk chicken or the sloppy, tender pork quesadilla come highly recommended. Fried new potatoes are simple and near-perfect--crispy outside and creamy inside--and fried plantains wrap sweet, soft banana in an intense caramelized crust. Entrees might include a juicy tri-tip or salmon baked in banana leaf; they're all good, but order an array of tapas for the most fun.