La Barca

Located on Lombard between Fillmore and Webster, you wouldn't imagine this place to be too happening, but every weekend you can find an assortment of San Franciscans enjoying the authentic fare and huge portions. There's normally a bit of a wait, but the bar and live music normally quell any impatience. And the drinks are strong. This restaurant is where I first discovered what a Freshie is (courtesy of my cousin Melissa Bernal) and the bartenders here definitely do it justice. A combo of tequila, lime juice and tonic water, Freshies are the perfect semi-healthy margarita-esque compliment to a hearty Mexican meal. The food here is very authentic (in a dirty Mexican food kind of way) and the tacos plates are great. Most orders come with rice and beans as well, and I have never heard of anyone leaving this place even remotely hungry.

Although the ambiance is a bit outdated (a giant fake rain forest set makes up one of the walls) the marina party vibe is in full effect most weekend nights. The most entertaining part of dining here, aside from the people watching, may be the excessive amount of birthday celebrations. The waiters do a whole song and dance show and serve a flan dessert, and as soon as one person announces that they are celebrating their birthday, it quickly becomes about 5 other people's birthdays as well. That being said, about a third of your dining experience is undergone while listening to loud Mexican birthday music, singing waiters, and possibly devising a plan to change one of your fellow diners birthdays to anoche. Great food and drinks, a fun ambiance, and a fake rain forest dining experience add up to a 4 star rating from me.