When people ask me to think of my favorite restaurant off the top of my head, for some reason I inevitably think of Gardens of Taxco first. I don’t go there very often, really only for special meals, but my memory just won’t let go of all the colors and flavors this amazing West Hollywood spot has to offer.
Unfortunately I’m not the only one that adores Gardens of Taxco, so parking can be a bit messy. There is a small lot in front of the restaurant that is almost always full and street parking can be tricky in this neighborhood. Your best bet is to go ahead and pay the $4 for valet parking. I promise, it’s worth it.
Gardens of Taxco serves up the most incredible and filling five-course traditional Mexican meal you’ll ever have. The flavors are so delicate and unusual, it’s nothing like the watered down greasy nonsense you find at popular and flavorless chains. Even before your main course, they bring out appetizers of spicy pickled veggies and fresh tortilla chips with homemade salsa, a quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese and homemade guac, an enticing enchilada, and a spicy soup. And the dessert (banana creme pudding with cherries and a complimentary glass of sherry) is so rich that, even though you’ll be stuffed, you’ll make room for it.
While every offering at Gardens of Taxco is marvelously seasoned and authentically flavored, what you shouldn’t miss out on is any dish with mole. The mole served at this fine restaurant is like nothing you’ve ever even dreamed of, and, as the human menu narrates, is “the best mole in town.”
Gardens of Taxco offers a variety of wines and beers to pair with a Mexican palette, and sangria daiquiris by the carafe to keep the party lively.
The atmosphere here is hard to define. Small tables and booths spread throughout the low-lit restaurant, seating both large parties and intimate dates.
You will feel transported to a strange, glowing land with a fusion of Spanish and Mexican decor. The ambiance is lively
without being too loud or rambunctious and the roaming mariachi singer who softly strums his guitar makes Gardens of Taxco a romantic place to bring a date. There are no menus, there is simply one man, who has been there since the opening day, who recites the menu as an epic poem and designs your evening’s dining delights around your personal tastes.
You won’t know what to expect when you walk through the door-the atmosphere is whimsical and yet somber, lively and yet refined. Just know that you will be treated like a VIP and savor every bite of the delicate and unique cuisine.
Gardens of Taxco
1113 North Harper Ave.
West Hollywood, Ca 90046
(323) 654-1746
Tues-Thurs, Sun: 4:30 pm-11 pm
Fri/Sat: 4:30 pm-Midnight (reservations are recommended on the weekends)
P.S. Since I’m always one for a discount, I feel no shame in promoting Garden’s version of an “Early Bird” special. If you go Tues-Fri before 7 pm, you can have this amazing five course meal half off. Check out their website for details on the coupons they offer.
