I got a sense that the menu's length, the restaurant's scale and too much gimmickry were working against consistent cooking. But then I took another sip of my margarita, bit into a brisket taco seasoned with a horseradish cream as well as tomatillo, and thought: there are much worse ways to pass time in this neighborhood. - Frank Bruni

Toloache’s fish tacos likewise show a design sensibility. The package is tidy, with hunks of freshly fried tilapia anchored to a corn tortilla by loose guacamole and topped with chipotle-crema-dressed jicama slaw. - Matt Gross

This Mexican eatery from chef Julian Medina (Maya, Zocalo) suits its Theater District locale: The dynamic, richly appointed duplex is adorned with beautiful tiles...

The first thing to know about this ambitious theatre-district Mexican bistro is that its name signifies, as a waiter will eagerly explain, a flowering plant famed in Mexico for its use in love potions. - Mike Peed