Tlapazola Grill 4.08

Tlapazola is in the heart of Venice, and it has that rarest of Venice treasures: abundant free parking. We have a full roster of margaritas, tequila, wine, and beer. We have developed a following for our variations on Oaxacan classics—described as French Oaxacan fusion prepared with fresh ingredients such as free range chicken, all natural pork, prime beef and fresh fish of the day. Vegetables are fresh and abundant, from the organic salads to the delicious vegetarian enchilada to the generous tostadas. The black beans are exceptionally flavorful (no lard). The presentations are a cut above the Mexican norm. And the sauces are complex.

Many regulars start with the incredible lemon-chicken tortilla soup but there are also salads and sophisticated appetizers such as the salmon vegetable roll topped over four types of flavorful sauces. A favorite entrée is the intensely flavorful chicken in a classic mole negro. For something a little lighter and more inventive, try the sautéed sand dabs with a lime-caper sauce, the vegetable cheese enchiladas with tomatillo sauce and yellow mole, or the excellent grilled salmon with pipiân sauce (based on green pumpkin seeds), served with a roasted garlic–and-spinach quesadilla. If you can still manage dessert, try the suave tres leches cake.

But be warned do not leave without trying our unbeatable signature Margarita that packs a wallop, lets just say we don't skimp on the tequila; the setting's casual and relaxed, the staff couldn't be nicer and prices aren't bad either.