La Costa Restaurant

Everything was perfect until the bartender Luciano walked in. It seems as though he made the assumption I did not speak English. He was speaking to a server in regards to his disbelief I was sitting at the bar. Further, he was upset I was seated at the bar. Not only did he speak to me with irritation, but he made me feel unwelcomed. Had it not been for the good graces of the hostess, I would think this place is a dive.
What a terrible ending to a great start.

Fine dinning, live music is amazin! Waiters are super courteous and the service is great! I would definitely come back and bring my family members.

Best Cadillac Margaritas and Enchiladas in Town… My family and I have been going to this place for years. The garlic escargot is also very delicious. Prices are also very reasonable.

Pretty good place. Went w one of my old amigas I have not seen in ages! so i I got this but highly recommended. So, I tried it out with my friend. I ordered the mole enchiladas. They were alright, they were a little dry I should have asked for extra mole a sauce. But the menu had really other good things. I would look around abd plates looked amazing. It wont be my last time here. And this place has a live band as hoy dine! Hmm a this Mexican food I want flan. Nom nom nom

I have been coming to this restaurant for a good 20+ years and the one thing that hasn’t changed is their delicious food! Unlike your regular hole-​in-​the-​wall Mexican joint, La Costa is more of an intimate and somewhat upscale restaurant. They usually have a live band or mariachi playing (depending on the day) Personally I think the price range could be a little better but I understand you get what you pay for. However, they do have one of the most AWESOME happy hours. Super cheap well drinks/​draft beer, $ 3 margaritas and $ 5 entrees. I believe the happy hour is from 3−7pm on weekdays (but don’t quote me on that) Overall attentiveness of the waiters could be a little better but I can’t say I have ever had a bad time at La Costa. I’m there almost every week! Food, staff, drinks, it’s all great :)

Good food
good service
good drinks
–just found it a little pricey, BUT they advertise as «Fine Mexican Dining» so they can charge more for their food and drinks…
I had the carnitas plate and it was very well done. Very tasty, very tender. I liked the House Salsa too.

My family and I used to always come to La Costa, a few weeks ago I came to have lunch with my mom and we were very disappointed. Since they remodeled, it went down hill. The food and service is not the same, it doesn’t have that mexican authentic taste. I do have to say the carne asada is good but not the best I’ve had.

I never thought I would see a Mexican restaurant that looked and gave the feel of high class and fine dining. This place makes you feel like a millionaire without the price tag.
The food was just crafted with excellence. And the taste that followed its presentation exceeded my expectations. Too bad I’m not from around the area, otherwise I would make this place a regular one. Two thumbs up

The food is good … My family and I have been coming to La Costa for over 25 years… Sorry to see an establishment go down hill…
The service here is horrible that is when we where there on 10/​29/​2015 … Lunch time and it was pretty empty…4 months ago we had the same issues and mention it to the hostess up at the door… Also mention to her that the room rest are disgusting and needed immediate attention. On thing employees need to remember no customers no job… instead of acting like they don’t care.

The filet mignon was delicious! Our waiter Francisco was very attentive. It is a great place for date night and the bar area is nice as well to come in for a drink. This place has a laid back atmosphere. I will definitely come back to try out something new from the menu as everything sounds delicious!

Loved the Calamari Steak. SO Delish. Wasn’t inlove with frozen Margarita but food and service was awesome.

It has been a minute since I have dined at this restaurant since it was re-​modeled, overdue review. My sister-in-law’s mother had recommended it; my husband and I like to support our local businesses so we gave it a try.
I remembered that my husband ordered fish, maybe halibut? I don’t remember what I had. The memory of his entrée is more memorable than mine; have to say; very disappointing. I think the fish was frozen, it was not a nice fluffy filet; it was very firm; the vegetables were frozen not fresh. This entrée was not worthy of the price we paid. I think their reputation is not befitting of their perception. Thought about trying it again, but not ready yet. Service was ok.

Ordered camarones ala diabla expecting the usual shrimp in a spicy sauce but instead received shrimp in a red sauce with a ton of onion and MUSHROOMS. Honestly I have never seen a place serve camarones a la diabla like that. Especially when it doesnt state anywhere in the menu that it comes with mushroom!!!

I have had multiple «blah» experiences at this place, but today was just too much…
The waiter asked what I wanted to drink, I asked for a drink menu. He never brought it, so I took it upon myself to get up and ask the host for a menu. I didn’t get a drink until 45 min or so after arriving. Yes, I was there with a large party & we were waiting for the arrival of the majority BUT I could have used something to drink.
Took even longer for the waiter to bring menus to the table for the others… at least 3 tables (all also large parties) received their food before us. Don’t know what that deal was. I was halfway done with my food before the last of our party was served. I couldn’t wait. The green beans were obviously canned. The salsa also, pace?
The only thing enjoyable was the piña colada.

When I am in Monterey Park I usually have Happy hour at La Costa. We Love the margaritas, calamari and carne asada quesadilla.
I usually go with some friends. We usually start with the guacamole although we did not have it this time.

Best michiladas in Montebello. Food is real good. I also recommend there Agua chiles. So bomb.

Been living in Montebello all my life and I just found out about this place. Not sure how long it’s been here (could it be longer than the chinese restaurant next door that claims to be here since 1962?), but La Costa is a decent dining option if you want to go somewhere slightly nicer without leaving the confines of bello.
I started off, as per usual, with a strawberry blended Margarita. The drink was the perfect consistency, and was sweet (just how i like it), but contained very little alcohol.
For my entrée I had the Swordfish, which was flavorful. I think it was slightly firmer than the Swordfish I’ve had in the past (and those were already pretty solid).
Overall a good choice in the bello area that’s open until 10pm and serves alcohol. The prices aren’t necessarily cheap, but they won’t break the bank either.
Stay Cheerful ;)

This restaurant has a nice ambiance, but the food was rather bland. At first I thought it was just my taste buds, but the 3 other people at my table said the food was tasteless.
I had a house salad to start and it was basically just lettuce with a slice of tomato that was soft already.
My chile relleno was bland, and the enchilada needed more spice (not to make it spicy but to add flavor). I feel like the chef was too scared to add salt.
It was edible, but it didn’t hit the spot. I probably won’t be going back.

This place did not impress me. Came with a group for a Christmas luncheon and I thought it would be better. Service was horrible and the steak was undercooked. First off the waitress was in a rush to take our order. She brought drinks to half of the group and water. Someone ordered a tea and she forgot about it. She had to be reminded twice. After she rushed to take our order she did not refill our drinks immediately despite the glass full of ice. She realized our group was large she brought a half empty pitcher of lemonade to those drinking lemonade.
The best part of her bad customer service was when she brought our food was my steak azteca plate. My friend and I ordered the same plate. I ordered my steak medium well and my friend ordered medium. When she brought out the plate I asked if it was the medium well steak and she replied, «yeah, yeah, yeah.» I knew she was lying because she didn’t know the difference. I cut my steak and low and behold it was bleeding red. I told the waitress firmly in Spanish that it was not a medium well steak like she said and it had to be cooked more. Boy was she mad. My friend had received my cooked steak and she was not letting it go. Lol. The people in our group who ordered steak had to get it cooked more as well. I would say a total of 3 people had to resend their steaks back. This place also just doesn’t take the steak, they take your plate away. So you are left eating chips and salsa.
My other friend ordered the shrimp dish and the shrimp were not peeled like other restaurants. The albondiga soup was greasy on top but the albondigas and flavor were good. The desserts are so so. My friend and I split a chocolate lava cake and there was no lava. The only good part was the ice cream. We only ate part of the cake since it was missing the lava. I didn’t want to piss her off more so we just left it behind. The only good food was the rice, guacamole and café de hoya. Everything else was mediocre.
Avoid this place unless you want crappy service, café de Hoya or just chips and guacamole. There are better places nearby. I probably would have been happier at the Chinese place next door. I will never return.

Excellent Mexican Cuisine In The Montebello Hood of East L.A.
SITREP
This is actually embarrassing to say the least — I’ve been coming to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn-​Montebello located on Racquet Mountain for about six (6) years now, as we conduct trainings for our new staff at our regional office located in nearby Monterey Park. NEVER noticed this little gem on the OTHER side of Garfield Avenue, almost at the foot of the long windy driveway from the hotel… til now!
Leave it to one of our newbie trainers Tammy — a proficient Unilocal user herself (again, face palm for me) — to have *popped* up this option for us to try with our boss (and HER boss) for dinner with our crew of trainers.
THE SETUP — TRAFFIC JOYS
We had left work in Monterey Park and we were now engaged in one of our FAVORITE activities EVER as we conduct these training-​junkets in Southern California, and that was to experience the full-​on power of L.A. RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC! Oh the joy…
My bosses’ boss Brenda actually had the (mis)fortune to be following me, but things were cool as we opted for surface streets until we took the hop onto HWY 60 at Atlantic Blvd. *Rubbernecking* But it wasn’t too long until we came to the Garfield exit, popped off, but we exited from the left of this 4-​lane road where it merged with Findlay traffic and somehow I managed to shoot through an opening and manically go all the way to the right, creating an opening for Brenda to pop in front of me with.
I indicated to her to turn right onto Garfield, I turned right, she stayed in the right lane, I *popped* around her in the left lane, she popped over to the left herself after me, and I started looking on the left for the restaurant which Tammy told us was just past the hotel driveway on the rightside. At the last minute I noticed we were just about to zoom past it, I put on the brakes, poor Brenda almost rear-​ended me (but didn’t, THANK GOD), we somehow navigated a left turn in front of oncoming traffic from the other side, and got into the restaurant lot.
I mention this because apparently this is the driving routine one must engage in coming from HWY 60 to enjoy supper hours between 5:30pm and 7pm. CrAzy! Was it worth it?
EL MENU
The food was great. The beverages were refreshing.
* PACIFICO — such a delicious refreshing Mexican beer. I got the draft 23 ouncer for only $ 7.50, and it went down nicely. My colleagues got some of the premium margaritas and it was obvious they were thoroughly enjoying their choices.
* MEXICAN COMBO — this is a delicious combination of a Red Enchilada and a Green Chili Relleno, with tasty rice & beans.
* The chips get coming out and the salsa was exquisite.
* GUAC — We had to order the guacamole and it was exquisite and refreshing! Avocado merely seasoned with spices and ingredients you would find in a wonderful salsa — but none of the heavy cream or dairy or whatever that jumps it up a notch on the «artery-​busting» index.
In sum, all of the food and drinks were done well and we will no doubt come back here again in the coming weeks as our training junket continues through November.
THE PHYSICAL PLANT
Other than the location being right off a crazy intersection with insane traffic creating the very impression you are salmon trying to swim upstream, the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful inside with traditional décor and art.
The dining rooms are spacious and can allow separate areas to be set up for groups from 10 to 50 very easily. The tables are all linen, down to the napkins. The lighting is somewhat magical with the pillars being spiraled with red lights, almost giving the impression we are already in the holidays (but not too much so).
THE LOWDOWN
A great Mexican cuisine stop in East L.A. in the Montebello Hood.