La Roca

This is a great hidden gem. I’m American staying on the US side and crossed just to try this joint out and I was extremely impressed. The staff made me feel like I was part of their family. 4 adults entrees, 2 appetizers, 8 cokes bill was $ 140. Not bad.

Awesome atmosphere AND food.
Per the name, literally in a cave and half of the walls are made of the stone/​rock that makes up the cave. The meal I had was tasty and supreme Mexican eats + the mochomos and guac were authentic as could be and blew my mind.
If I were a AZ native, I would make my way across the border a lot more often for this place.
Bravo!

You won’t find the most famous restaurant south of Tucson at the elegant Tubac Resort and Spa, nor in sprawling Green Valley. The Cow Palace in Amado despite hosting John Wayne, Stewart Granger and other notable Hollywood cowboys is not the most famous either. One and only one restaurant has held the title for the the last forty years, and it is the spacious architectural gem located a mere block and a half inside the Mexican border simply called, La Roca.
The massive wrought iron gates, stone paved patio and colossal fountain greet us along with the bountiful greenery, abundant stylish outside furniture, fresh bright paint and generous second story windows. La Roca looks more like a stately mansion than a restaurant, however it is not stuffy in the least, it is vibrant, fun and alive with activity. It is a special place that mixes a bygone age of leisure with a contemporary zing that is unique. The many employees you’ll notice all wear a smile with their clean pressed uniforms, in fact their pride is contagious, we the patrons are proud to be there.

Climbing the wide stairway to our destination we enter the main dining room to the warm greetings from Captains Enrique and Lupe to their handsome waiters in starched white jackets, black bow ties, and name tags (least we forget), even the uniformed busboys are welcoming. Now where to sit? Near the ample stage? The alcoves that are carved out of the mountain’s stone? Near the roaring fireplace on a frosty night? Or perhaps the bright, comfy booths along the windows with splendid views of the gardens? Vases of fresh flowers, bright Mexican paintings, and artifacts mingle with the colorful cotton tablecloths and napkins that await our attentions.

This evening as its my guests first visit we choose to continue to the bar. El Balcon, La Roca’s bar is past the ritzy bathrooms, spacious kitchen, and elegant meeting room that is inviting rather than sparse. More tables line more windows overlooking the massive fountain, another two smaller rooms with flat screens and Viola! we’re in the bar. El Balcon as you might have guessed has a large balcony replete with tables and chairs looking out on the street, where I can grab a smoke. Inside we notice the polished copper bar and stools along with comfortable overstuffed leather chairs. Some choose to dine in El Balcon and do so on pounded silver Nambe trays, perhaps watching something on the massive flat screen. Tonight though, we sip our frozen margaritas and daiquiris Roberto so expertly concocted and flag down Lupe for our table.
We are seated as the mariachis softly play an old favorite from the stage, the glasses of purified water and colorful billboard style menu arrive with a smiling waiter. I explain to my guests that Sonora the Mexican state that we are in serves the finest beef in all of Mexico and it is the home of Guaymas on the Sea of Cortez where the huge and tasty jumbo prawns come from. I also share with them that the sea bass is outstanding. By the time we are finished we end up sharing a single flan with our Mexican coffee. For we three, the bill (including tip, and our drink in El Balcon) came to an even 100.00. Quite a bargain for the quality and quantity we devoured. However, you can take advantage of La Roca’s buffet either for lunch or breakfast on the weekends and there you’ll get the same outstanding service, and great food for under 10.00 for breakfast, and under 15.00 for lunch.
Now, when you mention Southern Arizona to your friends back home, and they say (as they always do) «Did you go to La Roca?» you can smile and say «Absolutely ! «. Reservations are encouraged. Call from your cell phone if you’d like an escort from the border. For hours, directions, telephone, menus, catering, special events and the world famous artisans store on premises called, El Changarro see:

I had seen this place online and it looked cool. While in Tucson on business recently I decided to take a ride to have dinner here on a Thursday night, St. Paddys Day of all days!
I parked at a lot on the US side near McDonald’s and walked across the border around 7:30pm. I followed Google direction as iPhone directions were circuitous. After crossing the border simply go to the left through the market to the main road where cars are entering Mexico. Go over footbridge to other side. As you are in foot bridge you will see the sign atop the building which is just behind the block of strip joints. Was a little deserted but felt relatively safe and well lit.
As you enter the courtyard there are shops but these were closed at this time. I went upstairs and into the restaurant. Only 1 other party in there. Was warmly greeted and seated. Décor and atmosphere was excellent. The back part that was carved into the rock was interesting to see
Had a margarita and was brought warm chips and pico de gallo. Chips were decent but felt like they were packaged and warmed up.
Main waiter spoke decent English and service was top notch. Menu was presented on an easel as it is a chalkboard of sorts. Too many choices, all of which looked great! All prices in USD.
Started with tortilla soup which is served with a side dish of chili powder to add as you desired. Very tasty!
Had the garlic shrimp as a main as recommended by waiter when I was weighing the shrimp dishes.
Probably about a dozen medium shrimp sautéed served with fresh grilled zucchini and rice along with a garlic cream sauce on the side. Very tasty.
Had vanilla flan and coffee for dessert.
Very good food, decent prices and a great atmosphere. I will return!

I
Happy New Year, PAHS time capsule committee! Could you make it tomorrow Wed. at 11 am at Museum? Time to wrap it up… literally. x
q

What a fun adventure to Mexico we had. It was tough to find a place to find that had enough reliable reviews over the border for a day trip.
This place looked good. When I first found it on Unilocal — you got a free margarita with a Unilocal check in — sadly no longer on the app.
Sure sure this place is crawling with all the stuff you have to deal with in a Mexican restaurant (they came and ask to take your photo (for $ 5.EACH copy) they come by and play music (too loudly) at your table (and expect a tip)…Just go with it — you are in Mexico
But we all had a few nice cocktails and a great meal. We started with a cheesy dip of some kind. Then I got the chicken mole which I loved. My man had one of the more expensive combo platters in the first column on the chalkboard menu (it is not listed as a «combo» but some kid of steak dish) — but really it is a combo of a steak, a relleno, some delightful combo of peppers (or maybe cactus) and onions in a cream sauce & an enchilada.
We ordered two desserts, a pineapple Flan (my favorite) and the Mexican Delight — really an ice cream cone with dulche de leche and pecans.
It was about $ 160 for 4 of us including about 7 cocktails total.

Best Mexican restaurant ever! The environment is a must experience! I cannot put into words how great the food is and how spectacular service is. I have been visiting this restaurant my whole life and NOTHING compares!

If you want to pay high prices for lousy food go to LA Roca. We went there for dinner and drinks because I had a dental appointment in Nogales.
We were seated promptly because the place was empty and a menu board was placed in front of our table. The waiter told us to order quickly because the kitchen was closing in 30 minutes, it was only 4:30.
I ordered a margarita and it came in a small glass full of ice and was bitter, lousy, and lacked tequila. It cost $ 5.50
They figure you’re going to drink several to feel good so they screw you. My $ 21.00 shrimp dish consisted of 6 tasteless butterfly shrimp, a serving of rice and a few pieces of squash. They seen me coming, and yes I did from across the border. My dining partner had a piece of seabass and the same rice and squash. It was lousy too.
Was it really seabass?
We also had chips and salsa and shrimp appetizer along with 2 beers.
When I received the bill I noticed that every menu item we ordered was 3 to 4 dollars more then listed on the menu, I got some bullshit story that the increase in prices were taxes per item. That totaled another 15 bucks.
The town of Nogales use to be full of American tourist but is now void and the town is dead. It’s not the economy but the Americans are tired of getting screwed by all merchants and LA Roca falls in the same category.
If you want good Mexican food and pay a reasonable price and not get ripped off wait until you cross the border back in the USA.

This restaurant is highly popular with the tourists. I ate here and did not get sick which is always a good sign! After you cross the US/​Mexico border, look for the overpass. This restaurant is located across the overpass walkway. The location is quiet and there can be some sketchy people so stay vigilant of your possessions and your surroundings.
Pros:
1. service was good – servers speak English
2. they bring you the menu written on a board
3. complimentary salsa
4. guacamole and chips were good
5. limeade was good
6. chicken soup was good
7. food was clean and fresh – I did not get sick after eating here
8. prices are all in USD and they accept credit cards
Cons:
1. their green verde enchiladas tasted sour to me and did not taste good
2. prices are similar to the US-​not cheaper even though they are located in Mexico

Food was good but it was very commercialized and expensive. As soon as you cross the border, the locals all tell you to go to La Roca. I think they must give them all free margs or something. It was fine but I would not cross the border again just to eat there.

If you’re a tourist coming from Arizona, and you take the main pedestrian border crossing into Nogales — and, if you’re not going further into Mexico, why drive? Leave your car at one of the parking lots around the end of I-​19 — you’ll see, at the exit of the pedestrian walk-​through, a huge sign — in English — giving detailed directions to walk to this restaurant. It’s just about the only sign in English you’ll see that isn’t on a pharmacy or a dentist’s.
And you’ll need the directions, even though it’s only about two blocks away. You need to go over the cross-​border highway on a pedestrian overpass, then duck around a corner into a side street. (Contrary to some descriptions, it’s not up a hill; it is, however, nestled into the base of a cliff.) However, while on top of the overpass, you can’t miss a huge sign on top of the restaurant with its name, an arrow pointing downwards, and the word «here».
All these things suggest you’re in for the worst sort of tourist trap. You aren.t. When you get there, you have to walk all the way around to the other side to the courtyard entrance, go in, then look behind you for the staircase to the restaurant on the second floor. (The ground floor is a bar.)
The waiters speak English. So does the menu, which is on an easel they bring to your table. Most of the dishes are shrimp. I had chicken mole instead. It was good mole: dark and bitter sauce over about half a breast and two halves of a thigh, with rice and beans. They take US cash. I’d like to come back some time.

My husband and I were in Nogales for 2 days for New Years, with no plans. We casually picked this restaurant to have lunch at, through the website
, and got really, really lucky. Because it is an amazing place! Our first day in Nogales, we had lunch at La Roca and were charmingly surprised with it’s sharply dressed, attentive, english-​speaking staff, it’s cozy, elegant décor, and it’s delicious food. It was built in the 70’s but gives off a feeling of 1940’s elegance and a type of experience I didn’t think you could find anymore.
We enjoyed ourselves so much we went back the next night for their $ 90 prix fix New Years party, which included 5 courses of food (appetizer, salad, main dish, dessert and a 2am snack) plus unlimited beer/​wine/​liquor. We were seated in the section of La Roca that is literally «the rock,» as the restaurant is built into the hillside. Tea candles suspended in the rock added ambiance to our view of the dance floor, decorated with hundreds of streamers while the live band played excellent music all night long. For $ 5, a photographer took a photograph of us and as he said «give me one minute to get you your picture» he did not exaggerate as it was a real polaroid!
My husband and I are swing dancers, and even though it was latin music we were able to find songs to dance to. We had many lovely conversations with nearby tables, and other dancing couples. My husband’s fondest memory is that after inadvertently meeting the owners of the restaurant out on the dance floor, Chris (one of the owners) came and brought a drink to the table for him to thank us for coming out!
We will go out of our way to go back here again, and would highly recommend spending New Years here for their annual party.

Great place, great food. Highly recommend this place! :-) I especially loved the desserts (flan and arroz con leche) and the coffee but the food was also excellent, especially for a vegetarian like me.
Definitely plan to make more trips across the border and visit again.

Fantastic food!!! Start with the mochomos (fried shredded beef) with a squeeze of lemon, then the azteca soup –don’t be shy with the guajillo powder trust me. And a changarro filet. OMG! You can die and go to heaven after having this meal!
Seriously delicious Mexican food, and it’s really close too, just across the Nogales border (bring your passport). Trust me you will not regret it!

Best Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. The attention to detail is what sets them apart from the rest. Everything from the fine suits on the waiters, to the subtle spices in the guacamole. I hope to come back here again, truly excellent — gracias La Roca!

Great place… really good food. Try the mochomos!!!
I’ve been there several times. Always try to make it there when in Nogales, MX!
The locals like this place too.
And, the story about Geronimo is interesting too. Not sure if true but it’s interesting.

I would give it 5 stars if I didn’t have to go out of the country with my passport to eat here. Best Mexican I have had in this area though. The refried beans were fresh. I liked the way the menu was presented at each table as well. The staff could speak a bit more English, but where is the fun in that considering you are in Mexico. This place is even recommended by the locals.

Beautiful ambiance, awesome service, delicious food, just amazing experience! More than expected, beyond pleased! This is a diamond in this city! A hidden gem I will return to time and time again, no doubt!!! Thanks fellow Unilocalers for your posts!

When I was in middle school, my Spanish teacher took our class to Nogales, to practice our Spanish in Mexico.
We ate at La Roca. We thought it was cool to eat in a cave. The servers were nice to us.
I went back in college, when I went to school in Tucson, and the only difference was I could have a margarita with my enchiladas. And I did, of course. It was cool to sip a margarita in a cave, too.
And, now I’m old… really old… and It still is cool.
I can’t believe it’s still there but so glad I will have the chance to take my kid there for lunch or dinner when we visit next time. She will like the whole cave thing too. It’s a really pretty restaurant, with a nice vibe. You do feel like you’re stepping back in time.
If you ‘re willing to brave the border thing, give it a chance.

La Roca sits about halfway up the hill that overlooks the Centro border crossing. There’s a pretty courtyard with bougainvillea and a mosaic fountain. Then you walk up the stone stairs and into an old-​school Mexican restaurant that is literally in the side of the rock of the hill. The waiters are dressed up in white coats and ties. The chairs are heavy old wood. You feel like you’ve stepped back in time to some kind dinner and dancing place like you’d see in a 50’s movie. But instead you get a genuinely pleasant and authentic Sonoran dining experience.
The menu is written on several chalkboards that they’ll bring up to your table to show your party. I think this is awesome for a couple of reasons — it’s more sanitary, and it’s a welcome exercise for my eyes after they’ve been staring at a computer screen.
The margartias are delicious. We usually start with the machaca (which is dried beef chips, kind of like beef jerky, but way better) and guacamole. When we’re almost full of that, we finally get around to ordering. I usually get the tampiqueña, since it’s a sampler of all things delicious.
The staff is great. You can tell that they are in the hospitality business — not just there to bring you food, but to make your experience more enjoyable. They were friendly, joining politely in joking conversations, and making excellent food suggestions.
A definite highlight of visiting Nogales.