A Mexican restaurant and bar with a great party atmosphere. The food could be better but the cocktails, service and happy vibe make a visit worthwhile.

The Venue
Perhaps an unlikely find on Battersea Park Road, Margarita Loca is reminiscent of a Tex-Mex restaurant you’d find in L.A. The decor is in your face – vibrant colours, animal print, wall murals, cowboy hats, cocktail umbrellas and a blow up parrot behind the bar. The large seating area is raised, providing a view onto the street and back down to the bar. In warmer months, floor to ceiling windows open onto the busy street – bus passengers get a great view of your meal. You get the impression the decor has seen better days, or possibly too many good nights, but this adds to the charm.

The Atmosphere
Fiesta, fiesta, fiesta! No matter when you visit, Friday night or Sunday lunchtime, music is pumping and there’s a happy vibe. Diners vary from students to professionals, to families and a later crowd, grabbing food or more drinks after local pubs have closed. Staff are accommodating and might even give you a cowboy hat to wear – if they’re going to look the part then you should too. Service is laid back; give the bartender a nod if you need more drinks or grab a waitress on their way by – don’t expect them to hover or fill your glass. Children are welcome and love the decor.

The Food
The average price of a starter is £4 and the choice includes seafood dips served with tortilla chips, spicy beef nachos and Veracruz minted crab and avocado cocktail. Spicy beef nachos aren’t as spicy as you might expect but the nachos are fresh and it’s a good starter or sharing plate. For mains, rib eye steak with Jack Daniel’s glaze (£12) arrives sizzling and sweet smelling – the rich fruity taste is good but unfortunately the meat is thin and tough. Chicken burritos (£9) are well presented and served with rice and salad. The Mexican rice, with peas and sweet corn, seems overcooked – the sweet corn is wrinkled but it tastes okay. The burritos are pleasantly spicy and certainly fill you up.

A children’s burger and chips costs £4.95, but the chips don’t seem very fresh and the burger isn’t anything special – it might be best to go with the chicken instead. Desserts are around £4 and include a selection of ice creams, chocolate fudge cake and cheesecake. Children eat free Mondays to Thursdays before 7pm.

The Drink
There’s an ample choice of cocktails, most costing £5.50, with a Mexican and Cuban theme. Mojitos are generously poured and not too full of sugar. Long Island Iced Teas (£6.95) and flavoured Margaritas also hit the spot. Choose from around six bottles of red and six white wines (about £15 per bottle) and plenty of beer; Sol, Corona, and Budweiser are on offer in bottles and Stella or Becks are on tap for around £3.50.

The Last Word
With decent cocktails and a lively atmosphere, Margarita Loca is a great place for a celebration.

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