La Loteria

La Loteria Restaurant Review:

This West Village restaurant’s tagline is “Cocina Mexicana Moderna,” Modern Mexican Cuisine. But what’s in a name? After all, the menu boasts empanadas, which hail from Argentina, and ceviche, also a South American item. The somewhat elevated dishes are worthy of a visit, Mexican or not. Meaty tacos --- get the thinly sliced grilled rib-eye or the michelada-marinated beef --- and the duck flautitas make a meal a filling endeavor. Likewise, the queso flameados, a very good baked cheese and chorizo casserole, could feed two. We like the desserts, such as flan, but they far from eclipse the savory selections on the menu. Drinks emphasize margaritas and other boozy concoctions, and beer and wine options are pricier than they should be.