La Cocina - new mexican restaurant in seacrest

This is interesting but my buds and I had an almost exact same experience as you when we went. We had given it a whirl right when they opened so never said anything as it's unfair to judge during the first week while kinks are still being worked out, etc. Fish tacos were actually spit out, chips tasted old, salsa was crushed tomatoes and that is all, queso tasted burnt and chicken tacos were as dry as a bone. And we didn't even get beans and rice as they didn't have any. I did promise myself I would give them another shot, though, but after reading your experience may wait a bit longer as the kinks are still there. I only wish them the best of luck as we need this kind of place here although El Mercadita does a great job and it's about 1/10th the cost.

Where is El Mercadito?

Same strip mall on US 98 as Jambone's BBQ.

Mi Cocina is fabulous! I went for the second time the other day for lunch and Anna and George have done it again!
I "behaved" and got the mexican salad with chicken and it was awesome! The interiors are also fabulous! They really did a lot to warm up and large and stale space. I love the large dog painting and all the fun colored pots.
I just gotta get back and get myself one of their delicious margaritas!
Congrats Ann and George!

Thanks for the detailed reviews you all! keep 'em coming. overall, sounds like Mi Cocina is a hit.

Hi friends,

When we opened Mi Cocina just 7 weeks ago we named it after our favorite restaurant in Dallas that friend’s own. We ran the “traps” to make sure we could use the name but did not catch the national trademark they own. It was our boo-boo. Aren’t our lives a constant lesson? So, we are changing the name from Mi Cocina to La Cocina (the kitchen in Spanish) …… just wanted you to know since you might start to notice the change.

After Labor Day we have great plans to tighten up our menu--- give you more of what you are loving the most! You’ll see a Happy Hour from 4-6 daily, more appetizers, more specialty margaritas (I’ve been the taster and they are YUMMY)—made with fresh fruits, more combination plates (enchiladas and tacos just like you like it) and $6.95 lunch specials that’ll make you want to eat there every day of the week!! So, great things are happening at LA COCINA… we’re even installing a TV in our bar for football season!!

We are so blessed and fortunate to call YOU our friends as well as our customers and we THANK YOU for your support—always! WE love your feedback too… so tell us… we want to be your favorite Mexican restaurant!

Thanks for passing the word …………..

Ann and George

I actually really enjoyed the fish taco I had there. It obviously wasn't the usual tilapiacrapia, but I didn't ask what it was. We ate at the bar, and the bartender (didn't catch her name) was very attentive and friendly. Weak points were hostesses-we arrived after 9pm and they were obviously way more interested in whatever it was they would be doing after work than getting us a table. margarita has already been beaten to death above and rightly so. I would give the place a try, eat in the bar, stick with cerveza or soft drinks.

Not Telling the Truth

To those of you that read the story about George and Ann having to change the name of Mi Cocina I would like to tell you the truth about why they had to change the name. I am from Dallas and was the first to call my friends at M Crowd Restaurant group to alert them about this restaurant using their name. Mico who is the owner of M Crowd was shocked and very upset that this organization would degrade his lifes work by stealing his name. George and Ann put in the post about how they are "friends" with Mico and the M crowd group when in fact this organization had no idea who these people were until I alerted them. It is a shame that the Hartley's must lie about trying to steal the name of the best Tex Mex food in Dallas. Mico and I just really felt strongly about setting the record straight. If anyone has any questions or would like to speak with Mico or anyone at M Crowd about the real story please feel free to give them a call. 972-960-7774 Thank you to those of you that can see the truth in this matter.

To those of you that read the story about George and Ann having to change the name of Mi Cocina I would like to tell you the truth about why they had to change the name. I am from Dallas and was the first to call my friends at M Crowd Restaurant group to alert them about this restaurant using their name. Mico who is the owner of M Crowd was shocked and very upset that this organization would degrade his lifes work by stealing his name. George and Ann put in the post about how they are "friends" with Mico and the M crowd group when in fact this organization had no idea who these people were until I alerted them. It is a shame that the Hartley's must lie about trying to steal the name of the best Tex Mex food in Dallas. Mico and I just really felt strongly about setting the record straight. If anyone has any questions or would like to speak with Mico or anyone at M Crowd about the real story please feel free to give them a call. 972-960-7774 Thank you to those of you that can see the truth in this matter.

Degrade his life's work? Stealing the name?

Dude, they opened a restaurant in FL and named it after their favorite place in Texas. Then they found out that it could cause legal issues so they are changing the name. And they have acknowledged their mistake.

Why all the drama?

Sheesh...

EDIT: Did you register a Sowal ID just for this? That was your first post...

To those of you that read the story about George and Ann having to change the name of Mi Cocina I would like to tell you the truth about why they had to change the name. I am from Dallas and was the first to call my friends at M Crowd Restaurant group to alert them about this restaurant using their name. Mico who is the owner of M Crowd was shocked and very upset that this organization would degrade his lifes work by stealing his name. George and Ann put in the post about how they are "friends" with Mico and the M crowd group when in fact this organization had no idea who these people were until I alerted them. It is a shame that the Hartley's must lie about trying to steal the name of the best Tex Mex food in Dallas. Mico and I just really felt strongly about setting the record straight. If anyone has any questions or would like to speak with Mico or anyone at M Crowd about the real story please feel free to give them a call. 972-960-7774 Thank you to those of you that can see the truth in this matter.

Do you really think anyone here cares about the goings on at your typical tex-mex chainer in Dallas?

Perhaps the crew at M Crowd should keep their ojos on the ball in Dallas and stop worrying about irrelevancies. These reviews are inconsistent.
Mi Cocina - Dallas, TX

Oh the humanity... a real tragedy. I called and spoke to the M Crowd and alerted them to the dozens of Mi Cocinas around the United States. I told them to start in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, California, etc., etc. Tonto.

Any new reviews on La Cocina?

My mom is wanting to take me for my birthday dinner. Sooo...any recent review updates. All I see is from a couple months back when things were still rocky. I have been wanting to go since I heard they were opening but have held off!

I LOVE mexican food! Help me out...is it worth the birthday dinner trip to check it out?

ive been several times and i dig it.. i say give it a shot

We have been several times as well. In fact we have visited the area 3 times in the last month or so, and have been there at least once evey time. We liked it a lot and plan to go back.

Isn't it called Mi Cocina?

We have been several times as well. In fact we have visited the area 3 times in the last month or so, and have been there at least once evey time. We liked it a lot and plan to go back.

We've been a couple of times this summer with a large family group and enjoyed both visits. Very late on the night of our last visit, Mr. Bebe realized that he had left an expensive camera on his chair. Needless to say, he was back very early the next day, and very grateful that it had been kept safe and sound.

George & Ann,

I live in Tennessee, but we own a home in Seagrove, so I am not just a tourist. We do not rent our home, so we are here at least once a month every month. My family and I have been coming here for over 10 years and have owned this home for 3 years. We have eaten at your other restaurants, so we knew La Cocina's food should be great. We visited La Cocina last December for the first time. The food and service were great! We love Mexican food and were use to going to Cantina in Sandestin, so we were excited that you had opened this tex-mex restaurant closer to our home here. I now would like to make a formal complaint: 1) Don't advertise (sign out by 30 A) Happy Hour if you don't offer it! 2) This is a tourist area and many people travel together, so split the checks even if the servers have to figure it themselves. 3) The customers are always RIGHT. I own a retail business in Nashville and I try to always make my customers happy so that they will continue to shop with me. In this economy, you need your customers to keep shopping with you. 4) Why the 20% gratuity for parties of 6 or more? What happened to 18%? I visited La Cocina the first week of March with my son & a friend. The service & food were again great. We had Happy Hour drinks & our server split the check for us. The rest of my family arrived the next week, so we visited La Cocina again. The server informed us there was no Happy Hour even though the sign advertised it. He was rude and argumentative. If you advertise something, you should honor it!! Ironically Happy Hour was advertised as 4-6. You did not open until 5. The chips were stale and stuck together, the food tasted like it had been under a warming lamp & the ice tea was old. Then came the check. He would not split the check until I told him the server the week before had and he had added that 20%, which he did not deserve. He didn't even deserve 18% which usually customary. My son is a server and I always tip well if they have earned it. I understand you have to add a tip to larger parties, but not 20%. It wasn't like the restaurant was crowded ( we arrived at 5) and we had a party of 7. He infuriated me so much, that I have vowed I would never eat at any of your restaurants again! Make your customers HAPPY!! I wish you all the best, but you will only get negative reviews from me. I have many friends that come here and I have now told them to visit Cantina in Sandestin.:angry:

Save the drive and check out the Cantina over in Pier Park, happy hour is everyday and year round.