El Presidente

The Le Diplomate empire has gotten a little bigger, and El Presidente in Union Market is proof that everyone has room to grow. The Mexican restaurant is full of animated sharks, crustaceans, and peculiar one-eyed creatures set against red and blue walls. It’s so over the top, it feels like you’re on the set of Guillermo del Toro's next blockbuster film (with more color and less spooky). Like Le Dip, it’s the kind of place you meet up with friends for lunch or dinner or use to impress your out of town guests. But the food here is better. There are clear standouts, like the blue-crab topped guacamole and tuna tostada made with creamy cuts of yellowfin. Other items didn’t wow us—like the nacho mama, nachos laid-out flat like a pizza and loaded with black beans, sour cream and jalapenos. It looks great on the plate, but seemingly needs an extra dollop of queso or peppery salsa to make it pop.

photo credit: Birch Thomas

photo credit: Birch Thomas

photo credit: Birch Thomas

photo credit: Rey Lopez