Dinner at La Hacienda
Highlights Margarita, Mixed Grill, Very Good Service, Great View of Illuminations
Disappointments Appetizer, Long Wait for Table with Good View
Would we Return? Yes
Our ADR was for 7:30 p.m. at La Hacienda. We checked in at the outside podium at 7:30 and asked to be seated at a table by the window. We were told that we should make this request to the hostess inside. So with beeper in hand we found a seat outside and waited. At around 8:00 our beeper finally went off and we went inside. I then asked the hostess if we could wait for a table by the window. So again we took a seat and waited
only this time we waited in the inside lobby area. The next ½ hour passed by fairly quickly as DH struck up a conversation with the couple seated next to us. They were a very nice, retired couple from the D.C. area who were DVC owners. We greatly enjoyed our conversation with them. They had also requested a table by the window and had been waiting even longer than we had. Just before 8:30 their beeper went off and we said our goodbyes. A few minutes later our beeper went off and guess where we were seated? Our table was not right next to the window, but one table over. And who was at the table next to us (the one right next to the window) but the couple from D.C. So we continued to talk with them off and on throughout our meal (mostly comparing notes on our food) as our tables were pretty close. Not quite as close as at San Angel Inn (where we could eat off of each others plates) but close enough to carry on a conversation. Oh, and by the way, we were not seated in the main dining area (middle area) but in a smaller area to the right that was closest to the outdoor seating area for the Quick Service restaurant.
Ok, now for our meal. First of all, our server here was very friendly and provided us with very good service. So perhaps my theory that the best servers at San Angel Inn had been transferred to the new restaurant might be correct? Anyway, he immediately brought us a basket of chips and two kinds of salsa, one red (the spicier of the two) and one green. We liked them both, but if I had to choose one it would be the green (verde). We thought that both the chips and the salsas were better than those served at San Angel Inn/La Cava de Tequila.
Chips & Salsas
Our server took our drink orders. DH was boring and ordered a Dos Equis beer. I however had to try one of their margaritas. I chose the Lime Raspberry one, described on the menu as El Mayor premium Tequila, orange liqueur, raspberry, fresh lime juice, agave nectar syrup, served on the rocks with a hibiscus Himalayan salt rim. This was sweet and delicious
a perfect start to my meal!
Lime Raspberry Margarita
For our appetizer we shared the Botana, which was a sampling of traditional Mexican favorites. It consisted of a chicken tostada, a chilorio (marinated pork) sope and a cheese empanada. The cheese empanada and chicken tostada were pretty good, although the tostada was not as good as those served at San Angel Inn. The pork sope though was not very good, IMHO. The fried dough which served as the base of the sope was very chewy and quite difficult to cut, making it hard to share.
Botana Appetizer - chicken tostada, chilorio sope, and cheese empanada
For our entrée we shared the Mixed Grill called "La Hacienda", which consisted of grilled flank steak, chicken, and chorizo (small sausages) along with vegetables. Bowls of beans and rice were also served with this, and can be seen in the background of the picture below. Also served, but not shown in the picture, were tortillas
however I think there were only four of them. This was all very good, but way more food than the two of us could eat. We joked with our new friends at the next table that we should have ordered this for the four of us to share.
La Hacienda Mixed Grill
Not long after the Mixed Grill was served, the restaurant lights were dimmed and Illuminations started. We discovered then that although we werent right next to the window, our view of the show was still quite good. Here are the pictures I took while seated at our table. Keep in mind that my camera is nothing special.
After the show, we ate as much of our Mixed Grill as we possibly could and were therefore way too full for dessert. So in conclusion, we really enjoyed this meal
it was a great way to end our trip! The margarita was delicious, the food was for the most part quite good, the service was friendly and attentive, and our Illuminations view was great. I would have to say that La Hacienda far outshined its sister restaurant, San Angel Inn, on this trip. For sentimental reasons, we will return to SAI despite our very disappointing lunch there. However, we will also now be adding La Hacienda to our Disney Dining list.
One more thing I would like to add here
I know that La Hacienda has been hit pretty hard recently with negative reviews here on the DIS. If I had read these prior to our trip, I probably would have cancelled our La Hacienda ADR
which for us would have been a big mistake. I am so glad that we got to try out this restaurant and I strongly recommend you do the same if it is of any interest to you. You may or may not like it, but you should try it and form your own opinion
which for you is the only one that really counts.
Well, that completes my dining reviews.
However, I'm not ready to stop quite just yet, so I've decided to do a sort of review of my reviews with our favorites in several categories... including our Signature Smackdown!
So please humor me and stay tuned.
Anyway our food there was good, but for the most part not great. So perhaps we didn't order the right things. What did you have at Citricos? What about this meal made it your best?
I'm hoping to get started tomorrow on a review of my favorites and the Smackdown between the Signature Restaurants. 
