But of course, like most Mexican restaurants, it all really comes down to the tacos. And the ones here are excellent. They come two per order and there are seven varieties. Both my kids love the chicken tinga, while my husband and I often get the pescado a la plancha with mango salsa, chipotle mayo, and pistachio mole, or the carne asada with salsa verde. But if we’re feeling extra hungry (or have a friend with us), our best order is the taco platter. At $90, it’s a bit steep, but it easily feeds a crowd with 12 tacos, and when you think about the per taco breakdown, it’s actually a solid deal.
On weekends, drinks are in order for the adults, and the mostly agave-spirit-based cocktails do not disappoint, especially for me, a mezcal lover. My go-to is the Coyote Wishes, with mezcal espadin, punt e mes, aperol, and ancho reyes, while my husband orders the seasonal Agua Fresca with mezcal, watermelon juice, and serrano in summer. The kids always get fresh limeades.
We also can’t leave without an order of the fresh churros with chocolate and sauces like honey or caramel. Last year, it was my older son’s birthday cake (candle and all), after he requested to go to Alta Calidad for his birthday. It was the first year we decided to celebrate his birthday dinner at a restaurant, and when I asked where he wanted to go, he didn’t hesitate.
Alta Calidad manages to be the place that we all truly love — every other restaurant my kids like, is a compromise for me. And any restaurant I’m dying to go to is usually not one that works well for them. At Alta Calidad, the combination of food, ambience, service, and consistency combine to produce the ideal family restaurant — that doesn’t forget the parents.
Alta Calidad is open daily for lunch and dinner, and closes at 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Devorah Lev-Tov is a food, beverage, wellness, and travel journalist with bylines in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Wine Enthusiast, Vogue, and more. She is the author of the recent book, 150 Spas You Need to Visit Before You Die. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons. Follow her dining adventures (usually at a reasonable hour) on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.