Of all the little Latin American cafes that have opened since the hurricane, this is the most interesting. The owners are clearly on the ball--maybe to the point of selling their food a little too enthusiastically. La Macarena's menu is primarily made up of the food of El Salvador, centering on pupusas--grilled, stuffed tortillas, the national dish of El Salvador. The rest of the menu is widely varied, and will take even a large tablefull of diners several visits to explore.
The original, minimal location was in Kenner, opening in 2007. The Riverbend restaurant opened in 2009, and seems to be operated by the young side of the family.
The Riverbend restaurant is small and oddly configured; it looks as if it had been a take-out place before La Macarena moved in. The service is orchestrated by two very enthusiastic young people, who tell you more than you might really want to know about the food and the culture of their homeland. The place has no liquor license, so you may bring in your own wine, beer, or whatever at no corkage fee.
A dinner made entirely of tapas is a very good idea, although the entrees are good, too. A Latin American breakfast is available on Saturdays and Sundays.
| Attitude | 2 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 0 |
| Hipness | 1 |
| Local Color | 0 |
| Service | 1 |
| Value | 1 |
| Wine | 0 |
