We have dear friends who regularly make the 50 mile trip from Excelsior to Bayport – just to dine at La Cocinita!  They grew up in the Phoenix area, and know great Mexican food. So on a recent beautiful Saturday afternoon, when my husband and I were CRAVEing authentic guacamole and margaritas, we decided to hit the road in search of a food adventure.  Our meal at La Cocinita was well worth the trip…

La Cocinita, “the Little Kitchen,”  is the culmination of the dream of owners Angelina and Patrick, “to have a restaurant complete with two window seats.  A place where you can have good food, drink of your liking and most of all enjoy  each others company.” The food is Mexican-inspired, featuring Angelina’s family recipes.  Their fabulous salsa has been named Best Mild Salsa at St. Paul’s Cinco de Mayo People’s Choice Salsa Tasting Contest in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

We started our evening out on their charming sidewalk-patio with the well-deserved award winning salsa, guacamole and margaritas on the rocks (made with el Jimador Repasado tequila). Muy bueno! Although the weather was beautiful, we moved into the quaint dining room for our meal.

Everything on the menu is made to order with the freshest ingredients.  We chose the Marbled Enchiladas and the Mexican Cornbread Bake. The enchiladas are offered with your choice of corn or flour tortillas, and chicken or ground beef. We had the flour tortillas with a mixture of ground beef, sauteed mushrooms, garlic and onions topped with both white and red enchilada sauces and cheese. It came to the table bubbling straight from the oven. These are not your standard enchiladas – the melding of the sauces and the sauteed mushrooms makes for a much richer, complex dish than you will find at most Twin Cities Mexican restaurants. We loved it. Angelina’s Mexican Cornbread is the foundation of the Bake which is then covered with a wonderful black bean chili, chicken, and cheese. The cornbread is perfect, and is one of the family recipes that make this such special menu. Each of the dishes was served with Mexican rice and refried beans.

Take my advice and make the trip to La Cocinita.  The food is superb and the hospitality can’t be beat.  I also have to give kudos to the entire staff for one of the “cleanest” dining experiences I’ve had in a long time.  The restaurant was spotless and the rest room was immaculate. Always a great sign of the care and attention everything is given.  Bayport couldn’t be an easier trip, especially on the weekend. Just two miles south of Stillwater, on Hwy. 95.

To Go:
lacocinitarestaurante.com
338 5th Ave. N
Bayport, MN  55
(651)439-2795
Closed Sun, Mon, Tues