Downtown La Grange is a small but bustling city center full of small shops, cafes and restaurants. There are dozens of dining options, but a good percentage of them feature cuisine from south of the border. In addition to corporate chains like Chipotle and Baja Fresh, La Grange is home to Santiago's, Casa Margarita and La Pinta. They're actually all good, but La Pinta differentiates itself with its Latin American-inspired cuisine and by being the classiest of the bunch (and yes, that also means the priciest).
For dinner, you'll spend somewhere between $12 and $20 per plate. The chile relleno is a hefty $18, but the peppers come stuffed with shrimp, scallops and gouda cheese. For a less expensive visit, try lunch. La Pinta serves eight $8 dishes until 4 p.m. every day, with choices like chipotle tacos, enchiladas and pork tamales.
Located just west of Main Street (La Grange Road), La Pinta features a stylish interior with a dimly lit, somewhat swanky lounge. Deep red walls are covered with large, colorful paintings and Latin-flavored pottery. The restaurant has two separate dining rooms, outdoor sidewalk tables and the lounge, which has a couple TVs. La Pinta also hosts live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Average cost: $10-$20
Centerstage Reviewer: Jim Collins
